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Science News Archive March 2011


Page 17 of 28

Rock-paper-scissors tournaments explain ecological diversity

Researchers developed a mathematical model that proposes unlimited biodiversity in ecosystems with multiple competing species. The rock-paper-scissors tournament concept shows how species can co-exist without extinction, depending on the rarity of key species.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Surgical technique helps adult male survivors of childhood cancer regain fertility

A new study shows that a surgical technique called microdissection testicular sperm extraction (TESE) can effectively locate and extract viable sperm in over one-third of adult male childhood cancer survivors who were previously considered sterile. This technique enabled many men to father children with the help of in vitro fertilization.

Seedless cherimoya, the next banana?

Researchers have identified a gene responsible for seedlessness in the sugar apple and its close relation, the cherimoya. This discovery could pave the way for producing seedless varieties of these fruits and potentially other fruit crops.

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.

TRMM maps flooding along US East Coast from massive storm

The TRMM satellite measured record rainfall totals of over 300 mm (~11 inches) in Alabama and Mississippi, with eastern US experiencing 50 mm (~2 inches) or more. Flooding was reported from Louisiana to northern New York, with some areas receiving daily records

3 US Play Coalition grants will fund new research on the value of play

The US Play Coalition has awarded grants to three researchers to study the value of play for children's health and well-being. The projects will explore topics such as recess, unstructured play, and playground design to understand their impact on children's physical activity and cognitive development.

Zoo researchers provide African sanctuaries road map

Eleven Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA) member facilities are facing increased demand for chimpanzee care, with a projected 56 new arrivals annually. The study provides a roadmap for resource, infrastructure, and financial planning to support their growth and ensure long-term sustainability.

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.

Vitamin D insufficiency high among patients with early Parkinson disease

A recent study published in Archives of Neurology reveals a high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency among patients with early Parkinson's disease. Contrary to expectations, the researchers found that vitamin D concentrations remained stable over time, suggesting a potential role for long-term insufficiency in the pathogenesis of PD.

JCI online early table of contents: March 14, 2011

Researchers have discovered that T cells from elite HIV controllers upregulate a protein called p21, which inhibits viral replication. This finding may inform the development of new treatments for patients susceptible to HIV's devastating effects. Meanwhile, two new studies shed light on pediatric brain tumors and lung cancer metastasis.

Orchid wears the scent of death

Researchers have discovered that the orchid Satyrium pumilum uses carrion mimicry to attract specific species of flies for pollination. The study found that only female flesh-flies were attracted to the orchids, and that scent plays a crucial role in guiding them into the right position to pick up pollen.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

'Pre-baby blues' due to lack of support from partner

A Norwegian study found that women unhappy with their relationships were more likely to experience depression during pregnancy. A good relationship, on the other hand, served as a buffer against everyday stresses, helping women cope better with work-related issues, financial problems, or moving house.

With new method, CSHL team is able to infer how tumors evolve and spread

A new analysis method by CSHL team suggests tumors grow through 'punctuated, clonal expansions,' providing insights into tumor growth and metastasis. By analyzing single cells from breast cancer samples, the researchers inferred three distinct subpopulations of tumor cells, each with highly similar genomic profiles.

Consortium finds chronic liver cirrhosis clues

Researchers have identified 15 new genetic regions associated with an increased risk of developing primary biliary cirrhosis. The study used genome data from 2,500 patients and 7,500 healthy individuals, tripling the number of known genetic regions to 22.

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.

Untapped crop data from Africa predicts corn peril if temperatures rise

A new study using Africa's historical crop yield data reveals that corn production will decline by at least 20% for 1 degree Celsius of warming under drought conditions. The research also highlights the importance of combining existing knowledge and data from climate and agriculture communities to improve crop forecasting.

Miniature 'wearable' PET scanner ready for use

A miniature, portable PET scanner has been developed to study brain function and behavior in rats while they are awake and moving freely. This breakthrough technology, dubbed RatCAP, uses a wearable design that counterbalances with springs and motion stabilizers, allowing animals significant freedom of movement.

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.

Host change alters toxic cocktail

A fundamental change in the genome of leaf beetles has emerged, resulting in the loss of salicylaldehyde-producing enzyme salicyl alcohol oxidase in birch feeders. This adaptation allows birch beetles to save resources by not producing the enzyme, which is only needed for willow feeders.

Research suggests HIV-infected patients at higher risk for bone fractures

A recent study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases found that HIV-infected patients have a higher risk of bone fractures compared to the general US population. The study analyzed data from over 5,800 HIV-infected patients and observed annual fracture rates 1.98-3.69 times greater than the general population.

