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Science News for March 29, 2000


VION Awarded SBIR grant to advance its armed Tapet® technology

The NIH granted Vion Pharmaceuticals a two-year, $750,000 Small Business Innovation and Research (SBIR) grant to enhance the anti-tumor efficacy of its TAPET bacterial vector. The goal is to deliver potent anti-cancer agents directly at the tumor site, leveraging TAPET's preferential replication in tumors.

SourceVion Pharmaceuticals, Inc.·DateMar 29, 2000

$4.1 million NSF grant to mine Census data

A $4.1 million grant from the National Science Foundation is helping researchers link disparate databases and protect confidential data for economic and social scientists. The project aims to improve quality of the Census Bureau's surveys and enable better research on social issues like welfare-to-work and aging.

SourceCornell University·DateMar 29, 2000
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Mice show how to calm anxiety

Scientists have found a genetic switch that helps calm anxiety in mice, revealing the role of Crhr2 receptor in reducing stress response. The discovery provides an initial motivation for further dissecting potential drug discovery programs.

SourceHoward Hughes Medical Institute·JournalNature Genetics·DateMar 29, 2000

Genes or environment: what shapes the sensory homunculus?

Researchers at Harvard Medical School found a genetic protein that influences the brain's body map, contradicting previous thinking that neural input from the body's periphery shapes it. The discovery raises questions about individual differences in sensory function and potential genetic basis for variations in brain organization.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateMar 29, 2000

'New' drugs, ancient uses; what chemists can learn from the past

A North Carolina State University professor argues that a greater understanding of ancient medicine could provide modern doctors with new ways to treat diseases and identify potential dangers. He cites examples such as St. John's wort, which was initially used as an antiseptic but later found to have abortifacient effects.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·DateMar 29, 2000
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Tea drinking improves bone strength in older women

Research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that tea drinkers had a 5% greater mean BMD than non-tea drinkers, equating to a 10-20% decline in fracture risk. Isoflavonoids in tea are thought to contribute to this positive effect.

SourceAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·DateMar 29, 2000

Northwestern researcher develops molecular method to improve plastics

Researchers developed a novel method to improve polymers by changing their organization using small molecules as additives. The new method creates a gel-like material with enhanced mechanical and thermal properties, as well as unique optical properties, including birefringence and wavelength reflection.

SourceNorthwestern University·DateMar 29, 2000

Antarctica's ross ice shelf breaks again

A new iceberg has broken from Antarctica's Ross Ice Shelf, just east of one discovered on March 17. The new iceberg is approximately 130 km by 20 km and was detected using high-resolution satellite data provided by the Antarctic Meteorological Research Center.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·DateMar 29, 2000

High blood pressure, medications increase diabetes risk

A study led by Johns Hopkins found that patients with high blood pressure taking beta blockers were 28% more likely to develop diabetes than those not taking the medication. In contrast, thiazide diuretics were associated with a lower risk of diabetes.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateMar 29, 2000
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