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Science News Archive April 2008 - Page 8


Page 8 of 22

Get mobile, get promoted

Research challenges traditional views on homeworker isolation, finding that mobile connection can facilitate career progression and networking. Four interviewees expressed a desire for promotion and remained connected outside working hours.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Mobile Communications·DateApr 18, 2008

High anxiety?

A University of Michigan researcher is conducting a clinical trial to test the effectiveness of Zoloft on anxiety patients. The study aims to determine if genetic variations can predict an individual's response to anti-anxiety medication.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·DateApr 18, 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.

Promoting positive changes in youth -- even at-risk youth

The Miami Youth Development Project is a community-supported program that targets risky behaviors while promoting positive self-development. The research draws on Developmental Intervention Science, which aims to promote both short-term and long-term life course changes.

SourceSAGE·JournalJournal of Adolescent Research·DateApr 18, 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 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.

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
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

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

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
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

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

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
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.

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
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.

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

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
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.

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

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
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.

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
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.

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

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
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.

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

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
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

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
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.

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
Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

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