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Science News for February 12, 2010


Quitting smoking especially difficult for select groups

Researchers report on effective treatments targeting racial and ethnic minorities, psychiatric disorders, and families with asthma. Cognitive-behavioral therapy significantly increased quit rates among African-American smokers, while family-focused approaches showed promising results for Latino families.

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalJournal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology·DateFeb 12, 2010

IEEE-USA awards $8,000 to undergraduates, journalists

IEEE-USA presents $8,000 in scholarship awards and honoraria to recognize outstanding engineering video entries and public awareness contributions. Five undergraduate students from UNLV and LeTourneau University receive scholarships, while two journalists from Fox 5 Morning News and National Academy of Engineering are honored for their...

SourceIEEE-USA·DateFeb 12, 2010
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.

Plant buffers may limit spread of antibiotics in animal waste

Research by scientists at the University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry suggests that buffer strips can trap and break down veterinary antibiotics in manure fertilizers. The finding aims to mitigate concerns about the use of veterinary antibiotics in livestock farming, which may lead to drug-resistant bacteria and ecosystem harm.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalAgroforestry Systems·DateFeb 12, 2010

New fiber nanogenerators could lead to electric clothing

Researchers at UC Berkeley developed energy-scavenging nanofibers that can harness body movements to power hand-held electronics. The fibers have piezoelectric properties and high efficiency rates, enabling the creation of wearable 'smart clothes' with no perceptible change in comfort for users.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalNano Letters·DateFeb 12, 2010

Breakthrough for mobile television

The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft has developed a breakthrough technology for mobile television using Long Term Evolution (LTE), which offers higher performance capacity than UMTS. This enables seamless adaptive communication without disruptions, ensuring high-quality video streaming on the go.

SourceFraunhofer-Gesellschaft·DateFeb 12, 2010

Epigenetic signals differ across alleles

Epigenetic signals vary across alleles in numerous genomic regions, influencing gene expression and regulation. The study reveals over 35,000 such sites across the genome, with implications for genetic studies of complex diseases, including psychiatric conditions.

SourceKing's College London·JournalAmerican Journal of Human Genetics·DateFeb 12, 2010
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.

Scientists synthesize unique family of anti-cancer compounds

Researchers at Yale University have streamlined the synthesis of a family of compounds known as kinamycins, which are naturally produced by bacteria and show potent toxicity. By reducing the number of steps required to synthesize them from 24 to 12, the team can now prepare these molecules in larger quantities for further studies.

SourceYale University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateFeb 12, 2010

Master gene SRC-3 enables breast cancer growth, invasion

The SRC-3 gene enhances breast cancer growth and invasion by activating cell motility, allowing cancer cells to invade surrounding tissue. Researchers found that the gene enables an alternative form of its coactivator protein to function at the cell membrane, leading to increased cancer spread.

SourceBaylor College of Medicine·JournalMolecular Cell·DateFeb 12, 2010

Where did insects come from?

A team of researchers has completed a new analysis of the evolutionary relationships among arthropods, providing a solid grasp of what those relationships are. The study makes a major contribution to our understanding of the nature and origins of the planet's biodiversity.

SourceNatural History Museum of Los Angeles County·JournalNature·DateFeb 12, 2010

Positioning with awiloc

awiloc software uses received signal strength data from WLAN transmitters to calculate position without data communications. This technology is integrated into various platforms, including Windows Mobile and Android, with support for iPhone expected by summer.

SourceFraunhofer-Gesellschaft·DateFeb 12, 2010
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Research highlights role of protein pair in obesity regulation

Researchers at University of Cincinnati identify p62 and ERK as a critical protein duo involved in adipogenesis. The study shows how the interplay between these proteins leads to uncontrolled ERK activity, highlighting ERK as a promising target for obesity therapies.

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalEMBO Reports·DateFeb 12, 2010

Plant breeding helps revive western rangelands

Researchers have developed new plant varieties to restore vegetation communities on the western rangelands, helping them survive extreme weather conditions. The newly created Hycrest II and Vavilov II cultivars offer improved establishment and resilience against invasive species.

SourceUnited States Department of Agriculture - Research, Education and Economics·JournalJournal of Plant Registrations·DateFeb 12, 2010

Catching calcium waves could provide Alzheimer's insights

Researchers found that amyloid beta peptides induce calcium waves in astrocyte networks, which could clarify what causes Alzheimer's disease and suggest new drug targets. The study provides a potential link between the accumulation of Amyloid beta fragments and sustained disruption of calcium balance within cells.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalASN NEURO·DateFeb 12, 2010
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.

Human use heel first gait because it is efficient for walking

Researchers found that humans' heel-first gait is more efficient for walking due to reduced energy loss and improved muscle efficiency. However, there was no significant difference in efficiency between heel-first and toe-first postures while running.

SourceThe Company of Biologists·JournalJournal of Evolutionary Biology·DateFeb 12, 2010

Muscle loss finding may one day save physiques

Researchers discovered a link between antioxidant enzyme deficiency and impaired mitochondrial function, leading to muscle cell death. The findings offer new insights into sarcopenia and neuromuscular diseases, potentially paving the way for future muscle-preserving therapies.

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio·JournalThe FASEB Journal·DateFeb 12, 2010
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.

LSHTM awarded $100,000 by Rockefeller Foundation for alumni tracing project

The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine has received a $100,000 grant from the Rockefeller Foundation to trace its alumni and build an influential network of global health practitioners. The project aims to identify current leaders in low- and middle-income countries and strengthen capacity building.

SourceLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine·DateFeb 12, 2010

The cost of being on your toes

A University of Utah study shows that heel-first walking is more economical for humans than ball-of-foot or toe walking. The research suggests that early human hunter-gatherers may have retained this foot posture due to its stability and agility advantages, despite being less efficient for running.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateFeb 12, 2010

Are high speed elephants running or walking?

Researchers measure forces exerted on elephants to determine their movement patterns, finding that high-speed elephants exhibit characteristics of both running and walking. The study reveals that elephants' cost of transport is low due to efficient energy conversion, with a step frequency higher than expected.

SourceThe Company of Biologists·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateFeb 12, 2010