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Science News Archive June 2004 - Page 7


Page 7 of 12

Fish story linked to climate cycle

Researchers from the University of Maine have found evidence suggesting that changes in Peruvian fisheries occurred centuries before modern fishing practices. The study used archaeological data from ancient fish processing sites and correlated these shifts with El Nino climate patterns.

SourceUniversity of Maine·JournalQuaternary Research·DateJun 14, 2004

How fat poisons livers of obese children and adults

The Mayo Clinic discovery sheds light on the cellular mechanisms behind Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), a growing global problem related to affluence and diet. Early signs include accumulation of fat in the liver, inflammation, and scarring, which can lead to impaired function.

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalHepatology·DateJun 14, 2004

USA's built-up surfaces equal Ohio in area

A new map reveals that the USA's impervious surface area equals Ohio's, with significant environmental implications. Increased ISA affects ecosystems, alters stream channels, and degrades wetlands, impacting biodiversity and climate change mitigation.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalEos·DateJun 14, 2004
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Prostatitis associated with high medical costs

A study of 167 men with chronic prostatitis found that the condition incurs substantial direct and indirect costs, with procedures, tests, and healthcare visits accounting for a significant portion. The average annual cost per person was $4,397, with work loss valued at an additional $551.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalArchives of Internal Medicine·DateJun 14, 2004

Fast-food beef tacos blamed for multi-state E coli outbreak

A multi-state E coli outbreak has been linked to fast-food beef tacos, with inspectors finding a flaw in only one restaurant's meat handling. Potential solutions include a new tracking system and increased monitoring of patients for symptoms such as bloody diarrhea.

SourceInfectious Diseases Society of America·JournalClinical Infectious Diseases·DateJun 14, 2004

Suicide among elderly persons associated with illness

Elderly individuals with chronic illnesses like depression, bipolar disorder, and severe pain are at increased risk of suicide. Researchers found that treatment for multiple illnesses also strongly correlates with an increased risk of suicide in this population.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalArchives of Internal Medicine·DateJun 14, 2004

Why men with high levels of anger and low anger control should not drink alcohol

A study found that men with high trait anger and low anger control are more likely to exhibit aggressive behavior when intoxicated. Researchers examined 164 healthy male social drinkers and found that those with high trait anger levels were associated with increased aggression, but only among those who reported low anger control.

SourceAlcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research·DateJun 14, 2004

Scientists identify cells that lead to retinoblastoma

Researchers discovered specific retinal cells are predisposed to becoming tumours due to genetic mutation removing protective barriers. The study found three types of cells resistant to cell death and continued dividing despite the defective gene.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalCancer Cell·DateJun 14, 2004
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

New method of preserving fertility in young women with cancer

A new technique for preserving fertility in young women with cancer has been successfully used on eight female patients. The method involves removing immature eggs from the ovaries, maturing them through in-vitro maturation (IVM), and freezing them for later use.

SourceMcGill University·JournalThe Lancet·DateJun 14, 2004

Patient safety gets boost with $10 million grant

The Case School of Medicine will oversee the Mt. Sinai Center for Medical Simulation, reducing medical errors that result in 100,000 deaths annually. The center will offer training for students and healthcare professionals using innovative simulation technologies.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·DateJun 14, 2004

Study: Daily eye drops hold key to glaucoma prevention

A new study published in Archives of Ophthalmology suggests that daily eye drops can significantly reduce the development of primary open-angle glaucoma in African Americans by nearly 50%. The study recommends periodic eye exams starting at age 40 for high-risk individuals.

SourceOhio State University·JournalArchives of Ophthalmology·DateJun 14, 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.

TIGR president discusses significance of finding anthrax toxin

The TIGR president discussed the significance of finding anthrax toxin genes in a naturally occurring microbe other than Bacillus anthracis. The study found these genes in a virulent strain of Bacillus cereus, suggesting natural horizontal gene transfer may have occurred.

SourceFederation of American Societies for Experimental Biology·DateJun 14, 2004

Self-regulation, board action can douse potential executive 'flameout'

Flameout in nonprofit sectors can occur when personal control structures fail to work well, leading to destructive behavior such as embezzlement or sexual misconduct. Self-regulation and board action are crucial to prevent such destruction and maintain trust in the sector.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalAdministration in Social Work·DateJun 14, 2004

Parents can provide accurate reports of their children's ADHD symptoms

A study by Massachusetts General Hospital found that parental reports of ADHD symptoms are as accurate as those from teachers. This breakthrough could help design better clinical trials for pediatric ADHD medications. The research supports the use of parental reports in assessing child behavior and response to treatment.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalPEDIATRICS·DateJun 14, 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.

