October 25, 1997
News of the Week:
Population Diversity Crowds the Ark
The first look at the number of populations contained within the world's species adds a new dimension to biodiversity and what's at risk when its lost. References:
Hughes, J.B., G.C. Daily, and P.R. Ehrlich. 1997. Population diversity: Its extent and extinction. Science 278(Oct. 24):689. Nee, S., and R.M. May. 1997. Extinction and the loss of evolutionary history. Science 278(Oct. 24):692. Further Readings:
Davis, L. 1986. Biological diversity: Going . . . going . . .? Science News 130(Sept. 27):202. ______. 1997. A price tag on the planet's ecosystems. Science News 151(May 17):303. Mlot, C. 1997. Genetics of Sumatra's at-risk rhino. Science News 151(Feb. 8):92. Myers, N. 1997. Mass extinction and evolution. Science 278(Oct. 24):597. Raloff, J. 1997. Erosion tails tropical trails. Science News 151(Feb. 22):124.
High cholesterol may benefit elderly
Among persons in their late 80s and 90s, elevated blood cholesterol can translate into lengthened lifespan. References:
Netea, M.G. . . . J.W.M. van der Meer. 1997. Low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient mice are protected against lethal endotoxemia and severe gram-negative infections. Journal of Clinical Investigations 97(March):1366. Weverling-Rijnsburger, A.W.E., et al. 1997. Total cholesterol and risk of mortality in the oldest old. Lancet 350(Oct. 18):1119. Further Readings:
1987. Cholesterol guidelines released. Science News 132(Oct. 17):254. Bower, B. 1995. Low cholesterol linked to suicide tries. Science News 147(March 11):157. Raloff, J. 1989. Do you know your HDL? Science News 136(Sept. 9):171. Sternberg, S. 1997. Advances in heart care shrink death rate. Science News 151(Feb. 22):118.
Kids with schizophrenia yield brain clues Brain scans of teenagers who developed schizophrenia during childhood indicated that a progressive disturbance of neural development underlies this severe mental disorder. References:
Nasrallah, H.A., and H.A. Tolbert. 1997. Neurobiology and neuroplasticity in schizophrenia. Archives of General Psychiatry 54(October):913. Rapoport, J.L., et al. 1997. Childhood-onset schizophrenia. Archives of General Psychiatry 54(October):897. Zahn, T.P., et a;. 1997. Autonomic nervous system markers of psychopathology in childhood-onset schizophrenia. Archives of General Psychiatry 54(October):904. Further Readings:
1994. Schizophrenia: Promising drug . . . Science News 145(June 18):398.
A prototype virtual-reality system allows a researcher to experiment with and modify neural-network software visualized as three-dimensional shapes. References:
Caudell, T.P., H. Lin, and D. Warner. 1997. Virtual reality system to enhance comprehension and validation of complex high performance software systems. High Integrity Software Conference. Albuquerque, N.M. Further Readings:
Caudell, T.P. 1996. A virtual reality interface to complex neural network software simulations. Available at http://www.ieee.org/nnc/newsletter/spring96/vr.html. Peterson, I. 1992. Looking-glass worlds. Science News 141(Jan. 4):8. Thomas P. Caudell's Homunculus virtual laboratory is described at http://www.mhpcc.edu/research/ab96/ab36.html.
Antarctic ozone hole expands in altitude This month, ozone destruction over the Antarctic reached new heights. References:
NASA satellite ozone data are available at http://jwocky.gsfc.nasa.gov/index.html.
Enzyme mechanics win chemistry Nobel Three researchers share the 1997 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work on enzymes. References:
1997. Press release of the Royal Swedish Academy of Science in Stockholm announcing the 1997 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Available at http://www.nobel.se/announcement-97/chemistry97.html. Further Readings:
Abrahams, J.P., et al. 1994. Structure at 2.8 A resolution of F1-ATPase from bovine heart mitochondria. Nature 370:621. Block, S.M. 1997. Real engines of creation. Nature 386(March 20):217. Boyer, P.D. 1997. The ATP synthase–-a splendid molecular machine. Annual Review in Biochemistry 66:717. Skou, J.C. 1957. The influence of some cations on an adenosine triphosphatase from peripheral nerves. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 23:394.
High-dose rotavirus vaccine protects kids A vaccine against rotavirus, a sometimes fatal diarrheal disease, has proved effective in a test of more than 2,000 children in Venezuela. References:
Keusch, G.T., and R.A. Cash. A vaccine against rotavirus--when is too much too much? New England Journal of Medicine 337(Oct. 23):228. Perez-Schael, I. . . . A.Z. Kapikian. 1997. Efficacy of the rhesus rotavirus-based quadrivalent vaccine in infants and young children in Venezuela. New England Journal of Medicine 337(Oct. 23):1181. Further Readings:
Glass, R.I., J. Gentsch, and J.C. Smith. 1994. Rotavirus vaccines: Success by reassortment? Science 265(Sept. 2):1389. Kapikian, A.Z., et al. 1989. Strategies for the development of a rotavirus vaccine against infantile diarrhea with an update on clinical trials of rotavirus vaccines. Advanced Experimental Medical Biology 257:67. Lanata, C.F., et al. 1996. Safety, immunogenicity, and protective efficacy of one and three doses of the tetravalent rhesus rotavirus vaccine in infants in Lima, Peru. Journal of Infectious Diseases 174:268. Linhares, A.C., et al. Immunogenicity, safety and efficacy of tetravalent rhesus-human, reassortant rotavirus vaccine in Belem, Brazil. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 74:491. Rennels, M.B., et al. 1996. Safety and efficacy of high-dose rhesus-human reassortant rotavirus vaccines. Report of the National Multicenter Trial. Pediatrics 97:7. Velazquez, F., et al. 1996. Rotavirus infection in infants as protection against subsequent infections. New England Journal of Medicine 335(Oct. 3):1022.
