Futurity.org » University of Illinois

For tough problems, expert pairs work best

Steve McGaughey-Illinois — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:20:31 +0000

U. ILLINOIS (US) — Experts produce better results when they work in pairs, rather than alone, to tackle complex problems, a new study finds.

The study used expert flight instructors, student pilots (novices), and non-pilots, with 32 participants from each of the three groups. They were asked to work alone or in pairs in problem-solving tasks involving an aviation scenario. Problem solving was done with either another participant of the same level of expertise or alone and required identifying the problem in the scenario and generating a solution.

1 in 7 seniors in US face hunger threat

Debra Levey Larson-Illinois — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:18:54 +0000

U. ILLINOIS (US) — A new study of hunger trends over a 10-year period found that 8.3 million seniors (about 14 percent) in the United States face the threat of hunger.

From 2001 to 2010, the number of seniors experiencing the threat of hunger increased by 78 percent, according to the study. Since the onset of the recession in 2007 to 2010, the number of seniors experiencing the threat of hunger increased by 34 percent.

Breast milk compound may build baby’s immunity

Phyllis Picklesimer-Illinois — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:01:26 +0000

U. ILLINOIS (US) — A key component of breast milk promotes good bacteria in growing babies’ digestive tracts, but is absent from infant formula, researchers say.

Human milk oligosaccharides, or HMO, produce short-chain fatty acids that feed a beneficial microbial population in the infant gut. Not only that, the bacterial composition adjusts as the baby grows older and his or her needs change.

Even though HMO are a major component of human milk, present in higher concentration than protein, many of their actions in the infant are not well understood. Furthermore, they’re virtually absent from infant formula. The scientists wanted to find out what formula-fed babies were missing.

Bacteria fight ‘dirty’ to disarm antibiotic

Diana Yates-Illinois — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:11:44 +0000

U. ILLINOIS (US) — Researchers have discovered how bacteria use a previously unknown means to defeat a potent antibiotic.

The bacteria modify a common “housekeeping” enzyme in a way that enables the enzyme to recognize and disarm the antibiotic. The findings are reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Bird robot sticks landing to perch on palm

Rick Kubetz-Illinois — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:59:13 +0000

U. ILLINOIS (US) — Researchers have duplicated the control functions that let birds successfully perform a soft landing—in this case, perching on a human hand.

“We believe we have the first demonstration of autonomous/robotic flight of a bird-like micro aerial vehicle (MAV) perching on a human hand,” states Soon-Jo Chung, an assistant professor in the aerospace engineering department at the University of Illinois.

Genomes of two champion bulls sequenced

Andy Fell-UC Davis — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:44:39 +0000

UC DAVIS (US) — Research on the genomes of two genetically superior bulls—with more than 60,000 descendants in six generations—may provide for faster and less costly methods to breed elite cattle.

The genomes of the bulls, Pawnee Farm Arlinda Chief and his son Walkway Chief Mark, show how portions of their DNA that control important traits such as disease resistance or milk production have spread throughout the contemporary Holstein breed, the world’s highest-producing dairy animal.

Soy may slim down a fatty liver

Phyllis Picklesimer-Illinois — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 21:12:40 +0000

U. ILLINOIS (US) — Scientists report that soy protein may significantly reduce fat accumulation and triglycerides in the livers of people who are obese.

University of Illinois researchers have also discovered why it happens: soy restores partial function of that organ’s key signaling pathway.

“Almost a third of American adults have fatty liver disease, many of them without symptoms. Obesity is a key risk factor for this condition, which can lead to liver failure,” says Hong Chen, assistant professor of food science and human nutrition.

RNA snippets direct worker bee tasks

Diana Lutz-WUSTL — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 15:58:29 +0000

WASHINGTON U.- ST. LOUIS (US) — Worker bees’ tasks change as they age, and a new study finds that tiny bits of RNA control this behavior shift.

What worker bees do depends on how old they are. A worker a few days old will become a nurse bee that devotes herself to feeding larvae (brood), secreting beeswax to seal the cells that contain brood, and attending to the queen.

Obese pregnancy risk, despite healthy diet

Phyllis Picklesimer-Illinois — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 14:29:24 +0000

U. ILLINOIS (US) — Despite a healthy diet during pregnancy, the bodies of obese expectant mothers may provide fewer nutrients to the fetus, according to a new study with rats.

“We can see fat sequestered in the placentas of obese mothers when it should be going to the baby to support its growth. The nutrient supply region in the placenta of an obese mother is half the size of that of a normal-weight mother, even when both are eating the same healthy diet,” says Yuan-Xiang Pan, a University of Illinois professor of nutrition.

Pan blames what he calls the obesogenic environment of the mother, which includes increased triglycerides, high levels of the hormone leptin, and elevated amounts of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) circulating in the obese expectant mother’s body.

Weight a mystery for college applicants

Phyllis Picklesimer-Illinois — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:55:30 +0000

U. ILLINOIS (US) — Out of 3,500 college applicants, a third couldn’t report their weight accurately, according to a new study in Mexico.

Overweight or obese men were more likely than women to underestimate their weight.

“This misperception is important because the first step in dealing with a weight problem is knowing that you have one,” says Margarita Teran-Garcia, professor of food science and human nutrition.