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Science News for September 7, 2012


Precautions for tick-borne disease extend 'beyond Lyme'

New research reveals that tick-borne diseases extend 'beyond Lyme' in the Southeastern United States, where lone star ticks spread ehrlichiosis and spotted fever rickettsiosis. Experts advise saving the tick that bites you to identify potential diseases.

SourceU.S. National Science Foundation·JournalZoonoses and Public Health·DateSep 7, 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.

Archaeologists uncover 'lost garden' in quest for Richard III

Researchers have discovered paving stones in the 'lost garden' of Robert Herrick, believed to be from Richard III's time. The discovery is a significant find, bringing them closer to locating the king's grave. Further investigation has also revealed fragments of window tracery and medieval silver pennies at the site.

SourceUniversity of Leicester·DateSep 7, 2012
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.

Antibiotic therapy improves moderate exacerbations of mild-to-moderate COPD

A multicenter trial found that antibiotic treatment with amoxicillin/clavulanate significantly improved clinical cure rates and prolonged the median time to next exacerbation in patients with mild-to-moderate COPD. Patients with elevated capillary C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were more likely to be cured without antibiotics.

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateSep 7, 2012

Experts recommend screening adults for hypertriglyceridemia every five years

The Endocrine Society recommends screening adults for hypertriglyceridemia every five years to identify individuals at risk of cardiovascular disease. Treatment focuses on lifestyle changes and addressing secondary causes, such as obesity and endocrine conditions.

SourceThe Endocrine Society·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·DateSep 7, 2012

Study provides first-time analysis of 3 distinct contributions of forage fish worldwide

A recent study led by the Institute for Ocean Conservation Science provides a first-time analysis of the value of forage fish to both commercial fisheries and marine ecosystems. The research found that forage fish contribute significantly to global fisheries, with a total estimated value of $16.9 billion annually, representing 20% of g...

SourceThe Institute for Ocean Conservation Science·JournalFish and Fisheries·DateSep 7, 2012

NASA's Global Hawk Mission Begins with Flight to Hurricane Leslie

NASA's Global Hawk aircraft has begun flying over Hurricane Leslie in the Atlantic Ocean, collecting data on hurricane formation and intensification. The mission will help researchers understand the relative roles of large-scale environment and internal storm processes in shaping hurricanes.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateSep 7, 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.

Study finds how BPA affects gene expression, anxiety; Soy mitigates effects

Researchers at North Carolina State University found that BPA exposure early in life causes significant gene expression changes associated with anxiety. A soy-rich diet was shown to mitigate these effects in rats, suggesting a potential protective role for soy in reducing the impact of BPA on mental health.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateSep 7, 2012

Health inequalities in Europe could worsen unless action is taken now

A Review published in The Lancet warns that health inequalities in Europe are worsening and calls for urgent action to reduce disparities. The review provides policy recommendations to improve health equality across European countries, regardless of their current status or income.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateSep 7, 2012

The nose knows: Gene therapy restores sense of smell in mice

Scientists successfully applied gene therapy to restore a lost sense of smell in mice by repairing defective olfactory cells. The treatment increased appetite and body weight, highlighting the potential for this approach to treat cilia disorders elsewhere in the body.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalNature Medicine·DateSep 7, 2012

NASA keeping an 'eye' on Hurricane Michael

NASA satellites captured stunning visible and infrared images of Hurricane Michael's eye, revealing clear views of the Atlantic Ocean. The storm's cloud top temperatures cooled around its center on September 7.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateSep 7, 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.

Who's the most influential in a social graph?

A new algorithm developed by Georgia Tech can identify influencers as information changes within a network, making it more efficient than existing algorithms. The software can process streaming graphs up to 100 times faster and has wide-ranging applications in advertising, transportation, and other fields.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·DateSep 7, 2012

Lack of support for 'ring-fencing' cancer drugs fund revealed

The public favors treating patients with serious conditions, including cancer, if it reduces burden on carers or offers substantial health benefits. However, the majority oppose a ring-fenced budget for cancer drugs, which would prioritize cancer treatments over other equally serious conditions.

SourceBangor University·JournalHealth Economics·DateSep 7, 2012

Turf study to monitor runoff, establish fertilizer management practices

A team of scientists from Texas A&M AgriLife Research is conducting a study to monitor fertilizer runoff and establish management practices for new turf in Central Texas. The study, sponsored by The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, aims to understand how different fertilization and irrigation methods affect runoff volume and nutrient load.

SourceTexas A&M AgriLife Communications·DateSep 7, 2012

Needle beam could eliminate signal loss in on-chip optics

A new type of light beam, called a needle beam, has been created by Harvard researchers. This non-diffracting beam can travel long distances without spreading outwards, which could greatly reduce signal loss in on-chip optical systems.

SourceHarvard University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateSep 7, 2012
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

OSA increases cardiovascular mortality in the elderly

A new study found that untreated severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) increases cardiovascular mortality in the elderly. However, adequate continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment significantly reduces this risk, especially from stroke and heart failure.

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateSep 7, 2012

Novel surgery removes rare tumor, rebuilds face and jaw

A novel surgical approach has successfully removed a rare facial tumor and rebuilt a patient's lower jaw and mouth. The procedure involved removing the tumor and oral tongue while creating a fully functional lower jaw using dual microvascular free flaps.

SourceHenry Ford Health·DateSep 7, 2012

Moffitt Cancer Center researchers study childhood melanoma characteristics

Researchers found evidence that melanoma manifests differently in children than in adults, particularly with regard to the likelihood and significance of lymph node metastases. Despite higher rates of metastases to sentinel nodes, survival rates for children are comparable or better than those for adults.

SourceH. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute·JournalAnnals of Surgical Oncology·DateSep 7, 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.

