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Science News for June 23, 2004


Growing replacement teeth and dental tissues

Researchers have made significant breakthroughs in growing replacement teeth and dental tissues using tissue engineering techniques. The development of novel regenerative therapies could restore partial tooth tissue loss and minimize restoration failure with traditional dental materials.

SourceInternational Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research·JournalJournal of Dental Research·DateJun 23, 2004

Plane ticket taxes lower than airlines claim, study says

A recent study published in the Journal of Air Transport Management found that domestic airline ticket taxes add approximately 15% to average fares, contradicting airline executives' claims. The research analyzed millions of tickets and provides a definitive answer to questions about ticket tax burdens on air travel costs.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of Air Transport Management·DateJun 23, 2004

Mutant mice lead to memory insights

Researchers discover that drugs already being tested for cancer and Huntington's disease may help restore some memory capability to patients with RTS, a heritable disorder characterized by mental and growth retardation. The study found that restoring acetylation activity alleviates memory problems in mutant mice.

SourceCell Press·JournalNeuron·DateJun 23, 2004
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Evidence for fat hormone target in brain

Researchers found that leptin signaling is necessary for regulating body weight homeostasis in mice. The study revealed that leptin receptors on POMC neurons play a key role in this process, and their absence leads to increased fat mass.

SourceCell Press·JournalNeuron·DateJun 23, 2004

Common chemicals morphing into potential toxins in Arctic

Researchers discovered a previously unknown reaction that converts fluorotelomer alcohols into perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) in the atmosphere, which can last up to 20 days. The chemicals were found in polar bear liver tissue samples and may pose developmental risks to humans living in the Arctic.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateJun 23, 2004

AGU journal highlights - 23 June 2004

Scientists explore new explanations for auroral lights, elephant communication, and the impact of volcanic eruptions on global climate change. Researchers analyze electron interactions with nitric oxide molecules and propose a new method for monitoring small-scale flow variations in the Earth-space boundary.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateJun 23, 2004
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.

Cassini VIMS team finds that Phoebe may be kin to comets

Researchers analyzed Cassini's Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer data, revealing water ice, minerals, and unidentifiable materials on Phoebe's surface. This suggests a possible connection between Phoebe and comets, supporting the idea that it may be similar to Kuiper Belt Objects.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·DateJun 23, 2004

Anorexia nervosa often chronic, study finds

A study published in Psychological Medicine found that 35% of women with anorexia nervosa relapsed into the disorder within two years of leaving the hospital. The mean time before relapse was 18 months, highlighting the need for improved relapse prevention treatments.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalPsychological Medicine·DateJun 23, 2004
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

New computational tools to aid in protein research

Researchers have developed new algorithms to interpret NMR data, revealing protein structure and molecular architecture. The tools require less data while producing highly accurate results.

SourceDartmouth College·JournalJournal of Biomolecular NMR·DateJun 23, 2004

Dark days doomed dinosaurs, say Purdue scientists

Researchers analyzed fossil records and found dinoflagellates in ancient sea, indicating a sudden cooling event. The team's discovery confirms climate models and suggests prolonged feedback effects kept ocean depths cold for centuries.

SourcePurdue University·JournalGeology·DateJun 23, 2004
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Joslin researchers identify key molecule in Type 1 diabetes progression

Researchers studied insulitis lesions in genetically engineered mice and discovered that inducible co-stimulator (ICOS) plays a crucial role in keeping insulitis respectful. Blocking ICOS disrupts the balance between T effector and regulatory cells, leading to diabetes progression.

SourceJoslin Diabetes Center·JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine·DateJun 23, 2004

The mother lode of mutations

Researchers discovered 68 maternal mutations in zebrafish that may help understand human infertility and birth defects. These mutations affect early embryonic development, including cell divisions and tissue patterning.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalDevelopmental Cell·DateJun 23, 2004

Simple test can help detect common lung disease

Early detection of COPD through a simple spirometry test can slow the loss of lung function, improve symptoms and quality of life, and prevent hospitalizations. Smoking cessation is the only known method to alter the loss of lung function seen in this disease.

SourceNational Jewish Health·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJun 23, 2004

COPD is forgotten killer, says University of Toronto professor

A University of Toronto professor highlights the disproportionate impact of COPD on women, who experience greater lung damage and are more likely to develop emphysema. By 2010, women will suffer from COPD twice as often as men worldwide.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalClinics in Chest Medicine·DateJun 23, 2004
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.

Tiny iron supplement has chilling effect

A small amount of iron adds 15-30% to the effective cooling capacity of a material, enabling improved near-room-temperature applications. The iron supplement eliminates hysteresis losses, allowing the material to perform at its peak potential.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalNature·DateJun 23, 2004

NASA scientists get global fix on food, wood & fiber use

Humans annually require 20% of land-based plant growth for food and fiber, with regional consumption varying greatly. Large urban areas consume significantly more than local production, while sparsely populated areas like the Amazon have low consumption rates.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalNature·DateJun 23, 2004

Food for thought

A study using FDG-PET imaging found that brain metabolic activity increases in response to food stimulation, making it harder for those more sensitive to food to diet. The findings may lead to innovative treatment options for eating disorders.

SourceSociety of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging·DateJun 23, 2004
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.

Study sheds new light on genetic risk for Parkinson's disease

Researchers found a moderate association between the APOE-2 gene and an increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease, with a 20% higher chance. In contrast, the APOE-4 gene was not linked to Parkinson's disease, contrary to its established role in Alzheimer's risk.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina Health Care·JournalNeurology·DateJun 23, 2004

Long history of missed opportunities plague Medicare prescription drug benefit

Despite decades-long demands for a prescription drug benefit, lawmakers prioritized hospital services due to ideological conflicts and divided government. The new program faces similar economic and political challenges, with beneficiaries still facing significant out-of-pocket costs.

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·JournalMilbank Quarterly·DateJun 23, 2004

Hospital standards for high-risk surgeries save lives

A U-M study found that hospitals meeting Leapfrog quality standards for high-risk surgeries can save thousands of lives. Implementing these standards would reduce mortality rates for procedures like open heart surgery and angioplasty.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalSurgery·DateJun 23, 2004

Clinical judgement still counts strongly alongside genetic testing

A one-year study found that specialists in dysmorphology are recognized by their peers for knowledge and authority, despite the increasing use of genetic testing. Laboratory tests do not replace clinical expertise, but rather complement it with techniques such as photographs and family trees.

SourceEconomic & Social Research Council·DateJun 23, 2004
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.

People cocooning more, says study

A study by University of Toronto PhD student Glenn Stalker found that Canadians spent 34% of their spare time alone at home in 1998, up from 28% in 1986. Time spent with friends and family at home also decreased by five percent during the same period.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·DateJun 23, 2004

'Mighty mouse' gene works the same way in people

Researchers found a naturally occurring mutation in a child's myostatin gene, resulting in twice the normal muscle mass. The discovery provides hope for agents blocking myostatin activity to increase muscle mass in humans.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJun 23, 2004