Laser cooling yields Nobel in physics Three researchers were awarded the 1997 Nobel Prize in Physics for developing methods of using laser light to chill gases to within a few millionths of a degree of absolute zero. References:
1997. Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm announcement of the 1997 Nobel Prize in Physics. Available at http://www.nobel.se/announcement-97/physics97.html. Further Readings:
Peterson, I. 1994. Real cool: Evading atomic recoil. Science News 146(July 16):47. ______. 1988. Optical molasses: Atoms in the deep freeze. Science News 134(July 23):52. Wu, C. 1995. Physics 'holy grail' finally captured. Science News 148(July 15):36.
Research Notes:
Astronomy
Martian pebbles tell watery tale Pebbles embedded in Martian rocks provide further evidence that water once flowed on the Red Planet. References:
1997. NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory press briefing on Mars Pathfinder rover. Pasadena, Calif.
Comet Hale-Bopp: Alive and spewing Spectra from Comet Hale-Bopp, as it retreats from the sun, reveal the comet most likely formed in the chilly, outer reaches of the solar system. References:
Jewitt, D.C., et al. 1997. Measurements of 12C/13C, 14N/15N, and 32S/34S ratios in Comet Hale-Bopp (C/1995 01). Science 278(Oct. 3):90. 1997. Further information is available at the European Southern Observatory's Website, http://www.eso.org/outreach/press-rel/pr-1997/phot-28-97.html.
Behavior
Minor problem for antitobacco laws Laws banning tobacco sales to minors fail to reduce teenagers' access to cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, according to research in six Massachusetts communities. References:
Rigotti, N.A., et al. 1997. The effect of enforcing tobacco-sales laws on adolescents' access to tobacco and smoking behavior. New England Journal of Medicine 337(Oct. 9):1044.
Losing patience with patients Patients perceived as particularly frustrating by physicians tend to have many vague physical symptoms, feelings of helplessness regarding their problems, and a history of obsessive-compulsive disorder. References:
Lipsitt, D.R. 1997. The challenge of the "difficult patient" (Deja vu all over again--only more so. General Hospital Psychiatry 19:313. Walker, E.A., et al. 1997. Predictors of physician frustration in the care of patients with rheumatological complaints. General Hospital Psychiatry 19:315.
Chemistry
Understanding how proteins fold A recent study looks at the role hydrogen bonding plays in protein folding, and another provides a way to design proteins with a chosen shape. References:
Dahiyat, B.I., and S.L. Mayo. 1997. De novo protein design: Fully automated sequence selection. Science 278(Oct. 3):82. Nelson, J.C. . . . J.S. Moore, and P.G. Wolynes. 1997. Solvophobically driven folding of nonbiological oligomers. Science 277(Sept. 19):1793.
Fuel chemistry advance wins prize The 1997 Charles Draper Prize, engineering's highest honor, was awarded to Vladimir Haensel for his 1947 invention of platinum catalysts used in making high-octane gasoline.
Articles:
New programs aim to cut the juice drawn by leaky appliances Increasingly, U.S. electronic appliances draw power even when they're ostensibly off. References:
Herring, H. 1996. Standby power consumption in brown goods: A case study of hi-fi equipment. The Open University EERU Report No. 73 (September). Milton Keynes, England. Molinder, O., et al. In press. 1997. Study on miscellaneous standby power consumption of household equipment. Prepared for the European Union under contract 4.1031/E96-008 (EU-DG XVII, June 25). Brussels, Belgium. Rainer, L., S. Greenberg, and A. Meier. 1996. You won't find these leaks with a blower door: The latest in 'leaking electricity' in homes. LBNL Report 39545, UC-1600 (August). Berkeley, Calif.: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Stiles, M.R., and D.M. Fuller. 1997. Characterization of off-mode power waste and alternative design options for selected consumer electronics. Synertech Systems Corp. Report SYN TP 97-524(August). Syracuse, N.Y. Further Readings:
Meier, A. 1993. Leaking electricity. Home Energy November-December:33. Meier, A., L. Rainer, and S. Greenberg. 1992. Miscellaneous electrical energy use in homes. Energy 17:509. Nadel, S., and D. Goldstein. 1996. Appliance and equipment efficiency standards: History, impacts, current status, and future directions. Report of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
Spying on El Nino The struggle to predict the Pacific prankster Forecasters are developing models to explore the Pacific warming.
Table of Contents - 10/25/97