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Science News Archive September 2012 - Page 6


Page 6 of 27

Rice University lab encodes collagen

Rice scientists created a computer program that predicts the most stable structures of nanometer-sized collagen, a crucial step toward synthesizing custom collagen. This breakthrough has significant implications for treating diseases and designing drugs, as collagen plays a vital role in holding cells together.

SourceRice University·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 25, 2012

Going viral to kill zits

Researchers find harmless virus living on skin that naturally targets and kills Propionibacterium acnes bacteria, a major trigger of acne. The discovery offers promising new hope for developing targeted anti-acne therapies.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalmBio·DateSep 25, 2012
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Oscillating microscopic beads could be key to biolab on a chip

A team of MIT researchers has found a way to use oscillating microscopic beads to carry out biomedical tests, potentially enabling multiple medical tests on a tiny device. The technique allows for precise measurements of tiny quantities of materials and could lead to fast, compact, and versatile medical-testing devices.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalLab on a Chip·DateSep 25, 2012

October LITHOSPHERE delivered online

Recent studies in Lithosphere magazine reveal that vertical-axis rotations can significantly impact shortening estimates with potential errors of up to 14%. Additionally, researchers investigate non-Pratt component of oceanic isostasy, finding a dynamic response within the Earth's mantle necessary for equilibrium. Meanwhile, pulsed def...

SourceGeological Society of America·JournalLithosphere·DateSep 25, 2012

Into the mind of the common fruit fly

A Tel Aviv University researcher is using fruit flies to study the functioning of neurons and potential treatments for Alzheimer's disease. By genetically modifying flies to express a protein linked to human Alzheimer's, she hopes to unlock its function and develop new therapies.

SourceAmerican Friends of Tel Aviv University·JournalJournal of Molecular Histology·DateSep 25, 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.

Exercise does a body -- and a mind -- good

Research found that physical inactivity and negative body image increase the risk of mental health problems in adolescents, while sports participation lowers this risk. The study suggests that psychosocial factors, such as body image and social interaction, play a crucial role in explaining the link between exercise and mental health.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalClinical Psychological Science·DateSep 25, 2012

Hotter might be better at energy-intensive data centers

Researchers found that warmer temperatures than usual can save energy in data centers, with potential benefits for system reliability. The study suggests that most organizations could run their data centers hotter than currently recommended, saving up to 5% of energy consumption.

SourceUniversity of Toronto Scarborough·DateSep 25, 2012

Hypertension not so simple

Leading hypertension specialists recommend the inclusion of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in national health surveys to accurately detect hypertension. This advanced diagnostic method can identify mitigating factors affecting diagnosis, such as white coat hypertension and nocturnal hypertension.

SourceElsevier Health Sciences·JournalJournal of the American Society of Hypertension·DateSep 25, 2012

MSU-led projects to help war veterans

A pair of MSU-led projects aim to support Michigan National Guard members and their families by studying resiliency in military families and training mental health counselors to work with them. The projects are expected to help the military improve reintegration efforts and prevention and treatment programs.

SourceMichigan State University·DateSep 25, 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.

Pre-op steroids to prevent nausea do not significantly increase post-op bleeding

A recent study published in JAMA found that administering dexamethasone to children before tonsillectomy did not significantly increase post-operative bleeding. The researchers tested the hypothesis that dexamethasone would result in a 5% higher rate of bleeding events compared to placebo, but the results showed no significant difference.

SourceMass Eye and Ear·JournalJAMA·DateSep 25, 2012

JoVE article shows steps to isolate stem cells from brain tumors

Scientists have developed a new video protocol to isolate brain tumor initiating stem cells from primary brain tumors, allowing for quick and efficient analysis of target cells. This approach has been effectively used to identify similar stem cells in leukemia patients.

SourceThe Journal of Visualized Experiments·JournalJournal of Visualized Experiments·DateSep 25, 2012

Improved communication could reduce STD epidemic among black teenagers

Research at Oregon State University found that diverse sources of information can aid in smart choices for young black teens. The studies identified approaches to prevention programs and emphasized the importance of collaboration between family, schools, medical clinics, churches, and other entities.

SourceOregon State University·JournalResearch in Human Development·DateSep 25, 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.

UTMB awarded $750,000 National Institute of Justice grant

The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston has received a three-year grant to study healthy and unhealthy teen dating relationships. The research aims to improve the quality of teenagers' dating relationships and prevent subsequent domestic violence in adult intimate relationships.

SourceUniversity of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston·DateSep 25, 2012

Hubble goes to the eXtreme to assemble farthest-ever view of the universe

The eXtreme Deep Field (XDF) image is a small fraction of the angular diameter of the full moon, containing about 5,500 galaxies. The XDF reveals galaxies that span back 13.2 billion years in time, providing a 'time tunnel into the distant past' and shedding light on the early universe's dramatic birth and evolution.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateSep 25, 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.

