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Science News Archive February 2004


Page 10 of 11

More sex partners means more trouble for teenage girls

A study of 3,288 teenage girls found that those with multiple sexual partners were more likely to have unprotected sex and experience negative health consequences. Girls tend to limit their partners as they progress through high school, but education before ninth grade may help reduce these risks.

MIT student dances with robots

Graduate student Sommer Gentry investigates haptic communication in swing dancing and its potential applications in robotic surgery, human-robot collaboration, and urban warfare. Her research has shown that pure haptic communication is sufficient for humans and robots to move in coordination.

Houston scientist named as rising star in chemistry

Rising star in chemistry, Jianpeng Ma, has made significant breakthroughs in understanding the structure-function relationship of biological molecules. His innovative approach uses computer simulation to explore this connection, paving the way for furthering our fundamental understanding of chemistry.

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.

Scientists develop plant that produces potential anti-carcinogen

Purdue University researchers have engineered plants to produce a non-toxic form of selenium called methylselenocysteine, which has shown promise in reducing cancer risk in animal models. The plants can also accumulate high levels of selenium, potentially providing a natural source for nutritional supplements and environmental cleanup.

Twenty-five per cent of teenage girls face depression

A recent study found that 25% of teenage girls experience major depression, highlighting the need for earlier identification and treatment. Decreases in social support and increases in smoking were linked to increased depressive symptoms.

Clouds shield pollutants going out to sea

Scientists found a significant link between clouds and pollution transport in the Asian-Pacific region. Clouds mask pollutants from spacecraft sensors, leading to underestimated pollution levels.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Inflammation marker predicts colon cancer

A study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association found that people with higher CRP levels were more likely to develop colorectal cancers over an 11-year period. Median CRP levels were higher among those who developed colon cancer, and inflammation was linked to increased risk without being mediated by diabetes.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Other highlights in the February 4 issue of JNCI

Researchers discuss the need for additional research and standardization in partial-breast irradiation and accelerated partial-breast irradiation. A new study also finds that preoperative chemoradiation may benefit some patients with rectal cancer, while a diet high in glycemic load is linked to an increased risk of colorectal cancer.

Vitamins do little to prevent recurrent stroke

A recent study found that high-dose vitamin therapy had no effect on preventing recurrent strokes and heart attacks. The VISP study involved 3,680 adults who received either a low or high dose of folic acid, B6, and B12 vitamins.

Distance to hospital affects heart attack survival

A new study by Cornell University's Liam O'Neill found that distance from a hospital significantly impacts access to medical facilities and outcome for heart attack victims. The study estimates that patients living far from hospitals face a higher risk of death from heart attacks, with approximately 60% expiring before reaching the hos...

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.

Astronomers unravel a mystery of the Dark Ages

Astronomers have discovered a possible link between a comet impact in the 6th century and the 'Dark Ages.' The comet's debris caused a prolonged cold period, similar to a nuclear winter, resulting in crop failures and widespread starvation. A small comet size was needed to cause such dramatic effects.

New 'bumpy' jelly found in deep sea

Researchers have discovered a new deep-sea jelly, Stellamedusa ventana, which uses its bell and oral arms to capture prey. The jelly's unique feeding strategy is unlike other species, as it prefers larger prey, with some individuals capturing creatures up to 5 cm across.

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.

Scientists find ozone-destroying molecule

Researchers detected ClOOCl in the polar stratosphere, triggering ozone destruction through three-step process. The discovery was made during a joint US-European science mission using NASA's ER-2 aircraft.

The long view: Understanding why cancer strikes late

A new theory by Steven Frank proposes that cancer progression speeds up with age, leading to increased incidence in older adults. As people age, fewer stages remain before cancer develops, resulting in higher cancer rates.

Primate testes grafted into mice rapidly produce fertile sperm

Scientists have successfully grafted primate testes into mice, resulting in the rapid production of fertile sperm. This breakthrough could preserve genetic material from endangered nonhuman primates and offer reproductive options to men rendered infertile by cancer treatments.

Bacterial DNA reduces inflammation in mice

Researchers have found that bacterial DNA from probiotics can reduce inflammation in mice with experimental colitis. The study discovered that purified probiotic DNA activates a specific element within the innate immune system, which helps to slow down inflammation.

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.

Annals of Internal Medicine tip sheet February 3, 2004

The decline in hormone therapy (HT) use was attributed to the release of data from two long-term studies showing that HT did not protect against heart disease and may even increase the risk. The study found that women who took HT had a higher risk for heart disease and breast cancer compared to those who did not take HT.

Mad cow has confidence stirred, but not shaken

A recent survey found that most Americans remain confident in the safety of their beef supply following a confirmed case of mad cow disease in Washington State. The study suggests that consumer confidence has been boosted by government actions and trust in food regulators, but some have expressed concerns about the risk of transmission.

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.

Researchers find weaknesses in Arkansas public health system

The study found that nonspecific clinical diagnosis, unreliable testing methods, and communication issues hindered effective diagnosis of pertussis during the outbreak. Despite these challenges, the epidemic was successfully managed without deaths reported.

