EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral ScienceThe premier online source for science news since 1996. A service of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.Families with children without a genetic or gestational link to their parents are functioning well- July 5, 2008 (European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology) The emotional well-being of families where children lack a genetic or gestational link to one or both of their parents -- where the children have been conceived through surrogacy, egg donation or donor insemination -- has long been a subject of debate. Now, British scientists have shown that relationships within such families appear to be functioning well, and that there are few differences between them and families in whom children were..http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-07/esfh-fwc070208.php Resveratrol found to improve health, but not longevity in aging mice on standard diet- July 3, 2008 (NIHNational Institute on Aging) Scientists have found that the compound resveratrol slows age-related deterioration and functional decline of mice on a standard diet, but does not increase longevity when started at middle age. This study, conducted and supported in part by the National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health, is a follow-up to 2006 findings that resveratrol improves health and longevity of overweight, aged mice.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-07/nioa-rft062708.php Extended cyclone relief efforts aided from space- July 3, 2008 (European Space Agency) Earth observation satellites have provided vital information to relief workers in Myanmar throughout a particularly long crisis response window following the devastating Cyclone Nargis that hit the country on May 2 and 3, 2008.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-07/esa-ecr070308.php New research sheds light on the molecular basis of crib death- July 3, 2008 (European Molecular Biology Laboratory) Sudden infant death syndrome is a condition that unexpectedly and unexplainably takes the lives of seemingly healthy babies aged between a month and a year. Now researchers of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Monterotondo, Italy, have developed a mouse model of the so-called crib or cot death. The model, published in this week's issue of Science, reveals that an imbalance of the neuronal signal serotonin in the brain stem is causes sudden...http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-07/embl-nrs062508.php Sophisticated communication a prerequisite for people's independence- July 3, 2008 (Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research) With the availability of the Internet, citizens are increasingly expected to search themselves for information on security risks in their living environment. Until now, however, too little was known about the willingness of citizens to do this and the factors that promote this information-seeking behavior. The work of Dutch researcher Ellen ter Huurne suggests there are many factors which communication professionals should pay greater attention.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-07/nofs-sca070308.php Brain noise is a good thing- July 3, 2008 (Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care) Canadian scientists have shown that a noisy brain is a healthy brain. "Brain noise" is a term that has been used by neuroscientists to describe random brain activity that is not important to mental function. Intuitive notions of brain-behavior relationships would suggest that this brain noise quiets down as children mature into adults and become more efficient and consistent in their cognitive processing. But new research from the Rotman Research Institute...http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-07/bcfg-bni070208.php Partners in peace- July 3, 2008 (Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research) International organizations frequently have high expectations about their interventions. Dutch researcher Mathijs van Leeuwen's work on peacebuilding reveals the need to exhibit modestly and to link into local agendas. Instead of wanting to realise ambitious programmes and to take the lead in social change, international organizations must instead try to be partners in peace.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-07/nofs-pip070308.php Woman aquires new accent after stroke- July 3, 2008 (McMaster University) A woman in southern Ontario is one of the first cases in Canada of a rare neurological syndrome in which a person starts speaking with a different accent, McMaster University researchers report in the July issue of the Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-07/mu-wan070308.php Local elite rule over small villages in Indonesia- July 3, 2008 (Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research) Dutch-sponsored researcher Y. Argo Twikromo has investigated how the local ruling elite have retained their political control over the local population. He has tried to understand and analyse the dynamic processes of state formation and the interaction between national states and local communities.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-07/nofs-ler070308.php Scientists set out to measure how we perceive naturalness- July 3, 2008 (National Physical Laboratory) Scientists at the National Physical Laboratory are working towards producing the world's first model that will predict how we perceive naturalness. The results could help make synthetic products so good that they are interpreted by our senses as being fully equivalent to the "real thing," but with the benefits of reduced environmental impact and increased durability.http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-07/npl-sso070308.php |