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Science News Archive February 2009


Page 6 of 24

Patience pays off with methanol for uranium bioremediation

Researchers find methanol enhances uranium reduction in contaminated ground water and sediment. Methanol use results in almost complete uranium reduction compared to ethanol or glucose, suggesting potential for improved long-term bioremediation stability.

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

Study finds brain hub that links music, memory and emotion

A recent study found that a specific region of the brain serves as a hub linking familiar music, memories, and emotions. The medial prefrontal cortex region is crucial for supporting and retrieving memories, and it also tracks tonal progressions in music, strengthening autobiographical memory connections.

Houseplant pest gives clue to potential new anthrax treatment

Researchers found a citric acid-based Achilles heel in the African Violet houseplant pathogen that could be exploited to treat Anthrax. A common strategy to block both Anthrax and African Violet siderophore synthesis pathways has been identified, offering new possibilities for combating infections.

Calcium associated with lower risk of cancer in women

Women with higher calcium intake have a lower risk of cancer overall and specific digestive system cancers like colorectal cancer, according to the study. Calcium consumption was inversely associated with an increased risk of these types of cancers in both men and women.

Aneurysms don't occur earlier in second generation

A new study suggests that genetic risk factors for brain aneurysms do not accumulate earlier in the second generation, contrary to previous research. The study found that aneurysm ruptures occur slightly later in life in the second generation.

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.

Reduction in parasite infections ahead for India

Experts from Queen's University are in India to advise on reducing parasitic infections that destroy plants and animals, costing the world economy $200 billion annually. The delegation will share their expertise on managing drug resistance in livestock and promoting modern agricultural practices.

Origin of galactic comic rays focus of NASA grant

Astrophysicists at Washington University in St. Louis will design and build Super-TIGER to measure the abundances of ultra-heavy galactic cosmic ray nuclei. The instrument aims to better understand the mechanism by which elements are accelerated in interstellar dust grains.

For Iraq veterans, headaches continue after traumatic brain injury

A recent study published by the American Academy of Neurology found that nearly 98% of soldiers who experienced a concussion or head injury while deployed in Iraq had headaches during their last deployment. The headaches often started within one week of the traumatic brain injury, with 60% experiencing migraine-like headaches.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Don't write off seniors: Retirees are pursuing their life dreams

Research reveals that retirees are actively engaging in new projects and revisiting old interests, seeking personal growth and fulfillment. The study identifies two types of identity work: self-expression and affiliation, which help seniors create a lasting legacy or connect with others.

Arsenic and old toenails

Researchers from the University of Leicester and British Geological Survey have devised a method to identify levels of environmental arsenic by testing toenail clippings. They found elevated levels of arsenic in people living close to a former arsenic mine, but more research is needed to confirm potential health risks.

Safer nanoparticles spotlight tumors, deliver drugs

Researchers have created miniscule silicon flakes that glow brightly, slowly releasing cancer drugs before breaking down into harmless by-products. The particles showed promising results in mice, reducing tumor growth over several weeks.

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.

Rett Syndrome Research Trust advisor makes significant discovery

Researchers found that MeCP2-deficient astrocytes stunt neighboring neuron growth but can recover when exposed to normal glia. This discovery supports the use of glial cells as targets for drug development, potentially leading to new treatments for Rett Syndrome and related MECP2 disorders.

New clues to healing arthritis caused by traumatic injury

Researchers at Duke University Medical Center found a strain of laboratory mice with 'superhealing' powers that resist inflammation and arthritis after a knee injury. The study revealed the mechanisms of post-traumatic arthritis and could lead to therapies for this condition, which affects younger people.

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.

Scientists mine drugs database for new diabetes treatment

Researchers at the University of Oxford have developed a cheap and efficient method to discover new drugs for type 2 diabetes. They identified a small molecule called Ned-19, which plays a crucial role in insulin secretion, representing a brand new target for diabetes drugs.

Secrets behind high temperature superconductors revealed

Researchers found oxypnictides exhibit similarities with copper-oxide high temperature superconductors, both emerging from magnetic states. This discovery may lead to designing new superconducting materials and resolving the underlying physics behind high temperature superconductors.

NC State study finds genes important to sleep

A new NC State University study reveals that fruit flies have a genetically wired sleep pattern, with males sleeping more during the day and females having more frequent bouts of sleep. The research identified 1,700 genes associated with sleep variability, shedding light on how these genes may influence human sleep.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

A safe, well-tolerated, and effective treatment for metastatic esophageal cancer

Researchers found that oxaliplatin combined with capecitabine provided a safe, well-tolerated, and effective treatment for patients with metastatic esophageal squamous cell cancer. The combination showed significant clinical benefits, including partial responses in 43.8% of patients and a median overall survival of 10.0 months.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

Computerized mobile health support systems

Researchers at Fraunhofer Institute developed mobile sleep lab for home use, recording vital functions while sleeping. The device provides objective feedback on physical exercise levels, helping patients with heart problems and cardiovascular disease manage their conditions.

