Bluesky Facebook Reddit Email

Science News Archive January 2012


Page 13 of 24

Knee replacement surgery incidence soars in those over age 50

A recent study published in Arthritis & Rheumatism found a rapid increase in knee replacement surgeries among women aged 50-59, with incidences higher in younger age groups. The study's findings suggest that more data is needed on the long-term effects of knee replacement surgeries in younger patients.

From field to biorefinery: Computer model optimizes biofuel operations

A new computer model developed at the University of Illinois can simplify the transition from field to biorefinery by optimizing operations to reduce costs and greenhouse gas emissions. The model takes into account regional attributes such as weather, crop yield, farm size and transport distances, and can run millions of simulations.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Scripps research scientists create novel RNA repair technology

Researchers at Scripps Research have identified a compound that can repair specific defects in RNA, a key step in developing treatments for incurable diseases like Huntington's. The new technology targets toxic RNA defects associated with Spinocerebellar ataxia and Kennedy disease.

Breeding better grasses for food and fuel

Scientists have identified a gene family that can help breed grasses with improved properties for diet and bioenergy. The research, published in PNAS, could lead to the production of multi-use crops where grain is used for food and feed while straw is used to produce energy efficiently.

JCI online early table of contents: Jan. 17, 2012

Researchers discovered that topical application of imiquimod recruits plasmacytoid DCs to the tumor site, converting them into tumor-killing effector cells. A new mechanism for IFN-alpha suppression was also identified, targeting epigenetic regulation of nuclear cccDNA minichromosome.

New research to enhance speech recognition technology

New research aims to create algorithms mimicking human brain sound processing to enhance speech intelligibility in noisy situations. The goal is to develop a brain-inspired speech enhancer that can identify sound sources and reduce the stigma associated with hearing aids.

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.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Gossip can have social and psychological benefits

UC Berkeley researchers found that gossip can have positive outcomes, such as helping people police bad behavior and prevent exploitation. Gossiping also made volunteers feel better when they were able to pass on information to alert others.

City to lead on £2.4 million transport innovation project

The University of Leicester and Leicester City Council are leading a £2.4 million project to develop green traffic management systems in European cities and towns. The three-year project aims to improve road congestion and urban environments using space and information technologies.

Continuing uncertainties surround anti-influenza drug

A Cochrane Review found inconsistencies with published reports of oseltamivir's efficacy and safety profile, raising questions about its use. The analysis showed that the drug did not reduce hospital treatment needs despite reducing symptom alleviation time.

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.

Powering electric vehicles with sunlight

The University of California, Riverside has received a $2 million award to build solar arrays and advanced battery storage systems for electric vehicles. The project will also install an electric trolley and grid management system to provide clean energy to clean vehicles efficiently.

Fruit flies watch the sky to stay on course

Researchers at the University of Washington discovered that fruit flies use polarization patterns of natural skylight to maintain their heading while traveling. This finding suggests that many insects possess a navigational system, which could be studied using genetics research.

Markerless motion capture offers a new angle on tennis injuries

Researchers developed a new approach to motion capture technology, identifying the 'kick' serve as a high-risk tennis serve for shoulder injury. By analyzing player movement without markers, they found that this serve generates larger forces on muscles crossing the shoulder joint, promoting injury.

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.

The perfect liquid -- now even more perfect

Physicists at Vienna University of Technology have found a way to break the limits on viscosity, with implications for understanding superfluid helium and quantum theory. The results, published in Physical Review Letters, suggest quark-gluon-plasma can exhibit extremely low viscosity, even below previously established bounds.

Galileo to image objects in geosynchronous orbit faster

The Galileo program seeks to bridge the precision fiber optic controls and long-baseline astronomical interferometry technical communities to enable faster imaging of objects in geosynchronous orbit. By harnessing the power of flexible fiber optics, researchers aim to create a new means of better, faster imaging of objects in GEO.

Plasmacytoid DCs: Tumor-killing immune cells

Researchers found that imiquimod converts plasmacytoid DCs into tumor-killing effector cells, clearing tumors in a mouse model of melanoma. This discovery has implications for antitumor therapies targeting both skin cancers and other types.

Neutron scattering provides window into surface interactions

Researchers used neutron scattering to study molecular motion in a silica nanopore, gaining insight into how surface interactions affect chemistry. Understanding these interactions can help tailor materials for specific outcomes, such as catalysis and drug delivery.

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.

Adolescents' brains respond differently than adults' when anticipating rewards

Researchers found increased brain cell activity in adolescent rats in an unusual area called the dorsal striatum, associated with habit formation and decision-making. This suggests that adolescents may be more susceptible to developing disorders like addiction and depression due to their unique brain response to reward.

Stanford computer algorithm used to identify bladder cancer marker

Researchers at Stanford University have used a computer algorithm to find markers that predict how deadly bladder cancer will be, offering faster and more accurate analysis of cancer risk. The test can be performed by someone with little training and may help identify patients with the most aggressive subtype before it becomes invasive.

