Bluesky Facebook Reddit Email

Science News Archive 2004


Page 92 of 135

Dental pulp cells may hold key to treatment of Parkinson's disease

Researchers have found that dental pulp cells can provide support and survival for nerve cells affected in Parkinson's disease, potentially leading to a new cell-based therapy. The study suggests that these cells produce beneficial 'neurotrophic' factors, promoting nerve cell survival.

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.

PACS increase physician productivity by more than a third

A study at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital found that PACS implementation led to a 39% increase in work-related relative value units (WRVU) per radiologist, indicating improved productivity. Staffing remained the same despite increased patient volume, suggesting efficient use of PACS can handle growth without adding staff.

NIAID rotavirus vaccine licensed for commercialization

The NIAID-licensed rotavirus vaccine has been developed to combat severe diarrhea in infants and young children worldwide. The vaccine has shown promise in reducing the number of deaths caused by rotavirus infections, particularly in developing countries where access to effective treatments is limited.

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

Chromosome losses mean poor survival in childhood leukemia

A retrospective study of 249 children with ALL found that most chromosome abnormalities had little impact on prognosis, except for those involving the loss of chromosomes 7 and 9. In these cases, only 15% remained disease-free five years after treatment.

Radiologists provide safe delivery method for gene therapy

Researchers at UCLA successfully deliver gene therapy agents directly into tumor cells with minimal complications, improving effectiveness and reducing side effects of existing treatments. The study demonstrates the feasibility and safety of CT-guided injection for gene therapy delivery.

Annals of Internal Medicine, tip sheet, May 4, 2004

The US task force recommends targeted screening of healthy women over 70 with mammography and Pap tests, as there is limited evidence to support universal screening for lung cancer. Meanwhile, a study reveals that managing drug care for older adults requires improvement, with failures in educating patients on medication use and underus...

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Prevalence of HIV among childbearing women has declined in New York

Between 1988 and 2000, New York State's HIV prevalence among childbearing women decreased steadily, with a 49% decrease in NYC and a 24% decline statewide. This decline was largely attributed to the widespread use of highly active antiretroviral therapy and targeted efforts aimed at minority populations.

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.

Staying close to mother helps baby dolphins swim

A study published in Journal of Biology reveals that young dolphins adopt an ideal position to get a 'free ride' in their mother's slipstream, reducing energy required for swimming. This drafting phenomenon helps the calf stay with its mother, but can be disrupted by fishing vessels, potentially impacting dolphin populations.

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.

First target for childhood malaria vaccine

Researchers have identified a new protein target for a universal childhood malaria vaccine, which causes infected red blood cells to stick inside blood vessels. This protein is expressed on the surface of red blood cells during severe childhood malaria but not during adult infections, making it an ideal candidate for vaccination.

NIST quantum keys system sets speed record for 'unbreakable' encryption

The NIST quantum key distribution system generates a verifiably secret key at a rate of 1 million bits per second, about 100 times faster than previously reported systems. The system uses time-stamping and high-speed observations to identify photons from the sender among multiple photons from other sources.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

New research outlines public health consequences

A new study by Mount Sinai researchers found that exposure to WTC dust increased the risk of respiratory symptoms, including cough, wheeze, and shortness of breath. Pregnant women who were near the disaster site experienced a two-fold increase in small for gestational age infants.

Electromagnetic breast imaging tested as alternative to mammography

Researchers at Dartmouth Medical School have developed a new breast imaging technique using electrical impedance, microwave imaging, and near-infrared spectroscopy. The method can identify specific breast characteristics that differ in normal and diseased tissue, potentially leading to early detection of breast cancer.

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

Stress linked to increased risk of depressive and anxiety disorders

A study found that lifetime exposure to adversity is associated with an increased risk of developing depressive or anxiety disorders in young adults. The researchers analyzed data from 1,803 interviews and found that the level of adversity was a significant predictor of these disorders.

Flagellation in Crohn disease

Researchers have identified a key antigen underlying Crohn disease, bacterial flagellin, which triggers an immune response. Studies found high reactivity against specific flagellins in CD patients, but not in controls or ulcerative colitis patients, providing new leads for causal antigens.

Painstaking work targeting TRPV1

Scientists successfully deleted primary afferent neurons expressing vanilloid receptor 1, leading to potential breakthroughs in pain management. The study aims to provide new avenues for treating chronic pain by targeting the TRPV1 receptor.

NASA satellites and balloons spot airborne pollution 'train'

Scientists use NASA satellites and balloon-borne sensors to track the movement of a pollution train traveling from the Indian Ocean to the South Atlantic. The study reveals that Asian pollution can flow southward, get caught up in clouds, and reach as far as Brazil.

