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Science News for April 22, 2008


Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Social form of bullying linked to depression, anxiety in adults

A new University of Florida study reveals a link between relational victimization in adolescence and depression and anxiety in early adulthood. The study found that having friends or positive social relationships did not lessen rates of depression and anxiety, suggesting that this type of bullying can have long-lasting consequences.

SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalPsychology in the Schools·DateApr 22, 2008

Commercialization of air traffic control greatly improves performance

A recent study by Glen McDougall reveals that commercialization of air traffic control organizations has greatly improved performance with respect to cost, safety, and technical modernization. The reforms have resulted in reduced costs, improved service quality, and modernized workplace technologies.

SourceWiley·JournalCanadian Public Administration·DateApr 22, 2008

Companies do not always release important information

A new study found that companies selectively release information to manage internal trouble, using optimistic language to downplay concerns. The research concludes that company managers may behave unethically, negatively impacting investors and society.

SourceWiley·JournalCanadian Journal of Administrative Sciences / Revue Canadienne des Sciences de l Administration·DateApr 22, 2008
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.

Can certain metals repel sharks from fishing gear?

A recent study by NOAA scientists shows that certain metals can repel sharks from fishing gear, potentially reducing bycatch and saving millions of animals. The study used a palladium neodymium alloy to alter the swimming patterns of juvenile sandbar sharks, temporarily deterring feeding in groups.

SourceNOAA National Marine Fisheries Service·DateApr 22, 2008

Nurture over nature

Researchers found that up to one-third of genes are differentially expressed due to environment, with respiratory genes upregulated in urban populations. The study suggests that environmental factors play a large role in modulating gene expression, and that the same gene can be expressed differently depending on the environment.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalPLOS Genetics·DateApr 22, 2008

Urban slum conditions are a source of leptospirosis

A Brazilian study found that urban slums are a source of leptospirosis transmission due to poor sanitation and rodent-borne disease. The study identified households with Leptospira antibodies clustering in squatter areas, highlighting the need for social factors-based prevention strategies alongside improved sanitation.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateApr 22, 2008
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.

Study finds cisplatin less effective than standard treatment for patients with anal cancer

A study published in JAMA found that cisplatin is not an effective alternative to standard treatment for anal cancer, with a lower disease-free survival rate and more colostomies. The research suggests that fluorouracil plus mitomycin and radiotherapy remains the best treatment option for patients with anal canal cancer.

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·JournalJAMA·DateApr 22, 2008
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.

2 types of image are better than 1 for analyzing tumors

A new method developed by Murali Krishna and colleagues at the National Institutes of Health uses low-field paramagnetic resonance imaging to image tumors and surrounding organs in mice. This approach has shown promise for determining the best treatment approach for tumors and other diseases, as well as monitoring responses to treatment.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateApr 22, 2008
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.

Ugandan monkeys harbor evidence of infection with unknown poxvirus

Researchers in Uganda have discovered a new orthopoxvirus in red colobus monkeys, similar to those causing monkeypox and cowpox. The finding highlights the potential for unknown pathogens to emerge in wildlife and pose risks to human health.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalEmerging Infectious Diseases·DateApr 22, 2008
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.

Herbicide-tolerant crops can improve water quality

Planting herbicide-tolerant crop varieties can significantly reduce herbicide losses and concentrations in surface runoff, according to a USDA study. The study found that contact herbicides like glyphosate and glufosinate resulted in lower concentrations of herbicides in water compared to residual herbicides.

SourceAmerican Society of Agronomy·JournalJournal of Environmental Quality·DateApr 22, 2008

Synchrotron light unveils oil in ancient Buddhist paintings from Bamiyan

Scientists have identified oil-based paint layers in ancient Buddhist murals from the Bamiyan caves, dating back to the mid-7th century A.D. The findings contradict traditional views of oil painting's origins in Europe, suggesting a longer history of use in Asia.

SourceEuropean Synchrotron Radiation Facility·JournalJournal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry·DateApr 22, 2008

Laser dissection of depression

Researchers used laser micro-dissection to study gene expression in the human hypothalamus, a region crucial for stress response and depression development. The study found significant changes in five genes involved in corticotrophin-releasing factor activation, which may lead to new therapeutic strategies.

SourceMolecular Psychiatry·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·DateApr 22, 2008

Women 80 and older benefit from mammography, but few are screened

Regular mammograms significantly decrease the risk of late-stage breast cancer in women 80 and older, with only about one-fifth receiving them. The study found that each mammogram performed was associated with a further reduction in late-stage disease risk.

SourceAmerican Society of Clinical Oncology·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·DateApr 22, 2008
Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

CSIRO astronomers to join 'private data highway' across US

The CSIRO Australia Telescope National Facility will use a high-speed link to collaborate with international researchers on e-VLBI experiments. The technique enables telescopes hundreds of kilometers apart to observe the same region of sky simultaneously, generating high-resolution images of cosmic objects.

SourceCSIRO Australia·DateApr 22, 2008

Why fruit-eating bats eat dirt

A scientific study found that fruit-eating bats ingest mineral-rich water and clay to detoxify secondary plant compounds in fruits. Female bats take up large amounts of these minerals to counteract the detrimental effects on their embryos and juveniles.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateApr 22, 2008

Data mining personnel

Researchers applied data mining to a human resources database to discover patterns that can improve business efficiency and profits. By analyzing skills, qualifications, employment history, and interactions between personnel, businesses can predict natural staff turnover, morale changes, and employee performance.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Business Information Systems·DateApr 22, 2008
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.