Risk of stillbirth on weekends

A new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that infants born over the weekend had a slightly elevated risk of stillbirth and neonatal death compared to those born on weekdays. The researchers suggested that selective timing of low-risk elective deliveries may explain this difference.

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.

Physicists use fractals to help Parkinson's sufferers

Researchers developed a system using a tri-axial accelerometer and fractal analysis to study Parkinson's patients' walking patterns. The study reveals the complexity of body motion in both healthy elderly subjects and Parkinson's disease patients, with the latter exhibiting higher fractal measures indicating more complex symptoms.

MIT's Nanoruler could impact space physics, more

The Nanoruler can pattern gratings with lines and spaces separated by a few hundred nanometers across large surfaces. This precision enables the analysis of light and decoding cosmic bar codes for space telescopes like NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory.

Low testosterone levels associated with depression in older men

A study of 278 men aged 45+ without depression found that low testosterone levels were associated with a higher incidence of diagnosed depression. Men with hypogonadism were 4.2 times more likely to be diagnosed with depression than those with normal testosterone levels.

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.

'Rule-breaking' molecule could lead to non-metal magnets

Researchers at Purdue University have identified a radical hydrocarbon molecule with unique electron behavior, which could be used as building blocks for molecular magnets. The discovery has the potential to create non-metallic magnets that are lighter and cheaper than metal ones.

Keeping populations of cerulean warbler healthy

The cerulean warbler's population decline is attributed to habitat loss and fragmentation in both breeding and winter ranges. An international collaboration, the Cerulean Warbler Technical Group, aims to develop a proactive conservation strategy through sound science and partnerships.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome? Sometimes it's not severe

A study by Singapore investigators found that SARS infection occurred in healthcare workers with normal chest X-rays, even those not directly exposed to patients. The researchers detected SARS antibodies in 8 out of 112 exposed workers, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe.

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.

Skin regeneration not isolated to epidermal stem cells

Researchers found that transit-amplifying cells and early differentiating cells can form a fully stratified epidermis under the right conditions. Laminin-10/11 exposure enhances their regenerative capacity, opening new possibilities for cellular therapies.

Scientists identify a human antibody that blocks SARS virus infection

Scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have identified a human monoclonal antibody that blocks SARS virus infection by neutralizing its entry into cultured cells. The antibody, isolated from a collection of 27 billion antibodies, shows promise in animal tests and could be developed for clinical trials to prevent and treat the disease.

JCI table of contents, February 2, 2004

A novel assay reveals that T cells in patients with type 1 diabetes produce pro-inflammatory cytokines, driving an autoaggressive immune response. In contrast, healthy individuals' T cells produce regulatory cytokines, maintaining tolerance. The findings offer new approaches to immune modulation and tolerance.

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.

New report shows stomach cancer rates declining fast in Europe

A recent report shows a significant decline in stomach cancer rates across Europe, with falls seen in younger and middle-aged populations. The downward trend is attributed to improved diet, better food preservation, reduced Helicobacter pylori infection, and lower smoking rates.

Understanding the autoimmune response in type 1 diabetes

Researchers developed a novel assay to examine T cell responses to autoantigens in islet cells, revealing distinct pathways of T cell differentiation and maturation in normal individuals versus patients with T1DM. These findings suggest proinflammatory polarization in diabetes but regulatory phenotypes in health.

New evidence suggests that monkey thought extinct still exists

Recent discoveries, including a photo and skin samples, have reignited hopes of finding the Miss Waldron's red colobus monkey in its remote southeastern corner of Ivory Coast. The discovery has sparked concerns about potential extinctions of other high-canopy forest-dwelling animals.

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.

Cohabiting couples not likely to marry, study finds

A recent study by Ohio State University found that only about 40% of cohabiting couples eventually get married. The research also discovered that men with high economic prospects and similar couples were not more likely to tie the knot than others. In fact, consensus regarding marriage plans was a key predictor of whether cohabiting co...

Public awareness programs can reduce the duration of untreated psychosis

A study in four Scandinavian health care sectors found that public awareness programs significantly reduced the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) for first-episode patients. The programs included educational campaigns and a telephone hotline number, resulting in median DUP of 5 weeks compared to 16 weeks.

Microbial biofilm yields community genomes, metabolic clues

A team of researchers found nearly complete genomes of two organisms in a microbial community from a hot, acidic solution, revealing clues about metabolic activity and speciation. The study sheds light on how bacteria function collectively in acid-adapted environments.

Optic nerve disease may cause sleep disorders

Children with optic nerve disease are up to 20 times more likely to experience excessive daytime sleepiness due to disruptions in their body's internal clock. Researchers found that the loss of a specific type of cell in the retina, which helps regulate light exposure, is directly linked to sleep disturbances.

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.

Pacifying bacteria prevents lethal post-op infections

Researchers have developed a protective coating that prevents deadly post-operative infections from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a virulent pathogen that kills 100% of untreated mice. The coating, which works by pleasing the bacteria and preventing them from invading the host's bloodstream, has shown promising results in animal studies.

New risk factors for retinal disorder identified

A case-control study found associations between CSCR and various systemic conditions, including alcohol, tobacco, and antibiotic use. Eye doctors are advised to discuss these risk factors with patients and take steps to eradicate them.