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Science News for February 21, 2007


Why are African American women more likely than whites to die from breast cancer?

Researchers found that African American women are diagnosed with breast cancer at an average age of 46, compared to 57 for white women. The study proposes that the excess mortality occurs partly because black women are more likely to develop breast cancer before menopause, when surgery may pose a higher risk of stimulating cancer growth.

SourceBoston Children's Hospital·JournalInternational Journal of Surgery·DateFeb 21, 2007

Anti-herpes treatment reduces HIV levels in women infected with both viruses

A trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that treating women co-infected with HSV-2 and HIV with anti-herpes treatment significantly reduced HIV levels in genital secretions and plasma. The results suggest a new approach to reducing sexual transmission of HIV from already infected individuals.

SourceLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateFeb 21, 2007
Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

New stamping process creates metallic interconnects, nanostructures

Researchers at the University of Illinois developed a simple electrochemical process for direct patterning of metallic interconnects and nanostructures. The S4 process uses a patterned superionic material as a stamp, etching a metallic film in a single step.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalNano Letters·DateFeb 21, 2007

Older adults may be unreliable eyewitnesses, study shows

A University of Virginia study suggests that older adults are more likely to commit suggestibility errors, where they believe an event occurred when it was suggested, and have high confidence in their recollections even if wrong. This has significant implications for the reliability of older persons' eyewitness testimonies in courtrooms.

SourceUniversity of Virginia·JournalPsychonomic Bulletin & Review·DateFeb 21, 2007

Experimental vaccine given during pregnancy reduces stillbirths from common virus

Researchers developed an experimental vaccine that reduces stillbirths among rodents born to mothers infected with cytomegalovirus, a common virus causing mental retardation and hearing loss. The vaccine was found to greatly reduce the total amount of virus in mothers' blood and mortality rates among offspring.

SourceNIH/Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development·JournalThe Journal of Infectious Diseases·DateFeb 21, 2007
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Microfluidic chip helps solve cellular mating puzzle

Researchers used a microfluidic chip to study the mating habits of yeast cells, revealing that a second MAPK plays a crucial role in the process. The findings shed new light on how cells send and receive signals from one another and from their environment.

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalNature·DateFeb 21, 2007

Drug safety recommendations lack scientific evidence

Recent IOM recommendations lack evidence to support claims of a drug safety crisis. A new editorial questions the science behind these reforms, citing a study on the benefits of reduced approval times over safety concerns.

SourceWiley·JournalHealth Economics·DateFeb 21, 2007

Honeydew honeys are better antioxidants than nectar honeys

Researchers found that honeydew honeys have greater antioxidant properties than nectar honeys due to their high polyphenol content and other chemical characteristics. The study suggests that honeydew honeys could be a valuable source of natural antioxidants for health benefits.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of the Science of Food and Agriculture·DateFeb 21, 2007

A dietary supplement protects the lives of farm shrimp

A dietary supplement called poly-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) has been found to protect brine shrimp from infection by antibiotic-resistant Vibrio campbellii bacteria. PHB is a naturally-occurring compound that can be produced on an industrial scale, offering a potential alternative to antibiotics in the fish farming industry.

SourceBlackwell Publishing Ltd.·JournalEnvironmental Microbiology·DateFeb 21, 2007
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.

Lizards 'shout' against a noisy background

Male anole lizards adjust their visual displays to overcome background noise, enabling clear communication with rivals. The findings provide insights into the evolution of signaling strategies in these species.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·DateFeb 21, 2007

Biologically inspired sensors can augment sonar, vision system in submarines

Researchers have developed an artificial lateral line that mimics the functions of the biological system found in fish, enabling submarines to detect and track moving targets and avoid collisions. The device uses micro fabricated flow sensors integrated with metal-oxide-superconductor circuitry for on-chip signal processing.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 21, 2007
Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

A black and white look at breast cancer mortality

New research suggests that surgery-induced angiogenesis may contribute to the racial disparity in breast cancer mortality. In pre-menopausal women, this process can encourage tumor growth, leading to poorer outcomes. The study found a mean age of 43 for diagnosis in Nigerian women compared to 64 in the UK.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalInternational Journal of Surgery·DateFeb 21, 2007

'Bridge' protein spurs deadliest stages of breast cancer

Researchers found that Gab-2 is essential for breast cancer metastasis but not initial tumor growth. The study suggests a novel mechanism for breast cancer metastasis and identifies Gab-2 as a possible new target for therapies.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalOncogene·DateFeb 21, 2007

Birds found to plan for the future

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have discovered that western scrub-jays plan for future food scarcity by caching food, anticipating potential shortages. This finding suggests that birds may also experience anxiety about the future, similar to humans.

SourceBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council·JournalNature·DateFeb 21, 2007

Monitoring with minimum power

A new communication protocol, SCP-MAC, has been developed to optimize energy efficiency for wireless sensor networks, reducing monitoring time from 2-3% to under 2 minutes per day. This improvement enables sensornets to watch wildlife or oilfields with longer-lasting batteries.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·DateFeb 21, 2007

Birds plan for future meals

Researchers at the University of Cambridge discovered that western scrub-jays store food items they believe will be scarce in the future, planning accordingly. This complex behavior suggests advanced thought processes, including a sophisticated concept of past, present, and future.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalNature·DateFeb 21, 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.

Unique satellite project contributes to International Polar Year

A new European satellite project, Polar View, is contributing to the International Polar Year by offering real-time monitoring of polar regions. The project provides comprehensive services to over 40 international users, including government agencies and commercial interests, to help guide responses to environmental and human pressures.

SourceBritish Antarctic Survey·DateFeb 21, 2007

Common cold may send some young children to the hospital

A new study published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases suggests that rhinoviruses, a common cause of the common cold, are associated with hospitalizations for fever and respiratory illnesses in young children. Children with asthma or a history of wheezing have a higher risk of hospitalization due to rhinovirus infection.

SourceInfectious Diseases Society of America·JournalThe Journal of Infectious Diseases·DateFeb 21, 2007

Bacteria could steady buildings against earthquakes

Researchers at UC Davis have developed a new method to reinforce soil by injecting bacterial cultures that convert loose sand into rock, offering a safer and more efficient alternative to traditional chemical treatments.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalJournal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering·DateFeb 21, 2007

Vivid online videos demonstrate Superbot progress

Researchers at USC have developed SuperBot, a modular and multifunctional robot system that can reconfigure into different configurations for various tasks. The system consists of Lego-like autonomous robotic modules with internal and external sensors, enabling flexible bending, docking, and continuous rotation.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·DateFeb 21, 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.

Crime fighting potential for computerised lip-reading

Researchers at the University of East Anglia are developing computerized lip-reading systems that can automatically convert video lip-motions into text. The three-year project aims to improve the accuracy of lip-reading, a skill that can be unreliable even for trained experts.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·DateFeb 21, 2007

Study finds reduced brain growth in alcoholics with family drinking history

Researchers found reduced brain growth among adult alcoholic children of parents with a history of heavy drinking or alcoholism, affecting IQ scores. The study suggests genetic and environmental factors contribute to the increased risk for alcohol dependence in children of alcoholics.

SourceNIH/National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateFeb 21, 2007

In presence of fragrant cleaning products, air purifiers that emit ozone can dirty the air

Scientists at UC Irvine found that ozone-emitting air purifiers can create additional microscopic particles when used with household cleaning products, increasing harmful particulate matter levels. The researchers developed a mathematical model to predict whether an air purifier will make the air dirtier in a given indoor environment.

SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateFeb 21, 2007