Duke policy provides ethical foundation for managing drug shortages

Researchers at Duke University Medical Center developed a policy to manage drug shortages in hospitals, prioritizing patients based on clinical need and effectiveness. The policy establishes clear rules for apportioning scarce drugs, ensuring fairness and minimizing waste.

SourceDuke University Medical Center·JournalArchives of Internal Medicine·DateSep 24, 2012

A clock that will last forever

Scientists have proposed an experimental design for building a space-time crystal, a four-dimensional crystal that can study complex physical properties and behaviors. The device would be used to study phenomena like entanglement, where particles are connected even at vast distances.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateSep 24, 2012

Heritability of avoidant and dependent personality disorder traits

A recent study found that two-thirds of the variation in avoidant and dependent personality disorder traits can be explained by genes, highlighting the importance of genetic influences in their development. The study's use of both questionnaire and interview measures provided a more comprehensive understanding of heritability.

SourceNorwegian Institute of Public Health·JournalActa Psychiatrica Scandinavica·DateSep 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.

NASA's Chandra shows Milky Way is surrounded by halo of hot gas

The study reveals a massive halo of hot gas extending hundreds of thousands of light-years around the Milky Way, with an estimated mass of over 10 billion suns. The discovery may solve the long-standing 'missing baryon' problem in galaxy research.

SourceChandra X-ray Center·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateSep 24, 2012

Cellular eavesdropping made easy

A new approach devised by EMBL scientists enables the distinction of proteins secreted by cells from those in their food, allowing measurement of secretion changes over time. This method has opened new avenues for drug and biomarker screening, as well as studying cell responses to drugs and 3D growth conditions.

SourceEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateSep 24, 2012

JCI early table of contents for September 24, 2012

Researchers at University of California, Berkeley report that epithelial cells in cornea express small antimicrobial peptides to defend against bacterial infections. High levels of prolactin block expression of kisspeptin, a protein hormone that induces secretion of GnRH, leading to infertility in women.

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

Embargoed news from Annals of Internal Medicine

Researchers found that brief, multicontact behavioral counseling interventions delivered by primary care physicians reduced hospital stays for adults with risky drinking. The campaign 'Tips from Former Smokers' successfully encouraged smokers to quit, with calls to the toll-free quit line more than doubling during the 12-week campaign.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateSep 24, 2012

AIDS patients face risk for esophageal, stomach cancers

People with AIDS are at increased risk for developing esophageal and stomach carcinoma, as well as non-Hodgkin lymphomas. The study found that those with AIDS had a 69% increased risk of esophageal cancer and a 53% increased risk of lower stomach cancer.

SourceAmerican Gastroenterological Association·JournalGASTROENTEROLOGY·DateSep 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.

Life in the extreme

Two single-celled Archaea species, nearly identical genetically, respond differently to uranium toxicity, one by metabolizing it as energy, and the other by inducing a dormant state. These findings could teach us about mechanisms of adaptation to extreme environments and have implications for understanding antibiotic resistance.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 24, 2012

Yale researchers call for specialty metals recycling

The study highlights the challenges of recycling specialty metals, which are essential for precise technological applications. Improving design for recycling, depositing targets, and financial incentives can enhance metal recovery.

SourceYale University·JournalScience·DateSep 24, 2012

Managing soil copper in crops irrigated with cattle footbath wastewater

Researchers found that alfalfa growth stops when soil copper sulfate levels exceed 500 ppm and beneficial bacterial activity declines above 50 ppm. Crops irrigated with cattle footbath wastewater can accumulate plant-available copper levels up to 63 ppm, posing potential harm to grazing livestock.

SourceUnited States Department of Agriculture - Research, Education and Economics·JournalJournal of Agricultural Science·DateSep 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.

Most biofuels are not 'green'

Despite reducing greenhouse gas emissions, many biofuels lead to environmental pollution, such as acid in soil and polluted lakes and rivers. Only a few biofuels have a better ecobalance than petrol, with biogas from residues and waste materials showing promise.

SourceSwiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA)·DateSep 24, 2012

LIFR protein suppresses breast cancer metastasis

A team of researchers from MD Anderson Cancer Center has identified the LIFR protein as a novel suppressor of breast cancer metastasis. The study found that restoring LIFR expression or function could be used to block the spread of breast cancer. Loss of LIFR is associated with poor clinical outcomes in breast cancer patients.

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·JournalNature Medicine·DateSep 24, 2012

Obesity promotes prostate cancer by altering gene regulation

Research finds that obesity promotes prostate cancer growth by changing gene expression in fat surrounding the prostate, increasing risk of aggressive disease. The study suggests a personalized approach to lifestyle and therapeutic strategies for overweight men with prostate cancer.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalBMC Medicine·DateSep 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.

