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Science News for October 27, 2003


Improved remote mapping of disaster zones

Columbia researchers have developed a classification system for turning SAR data into detailed maps of landscape elements like water, vegetation, and rocks. This technology has shown superiority over optical remote sensing in identifying disaster zones, particularly during nighttime or with smoke and dust present.

Liver transplants result in excellent survival rates for patients with liver cancer

A US study found that liver transplantation significantly improves five-year survival rates for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), from 25.3% in the late 1980s to 61.1% in the early 2000s. The study suggests that careful patient selection based on improved criteria may be a key factor in these improvements.

SourceAmerican Society of Clinical Oncology·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·DateOct 27, 2003

PTEN and prostate cancer--the devil is in the doses

Researchers created mouse models to study PTEN's impact on prostate cancer progression. Subtle reductions in PTEN dose produced progressive changes in the biology of tumors, with mice having no functional PTEN genes showing the most invasive and aggressive cancers.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateOct 27, 2003

Childhood obesity? School food service personnel say NIMBY

A study by Penn State researchers found that school service personnel who participated in a Project PA workshop recognized the importance of nutrition education and healthy eating behaviors in addressing childhood obesity. The participants identified parental attitudes, peer pressure, and media as barriers to students' healthful eating...

Straight from the heart

A Canadian study compared outcomes for patients with elevated cardiac markers who received a home health nurse-delivered disease management program versus those without. The results showed significant reductions in hospitalization days for congestive heart failure and angina. A commentary highlighted the need for a national program to ...

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·DateOct 27, 2003

Suffer the children

A Canadian study found that 96% of substantiated child abuse cases did not result in serious physical harm, highlighting the need for a reevaluation of investigative procedures and risk assessments. The study's findings also raise concerns about the emphasis on rapid intervention over longer-term service needs.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·DateOct 27, 2003

Pollutant-eating microbe could speed gasworks cleanup

A newly discovered bacterium, Polaromonas naphthalenivorans strain CJ2, has been found to break down naphthalene and other toxins in coal tar contamination. The discovery was made using a new technique called stable isotopic probing (SIP), which allowed researchers to identify the microbe's DNA signature.

SourceCornell University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 27, 2003