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Science News Archive November 2009


Page 23 of 24

Adapting space-industry technology to treat breast cancer

Researchers are developing a new imaging technique to detect tissue damage in breast cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy. Preliminary results show that the technique can identify changes in skin tissue days before severe reactions occur, potentially allowing for preventative treatment and improved patient outcomes.

Robot fish could monitor water quality

Scientists at Michigan State University are developing robotic fish that use advanced materials to swim like fish and monitor water quality. The robots will carry sensors recording temperature, dissolved oxygen, pollutants, and harmful algae, providing a high spatial and temporal resolution of data.

Study lays foundation for more patient access to medical records

Researchers found that patients are dissatisfied with the current system of receiving radiology test results, citing long delays and lack of detail. The study suggests that patients would prefer to have secure online access to their medical records, including detailed results, to improve their care experience.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

The new myths of gifted education

Researchers re-examined 15 myths of gifted education first identified in 1982 and found that all still exist, with several new ones emerging. The study aims to stimulate critical thinking and creative research in the field by helping to 'shake loose' common myths.

UD wins $4.4 million to develop next-generation magnets

The University of Delaware has received a $4.4 million grant from ARPA-E to develop stronger, more efficient permanent magnets for various industries. The project aims to identify new materials that can result in magnets twice as strong as current ones.

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.

Developmental drug may help bone fractures heal after radiation exposure

A study by Pitt researchers found that a free-radical scavenger, JP4-039, accelerated bone fracture healing in mice treated with the drug after radiation exposure. This could have significant implications for pediatric cancer patients vulnerable to late effects of radiation on bone growth and development.

New EUREKA awards fund highly innovative research, promise big payoffs

The National Institutes of Health has awarded $67.4 million in EUREKA grants to support highly innovative research projects that promise significant scientific breakthroughs. These grants will fund research in various fields, including gene therapy for neurological diseases and the study of circadian clocks.

Sights and sounds of emotion trigger big brain responses

A study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences identified a brain region that strongly reacts to emotional faces and voices. The research found that the posterior superior temporal sulcus responds supra-additively to simultaneous visual and auditory emotional stimuli.

Is the disorder that causes dementia hereditary?

A recent study published in Neurology reveals that nearly 42% of participants with frontotemporal dementia had some family history, while only 10% were affected by an autosomal dominant gene. The study also found that behavioral problems are more likely to be hereditary than language problems.

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.

Possible origins of pancreatic cancer revealed

Scientists at MIT have discovered that tumors can arise from different types of cells in the pancreas, depending on whether they are injured or inflamed. This finding could lead to new treatments and early diagnosis methods for pancreatic cancer.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

New activity found for a potential anti-cancer agent

Researchers at Texas A&M University have found that PatA inhibits nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD), a mechanism that degrades damaged mRNA. This inhibition may lead to cancer cell apoptosis. The study also reveals the potential of a simplified derivative of PatA, DMDAPatA, as an anti-cancer agent.

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.

Climate variability impacts the deep sea

Researchers warn that climate variability can affect deep-sea ecosystems, potentially disrupting food chains and carbon cycles. Long-term monitoring is crucial to understand the impact of global warming on these vulnerable ecosystems.

New genetic cause of a fatal immune disorder

Researchers have discovered a new genetic cause of familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL) type 5, a fatal immune disorder. The condition is caused by mutations in the Munc18-2 gene, leading to impaired release of death-inducing molecules from immune cells.

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.

Stereotactic radiotherapy stops lung cancer from growing in frail patients

The study found that stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) stopped the growth of lung cancer at its original site for nearly 98% of patients with early non-small cell lung cancer. Researchers also discovered that less than 20% of frail patients experienced a serious decline in health status after treatment.

Researchers discover links between city walkability and air pollution exposure

A new study reveals that some neighborhoods with high levels of walkability also have low levels of air pollution, while others prioritize one over the other. Neighborhoods designed for walkability often encourage higher daily activity levels, which can mitigate health issues linked to air pollution and physical inactivity.

Sneezing in times of a flu pandemic

Research found that public sneezing triggers an increased fear of all health threats, even ones unrelated to germs. This phenomenon also influences policy preferences, shifting spending priorities towards flu vaccine production over green jobs.

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.

Discovery offers potential new pancreatic cancer treatment

Researchers have developed tumor-penetrating microparticles (TPM) to deliver drugs more effectively, targeting both rapid- and slow-growing tumors. TPM has shown promise in treating pancreatic cancer by breaking through barriers and delivering highly concentrated drug doses.