Genetic modification in mice lowers cholesterol and homocysteine by half

Researchers genetically modified mice to lack the CT or PEMT pathways, resulting in significant reductions of lipoproteins and homocysteine levels. This suggests pharmacological inhibition of PC manufacture in the liver as a potential approach to lower LDL cholesterol and homocysteine levels.

SourceFederation of American Societies for Experimental Biology·DateJun 13, 2004

MIT technology jump-starts human embryonic stem cell work

Researchers developed a new technique to test hundreds of different biomaterials at once, improving the growth and differentiation of human embryonic stem cells. This breakthrough allows for more efficient screening of materials and could lead to breakthroughs in tissue engineering and synthetic skin production.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateJun 13, 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.

Seeing is believing, even when what we see is ambiguous or misleading

Researchers found that despite conflicting visual and tactile inputs, the brain keeps them separate, leading to 'cognitive dissonance.' The study used a visual illusion to trick subjects into perceiving motion in one direction or another. Brain activity scans revealed the middle temporal visual center responding to both visual and tact...

SourceVanderbilt University·JournalPsychological Science·DateJun 11, 2004

190 end-stage renal disease patients die each day: Epogen usage questioned

Research challenges previous findings on higher hematocrits achieved through epoetin treatment for end-stage renal disease patients. Cotter's analysis suggests that the current spending on Epogen dosages may not be justified, considering the lack of evidence supporting its survival benefits.

SourceBlackwell Publishing Ltd.·JournalSeminars in Dialysis·DateJun 11, 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.

Changes to insect-seeking calls of horseshoe bats may drive new species formation

Research by Boston University's Tigga Kingston and Stephen Rossiter found that large-eared horseshoe bats are diverging into three sizes and using distinct echolocation calls to locate insects. The findings suggest that sensory ecology may play a key role in speciation, with the harmonic differences affecting communication and mating b...

SourceBoston University·JournalNature·DateJun 11, 2004

Studies on electric polarization at Argonne

Researchers discovered that ferroelectric materials can maintain stability even at incredibly small thicknesses, opening doors to the creation of smaller devices. This breakthrough is significant for applications such as sensors and memory systems.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalScience·DateJun 11, 2004

Pumping energy to nanocrystals from a quantum well

Researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory have developed a new method for transferring non-contact energy to nanocrystals from a quantum well. This enables the efficient production of light with controlled color, opening up possibilities for hybrid quantum-well/nanocrystal devices and applications in solar cells.

SourceDOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory·JournalNature·DateJun 11, 2004
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Hidden cost of Colorado River diversions is $2.4 billion annually

A University of Arizona researcher estimates that Colorado River water divertions result in a $2.4 billion annual loss to society, primarily due to the absence of natural flood control and wastewater treatment. The study suggests including an environmental impact fee in water prices to support ecosystem restoration in the delta.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·DateJun 10, 2004
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.

Nutrients cause increase in parasites and frog deformities

A study found that high nutrient levels lead to increased rams horn snail populations, which in turn cause more parasite infections and deformities in frogs. This research may help explain the recent increase in amphibian malformations and suggest control strategies.

SourceBlackwell Publishing Ltd.·JournalEcology Letters·DateJun 10, 2004

UK study shows substantial reduction in stroke over past 20 years

A UK study has shown a substantial reduction in stroke incidence over the past 20 years, with age-adjusted occurrence of first stroke decreased by around 30%. The decrease is associated with increased use of blood-pressure lowering and cholesterol-lowering drugs, leading to significant reductions in related risk factors.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateJun 10, 2004

52 thousand years of marine fertility sheds light on climate change

Researchers discovered a consistent link between marine productivity off western North America and millennial-scale climate change in the North Atlantic. The study found that changes in subsurface nutrients concentrations were driven by wind patterns at low latitude, overturning previous theories on bottom-water oxygen levels.

SourceColumbia Climate School·JournalGeology·DateJun 10, 2004

Early hormone therapy best for men with aggressive prostate cancer

A new study suggests that early hormone therapy can increase survival time by up to 14 years for men with aggressive prostate cancer, compared to those who delay treatment. Prostate cancer affects over 220,000 men annually in the US, with approximately 30,000 dying from the disease each year.

SourceUniversity of Rochester Medical Center·DateJun 10, 2004
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

Volcanic soils yield new clues about the emergence of powerful chiefdoms in Hawaii

Research suggests that volcanic eruptions created nutrient-rich soil on Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii, allowing early Polynesians to sustain intensive sweet potato farming. The study's findings challenge previous assumptions about Hawaiian agriculture and highlight the importance of volcanic geology in shaping the islands' ecosystems.

