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Science News for August 29, 2003


Farmers needs are key to acceptance of new crops

Dalton's study reveals farmers value plant height, days to maturity, and processing characteristics over yield increase. He used a hedonic model to derive economic values of crop traits, aiding breeders in creating technology.

SourceUniversity of Maine·JournalAgricultural Economics·DateAug 29, 2003

St. Jude identifies ways to improve treatment of childhood leukemia in Honduras

In Honduras, abandonment of therapy and fatal infections lead to high mortality rates among children with ALL, but can be corrected with interventions such as transportation funding and education programs. The study found that improving survival rates requires a two-pronged approach, also addressing infection and overcrowding issues.

SourceSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital·JournalThe Lancet·DateAug 29, 2003

Emory scientists track down immune sentinel cells with gene gun

Researchers used a gene gun to target dendritic cells, the 'security cameras' of the immune system, and found that their number is 100 times higher than previously thought. This discovery could lead to more efficient vaccine development using abundant, long-lived dendritic cells.

SourceEmory University Health Sciences Center·JournalNature Immunology·DateAug 29, 2003
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

Rat study shows exposure to Ecstasy early in pregnancy induces brain, behavior changes

A new study found that exposing pregnant rats to MDMA resulted in significant increases in dopamine neuron fibers in the frontal cortex, leading to potential behavioral changes. The study also revealed modest decreases in dopamine metabolism and reductions in serotonin levels, suggesting sex differences in vulnerability to MDMA's prena...

SourceNIH/National Institute on Drug Abuse·JournalNeurotoxicology and Teratology·DateAug 29, 2003

Making 3-D chips a reality

Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute are developing new interconnect technologies that enable three-dimensional circuit integration, promising improved performance and function. The technology uses damascene processing to bond wafers together face-to-face, reducing global travel distance and enabling faster signal transmission.

SourceRensselaer Polytechnic Institute·DateAug 29, 2003

Stem cells shown to regenerate damaged lung tissue for first time

Adult stem cells have been shown to regenerate damaged lung tissue, offering a promising new treatment for devastating lung diseases. The study's findings suggest that circulating stem cells can repair damage in organ tissue, which could have a huge impact on the treatment of conditions like emphysema and cystic fibrosis.

SourceUniversity of Vermont·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateAug 29, 2003
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.

Grant renews funding of research toward cloning primates

Scientists at the Pittsburgh Development Center are working towards cloning nonhuman primates, overcoming fundamental molecular obstacles first reported in 2003. The goal is to generate at least 10 cloned nonhuman primates and produce identical offspring through embryo splitting for studying human diseases.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh Medical Center·DateAug 29, 2003

Few Filipino farmers know of the benefits of golden rice

A Cornell University researcher found that awareness and knowledge of golden rice among Filipino farming community leaders is almost nonexistent. Vitamin A deficiency affects over 100 million children worldwide, leading to preventable blindness and high mortality rates.

SourceCornell University·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateAug 29, 2003