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Science News for April 9, 2009


Avotermin could give accelerated and permanent improvement in scarring

Researchers found that avotermin improved scar appearance by an average of five points at six months and eight points by month 12 in two studies. The treatment also showed a significant improvement in the structure of healed skin, with 60% of scars demonstrating less abnormal collagen fibre orientation.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateApr 9, 2009
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Scorpion biodiversity

A study in Evolution Canyon, Israel, shows that scorpion species exhibit different distributions on the south-facing and north-facing slopes, despite identical regional geology. The results suggest that environmental pressures, such as sunlight and drought, can lead to local changes in biodiversity.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateApr 9, 2009
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.

The impact of 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake -- 20 years later

The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake had a profound societal impact, transforming earthquake sciences and engineering. The event led to improved understanding of earthquake processes and triggered major changes in building codes and disaster response.

SourceSeismological Society of America·DateApr 9, 2009

ARVO 2009 award recipients

This year's Proctor Medal recipient, Joe G. Hollyfield, is recognized for his research on drusen and age-related macular degeneration. Samuel Wu receives the Friedenwald Award for pioneering retinal signaling process systems.

SourceAssociation for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology·DateApr 9, 2009

New drug shows promise in treating drug-resistant prostate cancer

A new therapy for metastatic prostate cancer has shown considerable promise in early clinical trials involving patients whose disease has become resistant to current drugs. Researchers have developed a novel compound, MDV3100, which blocks the androgen receptor in CRPC cells, lowering PSA levels and reducing tumor growth.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalScience·DateApr 9, 2009

Early administration of antiretroviral therapy can improve survival

A study published in The Lancet found that early antiretroviral treatment can significantly improve survival rates among HIV-positive patients. By initiating treatment when CD4 cell counts fall between 351 and 450 cells/µL, the risk of AIDS development and death was reduced by 28%.

SourceIDIBAPS - Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer·JournalThe Lancet·DateApr 9, 2009
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.

More women with early stage breast cancer choosing double mastectomies

A recent study found a 188% increase in women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) undergoing contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) between 1998 and 2005. The surgery is typically recommended for women with invasive breast cancer, but not for those with DCIS, which has a 98-99% 10-year survival rate.

SourceUniversity of Minnesota·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·DateApr 9, 2009

First results from Penn's balloon-borne telescope BLAST

The study confirms individual galaxies are source of Far Infrared Background, a decade-old question answered. BLAST's submillimeter survey uncovers dust-enshrouded galaxies with properties deciphered through multi-wavelength data.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalNature·DateApr 9, 2009

Public trust doctrine could aid management of US oceans

Establishing a public trust doctrine for federal waters could provide a practical legal framework for regulating ocean-based commerce while protecting marine species and habitats. The doctrine would obliges governments to manage natural resources in the best interests of citizens, without sacrificing future generations' needs.

SourceDuke University·JournalScience·DateApr 9, 2009

MIT: How you feel the world impacts how you see it

Researchers found that visual motion influences tactile motion, and vice versa, using a unique tactile stimulator. This discovery suggests overlapping neural circuits for sensory processing.

SourceMcGovern Institute for Brain Research·JournalCurrent Biology·DateApr 9, 2009
Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Human ES cells progress slowly in myelin's direction

Researchers from the University of Wisconsin successfully generated human embryonic stem cells that can produce myelin, a finding with potential for both basic and clinical research. The process takes 14 weeks compared to 2 weeks for mouse ES cells.

SourceThe Company of Biologists·JournalDevelopment·DateApr 9, 2009

NASA twin spacecraft may reveal secret of Moon's origin

Stereo will use a wide-field-of-view telescope to search for asteroids orbiting the region, which could be leftovers from a Mars-sized planet that formed billions of years ago. The mission aims to provide three-dimensional views of space weather and study its effects on Earth.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateApr 9, 2009
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.

Physicists discover important step for making light crystals

Researchers at Ohio State University have discovered a method to compress atoms in an optical lattice until heat is squeezed out and into a surrounding ultra-cold Bose-Einstein condensate, which can absorb and evaporate the heat away. This new approach aims to overcome temperature as a bottleneck for the creation of light crystals.

SourceOhio State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 9, 2009

The 'myths' of Coca-Cola

A recent editorial in The Lancet critiques Coca-Cola's marketing tactics, drawing parallels with the tobacco industry. The company is accused of using celebrity endorsements and blaming shifting to avoid responsibility for its products' impact on health.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateApr 9, 2009

Device protects transplanted pancreatic cells from the immune system

Scientists have developed a device that protects transplanted pancreatic precursor cells from the immune system, allowing them to mature into functional beta cells. This breakthrough approach could alleviate the need for long-term immunosuppression in cell transplantation therapy.

