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Science News Archive December 2012 - Page 9


Page 9 of 24

Plumes across the Pacific deliver thousands of microbial species to West Coast

Scientists detected over 2,100 unique microbial species in two large dust plumes originating in Asia, significantly higher than the 18 found using traditional culturing methods. The discovery challenges existing understanding of the atmosphere as a conveyor belt and highlights its potential as an ecosystem.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalApplied and Environmental Microbiology·DateDec 17, 2012

Perceived stress may predict future risk of coronary heart disease

A meta-analysis of six studies involving nearly 120,000 people found that high perceived stress is associated with a 27% increased risk of incident coronary heart disease. The study suggests that reducing stress may improve heart health in the future, particularly for older individuals.

SourceColumbia University Irving Medical Center·DateDec 17, 2012

New technology may enable earlier cancer diagnosis

Researchers at MIT have developed a new technology that can detect cancer biomarkers in the urine, potentially enabling earlier diagnosis and improved patient outcomes. The system uses nanoparticles to amplify tumor signals, making it easier to identify specific proteins secreted by cancer cells.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateDec 17, 2012
Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

Bullying by childhood peers leaves a trace that can change the expression of a gene linked to mood

A study by Isabelle Ouellet-Morin found that bullying by peers alters the structure surrounding a gene involved in mood regulation, making victims more vulnerable to mental health problems. The research suggests that victimization experiences in childhood can change not only stress response but also gene functioning related to mood.

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalPsychological Medicine·DateDec 17, 2012

Food insecurity predicts mental health problems in adolescents

A new study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry found that food insecurity is strongly associated with adolescent mental disorders. The study examined 6,483 adolescents aged 13-17 years and found that a one standard deviation increase in food insecurity was linked to a 14% increased odds ...

SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·DateDec 17, 2012

'Mind the gap!'

The Natura 2000 network's effectiveness in covering European species is evaluated, with mixed results. The analysis shows that the network mostly covers target species but has gaps in representation, especially for narrow-ranged species.

SourcePensoft Publishers·JournalNature Conservation·DateDec 17, 2012

Annals of Internal Medicine tip sheet for Dec. 18, 2012

A recent study of over 4 million patients found that reducing hospital stays does not increase readmission rates or patient mortality. The UK colonoscopy guidelines were also compared to US guidelines, showing that the UK guidelines may detect advanced adenomas two years earlier without increasing colonoscopy rates. Additionally, adali...

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateDec 17, 2012
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.

UI-led team confirms 'gusty winds' in space turbulence

A UI-led team has made the first direct measurement of space turbulence, confirming the existence of 'gusty winds' in space. The discovery sheds light on the role of turbulence in heating the sun's atmosphere and regulating star formation.

SourceUniversity of Iowa·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateDec 17, 2012

Investigating ocean currents using uranium-236 from the 1960s

A team of researchers has identified the bomb-pulse of uranium-236 in corals from the Caribbean Sea, revealing information on ocean currents. The findings suggest that southern hemispheric waters carry uranium-236, which helps investigate inter-hemispheric water exchange and global heat transport.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters·DateDec 17, 2012

Hybrid tunnel may help guide severed nerves back to health

Researchers developed a novel hybrid conduit that combines soft and electrically-active materials to guide nerve regeneration and reconnection. The design showed promising results in rats, with significant muscle mass gain compared to other designs.

SourcePenn State·JournalAdvanced Healthcare Materials·DateDec 17, 2012
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

GOOOAAALLL! What soccer can teach health researchers

Health research often focuses on quantifiable aspects, but soccer fans appreciate complexities that make top players excel. Researchers need to tap into these 'intangibles' when evaluating treatments and interventions.

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalBMJ Open·DateDec 17, 2012
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.

UH Case Medical Center & Reach Ventures form Socrates Analytics to market hospital data software

Socrates Analytics provides a cloud-based software program that collects, standardizes, analyzes, and reports on disparate hospital billing, administrative, and operating room data. This enables hospitals to interpret complex administrative data, view trends, outliers, and variability in care processes, ultimately improving efficiency ...

SourceUniversity Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center·DateDec 17, 2012

Cartenoids found to reduce hip fracture risk in lean men

Researchers from Singapore found that carotenoids decrease hip fracture risk in lean, elderly Chinese men. Low BMI is a stronger risk factor for hip fractures in men compared to women, according to the study.

