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Science News for April 17, 2008


Tiny magnets offer breakthrough in gene therapy for cancer

Researchers developed a breakthrough in gene therapy for cancer using microscopic magnets to target tumours, increasing successful cell invasion. The 'magnetic targeting' method uses nanomagnets to attract cells carrying anti-cancer genes, effectively overcoming the problem of insufficient delivery.

SourceBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council·JournalGene Therapy·DateApr 17, 2008
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Rice and UT-Houston join DOD push for regenerative medicine

Researchers at Rice and UT-Houston will lead a $2 million DOD-funded project to develop new tissue engineering technologies and novel reconstructive surgical techniques for facial reconstruction. The goal is to quickly grow large volumes of bone tissue to aid wounded soldiers.

SourceRice University·DateApr 17, 2008

U-M study: Work hassles hamper sleep

A University of Michigan study finds that work hassles, such as psychological strain and conflicts with coworkers, are more likely to interfere with sleep than long hours or job insecurity. Respondents who experienced these stressors were more than 1.7 times as likely to develop sleep problems.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·DateApr 17, 2008

Parents stricter with older kids to set example: game theory study

A new game theory research from the University of Maryland, Duke University and The Johns Hopkins University concludes that parents exercise control effectively modifying adolescent risky behavior. Having one additional younger sibling lowers the likelihood of an adolescent dropping out of high school by 3 percentage points.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalJOURNAL OF ECONOMICS·DateApr 17, 2008

Graphene used to create world's smallest transistor

Researchers from the University of Manchester have successfully created the world's smallest transistor using graphene, a one-atom-thick material. The breakthrough paves the way for significant advancements in nanoelectronics and could potentially solve the scaling limitations of traditional electronics.

SourceUniversity of Manchester·JournalScience·DateApr 17, 2008
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.

New vaccine may give long-term defense against deadly bird flu and its variant forms

A new vaccine under development has shown promising results in mice, protecting against highly pathogenic bird flu and its variants for a year or longer. The vaccine uses an adenovirus vector technology, which can be produced quickly and stored for long periods, making it an attractive option for pandemic preparedness.

SourcePurdue University·JournalThe Journal of Infectious Diseases·DateApr 17, 2008

Resolving international copyright

Freelance creators face unclear legal positions due to disparate jurisdictions, leading to unclear ownership and control of digital exploitation rights. Clearer rules on contract formation and interpretation could resolve these issues.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Intellectual Property Management·DateApr 17, 2008
Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Supermarkets' power desertifies our diets

Research published in International Journal of Health Geographics found that supermarkets are building in newer suburbs, leaving smaller shops and food deserts in their wake. Residents living in food deserts face poor access to supermarkets, leading to higher prices for basic supplies and devastating health effects.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalInternational Journal of Health Geographics·DateApr 17, 2008

MU researchers find clue to cataract formation

Researchers at the University of Missouri have identified a crucial step in cataract formation: the loss of function in a specific type of protein, leading to the formation of small peptides that accelerate cataract development.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateApr 17, 2008

Mice sense oxygen through their skin

Researchers found that mice can sense oxygen levels in the environment and stimulate kidney production of erythropoietin when oxygen concentrations drop. The study suggests that the skin plays a major role in sensing oxygen and could lead to new treatments for anemia and diseases affecting red blood cell counts.

SourceCell Press·DateApr 17, 2008
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.

Birds announce their sentry duty to help comrades get a good meal

Researchers found that birds using sentry duty call out to alert their group-mates to safe foraging areas, leading to increased food capture and improved group survival. This cooperative behavior is a rare example of selflessness in the animal kingdom.

SourceBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council·JournalCurrent Biology·DateApr 17, 2008

Tiny tremors can track extreme storms in a warming planet

Researchers have discovered that tiny earth tremors caused by wind-driven ocean waves can track extreme storms. Microseism signals show up as oscillations of Earth's surface and increase in amplitude with storm intensity, offering a unique way to monitor storm intensities across seasons and geographical locations.

SourceSeismological Society of America·DateApr 17, 2008

Advanced MRI studies provide new insight on early Parkinson's disease

Two studies from the University at Buffalo use advanced MRI technologies to identify brain regions linked to Parkinson's disease. The research found that white matter hyperintensities are associated with lower scores on mental tests, suggesting a possible explanation for cognitive impairment in PD.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·DateApr 17, 2008

Down in the dumps: Less-educated men more prone to stigma

Research highlights importance of targeting stigma associated with depression, particularly among less-educated men and those born overseas. Personal stigma is lower among those with depression, while higher education levels and depression knowledge reduce stigmatizing attitudes.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalBMC Psychiatry·DateApr 17, 2008
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

The new shape of music

A team of music professors has devised a new way to analyze and categorize music using geometric principles. This method, known as geometrical music theory, translates musical concepts into mathematical structures, revealing hidden patterns and relationships. By assigning mathematical structure to musical families, researchers can gain...

