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Science News Archive September 2004 - Page 2


Page 2 of 12

Cardiac arrest may hinder ability to learn certain tasks

Research suggests that cardiac arrest can cause structural changes in neurons, leading to memory deficits and behavioral changes. The study found that mice with a heart attack had difficulty learning new spatial tasks compared to healthy mice.

SourceOhio State University·JournalEuropean Journal of Neuroscience·DateSep 29, 2004

History of smoking significantly reduces survival in head and neck cancer patients

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found that smokers have a higher risk of death, disease recurrence, and poorer survival rates compared to non-smokers with head and neck cancer. Researchers highlighted the importance of tobacco cessation and moderation of alcohol use to improve quality of life and survival.

SourceAmerican Society of Clinical Oncology·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·DateSep 29, 2004

Safety of isoflavones in dietary supplements targeted by Illinois initiative

The Illinois initiative aims to examine the biological effects of isoflavones on various bodily systems, including breast, brain and adipose tissues. Researchers will investigate the mechanisms at work between isoflavones and estrogen receptors to ensure safety and effectiveness in dietary supplements.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·DateSep 29, 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.

DNA lends scientists a hand, revealing new chemical reactions

Researchers led by Harvard University's David R. Liu report a highly efficient system for reaction discovery using DNA-templated synthesis, allowing a single researcher to evaluate thousands of potential chemical reactions in just two days. The technique taps the unique assembly power of nucleic acids to address fundamental challenges ...

SourceHarvard University·JournalNature·DateSep 29, 2004

Injuries are the fourth leading cause of death in the Philippines

Mortality rates from injuries increased from 14.3 per 100,000 in 1960 to 42.3 per 100,000 in 1995, with males accounting for 88% of all injury deaths. Intentional injuries, such as stab wounds and homicides, contributed significantly to the rising death toll.

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·JournalAccident Analysis & Prevention·DateSep 29, 2004

Caffeine withdrawal recognized as a disorder

Researchers validated five clusters of common withdrawal symptoms: headache, fatigue, dysphoric mood, difficulty concentrating, and flu-like symptoms. A stepwise approach can eliminate severe withdrawal symptoms by gradually reducing caffeine consumption.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalPsychopharmacology·DateSep 29, 2004
Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

Plants will not save us from greenhouse gases

Researchers led by Graham Bell discovered that increased carbon dioxide concentrations negatively impact algae growth, disproving the notion that plants absorb extra CO2. The study's findings have implications for all plant species, including agricultural ones, as fossil fuel emissions continue to rise.

SourceMcGill University·JournalNature·DateSep 29, 2004
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Award winning researchers reveal potential new role for Glivec

A Phase II study has shown that the drug imatinib is active against a rare type of cancer called DFSP, achieving complete control in eight out of ten patients. The research team believes molecular analysis can predict patient response to treatment based on genetic profiles.

SourceEuropean Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer·DateSep 29, 2004

Bacteria's 'glue valve' surprises scientists

Researchers discovered that the HMW1B protein forms a tetramer structure, unlike previously thought monomers, which creates an active pore for substance movement across cell membranes. This finding may lead to new targets for drugs to treat H. influenzae infection.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 29, 2004

Laser wakefield acceleration: Channeling the best beams ever

Researchers at Berkeley Lab develop a technique to channel laser-powered plasma waves, creating high-quality beams with particles over 80 MeV in energy. By optimizing plasma channel conditions and laser parameters, they achieve unprecedented beam intensity and suppress electron capture.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalNature·DateSep 29, 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.

Alzheimer's disease is not accelerated aging

A review article suggests that age-associated executive function decline is due to frontal-striatal circuit changes, while medial temporal lobe memory system decline is more closely linked to Alzheimer's disease. Changes in white matter and neurotransmitter depletion also play a role.

SourceHoward Hughes Medical Institute·JournalNeuron·DateSep 29, 2004

Genetic differences might help distinguish thyroid cancers

Researchers at Ohio State University have identified five genes that can distinguish between papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC), two types of thyroid cancer with different behaviors and treatments. The study's findings may lead to a valuable diagnostic tool, improving patient outcomes.

SourceOhio State University·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·DateSep 29, 2004

Brain-scanning life's memories yields new insights

Researchers created new memories in subjects and studied their recall in the laboratory using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). They found that recalling autobiographical memories activated similar brain areas as laboratory memories, but also distinct self-referential processing regions. This study provides new insights int...

SourceDuke University·JournalJournal of Cognitive Neuroscience·DateSep 29, 2004

Cancer vaccine based on pathogenic listeria bacteria shows promise targeting metastases

A genetically engineered listeria bacteria-based vaccine has shown promising results in targeting metastatic cancer cells, inducing a strong innate and acquired immune response. The vaccine, aiming to target pancreatic and ovarian cancers, could potentially be used to prevent recurrence after surgery and chemotherapy.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 29, 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.

