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Science News Archive August 2002


Page 8 of 8

New microscope technology allows study of biomolecules interacting with minerals

Researchers have developed a new microscope technology to study the interaction between biomolecules and minerals. The study focuses on Azotobacter vinelandii, a bacterium that releases siderophores to acquire iron from minerals. The findings suggest that these molecules can also dissolve minerals and potentially remove toxic metals, l...

Annals of Internal Medicine tip sheet, Aug. 6, 2002

The ACP Annals Tip Sheet discusses growth hormone deficiency treatment, exercise counseling effectiveness, and West Nile virus prevention strategies. The USPSTF found mixed evidence on exercise counseling's impact on patient activity, while recommending public mosquito control programs for virus prevention.

Moving high-performance computing to Main Street

The grant will double Cornell's high-performance computing capacity, making it available for business applications and research. CTC will offer consulting services and training on parallel computing and Windows-based technologies to help businesses and institutions expand their computing environment.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

NHGRI funds two new centers of excellence in genomic science

The CEGS program supports interdisciplinary research in genomics and its applications in understanding human biology and disease. Two new grants will focus on vertebrate diversity and cell signaling, potentially leading to major insights into genome changes that underlie evolution and human biology.

People with low self-esteem less motivated to break a negative mood

Research reveals that people with low self-esteem are significantly less likely to select a comedy video or engage in activities to improve their mood compared to those with high self-esteem. This is attributed to feelings of resignation and sadness, leading to a lack of motivation to change their emotions.

New method of DNA testing promises to transform medical diagnostics

Researchers have developed a new DNA testing method using water-soluble conjugated polymers and peptide nucleic acid probes, which can detect specific DNA sequences at much lower concentrations. This approach significantly reduces the cost of diagnostics, especially in poorer countries where access to treatment is limited.

New endovascular prosthesis is promising for non-surgical treatment of TAAs

A new endovascular prosthesis has demonstrated promising results in treating life-threatening conditions such as thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections. The treatment has shown decreased morbidity and mortality rates, making it available to patients who are not suitable for conventional surgical repair.

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.

Suicide attempt rate high among urban gay men, UCSF study finds

A recent study found that the suicide attempt rate is high among urban gay men, with younger generations experiencing earlier attempts. Researchers attribute this trend to increased anti-gay harassment and lack of social support among young LGBTQ+ individuals.

Rice building Texas' fastest academic supercomputer

Rice Terascale Cluster will be the first university computer in Texas with a peak performance of 1 teraflop, enabling complex mathematical simulations for drug designers and biomedical researchers. The cluster will tackle increasingly complex problems in fields like bioinformatics, physics, and computer science.

Study finds a mouse model for episodic neurological disorders

Researchers have identified a mouse model to investigate triggers of episodic neurological disorders, including common migraine and periodic paralysis. Two drugs, nimodipine and MK801, have been found to prevent attacks in mice, providing a potential new approach to understanding and treating these conditions.

American Thoracic Society journal news tips for August (first issue)

The American Thoracic Society's first issue for August 2002 discusses significant reductions in fatal cardiovascular disease among smokers who quit, with a 50-70% higher hazard rate compared to non-smokers. Additionally, the study reveals improved HIV survival rates, with a marked increase in patients receiving HAART and surviving to h...

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

First drug developed for widespread use against botulism

A new drug has been developed to combat botulism by potently neutralizing the toxin. The antibody cocktail is capable of binding to a different part of the toxin molecule, blocking more of the toxin surface than single antibodies. This approach could be scaled up for mass production and stockpiling to prevent or treat botulism.

Size matters

A new model predicts that an animal's body size determines how often it encounters food in its environment. The researchers found that larger animals have bigger home ranges due to their ability to perceive and average over different scales of resource availability.

Without fire, red pines could disappear, model shows

Red pine groves in the Boundary Water Canoe Area may vanish due to lack of natural fires. A new model suggests that continued fire suppression would lead to the loss of red pines and other tree species within 300 years.