UCI's Dr. Bang H. Hoang, colleagues recognized for bone cancer research

Dr. Hoang's research aims to understand and explain the underlying mechanisms of tumor progression in osteosarcoma, a type of aggressive bone cancer that often relapses with low survival rates. The award recognizes his work advancing knowledge on how to develop therapies for patients with untreatable sarcomas.

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.

Why are the elderly so vulnerable to pneunomia?

A study published in The Journal of Immunology reveals that the elderly are more susceptible to pneumonia and bacterial infections due to a decline in immune system cells. Researchers have found that macrophages and B cells, which fight bacteria, appear effective but are fewer in number, making them less effective. Developing targeted ...

New technology to predict future appearance

A Concordia researcher has developed a highly effective computer program to age photographic images of people's faces, improving the accuracy of age-estimation for missing-child investigations and national security. The technique combines active appearance models and support vector regression to predict future facial appearance.

Extra iron doesn't help many pregnant women

A recent study found that daily iron supplements do not significantly increase hemoglobin levels in healthy pregnant women, but can help alleviate iron-poor blood conditions in Africa. Researchers followed over 1,000 pregnant women and discovered that all participants ended with similar iron levels after three months.

Simple blood test detects early emphysema in smokers before symptoms appear

A new blood test measures destruction of lung air sacs and can detect early emphysema in smokers, potentially preventing disease progression. The test is a low-cost screening tool that could help the 20% of American adults who smoke or are exposed to secondhand smoke understand their risk of developing this progressive lung disease.

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.

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.

New measurement into biological polymer networks

Researchers have developed a new measurement technology to investigate the structure of composite and biological materials, providing microscopic insights into polymeric networks. The rheometer and confocal microscope system enabled visualization of fluorescently labeled actin networks and filming of polymer filaments' movement in 3-D ...

Less than one-third of children ages 5-15 will wake up to home smoke alarms

An Australian study found that 78% of school-aged children slept through a smoke alarm sounding for 30 seconds. The study highlights the importance of child evacuation in domestic fires, as only half of waking children recognized the alarm's sound. Younger children (5-10 years old) are significantly more at risk.

Around 40 percent of hake is mislabeled

A study in Spain and Greece found that over 30% of hake products sold in these countries were mislabelled, with African fish often labelled as European or American. The error benefits middlemen, not African fishermen.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

New study shows government spending preferences of Americans

A recent survey by NORC at the University of Chicago found that Americans prioritize education as the top spending category, followed by healthcare. The study, which analyzed data from 2010, also showed a decline in support for increased spending in some categories, despite the economic downturn.

Researchers link novel biomarkers to asthma and COPD

Researchers identified four novel biomarkers that can discriminate between healthy controls, asthmatics, and individuals with COPD. These anti-inflammatory proteins may help diagnose respiratory diseases earlier, allowing for more effective treatment.

Keys to long life

A groundbreaking study by University of California, Riverside researchers found that personality characteristics and social relations from childhood can predict one's risk of dying decades later. The Longevity Project followed over 1,500 bright children for 20 years, revealing that prudence and persistence are key to a long life.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Stem cells take cues from fluid in the brain

Scientists found that a protein called Igf2 in the cerebrospinal fluid signals brain cells to multiply during embryonic development. This discovery could lead to new treatments for neurological diseases and cancer by targeting specific areas of the brain, eliminating the need for localized drug delivery.

How incentives can hurt group productivity and shared resources

A study by Columbia Business School professor Stephan Meier found that incentives can decrease public goods contribution and increase free-riding behavior in group environments with informal norm enforcement. The researchers discovered that incentives changed the norm of contribution, making it acceptable to exploit common resources.

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.

Pitchers bean more batters in the heat of the summer

A new study published in Psychological Science suggests that heat increases feelings of revenge in pitchers, making them more aggressive towards batters who have been hit by a pitch. The researchers found that high temperatures increase the likelihood of retaliation, but not overall aggression in general.

USDA and Russian scientists develop high-tech crop map

The AgroAtlas project aims to promote world food security in Newly Independent States-countries by providing a geographic distribution of crops, diseases, pests, and wild relatives. The interactive website shows the distributions of 100 crops, 640 crop diseases, and 560 wild crop relatives growing in Russia and neighboring countries.

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

Trapping prostate cancer cells to keep them from spreading provides hope

Trapping prostate cancer stem cells with self-assembling nanomaterials inhibits colony formation and cell division in vitro. The approach may offer a new treatment strategy for metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer by targeting cancer stem cells, which are thought to be the origin of tumor metastasis.