Pacific Northwest team unveils largest virus proteome to date

A team from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and Oregon Health & Science University has discovered a record number of proteins for the highly infectious human cytomegalovirus, doubling the previously identified amount. The study reveals that HCMV may express as many as 200 proteins at various points in its life cycle.

SourceDOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory·JournalJournal of Virology·DateSep 29, 2004

Pack-MULEs are toting a new look at plant evolution

Researchers find that transposable elements, called Pack-MULEs, copy themselves prolifically and rearrange genes, making them newly discovered players in evolution. The discovery elevates these little-considered elements to potentially major players in the process of evolution.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalNature·DateSep 29, 2004

Studies strengthen kidney and heart disease link

Two studies strengthen the connection between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular disease, showing that reduced kidney function increases the risk of death, heart disease, and hospitalization. Early detection and treatment are crucial to slow CKD progression and prevent these complications.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateSep 29, 2004

New surface chemistry may extend life of technology for making transistors

Scientists at the University of Illinois developed a new surface chemistry method to control defects in silicon wafers, extending the life of transistor technology. This technique uses nitrogen-containing gases to saturate dangling bonds and remove interstitials, resulting in shallower active regions and enhanced dopant activation.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·DateSep 29, 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.

The UK's productivity gap: The latest evidence from economic research

The UK's productivity gap with the US, France, and Germany is substantial, driven by factors such as capital investment, skills, and innovation. Research suggests that improving competition, investing in physical and human capital, and enhancing management skills can help bridge the gap.

SourceEconomic & Social Research Council·DateSep 29, 2004

E-learning attracts the 'usual suspects'

The Adult Learning@Home project found that e-learning is often associated with the same factors that determine school-leaving age, such as sex and socio-economic background. Despite universal access to ICTs, actual use is limited to just over half of the adult population.

SourceEconomic & Social Research Council·DateSep 29, 2004

Good vibrations in the nanoworld

Carbon nanotubes' electronic and mechanical properties are highly dependent on the presence of defects, which alter their vibrational modes and affect electrical conductivity and heat transport. The study demonstrates the importance of understanding these effects for optimizing nanoscale devices.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateSep 28, 2004

Researchers use semiconductors to set speed limit on light

Scientists have successfully slowed down the group velocity of light in semiconductors, achieving speeds of about 6 miles per second. This breakthrough could lead to faster optical networks and higher performance communications, enabling applications like 3-D graphics transmission and high-resolution video conferencing.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalOptics Letters·DateSep 28, 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.

Microscopic miracles

The development of nanomedicines has led to significant advances in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Thousands of patients are already benefiting from products used to treat conditions such as cancer, AIDS, and arthritis.

SourceCardiff University·DateSep 28, 2004

Depression also a problem in patients with Parkinson's

Parkinson's disease is often associated with depression, a condition that can significantly impact patients' lives. Research suggests that depression is part of the illness and not just a reaction to the disease.

SourceUniversity of Rochester Medical Center·JournalNeurology·DateSep 28, 2004

Supernova warning system will give astronomers earlier notice

The SNEWS system, an international collaboration of neutrino observatories, aims to provide astronomers with a prompt alert for galactic supernovas. This network can electronically compare data to increase scientists' confidence that a neutrino signal is really from a supernova.

SourceDuke University·JournalNew Journal of Physics·DateSep 28, 2004

Giving computers the jitters helps explain human behavior

A computer program simulated how people who felt threatened would respond to a serial subtraction problem, showing a 25% decrease in performance speed. Increasing knowledge through instruction and practice, or continuously checking results to bolster confidence, can help individuals switch their pre-task appraisal from threatening to c...

SourcePenn State·DateSep 28, 2004
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

Study: Emission of smog ingredients from trees is increasing rapidly

A Princeton University study found that changes in U.S. forests caused by land use practices have increased the emission of smog-producing chemicals from trees, which may have worsened ozone pollution in some parts of the country. The study suggests that intensified tree farming and other land use changes have altered the mix of trees ...

SourcePrinceton University·JournalGlobal Change Biology·DateSep 28, 2004

MR imaging during brain surgery improves tumor removal

Intraoperative MRI improved tumor removal by detecting additional tissue that needed to be removed, altering surgical strategy in 27.5% of cases. High-field MRI provides better image quality and reduced scan time, but its high cost is a limiting factor.

SourceRadiological Society of North America·JournalRadiology·DateSep 28, 2004

Researchers find signs of grain milling, baking 23,000 years ago

Researchers at Harvard University have found evidence of ancient grain milling and baking 23,000 years ago in present-day Israel. The discovery provides insight into the transition from foraging to food production, revealing that humans first developed technologies to process wild grains around 20,000 years ago.

