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Science News for December 15, 2009


Mastery of physical goals lessens disease-related depression and fatigue

A new study found that physical activity increases self-efficacy, which in turn reduces disease-related depression and fatigue. Higher levels of physical activity correspond to higher self-efficacy and lower levels of depression and fatigue, but the effect is reduced when controlling for self-efficacy.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalPsychosomatic Medicine·DateDec 15, 2009

Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association

A study of over 1,000 physicians found widespread support for electronic health information exchange (HIE), with most believing it would improve quality of care and cut costs. However, many expressed concern about potential privacy breaches and were unwilling to pay monthly fees. Another study reported by JAMIA found that mental health...

SourceAmerican Medical Informatics Association·JournalJournal of the American Medical Informatics Association·DateDec 15, 2009

Engineers help secure California highways and roads

Researchers at UC San Diego's Englekirk Structural Engineering Center conducted comprehensive shake tests on semi-gravity reinforced concrete cantilever walls. The project aims to improve the seismic design of California's thousands of miles of retaining walls, ensuring safer transportation systems.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·DateDec 15, 2009
Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Laurence made landfall in Western Australia

Tropical Cyclone Laurence made landfall in Western Australia with sustained winds of up to 86 mph. The storm is expected to track deeper into the continent and dissipate over the next two days.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateDec 15, 2009

Psychologist to examine childhood depression

Researcher Brandon Gibb is studying the causes of mental-health problems in kids and defining trajectories of risk for depression. He hopes to identify genetic, environmental, and psychological variables that contribute to depression in children.

SourceBinghamton University·DateDec 15, 2009

Pollution alters isolated thunderstorms

Research reveals how aerosols from pollution contribute to isolated thunderstorm clouds, improving climate scientists' understanding of the interaction between aerosols and clouds. Wind shear plays a crucial role in determining whether pollution swells or saps storms, with strong wind shear conditions hindering thunderhead formation.

SourceDOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory·DateDec 15, 2009

Late-surviving megafauna exposed by ancient DNA in frozen soil

Researchers uncovered genetic fossils of woolly mammoths and ancient American horses in permafrost samples dated to between 7,600 and 10,500 years. The study challenges the conventional view that these species disappeared from the Americas about 12,000 years ago.

SourceAmerican Museum of Natural History·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 15, 2009
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.

William T. Carpenter to receive AIAA missile systems management award

William T. Carpenter will receive the AIAA Missile Systems Management Award for his innovative leadership in establishing an environment for creativity in missile system technology. He has advanced several missile and defense systems through his expertise in aerodynamics, guidance, and control systems.

SourceAmerican Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics·DateDec 15, 2009

Experiential learning teaches change and adaptation

A study by Dr. Kristyn Harms and colleagues found that experiential learning significantly impacts students' ability to manage change in agroecosystems. The study identified key factors, including hands-on activities, emotional responses, and human interactions, that contribute to behavioral change.

SourceAmerican Society of Agronomy·JournalJournal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education·DateDec 15, 2009
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.

Rare earth metal enhances phosphate glass

Researchers at Penn State have developed a new type of glass that blocks ultraviolet light and has increased radiation damage resistance. The cerium-containing phosphate glasses can be used in windows, sunglasses, and solar cells.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Non-Crystalline Solids·DateDec 15, 2009

Drug for Alzheimer's disease does not appear to slow cognitive decline

A new study published in JAMA found that tarenflurbil, a drug intended to reduce amyloid-β levels, showed no benefit in slowing cognitive decline or improving daily activities in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease. The researchers concluded that interventions targeting amyloid have not yet been shown to alter the course of AD.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateDec 15, 2009
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Septic shock: Nitric oxide beneficial after all

Researchers at VIB and Ghent University discovered that inducing nitric oxide release in mice with septic shock significantly reduces organ damage and increases survival chances. The findings challenge the long-held assumption that nitric oxide is responsible for the condition's severity.

SourceVIB (the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology)·JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine·DateDec 15, 2009

Story of 4.5 million-year-old whale unveiled in Huelva

Scientists unveil the story of a 4.5 million-year-old whale, shedding light on fossilization and taphonomic processes. The study provides insights into the ecological phases associated with whales in the past.

SourceSpanish Foundation for Science and Technology·JournalGeologica Acta·DateDec 15, 2009

Home-based child care meeting nutritional standards; widespread use of TV a concern

A study by Oregon State University reveals that home-based child care providers often meet nutritional standards, but most children aged 2-5 are exposed to television for most of the day and lack sufficient physical activity. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than two hours of TV time per day for this age group.

