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Science News for August 26, 2003


Forest preservation work turns to Carolina hemlock

Researchers are exploring ways to combat the devastating impact of the Asian woody adelgid on western North Carolina's hemlock forests. CAMCORE, a global forest conservation program, is working with natural predators and developing resistant tree varieties to preserve genetic diversity.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·DateAug 26, 2003

First relapsing fever outbreak in Montana identified

A mystery illness in western Montana was solved by researchers identifying the cause as Borrelia hermsii, a spiral-shaped bacterium. The disease is curable with antibiotics and can cause recurrent febrile illnesses, highlighting the potential for emerging diseases in previously unrecognised areas.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases·JournalEmerging Infectious Diseases·DateAug 26, 2003
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

PNNL supercomputer fastest open system in U.S.

PNNL's new supercomputer is the US' fastest operational unclassified system, featuring an 11.8T HP Integrity system with Intel Itanium2 processors running Linux. The machine will enable novel studies in atmospheric chemistry, systems biology, and materials science.

SourceDOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory·DateAug 26, 2003

Dental procedure may reduce risk of premature birth

Researchers found an 84% reduction in preterm births among pregnant women with periodontitis who received scaling and root planing therapy. The study suggests that periodontal disease may increase the risk of premature delivery, highlighting the importance of regular dental exams for pregnant women.

SourceAmerican Academy of Periodontology·JournalJournal of Periodontology·DateAug 26, 2003

Laboratory 'theme park' re-creates RNA world for study

Scientists, led by Bartel, develop RNA enzymes in lab that can replicate and act as enzymes, but still short of the 200-nucleotide goal. The RNA-world hypothesis proposes RNA played both DNA and protein roles in early evolution, with researchers re-creating this system to study its feasibility.

SourceWhitehead Institute for Biomedical Research·JournalBiochemistry·DateAug 26, 2003

Coronary artery calcium can be a warning sign of fatal cardiac event

Researchers found that coronary artery calcium scoring can predict death with high accuracy, especially in individuals with high scores. The study contributes to the debate on using calcium screening to detect latent atherosclerosis and its link to heart disease.

SourceRadiological Society of North America·JournalRadiology·DateAug 26, 2003
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.

Scientists: Cloak of human proteins gets HIV into cells

Researchers suggest that heightening immune response against human proteins in viral envelope could prevent HIV infection, offering a potential solution for reducing transmission rates. This approach, called alloimmunization, has the advantage of working against all strains of HIV and other retroviruses.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 26, 2003

Patients with atrial fibrillation undertreated for stroke risk

A recent JAMA article highlights that less than half of patients with atrial fibrillation are receiving warfarin therapy to reduce their risk of ischemic stroke. The scoring system developed by Thomas J. Wang and colleagues can easily stratify patients at high or low risk for stroke, enabling targeted treatment and counseling.

SourceUniversity Hospitals of Cleveland·JournalJAMA·DateAug 26, 2003

UCLA receives NSF award for plasma research

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) has received a significant National Science Foundation (NSF) award for its plasma research, enabling the development of new computational infrastructure and innovation. The NSF funding will support key areas of research, including fusion energy, astrophysics, and space weather.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·DateAug 26, 2003

Schwab foundation names Victoria Hale a social entrepreneur for 2004

Victoria Hale, founder of Institute for OneWorld Health, recognized by the Schwab Foundation for her innovative approach to pharmaceutical development, providing life-saving medicines to those in need. The Institute's entrepreneurial model combines pharmaceutical expertise with a social mission to address global health disparities.

SourceInstitute for OneWorld Health·DateAug 26, 2003
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

New digital technique improves mammography results

Contrast digital mammography has been shown to accurately identify cancers in patients with suspicious abnormalities, reducing false positives and unnecessary biopsies. The new technique uses intravenous iodine contrast to enhance blood vessels created by tumors, improving detection in dense breast tissue.

SourceRadiological Society of North America·JournalRadiology·DateAug 26, 2003