Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News for September 11, 2007


New class of RNA molecules may be important in human cancer

Research reveals ultraconserved non-coding RNAs may play a role in cancer development and could help diagnose the disease, determine prognosis, and even guide treatment. The study found specific activity patterns for these molecules in different types of cancer, suggesting they might serve as genetic markers.

SourceOhio State University Wexner Medical Center·JournalCancer Cell·DateSep 11, 2007

RAND researchers offer options to improve immigrant health care quality, access

The article suggests several policy options to address immigrants' limited access to health care, including expanding health insurance programs and improving language barriers. Researchers emphasize the importance of addressing these vulnerabilities to ensure better health outcomes for this growing segment of the U.S. population.

SourceRAND Corporation·JournalHealth Affairs·DateSep 11, 2007
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.

MIT: Leveraging learning for artificial respiration

Researchers at MIT have found that the body's innate ability to adapt to recurring stimuli can be leveraged to design more effective and less costly artificial respirators. By taking into account a patient's natural breathing rhythm, doctors may be able to minimize the need for induced sedation or paralysis.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalPLOS ONE·DateSep 11, 2007

WFU professor designs atomic emission detector

A team of researchers, led by Wake Forest University Professor Brad Jones, has developed a handheld device that can detect and identify radioactive particles. The device uses an atomic emission spectrometer to analyze environmental samples, providing rapid field testing capabilities.

SourceWake Forest University·DateSep 11, 2007
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Higher education is associated with lower cancer death rate

A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that higher education levels are associated with decreased cancer mortality rates among black and white men and women. The difference in mortality was greatest between those with 12 or fewer years of education and those with more than 12 years. This association is ...

SourceJournal of the National Cancer Institute·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateSep 11, 2007

Scientists fear rare dolphin driven to extinction by human activities

A six-week survey of the Yangtze River found no Yangtze River dolphins, a species considered one of the world's most endangered. The baiji's decline is attributed to fishing nets and habitat degradation, raising concerns about human-caused extinctions of marine mammals worldwide.

SourceNOAA National Marine Fisheries Service·JournalBiology Letters·DateSep 11, 2007

Who's afraid of the big, bad wolf? Coyotes

A study found coyote densities are significantly lower in areas with wolves, indicating competition for resources. However, coyotes can survive by living in packs, reducing their vulnerability to wolves.

SourceWildlife Conservation Society·JournalJournal of Animal Ecology·DateSep 11, 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.

Biological invasions can begin with just 1 insect

A study by York University biologists Amro Zayed and Laurence Packer found that a single mated female solitary bee is likely the founder of an invasive population. This contradicts the 'propagule pressure hypothesis,' which suggests that more individuals introduced to an area lead to a higher success rate of invasion.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateSep 11, 2007

Soft drinks alone do not affect children's weight

A recent study published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition found no evidence that soft drinks alone contribute to children's weight gain. Instead, researchers discovered that overweight children consumed more food overall and had a greater tendency towards savory rather than sweet foods.

SourceSugar Nutrition UK·JournalInternational Journal of Food Science and Nutrition·DateSep 11, 2007

Shape encoding may start in the retina

Researchers found evidence that the two sides of the retina interact to enhance shape recognition, coordinating their responses with unexpected temporal precision. This study challenges the traditional view that communication between brain hemispheres is necessary for shape recognition.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateSep 11, 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.

Welch Foundation gives $1.6 million for drug discovery research

The John S. Dunn Gulf Coast Consortium for Chemical Genomics will establish a computational chemistry research program to predict molecular properties, design molecules, and discover small molecules affecting protein-protein interactions. The grant aims to improve computing methods and synthetic techniques for drug discovery.

SourceUniversity of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston·DateSep 11, 2007

United States continues to have highest level of health spending

The US continues to have the highest level of health spending among OECD countries, driven by higher prices and per capita incomes. The country has fewer healthcare resources and lower utilization rates compared to other developed nations.

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·JournalHealth Affairs·DateSep 11, 2007

Penn State supplies NASA to the Schools

Penn State has taken over NASA's Aerospace Education Services Program, shifting its focus from one-time school visits to university-based summer courses. The program aims to make science come alive in students and teachers across the nation, using innovative technologies like GeoWall.

SourcePenn State·DateSep 11, 2007
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.

Aspartame is safe, study says

A comprehensive review of over 500 studies on aspartame found no evidence of cancer, neurological damage, or other adverse effects. The study suggests that aspartame is safe at current levels of consumption and may even aid in weight control and sugar-free diets.

SourceKellen Communications·JournalCritical Reviews in Toxicology·DateSep 11, 2007

Personal chaos in HIV patients' lives may be a barrier to regular medical care, UCLA Study Shows

A new UCLA study reveals that unstable lifestyles and lack of organization in HIV patients' lives can act as a barrier to regular medical care. The researchers developed a six-item scale to gauge the level of chaos in an adult's life, which found those with more chaos scored higher on the scale and had lower mental health status.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·DateSep 11, 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.

China's eye on the Internet

Researchers at UC Davis developed ConceptDoppler, a tool that clusters words by meaning and identifies keywords likely to be blacklisted in China's censorship system. The study found that keyword filtering encourages self-censorship due to the perception of surveillance, allowing users to avoid blocked topics.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·DateSep 11, 2007

A POX on syn

The POX method produces high-temperature and pressure synthesis gas, enabling ten times more power generation and lower exergy losses compared to conventional methods. This process can drive a gas turbine for power generation and is more compact than existing steam turbine systems.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Exergy·DateSep 11, 2007

Parental surveys boost diagnosis abilities of pediatricians

A simple questionnaire from the University of Oregon has increased referrals of mild developmental delays in year-old and 2-year-old children. The Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) showed a significant improvement in pediatrician diagnosis, with 44 additional patients eligible for monitoring.

