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Science News Archive August 2002 - Page 4


Page 4 of 8

LECs may be future of flat panel color displays

Scientists at Penn State have developed a voltage-controlled, two-color bipolar LEC that can produce yellow and red light, paving the way for efficient and stable full-color displays. The technology has high luminance intensity, efficiency, fast response time, and long-term stability, making it suitable for flat-panel applications.

Risk from breast cancer susceptibility gene may be exaggerated in most studies

A recent study suggests that breast cancer susceptibility gene may be associated with lower penetrance than previously estimated. Genetic counselors must consider multiple risk factors when predicting an individual's risk for breast cancer, as the presence of a BRCA mutation does not define her overall risk.

SourceJournal of the National Cancer Institute·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateAug 20, 2002

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

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.

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

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

Discovery could bring widespread uses for 'nanocrystals'

Researchers at Purdue University have developed a process to produce metal nanocrystals in large quantities at low cost, containing valuable nanocrystals in common machining processes. The discovery could lead to widespread uses of nanocrystals in various industries, including automotive and electronics.

SourcePurdue University·JournalJournal of Materials Research·DateAug 16, 2002