Lifestyle changes may stave off diabetes for a decade

A study found that sustained modest weight loss can prevent or lower the incidence of type 2 diabetes in people at high risk, delaying diagnosis by about four years. Lifestyle changes also improved cardiovascular risk factors and were particularly beneficial among older adults.

The entwined destinies of mankind and leprosy bacteria

A team of scientists analyzed the DNA of ancient remains to discover that Mycobacterium leprae, the leprosy bacterium, has colonized the entire earth due to human travels. The study found that the bacteria's four strains are distributed according to historical population movements.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

The terrible teens of T. rex

Researchers discovered that adolescent tyrannosaurs, including the late juvenile T. rex Jane, engaged in intense combat, as evidenced by puncture wounds on her face. The injuries suggest that Jane was attacked by a fellow young dinosaur, possibly over dominance or territorial disputes.

Green is cool, but US land changes generally are not

A new study by researchers at the University of Maryland and Purdue University found that most land-use changes contribute to warming, except for conversion to agricultural use, which results in relative cooling. The study used a novel analytical approach called OMR and confirmed its robustness.

Glaciers subject of 3 Penn State grants

Researchers aim to correlate seismic activity with glacier slip using pump tests and measurements of natural seismicity. The projects focus on stability of ice stream grounding zones and role of active subglacial lakes in ice sheet loss.

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.

NASA's Fermi telescope detects gamma-ray from 'star factories' in other galaxies

Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope detects diffuse gamma-ray emission from star-forming regions in nearby galaxies, suggesting that these regions are the source of cosmic rays. The telescope observes intense gamma-ray emission from a region called 30 Doradus within the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way.

Disrupting male fertility

Researchers have identified a molecular mechanism underlying the harmful effects of DES on male testis development and function. Neonatal exposure to DES leads to reduced fertility in mice, with NR0B2 deficiency protecting against these effects.

Growing online sales could lower prices, but also trim choices

Research led by a University of Illinois business professor finds that online sales could lead to lower prices, but also fewer product options. The traditional system of selling through retailers encourages longer product lines, which may dry up as manufacturers turn to direct sales online.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Navy researchers apply science to fire fighting

Navy scientists have successfully tested high expansion foam as a fire suppression system, finding it effective in fighting fires in obstructed spaces. The Navy is also developing alternative firefighting agents, including propelled extinguishing agent technology (PEAT), to replace halon systems and provide weight-saving options for fu...

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.

Study finds link between childhood physical abuse and arthritis

A new study by University of Toronto researchers has found a significant association between childhood physical abuse and the development of osteoarthritis in adulthood. Adults who experienced physical abuse as children have a 56% higher odds of developing osteoarthritis compared to those who did not.

New insights into Australia's unique platypus

Researchers from the University of Adelaide have published unique research data on the world's only monotremes, providing new light on the platypus sex chromosome system. The team discovered a complex mechanism where sex chromosomes pair during sperm development in platypus.

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.

Deep-sea ecosystems affected by climate change

Climate change impacts deep-sea ecosystems by altering food supply and community dynamics. Changes in ocean processes, such as wind-driven upwelling and nutrient delivery, can lead to dramatic year-to-year variations in organic material reaching the seafloor, affecting fish populations like grenadiers.

Modified Bluetooth speeds up telemedicine

A modified version of the Bluetooth wireless protocol enables faster patient data transfer, reducing connectivity problems in telemedicine. This allows for quicker medical image transfers, such as CT scans, to healthcare providers' personal digital assistants.

Unraveling the mechanisms behind organ regeneration in zebrafish

Researchers at Salk Institute discover essential cellular pathway in zebrafish that enables limb regeneration by activating genes required to build a copy of the lost limb. Histone demethylation switches cells from inactive to active state, turning on genes needed for regeneration.

Researchers to perform sex change operation on papaya

A team of researchers aims to create a new papaya variety with only hermaphrodite offspring, eliminating the need for costly and labor-intensive seed selection. This breakthrough could significantly improve papaya health while reducing fertilizer and water usage.

Mending meniscals in children, improving diagnosis and recovery

Meniscal tears in children can often be repaired successfully with appropriate treatment, with a high success rate of 75-90%. Early treatment is crucial to prevent complications and promote long-term health. Diagnosing meniscal tears requires simple physical exams and imaging tests, such as MRI, to accurately assess the injury.

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.

Radiation after surgery reduces chance of melanoma returning

A recent study found that radiation therapy significantly improves regional recurrence control in melanoma patients who underwent lymphadenectomy. The treatment reduced the risk of cancer returning to the lymph nodes by 12 percentage points compared to observation.