Low grades, bad behavior? Siblings may be to blame, FSU study says

A FSU study found that adolescents living with half- or stepsiblings have lower grades and more school-related behavioral problems, which do not improve over time. The study suggests that family composition patterns may not be in the best interests of children involved.

SourceFlorida State University·JournalSocial Science Research·DateApr 22, 2008

A simplified method of giving rabies vaccine

A new, simplified economical method of giving rabies vaccine has been shown to stimulate anti-rabies antibodies just as effectively as the current standard vaccine regimen. The 4-site intradermal regimen is cheaper and more practical, with wider safety margins and suitability for use in financial-constrained areas.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateApr 22, 2008

The new boss ... same as the old boss?

A new study assesses the case for mayoral control of urban school systems, finding that a clear mission is crucial but flexibility to address changing societal issues is essential. The research suggests that high-profile success stories are often exceptions rather than the rule, and that appointed boards can repeat past mistakes.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalAmerican Journal of Education·DateApr 22, 2008

Scientists clarify a mechanism of epigenetic inheritance

A team of scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory solved a puzzle about how genes are expressed by studying the way DNA is packed in yeast. They found that RNA interference plays a crucial role in transmitting epigenetic information across generations, providing specificity to histone modifications.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalCurrent Biology·DateApr 22, 2008

Scientists identify novel way to prevent cardiac fibrosis

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego, have discovered a novel way to prevent cardiac fibrosis by targeting the Epac molecule. By increasing Epac expression, they were able to block the ability of agents to promote fibrosis in cardiac fibroblasts.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 22, 2008
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.

Mass. General study shows how exercise changes structure and function of heart

Researchers found that endurance athletes experienced significant increases in heart size, while strength athletes saw thickening of the left ventricle. The study provides new insights into the effects of exercise on cardiac function, which may benefit heart disease patients in the future.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalJournal of Applied Physiology·DateApr 22, 2008

Ground-breaking new insight into the development of Alzheimer's disease

Researchers at VIB have identified a molecular link between Alzheimer's disease and the formation of amyloid plaques in the brain. The study suggests that microRNAs may play a role in increasing BACE1 protein, a key component of plaques.

SourceVIB (the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 22, 2008
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.

Primary driver of stomach cancer development identified

The IL-11 protein is identified as the primary driver of tumor development in the stomach, promoting chronic inflammation and tumorigenesis by inducing excessive activation of Stat3. Inhibiting this signaling pathway prevents or reduces tumorigenesis in a mouse model of gastric cancer, offering hope for the development of new treatments.

SourceLudwig Institute for Cancer Research·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateApr 22, 2008

Fat-cell hormone linked to kidney disease

Researchers at UC San Diego School of Medicine found that low levels of adiponectin, a hormone produced by fat cells, are linked to elevated albumin protein in the urine and increased inflammation in the kidney. The study suggests that supplementing with adiponectin or other therapies may help protect kidney function in obese patients.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateApr 22, 2008

First atomic-level look at a protein that causes brain disease

Scientists have identified a crucial portion of a protein responsible for hereditary cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), a disease linked to stroke and dementia. The study used solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy to reveal the structure of CAA fibrils, which form plaques in blood vessels in the brain.

SourceOhio State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 22, 2008
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.

Freshwater herring had salty origin

The freshwater herring of Lake Tanganyika have a marine invasion origin dating back 25-50 million years. Their DNA analysis suggests that they colonized the lake during its early formation, leading to their unique diversity.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateApr 22, 2008

Costs, considerations of switching to natural or organic methods

The study found that producers would need to make $120 more per head on naturally finished cattle to match conventionally finished ones, increasing to $400 for organically finished cattle. Researchers emphasize the importance of considering feed prices and potential production challenges when adopting organic or natural methods.

SourceKansas State University·DateApr 22, 2008

JCI table of contents: April 22, 2008

A new non-invasive method to determine tumor oxygen levels and image surrounding tissues has been developed, offering promising insights into tumor development. Researchers suggest that this approach could lead to improved diagnosis and treatment strategies for tumors and other diseases.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateApr 22, 2008

Findings a step toward making new optical materials

Researchers have developed a new method to create diamond-like crystals, which could improve optical communications and other technologies. The technique uses tiny particles suspended on water to form a precisely ordered layer of particles.

SourcePurdue University·JournalSoft Matter·DateApr 22, 2008

Sickest patients still struggle under new Medicare Part D benefit

A recent study examining the effect of Medicare Part D on financial hardship found that sickest patients are still skipping medications due to cost. Despite improvements in basic necessity cutting, medication adherence remains a concern for chronically ill individuals.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalJAMA·DateApr 22, 2008
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

NIAID describes research priorities to fight drug-resistant tuberculosis

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has outlined a research agenda to combat drug-resistant tuberculosis, a major public health concern. The agenda focuses on developing reliable diagnostics, testing new drugs, and understanding the biology of TB-causing bacteria.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases·JournalThe Journal of Infectious Diseases·DateApr 22, 2008