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Science News Archive 2009


Page 191 of 277

MIT: Making waves in the brain

Researchers at MIT have discovered a way to induce gamma brain waves by shining laser light onto the brains of mice, using optogenetics to manipulate individual nerve cells. This breakthrough provides new insights into the role of gamma oscillations in regulating brain functions and may lead to new treatments for brain-related disorders.

Details of bacterial 'injection' system revealed

Scientists have decoded the structure of a needlelike protein complex on Shigella bacteria, essential for infection, revealing new insights into the mechanism of bacterial injection systems that could lead to new drugs.

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.

Increased mortality associated with nocturia

A study found that elderly patients experiencing nighttime urination had a higher mortality rate compared to those without nocturia. Researchers identified several factors associated with an increased risk of death, including age, diabetes, and hypertension.

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.

Generics less effective/safe than branded medications in treating LUTS

A recent study found that generic substitutes for alpha blockers and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors are less effective in treating lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) than their branded counterparts. Men taking these generics experienced increased side effects, including dizziness, nasal congestion, and ejaculatory dysfunction.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Autologous muscle-derived cells may treat stress urinary incontinence

Researchers confirmed that transplanting autologous muscle-derived cells into the bladder improves symptoms and quality of life in patients with stress urinary incontinence. The treatment has few side effects and significantly improved symptoms, with 76.5% of patients reporting a reduction in stress leaks at 12 months.

Gladstone scientists identify key factors in heart cell creation

Researchers have identified three genetic factors that can turn non-muscle cells into beating heart cells, providing a significant breakthrough in understanding how to repair damaged hearts. The discovery could lead to the development of new therapeutic approaches using stem cells.

Obesity associated with higher risk for urinary tract infections

A study published by the American Urological Association found that obesity is associated with a higher risk of urinary tract infections. Morbidly obese patients were most at risk, highlighting the importance of urologic care for individuals with elevated body mass indexes.

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.

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.

Long-term complications of melamine consumption in children

Long-term studies found that melamine consumption increases the risk of developing kidney stones in children, particularly between six months to 18 months old. Non-invasive treatment can effectively manage these complications with a high success rate.

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.

Laughing hyenas, wailing levees, the sound of cheese and blaring bagpipes

The 157th ASA Meeting explores various disciplines and unique sounds. Wimps hear dangerous noises differently due to physical fitness, while fish living in darkness have exceptionally sensitive ears. Researchers also study medical devices using sound to treat disease, a long-gone whale's comeback, and cowards' evolution.

New target for maintaining healthy blood pressure discovered

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have discovered a new target for maintaining healthy blood pressure. Mice that lack the receptor for PG F2-alpha, a type of prostaglandin, have lower blood pressure and less atherosclerosis than their non-mutant counterparts.

Drug inhibits neuroblastoma blood supply in pre-clinical tests

Researchers at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have discovered a new drug that inhibits neuroblastoma blood supply, reducing tumor growth by 75%. The drug, AMD3100, blocks interaction between SDF-1a and its receptor CXCR4, preventing tumors from growing rapidly by disrupting their blood supply.

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.

Biolex presents Locteron US Phase 2a hepatitis C data at EASL

Locteron showed a significant reduction in flu-like symptoms compared to PEG-Intron, with patients experiencing an 80% lower severity score. The trial demonstrated comparable anti-viral effects and tolerability with the controlled-release interferon alpha.

Global health experts release new guidance on malaria elimination

The Malaria Elimination Group provides a roadmap for countries pursuing malaria elimination, reviewing operational, technical and financial decisions. The guidance aims to support countries in achieving universal coverage of preventive and treatment measures by 2010.

Drug therapy reduces neuroblastoma tumor growth in pre-clinical investigation

Researchers at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center have discovered a new drug combination that significantly hinders neuroblastoma tumor growth in pre-clinical tests. The combination of vandetanib and 13-cis-retinoic acid reduced tumors by 86 percent, offering new hope for children with this childhood cancer.

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.

Run! It's the student council president

A new study from Temple University graduate student Maureen Dzanis found that extracurricular activity participants, particularly student council presidents and glee club members, are more likely to experience bullying in urban schools. The research surveyed 1,203 students and explored the role of program quality on violence.

USC partners with French drug discovery company on computer modeling effort

Researchers at USC and Rhenovia Pharma will use large-scale computer modeling to predict synergistic interactions within glutamate systems that might be targets for new drugs. The goal is to find a way to home in on specific neural cells without disturbing others, addressing malfunctions in diseases like schizophrenia.

New mediator of smoking recruits

Researchers found high osteopontin levels in patients with interstitial lung disease and healthy smokers, while healthy non-smokers produced no osteopontin. Osteopontin expression could be stimulated by nicotine treatment, leading to immune cell recruitment and symptoms similar to smoking-related lung diseases.

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.

DNA blueprint for healthier and more efficient cows

Scientists have discovered that the bovine genome contains over 2,800 billion DNA building blocks and around 22,000 genes. The study found that cows share about 80% of their genes with humans, providing valuable insights into human biology.

NASA's Swift satellite comet tally highlighted

Comets are analyzed using Swift's Ultraviolet/Optical Telescope, which separates wavelengths of ultraviolet light to study gases surrounding the icy bodies. Cometary X-ray emission is also detected, providing insights into the process of charge exchange between solar ions and comet gases.

Tips from the American Journal of Pathology

Notch1 contributes to lung fibrosis by increasing myofibroblasts, while SOCS-1 inhibits prostate cancer growth. TIP30 prevents lung cancer metastasis, and SPARC accelerates kidney disease progression. These findings highlight potential new therapeutic targets.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Survival rates for cancer rise across Ireland

A new report reveals a significant increase in the number of people diagnosed with cancer in Ireland, but also shows that survival rates are rising for certain types of cancer. The report highlights the importance of prevention and early detection in reducing the burden of cancer.

Brain music

The US Department of Homeland Security's study on Brain Music aims to enhance emergency response performance through neurotraining. Human Bionics LLC creates customized music compositions from brain waves to promote relaxation, alertness, and productivity.

Mind over muscle

A Temple-led study found that a two-phased program combining body image group counseling sessions and nicotine patches was more effective in helping young women quit smoking and maintain weight loss. The program showed an 18% rate of smoking cessation, compared to 8% for the exercise-only group.

At the limits of the photoelectric effect

Researchers at PTB found that with xenon, a whole light-wave packet seems to knock out a huge number of internal electrons, dependent on material properties. This discovery challenges current models of the photoelectric effect and has significance for future experiments in materials research.

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.

Can middle class families make urban schools better?

A Temple University study found that middle-class parental involvement in urban education can have a positive impact when parents focus on making the school better for everyone. However, the study also shows that this influence can sometimes be exclusive to their own children's needs at the expense of working-class students.

Lice can be nice to us

Lice parasites have been found to modulate the immune system of wild wood mice, suggesting a potential link between parasite exposure and reduced autoimmune disease risk. This research implies that modern humans, lacking natural parasite exposure, may develop less regulated immune systems leading to increased disease susceptibility.

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.

Treating addiction by eliminating drug-associated memories

A new study found that a novel compound decreases rats' preference for cocaine-associated environments during subsequent tests. This process is called extinction learning, where the brain creates new associations instead of retrieving old ones.

Researchers find possible genetic link for pelvic floor disorders

A study published in the American Journal of Human Genetics found a significant evidence for a gene on chromosome 9q21 that may contribute to pelvic floor disorders. The researchers analyzed DNA from 70 women from 32 families with at least two cases of pelvic floor disorders and found significant evidence for a genetic predisposition.

Greenland's 'good news' methane finding

New research reveals that methane clathrate stores beneath the ocean and in permafrost are more stable than previously thought, reducing concerns over climate change. A 10% release of methane would have an equivalent impact on global warming as a ten-fold increase in carbon dioxide concentration.

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.

Indus script encodes language, reveals new study of ancient symbols

A University of Washington computer scientist has led a statistical study comparing the pattern of symbols in the Indus script to various linguistic scripts and nonlinguistic systems. The results found the Indus script's pattern is closer to that of spoken words, supporting the hypothesis that it codes for an as-yet-unknown language.

Franklin letters found

A trove of Benjamin Franklin letters has been discovered in the British Library, dating from 1755. The letters, written by Thomas Birch and copied by him in 1757 or 1758, provide new insights into the 'wagon affair' and Franklin's involvement in the French and Indian War.

Stem cells from fat tissue offer hope for MS treatment

Researchers have found promising results with stem cells obtained from a patient's own adipose tissue in treating multiple sclerosis. The treatment, known as stromal vascular fraction (SVF) cell therapy, has shown dramatic improvement in symptoms for three patients with MS.