SourcePrinceton University·JournalScience·DateApr 17, 2008

RIT study: Sign language interpreters at high ergonomic risk

A new study by Rochester Institute of Technology found that sign language interpreting causes more physical stress to the extremities than high-risk industrial tasks, increasing the risk of musculoskeletal injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis.

SourceRochester Institute of Technology·JournalErgonomics·DateApr 17, 2008

The Alliance for Lupus Research announces 2008 grantees

The Alliance for Lupus Research has awarded nearly $7 million to researchers globally, funding over 100 projects and committing $50 million to research since its founding in 1999. The grants focus on removing barriers to new treatments and therapies for lupus, a disease affecting disproportionately women of color.

SourceAlliance for Lupus Research·DateApr 17, 2008
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.

Inherited cancer mutation is widespread in America

A recent study found that the American Founder Mutation, a common cause of Lynch syndrome, is older and more prevalent than thought. The new research includes 32 additional families and estimates that the mutation is present in 32,150 Americans.

SourceOhio State University Wexner Medical Center·JournalCancer Research·DateApr 17, 2008

New research shows slight of hand is not so slight

Researchers at Purdue University found that discrete skills like typing are controlled differently than continuous skills like scribbling. This discovery could have implications for physical therapy and humanoid robotics.

SourcePurdue University·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateApr 17, 2008
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.

Cutting through the stigma

A year-long pilot project trained barbers as peer educators to reach low-literacy rural communities in India, distributing educational materials and condoms. The program showed positive effects, including increased social recognition for women peer educators and a rise in customers among barber clients.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalHuman Resources for Health·DateApr 17, 2008

Plastic surgeons play pivotal role in war injury research

The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded $85 million in grant funding to the Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine to develop groundbreaking therapies for treating devastating war injuries. Plastic surgeons will play a pivotal role in this research, with a focus on improving wound healing and tissue repair through adult ste...

SourceAmerican Society of Plastic Surgeons·DateApr 17, 2008

Charting the epigenome

Scientists chart the epigenome of plant Arabidopsis thaliana, mapping precise DNA modifications and their effects on gene activity. The study provides insights into plant productivity, stress resistance, human genome dynamics, and cancer research.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalCell·DateApr 17, 2008
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.

New treatment for psoriasis is safe and effective

A new calcineurin inhibitor ISA247 has been shown to be safe and effective in treating moderate to severe psoriasis. The study found a strong correlation between drug dose and response, allowing for more accurate dosing to minimize side effects.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateApr 17, 2008

New strategies against bird flu

Researchers have identified a common molecular disease pathway explaining how diverse non-infectious and infectious agents like anthrax, lung plague, SARS, and H5N1 avian influenza can cause severe lung failure with similar pathologies. Oxidative stress triggers the innate immune system, leading to severe lung damage.

SourceResearch Institute of Molecular Pathology·JournalCell·DateApr 17, 2008
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.

Study in flies points to unisex brain

A study in flies found that despite sex-based behaviors, their brains have a largely unisex structure, suggesting key switches control the difference between male and female behavior. Researchers discovered that artificial activation of male-specific singing neurons triggered female flies to exhibit male-like behavior.

SourceCell Press·DateApr 17, 2008

Wanted: 40,000 more health IT professionals

A report by Oregon Health & Science University expert William Hersh predicts a 40% increase in health IT workforce needed to control healthcare costs and reduce medical errors. The US would need 40,784 additional full-time equivalents (FTE) of IT staff to advance to higher levels of HIT adoption.

SourceOregon Health & Science University·DateApr 17, 2008
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.

Science takes aim at battlefield injury in massive project grant

The Armed Forces Institute of Regenerative Medicine (AFIRM) will focus on repairing battlefield injuries through regenerative medicine. Researchers aim to develop clinical therapies for burn repair, wound healing without scarring, craniofacial reconstruction, limb reconstruction, and treating compartment syndrome.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences·DateApr 17, 2008
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.

Antidepressants enhance neuronal plasticity in the visual system

The study found that antidepressants like fluoxetine enhance neuronal plasticity in the visual system by increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), allowing for improved vision in individuals with amblyopia. Environmental stimuli, such as rehabilitation or therapy, are required to guide the rearrangement of cortical connections.

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalScience·DateApr 17, 2008
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.

Minnesota partnership advances potential MS therapy

A production laboratory founded by the Minnesota Partnership has transferred its first potential therapy, a medication for multiple sclerosis, to a processing plant in Minnesota. The antibody rHIgM22 was developed at Mayo Clinic and has been validated for clinical development.