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalTransplantation·DateApr 9, 2009
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.

Monitoring Yellowstone earthquake swarms

A massive earthquake swarm in Yellowstone National Park was analyzed by SSA researchers, revealing epicenter migration and sudden depth changes. The study suggests that hydrothermal fluids may be responsible for the swarm's source properties.

SourceSeismological Society of America·DateApr 9, 2009

Cloud computing brings cost of protein research down to Earth

Researchers at Medical College of Wisconsin developed a set of free tools called ViPDAC to combine with Amazon's cloud computing service, providing inexpensive processing time for proteomics data analysis. This makes it possible for more users to analyze their data in greater depth and learn more about the systems they're studying.

SourceMedical College of Wisconsin·JournalJournal of Proteome Research·DateApr 9, 2009
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.

Stem cell therapy makes cloudy corneas clear, according to Pitt researchers

A study by Pitt researchers found that injecting human corneal stem cells into mice with scarred and hazy eyes restored transparency. The cells were able to remodel scar-like tissue back to normal, suggesting a potential treatment for corneal blindness and vision impairment.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences·JournalStem Cells·DateApr 9, 2009

Novel method predicts impact of a covert anthrax release

A new statistical method estimates the source location and geographic extent of an aerosolized anthrax release based on early cases and weather information. This enables public health decision makers to identify people at risk and treat them promptly to save lives.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateApr 9, 2009

MIT: New insights into perception

Researchers found that visual motion affects tactile perception, causing subjects to perceive touch as moving in the opposite direction. Conversely, tactile motion gives rise to visual illusions of motion in the opposite direction.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalCurrent Biology·DateApr 9, 2009

£2.8 million grant to raise standards in maternal and newborn health

A £2.8m grant will support a three-year programme to increase skilled birth attendance and quality obstetric care in 5 target countries, aiming to reduce maternal and newborn deaths. The programme will evaluate the impact of training and supportive supervision on healthcare provider capacity and care delivery.

SourceLiverpool School of Tropical Medicine·DateApr 9, 2009
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Biological FM signal maintains inflammation in cancer, asthma and other diseases

A recent study reveals that cells use a sophisticated communication system to coordinate responses to infection and maintain inflammation in the body. The team discovered that NF-kappaB, a biological machine that coordinates inflammation, uses an FM signal to communicate with surrounding cells.

SourceBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council·JournalScience·DateApr 9, 2009

Small RNAs can play critical roles in male infertility/contraception

Researchers have discovered that small RNAs on the X chromosome play a crucial role in male fertility, escaping silencing effects and influencing sperm formation. This finding opens up new possibilities for understanding and potentially treating male infertility and developing non-hormonal contraceptives.

SourceUniversity of Nevada, Reno·JournalNature Genetics·DateApr 9, 2009

Study: Privatized Philly schools did not keep pace

A study found that test scores improved in privatized schools, but at a slower rate than the rest of the city's public schools. The achievement gap between the two groups increased by 2006, with the privatized schools lagging behind their public counterparts.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalAmerican Journal of Education·DateApr 9, 2009
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.

New method for detection of phosphoproteins reveals regulator of melanoma invasion

Scientists have developed a new approach to survey phosphorylation in cells, revealing a previously uncharacterized protein that plays a crucial role in cancer cell invasion. The study identified ninety phosphorylation events regulated by oncogenic B-Raf and found that one target, MINERVA/FAM129B, is involved in melanoma progression.

SourceCell Press·JournalMolecular Cell·DateApr 9, 2009

Can downloads predict impact for scientific articles?

A recent analysis found that downloads and citations are highly correlated with a 0.74 correlation coefficient, indicating that downloads can be used as an alternative metric to measure article impact. Downloads mirror citations but become available about two years earlier.

SourceAssociation for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology·JournalJournal of Vision·DateApr 9, 2009
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.

Towards a natural pacemaker

Researchers created a cell culture model that accurately mimics HCN channel function in whole mammalian hearts, enabling the genetic reprogramming of individual channels. This breakthrough facilitates the development of practical biological pacemakers by allowing for rapid assessment of channel mutations before animal testing.

SourceWiley·JournalThe Journal of Physiology·DateApr 9, 2009

Milestone tumor virus publication by Elsevier journal Virology

The recent special edition of Virology journal explores the past, present, and future of small DNA tumor viruses, including polyomaviruses, adenoviruses, and papillomaviruses. These viruses have led to fundamental discoveries in basic biology, unraveling complex aspects of host cells.

SourceElsevier·JournalVirology·DateApr 9, 2009