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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

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.

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

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

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

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

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