Fungus-enhanced plants popular with grasshoppers

Grasshoppers are drawn to plants with mycorrhizal symbiosis due to their increased nutrient content and tolerance to grazing. The study, conducted by Kansas State University researchers, found that grasshoppers avoid plants without this beneficial relationship, suggesting a crucial role for fungi in ecosystem health.

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.

Heat sensitive materials change color when hot

Researchers develop heat-sensitive polymers that change color at various temperatures, providing a safety application to prevent burns, food poisoning, and accidents. The polymers can be added to products such as plastics, paints, inks, and rubbers, enabling smart packaging that warns consumers of potential hazards.

18F-FDG PET predicts lymphoma treatment outcome

A new study found that 18F-FDG PET scans accurately predict lymphoma treatment outcomes, especially after one cycle of chemotherapy. The test's sensitivity was higher after the first cycle, making it a better predictor of outcome and response to therapy.

Mice provide insight into bone metabolism disorders

Researchers created mice lacking SHIP gene to understand how bone forms and breaks down in diseases like JPD. The study reveals that mice with deficient SHIP develop osteoclasts similar to those found in humans with JPD, leading to severely osteoporotic conditions.

Physical map of mouse genome now available

A physical map of the mouse genome provides detailed organization and context to the draft sequence, aiding in gene discovery and understanding health and disease. This mapping effort also enables researchers to access specific regions of DNA for further study.

Karnal bunt struggles to spread without large numbers

The Karnal bunt pathogen faces challenges in reproducing over long distances, leading to declining small populations instead of growth. Researchers found that a critical mass is needed for the population to function well and invade new areas.

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.

New predictive marker found for prostate and colon cancer

Researchers at Michigan Medicine have discovered a new predictive marker, HIP1, associated with an increased risk of developing prostate and colon cancer. HIP1 levels were found to rise significantly in tumor cells, making it a potential target for therapy.

Brain can reorganize after traumatic injury

Researchers discovered that damaged brains can reorganize and compensate for damage by engaging new systems to perform memory tasks. This finding has implications for the treatment of traumatic brain injuries, highlighting the potential benefits of brain imaging studies in tracking changes and understanding recovery.

Gulf buoy network to aid in red tide early warning systems

A new Gulf buoy network is being developed to detect harmful algal blooms, also known as red tides, which can cause fish kills and human illnesses. The system uses FlowCAM technology, which will provide continuous monitoring of water column images, allowing for early warning and prediction of deadly red tides.

Computational geneticists revisit a mystery in evolution

Researchers Aviv Bergman and Mark Siegal found that complexity of genotypes, rather than natural selection, provides fidelity in development. They argue that functional genetic networks with enough complexity exhibit built-in property of fidelity, unaffected by environmental disturbances or natural selection.

Australian-American duo shows black holes in collision

Researchers David Merritt and Ron Ekers developed a mathematical model suggesting that supermassive black holes merge when their host galaxies collide. The model demonstrates the realignment of larger black holes, resulting in sudden changes in jet direction, which can be observed as X-shaped patterns in galaxy images.

GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Attention acts as visual glue

A recent brain mapping experiment provides significant new support for the theory that attention is the glue that cements visual information together, helping to solve the 'binding problem' in neuroscience. The study found increased activity in the parietal region when individuals were presented with multiple objects at once.

One gene, two eye diseases?

Researchers have discovered a gene associated with both macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa, two eye diseases affecting different segments of vision. The RPGR gene is linked to early-onset macular degeneration primarily affecting males.

Gene may protect abused kids against behavior problems

A genetic variation in monoamine oxidase A (MAO A) enzyme may protect maltreated children against antisocial behavior, with a ninefold increased risk of aggression in those with low enzyme activity. In contrast, higher MAO A levels were associated with trauma resistance and reduced behavior problems.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

1918 human influenza epidemic no longer linked to birds

A team of scientists from Smithsonian and other institutions sequenced bird genetic material found in the 1917 collection, comparing it with the 1918 pandemic virus HA gene sequence. The comparison suggests that the pandemic viral HA gene was not derived directly from an avian source.

Researchers identify pathway that helps keep weight in check

Diet-induced thermogenesis is an intricate system of communications masterminded by the brain that produces heat and helps prevent obesity. By removing beta adrenergic receptors, researchers found that mice fed a high-fat diet grew massively obese, highlighting the importance of this pathway in preventing weight gain.

