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Science News Archive February 2003


Page 7 of 9

NHLBI study finds possible new indicator of heart disease risk

A recent NHLBI study found a link between low levels of endothelial progenitor cells and increased cardiovascular disease risk. The study suggests that these cells play a crucial role in repairing damaged blood vessels, and their depletion may contribute to the progression of heart disease.

Stress during pregnancy can affect fetal heart rate

A study found that stress can alter fetal heart rates in response to a woman's emotional state, potentially impacting long-term health and development. The research suggests that high anxiety levels may shape fetal heart rate patterns even before birth.

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.

Work stress can affect how lower-income families eat

A study by Cornell University found that work stress significantly impacts the food choices of low- and middle-income adults, particularly women with children. The research highlights the need for workplace solutions, such as healthy food options and self-care strategies, to address this issue.

College students at risk during alcohol-related blackouts

A survey of Duke University students reveals nearly one in 10 experienced a blackout while drinking, with risks linked to lower GPAs and problem drinking. The study highlights the need for early alcohol-awareness training to prevent hazardous choices during blackouts.

Infants learn to fill in perceptual gaps by 4 months

At 2-6 months old, infants learn to connect visible bits and pieces of the world to form mental representations. By 4 months, they can accurately perceive occlusions in object trajectories, laying the foundation for lifelong visual perception.

Worm model could yield new Parkinson's drugs

A new screening method uses glowing worms to test neuroprotective compounds, which may lead to new Parkinson's disease treatments. Researchers can selectively kill dopamine neurons in living worms using neurotoxins, and the green glow dims when they die.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Braille found to be essential, regardless of age of blindness

A new study confirms that Braille is crucial for visual cortex development in blind individuals, regardless of age of blindness. The research used fMRI to compare early and late blind subjects, finding similar activation patterns in the visual cortex.

Polymers promote nerve regeneration

Researchers have developed microscale channels to guide neuron growth in damaged nerves, a breakthrough that shows promise for treating nerve injuries. The technique uses biodegradable polymer films with microscopic patterns to direct nerve cell growth, with initial results showing rats regaining use of their legs after injury.

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.

Researchers help trace origin of Madagascar’s mammals

A new study published in Nature reveals that all of Madagascar's living Carnivora descended from a single species that dispersed from Africa to the island. The findings refute two previously accepted models for mammal colonization and provide further evidence that lemurs also colonized the island in a single event.

Structure of key breast cancer receptor determined

Researchers at Johns Hopkins have determined the 3D structure of the HER2 breast cancer receptor, shedding light on its interactions with the Herceptin antibody. The findings could lead to the design of more effective drugs for treating breast cancer.

AGU journals highlights - 11 February 2003

Scientists discovered a freshening trend in the Labrador Sea and found that mixing of warm and cool waters may prevent El Nino. Additionally, researchers speculated about the cause of high Arctic ozone loss and suggested Martian methane could be an indicator of subsurface life.

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.

New study shows narcissism plus social rejection equals aggression

A new study published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin finds that children who exhibit narcissistic tendencies are more aggressive after experiencing social rejection. The researchers suggest that reducing instances of social rejection and promoting positive self-images could help prevent violence in schools.

NASA discusses future space mission

The University of Michigan College of Engineering will unveil the Fast Imaging Plasma Spectrometer (FIPS), a revolutionary instrument for NASA's MESSENGER Mission to Mercury. The FIPS project demonstrates how high-performance, low-weight instruments can be used to explore the solar system without risk to human life.

Pacemaker therapy halves heart failure deaths

A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials found that pacemaker therapy reduced death from progressive heart failure by 51% and hospitalizations by 29%. The device range in cost $20,000 to $50,000 and improves quality of life for heart failure patients.

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.

Caregiving raises risk of heart disease in women

A long-term study of 54,412 women found that those who cared for loved ones for nine hours or more per week had a higher risk of coronary heart disease. The researchers suggest that mental distress, financial burdens, and limited social support may contribute to this increased risk.

Genetic 'signature' linked to severe lupus symptoms

Researchers have discovered a genetic signature, known as the IFN expression signature, associated with severe lupus symptoms. This signature is linked to interferon activity and has implications for developing new therapies to block IFN pathways in patients with severe lupus.

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.

The war against anti-aging medicine

The biogerontological community is at war with anti-aging medicine, threatening the status and funding of their own research. Binstock argues that this campaign may inadvertently undermine their own legitimacy and research support by blurring public understanding of the difference between their work and pseudoscientific products.

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.

Study shows how eye cells die when exposed to lead

Researchers found that low-level lead exposure during development in mice injures and kills rod-shaped photoreceptor cells, a crucial component of human vision. The study suggests possible treatments using an anti-death protein called Bcl-xL to prevent cell death in eye disorders.

Jefferson scientists find calcium is key to slowing colorectal cancer growth

Scientists at Thomas Jefferson University found that a bacterial toxin opens a cellular door, allowing calcium to flow into tumor cells, which slows cell division and may lead to new methods of treating colorectal cancer. The discovery could also enable the use of the toxin as an intravenous infusion to treat metastatic tumors.