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.

New approach to dental visits may ease kids' fears

A new study found that a specially designed sensory environment can reduce anxiety levels in children during dental visits, even for those with developmental disabilities. The adapted setting reduced anxious behavior by an average of 55% compared to traditional dental offices.

Study indicates how we maintain visual details in short-term memory

A study by John T. Serences and colleagues found that the visual cortex actively 'thinks' about specific features of an object during short-term memory, allowing for the maintenance of relevant details. This suggests that observers have top-down control over which features are stored in their online mental workspace.

Forget the freezer: Research suggests novel way to control water behavior

Researchers found a new way to control water behavior by confining it to narrow spaces, leading to the discovery of an 'ice sandwich' phase consisting of mobile water between two layers of frozen water. This breakthrough could advance scientific endeavors in energy sources, pharmaceuticals, and self-cleaning surfaces.

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.

Laser treatment clinical trial misses primary endpoint

A clinical trial of laser therapy for stroke patients found that those with moderate to moderately severe strokes experienced significant improvement, with a 9.7% absolute gain in treated patients. However, the treatment did not significantly reduce overall stroke disability, missing its primary endpoint.

Green, black tea can reduce stroke risk

A new UCLA study found that drinking at least three cups of green or black tea a day can significantly reduce the risk of stroke. The study suggests that the antioxidant compounds in tea, such as EGCG and theanine, may be responsible for this effect.

When should prostate-specific antigen testing be stopped?

Research suggests that discontinuing routine PSA screening in elderly men (75+ years old) with low PSA levels may not increase undetected lethal disease rates. Instead, it could avoid unnecessary treatments and reduce diagnostic costs. Men over 75 with PSA < 3ng/ml have a low risk of developing high-risk prostate cancer.

In brief: New prognostic indicator for patients with IPF

Researchers found that a baseline threshold VO2max of 8.3 ml/kg/min can predict mortality in IPF patients, with those below the threshold having a higher risk of death. The study suggests VO2max as a more robust and clinically usable predictor than other measures.

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.

Decoding short-term memory with fMRI

Researchers at the University of Oregon and UC-San Diego used fMRI to identify specific information people store in short-term memory. They found that brain activity patterns can predict what someone is remembering based on visual details.

Exacerbations in COPD: One thing leads to another

New research shows individual COPD exacerbations increase repeat likelihood, driving disease progression. Patients may be 'brittle' during a subsequent eight-week period, requiring close monitoring and follow-up to prevent further exacerbations.

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.

If it's hard to say, it must be risky

A new study by Hyunjin Song and Norbert Schwarz found that people tend to classify difficult-to-pronounce items as risky, whether they are desirable or undesirable risks. This suggests that the ease of processing a product's name can influence risk perception.

How we think before we speak: Making sense of sentences

Recent experiments using brain waves have shown that our brains rapidly draw upon a wide range of information to understand unfolding sentences. Key findings include the rapid classification of speakers based on their voice and social stereotypes.

Young smokers increase risk for multiple sclerosis

A study by American Academy of Neurology reveals that young smokers are 2.7 times more likely to develop multiple sclerosis than non-smokers. Early smoking is identified as a key environmental factor that can be avoided to reduce the risk of the disease.

NASA's Swift spies Comet Lulin

Comet Lulin is releasing a great amount of gas, making it an ideal target for X-ray observations. Swift's UVOT detects hydroxyl molecules, revealing a cloud spanning nearly 250,000 miles, while the XRT sees X-rays from the comet's atomic cloud.

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.

iPoint 3-D -- using fingers as a remote control

The iPoint 3D system uses hand and finger recognition to control devices without physical contact, suitable for use in living rooms, offices, hospitals, and more. This innovative technology enables users to interact with displays and appliances using gestures only.

Open access to scientific papers may not guarantee wide dissemination

A new study finds that open access articles experience a 12% increase in usage compared to commercial formats, but have only a small positive impact on attention. Open source publications benefit researchers in developing countries with limited access to research funding and libraries.

Study finds life-saving trend among seagulls

Researchers found that seagulls watch and mimic their neighbors' behavior during rest periods, indicating a life-saving trend. This study suggests animals don't act independently but cue on reactions from other members of their group.

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 York, Florida schools win awards at national student competition

Farnsworth Middle School from New York won the Best Communications System Award with its efficient PED system, while St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic School from Florida took third place. The Future City Competition promotes technological literacy and engineering among middle school students.

Gene therapy shows promise as weapon against HIV

A new study found that gene therapy can be developed as a potentially effective treatment for HIV, reducing viral load and preserving the immune system. The technique involves delivering genes to cells to prevent viral replication, with promising results in a clinical trial involving 74 HIV-positive adults.

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.