SourceHarvard University·JournalNature·DateSep 28, 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.

Winning combination to build bone density in children

A study by the University of Wales and the University of Exeter suggests that high levels of calcium intake combined with vigorous daily exercise are crucial for building and retaining bone mass in children. The researchers found that children should engage in at least 25-40 minutes of vigorous activity and consume at least 700-800 mil...

SourceAmerican Physiological Society·JournalJournal of Applied Physiology·DateSep 28, 2004

Gene clusters predict atherosclerosis severity, susceptibility

Researchers identified gene clusters that predict severe disease severity and location of atherosclerotic lesions in human aorta samples. The study used DNA microarray analysis to reveal 208 genes associated with severe disease and 28 genes related to disease location, showing promise for personalized medicine approaches.

SourceDuke University Medical Center·DateSep 28, 2004

Far more men than women favor routine paternity testing at birth

A survey of over 700 adults found that 50% of men and only 32% of women supported routine paternity testing. The difference in response remained consistent despite marital and income status. Researchers speculate that women may seek a father's genetic heritage or parental investment, but this practice is rare due to the potential risks.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalEvolution and Human Behavior·DateSep 28, 2004

New guideline evaluates treatments for postherpetic neuralgia

The new guideline suggests tricyclic antidepressants, gabapentin, lidocaine skin patch, and opioids as effective in reducing pain from postherpetic neuralgia. However, the long-term effects of these treatments are not yet supported by sufficient data.

SourceAmerican Academy of Neurology·JournalNeurology·DateSep 28, 2004
GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Wisconsin scientists develop quick botox test

The Wisconsin team developed two assays for botulinum toxin, including a real-time test and a cell-based assay that can screen millions of chemicals. The new technology could lead to the development of drugs that act like a prophylactic to confer protection from botulinum poisoning.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 27, 2004

DMS offers guidance on educational research

Dartmouth Medical School emphasizes ongoing feedback and mentoring in its educational research environment. The school attributes its success to a supportive faculty culture and rigorous evaluation processes.

SourceThe Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth·JournalAcademic Medicine·DateSep 27, 2004

Tracing genes, biologists show lizard migration is traced to Florida

Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis found that genetically distinct populations of brown lizards (Anolis sagrei) introduced to five countries can be traced back to Florida. The study, which analyzed DNA from over 600 individuals, suggests that the Sunshine State is a key site for species migration.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalNature·DateSep 27, 2004

Indiana University, EPA to study airborne PCBs

Scientists at Indiana University and the EPA will study the circulation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) between the air and Great Lakes, aiming to inform new clean-up policies. Elevated PCB levels have led to fish consumption advisories for all five Great Lakes, with implications for human health.

SourceIndiana University·DateSep 27, 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.

Big cities and small towns bear similar risks of gun death

The study found that rural counties had over 1.5 times the rate of gun suicides compared to urban counties, while urban areas experienced almost twice the gun homicide rate of rural counties. Gun suicides have outpaced gun homicides in the US, accounting for over half of all firearm deaths.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateSep 27, 2004

Evidence builds for potential new cancer drug target

Researchers at Temple University validated the c-myb gene as a potential cancer drug target by demonstrating its critical role in white blood cell formation. The study found that deleting the gene reduced cell proliferation and the risk of developing cancer, offering hope for future breast cancer treatments.

SourceTemple University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 27, 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.

Chronic opiate use may raise vulnerability to stress

Researchers found that chronic exposure to morphine makes nerve cells more sensitive to stress, leading to increased anxiety and disrupted sleep patterns. The study suggests that this sensitivity may play a role in the cycle of addiction that causes drug abusers to continue seeking drugs.

SourceChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia·DateSep 27, 2004

Newly identified master gene key in baby's first breath

Researchers have identified Foxa2 as a master gene controlling lung development and function at birth. The absence of Foxa2 leads to respiratory distress syndrome and death, highlighting its crucial role in stabilizing surfactant production.

SourceCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 27, 2004
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

DNA barcode finds four new bird species

Researchers discover two distinct COI barcodes in each of four species: solitary sandpiper, eastern meadowlark, marsh wren and warbling vireo. The findings indicate that these species should be split, confirming suspicions among taxonomists.

SourceRockefeller University·JournalPLOS Biology·DateSep 27, 2004

Vietnam veterans had higher death rates after discharge than other veterans

Over 30 years of follow-up, Vietnam veterans experienced a 7% higher death rate from external causes, including motor vehicle collisions, suicides, and homicides. This excess mortality was limited to the first five years after discharge, but also included higher mortality rates from unintentional poisonings and drug-related deaths.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalArchives of Internal Medicine·DateSep 27, 2004