Shedding some light on teeth whiteners

The main cause of tooth discoloration lies at the surface of enamel, where red wine, coffee and tea stain teeth. Hydrogen peroxide-based whitening agents target deeper discoloration by forming radical intermediates that break down into water and oxygen.

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Mayo Clinic study shows loss of mental, functional abilities

Researchers discovered that many nonagenarians (people 90-99 years old) are free of Alzheimer's disease or dementia, with some performing in the superior range on cognitive tests. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) also exists in this age group, but features similar characteristics to those seen in younger individuals.

New Northwestern center targets brain disorders

The Falk Center will utilize state-of-the-art gene chip technology to identify genes responsible for neurological disorders. Two therapeutic developments are approaching the product stage, including a gene-based therapy for malignant brain tumors and a treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Univ of MD study on prevalence of celiac disease

Researchers found that more than 1.5 million Americans suffer from celiac disease, which is triggered by the protein gluten and can cause various gastrointestinal symptoms. The study, published in Archives of Internal Medicine, used a multi-center approach to screen over 13,000 people across 32 states.

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.

Family history doesn’t predict colon cancer genes, behavior

Researchers found that people with a family history of colon cancer were more likely to have high-risk diets, including cooked red meat and low folate levels. Modification of these factors could provide broad benefits for individuals with a family history, regardless of their genes.

Fasting forestalls Huntington's disease in mice

Researchers found that intermittent fasting reduced degeneration of nerve cells and improved glucose regulation in mice with mutant huntingtin. This suggests that fasting may forestall the development of Huntington's disease in humans.

Calient Networks chosen as core platform for Optiputer

OptIPuter program to deploy DiamondWave all-optical switches, enabling fast and cost-effective network with high-speed data transmission. The platform will support scalable and flexible network infrastructure with minimal signal power loss and latency.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Actonel significantly reduced osteoporotic fractures

Actonel significantly reduced fracture risk in high-risk postmenopausal women, with a 62% reduction seen at one year. The medication was found to be effective in reducing spinal fractures in patients over 70 years old and those with low hip BMD.

Ancient climate may augur future effects of global warming

A Purdue research report suggests that ancient lake sediments and computer simulations indicate El Niño might react differently to global warming than current theory claims. The tropical Pacific Ocean maintains its ability to remove heat periodically, even when the climate warms.

New insights into how the nerve connection machinery remodels itself

The study reveals that protein components in the post-synaptic density (PSD) move together in response to neural activity, with a significant percentage undergoing up-and-down regulation. The findings also suggest a high rate of PSD remodeling, with neurons replacing its content multiple times a day.

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

Targeted immunotherapy eradicates cancer in mice

Researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center successfully eradicated cancer in mice using targeted immunotherapy with engineered human T cells. The study, published in Nature Medicine, demonstrates the first-in-vivo efficacy of adoptive immunotherapy with engineered human T cells in mice.

Gene targeting technique extended to human embryonic stem cells

A team of scientists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison has developed methods for recombining DNA segments in human embryonic stem cells using homologous recombination. This technique allows for manipulating any part of the human genome to study gene function and mimic human diseases.

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.

Ground temperature aids in measuring water levels

A study published in Vadose Zone Journal reveals that temperature measurements can accurately determine the rate of water movement towards the groundwater table. This information can help optimize irrigation practices and ensure the long-term sustainability of ground-water resources in the region.

Gene loss creates age- and gender-dependent cancer syndrome in mice

Researchers found that mice with a specific gene (Hic1) developed cancers at an older age, depending on their sex. Female mice developed lymphomas and sarcomas, while male mice developed epithelial cancers. The study provides evidence of epigenetic problems leading to cancer in mice.

New drug targets cancer cells

A new phthalocyanine compound, Pc 4, targets cancerous cells preferentially, leaving healthy tissue alone. The treatment uses laser light to activate the drug, producing forms of oxygen that kill cancer cells and break down tumors.

Low amniotic fluid no risk to normal birth

A recent study at Johns Hopkins Medicine found that babies born with low amniotic fluid at 37 weeks' gestation have normal birth weights and health, challenging conventional wisdom. The study of 262 women showed no significant differences in birth outcomes between those with low and normal amounts of amniotic fluid.

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.

Family history has limited predictive value for asthma risk

A family history of asthma is a consistent risk factor for childhood asthma, but only partially identifies children at increased risk. Despite this, knowledge of the risk can motivate parents and healthcare providers to take proactive steps in prevention.

AstraZeneca seeks mania indication for Seroquel in Europe

AstraZeneca has submitted an application to the European Health Authorities for a new indication for Seroquel in treating manic episodes associated with bipolar disorder. The company's clinical trial programme showed strong and positive results, confirming Seroquel as an ideal first-line agent for this condition.

UC Riverside scientists synthesize new porous materials

New porous materials show photoluminescence, ion exchange and gas sorption, having large surface area and uniform pore sizes. They have potential applications in electrochemical sensors, photocatalysts, solid electrolytes for batteries and gas separation.