Tech | Page 1810 | Science Codex

Indus script encodes language, reveals new study of ancient symbols

The Rosetta Stone allowed 19th century scholars to translate symbols left by an ancient civilization and thus decipher the meaning of Egyptian hieroglyphics.

But the symbols found on many other ancient artifacts remain a mystery, including those of a people that inhabited the Indus valley on the present-day border between Pakistan and India. Some experts question whether the symbols represent a language at all, or are merely pictograms that bear no relation to the language spoken by their creators.

Study rules out ancient bursts of seafloor methane emissions

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Measurements made from the largest Greenland ice sample ever analyzed have confirmed that an unusual rise in atmospheric methane levels about 12,000 years ago was not the result of a catastrophic release of seafloor "hydrate deposits," as some scientists had feared.

The findings, to be published Friday in the journal Science, are good news for those who have worried that this unusual mechanism of releasing methane into the atmosphere might provide a serious reinforcement to global warming at some point in the future.

Franklin letters found

A trove of Benjamin Franklin letters has turned up in the British Library. Discovered by University of California, San Diego professor Alan Houston, the letters are copies of correspondence that hasn't been seen in more than 250 years.

All dating from the spring and summer of 1755, the 47 letters by, to and about Franklin are in the hand of one Thomas Birch, a contemporary of Franklin's who was a prodigious – almost inveterate – compiler and transcriber of historical documents.

New computer algorithm helps physicians determine and monitor breast density

A new computerized assessment has been developed that can help physicians objectively assess a patient's breast density and monitor it over time to detect any alarming changes that may suggest cancer, according to a study evaluating this technology that was performed at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.

Second look ultrasound: Effective MRI correlate for identifying incidental breast lesions

A second look ultrasound of the breast, used in conjunction with MRI, allows radiologists to identify lesions not detected on conventional mammography and first look ultrasound; in some cases it allows radiologists to determine whether or not a lesion is malignant or benign, according to a study performed at the University of Rome La Sapienza in Rome, Italy.

New method developed by UC San Diego bioengineers gives regenerative medicine a boost

Bioengineers at UC San Diego have developed a breakthrough method for sequencing-based methylation profiling, which could help fuel personalized regenerative medicine and even lead to more efficient and cost-effective methods for studying certain diseases.

To do this, the researchers, led by Kun Zhang, a bioengineering professor in the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering, developed an accurate assays for quantifying DNA methylation digitally on an arbitrary set of nonrepetitive genomic targets using padlock probes.

New MR sequence helps radiologists more accurately evaluate abnormalities of the uterus and ovaries

A new MR imaging sequence, T2-weighted BLADE, used to image the female pelvis improves image quality and helps radiologists make a more accurate diagnosis, according to a study performed at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD.

Ultrasound changes care of some patients with rheumatic conditions

Ultrasound can be used to make an appropriate decision regarding care for patients with rheumatic conditions involving the hands and feet, according to a study performed at St. Joseph's Healthcare/McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada.

The study included 62 patients. Results showed that, "approximately 50% of patients had a change in management following ultrasound evaluation," said Srinivasan Harish, lead author of the study. "Certainty in clinical findings significantly increased following ultrasound, ranging from 24% to 56% for various findings," he said.

Educating physicians about ventilation-perfusion scanning leads to reduced radiation exposure

Educating physicians about ventilation-perfusion scanning (VQ) as an alternative to CT for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolisms led to a 23% decrease in patient exposure, according to a study performed at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, NY. "VQ scanning is a nuclear test which shows blood flow to the lung and airflow. When there is a pulmonary embolism, the air can enter normally, but the blood flow will be disrupted, resulting in an abnormal scan," said Linda Haramati, MD, lead author of the study.

New women's imaging technique allows for a more accurate diagnosis of breast cancer

Breast elastography allows physicians to give a more accurate diagnosis of breast cancer, according to a study performed at Singapore General Hospital in Singapore. Breast elastography is a new technique which looks at the mechanical properties of tissues (relative stiffness) as opposed to conventional ultrasound which looks at the backscatter of transmitted ultrasound waves through tissues.

MRI identifies five causes of complications from ACL reconstructive surgery

MRI has identified five possible causes of patient complications from anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructive surgery, according to a study performed at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, GA, and Sahlgrenska-Molndal University Hospital in Gothenborg, Sweden.

Non-invasive test accurately identifies gynecologic malignancies

Diffusion weighted MR can accurately identify benign from malignant pelvic lymph nodes in patients with gynecologic malignancy, according to a study performed at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, MA. Diffusion weighted imaging is a noninvasive test that uses an MRI sequence sensitized to the motion of water molecules within tissue.

Pediatric patient body shape may play a key role in decreasing radiation dose during CT scans

Manipulation of kVp (kilovoltage peak) and mAs (tube current flow) according to a patient's body shape may help reduce radiation doses in pediatric patients during CT, according to a study performed at the Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital in Cleveland, OH.

New, automated system for diagnosis of major coronary artery stenosis

A new automated system designed for the interpretation of coronary CT angiography (CCTA), helps radiologists determine which cases are high priority and should be read first, according to a study performed at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA.

Cardiac CT offers a better, cost-effective approach to diagnose low-risk chest pain patients

Using cardiac CT to diagnose low risk patients with chest pain is significantly cheaper—44% less than the standard of care—and can decrease the length of hospital stay up to 20 hours, according to a study performed at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA.