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Science News for June 18, 2008


New cancer treatment targets both tumor cells and blood vessels

Researchers at the University of Missouri have developed a new non-toxic treatment that targets both tumor cells and blood vessels, effectively reducing breast cancer cell growth. The combination of PRIMA-1 and 2aG4 has been shown to improve responses and reduce side effects in pre-clinical trials.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·DateJun 18, 2008

Walk your way to a healthier lifestyle

A new study shows that various interventions can motivate individuals to initiate walking behaviors, with certain strategies showing more promise than others. The review of studies found that frequency and duration of telephone prompts, as well as encouraging moderate-paced walking, were key factors in increasing walking behavior.

SourceLifespan·JournalMedicine & Science in Sports & Exercise·DateJun 18, 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.

New test makes cheating with drugs in sports easier to detect

A new mass spectrometry test can detect naturally occurring steroid levels in athletes more accurately than previous tests. The test is faster to perform and can be run on standard laboratory equipment, making it easier to detect doping violations.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Mass Spectrometry·DateJun 18, 2008

Computers as safe as medical experts in prescribing blood thinning drugs

A five-year clinical trial has shown that computer-assisted dosage of blood thinning drugs is at least as safe and reliable as those provided by expert medical professionals. The study involved over 13,000 patients and nearly 400,000 INR tests, confirming the effectiveness of computer-assisted dosage.

SourceUniversity of Manchester·JournalJournal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis·DateJun 18, 2008

Researchers explain nitrogen paradox in forests

Scientists have explained the enigmatic distribution of nitrogen-fixing trees by recognizing the role of temperature and phosphorus abundance. In temperate forests, the high cost of producing the enzyme nitrogenase offsets the benefit of nitrogen fixation despite low-nitrogen soils.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalNature·DateJun 18, 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.

Space science simulation at UNH now better, faster, cheaper

Researchers at UNH have developed a supercomputer using PlayStation3 consoles to simulate the interaction between Earth's magnetic field and the solar wind. The new system can perform up to 8 trillion operations per second, paving the way for future civilian teraflop machines.

SourceUniversity of New Hampshire·DateJun 18, 2008

Study finds quality of California preschools falls short

A RAND Corporation study reveals that California's preschools fail to provide high-quality learning experiences for disadvantaged children. Despite meeting class size and child-staff ratio benchmarks, only a quarter of participating children experience instruction promoting thinking and language skills.

SourceRAND Corporation·DateJun 18, 2008

Study links vitamin D to colon cancer survival

A new study by scientists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute found that patients diagnosed with colon cancer who had abundant vitamin D in their blood were less likely to die during a follow-up period. The researchers identified 304 participants and followed them until death or 2005, whichever occurred first.

SourceDana-Farber Cancer Institute·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·DateJun 18, 2008

Tuna populations at risk

The Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission's failure to adopt effective conservation measures is threatened by rising pressures from fishing fleets and nations demanding increased fleet sizes. Urgent action is needed to protect tuna stocks, including time and area closures and research into fish aggregating devices.

SourceConservation International·DateJun 18, 2008

Carnegie Mellon system estimates geographic location of photos

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University developed an algorithm that can geolocate photos by analyzing their composition and searching through millions of GPS-tagged images on Flickr. The IM2GPS algorithm achieved accurate results, even identifying landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and narrowing down possibilities like beach or desert l...

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·DateJun 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.

Tartalo the robot is knocking on your door

Tartalo, a robot developed by the University of the Basque Country, uses sensors and computer vision to navigate environments. The robot can recognize different places, such as rooms, corridors, and doors, and asks for permission before entering.

SourceElhuyar Fundazioa·DateJun 18, 2008

Genome sequence of small marine creature sheds light on vertebrate origins

Researchers have discovered insights into vertebrate origins and the evolution of immune systems, nervous system development, and cell signaling through the analysis of the amphioxus genome. The study reveals conserved genes and DNA elements between amphioxus and humans, suggesting a common ancestor with vertebrates.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalGenome Research·DateJun 18, 2008
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Trap and zap: Harnessing the power of light to pattern surfaces on the nanoscale

Researchers at Princeton University have invented a technique to pattern surfaces on the nanoscale using lasers and plastic beads. The method enables the creation of ultrasmall features, such as lines and dots, that are 1,000 times narrower than a human hair, with potential applications in biology, medicine, and computing.

SourcePrinceton University, Engineering School·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateJun 18, 2008

Kidney transplant patients may benefit from going off of certain immunosuppressive drugs

Withdrawing calcineurin inhibitors after kidney transplantation can prolong survival, improve kidney function, and save money compared to lifelong medication use. The study found that treatment with sirolimus plus steroids may be more efficacious and less costly than regimens using calcineurin inhibitors.

