Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for November 20, 2002


Getting the jump on hackers

Virginia Tech researchers are working on ways to protect battery-operated computers and wireless devices from hacking attempts that can drain their batteries. The project aims to develop built-in measures to prevent such attacks, which could become a major concern for the wireless industry.

Sleep apnea linked to early brain damage

Researchers found dramatic gray matter loss in the brains of men with sleep apnea, primarily in regions controlling speech production, movement, and emotion. The severity of brain damage correlated directly with disorder severity, suggesting that early brain wiring abnormalities may contribute to sleep apnea onset.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateNov 20, 2002

Want hypertension? Hurry up!

A pioneering study found that time urgency and impatience during young adulthood are associated with increased risk of developing hypertension years later. The strongest link was seen among white men, who were more than three times as likely to develop high blood pressure as those in lower TUI groups.

Ag economist calculates value of knowing that food's safe

A study by Purdue economist William Masters found that African mothers are willing to pay a premium of 30% for infant food with guaranteed quality and safety information. This could lead to reduced child malnutrition rates if generic options were made available, saving up to 6 million lives annually.

SourcePurdue University·JournalAmerican Journal of Agricultural Economics·DateNov 20, 2002

First potentially clinically useful independent marker for lung cancer identified

A study by researchers at the H.Lee Moffitt Cancer Center has identified the ERCC1 gene as a potentially clinically useful independent marker for lung cancer. Patients with high levels of ERCC1 are more likely to survive after surgery and may benefit from platinum-based chemotherapy, while those with low levels have a poorer prognosis.