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Science News for January 24, 2012


The impact of deleting 5 personality disorders in the new DSM-5

A Rhode Island Hospital study found that deleting five personality disorders from the DSM-5 could result in false-negative diagnoses for patients. The proposed changes may affect up to 59 patients who would no longer be diagnosed with a personality disorder according to the current criteria.

SourceLifespan·JournalJournal of Clinical Psychiatry·DateJan 24, 2012

Adipose stem cell heart attack trial data published in JACC

The APOLLO trial demonstrated improvements in cardiac function, blood flow into the heart muscle, and reduced scar formation in patients with acute myocardial infarction. The study found a 52% reduction in left ventricle infarcted area and significant improvement of perfusion defects in ADRC-treated patients.

SourceCytori Therapeutics·JournalJournal of the American College of Cardiology·DateJan 24, 2012
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Supporting primary children's understanding of physics

The software highlights discrepancies between different types of understanding and helps children perform better in school. Children using the software made substantial progress in reasoning, especially with challenging concepts like object fall.

SourceEconomic & Social Research Council·DateJan 24, 2012

Winged dinosaur Archaeopteryx dressed for flight

A team of researchers discovered a well-preserved feather on Archaeopteryx's wing was black, indicating the presence of melanosomes that provided structural support. The feather structure is identical to that of modern birds, showing early evolution of wing feathers as early as 150 million years ago.

SourceBrown University·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 24, 2012

Scientists discover new clue to the chemical origins of life

Researchers at the University of York have successfully recreated a process that could be responsible for the origin of carbohydrates in life. By using simple left-handed amino acids as catalysts, they produced predominantly right-handed sugars, shedding light on how these building blocks came to dominate nature.

SourceUniversity of York·JournalOrganic & Biomolecular Chemistry·DateJan 24, 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.

Restored wetlands rarely equal condition of original wetlands

A new analysis of 124 wetland studies reveals that restored wetlands rarely reach the quality of their natural counterparts. After 50-100 years, they are still 23% less in terms of carbon resources and have a 26% lower variety of native plants.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalPLOS Biology·DateJan 24, 2012

Fungi-filled forests are critical for endangered orchids

Researchers found that older forests with specific fungi are essential for orchid survival and recovery. The study suggests that planting new forests may not be enough to save endangered orchids without the right fungal conditions.

SourceSmithsonian·JournalMolecular Ecology·DateJan 24, 2012

Portuguese science scores high with American funder

Five Portuguese scientists have been awarded prestigious funding by the US-based HHMI for their innovative research projects. The awardees, who are based in Portugal, will receive $650,000 over five years to work on diverse areas of neuroscience and parasitology.

SourceInstituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia·DateJan 24, 2012

JCI online early table of contents: Jan. 24, 2012

A team of researchers found that brown fat in adult men burns energy to generate body heat when exposed to cold temperatures, but not at warm temperatures. This discovery has significant implications for the human obesity epidemic, suggesting that increasing brown fat is unlikely to lead to weight loss and instead highlights the need f...

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJan 24, 2012
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.

Queen's study finds religion helps us gain self-control

A Queen's University study found that thinking about religion enhances self-control in individuals, even after unrelated tasks have depleted it. The research suggests that religion can serve a practical function in society beyond its traditional role as a source of transcendence and fear of death.

SourceQueen's University·JournalPsychological Science·DateJan 24, 2012

Improving crops from the roots up

Scientists at the University of Nottingham have successfully altered root growth in plants by controlling a key regulatory protein, WRKY23. This breakthrough could lead to improved crop yields and resistance to parasites under varying environmental conditions.

SourceUniversity of Nottingham·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 24, 2012

Jumpstarting computers with 3-D chips

Researchers at EPFL have successfully developed a 3D chip with multiple processors stacked vertically, increasing efficiency and processing power. The chip is connected using thin copper microtubes through tiny openings called Through-Silicon-Vias, reducing data exchange time.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·DateJan 24, 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.

Life discovered on dead hydrothermal vents

Scientists have found microbial succession in microbes on deep-sea hydrothermal vents, where life adapts to replace extinct communities with iron and sulfur-rich environments. Researchers at USC uncovered evidence of ecological succession on dormant vents, replacing heat-dependent microbes with new species.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalmBio·DateJan 24, 2012

Cocoa could prevent intestinal pathologies such as colon cancer

A new study found that eating cocoa can help prevent intestinal complaints linked to oxidative stress and colon carcinogenesis. The study, published in the journal Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, showed that a cocoa-rich diet reduced aberrant crypts in the colon and improved antioxidant defenses.

SourceSpanish Foundation for Science and Technology·JournalMolecular Nutrition & Food Research·DateJan 24, 2012
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.

