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Science News for March 29, 2009


DNA-based assembly line for precision nano-cluster construction

Scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory have developed a DNA-based assembly line for predictable, high-precision nano-construction, enabling the rapid assembly of new biosensors and solar cells. By controlling DNA interactions, they can regulate interparticle distances and assemble nano-objects into complex structures.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalNature Materials·DateMar 29, 2009

Extra STICH not necessary in surgical treatment of heart failure

Researchers compared two groups of patients with coronary artery disease and severe heart failure, finding that surgical ventricular reconstruction made no difference in key clinical outcomes. The study's findings challenge conventional wisdom that making the heart smaller and more normal makes it stronger.

SourceDuke University Medical Center·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateMar 29, 2009

Physicians mending broken hearts

A study at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center found that lower-income families and African-Americans have a lower quality of life after cardiac surgery. The Pediatric Cardiac Quality of Life Inventory (PCQLI) was developed to assess health-related quality of life in children and adolescents.

SourceCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center·DateMar 29, 2009
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Microbes in mud flats clean up oil spill chemicals

Researchers found that microbes in coastal mudflats can rapidly degrade petrochemical residues in aerobic conditions, but slower in anaerobic conditions. The study suggests using these microbes as a natural way to clean up pollution in estuaries.

SourceMicrobiology Society·DateMar 29, 2009

Tea tree oil and silver together make more effective antiseptics

A study by Wan Li Low and colleagues found that combining low concentrations of tea tree oil and silver increases antimicrobial activity against pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. This method allows for controlled release and may lead to safer, over-the-counter antiseptic compounds.

SourceMicrobiology Society·DateMar 29, 2009

Enzyme and vitamin define the yin and yang of asthma

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine identified a proteinase called MMP7 that activates an allergic response in the lung. A form of vitamin A made in the lung also plays a critical role in dampening inflammation, and suppressing its production restores asthmatic symptoms.

SourceBaylor College of Medicine·JournalNature Immunology·DateMar 29, 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.

UM scientist's innovative current mapping satellite technique garners ONR grant

Dr. Roland Romeiser, a UM Rosenstiel School researcher, has been awarded a $500,000 ONR grant to develop 'along-track InSAR,' a new satellite technique that maps surface currents in rivers and oceans. This technology will aid in monitoring global river runoff and bathymetric changes.

SourceUniversity of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science·DateMar 29, 2009

Slow-growing TB bacteria point the way to new drug development

The discovery of slow-growing Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria in TB patients' lungs may lead to the design of new anti-TB drugs. These slowly growing bacteria are non-responsive to treatment with isoniazid, contributing to prolonged treatment times and relapse rates.

SourceMicrobiology Society·DateMar 29, 2009
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

Improved predictive value of biomarkers in HF makes earlier diagnosis and better management possible

Researchers have discovered two efficient biomarker applications that promise even earlier diagnosis and improved treatment of heart failure. Biomarkers N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and cystatin C can identify patients at high risk, enabling targeted care and reducing healthcare costs.

SourceEuropean Society of Cardiology·JournalEuropean Journal of Heart Failure·DateMar 29, 2009

Autism skews developing brain with synchronous motion and sound

Researchers found that individuals with autism tend to stare at people's mouths rather than their eyes due to the attraction of audiovisual synchrony. This phenomenon is more pronounced in toddlers with autism, who exhibit a strong preference for lip-sync, whereas unaffected peers focus on socially meaningful movements.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Mental Health·JournalNature·DateMar 29, 2009

Skin cancer study uncovers new tumor suppressor gene

Researchers at the NIH/National Human Genome Research Institute have discovered a new tumor suppressor gene, MMP-8, that helps prevent melanoma growth. The finding may lead to more individualized cancer treatment strategies and improved outcomes for patients.

SourceNIH/National Human Genome Research Institute·JournalNature Genetics·DateMar 29, 2009
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Genes that make bacteria make up their minds

Researchers have identified the DegU protein as crucial for bacterial decision-making in biofilms. This protein enables individual bacteria to switch between different physiological processes, such as movement and biofilm production, in response to environmental conditions.

SourceMicrobiology Society·DateMar 29, 2009

Corrosion-inhibiting coatings containing 'good' bacteria

A new environmentally friendly coating has been developed using spores from a bacterium to prevent microbial corrosion of metals in seawater. The coating was found to be substantially more effective than existing treatments and could be heat cured at temperatures up to 90°C.

SourceMicrobiology Society·DateMar 29, 2009

New molecular force probe stretches molecules, atom by atom

Chemists at the University of Illinois developed a molecular force probe to study the effects of stretching molecules, revealing counterintuitive results about chemical bond breaking rates. The technique allows researchers to explore the properties of transition states governing chemical transformations.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateMar 29, 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.

Superbug risk to war wounded

Severe injuries on battlefields increase risk of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections in war-wounded soldiers. Effective personal protective equipment and medical care have improved survival rates but not mitigated the risk of wound infections.

SourceMicrobiology Society·DateMar 29, 2009

Dust may settle unanswered questions on Antarctica

Researchers found that dust blown to Antarctica from Patagonia provides vital information about glacier activity and past climates. The study suggests that the coldest periods of the last ice age correspond with the dustiest periods in Antarctica's past.

SourceUniversity of Edinburgh·JournalNature Geoscience·DateMar 29, 2009

Targeted drug therapy prevents exercise-induced arrhythmias

Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center discovered that the clinically available drug flecainide prevents potentially lethal arrhythmias in patients with CPVT. In two patients, flecainide prevented exercise-induced ventricular arrhythmias and allowed them to live normal lives.

SourceVanderbilt University Medical Center·JournalNature Medicine·DateMar 29, 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.

Getting down to cancer basics

Researchers identified a new cancer gene, UTX, common to many cancers and affecting gene regulation. The UTX protein modifies chromatin structure, altering histone modification and impacting gene activity.

SourceWellcome Trust Sanger Institute·JournalNature Genetics·DateMar 29, 2009

Spreading antibiotics in the soil affects microbial ecosystems

Repeatedly, molecular microbiological techniques have found changes in soil bacterial communities after antibiotic use in intensive livestock production. Bacteria involved in the nitrogen cycle are particularly affected, with persistent changes even after antibiotics break down.

SourceMicrobiology Society·DateMar 29, 2009

Action video games improve vision

Research from the University of Rochester found that action video games can improve contrast sensitivity by 58% by training the brain to process visual information more efficiently. This finding suggests that gaming may not be harmful for vision and could potentially complement eye-correction techniques.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateMar 29, 2009

Top scientist aims for more discoveries and improved speed to market

Dr Crouch, a 2009 Advancing BioBusiness Award winner, seeks to improve scientific discovery in Australia through state-of-the-art assays and automation. He hopes to develop new tests for bio-markers of diseases like cancer, improving the efficiency of research in Australian university laboratories.

SourceResearch Australia·DateMar 29, 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.