SourceInternational Osteoporosis Foundation·JournalOsteoporosis International·DateDec 16, 2012

Do-it-yourself viruses: How viruses self assemble

A new model reveals that viruses construct intermediate structures before final capsid production, outperforming direct assembly in efficiency. This method allows the viral genome to be protected and propagated successfully, even without host cells.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalBMC Biophysics·DateDec 16, 2012

New technique could make cell-based immune therapies for cancer safer and more effective

Researchers have developed a new technique to create targeted immunotherapies for cancer, recognizing antigens on cancer cells that are not found on healthy cells. The approach uses chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) and costimulatory receptors (CCRs), allowing T cells to attack specific types of cancer cells while sparing normal cells.

SourceMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateDec 16, 2012

Scientists develop most advanced mind-controlled prosthetic hand yet

Researchers have developed a groundbreaking mind-controlled prosthetic hand that allows users to control it with remarkable accuracy and naturalism. The device has been tested in a clinical trial, achieving a success rate of up to 91.6% and demonstrating clinically significant improvement.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateDec 16, 2012
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.

Nature Climate Change: Action by 2020 key for limiting climate change

Researchers say limiting global temperature rise to 2°C requires reducing emissions to 41-47 gigatons per year by 2020. This is the only way to meet long-term climate targets without carbon capture and storage, according to a new study published in Nature Climate Change.

SourceInternational Institute for Applied Systems Analysis·JournalNature Climate Change·DateDec 16, 2012

'Missing' polar weather systems could impact climate predictions

The inclusion of intense but small-scale polar storms in climate models could lead to a different picture of climate change. Adding these storms results in significant changes in ocean circulation, including an increase in heat traveling north in the Atlantic Ocean.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalNature Geoscience·DateDec 16, 2012
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.

Worries about dementia how hospitalization affects the elderly

A recent study found that older patients hospitalized with critical illness are at increased risk of developing dementia. The study, published in Critical Care, identified infection, neurological dysfunction, and acute renal failure as independent risk factors for dementia diagnosis.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalCritical Care·DateDec 16, 2012

Exploding star missing from formation of solar system

Researchers found iron 60, a radioactive sign of an exploding star, in low abundance and uniformly distributed in solar system material. The findings suggest the low levels of iron 60 likely came from long-term accumulation of iron 60 in interstellar medium rather than a nearby cataclysmic event.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters·DateDec 16, 2012
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.

Kidney failure under the microscope

Researchers at Monash University used advanced microscopy techniques to visualize the movements of white blood cells in healthy and diseased kidneys. They found that leukocytes are constantly circulating through and patrolling blood vessels within healthy kidneys, but become agitated during disease, causing inflammation and kidney damage.

SourceMonash University·JournalNature Medicine·DateDec 16, 2012

Toward a new model of the cell

A new method creates ontology, a specification of all major players in the cell and their relationships, from large datasets. The approach captures known cellular components and identifies potentially new biological components, triggering updates to existing databases.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateDec 16, 2012

Climate model is first to study climate effects of Arctic hurricanes

A new climate model simulates the effects of Arctic hurricanes on ocean water circulation and climate, suggesting potentially cooler conditions in Europe and North America. The research finds that polar lows influence the sinking of dense cold water in the North Atlantic, driving large-scale ocean circulation.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalNature Geoscience·DateDec 16, 2012

Aerobic exercise trumps resistance training for weight and fat loss

Researchers found that aerobic exercise led to greater weight and fat loss compared to resistance training, which only increased lean body mass. The combination of both exercises showed mixed results but provided a significant decrease in waist circumference.

SourceDuke University Medical Center·JournalJournal of Applied Physiology·DateDec 15, 2012
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.

Study confirms prognostic value of new IASLC/ATS/ERS adenocarcinoma sub-classification

A new study validates the IASLC/ATS/ERS classification for lung adenocarcinomas among Japanese patients, revealing prognostic value in histologic subtypes. The classification identifies specific molecular markers, such as EGFR and KRAS mutations, associated with prognosis and treatment outcomes.

SourceInternational Association for the Study of Lung Cancer·JournalJournal of Thoracic Oncology·DateDec 15, 2012

Study shows COPD is not independent risk factor for lung cancer

A recent study published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology found that COPD is not an independent risk factor for lung cancer. Researchers associated COPD with lung cancer, but attributed this link to smoking and ascertainment bias, highlighting the need for lung cancer screenings when diagnosing COPD.

SourceInternational Association for the Study of Lung Cancer·JournalJournal of Thoracic Oncology·DateDec 15, 2012
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.

