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Science News Archive 1998 - Page 11


Page 11 of 42

Bat Sonar Sharper Than Thought; Much Better Than Man-Made Gear

Researchers at Brown University have discovered that bats can resolve sonar images with a higher quality and wider variety of orientation tasks than previously thought. Bats can process overlapping echo delays as little as two microseconds apart, resolving objects as close together as three-tenths of a millimeter.

SourceBrown University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 13, 1998

Making Complex Systems Work Better

Researchers at Boston University are developing new computational approaches to manage complex systems in manufacturing, global communication networks, and economic systems. The tools will enable accurate prediction and flexible decision-making, reducing costs associated with worst-case analysis.

Supply Of Local Hospital Beds Is Strongest Factor In Whether People Die InHospitals

A new study finds that local hospital bed supply, not patients' preferences or illnesses, determines whether terminally ill patients die in hospitals or at home. The research challenges current efforts to reform end-of-life care by highlighting the need for adjusted healthcare resources and practice styles.

SourceThe Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateOct 9, 1998

To Zap Or Not To Zap: Study Shows Advertisers Can Schedule Commercials To Battle Channel Surfing

A study suggests that advertisers should schedule their commercials for the middle of programs and improve their media plans. The study also recommends that TV stations keep their lengthier breaks away from the beginning and end of shows. By doing so, advertisers can prevent channel surfing and optimize their ad placements.

IUPUI Researching Dangers Of Prenatal Alcohol Abuse

Research aims to identify damage to specific neurological circuits in the developing brain, potentially leading to clinical protocols for fetal alcohol effects treatment and rehabilitation. The study will evaluate long-lasting deficits in synaptic plasticity, or the ability of neurons to change their signaling processes over time.

Women's Health Writer's Forum

The Women's Health Writers Forum will discuss the power of media on the health of menopausal women, including their knowledge of health, treatment options, and disease risk factors. The event aims to find answers to important questions about the impact of media coverage on women's health.

Surgical Experience Improves Thyroidectomy Outcome

A study by Johns Hopkins researchers found that surgical experience is a crucial factor in achieving better clinical outcomes for patients undergoing thyroidectomy. The results showed that surgeons performing the most thyroid operations had lower complication rates, shorter hospital stays, and lower average hospital charges. This study...

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalAnnals of Surgery·DateOct 7, 1998

Jefferson Scientists Suppress Tumor Growth In Animals, Aiming At Gene Therapy

Scientists at Thomas Jefferson University have demonstrated that a normally protective anticancer gene can block tumors from growing. Led by Dr. Antonio Giordano, they found that the damaged version of the gene, pRb2/p130, suppresses tumor growth in animal models, paving the way for gene therapy to treat lung cancer and other cancers.

SourceThomas Jefferson University·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateOct 6, 1998

Diagnosing Depression In Primary Care

A new study suggests that depression is a fluid disease requiring tracking over time for accurate diagnosis and treatment. Researchers found that physicians more frequently detected depression when they knew their patients well, but struggled to distinguish it from minimal impairment.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalArchives of Family Medicine·DateOct 6, 1998

Controlled Cell Death

Scientists at the Max Planck Institute have identified Apaf1 as a key component of apoptosis, a process crucial for embryonal development and preventing diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's. The study sheds light on the gene's role in programmed cell death, with potential applications for medical research and treatment.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalCell·DateOct 5, 1998

Surrogate Mothers Feel Some Degree Of Disappointment

A University of Michigan study reveals that surrogate mothers express some degree of disappointment about their roles, with those who have satisfied relationships with adoptive parents experiencing better outcomes. The quality of the relationship post-birth significantly impacts long-term satisfaction and regret among surrogate mothers.

Plastics For Cars

Researchers have developed a new 'self-strengthening' plastic that can be used to make car body panels. The process uses threads of polypropylene to create a rigid sheet with strength similar to composite materials.

SourceInstitute of Materials·JournalMaterials World·DateOct 1, 1998