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Science News Archive 2002


Page 12 of 93

Training improves cognitive abilities of older adults

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that training improved certain thinking and reasoning abilities in older adults. The training focused on developing strategies to improve memory, problem-solving, and concentration, but did not affect daily living skills.

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.

Health care disparities affect elderly across ethnic lines

A recent study found significant differences in healthcare quality for elderly individuals across various ethnic groups. Black patients showed greater disparities compared to white patients, while Hispanic women had even more pronounced gaps in breast cancer screening rates than black women. The study highlights the need to address the...

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

Preschoolers' thinking, behavior influenced by family income

Family income significantly impacts preschool children's cognitive development and behavior, with higher-income families providing more stimulating learning environments and lower-income families facing economic pressure that leads to behavioral problems. The study suggests offering programs promoting learning materials, family literac...

New study provides molecular-level understanding of common anti-malarial drugs

Researchers have gained a new understanding of how quinoline-based drugs work against the Malaria parasite, slowing crystal growth to toxic levels and killing the parasite. The study provides insights into physical chemistry and crystalline surface structure to explain drug action, offering potential solutions to drug resistance.

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

NIH funds new AIDS drug discovery research with $4.6 million

The NIH has awarded a $4.6 million grant to Rutgers University to develop new and effective drugs for AIDS. The five-year program will use structure-based drug design to identify proteins involved in HIV transmission and develop inhibitors that can overcome drug resistance.

T cell clones shrink melanoma tumors

A clinical trial using lab-grown T cell clones has shown promise in shrinking melanoma tumors. In the study, five patients saw their tumors stop growing for up to a year, while three experienced tumor shrinkage.

Physicists puzzle over unexpected findings in 'little' big bang

Researchers probing strong nuclear force's nature encounter surprise at RHIC in Brookhaven, NY., where particles stream out faster from football-shaped collision tips than sides. This defies treasured boost invariance theory and complicates understanding of collisions.

$3.2 million project to document dioxin levels in Houston ship channel

Researchers from the University of Houston are using a $3.2 million grant to develop computer models tracking dioxin movement through the environment. The study will provide critical data for regulatory agencies to implement plans reducing pollutants and achieving minimum water quality standards.

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

Crops society announces Pioneer Fellowship in Plant Sciences

The Crop Science Society of America partners with Pioneer Hi-Bred International to create the Pioneer Fellowship in Plant Sciences, providing $25,000 annual stipends for four years. The fellowship aims to advance plant improvement through education and research.

Insurance coverage for smoking cessation not always effective

A recent study by HealthPartners found that insurance coverage for smoking cessation programs had no significant effect on quitting rates. Despite previous studies suggesting the effectiveness of bupropion and nicotine replacement therapy, researchers found that smokers with coverage were no more likely to quit than those without it.

Focusing on preservatives: How they keep food fresh

Preservatives can be grouped into three types: antimicrobials, antioxidants, and enzymes that fight natural ripening. Sulfur dioxide blocks microbial growth in foods, while propionates and benzoates help keep bakery products fresh.

Pacific Ocean temperature changes point to natural climate variability

A recent study by Texas A&M University researchers suggests that natural climate variability may contribute up to half of the observed global surface warming since the 1970s. The analysis of ocean surface temperature records in the tropical Pacific indicates that long-term changes in ocean temperatures precede global air temperature ch...

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

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.

People who give, live longer: U-M study shows

A University of Michigan study found that people who provided practical support to others were more than twice as likely to survive as those who did not. The researchers analyzed data from over 423 older couples and found a significant link between giving and longevity.

INEEL competes successfully for DOE EMSP funding

INEEL researchers won seven of 35 EMSP projects, focusing on contaminant movement, remediation techniques, and metal-reducing microbes. The funding will support three additional projects led by other institutions.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

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.

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.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

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.

Drinking wine may lower risk of dementia

A study of 1,709 individuals found that those who drank wine weekly or monthly had a significantly lower risk of developing dementia. Flavonoids, natural compounds with antioxidant effects, may be responsible for this beneficial effect.

Thanksgiving menu stuffed with healthy choices

Honey-baked meats contain antioxidants that may protect against heart disease, while bread crusts are rich in cancer-fighting compounds. Cranberries top the antioxidant chart, followed by canned corn, herbs like oregano, and sweet potato-based desserts.