SourceOregon State University·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·DateDec 15, 2009

UF researcher helps reveal ancient origins of modern opossum

A University of Florida researcher has co-authored a study tracing the evolution of modern opossums back to the extinction of dinosaurs, with evidence supporting North America as their center of origin. The findings are based on high-resolution CT scans of a 55-million-year-old skull found in Wyoming.

SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalPLOS ONE·DateDec 15, 2009
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.

Gene identified as cause of some forms of intellectual disability

Researchers have identified the TRAPPC9 gene as a potential cause of non-syndromic intellectual disabilities affecting up to 50% of individuals worldwide. The discovery sheds light on a new genetic factor in intellectual disabilities and paves the way for future research into diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.

SourceCentre for Addiction and Mental Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Human Genetics·DateDec 15, 2009

Couples who do the dishes together stay happier

A new study by the University of Western Ontario reveals that couples in shared roles models, where both partners contribute to unpaid work, experience higher average measures of happiness and life satisfaction. This model is advantageous for society, promoting gender equity and maximizing labor force participation.

SourceUniversity of Western Ontario·DateDec 15, 2009

The importance of attractiveness depends on where you live

A study published in Personal Relationships found that attractiveness plays a significant role in urban areas where individuals have more social choices, leading to increased psychological well-being. In contrast, rural areas with fewer social options show less importance of attractiveness in securing friendships and feeling good.

SourceWiley·JournalPersonal Relationships·DateDec 15, 2009
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.

LHC produces first physics results

The LHC has successfully recorded its first proton collisions, providing a crucial benchmark for the accelerator's performance. The ALICE experiment detected 284 collisions at an energy of 450 GeV, confirming previous measurements and laying the groundwork for future experiments.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal C·DateDec 15, 2009

Adding technology to geometry class improves opportunities to learn

Incorporating technology in high school-level geometry classes makes teaching easier and empowers students to discover new geometric relationships. Students who used dynamic geometry software were more successful in discovering mathematical ideas than those using static diagrams.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalInternational Journal of Computers for Mathematical Learning·DateDec 15, 2009
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.

More than a jump to the left

A new study published in Current Biology reveals that children from different cultures articulate spatial relations differently, with German kids using egocentric terms and Akhoe Hai||om kids using allocentric notions. This finding highlights the diversity of human cognition across cultures.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalCurrent Biology·DateDec 15, 2009

Antagonistic genes control rice growth

Researchers found that a plant steroid controls the balance between two genes in rice, regulating leaf angle and cell growth. The discovery has important implications for understanding how to manipulate crop growth and yield, and could lead to better engineering of crops to feed a growing population.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalThe Plant Cell·DateDec 15, 2009

Biological catch-22 prevents induction of antibodies that block HIV

Researchers found that the immune system produces early-stage B cells with potent HIV-blocking antibodies but eliminates them before they mature. This 'catch-22' prevents the production of these protective antibodies, hindering vaccine development.

SourceDuke University Medical Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 15, 2009

Time for a new view of late-life dementia

Two new studies suggest that late-life dementia is a complex disease resulting from multiple processes, including Alzheimer's disease, vascular brain injury, and Lewy body disease. Higher levels of leptin may also be linked to reduced risk of Alzheimer's disease, according to the findings.

SourceGroup Health Research Institute·JournalJAMA·DateDec 15, 2009
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.

Irrigation decreases, urbanization increases monsoon rains

Monsoon rainfall has decreased over the past 50 years in rural areas with increased irrigation in northern India, while urban areas have seen an increase in heavy rainfall. This shift is attributed to landscape changes and cooling effects on low-pressure systems necessary for monsoons to progress.

SourcePurdue University·JournalInternational Journal of Climatology·DateDec 15, 2009

New insight into selective binding properties of infectious HIV

Researchers have found that infectious HIV-1 virus particles can bind to the surface of red blood cells, significantly increasing their infectivity. This discovery suggests that erythrocytes may serve as a hidden reservoir for infectious HIV-1 virions.

SourceHenry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine·JournalPLOS ONE·DateDec 15, 2009

New findings show how human movement may have brought Chagas disease to urban Peru

A study published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases suggests that frequent seasonal moves by shantytown residents to rural valleys with Chagas vectors are a key contributor to the growing presence of Chagas disease near urban Arequipa, Peru. The researchers propose three key interventions to improve control of Chagas disease in urban...

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateDec 15, 2009
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.