SourceStanford University·JournalScience·DateJun 10, 2004
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.

Lead and cadmium levels not as safe as previously thought

Researchers found that high levels of lead and cadmium in adults were associated with a 2.8 times greater risk of developing peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Smoking was also found to increase the risk of PAD, possibly due to cadmium's damage to blood vessel linings.

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·DateJun 10, 2004

Fat cells could provide the key to a longer life

A new study on fruit flies found that reducing insulin/insulin-like growth factor (IIS) signalling pathway in fat tissue extends life by up to 50%. The system, which governs longevity, is likely to be conserved in humans. Increasing dFOXO levels in fat cells also extended lifespan and reduced fertility.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalScience·DateJun 10, 2004

Researchers seeing double on African monsoons

The African monsoon has two distinct seasons: a late spring season strongly influenced by sea surface temperatures near the Gulf of Guinea, and a later summer season driven by African Easterly Waves. The waves play a major role in this summer season monsoon rainfall.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateJun 10, 2004

Elderly, diabetics, women at risk for post-surgery infection

Patients with diabetes, females over 70, or obesity are more likely to develop postoperative mediastinitis caused by methicillin-resistant S. aureus. Identifying these risk factors enables the design of preventive strategies.

SourceDuke University Medical Center·JournalClinical Infectious Diseases·DateJun 10, 2004
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.

Gemini mirror is first with silver lining

The Gemini South telescope has been coated with a silver layer to reduce thermal emissivity, allowing for deeper views of star formation, galaxies, and black holes. This results in improved detection capabilities for objects obscured by heat radiating from the telescope.

SourceScience and Technology Facilities Council·DateJun 10, 2004

Hospital falls study suggests ways to reduce risk

Researchers found that patients who fell were more likely to suffer injuries if they needed to use the toilet, highlighting the need for regular bathroom trips. The study recommends ensuring assistive devices like canes and walkers are available in hospital rooms and expanding assisted bathroom visits for high-risk patients.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·DateJun 10, 2004

Deciphering the limits to human maximal exercise performance

Research reveals that humans can't pump enough blood to meet the demand of highly trained muscles during exercise, leading to hypotension. This finding has implications for understanding reduced exercise tolerance in pathologic conditions and may guide new therapeutic approaches.

SourceBlackwell Publishing Ltd.·JournalThe Journal of Physiology·DateJun 10, 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.

Is GSK guilty of fraud?

Recent studies sponsored by GSK have shown mixed results for paroxetine's safety and efficacy in children. The company faces criticism for 'off-label' prescribing, despite a lack of published trials demonstrating its benefits. GSK is urged to disclose all relevant documents related to paroxetine use in minors.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateJun 10, 2004

Scientists receive awards, give lectures at the ASBMB/IUBMB meeting

The event honored Dr. Steven Almo, Dr. Sunney I. Chan, Dr. Ronald W. Davis, Dr. Pehr A. B. Harbury, and Dr. Robert J. Lefkowitz for their outstanding contributions to biochemical and molecular biological research. Dr. William L. Smith also received the ASBMB-Avanti Award in Lipids.

SourceFederation of American Societies for Experimental Biology·DateJun 10, 2004

Chemists retrieve clues to ancient ocean chemistry and global greenhouse from Cretaceous sediments

Researchers retrieved clues to ancient ocean chemistry and global greenhouse gas accumulation from 130-million-year-old sediments. The study provides a high-resolution record of seawater sulfate changes, shedding light on the interactions between the Earth's atmosphere, land, and ocean systems during the Cretaceous period.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalScience·DateJun 10, 2004

Canine word-learning research published in Science

A German Border collie named Rico demonstrated a vocabulary size comparable to that of language-trained apes, dolphins, sea lions, and parrots. The dog learned the names of unfamiliar toys after just one exposure, using fast mapping abilities similar to those seen in human language acquisition.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateJun 10, 2004
Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

UO researchers learn to precisely control nanoparticle spacing

Researchers at the University of Oregon have developed a method to organize small gold nanoparticles into linear chains with controlled interparticle spacing, essential for creating electronic and optical applications. The technique uses DNA as a template and has high reproducibility, tolerance for structural defects, and high yield.

SourceUniversity of Oregon·JournalLangmuir·DateJun 9, 2004

Enzyme containing selenium may promote type 2 diabetes

A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that overexpressing a selenium-containing enzyme in mice led to insulin resistance and obesity. The researchers suggest that antioxidants, like selenium, may be harmful by neutralizing free radicals necessary for insulin signaling.

SourceCornell University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 9, 2004