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Science News for October 18, 2004


My favourite aunt is purple

A study by Dr. Jamie Ward reveals that synaesthesia is not about detecting hidden emotions, but rather a brain-created response to stimuli. Researchers found that people with the condition associate words and names with specific colours, including pink for positive emotions and brown for negative ones.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalCognitive Neuropsychology·DateOct 18, 2004

UCLA scientists discover new way to fix defective gene

Researchers create strategy to trick ATM gene into overlooking premature termination codons, restoring full-length protein production and alleviating symptoms. The treatment uses aminoglycosides to make PTCs invisible to the cell's machinery, showing promise for halting disease progression and cancer risk in A-T patients.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 18, 2004
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.

Errors in medicine: The patient's perspective

A new study expands the dialogue on medical errors to include patients' perspectives, highlighting preventable problems like communication barriers, disrespect, and ignoring patient opinions. The research found that patients are more likely to report psychological and emotional harm than physical harm.

SourceIndiana University·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateOct 18, 2004

Rutgers is on the 'NIH Roadmap'

Rutgers University has been awarded two major NIH Roadmap grants to support the training of graduate students in proteomics and develop computational tools for understanding molecular biology. The grants aim to foster interdisciplinary research and address pressing challenges in biomedical research.

SourceRutgers University·DateOct 18, 2004
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Patients with chronic sinus do not necessarily develop antibiotic resistance

Researchers found no statistically significant increase in antimicrobial resistance among patients with CRS over time. In fact, many patients showed reversion to lesser degrees of resistance, suggesting a possible decrease in antimicrobial use and its impact on resistance patterns.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalArchives of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery·DateOct 18, 2004

Discovery might improve design, effectiveness of anti-cancer drugs

Researchers at UNC Chapel Hill develop new technique to trap single water molecule inside protein molecule using mass spectrometry, improving inhibitor molecules for cancer treatment. The discovery may lead to more effective combination therapies with anti-cancer agents like cytarabine.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 18, 2004

Researchers guide light through liquids and gases on a chip

Scientists at UC Santa Cruz have successfully guided light waves through liquids and gases using novel waveguides made from silicon fabrication technology. The device enables detection of molecular fluorescence and has potential applications in fields such as chemistry, biology, and quantum optics.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateOct 18, 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.

Experimental lupus drug may also work against atherosclerosis

A study by Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center found that the experimental drug Trichostatin A (TSA) significantly reduced atherosclerosis in mice. TSA treatment decreased aortic arch deposits and macrophage gathering, leading to increased plaque stability.

SourceAtrium Health Wake Forest Baptist·DateOct 18, 2004

Getting the fluid balance right in malaria

Researchers found that none of the 35 children with moderate-to-severe malaria in Gabon were severely dehydrated. This challenges the long-held view that dehydration is a major contributor to fatal cases of malaria.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateOct 18, 2004

Common gout drug shown to reduce risk from colorectal cancer

Allopurinol, commonly used for gout, was found to significantly reduce the risk of colorectal cancer in patients taking the medication for at least five years. The study analyzed data from 1,781 patients and showed a notable reduction in risk.

SourceAmerican Association for Cancer Research·DateOct 18, 2004
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.

An old adage about apples finds scientific backing

Researchers found that a class of polyphenols in apples, called procyanidins, significantly reduced precancerous lesions in laboratory animals. The study suggests that consuming whole apples, including the skin, may offer anti-cancer benefits.

SourceAmerican Association for Cancer Research·DateOct 18, 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.