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Wavefront LASIK demonstrated superior to conventional LASIK

Wavefront-guided LASIK yields sharper and higher quality vision, as well as improved night driving abilities compared to conventional LASIK. With wavefront-guided LASIK, patients achieve 97% of 20/20 vision and 85% with 20/16 vision, significantly outperforming conventional LASIK.

Animal studies show promise treating severe chronic pain

Researchers developed a new technique to selectively delete C-fiber neurons, which transmit chronic pain signals, using the drug resiniferatoxin. In animal studies, this approach reduced pain and improved behavior without side effects.

Chemical brain scans may help reassure brain tumor patients

Researchers have developed a technique called 2D CSI MRS that uses chemical signatures to distinguish between tumor recurrence, normal tissue, and treatment-related changes in the brain. This method has shown significant differences in chemical ratios for recurrent tumors versus treatment-altered tissue.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Caffeine consumption associated with increases in blood pressure in adolescents

A study found that caffeine consumption is associated with increased systolic blood pressure in adolescents, particularly those who consume more than 100mg of caffeine per day. The researchers suggest that high caffeine intakes may be a marker for unhealthy dietary and lifestyle practices that increase the risk of hypertension.

Pap smears, mammography should be targeted at healthy elders, study says

A recent study by the University of California - San Francisco found that healthy older women are more likely to be screened for cancer, while those in poor health are less likely. The study analyzed data from over 4,700 women aged 70 and above, revealing a significant gap in screening rates among healthy versus unhealthy individuals.

Study finds combination therapy successful for treating depression

A NIH study found that combination therapy of psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy improved treatment adherence and reduced depression in injection drug users. The study showed nearly 40% of participants fully adherent to treatment were in remission, compared to 12% without treatment.

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.

Enzyme prevents lung damage in premature infants

Researchers found that an enzyme called superoxide dismutase helps prevent inflammation and promotes lung development in premature infants. This discovery could lead to improved treatments to alleviate chronic lung disease and preserve lung function.

Attracting an immune response to cancer

Researchers found that NKT cells are attracted to tumors producing the chemokine CCL2, leading to better patient outcomes. Neuroblastomas with abnormally high levels of the cancer-causing gene MYCN contained fewer NKT cells and produced less CCL2.

Examining motivational interviewing in drug abuse therapy

Research suggests that motivational interviewing may not be effective in reducing drug use behaviors, as individuals often resist weaker language during assessment feedback. Therapists should modify their techniques to avoid undermining existing motivation for behavior change.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Study finds bupropion may be effective smoking cessation aid for women

A study published in Nicotine and Tobacco Research found that bupropion was an effective treatment for women who smoked lightly. Women receiving bupropion were twice as likely to remain abstinent from smoking if they smoked fewer than 20 cigarettes per day, compared to those receiving behavioral counseling alone.

Study finds HIV protein can drive immune cells away

A study found that HIV's gp120 protein can repel immune cells, dubbed fugetaxis, which could lead to a new therapeutic approach to block this activity. This mechanism may also apply to other viruses, such as pox and papilloma viruses.

New research suggests therapeutic approach for autoimmune diseases

A new study found that blocking the protein FcRn reduces autoantibody production and protects against arthritis in mice, offering a potential therapeutic target for autoimmune diseases. The research suggests that FcRn may be responsible for promoting autoimmunity in patients with conditions like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

Alternative/supplemental breast imaging methods tested

Researchers at Dartmouth College developed and tested three alternative breast imaging methods to learn about breast tissue structure and behavior. The non-invasive techniques include electrical impedance spectral imaging, microwave imaging spectroscopy, and near infrared spectral imaging.

Unnatural light-dark cycles expose duelling circadian clocks

The study reveals two locomotor activity rhythms originating from separate areas within the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), highlighting a network of multiple oscillators. This finding suggests that uncoupling of oscillators within the central pacemaker itself can cause symptoms like jet lag and rotating work schedules.

March of Dimes awards $250,000 prize to pioneering scientist

Dr. Lyon's 1961 discovery of X-chromosome inactivation explained the inheritance pattern of X-linked disorders such as hemophilia and fragile X syndrome. The study of X-inactivation continues to excite researchers today, with a focus on understanding the process.

MRI 'highly useful' in the evaluation of patients with uterine fibroids

A study found MRI to be highly useful in the evaluation of patients with uterine fibroids. The imaging technique offers advantages over sonography, including a larger field of view and better contrast resolution. MRI can help identify subsets of patients who may not benefit from UAE treatment, allowing for more personalized care.

4-MDCT 'excellent technique' for evaluating kidney donors

The study found that 4-MDCT results correlated accurately with surgical findings in 88 of the cases (93%), and specifically with renal vein anatomy in 91 of the 94 cases (96%). This technique offers several advantages over conventional imaging methods, including speed, non-invasiveness, comfort for patients, and greater volume coverage.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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