Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for December 6, 2005


Groundbreaking guidelines promote early detection

The new guidelines provide a concise diagnostic and treatment guide for patients with PAD. They emphasize the importance of early detection and treatment, recommending specific questions, clinical clues, and therapeutic choices to maintain functional independence and decrease the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death.

SourceAmerican College of Cardiology·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateDec 6, 2005

T-rays: New imaging technology spotlighted by American Chemical Society

T-rays use terahertz (THz) region of the electromagnetic spectrum to sense and image objects, providing spectroscopic information about composition. Advances enable nanoscale detection and long-range imaging up to 100 meters, with potential applications in national security, genetics, and protein folding research.

SourceYale University·DateDec 6, 2005

High energy physics team captures network prize at SC|05

The Caltech-led team captured the network prize at SC|05 by transferring 475 terabytes of high energy physics data in 24 hours and sustaining average data rates of over 100 gigabits per second. The team demonstrated the value of collaboration and achieved records while transferring data from running experiments.

SourceDOE/Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory·DateDec 6, 2005
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.

Pneumonia hospitalization rates on the rise for older adults

Researchers found a 20% increase in pneumonia hospitalization rates for patients aged 65-74 and 75-84 years between 1988-1990 and 2000-2002. The proportion of patients with underlying conditions, such as chronic cardiac disease or diabetes mellitus, increased significantly during this period.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateDec 6, 2005

NASA's AURA satellite peers into Earth's ozone hole

This year's Antarctic ozone hole measured slightly larger than last year's at 9.4 million square miles, but still smaller than in previous years. The protective ozone layer has gotten larger since satellite measurements began in 1979, primarily due to human-produced chlorine and bromine chemicals.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateDec 6, 2005

Medicare fraud settlement causes oncologists to lose income

A study by Northwestern University found that a major sales promotion effort by AstraZeneca and TAP Pharmaceuticals led to significant income increases for urologists. The switch to Average Sales Price-based Medicare reimbursement is expected to decrease oncologists' revenue by 8%.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·DateDec 6, 2005
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Growing more forests in United States could contribute to global warming

Research from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Carnegie Institution suggests that planting trees in the US could cool the Earth for a few decades, but lead to planetary warming in the long term. Tropical forests, however, can help keep global temperatures cool by evaporating water and absorbing carbon dioxide.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateDec 6, 2005

Serious adverse reactions to smallpox vaccine appear to be limited

A study of 37,901 civilians who received smallpox vaccine between 2003 and 2004 found 822 reports of adverse events, with 100 serious cases reported. No preventable life-threatening adverse reactions were identified, highlighting the effectiveness of vaccination screening and education.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateDec 6, 2005

New treatment for pancreatic cancer allows life-saving surgery

Researchers developed a new treatment that reverses traditional treatment steps, reducing tumor size and increasing surgical removal options. The treatment has shown significant success in shrinking tumors, with no progression or recurrence observed after surgery.

SourceThe Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth·JournalAnnals of Surgical Oncology·DateDec 6, 2005
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.

Central European scientists awarded EMBO/HHMI startup grants

The EMBO/HHMI Startup Grants program aims to establish promising young scientists in Central Europe with resources and space. The joint initiative provides ongoing support for researchers after the grant period ends, helping to strengthen science in the region.

SourceHoward Hughes Medical Institute·DateDec 6, 2005

Other highlights in the December 7 JNCI

A new study in mice found that chronic stress and UV radiation suppress the immune system, leading to increased tumor formation and quicker disease progression. Researchers observed suppression of T-cell function and type 1 cytokines, highlighting the potential for chronic stress to increase cancer risk.

SourceJournal of the National Cancer Institute·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateDec 6, 2005

Unexpected link between gene in liver and iron overload

Research reveals that mice lacking SMAD4 gene in the liver exhibit dramatic iron accumulation, similar to human hemochromatosis. The liver plays a central role in iron regulation, and boosting TGF-ß signaling pathway holds promise for treatment.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Metabolism·DateDec 6, 2005
Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Study: Temperate forests could worsen global warming

A new study published in Geophysical Research Letters found that northern temperate forests can contribute to global warming by absorbing a lot of sunlight without losing much moisture. In contrast, tropical forests help keep the Earth cool by evaporating large amounts of water. The research suggests that planting forests at certain la...

