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Science News for August 28, 2007


Study suggests we remember the bad times better than the good

A study suggests that people tend to remember bad times more vividly than good times. This phenomenon is linked to increased activity in emotion-processing regions of the brain. The findings have implications for understanding autobiographical memory, eyewitness testimony, and posttraumatic stress disorder.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalCurrent Directions in Psychological Science·DateAug 28, 2007
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

A gene for metastasis

Researchers discover that the L1-CAM gene is highly expressed in colorectal cancer cells that have spread to the liver, while normal colon tissue lacks this gene. This finding highlights the importance of L1-CAM in metastasis and opens new avenues for cancer research.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalCancer Research·DateAug 28, 2007

Treating diabetes during pregnancy can break link to childhood obesity

A Kaiser Permanente study shows that treating gestational diabetes during pregnancy lowers a child's risk of becoming obese, with children whose moms were treated having the same risk as those with normal blood sugar levels. High maternal sugar levels increase childhood obesity risk, but treatment reduces it.

SourceKaiser Permanente·JournalDiabetes Care·DateAug 28, 2007

New resource will help develop biobased economy

The BioWeb is an Internet library of peer-reviewed papers and information related to bioenergy and bioproducts, providing valuable resources for scientists, students, and researchers. The project aims to strengthen American agriculture and develop environmentally friendly manufacturing products and technologies.

SourceUniversity of Tennessee at Knoxville·DateAug 28, 2007
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.

Novel method enables genomic screening of blood vessels from patient tissue

Scientists have developed a novel method for capturing and genome-wide screening of blood vessel cells in their actual disease state, advancing potential for genetic research. The technique allows for precise cell-specific information and has implications for diseases such as cancer and chronic wounds.

SourceOhio State University Wexner Medical Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 28, 2007

High-risk behaviors could lead to HIV epidemic in Afghanistan

A study in Kabul found alarmingly high rates of risky injecting and sexual behaviors among injection drug users, with 50% sharing syringes and 76% engaging in paid sex. The incidence of Hepatitis C infection was also high, potentially foreshadowing an increase in HIV rates.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalEmerging Infectious Diseases·DateAug 28, 2007

Switching goals

Researchers found that evolving to complex goals accelerates speedup in simulations, suggesting a possible shortcut to optimization. The study's findings have practical implications for engineering fields and computer science.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 28, 2007
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.

Not all risk is created equal

Researchers identified different areas of risk-taking based on ancestral challenges, finding that fertility risks are the least taken and social status-related risks are the most. Men were consistently more risk-takers than women across various domains.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalEvolutionary Psychology·DateAug 28, 2007

UNC study questions FDA genetic-screening guidelines for cancer drug

Researchers at the University of North Carolina analyzed data from nine studies and found that patients with a specific gene variation had a greater risk of side effects when taking medium or high doses of irinotecan. The study suggests that the FDA should modify its guidelines to reflect this finding.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateAug 28, 2007

Greenhouse gases likely drove near-record US warmth in 2006

A new study published in Geophysical Research Letters suggests that greenhouse gases played a significant role in the near-record US warmth in 2006. The research team found that greenhouse gas increases enhanced the probability of record-breaking temperatures by approximately 15-fold, making El Nino an unlikely contributor.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateAug 28, 2007

Novel MS drug shows promise in 2 lethal leukemias

Researchers discovered that an experimental multiple sclerosis drug, fingolimod, may also help patients with certain lethal forms of leukemia. The study found that the drug prevents cancer cell development and kills leukemia cells in mouse models, suggesting a promising new approach for treating resistant cases.

SourceOhio State University·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateAug 28, 2007
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.

Facial transplantation may be a safer option, study shows

Researchers from the University of Cincinnati and Louisville found that facial transplant outcomes differ significantly from previous data on kidney and hand transplants. They suggest a more optimistic view of face transplantation, with lower rates of acute and chronic rejection.

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalPlastic & Reconstructive Surgery·DateAug 28, 2007

'Mighty mice' made mightier

A recent study discovered that mice lacking the protein myostatin and overproducing follistatin have four times more muscle mass than normal mice. This finding offers new avenues for enhancing muscle growth in patients with muscular dystrophy and other wasting diseases.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalPLOS ONE·DateAug 28, 2007

Hypnosis reduces pain and costs in breast cancer surgery

A recent study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that hypnosis prior to breast cancer surgery reduced the amount of anesthesia used during the operation, as well as levels of pain and other side effects reported afterwards. This resulted in shorter hospital stays, fewer readmissions, and lower surgical costs.