Weight loss surgery can help reduce metabolic syndrome in obese patients

A study found that surgical weight loss programs significantly improved metabolic syndrome symptoms, with a 95.6% resolution rate for patients with the condition. Laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery resulted in greater weight loss and better blood lipid profiles compared to vertical banded gastroplasty.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalArchives of Surgery·DateOct 18, 2004

Annals of Internal Medicine tip sheet for Oct. 19, 2004

A study found that antibiotics are ineffective in treating chronic prostate pain (CP/CPPS) but a-receptor blockers may provide relief for extended periods. Simple exercises improved dizziness in adults, while survivors of childhood cancer are at increased risk for breast cancer.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateOct 18, 2004

Minimally invasive surgery for heart rhythm abnormality proven effective

Researchers developed a new, less invasive approach to treat atrial fibrillation, a condition affecting over 2 million Americans. The procedure uses bipolar radiofrequency ablation and achieved similar success rates as traditional surgery, but with significantly shorter operative times.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalJournal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery·DateOct 18, 2004

Zebrafish may offer researchers powerful new tool for studying innate immunity

Researchers have sequenced all 36 genes of novel receptors in zebrafish, which may be related to human natural killer cell function and provide insights into the transition from innate to adaptive immunity. This discovery could lead to a better understanding of infectious diseases and certain cancers.

SourceUniversity of South Florida (USF Health)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 18, 2004

Insulin pumps effective for children with diabetes

A clinical trial found that insulin pump therapy was safe and well-tolerated in preschool-aged children with type 1 diabetes. Parents were also satisfied with the devices, with 95 percent continuing use after a six-month study. The benefits of insulin pump therapy are still being evaluated in terms of flexibility and convenience.

SourceIndiana University·JournalThe Journal of Pediatrics·DateOct 18, 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.

2000 years of North American drought

Researchers have created a North American Drought Atlas CD-ROM, mapping year-by-year occurrences of droughts over the last 2005 years. The atlas provides essential paleoclimate data with applications to science, policy, education, and history.

SourceColumbia Climate School·DateOct 18, 2004

Nevirapine is better than efavirenz at raising 'good' cholesterol

Researchers found that nevirapine significantly increases HDL cholesterol levels more than efavirenz, making it a preferable option for HIV-infected adults with increased cardiovascular risk. This study suggests that considering individual factors beyond cardiovascular risk can lead to more personalized treatment decisions.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateOct 18, 2004

Manipulation of epigenome turns off as many genes as it turns on

A recent study found that demethylation agents not only restart cancer-suppressing genes but also knock methyl groups off other genes, turning hundreds more off. The research raises concerns about the impact of these agents on gene expression and their potential to exacerbate cancer development.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalCancer Cell·DateOct 18, 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.

Whites more likely to misidentify tools as guns when linked to black faces

Researchers at Ohio State University conducted experiments showing that white Americans are more likely to misidentify tools as guns when shown a picture of an African American before seeing the tool or gun. In contrast, they were less likely to make this mistake when shown a picture of a white person. The study suggests that unconscio...

SourceOhio State University·JournalJournal of Experimental Social Psychology·DateOct 18, 2004

Mouse model of osteoarthritis

A mouse model of osteoarthritis has been developed, revealing that bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling is essential for the maintenance of healthy articular cartilage. The study found that inactivating BMP signaling in mice led to severe arthritis, mimicking human osteoarthritis conditions.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateOct 18, 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.

NYU Child Study Center researcher receives award from NARSAD

Dr. Rachel Klein receives the prestigious Ruane Prize from NARSAD for her extensive research on child psychiatric illnesses. Her work has authored over 200 articles and seven books, advancing our understanding of ADHD, anxiety, and other severe psychiatric disorders.

SourceNew York University Child Study Center·DateOct 18, 2004
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

A nanowire with a surprise

Scientists discovered that increasing OPE wire length triggers variable resistance, which can be beneficial for electronic devices. The researchers also found that substituting a methyl hydrocarbon group onto the middle unit significantly increases electron transfer rate.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateOct 18, 2004

Oats not safe for all patients with celiac disease

A recent study published in PLoS Medicine found that oats can cause intolerance in some patients with celiac disease, triggering a similar molecular reaction as wheat, barley, or rye. This means that not all patients with celiac disease may be able to safely include oats in their diet.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateOct 18, 2004