Community-based nutrition education shown to be successful in increasing calcium intake

Researchers found that Vietnamese women who received nutrition education counselling showed significant increases in calcium intake and stable bone mass. In contrast, the control group experienced decreased bone mass. The study suggests community-based education programmes can improve bone health in postmenopausal women.

SourceInternational Osteoporosis Foundation·JournalOsteoporosis International·DateDec 15, 2012

'House hunters walrus'

A University of Delaware research team has developed a novel camera system to map the surface topography of Arctic sea ice, enabling accurate habitat classification for threatened walruses. The system uses areas of higher competence to interpolate lower-confidence areas, resulting in dense 3-D reconstructions with precision accuracy wi...

SourceUniversity of Delaware·DateDec 14, 2012

Low adiponcetin associated with increased pancreatic cancer risk

Researchers found an inverse association between low adiponectin plasma levels and the risk of pancreatic cancer. The study suggests that metabolism plays a role in the pathophysiology of pancreatic cancer, potentially leading to improved survival rates with early detection and therapeutic interventions.

SourceJournal of the National Cancer Institute·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateDec 14, 2012
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.

Doing the right thing when things go wrong

A new study suggests that the University of Michigan Health System's (UMHS) approach to medical errors, known as the "Michigan Model," has helped reduce malpractice claims and costs. The model focuses on compensating patients quickly and fairly, supporting clinical staff, and reducing patient injuries by learning from experiences.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalMilbank Quarterly·DateDec 14, 2012

The HER2 paradox: HER2-positive stem cells found in HER2-negative breast cancer

Researchers discovered HER2-positive breast cancer stem cells in previously thought HER2-negative tumors, making these cells resistant to traditional treatments. The findings suggest that targeted therapies can effectively treat HER2-negative breast cancers, while also providing a new diagnostic tool.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis Health·JournalClinical Cancer Research·DateDec 14, 2012

In decision-making, it might be worth trusting your gut

A new study published in Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes found that experts are more effective when making intuitive decisions, especially in tasks with less structure. In two studies, researchers compared expert and non-expert participants on basketball shot difficulty and designer handbag authenticity tasks. Resu...

SourceRice University·JournalOrganizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes·DateDec 14, 2012
Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

New findings on killer bacteria's defence

Researchers at Lund University discovered that antibodies in the immune system can be turned around by certain bacteria, affecting their recognition and neutralization. The study shows that this phenomenon varies depending on the severity of the infection, with more serious diseases having the correct antibody orientation.

SourceLund University·JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine·DateDec 14, 2012
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.

Research explores how children reason, think about others

New studies published in Psychological Science found that young children can pass nonverbal versions of false-belief tasks, suggesting they are able to track the protagonist's perspective. Additionally, research showed that early executive-function skills and vocabulary knowledge predict analytical reasoning skills at age 15.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateDec 14, 2012

Study questions reasons for routine pelvic exams

A nationwide survey of obstetricians and gynecologists found that many doctors perform routine pelvic exams in low-risk women due to misconceptions about ovarian cancer screening. The study suggests that the exams may be performed for non-clinical reasons, such as reassurance or expectation, rather than medical necessity.

SourceUniversity of California - San Francisco·JournalAmerican Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology·DateDec 14, 2012

UCSB physicists make strides in understanding quantum entanglement

Researchers have made significant progress in studying quantum entanglement, a phenomenon where electron spins are connected. By calculating the extreme version of entanglement, they found a way to predict this characteristic and expect it to benefit fields like information technology.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalNature Physics·DateDec 14, 2012
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Male bushcrickets are in charge when it comes to sex

A study by Bielefeld biologists found that male bushcrickets determine the timing of sperm transfer, even when they have 'hopped off' after mating. The researchers suggest that females can influence fertilization by consuming a protein-rich mass, but males control the overall process.

SourceBielefeld University·JournalBehavioral Ecology and Sociobiology·DateDec 14, 2012

American Chemical Society to honor UT Arlington chemist

Kevin Schug, a UT Arlington associate professor, will be recognized for his outstanding contributions to analytical chemistry with the American Chemical Society Division of Analytical Chemistry Award for Young Investigators in Separation Science. His work focuses on developing increased throughput mass spectrometry methods and ultra-tr...

SourceUniversity of Texas at Arlington·DateDec 14, 2012

NASA awards $36 million to UMD for earth systems study

The University of Maryland will continue its five-year cooperative study with NASA's Earth Sciences Division to study the impacts of the Earth's connected systems on global and regional environments. Research focuses on predicting future impacts, improving drought monitoring, and analyzing satellite observations for ground-level air po...

SourceUniversity of Maryland·DateDec 14, 2012
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.