ILCAC awards McCartor Fund Fellowships

The International Light-Cone Advisory Committee (ILCAC) has awarded two Gary McCartor Travel Awards to PhD students Lekha Adhikari and Christian A. Cruz-Santiago. The fellowships enable them to attend leading conferences in Cracow, Poland, and Delhi, India, and support young physicists in memory of physicist Gary McCartor.

SourceSoutheastern Universities Research Association·DateSep 7, 2012

Blood sugar control does not help infants and children undergoing heart surgery

A recent study funded by the NIH found that tight glycemic control in pediatric cardiac surgery patients did not reduce healthcare-related infections, organ failure, or death. The study's findings diverge from previous studies on adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients who showed benefits from blood sugar control.

SourceNIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateSep 7, 2012

New research suggests bacteria are social microorganisms

Bacteria exhibit social behaviors similar to plants and animals, including cooperation and competition. The study found that certain individuals produce antibiotics to defend against competitors, while others benefit from association with these producers.

SourceU.S. National Science Foundation·JournalScience·DateSep 7, 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.

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign awarded 5-year grant from NASA

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has been awarded a $8 million 5-year grant from NASA to study the origin and evolution of life on Earth. The research team will use genomics to explore deep evolutionary time, searching for signatures of early collective states of life.

SourceCarl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign·DateSep 7, 2012

Analysis finds benefits to racial quotas in Brazilian higher education

A recent study published in the Journal of Human Resources found that Brazil's racial quota system raised the proportion of black students from low-income families without decreasing their academic efforts. The research analyzed data from over 2,000 students and found no evidence that students reduced their efforts due to racial quotas.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalJournal of Human Resources·DateSep 7, 2012

NASA sees Hurricane Leslie's eye close

Hurricane Leslie appears to be 'closing its eye' on NASA satellite imagery, a sign of weakening, and dropped from hurricane to tropical storm on Sept. 7. The storm is expected to move northward, potentially regaining hurricane status over the weekend.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateSep 7, 2012
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

Employees at 'green' companies are significantly more productive, study finds

A new UCLA-led study found that employees in green companies, which adopt international environmental standards, are 16 percent more productive than the average. The researchers discovered a positive correlation between the adoption of these practices and increased employee motivation, training, and interpersonal relationships.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalJournal of Organizational Behavior·DateSep 7, 2012

Strategy developed to improve delivery of medicines to the brain

Scientists at NIEHS discover a way to turn off P-glycoprotein, a major gatekeeper preventing medicinal drugs from reaching the brain, allowing small therapeutic agents to cross the blood-brain barrier. This breakthrough could lead to new treatments for central nervous system diseases such as brain and spinal cord injury, brain cancer, ...

SourceNIH/National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 7, 2012

University of Toronto scientists cast doubt on renowned uncertainty principle

Researchers at the University of Toronto have demonstrated the ability to directly measure disturbance and confirm that Heisenberg was too pessimistic about the uncertainty principle. By employing weak measurement techniques, they found that the disturbance induced by measurement is less than previously thought.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateSep 7, 2012

UC Santa Cruz study shows how sea otters can reduce CO2 in the atmosphere

A UC Santa Cruz study finds that a thriving sea otter population can lead to the growth of kelp forests, which absorb 12 times more CO2 from the atmosphere than without sea urchin grazing. This phenomenon has significant implications for global carbon sequestration.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Cruz·JournalFrontiers in Ecology and the Environment·DateSep 7, 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.

Northwestern researchers set world record for highest surface area material

Researchers at Northwestern University have created two new synthetic materials with the greatest amount of surface areas reported to date. The materials, NU-109 and NU-110, belong to a class of crystalline nanostructures known as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) that are promising vessels for natural gas storage.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateSep 7, 2012

Clearer look at how iron reacts in the environment

Researchers used ultrafast X-rays to observe electron transfer in iron oxide nanoparticles, shedding light on the environmental impact of rust. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient solar cells and a better understanding of contaminant remediation efforts.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalScience·DateSep 7, 2012

Tight glycemic control has no proven benefits for children in the cardiac ICU

A new study conducted at Boston Children's Hospital found that tight blood sugar control does not benefit pediatric patients undergoing heart surgery. The Safe Pediatric Euglycemia in Cardiac Surgery (SPECS) trial examined the effects of insulin on glucose management and showed no impact on infection rates, length of stay, or mortality.

SourceBoston Children's Hospital·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateSep 7, 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.

'Narco sub' PLUTO mimics the real thing

The US Department of Homeland Security has created a surrogate semi-submersible called PLUTO to test detection systems for maritime security. The vessel is designed to mimic the features of illegal narco subs used by South American drug cartels, allowing operators to test and improve their sensors in real-world conditions.

SourceUS Department of Homeland Security - Science and Technology·DateSep 7, 2012
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.

University of Alberta medical scientists first in the world to look at structure of vital molecule

University of Alberta medical scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery in understanding the structure of molybdenum, a critical metal in human health. The research reveals two forms of the molecule with distinct functions, providing new insights into diseases such as metabolic and respiratory disorders.

SourceUniversity of Alberta Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 7, 2012

Researchers emphasize evaluation of tradeoffs in battling urban heat island

A team of researchers from Arizona State University found that painting building roofs white can reduce average temperatures in urban areas but also disrupt regional hydroclimates. The study, focusing on Arizona's Sun Corridor, shows a 12% reduction in rainfall and an additional 4% decrease with white roofs.

SourceArizona State University·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateSep 7, 2012

Racial and ethnic diversity spreads across the country

The study found that almost all US cities have become more diverse over the past four decades, with rural communities following urban trends. Diversity has led to a decline in white-dominant places and an increase in communities with significant minority populations.

SourcePenn State·DateSep 7, 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.