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Science News for February 18, 2004


UK needs more seafarers

A study by Cardiff University predicts a current annual shortfall of UK ex-seafarers as much as 112. This shortage could lead to higher wage bills for shipping companies, reduced quality of employment, and less incentive to train cadets. The shipping industry has traditionally supplied skilled labor to shore-based industries.

Shark guide probes uncharted waters

A new guide, developed by NOAA Fisheries and Rhode Island Sea Grant, aims to increase species-specific identifications without associated mortality. The guide focuses on external characteristics and uses photographs to aid in identification, helping users distinguish among 44 highly migratory shark species.

Research examines treatment goals for acromegaly patients

Researchers found that achieving basal growth hormone levels of less than 2.5 µg/liter and glucose-suppressed GH levels of less than one µg/liter may not minimize cardiovascular risks in acromegaly patients. Instead, these patients are at increased risk for conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and osteoarthritis.

SourceThe Endocrine Society·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·DateFeb 18, 2004

New method for converting nitrogen to ammonia

A team of Cornell University researchers has successfully converted nitrogen to ammonia in a laboratory setting, molecule by molecule, using a zirconium metal complex. The process achieves complete fixation at lower temperatures than existing industrial methods, which require high pressures.

SourceCornell University·JournalNature·DateFeb 18, 2004

What are your odds of surviving into your hundreds?

A new study found that people with short variants of the APOB gene region have significantly lower total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in their blood. This association may contribute to a protective role of these variants in younger adults, while being detrimental to longevity in older individuals.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalBMC Medical Genetics·DateFeb 18, 2004