Insomnia symptoms linked with medical complaints in young school-aged children

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found significant associations between parent-reported insomnia symptoms and gastrointestinal regurgitation and headaches in young school-aged children. Insomnia was 3.3 times more likely to occur with gastrointestinal regurgitation and 2.3 times more likely with headaches.

SourceAmerican Academy of Sleep Medicine·JournalJournal of Clinical Sleep Medicine·DateDec 15, 2009

Psychotherapy offers obesity prevention for 'at risk' teenage girls

A pilot study found that Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) can help 'at risk' teenage girls stabilize or reduce their body mass index (BMI), preventing excessive weight gain. IPT targets social and interpersonal difficulties linked to loss of control eating, a key factor in childhood obesity.

SourceWiley·JournalInternational Journal of Eating Disorders·DateDec 15, 2009

New bacterial behavior observed

Researchers at the University of Southern California have discovered a new bacterial behavior where Shewanella oneidensis harvests electrochemical energy and swims in response to metal presence. This finding could improve the efficiency of microbial fuel cells, producing usable energy.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 15, 2009
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

Heart cells on lab chip display 'nanosense' that guides behavior

Scientists develop a laboratory chip with nanoscopic features that enables heart cells to grow and function like natural heart muscle. The 'nanosense' allows cells to collect instructions from the physical patterns on the chip, guiding their behavior.

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 15, 2009

Researchers ID traits of people with rare accelerated aging syndrome

Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have identified distinct traits in patients with atypical progeroid syndrome (APS), a rare premature aging disorder. The study found that APS patients exhibit unique clinical features, metabolic abnormalities, and delayed onset of symptoms, potentially explaining their longer lifespan.

SourceUT Southwestern Medical Center·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·DateDec 15, 2009

Greenland glaciers: What lies beneath

Researchers studying Greenland's glaciers have discovered that meltwater plays a more complex role in ice loss than previously thought. Water flowing beneath the ice contributes to ice loss through fast-moving outlet glaciers, but its effect is negligible overall.

SourceOhio State University·DateDec 15, 2009
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.

New results from a terra-ific decade in orbit

Scientists analyze data from NASA's Terra satellite to assess the health of Earth's ocean, land, and atmosphere, finding that droughts may have negative effects on ecosystems earlier than thought. The satellite also tracks natural hazards such as flooding, mudslides, and wildfires to help governments respond and mitigate consequences.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateDec 15, 2009
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.

MCG scientists decode memory-forming brain cell conversations

MCG scientists decoded memory-forming brain cell conversations using new technology and computational methods. The breakthrough enables researchers to identify the components of a memory and its retrieval at the network level, potentially pinpointing flawed memory formation stages.

SourceMedical College of Georgia at Augusta University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateDec 15, 2009

NASA tech zooms in on water and land

A pilot project in Sequim, Wash., uses NASA satellites and sensors to predict daily river flow with higher accuracy. This helps regional natural resource managers assess the abundance of water resources.

SourceDOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory·DateDec 15, 2009

More about sex and relationships needed at gynecological visits

A recent study found that many young women view gynaecological visits as a chance to discuss their sex lives and relationships. Women, doctors, and midwives agree that these visits can foster confident women who better understand their bodies and sexuality.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalMidwifery·DateDec 15, 2009
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.

Medical team's support of terminal cancer patients' spiritual needs improves quality of life

Researchers at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute found that support of patients' spiritual needs by medical teams is associated with greater use of hospice care, less aggressive treatment, and better quality of life near death. Patients whose spiritual needs were largely or completely supported had scores on average 28% higher in well-being.

SourceDana-Farber Cancer Institute·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·DateDec 15, 2009

Immune cell activity linked to worsening COPD

A recent study by Michigan Medicine has found that dendritic cells, a type of immune cell, are more active in patients with severe COPD, leading to increased inflammation and disease progression. This research suggests that targeting dendritic cells may be a potential strategy for preventing COPD from worsening.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateDec 15, 2009

From greenhouse to icehouse -- reconstructing the environment of the Voring Plateau

The study reconstructs environmental conditions on the Voring Plateau, indicating shallow marine environments in early Eocene and full submersion by late Eocene. This suggests earlier marine connections between Nordic sea basins, which may have contributed to declining global temperatures and ice sheet development.

SourceNational Oceanography Centre, UK·JournalMarine Micropaleontology·DateDec 15, 2009
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.

Marketing a 'spoonful of sugar'

A new study by Tel Aviv University offers a simple formula for increasing compliance in health products. By providing consumers with a small immediate benefit, companies can encourage long-term use of products that have significant advantages.

SourceAmerican Friends of Tel Aviv University·DateDec 15, 2009
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.