SourceJournal of the National Cancer Institute·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateAug 28, 2007
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.

Don't trust experts' forecasts, O.R. study says

A new study by INFORMS found that experts' unaided judgment forecasts are only slightly more accurate than those of newcomers. The study shows that the chances of success for both experts and novices are around 28%, with a difference of less than 4 percentage points.

SourceInstitute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences·JournalInterfaces·DateAug 28, 2007

Sex is thirst-quenching for female beetles

A study by Dr. Martin Edvardsson found that dehydrated female beetles mate more frequently with males to obtain water from their seminal fluid, a strategy that benefits the male by extending the time before fertilization competition resumes. The research sheds new light on the role of 'nuptial gifts' in insect courtship and mating.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalAnimal Behaviour·DateAug 28, 2007
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Molecules line up to make the tiniest of wires

A team of researchers has created an innovative method for producing tiny conductive nano-wires on silicon chips using self-assembling molecules. The process can produce nano-wires that are 5,000 times longer than they are wide, meeting the need for connecting smaller transistors and electronic components.

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateAug 28, 2007

Shrinking giants, exploding dwarves

Researchers from the Weizmann Institute of Science have observed a rare and detailed view of a Type Ia supernova event, revealing the remnants of a red giant star that fed a white dwarf. This unique observation supports a widely accepted model of these explosions.

SourceWeizmann Institute of Science·JournalScience·DateAug 28, 2007

Virginia Tech faculty members earn IBM awards

Faculty members Kirk Cameron, Wu-Chun Feng, and Dimitrios Nikolopoulos have received IBM Faculty Awards for their exceptional work in plant phylogeny, software productivity, and computing environments. The awards aim to promote collaboration between researchers and foster growth in strategic disciplines.

SourceVirginia Tech·DateAug 28, 2007

Neutron stars warp space-time, U-M astronomers observe

Researchers have observed the properties of neutron stars, including their sizes and masses, using a new technique that exploits Einstein's general theory of relativity. The study provides insights into the extreme conditions within these ultradense objects.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateAug 28, 2007
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.

Different method of evaluating the urinary tract system reduces radiation dose

A recent study found that a split-bolus CT urography technique can reduce both radiation dose and number of images produced, while maintaining high sensitivity and specificity. This new method has the potential to replace traditional excretory urography protocols for diagnosing urinary tract abnormalities.

SourceAmerican College of Radiology·JournalAmerican Journal of Roentgenology·DateAug 28, 2007

Controlling bandwidth in the clouds

Researchers at UCSD have designed a new algorithm that enables distributed rate limiting to enforce global bandwidth rate limits and dynamically shift allocations based on current network demand. The flow proportional share algorithm uses TCP to estimate bandwidth demand, providing fairness and practicality for deployment nationwide.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·DateAug 28, 2007

Other highlights in the Aug. 28 JNCI

Researchers identify specific H. pylori strains associated with precancerous gastric lesions, potentially underestimating the risk of gastric cancer. Meanwhile, a gene called OGR1 is found to suppress prostate cancer metastasis in mice, suggesting its potential as a novel metastasis suppressor gene.

SourceJournal of the National Cancer Institute·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateAug 28, 2007

Gamma globulin effective in treating eye infections caused by adenoviruses

Researchers at University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine found gamma globulin to be highly effective against adenovirus-mediated eye infections, including conjunctivitis. The treatment showed significant antiviral activity and minimal toxicity.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences·JournalInvestigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science·DateAug 28, 2007

Men choose romance over success

A new study by Catherine Mosher and Sharon Danoff-Burg found that college men are more likely than women to prioritize a romantic relationship over achieving their career and education goals. The researchers also discovered that men derive more emotional support from opposite-sex relationships than same-sex friendships.

SourceSpringer·JournalGender Issues·DateAug 28, 2007
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.

New MRI finding sheds light on multiple sclerosis disease progressio

Researchers have identified a new abnormality related to disease progression and disability in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The study found that T1-weighted MR images of the brains of MS patients often depict bright areas called hyperintense lesions, which were more likely to be present in patients with secondary-progressive MS.

SourceRadiological Society of North America·JournalRadiology·DateAug 28, 2007