High school teachers sway evolution views
MINNEAPOLIS, May 6 (UPI) -- A University of Minnesota study has determined high school biology teachers often shape their student's views about evolution and creationism.
Professors Randy Moore and Sehoya Cotner surveyed 1,000 university students taking introductory biology classes. They wanted to determine how biology majors view evolution compared with non-majors.
The scientists said their results showed the two groups' views were similar and revealed high school biology teachers influence whether college students accept evolution or question it based on creationism.
The researchers said students whose high school biology class included creationism (with or without evolution) were more likely to accept creationist views as entering college students. Similarly, students exposed to evolutionism, but not creationism, were more likely to accept evolution in college.
"I've long known that many biology teachers teach creationism, but was surprised to learn they have such a strong impact," Moore said. "It's unfortunate so many teachers think their religious beliefs are science. Teachers who don't teach evolution deny students the understanding of one of the greatest principles in history."
Cotner added: "Evolution is the foundation of the entire discipline. It leads me to believe that these students are probably interested in biology for reasons besides gaining a full understanding and appreciation of the science."
The research appears in the journal BioScience.
Scientists build novel neurotrauma monitor
CINCINNATI, May 6 (UPI) -- University of Cincinnati engineers say they have built a preliminary working model of a multi-modal tube, or smart sensor, to monitor neurotrauma patients.
The engineers at the university's Neuroscience Institute said their sensor is capable of continuously monitoring multiple physiological parameters in patients, as well as draining excess cerebrospinal fluid from the injured brain and could also be used to deliver medications to the patient.
Although the monitoring device is not yet ready for testing in humans, it is being hailed it as a "groundbreaking start" by Drs. Raj Narayan, Lori Shutter and Professor Frank Mayfield, who helped design the device.
The tube is under provisional patent application and should be ready for testing in an animal model within the next few months, the scientists said.
"Clinical monitoring is poised for exciting advances," Narayan said. "When we can track what is going on in a patient's brain tissue, or blood, on a continuous basis, we can treat the patient much more promptly and effectively. We hope to revolutionize the field."
The research is described in the April issue of the journal Chemical Biology.
New wind turbine blade technology created
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind., May 6 (UPI) -- Purdue University and Sandia National Laboratory scientists say they've developed a technology designed to improve the efficiency of wind turbine blades.
The researchers said the technology uses sensors and computational software to constantly monitor forces exerted on wind turbine blades.
"The ultimate goal is to feed information from sensors into an active control system that precisely adjusts components to optimize efficiency," said Purdue doctoral student Jonathan White, who is leading the research with Professor Douglas Adams.
They said their system also could help improve wind turbine reliability by providing critical real-time information to the control system to prevent catastrophic wind turbine damage from high winds.
"Wind energy is playing an increasing role in providing electrical power," Adams said. "The United States is now the largest harvester of wind energy in the world. The question is, what can be done to wind turbines to make them more efficient, more cost-effective and more reliable?"
The scientists said the sensors could be instrumental in future turbine blades that have "control surfaces" and simple flaps, such as those on an airplane's wings, to change the aerodynamic characteristics of the blades for better control. Because the flaps would be changed in real time to respond to changing winds, constant sensor data would be critical.
The study was detailed in a paper presented this week in Chicago during the Windpower 2009 Conference and Exhibition.
Car industry science aids cancer therapy
HOUSTON, May 6 (UPI) -- University of Houston scientists say they are developing technologies with origins in the automobile industry to aid in head and neck cancer therapies.
Associate Professor Ali Kamrani, a former auto industry researcher, and Lei Dong, an assistant professor at the University of Texas are developing predictive models of tumors that they said will hopefully increase the accuracy of radiation therapy.
"We aim to better understand tumor deformations using geometric and statistical models rather than repetitive CT scans," said Kamrani. "In this case, patients will undergo a minimum number of CT scans, and the radiation plans will be developed using the predictive models."
Traditional computed tomography sessions require a large series of two-dimensional X-ray images that, when combined, provide detailed three-dimensional images of many types of tissue.
Kamrani said reducing the number of CT scans will reduce a patient's risk to unwanted radiation.
Dong called Kamrani's idea of applying auto prototyping tools to tumor modeling "novel."
"It can help us solve the problem," he said. "There's a big workflow issue. If we do replanning every day and re-CT every day, that's lot of effort. We're thinking there is a better, smarter way."