SourceUniversity of Minnesota·DateApr 17, 2008

Fuzzy logic water quality

Researchers develop data mining approach using Fuzzy Inference System to analyze river water quality, revealing high pollution levels despite individual parameter analysis. The method combines disparate parameters for a broader understanding of overall quality, potentially improving the lives of people relying on freshwater sources.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Technology and Management·DateApr 17, 2008

UC San Diego study finds mice can sense oxygen through skin

Biologists at UC San Diego have found that mouse skin responds to low oxygen levels by regulating EPO production, a hormone that stimulates red blood cell creation. This discovery could revolutionize treatment for anemia and improve endurance athlete performance.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalCell·DateApr 17, 2008

Rutgers-led team pursues innovative healing for war wounded

A Rutgers-led team has been awarded $42.5 million to create an Institute of Regenerative Medicine, focusing on regenerative medicine and biomaterials science to treat severe blast trauma. The institute aims to develop new therapies for the repair of battlefield injuries and serve civilian trauma patients.

SourceRutgers University·DateApr 17, 2008
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

What happens when you pop a quantum balloon?

Theoretical physicists discovered that measuring quantum particles causes interference, leading to a 'relaxed' state analogous to classical chaotic scattering. This finding has implications for quantum computing and information theory.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalNature·DateApr 17, 2008

Scientists discover new arenavirus associated with hemorrhagic fever

A newly discovered arenavirus, Chapare virus, has been identified in a fatal hemorrhagic fever case in rural Bolivia. The virus produces clinical hemorrhagic symptoms similar to those associated with other New World arenaviruses, but genetically it is distinct from Junin, Machupo, Guanarito, and Sabia viruses.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Pathogens·DateApr 17, 2008

Classical medical terminology can endanger patients

Classical medical terminology is confusing and has the potential to cause serious consequences for patients. The use of dead languages in medical terminology can lead to misunderstandings, especially in time-pressured situations with unfamiliarity or linguistic idiosyncrasies.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateApr 17, 2008

Inaugural Kirkham Gold Medal presented to expert on soil physics

Donald R. Nielsen, University of California-Davis professor, is recognized for his groundbreaking work in linking theory with field measurements and spatial variability of agricultural soils. He has guided 37 students through graduate degrees and authored over 300 scientific publications.

SourceSoil Science Society of America·DateApr 17, 2008
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.

Mature B cells reprogrammed to stem-cell-like state

Researchers have successfully reprogrammed fully mature, differentiated B cells into an embryonic-stem-cell-like state without using eggs. This breakthrough enables the creation of powerful mouse models for autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes.

SourceWhitehead Institute for Biomedical Research·JournalCell·DateApr 17, 2008

Ovarian cancer stem cells identified, characterized

Researchers have identified and cloned ovarian cancer stem cells, which may be the source of recurrence and resistance to chemotherapy. These stem cells can replicate indefinitely and are highly resistant to conventional treatment.

SourceYale University·DateApr 17, 2008
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.

Growth hormone is used to treat twice as many short boys than girls in the US and Asia

A study by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia found that in the US and Asia, boys are twice as likely to receive growth hormone treatment for short stature compared to girls. The gender disparity is smaller in Europe and Australia, suggesting cultural biases towards male height in some countries.

SourceChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·DateApr 17, 2008

Duke scientists deconstruct process of bacterial division

Researchers at Duke University have made a major advance in understanding how bacteria divide, paving the way for new antibiotic treatments. They created an artificial system that demonstrates the importance of FtsZ protein in bacterial cell division.

SourceDuke University Medical Center·JournalScience·DateApr 17, 2008

Researchers evaluating food allergy treatment

A new trial aims to develop a preventive treatment for food allergies using immunotherapy. Researchers will administer increasing doses of peanut or egg protein to desensitize participants' immune systems. The goal is to achieve long-term results and offer relief from the daily fear of food.

SourceNational Jewish Health·DateApr 17, 2008
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.

Tip sheet for International Seismology Research Conference

Researchers at the SSA meeting will discuss the Rio Grande Rift, a region prone to earthquakes, and its potential connection to ancient volcanic activity. The study also explores seismic hazard estimates for areas like New Madrid and Charleston, which may be underreported.

SourceSeismological Society of America·DateApr 17, 2008

Dam removal increases property values

Two studies found that removing dams in Maine increased property values by reducing a penalty for being near the dam site. The penalty has shrunk since dam removal, and it now affects properties further away from the dam more than those closer to the dam.

SourceWiley·JournalContemporary Economic Policy·DateApr 17, 2008