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Science News Archive February 1998 - Page 4


Page 4 of 4

'Holey' Silicon Brightens Future For Computers, Optical Devices

Porous silicon, a light-emitting material, can now be stabilized using a developed process at Purdue University. This allows for the creation of faster, smaller computers and new types of sensing devices. The treatment enables the manipulation of light-emitting properties to respond to certain chemicals or conditions.

SourcePurdue University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateFeb 5, 1998

More Education, More Headaches

A recent study found that people with advanced degrees are more likely to experience tension headaches, particularly women with graduate school educations. The study surveyed over 13,000 people in Baltimore County, Md., and found that 38.3% met criteria for episodic tension-type headaches (ETTH) in the last year, with rates declining a...

New Heart-Attack Indicator Dramatically Improves Diagnostic Accuracy Of ER Doctors: TnT/Echocardiogram Combination Could Reduce Needless Admissions

A new clinical approach combining echocardiograms with troponin T levels significantly increases diagnostic accuracy for chest pain, predicting hospital admissions and cardiac events. This method has the potential to reduce unnecessary hospitalizations and improve patient outcomes.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalAmerican Heart Journal·DateFeb 3, 1998

Novel AIDS-Directed Technology: Approach Permits Optimization Of Existing Drug Therapies And Targeted, Patient-Specific Treatment

Researchers have developed a new diagnostic technique to measure T cell proliferation rates in AIDS patients, revealing that the body's capacity to form new cells is key to T cell counts. The technique allows for personalized treatment optimization and real-time disease monitoring.

SourceSpectruMedix Corporation·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 3, 1998

New AIDS Data Explains T-Cell Puzzle, Suggests New Treatments, According To University Of California Researchers

Researchers at UC Berkeley and UC San Francisco have developed a diagnostic technique that measures T-cell production rates in patients with AIDS. The study found that potent protease inhibitor treatments can increase T-cell production, suggesting new treatment options for patients.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 3, 1998

Childhood Asthma Hospitalization Trends Can Provide Clues To Improving Care

A Dartmouth Medical School study found that low asthma hospitalization rates in New Hampshire and Vermont were encouraging news for children and their families. The study suggests that regional trends do not always parallel national trends, highlighting the importance of considering population differences and healthcare system characte...

Good Ergonomics Is Good Economics

The discipline of human factors/ergonomics aims to improve people's health, safety, and comfort through the application of human-system interface technology. Despite its potential to make a difference in quality of life, organizations often fail to recognize its value, citing added costs as a reason.

SourceHuman Factors and Ergonomics Society·JournalErgonomics in Design The Quarterly of Human Factors Applications·DateFeb 2, 1998

It Doesn't Add Up: First Study Of Talented Young Mathematicians Shows Boys Out-Perform Girls

A study of mathematically precocious young children found that boys significantly outperformed girls in math talent, with a gender disparity present from the start. Despite being enrolled in enrichment programs to foster their abilities, math-talented girls failed to catch up with their male counterparts in the first two years of school.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalGifted Child Quarterly·DateFeb 2, 1998

Fauci: New Findings Help Explain "Rebound" Of HIV In Patients Who Discontinue Triple-Drug Therapy

Researchers at NIAID have found that the virus rapidly rebounds to high levels when drugs are discontinued due to normal stimulatory factors present in the environment of a patient's lymph nodes. The new data suggest that these factors can activate HIV hidden in immune system cells, leading to their death and further viral spread.

Ant Pheromone May Aid Alzheimer's Patients

Researchers at Cornell University have identified a chemical compound, anabaseine, in the secretions of ants that shows promise as a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease. The compound stimulates nicotine receptor sites in the brains of patients and helps reduce memory loss.

SourceCornell University·JournalZeitschrift für Didaktik der Naturwissenschaften·DateFeb 2, 1998

Scientists Identify Protein Essential For Iron Absorption, Boost Understanding Of Iron-Deficiency Anemia

Researchers at University at Buffalo and Children's Hospital have identified a critical protein involved in iron metabolism. The discovery is expected to boost understanding of iron-deficiency anemia, the most prevalent disease worldwide, and provide insights into treating hemochromatosis, an inherited iron overload disorder.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 2, 1998

Duke Study Suggests President Clinton's Medicare Proposal May Not Have Big Impact On Country's Uninsured Rate

A Duke University study found that state efforts to increase health insurance coverage among near-elderly individuals were largely ineffective due to high out-of-pocket premiums and limited affordability. The researchers argue that a single-payer system like those in other developed countries may be more effective in reducing the unins...

SourceDuke University·JournalMedical Care·DateFeb 1, 1998