Hybrid buses operate with lower emissions, greater fuel efficiency

A year-long evaluation of hybrid buses in NYC's fleet found a 10% higher in-service fuel economy and 36% lower oxides of nitrogen emissions. However, maintenance costs were significantly higher due to the maturity level of the technology, but are expected to decrease as it advances.

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

Dementia – before or after stroke – increases risk of death

Patients with post-stroke dementia are at an increased risk of death within two years, with a relative risk of mortality six-fold compared to those without dementia after stroke. Dementia is also associated with poorer survival rates and reduced treatment adherence due to medication non-compliance.

Dooley and Gardner named Hartford Doctoral Fellows in geriatric social work

The Hartford Doctoral Fellows program aims to ensure a pool of trained and skilled geriatric social workers by recruiting, sustaining, and training talented doctoral students. The program is designed to produce tomorrow's social work faculty, with over 600,000 practicing social workers in the US requiring geriatric knowledge.

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

Satellites reveal a mystery of large change in earth's gravity field

Scientists have discovered a significant upward bulge at the equator and downward bulge at the poles in the Earth's gravity field. The observed changes are counteracting the gravitational effects of post-glacial rebound, leading researchers to investigate potential causes such as climate change or ocean circulation.

Want innovative CEO's? Keep looking to young techies

A study by the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences found that young tech CEOs are more likely to invest in research and development, while older attorneys tend to be more conservative. The study suggests that CEO characteristics, such as background and tenure, have a significant impact on R&D spending.

Tropical forests under surveillance

Advanced sensors and communication platforms can monitor complex tropical environments to track elusive animals and study their behavior. Technologies like automated telemetry systems, high-quality sound recordings, and radiotransmitters are being developed to aid conservation efforts in the Amazon basin.

Biomarkers of aging news advisory

Researchers analyzed biomarker data from over 700 healthy men and 60 rhesus monkeys, finding lower body temperatures, blood insulin levels, and higher DHEAS levels in those on a calorically restricted diet were associated with longer lifespan. The study suggests potential for developing compounds that mimic the benefits of caloric rest...

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.

Physicists announce latest muon g-2 measurement

The latest muon g-2 measurement provides a unique and unusually sensitive test of the validity of the general theory of electromagnetism or, equivalently, the Standard Model of particle physics. The result confirms earlier measurements with twice the precision, making this new measurement a much more sensitive test of the Standard Model.

Solving problems by phone improves well-being of stroke caregivers

A new program, social problem-solving telephone partnerships (SPTP), uses phone calls to help family caregivers resolve challenges of caring for stroke survivors. The study found that caregivers who received SPTP improved significantly in their depression, emotional well-being, and mental health over four weeks.

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Dog collars could prevent parasitic disease in children

A recent study found that dog collars fitted with deltamethrin resulted in a 42% reduction in transmission of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis to children and a 54% drop in infection rates among dogs. This alternative control method is more practical and effective than current methods, such as dog culling and spraying insecticide.

Brain tumor therapy needs longer treatment time

Cornell researchers have found that a longer infusion time of boronophenylalanine is needed to effectively target cancer cells in brain tumors. The new finding has the potential to improve the success of boron neutron capture therapy, which has shown moderate success in treating tumors but struggles with aggressive cell clusters.

Mechanism behind stuttering revealed

A study has identified a significant difference in brain tissue structure between individuals with persistent developmental stuttering and those with normal speech. The abnormality may develop during early language and speech acquisition, explaining how disturbed signal transmission affects speech production.

Powerful electron beam generator could combat anthrax

A new device produced high-energy electron beams to break down harmful organic molecules and kill bacteria such as anthrax, providing a more affordable alternative to existing technology. The Coupled Multiplier Accelerator (CMA) has been licensed for commercial use to treat contaminated water and food.

How the body copes with fear

Researchers from the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry found that the cannabinoid receptor is crucial for erasing fear behavior. In mouse models lacking this receptor, fear behavior evoked by an aversive acoustic sound was significantly reduced compared to normal control mice.

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.