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Science News for June 6, 2008


Sour comes after a lemon has gone

A Japanese research group identified the PKD1L3-PKD2L1 channel complex as a key player in the sour taste sensation. This 'off-response' mechanism allows humans to detect sour flavors even after the removal of acidic stimuli.

SourceNational Institute for Physiological Sciences·JournalEMBO Reports·DateJun 6, 2008

New technology enhances therapeutic potential of cord blood stem cells

Researchers at Rush University Medical Center present pre-clinical data on a CD26 Inhibitor that increases the efficiency and responsiveness of umbilical cord blood for bone marrow transplants. The technology may improve treatment outcomes for blood cancer patients who require stem cell transplantation.

SourceRush University Medical Center·DateJun 6, 2008

New guidelines for treating resistant hypertension

The American Heart Association recommends modifying lifestyle factors such as reducing salt intake, losing weight, and drinking less alcohol to treat resistant hypertension. Effective treatment also requires better diagnosis of secondary causes and effective use of multiple-drug treatments, including long-acting diuretics and mineraloc...

SourceUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham·JournalHYPERTENSION·DateJun 6, 2008

Weight gain may be healthy when it comes to type 1 diabetes

Researchers found that patients who gained weight over time had lower mortality rates, suggesting that a reasonable amount of weight gain may be a sign of adequate insulin control. The study also found no significant difference in mortality between those with an overweight or normal BMI and those with an underweight BMI.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences·DateJun 6, 2008
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Adult stem cell findings offer new hope for Parkinson's cure

Researchers have found that adult stem cells from Parkinson's patients' noses can differentiate into dopamine-producing brain cells when transplanted into the brain of a rat. This breakthrough has significant implications for treating the debilitating symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

SourceResearch Australia·DateJun 6, 2008

Circadian math: 1 plus 1 doesn't always equal 2

A new study reveals that short-wavelength light, like natural blue sky light, is highly effective at stimulating the human circadian system. Exposure to multiple wavelengths of light simultaneously can result in less total stimulation compared to viewing individual colors separately, a phenomenon known as spectral opponency.

SourceRensselaer Polytechnic Institute·JournalNeuroscience Letters·DateJun 6, 2008

Should medical researchers share their results with the volunteers in their studies?

A new review suggests that participants' desire for transparency outweighs bioethicists' concerns about potential negative psychological consequences. Volunteers generally want access to aggregate study results and some individual results if relevant to their lives. However, individual results can be overwhelming and expensive to provide.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalPublication Library and Information Science·DateJun 6, 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.

Crystal clear savings for drug giants

A new technology developed by University of Leeds engineers can monitor crystals as they form in drug manufacture, providing a method to ensure production of desired drug compounds. This can lead to huge delays and costly challenges for drug companies, but the technology has enormous commercial potential.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·DateJun 6, 2008

Militant jihadists are inspired by night dreams, suggests research

A study by Dr. Iain Edgar at Durham University found that militant jihadists often legitimize their actions based on night dreams and connect to a mythical past through these dreams. The research also highlights the significance of understanding night dreams as a tool to assess one's worldview and implicit motivations.

SourceDurham University·DateJun 6, 2008

Forum to focus on math and mechanics behind life processes

Scientists gather to present research on using mechanics to study and explain biology, highlighting the role of faint pushes and pulls in cellular signaling. The symposium aims to develop fundamental math and mechanics to understand biological processes like embryo development and growth.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·DateJun 6, 2008

Cardiac devices and advanced heart failure: Are we selecting the wrong patients?

A Saint Louis University study found that patients with advanced heart failure may not benefit from implantable cardiac devices due to their underlying illness. The researchers identified two red flags: prolonged hospitalization and use of inotropic therapy, which are associated with higher risk of in-hospital mortality.

SourceSaint Louis University·JournalAmerican Heart Journal·DateJun 6, 2008

Brazil's biotech firms: From imitators to innovators in health-related products

Brazil is transitioning from imitator to innovator in health-related products, with several small and medium-sized enterprises succeeding in developing innovative products. Despite facing challenges such as regulatory barriers and limited access to private equity, Brazil's biotech industry has the scientific capacity to become a major ...

SourceSandra Rotman Centre for Global Health·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateJun 6, 2008
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

Brain stem cells can be awakened, say Schepens scientists

Scientists at Schepens Eye Research Institute have identified specific molecules that awaken dormant brain stem cells, which can transform into neurons and repair damaged brain tissue. The findings suggest that tapping the brain's regenerative potential may be a promising approach for treating neurodegenerative diseases.

SourceSchepens Eye Research Institute·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 6, 2008

Caltech scientists decipher the neurological basis of timely movement

Researchers have discovered that the brain uses a forward model to generate predictions about future movements, allowing for rapid and accurate control. This breakthrough has significant implications for the development of neural prosthetic devices and could one day enable people with paralysis to control their limbs through thought.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 6, 2008

Serotonin may affect our sense of fairness, scientists report

A recent study suggests that serotonin levels affect our sense of fairness, leading to increased impulsivity and aggression when unfair offers are made. The findings may help explain social difficulties associated with disorders like depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalScience·DateJun 6, 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.

Scientific information largely ignored when forming opinions about stem cell research

Public attitudes toward embryonic stem cell research are influenced more by religious values and deference to scientific authority than scientific knowledge. For highly religious audiences, understanding the science has no effect on their views, while for less religious individuals, it is linked to more positive attitudes.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalInternational Journal of Public Opinion Research·DateJun 6, 2008

Higher co-payments reduce use of antidepressants

New research from Brandeis University finds that multi-tiered formularies requiring higher copayments for non-preferred medications reduce the use of antidepressants. The study, which analyzed data from a large nonprofit managed care organization, found that out-of-pocket spending increased while health plan spending per user decreased.

SourceBrandeis University·JournalThe Journal of Mental Health Policy and Economics·DateJun 6, 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.

ACCORD clinical trial publishes results

Researchers found that intensively lowering blood sugar to near-normal levels did not significantly reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events, but increased the risk of death. The intensive strategy group had a 22% higher risk of death compared to the standard group.

SourceNIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJun 6, 2008

Mystery of infamous 'New England Dark Day' solved by tree rings

Researchers at University of Missouri use tree rings to determine that massive wildfires in Canada caused the infamous 'New England Dark Day' in 1780. The study combines written accounts and fire scar evidence to provide a scientific explanation for this mysterious event.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalInternational Journal of Wildland Fire·DateJun 6, 2008

MRI useful and reliable in surgical planning of patients with rectal cancer

A recent study conducted by researchers at Qilu Hospital of Shandong University used 3T MRI to stage and plan sphincter-sparing surgery for patients with rectal cancer. The study found that MRI accurately identified 31 of 32 resectable cases, contributing to precise surgical planning.

SourceAmerican College of Radiology·JournalAmerican Journal of Roentgenology·DateJun 6, 2008