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Science News Archive November 1998 - Page 4


Page 4 of 5

Get Me To The ER On Time

The REACT trial found a median delay of 2.2 hours, far lower than most U.S. studies have found, indicating an improvement in patients seeking care earlier. This decline is attributed to increased awareness and education about heart attack symptoms and the need for rapid action.

Heart Inflammation Declining In The United States

A study by Johns Hopkins Medicine found that cases of life-threatening heart muscle inflammation are declining in the US, corresponding with a decline in enteroviral infections. Since 1991, myocarditis was present in less than 5% of patients biopsied each year, correlating with reduced enterovirus cases reported by the CDC.

Towards The Origin Of Brittleness And Ductility

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Metals Research have identified two temperature-dependent mechanisms controlling the brittle-to-ductile transition in materials. Dislocation mobility dominates fracture toughness above a characteristic temperature, whereas dislocation nucleation controls fracture toughness below this temperature.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalScience·DateNov 6, 1998

EMAP II: A Cytokine Regulated By Apoptosis

Scientists found that apoptosis induces the processing of EMAP II precursor protein, releasing a biologically active form that recruits macrophages. This process is crucial for tissue remodelling and coordinating cell death during embryonic development.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 6, 1998

New Study Offers A Twist On Evolution Of Animal Postures

A new Ohio University study reveals that alligators evolved from semi-erect to sprawl postures, contrary to the conventional theory of animal posture evolution. Researchers analyzed alligator movement and found that their walking patterns are more similar to those of salamanders and lizards than previously thought.

SourceOhio University·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateNov 6, 1998

Amnesia After Sex: More Than A Washington Phenomenon

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine discovered that bearing down hard during sex can cause transient global amnesia, a temporary inability to form new memories. The study found two cases of men experiencing confusion and amnesia after sex, linked to the Valsalva maneuver and sympathetic nervous system activation.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalThe Lancet·DateNov 6, 1998

By Revving Up Key Gene, Researchers Discover They Can Manipulate The Size Of Cells In Plants

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill scientists have discovered that over-expressing a special gene in tobacco plants can manipulate the size of individual cells, resulting in smaller plant crops more resistant to dry or wet conditions. This breakthrough could lead to controlled wood cell sizes for various applications.

Weird Creatures Have Some Lessons For Organ Transplants

Researchers at Kanagawa University have invented a technique to store human organs for up to 10 days using the natural preservative trehalose. The method involves flushing organs with trehalose solution and storing them in silica gel, allowing for longer-term preservation without significant tissue damage.

SourceNew Scientist·JournalThe New Scientist·DateNov 4, 1998

Arsenic Shown To Induce Cancer Remission

Researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center have shown that arsenic effectively induces remission in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), a potentially fatal type of cancer. Eleven out of 12 patients achieved remission after treatment with low doses of arsenic trioxide, experiencing mild side effects.

SourceMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateNov 4, 1998

Mouse Study Trumpets New Way To Preserve Species

Purdue University researchers have developed a new way to preserve species by transplanting ovarian tissue from one animal into another, enabling the production of viable eggs in a wide variety of female mammals. The breakthrough could boost breeding programs for endangered species and address fertility problems in humans.

SourcePurdue University·JournalAnimal Reproduction Science·DateNov 4, 1998

Wives' Impact On Men's Careers Depends On Attitudes, Finances

Research suggests that the impact of wives on their husbands' career choices is influenced by both financial considerations and attitudes. Women who are committed to working have more influence on their husbands' career choices than those who identify as homemakers. The study also found that men with traditional gender role beliefs are...

SourceOhio State University·JournalSocial Science Research·DateNov 3, 1998

A Bird In The Hand? Proverbs Show Differering Cultural Views

A new study reveals cultural differences in risk-taking between Chinese and American citizens using proverbs. Chinese proverbs generally advocate greater risk-taking than American proverbs, reflecting the collectivist culture of China, where citizens know their network of friends and family will help them in a crisis.

SourceOhio State University·JournalOrganizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes·DateNov 3, 1998