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Science News for May 1, 2011


Low vitamin D in kids may play a role in anemia

Research found a significant link between low vitamin D levels and anemia in children, with black children at higher risk due to lower vitamin D levels. The study suggests that vitamin D deficiency may play a role in the development of anemia in this population.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·DateMay 1, 2011
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.

Chemical in plastic linked to wheezing in childhood

A study of 367 mothers and infants found that prenatal exposure to BPA was associated with an increased risk of wheezing in childhood, particularly among the youngest group. High levels of BPA detected in women at 16 weeks' gestation were linked to wheeze in their offspring, but not after 3 years of age.

SourceAmerican Academy of Pediatrics·DateMay 1, 2011

Screening very preterm infants for autism at 18 months often inaccurate

Research suggests that screening very preterm infants for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) at 18 months of age is often inaccurate and can lead to false positives. In contrast, waiting until 30 months of age may provide a more accurate assessment. A study found that only 3% of infants who screened positive on all three screens at 30 mont...

SourceAmerican Academy of Pediatrics·DateMay 1, 2011

Mayo Clinic finds new genetic cause of neurodegeneration

Researchers identified two mutations responsible for hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type 1 (HSAN1), causing cognitive decline, hearing loss, and sensory impairments in young adults. The study provides insights into the disease's mechanisms and potential future research directions.

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalNature Genetics·DateMay 1, 2011
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Dirty mouths lead to broken hearts

A new oral hygiene approach called Managing Oral Hygiene Using Threat Reduction (MOUTh) has been developed to help nurses care for dementia patients who resist care due to perceived threats. The technique focuses on making the patient feel comfortable and reducing threat perception, resulting in improved oral health outcomes.

SourcePenn State·JournalSpecial Care in Dentistry·DateMay 1, 2011

Little fingers, big trouble: Yale study sheds light on child self-unbuckling

A Yale study found that young children often acquire motor skills to unbuckle before developing cognitive understanding of restraints, posing a safety hazard. The study also revealed that 43% of self-unbuckling children use a five-point restraint, and parents often respond with immediate action when their child unbuckles while in motion.

SourceYale University·DateMay 1, 2011

Little fingers, big trouble

A study by the American Academy of Pediatrics reveals that children under 6 years old often unbuckle themselves from car seats while in motion, tripling their injury risk. Parents frequently pull over and re-buckle their children, but this behavior highlights a need for safer restraint devices.

SourceAmerican Academy of Pediatrics·DateMay 1, 2011
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.

Measuring the distant universe in 3-D

The Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) has created the biggest 3-D map of the distant universe, using light from 14,000 quasars. The map demonstrates that it is possible to determine variations in the density of intergalactic hydrogen gas at cosmological distances and measure the effects of dark energy.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·DateMay 1, 2011

Children held captive in smoky vehicles

A study by the American Academy of Pediatrics found that many parents with smoking habits in cars have a hard time enforcing no-smoking rules. The result is that children are exposed to toxic chemicals, which may cause severe asthma attacks and respiratory infections.

SourceAmerican Academy of Pediatrics·DateMay 1, 2011

Living with a smoker may raise blood pressure in boys

Research found that exposure to secondhand smoke is associated with increased blood pressure in boys, while girls showed lower blood pressures. The study suggests that preventing children's exposure to tobacco smoke is an important cardiovascular health measure.

SourceAmerican Academy of Pediatrics·DateMay 1, 2011

Grandma was right: Infants do wake up taller

A new study confirms that infants wake up taller after sleep, with longer sleep bouts predicting increased weight and body-fat composition. The research also found sex differences in sleep patterns related to growth, with boys exhibiting more sleep bouts and shorter ones than girls.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalSLEEP·DateMay 1, 2011
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.

How to raise a child who doesn't bully

New research shows that parents who are involved and communicate effectively with their children are less likely to have kids who bully others. Factors like parental anger and emotional problems in children increase the risk of bullying, while parent-child connection and mental health matter.

SourceAmerican Academy of Pediatrics·DateMay 1, 2011

Child malnutrition caused by more than lack of food

A new study by the American Academy of Pediatrics reveals that improving living conditions, sanitation, and community organization can significantly reduce child malnutrition rates. In rural Guatemala, families who received non-agricultural land and housing experienced a decline in malnutrition rates, while those who remained in squatt...

SourceAmerican Academy of Pediatrics·DateMay 1, 2011

US EPA joins alliance to curb global e-waste

The US EPA is collaborating with the United Nations University to develop strategies for managing electronic waste (e-waste) in Africa and Asia. The five-year agreement will support research, tracking, data collection, analysis, and information sharing to improve e-waste refurbishment and disposal.

SourceUnited Nations University·DateMay 1, 2011
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.

Movement + academics = success

A daily physical activity program that incorporated classroom lessons resulted in improved test scores for students at an elementary school. The percentage of students reaching their goal score increased from 55% to 68.5% after the program was initiated.

SourceAmerican Academy of Pediatrics·DateMay 1, 2011

New material could improve safety for first responders to chemical hazards

Researchers have developed a new material sensor that can detect when carbon filters in respirators become saturated with toxic vapors, providing a more accurate warning for emergency workers. The sensor uses photonic crystals made of carbon nanofibers, which change color as the filter absorbs chemicals.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateMay 1, 2011

Study is the first to link sleep duration to infant growth spurts

A new study published in the journal Sleep has found that infants who experience irregular bursts of sleep have significant growth spurts in their body length. The study suggests that longer sleep corresponds to greater growth, and that increased sleep episodes increase the probability of a growth spurt by up to 43%.

SourceAmerican Academy of Sleep Medicine·JournalSLEEP·DateMay 1, 2011
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Solar-thermal flat-panels that generate electric power

Boston College and MIT researchers created high-performance nanotech materials on a flat panel platform, demonstrating seven to eight times higher efficiency than previous solar thermoelectric generators. The innovation enables the simultaneous generation of hot water and electricity, potentially shortening payback time by one-third.

SourceBoston College·JournalNature Materials·DateMay 1, 2011

Renal cancer drug temsirolimus shows promise against mesothelioma

Researchers found that temsirolimus strongly blocked mTOR-mediated signals and had a cytostatic effect on all mesothelioma cells. The study suggests using mTOR inhibitors as a novel anti-mesothelioma strategy, particularly in combination with chemotherapy.

SourceInternational Association for the Study of Lung Cancer·JournalJournal of Thoracic Oncology·DateMay 1, 2011

Smoke-exposed children with flu more likely to need ICU care

Researchers found that exposed children were almost five times more likely to need intensive care and more than 11 times more likely to need intubation. Children's length of stay in the hospital was significantly associated with smoke exposure and chronic conditions.

SourceUniversity of Rochester Medical Center·DateMay 1, 2011
Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Hard to arouse, hard to calm down

A new scale used to assess newborn behavior may help identify children who were exposed to methamphetamine prenatally and are at risk of developing problems later in life. The Infant Development, Environment, and Lifestyle (IDEAL) Study found that these children were hard to arouse but had difficulty calming down once awakened.

SourceAmerican Academy of Pediatrics·DateMay 1, 2011