Genetic variation increases risk of metabolic side effects in children on some antipsychotics

A genetic variation has been found to increase the risk of metabolic syndrome in children taking second-generation anti-psychotic medications, characterized by high blood pressure and elevated fasting blood sugar levels. The study aims to prevent and manage metabolic complications associated with these medications in childhood.

SourceChild & Family Research Institute·JournalTranslational Psychiatry·DateJan 24, 2012

Saliva HIV test passes the grade

A saliva test used to diagnose HIV has been found to be comparable in accuracy to the traditional blood test, according to a new study. The test showed high sensitivity and specificity rates of 99% and 97%, respectively, making it a promising tool for HIV diagnosis, particularly in high-risk populations.

SourceMcGill University Health Centre·JournalThe Lancet Infectious Diseases·DateJan 24, 2012

More on legal remedies for ghostwriting

The article proposes three areas of legal liability for ghostwriters: reliance on false safety and efficacy data, inducing government reimbursement under false pretenses, and anti-kickback statute violations. Guest authors' participation in ghostwritten articles may also lead to claims of fraud on the court against pharmaceutical compa...

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateJan 24, 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.

Possible new pathway can overcome glioblastoma resistance

Researchers have identified a new pathway that targets the root cause of glioblastoma resistance, paving the way for more effective treatments. By understanding how this complex signaling process works, scientists hope to develop novel therapies to improve patient outcomes and extend survival rates.

SourceAmerican Association for Cancer Research·JournalCancer Discovery·DateJan 24, 2012

Graphene: Impressive capabilities on the horizon

A Rice University research team made graphene suitable for organic chemistry applications by attaching various molecules to its sheets, enabling advanced chemical sensors and electronic circuits. The hydrogenation process transformed graphene into a semiconducting superlattice, allowing for tailored functionality.

SourceAir Force Office of Scientific Research·DateJan 24, 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.

New migraine clinical trial guidelines

The new guidelines provide a contemporary, evidence-based approach for investigators conducting randomised, controlled migraine clinical trials. Key findings include the importance of patient selection, trial design, and evaluation of results in both acute and preventive settings.

SourceSAGE·JournalSocial Psychological and Personality Science·DateJan 24, 2012

EMBL Monterotondo researcher wins award for early career scientists

EMBL Monterotondo researcher Rocio Sotillo has won a $650,000 Howard Hughes Medical Institute award to support her research on cancer and chromosomal errors. She will use the prize to establish an independent research programme and develop new ways to grow lung cancer cells in three-dimensional cultures.

SourceEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory·DateJan 24, 2012

Teen passengers: 'The other distraction' for teen drivers

Studies found that teen passengers, particularly thrill-seekers with weak perceptions of driving risks, can distract drivers and promote aggressive behavior. Experts recommend limiting passenger numbers for teens during their first year of driving to reduce crash risk.

SourceChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia·JournalJournal of Adolescent Health·DateJan 24, 2012

Bilayer graphene works as an insulator

A UC Riverside-led team has identified a property of bilayer graphene that becomes insulating when the number of electrons on the sheet is close to zero. This finding suggests promising routes for digital and infrared technologies, including trilayer and tetralayer graphene with larger energy gaps.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateJan 24, 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.

Turtles' mating habits protect against effects of climate change

A study on marine turtle mating patterns reveals that a population of endangered green turtles in Northern Cyprus is protected from the disproportionate number of females being born due to global warming. The researchers found a large number of males siring offspring with multiple females, reducing the risk of inbreeding.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·DateJan 24, 2012

Under the electron microscope -- a 3-D image of an individual protein

Scientists have developed a new technique that allows them to create detailed 3D images of individual proteins using cryo-electron microscopy. This breakthrough enables researchers to study the flexibility and movement of proteins, which is crucial for understanding their function and developing new drugs.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJan 24, 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.

Generation X: How young adults deal with influenza

A University of Michigan report found that young adults in Generation X were moderately concerned about the flu and followed the issue closely. Despite a low vaccination rate, they responded accordingly by being well-informed and taking actions to protect themselves and their families.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·DateJan 24, 2012

Brown fat burns calories in adult humans

Researchers have found that brown fat in healthy adult men burns energy to generate body heat during cold exposure, but not at warm temperatures. This discovery has significant implications for combating the human obesity epidemic and suggests that increasing brown fat may not lead to weight loss.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJan 24, 2012

The evolution of division of labor

Modules differ in form and function, allowing for division of labor among specialized modules. The study identifies necessary conditions for division of labor to evolve, including positional effects and synergistic effects between differentiated modules.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 24, 2012

High fructose consumption by adolescents may put them at cardiovascular risk

Adolescents who consume high amounts of fructose are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes, according to a recent study. The researchers found that heavy consumers of fructose had lower levels of protective fats like HDL cholesterol and adiponectin.

