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Science News for August 19, 2002


'Jolly fat' hypothesis doesn’t carry weight

Researchers found no association between obesity and better mental health, contradicting the 'jolly fat' hypothesis. The study examined eight indicators of mental health in 1,739 participants over a decade, suggesting further research on nutrition's impact on mental state.

SourceCenter for Advancing Health·JournalAnnals of Behavioral Medicine·DateAug 19, 2002
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Promising multi-strain HIV vaccine candidate emerges

A new HIV vaccine candidate has shown promising results, targeting a shared characteristic of all HIV strains and generating antibodies that neutralize a wide range of isolates. The complex could serve as a useful model for HIV vaccine development, bringing researchers closer to their goal of developing an effective vaccine.

SourceUniversity of Maryland Biotechnology Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 19, 2002

Annals of Internal Medicine Aug. 20 tip sheet

A new study found that flu vaccines can benefit healthy working adults aged 18-50 by avoiding lost work time and treatment costs. Hormone replacement therapy does not prevent or reduce the rate of developing heart disease, contrary to earlier studies.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateAug 19, 2002

New AIDS drug discoveries to battle drug-resistant HIV strains

Two new drugs, Dapivirine and R165335, have shown great promise in Phase I and II clinical trials against drug-resistant HIV strains. These compounds are derived from the dianilinopyrimidine family and have been tested as a viable candidate for treating AIDS in developing countries.

SourceRutgers University·DateAug 19, 2002

Ending at square 1: Does order of good & bad events matter to consumers?

Researchers found that consumers' psychological state changes even if their economic state doesn't, with the magnitude of this 'order effect' increasing over time. The study has practical implications for marketers and regulators, who can influence consumer perceptions by altering the sequence of information presentation.

SourceInstitute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences·JournalMarketing Science·DateAug 19, 2002
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.

Something to write home about: Journaling can help after trauma

A study published in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine found that journaling about both thoughts and emotions after a traumatic event can lead to increased awareness of benefits, such as improved relationships and personal strength. In contrast, focusing solely on emotional aspects may not produce similar benefits.

SourceCenter for Advancing Health·JournalAnnals of Behavioral Medicine·DateAug 19, 2002

Pediatric autopsies

A new study analyzing over 7,000 pediatric autopsies found that nearly 60 specimens suggested diagnoses of metabolic disorders as the underlying cause of infant and child deaths. The most commonly detected disorders were medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency and glutaric acidemia type I and II deficiencies.

SourceAmerican Association for Clinical Chemistry·JournalClinical Chemistry·DateAug 19, 2002

New Geocentrifuge Research Laboratory coming online

The new Geocentrifuge Research Laboratory enables researchers to study complex processes at high speeds, accelerating environmental cleanup and geotechnical engineering advancements. Researchers will explore topics such as contaminant transport mechanisms and fluid flow in soil and rock.

SourceDOE/Idaho National Laboratory·DateAug 19, 2002

$1.2 million grant backs study of environmental stress, cancer origins

Researchers at Emory University's Winship Cancer Institute are studying cellular responses to environmental stress to better understand how it contributes to cancer development. The team aims to characterize networks of systems that operate during exposure to DNA-damaging events, with a focus on DNA repair and damage tolerance pathways.

SourceEmory University Health Sciences Center·DateAug 19, 2002
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Cancer revealed: New $10M grant establishes cancer imaging center

The Center for Molecular Imaging will combine cutting-edge imaging technologies with new knowledge about genes and proteins to develop ways of seeing cancer as it begins, grows, and is killed. The laboratory discoveries made by its scientists could accelerate everything from diagnosis to the development of future medications.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·DateAug 19, 2002

American Thoracic Society Journal news tips for August (second issue)

A study of 2,950 children found that in utero exposure to maternal smoking was linked to asthma and wheezing, with genetic susceptibility playing a significant role. Low body weight in COPD patients is also associated with greater muscle atrophy and poorer exercise capacity.

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateAug 19, 2002

Obstacles fall to feasibility of hybrid fuel cell vehicle

Researchers at Penn State have developed a system to remove hydrogen odorant using adsorbers, enabling the use of pure hydrogen in fuel cells. The system also addresses hydrogen storage concerns by utilizing a metal hydride system based on magnesium, which is stable up to 554 degrees Fahrenheit.

SourcePenn State·DateAug 19, 2002
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.

Food irradiation is focus of two-day symposium, Aug. 19-20

A two-day symposium on food irradiation will examine the effects on meat flavor, antioxidant levels in fruit juices, and packaging material migration into food products. Researchers will also investigate irradiation's impact on astronaut meals and items sent through the mail.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·DateAug 19, 2002

Honey fights cholesterol as well as some fruits and vegetables

A study by Nicki Engeseth found that honey improves antioxidant levels in human blood, suggesting a mild protective effect against heart disease. The research also showed that darker honeys have higher antioxidant levels, which may inhibit the growth of oral pathogenic bacteria.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·DateAug 19, 2002

Would 'race' disappear if the United States officially stopped measuring it?

The American Sociological Association asserts that measuring race is essential for understanding its role in shaping social definitions, power relationships, and institutional practices. Despite biological research questioning its utility, sociologists argue that racial categories persist and influence daily life.

SourceAmerican Sociological Association·DateAug 19, 2002
Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

MRI studies provide new insight into how emotions interfere with staying focused

Duke University researchers used functional MRI to study the brains of neurologically healthy subjects while they tried to focus on a task. The results showed that emotional stimuli and attentional functions move in parallel streams through the brain before meeting up in the prefrontal cortex.

SourceDuke University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 19, 2002

Occupational therapy is cost effective, significantly improves quality of life for seniors

A USC study found that preventive occupational therapy significantly improves quality of life and reduces medical costs for seniors. The study involved three groups of culturally diverse adults over 60, with the intervention group showing marked improvements in physical and emotional well-being without increasing healthcare costs.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateAug 19, 2002