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Science News Archive August 2004


Page 11 of 12

Jumping gene plays pivotal role in reproduction

A jumping gene called mUtp14b has been found to affect fertility in mice, with a mutation leading to sterility. Researchers believe this gene may play a role in male infertility in humans and are investigating its potential impact.

Two enzymes key to calorie-burning, Brown research shows

Researchers at Brown Medical School have discovered two key enzymes, PC1 and PC2, that play a crucial role in processing the precursor of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and regulating calorie-burning. This finding will aid in the understanding and treatment of obesity, which affects nearly 68 million adults in the United States.

Mount Sinai nursing leader awarded national fellowship

Dr. Capitulo has been recognized for her leadership and research in nursing education and patient-centered care. Her national fellowship includes a $30,000 grant to develop a model for navigating industry changes, building on her experience leading major redesign projects and creating patient-focused care models.

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.

MSU group reviews Berkeley venture into brave new science funding world

A Michigan State University group examined the impact of a $25 million research agreement between UC-Berkeley and Novartis, recommending safeguards to prevent industry influence. The review highlights concerns over credibility, conflict of interest, and institutional accountability in public higher education.

Wolf reintroduction reshapes Yellowstone ecology

The study suggests that the fear of wolves among herbivores influences vegetation growth in Yellowstone. Restoration goals should focus on recovering natural processes, rather than managing specific species. The findings have implications for other regions with similar ecological dynamics.

Leptin has layers of control

Research finds that leptin controls hypothalamic prohormone convertases 1 and 2, influencing thyrotopin-releasing hormone production. This regulation plays a key role in energy balance and may lead to novel treatments for obesity and thyroid axis disorders.

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 meals appear to be associated with adolescent's well-being

Regular family meals are associated with better nutritional intake, lower substance use, and improved emotional health among adolescent girls. The study found that frequent family mealtimes can be a protective factor against various negative outcomes, including suicidal involvement.

Involvement in bullying linked with poor psychosocial adjustment

A study of over 113,000 adolescents from 25 countries found that involvement in bullying was associated with poor physical health, emotional adjustment, school performance, peer relationships, alcohol use, and carrying weapons. The researchers also observed a significant overlap between bullies, victims, and bully-victims.

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.

New diagnostic technology helps justify earlier cataract surgery

A new study using wavefront diagnostic equipment has shown that different types of cataracts produce identifiable results, allowing for accurate measurement of visual errors and improved treatment. This technology can help reduce the number of patients unable to receive early treatment due to inadequate or outdated testing methods.

Another key for the p53 door

YY1 regulates p53 at multiple levels, decreasing its amount in cells and blocking its interaction with cofactors. This discovery offers new targeting options for therapies to prevent transcription factors from interacting with other proteins.

Annals of Internal Medicine, tip sheet, August 3, 2004

A study of 2,220 patients with acute coronary artery disease found that early invasive treatment showed a benefit in preventing heart attack or death, especially for older patients. A survey also revealed significant salary disparities between female and male medical faculty members in the US.

Virginia Tech's 'Centuria' wins NASA aircraft design competition

The Virginia Tech/Loughborough University team designed Centuria, a plane that can replace single-engine general aviation vehicles. The team successfully created a new jet engine optimized for low flight speeds at low altitudes, meeting the needs of thousands of pilots who fly below 10,000 feet and 250 knots.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Adherence to treatment guidelines improves early breast cancer survival

Researchers found that adherence to St-Gallen guidelines improved overall survival at 7 years, especially for those at moderate risk of recurrence. Women whose treatment conformed to guideline recommendations experienced better survival and lower recurrence rates compared to those with non-guideline therapy.

New research explains lag in onset of common type of vertigo

A team of researchers developed a mathematical model to explain the 5-second delay between head motion and vertigo attacks, suggesting that tiny particles called otoconia may be responsible. The study used hydrodynamic models to show that loose otoconia can cause disruptions in the inner ear, leading to dizziness.

Matter-antimatter: Discovered new, striking difference

Researchers at BaBar Collaboration have discovered a new way in which matter-antimatter asymmetry occurs, known as CP direct violation. The study found a significant difference in decay rates between B mesons and their antimatter counterparts.

Stroking up cellular therapy

Researchers found that administering CD34+ cells to mice with stroke damage led to increased new blood vessel growth and improved neural regeneration through the production of growth factors. The findings provide direct evidence for the importance of angiogenesis in repairing stroke damage.

MayoClinic.com receives top honors

MayoClinic.com empowers people to manage their health with useful and up-to-date information and tools from a team of over 2,000 physicians and scientists. The site is owned by Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research and serves as a dependable source of health information.

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.

Pocket gophers serve as 'ecosystem engineers'

Researchers find that pocket gophers' underground activities increase plant diversity and productivity by loosening soil and aerating it. This discovery has implications for restoring native habitats in California.

Wasting away in muscle-ville

Researchers identified myosin heavy chain as a selective target in cancer cachexia, a condition characterized by muscle wasting. The study found that TNF-a/IFN-g-dependent loss of myosin heavy chain occurred through different mechanisms depending on the model used.

'Smart gene therapy' protects against damage from heart attack

Researchers have developed a novel gene therapy that combines a therapeutic gene with a genetic sensor to protect the heart from damage caused by reduced blood flow. The therapy, which was tested in rats, showed a significant reduction in tissue death and damage compared to untreated animals.