SourceMedical College of Georgia at Augusta University·JournalJournal of Nutrition·DateJan 24, 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.

Exercise has charms to soothe a savage boss

A study by James Burton and team found that stressed supervisors who engage in moderate exercise report less abusive behavior towards their subordinates. The research suggests that wellness programs with exercise components can help smooth out relationships between supervisors and employees.

SourceSpringer·JournalJournal of Business and Psychology·DateJan 24, 2012

GABA deficits disturb endocannabinoid system

A new study suggests that GABA deficits in the brain may trigger disturbances in the endocannabinoid system, which is responsible for regulating substances similar to cannabis products. The research also found that cannabis use can alter GABA activity in the brain.

SourceElsevier·JournalBiological Psychiatry·DateJan 24, 2012
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.

Membrane fusion a mystery no more

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have uncovered a mechanism that helps explain how intracellular membranes fuse. They used purified yeast organelles to study the process and found that a tethering complex called HOPS plays a crucial role in activating SNARE proteins.

SourceBaylor College of Medicine·JournalPLOS Biology·DateJan 24, 2012

It's evolution: Nature of prejudice, aggression different for men and women

A new study suggests that the nature of prejudice and aggression is different for men and women. Men are more likely to start wars and defend their groups, while women live under the threat of sexual coercion and display a 'tend-and-befriend response' towards their own group members.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalPhilosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London (B )·DateJan 24, 2012
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.

Lifestyle counseling reduces time to reach treatment goals for people with diabetes

A large-scale study found that lifestyle counseling significantly reduces time to reach treatment goals for people with diabetes, with those receiving regular counseling achieving lower blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. The study suggests that incorporating counseling into routine care can be an effective strategy ...

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalDiabetes Care·DateJan 24, 2012

Entry point for hepatitis C infection identified

Researchers at the University of Illinois College of Medicine have identified a molecule embedded in liver cells that enables hepatitis C virus entry. Ezetimibe, an FDA-approved cholesterol drug, has been shown to inhibit HCV infection and may provide a new treatment option for patients.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Chicago·JournalNature Medicine·DateJan 24, 2012

Rice lab mimics Jupiter's Trojan asteroids inside a single atom

Physicists at Rice University mimic the orbit of Jupiter's Trojan asteroids within an atom, confirming Niels Bohr's 1920 prediction on quantum mechanics and Newtonian physics. The research demonstrates control over atomic behavior using radio frequency waves.

SourceRice University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJan 24, 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.

WHOI's John Waterbury receives NAS Gilbert Morgan Smith Medal

John Waterbury, a WHOI scientist emeritus, has been awarded the NAS Gilbert Morgan Smith Medal for his path-breaking discovery and characterization of ecologically important marine microorganisms. This achievement marked major advances in understanding marine food webs and nutrient cycling in ocean ecosystems.

SourceWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution·DateJan 24, 2012

Acid reflux drug does not improve asthma in children

A new study found that lansoprazole, an acid reflux drug, does not improve asthma symptoms or lung function in children. The medication may actually increase the risk of upper respiratory infections and other adverse events in young patients.

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·JournalJAMA·DateJan 24, 2012

Researchers devise new means for creating elastic conductors

Researchers at NC State University have developed a new technique to create elastic conductors from carbon nanotubes, enabling the production of stretchable electronic devices with improved resilience and conformability. The new method buckles carbon nanotubes on an elastic substrate, creating conductors that can transmit electric sign...

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateJan 24, 2012

Marine mammals on the menu in many parts of world

A new global study found that humans have consumed at least 87 different marine mammal species since 1990, with many being caught accidentally as bycatch in fishing nets. The study highlights the urgent need for better monitoring and conservation efforts to protect these iconic species.

SourceWildlife Conservation Society·JournalBiological Conservation·DateJan 24, 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.

NRL's SoloHI instrument selected for flight on Solar Orbiter mission

The NRL SoloHI instrument will study coronal mass ejections and their effects on the solar wind, impacting power lines, satellite communications, and cell phone service. The Solar Orbiter mission will provide scientists with increased understanding of the Sun's influence on its environment and the solar dynamo.

SourceNaval Research Laboratory·DateJan 24, 2012

Study: Off-campus college party hosts drink more than attendees

A study of 3,796 students found that off-campus party hosts consume an average of almost nine drinks, compared to 7.5 drinks consumed by guests. In contrast, on-campus party hosts drink less than their attendees. The findings could guide efforts to curb excessive drinking at college parties.

SourceOhio State University·JournalAddictive Behaviors·DateJan 24, 2012