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

In prison, any sentence can be a death sentence

A study examining causes of death among people in custody in Ontario between 1990-1999 revealed that violent deaths were significantly higher in federal and provincial inmate populations compared to the general male population. Natural causes, such as cardiovascular disease, accounted for a majority of the deaths.

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.

Organization's reputation wields hefty influence: Scientist

Researchers found that scientists tend to accept research from reputable organizations without requiring supporting data. The 'Exxon factor' phenomenon shows how company reputation and large-scale facilities can carry weight over empirical evidence.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Pre-term infants slower than full-terms at processing information

Pre-terms exhibit significantly slower processing speed at recognizing new faces, a skill linked to intelligence and academic achievement. The study suggests pre-terms' slower processing speed is rooted in infancy and may be related to medical risks such as respiratory distress syndrome.

Map data goes live with voice, gesture-based computer system

The Dialogue-Assisted Visual Environment for Geoinformation (DAVE_G) is a new system that enables crisis managers to visualize geospatial information on a large map using verbal and gesture commands. The system aims to improve decision-making in emergency management by providing real-time access to critical data.

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

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.

Bio-X to fund 21 new interdisciplinary research projects

The Bio-X program has awarded grants to 21 new interdisciplinary research projects, including the development of an artificial cornea and a wireless gastric endocapsule. These projects aim to boost collaborations among faculty, students, and staff across departments and schools.

Hopkins researchers find postoperative fevers common following hemispherectomy

Researchers found that more than 80 percent of patients experienced postoperative fevers, but most were caused by non-serious complications. The study provides valuable insights into the incidence of postoperative complications in children undergoing hemispherectomies and may lead to changes in post-operative care protocols.

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

EMBO supports researchers from emerging economies

The EMBO World Programme fellowship scheme supports scientists from non-European countries to visit European laboratories for a six to nine month period. The program aims to foster collaborations and strengthen research between European and home countries.

Zinc supplementation reduces diarrhea and death in Bangladeshi children

A recent study found that zinc supplements can significantly reduce the severity and duration of diarrhea in Bangladeshi children, resulting in lower rates of child morbidity and mortality. The study supports the use of zinc therapy as a simple and effective intervention to improve child health and survival.

The pharmaceutical industry as political player

The pharmaceutical industry's political power can hinder effective drug regulation, leading to unsafe and ineffective drugs. A robust regulatory system is necessary to protect public health from the interests of the industry.

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

First 3-D magnetic reconnection measurements

Researchers at Swarthmore Spheromak Experiment (SSX) make 1st 3D measurements of magnetic reconnection, revealing a swept and sheared magnetic structure. This breakthrough helps understand plasma physics processes on the sun and new structures in fusion energy machines.

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.

New method strikes an improvement in lightning predictions

A new GPS-based index improves lightning strike forecasts by nearly 10% and reduces false alarm rates by 26% at the Kennedy Space Center. The index combines data on water vapor in the atmosphere with other meteorological data to provide valuable guidance for forecasters.

X-rays squeeze fuel to generate nuclear fusion energy

Researchers at Sandia National Labs successfully achieved symmetrical implosions and significant neutron production using intense x-rays to squeeze millimeter-scale fuel capsules, a crucial step towards nuclear fusion energy. The experiments demonstrate the potential for scaling up fusion reactions.

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.

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

New treatment strategy for Crohn's disease shows early promise

Researchers found that patients with moderate to severe Crohn's disease improved significantly after receiving GM-CSF, with 12 out of 15 patients in clinical remission. The treatment targets the innate immune response and has shown promise as an alternative approach to traditional therapies.

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.

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

Cellular pathway includes a 'clock' that steers gene activity

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University have identified a complex signaling pathway that regulates gene activity in living cells. The discovery reveals that the timing of signal transmission plays a critical role in determining which genes are activated, and could lead to the development of new medications targeting cancer cells.

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.

Brains of elderly can compensate to remain sharp, study indicates

Researchers found that high-performing elderly adults showed significantly more bilateral activity in the prefrontal cortex compared to low-performing older adults and young adults. This suggests the possibility of using training or drugs to enhance cognitive function in the elderly by increasing brain recruitment.