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

How strongly does the sun influence the global climate?

Researchers at Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research found a moderate correlation between solar activity and climate change. However, their study suggests that the Sun's influence on global warming is relatively small over the last 20-30 years.

New light on how metals change shape at the nanoscale

Scientists have identified a prominent way in which nanocrystalline metals change shape by using dark-field imaging techniques. Researchers report that at very small dimensions, grain boundaries themselves move and slide past one another to allow deformation.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Physicists discover dramatic difference in behavior of matter versus antimatter

The BaBar experiment at SLAC has discovered striking matter-antimatter asymmetry in the decay of B and anti-B mesons. The researchers found a clear signal for direct charge parity (CP) violation, with a preference for B meson decays over anti-B meson decays by 13%. This effect is significantly stronger than observed in kaons.

Asymmetric feature shows puzzling face for superconductivity

Researchers discovered a significant deviation from expected symmetry in the density of states of excitations in high-temperature superconducting tunnel junctions. The findings suggest that crystals of high-temperature superconductors, with a titanate layer, exhibit intrinsic particle-hole asymmetry.

How well informed are volunteers giving 'informed consent'?

A study published in BMC Medicine found that using visual aids significantly improved pregnant women's understanding of HIV study information. The researchers suggest that the current informed consent process is inadequate and should be revised to effectively communicate information.

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.

Scientists' showdown with soil moisture at the O.K. corral

The Soil Moisture Experiment 2004 aims to understand how much moisture is retained in soils, helping estimate potential flooding or water absorption. By analyzing data from satellites, airplanes, and ground teams, researchers can provide better forecasts for monsoon rainfall and water supply.

Levels of certain hormones may be increased by stress

Researchers found that acute stress increases levels of DHEA-S in healthy humans and the DHEA-S-cortisol ratio is associated with reduced dissociation symptoms. The study suggests that augmentation of DHEA-S levels before stress exposure may provide a protective effect against stress-induced symptoms.

Retreating glaciers spur Alaskan earthquakes

A recent NASA study has found a significant correlation between the retreat of glaciers and an increase in earthquake activity in southern Alaska. As glaciers melt, they lighten the load on the Earth's crust, allowing tectonic plates to move more freely, which can lead to earthquakes.

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.

American Thoracic Society journal news tips for August 2004 (first issue)

Researchers found that a high-fiber diet from fruits and soy foods reduces the incidence of chronic respiratory symptoms, particularly cough with phlegm production. Additionally, brief exposure to multidrug-resistant tuberculosis can lead to infection, as detected by rapid molecular testing in hospital contacts.

ASCO releases new technology assessment

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has released a new technology assessment recommending against the use of chemotherapy sensitivity and resistance assays. The assessment found limitations in the literature, including small sample sizes and low yield of assays, cast doubt on their effectiveness in determining treatment.

Antipsychotic drug prescriptions nearly double for kids with ADHD

A study published in Archives of Pediatric Adolescent Medicine found that antipsychotic medication prescriptions for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) increased dramatically between 1996 and 2001, from 23 per 10,000 to 45 per 10,000. The use of these medications for ASDHD/conduct disorders also rose signific...

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.

UCSB professor and director receives two national awards

Jim Reichman has received the Distinguished Service Citation from the Ecological Society of America for his long service to ESA and scientific community. He is also a recipient of the C. Hart Merriam Award of the American Society of Mammalogists, recognizing his contributions to mammalogy and environmental science.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

A changing landscape may have dire implications for birds

Researchers found that as rural forests are developed, native bird species face risks due to habitat loss and increased predation. The study suggests that housing density is a key driver of these changes, with some birds benefiting from human activities like feeding stations and nesting boxes.

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.

In search of a lean gene

Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory discovered a lean gene, C/EBPbeta, which helps mice live longer and weigh less. The gene's activation may help jump-start metabolism in fat cells, preventing fat accumulation. Another study found that targeting the JIP1 protein can effectively protect against obesity and insulin resistance.

Ants protect plants better when jacked up on nectar

Researchers found that when plants supply ants with nectar, it boosts the ants' desire for meat, making them better bodyguards. The most convenient protein packets for ants on plants are often insects that are there to munch on the plant.

Pioneering the basics for new kind of cancer vaccine

Scientists at Mayo Clinic develop novel approach to cancer vaccine that leverages inflammatory cell death to trigger a strong anti-tumor immune response, eradicating skin cancer tumors without triggering autoimmune disease. The breakthrough sheds light on a major obstacle in advancing cancer vaccine research from lab to human trials.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

DNA variations surprise researchers

Researchers using new genome scanning technologies found stretches of DNA varying by hundreds of thousands of chemical bases that were present or absent in healthy individuals' genomes. This challenge long-held beliefs about the limited nature of genetic variation.

Forest managers can fight invasive species that come with roads

A University of Wisconsin-Madison researcher used historic aerial photographs to track road density and found that invasive species can colonize roads within up to 60 years. Forest managers can employ proactive monitoring and quick action to mitigate the impact of roads on native plant life.

New England forests at greater risk from air pollution

A new study reveals that New England forests are under greater threat from air pollution compared to those in the Southeast region. The research used lichen community composition as an indicator of air pollution and found that nearly one-eighth of the New England area is affected by poorer air quality.

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.