University of Minnesota biologists replicate key evolutionary step

Researchers have successfully replicated the evolution from single-celled organisms to multicellular clusters in a laboratory setting, mirroring the transition that led to life on Earth. The experiment involved natural selection and brewer's yeast, resulting in cooperative cell clusters that exhibit genetic similarity.

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.

Anti-malaria drug synthesized with the help of oxygen and light

Researchers at Max Planck Institute develop simple process for artemisinin synthesis using waste product from current production as starting substance. The new method uses photochemistry to incorporate an endoperoxide group into the molecule, producing large volumes of artemisinin under controlled conditions. This could cover global de...

New microtweezers may build tiny 'MEMS' structures

Researchers have created new microtweezers capable of manipulating objects to build tiny structures, print coatings for advanced sensors, and grab live stem cell spheres. The tool enables the precision printing of chemical or protein dots onto microcantilevers, which can detect chemicals in air and water.

Research reveals power of the subconscious in human fear

New research by the University of Exeter suggests that our subconscious plays a significant role in how we respond to danger. Participants in the study showed a primitive response to fear-inducing stimuli, contradicting their conscious assessments of danger. This finding has implications for anxiety disorders and treatment.

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

A baby crystal is born

Researchers identified the 32-atom 'baby crystal' through computer simulations and experimentally confirmed its structure using scanning tunneling microscope images. The discovery provides insight into how small crystals form larger units.

Sleep preserves and enhances unpleasant emotional memories

A recent study by University of Massachusetts Amherst researchers found that sleep preserves and enhances unpleasant emotional memories. Contrary to previous assumptions, sleep was associated with maintaining the strength of initial negative feelings, rather than softening their effects.

Stomach cells may give rise to esophageal cancer

A new study has found that stomach cells from the cardia region may give rise to esophageal adenocarcinoma, a particularly lethal form of esophageal cancer. The research suggests a link between chronic inflammation and bile acid reflux in the development of this disease.

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

Cell signaling key to stopping growth and migration of brain cancer cells

Researchers have discovered a key to stopping brain cancer cell growth and migration by inhibiting a specific signaling pathway. The study, published in Nature: Oncogene, shows that targeting the Mer pathway can make brain cancer cells more sensitive to chemotherapy and prevent them from escaping to other areas of the brain.

Genetic code cracked for a devastating blood parasite

Researchers have sequenced the nuclear genome of Schistosoma haematobium, a parasitic worm linked to bladder cancer and HIV/AIDS. The discovery offers insights into how the parasite induces malignant bladder cancer and provides a biological roadmap for developing new disease interventions, including drugs and vaccines.

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.

Solutions for a nitrogen-soaked world

The report explores complex consequences of excess nitrogen on ecological communities, human health, and agriculture. Strategies to maximize efficient use of fertilizer and mitigate agricultural sources are also presented.

Pioneering engineers turn destructive plant into valuable carbon

Pioneering engineers have found a way to produce highly valuable activated carbon from the invasive Marabú shrub, which could help alleviate Cuba's ecological problems and provide clean drinking water for developing countries. The process uses technology developed by researchers at the University of Strathclyde.

A first: Brain support cells from umbilical cord stem cells

Researchers successfully converted stem cells from umbilical cords into oligodendrocytes, critical cells that insulate nerves in the brain and spinal cord. The breakthrough offers new hope for treating spinal cord injuries and multiple sclerosis by injecting healthy oligodendrocytes into the body.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Mental illness protects some inmates from returning to jail

A new study reveals that inmates with severe mental illnesses have lower recidivism rates than those with substance abuse issues or no diagnosis. The research, published in the International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, found that those with mental illnesses alone had better outcomes even compared to those with no problems.

Better together - The RN and the EHR

A study of over 16,000 nurses found that EHRs lead to more efficient nursing care, better coordination, and patient safety. Nurses in hospitals with fully implemented basic EHRs were less likely to report unfavorable patient safety issues.

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.

Blocking metabolic protein improves movement in animals with ALS

A study found that blocking a protein called AMPK helps increase animal mobility and reduce nerve cell death in animal models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The findings suggest energy deficits may contribute to neurodegenerative disorders like ALS, offering new directions for treatment.

Neurologically impaired children dependent on children's hospitals

A study by Boston Children's Hospital reveals that neurologically impaired children account for increasing hospital resources in children's hospitals, with 25% of bed days and 29% of hospital charges attributed to them. This highlights the need for improved care coordination and better patient outcomes.

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.

An easier way to remove gallstones

A new endoscope has been developed to locate and clear out gallstones and lesions without removing the entire gallbladder. The device uses a tiny ultrasonic probe to detect small stones and a horn-shaped 'absorbing box' to suck out fine, difficult-to-remove sludge-like gallstones.

Monitoring the impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccination in The Gambia

A population-based surveillance system has been set up to assess the impact of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) on invasive pneumococcal disease and radiological pneumonia in children in The Gambia. Evidence of sustained reduction in these diseases due to PCVs is crucial for vaccine introduction and ongoing use.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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