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·DateDec 6, 2005

Nov/Dec 2005 Annals of Family Medicine tip sheet

The article discusses the importance of finding a balance between investing in new technologies and improving existing systems of care. Studies show that physicians employed by large health organizations report lower job satisfaction, while independent practice is associated with better quality of work life.

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateDec 6, 2005

Cassini's photo album from a season of icy moons

The Cassini mission has released a flood of new images of Saturn's icy moons, revealing detailed features such as plumes on Enceladus and compositional variation on the surfaces of Rhea, Dione, and Hyperion. The new views include large mosaics, movies, and false-color views, providing insights into the moons' intricacies.

SourceSpace Science Institute·DateDec 6, 2005
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Computer simulation shows buckyballs deform DNA

A new study found that buckyballs bind to the spirals in DNA molecules, causing deformation and potentially interfering with biological functions. The binding energy between DNA and buckyballs is comparable to the binding energies of a drug to receptors in cells.

SourceVanderbilt University·JournalBiophysical Journal·DateDec 6, 2005

Feeling good is good enough for a man

A new study found that men's body image improved as much as women's in a 12-week strength training program, but for different reasons. For men, it was related to perceived changes in their bodies, while for women, it was tied to both perceived and real physical improvements, including increases in weight lifted at the gym.

SourceMcMaster University·JournalBody Image·DateDec 6, 2005

Galaxy collisions dominate the local universe

A study using hundreds of images from two deep sky surveys found that more than half of the largest galaxies in the nearby universe have collided and merged with another galaxy. The mergers occur quickly, leaving faint features difficult to detect, but confirm predictions for large-scale structure formation. Ongoing study will reveal i...

SourceYale University·DateDec 6, 2005

Researchers say estrogen can kill breast cancer cells once fueled by the hormone

A laboratory study demonstrates that breast cancer cells die when re-introduced to estrogen after becoming resistant to tamoxifen and other estrogen inhibition drugs. This finding has important clinical implications for long-term therapy with aromatase inhibitors, suggesting a new strategy for treating treatment-resistant breast cancer.

SourceFox Chase Cancer Center·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateDec 6, 2005
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.

Setting the standard for computer models of life

MIRIAM is a voluntary code of conduct that standardizes computer models of life, providing reference correspondence and annotation schemes to improve searchability and usability. By adopting MIRIAM, model repositories can ensure quality control and facilitate collaboration among researchers.

SourceEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateDec 6, 2005
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.

Finally, male water fleas exposed

Scientists have discovered male water fleas in a lab, revealing that pesticides can induce sex change and affect populations of fish and other organisms. The finding highlights the importance of considering non-target species in environmental monitoring and management.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·DateDec 6, 2005

Women and elderly should also receive chemotherapy

Chemotherapy has been shown to improve survival rates for patients with advanced colon cancer, regardless of age or sex. The study found that women and the elderly received the same benefit as younger adults, but were less likely to receive chemotherapy treatment.

SourceGeorgetown University Medical Center·JournalJAMA·DateDec 6, 2005
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.

Harnessing the heating - and cooling - powers of the sun

A Rensselaer researcher has received a $300,000 NSF grant to study miniaturized solar-powered heating and cooling systems that can be applied to existing buildings. The goal is to create a thin-film system for efficient thermal control, potentially rendering traditional air conditioning and heating equipment obsolete.

SourceRensselaer Polytechnic Institute·DateDec 6, 2005

Researchers uncover mechanisms of estrogen in promoting cell death in breast cancer

Estradiol induces apoptosis by activating the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, which controls protein expression and mitochondrial function. The study found complete tumor regression in mice with estradiol-treated breast cancer cells, suggesting a potential strategy for aromatase inhibitor resistance.

SourceJournal of the National Cancer Institute·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateDec 6, 2005

NASA'S Cassini images reveal spectacular evidence of an active moon

Recent images from NASA's Cassini spacecraft reveal spectacular evidence of an active moon, Enceladus, with jets of fine, icy particles streaming from its south polar region. The discovery confirms the moon is geologically active and provides insight into its internal heating and possible energy sources.

SourceSpace Science Institute·DateDec 6, 2005

Saving soldiers: Better body armor expected from new material formation process

A Georgia Institute of Technology researcher has developed a new boron carbide formation process that increases the hardness and improves the ballistic performance of the material used in body armor. The new method can yield higher relative densities and better ballistic performance than currently available methods.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology Research News·JournalJournal of Materials Research·DateDec 6, 2005
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.