SourceAmerican Society of Nephrology·JournalJournal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateJun 18, 2008

Risk factors for sudden death for adult muscular dystrophy identified

A multicenter study has identified risk factors for sudden death in people with myotonic dystrophy type 1, a common form of muscular dystrophy. The study found that patients with significant ECG abnormalities were at a 3.5 times higher risk of sudden death, while those with atrial arrhythmias had a 5 times higher risk.

SourceIndiana University·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJun 18, 2008

Caesarean sections associated with risk of asthma

A new study based on data from 1.7 million births found that babies born by Caesarean section have a significantly higher risk of developing asthma in childhood. The study also revealed an even greater association between emergency Caesarean sections and the development of asthma.

SourceNorwegian Institute of Public Health·JournalThe Journal of Pediatrics·DateJun 18, 2008
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

LSU professor dissects patterns of violence in rural communities

A recent study by LSU professor Matthew Lee found that civic participation and local stability are crucial in preventing violent crime in rural areas. Rural communities with high levels of home ownership, stable populations, and robust middle-class economies tend to have lower rates of violence.

SourceLouisiana State University·JournalCriminology·DateJun 18, 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.

Failure to take seizure drugs linked to increased risk of death

People with epilepsy who fail to take their medication regularly are three times more likely to die compared to those who adhere to treatment. Hospital visits and emergency room visits also increase during periods of non-compliance, highlighting the importance of consistent medication adherence.

SourceAmerican Academy of Neurology·JournalNeurology·DateJun 18, 2008

Known genetic risk for Alzheimer's in whites also places blacks at risk

A study led by Florida State University has found that the APOE epsilon 4 allele is a risk factor for African-Americans as well as whites. The gene increases the risk of cognitive decline and dementia in both populations. Researchers hope to develop medicines that slow or prevent Alzheimer's disease using this newfound understanding.

SourceFlorida State University·JournalGerontology·DateJun 18, 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.

When the spirit moves into the hospital

A new study from Brandeis University found that hospital chaplaincy services are strongly predicted by general demographic and institutional characteristics, rather than national accreditation guidelines. The study also suggests that increasing attention to religion and spirituality in medicine may be the result of doctors' and nurses'...

SourceBrandeis University·JournalSouthern Medical Journal·DateJun 18, 2008

UC Davis researcher leads climate-change discovery

A team of researchers led by UC Davis faculty member Benjamin Houlton has resolved a longstanding paradox in the plant world. They found that temperature and phosphorus abundance play key roles in determining the presence of nitrogen-fixing tree species in temperate and tropical forests.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalNature·DateJun 18, 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.

Thinking ahead: Bacteria anticipate coming changes in their environment

Researchers at Princeton University found that bacteria can use sensed cues to infer future events, adapting to changing environments over time. By studying Escherichia coli's behavior, the team discovered a strategic response to temperature and oxygen changes, allowing the bacterium to survive in a dynamic ecosystem.

SourcePrinceton University, Engineering School·JournalScience·DateJun 18, 2008

Choice of hospital impacts outcomes for inflammatory bowel disease surgery

A new study by researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin found that high-volume hospitals for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) surgery have significantly lower in-hospital mortality rates and shorter post-operative hospital stays. Additionally, there was no increase in length of stay or hospitalization costs in these centers.

SourceMedical College of Wisconsin·DateJun 18, 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.

Stress during childhood increases the risk of allergies

A long-term study has found that childhood stress can increase the risk of developing allergies, with higher levels of stress-related peptide VIP detected in children who experienced life events like moving house or parental separation. Researchers also found a link between stress and immune system regulation, but not severe illnesses ...

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalPediatric Allergy and Immunology·DateJun 18, 2008

Newly born identical twin stars show surprising differences

Astronomers have discovered identical twin stars that formed at different times, challenging current star-formation theories. The analysis reveals significant differences in brightness, surface temperature, and possibly size between the two stars, with one being about 2x brighter and 300 degrees hotter than its twin.

SourceVanderbilt University·JournalNature·DateJun 18, 2008

Birds communicate reproductive success in song

Researchers found that migratory songbirds can learn from the songs of successful birds, leading them to choose habitats with high reproductive potential. This complex communication ability suggests that songbirds may be more than just visually selecting habitats.

SourceOregon State University·DateJun 18, 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.

Great apes think ahead

A study by Mathias and Helena Osvath found that chimpanzees and orangutans can plan ahead, overriding immediate needs in favor of future rewards. The apes demonstrated self-control and pre-experiencing a future event, visualizing the use of tools to achieve goals.

SourceSpringer·JournalAnimal Cognition·DateJun 18, 2008

Failure to bridle inflammation spurs atherosclerosis

Researchers found that increasing pro-resolution signals can cool down inflammation and slow down atherosclerosis. However, clamping down on these signals would fan the fire of inflammation and speed up its progression.

SourceBaylor College of Medicine·JournalThe FASEB Journal·DateJun 18, 2008