SourceUniversity of Oregon·JournalPEDIATRICS·DateSep 11, 2007

Study links education to risk of cancer death

A new American Cancer Society study reveals that having at least some education beyond high school is associated with a decreased risk of cancer death. The study found stronger associations between higher education levels and lower cancer mortality among black men, white men, and white women.

SourceAmerican Cancer Society·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateSep 11, 2007

Cluster and double star uncover more on bright aurorae

Scientists have found a third type of substorm onset using data from ESA's Cluster satellites and CNSA's Double Star mission. This discovery challenges existing theories about magnetic substorms and their effects on the aurora and GPS signals.

SourceEuropean Space Agency·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateSep 11, 2007
Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

Other highlights in the September 11 JNCI

A third of prostate biopsies detected cancer, with the risk increasing with each subsequent biopsy. Gene variants influencing innate immunity also linked to improved or poorer lung cancer survival in white patients. Brain tumor stem cells susceptible to a cancer-killing virus, offering new treatment hope.

SourceJournal of the National Cancer Institute·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateSep 11, 2007

Finasteride unlikely to induce high grade prostate cancers

Two studies found that finasteride reduces prostate cancer incidence, but increases detection of high-grade cancers. Analysis suggests increased detection rather than development of high-grade cancers. The findings have favorable implications for the clinical impact of finasteride.

SourceJournal of the National Cancer Institute·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateSep 11, 2007

Brain network related to intelligence identified

A distinct neurobiology of human intelligence has been identified through a review of brain imaging studies. The Parieto-Frontal Integration Theory suggests that the frontal and parietal lobes are key areas involved in intelligent information processing, with some overlap with attention, memory, and language functions.

SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalBehavioral and Brain Sciences·DateSep 11, 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.

'Fruity vegetables' and fish reduce asthma and allergies

A seven-year study of 460 Spanish children found that a diet rich in fish and fruity vegetables can significantly reduce the risk of childhood asthma and allergies. The study also reinforced earlier findings that a fish-rich diet during pregnancy can help protect children from asthma and allergies.

SourceBlackwell Publishing Ltd.·JournalPediatric Allergy and Immunology·DateSep 11, 2007

Was ability to run early man's Achilles heel?

Researchers propose that early humans used efficient bipedal walking rather than chimp-like 'Groucho' walking. Without an Achilles tendon, their ability to run would be severely compromised, with top speeds halved and energy costs more than doubled.

SourceUniversity of Manchester·DateSep 11, 2007

Breastfeeding does not protect against asthma, allergies

A recent study led by McGill University found that breastfeeding does not offer protection against childhood asthma and allergies. The research, which followed 13,889 children from birth to age 6½, revealed an increased risk of positive allergic skin tests among breastfed infants.

SourceMcGill University·DateSep 11, 2007
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.

Generic prostate drug helps find high-risk cancers early

A new study suggests that finasteride, a generic drug for enlarged prostates, improves early detection of fast-growing prostate cancers. Finasteride reduces prostate size and cancer risk by 25 percent, making it easier for physicians to detect high-grade tumors early.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateSep 11, 2007

Trade-offs reveal no clear favorites in alternative energy market

The nuclear power industry is riding the green wave back into public favor, but it's still bound by a global energy landscape dominated by solar, wind and carbon sequestration. Veteran reporter Matthew Wald examines the trade-offs associated with alternative energy sources in his special feature.

SourceBulletin of the Atomic Scientists·JournalBulletin of the Atomic Scientists·DateSep 11, 2007

New mechanism discovered for DNA recombination and repair

RecA family proteins have been found to function as rotary motor proteins to repair DNA damages through a novel mechanism. This discovery opens up new avenues for understanding the molecular mechanisms of RecA family proteins and their roles in cell proliferation, genome maintenance, and genetic diversity.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateSep 11, 2007

New clues to breast cancer development in high-risk women

A study by Georgetown University researchers found that estrogen is necessary for breast cancer development but tumors become unresponsive to estrogen and anti-estrogen therapies after they form. This explains why oophorectomies help prevent breast cancer in women with BRCA1 mutations

SourceGeorgetown University Medical Center·JournalOncogene·DateSep 11, 2007
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Customized virus kills brain tumor stem cells that drive lethal cancer

Researchers have developed a customized virus, Delta-24-RGD, that targets and eliminates brain tumor stem cells. In lab experiments and human brain cancer in mice, the virus shows promise in killing glioblastoma multiforme tumors, which are resistant to radiation and chemotherapy.

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateSep 11, 2007

Nice but naughty -- our addiction to chocolate

Research suggests that cravings for chocolate are driven by sugar and fat content rather than psychoactive compounds, contradicting popular notions of 'addiction'. The study also reveals a preference for milk chocolate and chocolate-covered confectionery over dark chocolate.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·DateSep 11, 2007

'Fetal' neurons play role in adult brain

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine discovered that approximately 10% of subplate neurons survive into adulthood and maintain functional connections. These cells generate electrical signals and receive inputs from neighboring neurons, undergoing plasticity to adapt to experience and activity.

SourceBaylor College of Medicine·JournalNeuroscience·DateSep 11, 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.