Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive 2002 - Page 12


Page 12 of 93

Square Kilometer Array gets NSF design grant

The NSF has awarded a design grant for the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) telescope, which aims to be the largest scientific instrument ever built. The U.S. consortium, led by Cornell University, will investigate feed antennas and low-temperature receivers, as well as address radio frequency interference issues.

Natural or synthetic secretin does not reduce symptoms of autism, study shows

A new study from the University of Washington found that neither natural porcine secretin nor a synthetic form of the hormone reduced symptoms of autism. The research involved 85 children with autism and tested the effects of both forms of secretin versus a placebo, concluding there is no evidence for its effectiveness.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalJournal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·DateNov 12, 2002

Health care rationing in Germany

A study analyzing patient deaths and survivors in German hospitals found that nearly 40% of total expenditures went towards the care of just 10% of patients. The most expensive group were young female cancer patients, while old and terminally ill patients accounted for the lowest costs.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalSocial Science & Medicine·DateNov 11, 2002

Physicians offer new solution for blood transfusions

A team of physicians at the University of Toronto successfully treated a pediatric patient with an autoimmune disease using a cell-free hemoglobin solution. This alternative provides oxygen-carrying capacity similar to blood cells, making it a viable option for children and Jehovah's Witnesses.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalBritish Journal of Haematology·DateNov 11, 2002

COX-2 inhibitors and the elderly

The study found that COX-2 inhibitors led to a substantial increase in NSAID prescriptions and expenditures among elderly patients in Ontario. The listing of these medications had an immediate impact, accounting for 48% of prescriptions and 66% of expenditures for NSAIDs.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·DateNov 11, 2002

University of Toronto researcher examines effects of power

A recent study by Jennifer Berdahl and Cameron Anderson found that supervisors with more power can influence team decisions more than their subordinates. The researchers discovered that this can lead to subordinates underestimating their supervisors' approval and overestimating their anger, resulting in poorer decision-making.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalJournal of Personality and Social Psychology·DateNov 11, 2002

Parent-teen intervention may reduce teen driving risk

A recent NIH study found that families participating in the Checkpoints Program reported imposing stricter driving limits on their teens, both when they got their licenses and three months later. The program includes a video, newsletters, and a parent-teen driving agreement that help parents teach adolescents to drive safely.

Coffee addicts at reduced risk of type 2 diabetes?

A large study of over 17,000 Dutch adults found that those who drank seven or more cups of coffee a day were 50% less likely to develop type-2 diabetes. The study suggests that components of coffee other than caffeine may be beneficial for glucose metabolism, but long-term effects are unknown.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateNov 7, 2002

Turbulence restrains itself

Turbulence has been observed to generate its own self-regulating flows that destroy turbulent eddies, according to recent experiments at DIII-D. These flows, predicted theoretically and seen in computer simulations, create a 'shearing' or tearing action that destroys turbulent eddies.

Ultracold gas shows 'lopsided' properties

Researchers at Duke University have created a strongly interacting fermi gas by cooling lithium-6 atoms to near absolute zero. The resulting gas displays unusual behavior, including rapid expansion in one direction and no movement in another, challenging existing theories of superfluidity.

SourceDuke University·JournalScience·DateNov 7, 2002

Astrophysical jets in the lab

Caltech researchers use magnetic forces to create jet-like structures in a hydrogen plasma experiment, shedding light on the formation of astrophysical jets. The study involves running high electrical currents through a cylindrical metal chamber, producing spiral-shaped plumes similar to those observed in space.