New CU-Boulder study clarifies diversity, distribution of cutthroat trout in Colorado

A novel genetic study led by CU-Boulder postdoctoral researcher Jessica Metcalf has clarified the native diversity and distribution of cutthroat trout in Colorado, revealing a single surviving population outside its native range. The study also confirmed the extinction of two previously unknown cutthroat strains, including one from the...

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalMolecular Ecology·DateSep 24, 2012

Glacial youth therapy for the Scandinavian landscape

A new study in Nature Geoscience reveals that the high-elevation flat surfaces of Norway's landscape are geologically young due to extensive glacial erosion. The research contradicts previous views and suggests a complete re-interpretation of Scandinavia's tectonic history.

SourceThe University of Bergen·JournalNature Geoscience·DateSep 24, 2012

Scientists shed light on riddle of sun's explosive events

A team of space scientists has shed light on the mysterious physical mechanisms underlying coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that can impact Earth-based power grids and satellites. The study, published in Nature Physics, uses state-of-the-art computer simulations to connect motions in the sun's interior with CMEs.

SourceUniversity of New Hampshire·JournalNature Physics·DateSep 24, 2012

First-ever treatment for rare childhood aging disease shows improvement in all trial participants

A clinical trial demonstrates significant improvements in Progeria children's weight gain, bone structure, and cardiovascular system after receiving a farnesyltransferase inhibitor. The treatment, originally developed for cancer, has shown promising results in slowing down the progression of the disease.

SourceSpectrum Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 24, 2012
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

Florida State University chemist may hold key to building a better toxin mousetrap

Sourav Saha's research in the Journal of the American Chemical Society has led to the development of a compound that can strip electrons from toxic fluoride, producing tangible benefits for toxin detection and removal. This innovation has far-reaching potential applications in various fields, including the creation of new plastics and ...

SourceFlorida State University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateSep 24, 2012

Preterm birth of mother increases risk of pregnancy complications

Women born preterm are at higher risk of pregnancy complications, including gestational diabetes and hypertension. The risk almost doubles for mothers born before 32 weeks' gestation, according to a study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·DateSep 24, 2012

Therapeutic impact of cell transplantation aided by magnetic factor

Researchers used magnetic particles to target transplanted stem cells to specific retinal locations, improving biochemical changes in the target tissue. Magnetic targeting also enhanced cell retention in a rat model of ischemia/reperfusion injury by over five-fold.

SourceCell Transplantation Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair·JournalCell Transplantation·DateSep 24, 2012

New back pain gene identified in largest genetic study of its kind

Researchers at King's College London have identified a gene linked to age-related degeneration of the intervertebral discs in the spine, a common cause of lower back pain. The largest study to date has revealed an association with the PARK2 gene.

SourceKing's College London·JournalAnnals of the Rheumatic Diseases·DateSep 24, 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.

New IVF breakthrough

Researchers at the University of Gothenburg have discovered a chemical that can mature small eggs to healthy, mature eggs, offering new hope for women struggling with infertility. The breakthrough could provide an alternative method to preserving fertility in girls who have not yet reached puberty.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalPLOS ONE·DateSep 24, 2012

Eunuchs outlive other men

A study of noble Korean males found castrated eunuchs lived 14-19 years longer than other men. The incidence of centenarians among Korean eunuchs is 130 times greater than in developed countries, offering clues to life extension.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateSep 24, 2012

Hundreds of biochemical analyses on a single chip

Researchers at EPFL and University of Geneva create k-MITOMI, a microfluidic device that measures up to 768 biomolecular interactions simultaneously. The device accelerates the acquisition of protein-protein and protein-DNA interaction information, crucial for understanding living organisms.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 24, 2012

OU receives award from Council of Graduate Schools

The University of Oklahoma has received an award to develop a research ethics program for international students collaborating with US universities. The program aims to enhance students' awareness of cultural expectations and research policies in global research contexts.

SourceUniversity of Oklahoma·DateSep 24, 2012

Feeling guilty versus feeling angry -- who can tell the difference?

A study published in Psychological Science found that individuals with clinical depression struggle to differentiate between various negative emotions, including anger and frustration. In contrast, healthy individuals tend to identify specific emotions more accurately.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateSep 24, 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.

Ohio State and Malaysia Centre join forces to develop possible anticancer drug

Researchers at Ohio State and the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre are collaborating on the development of silvestrol, a tropical tree-derived compound showing promise in treating acute and chronic leukemia. The team aims to isolate and purify the agent for laboratory and animal studies.

SourceOhio State University Wexner Medical Center·JournalClinical Cancer Research·DateSep 24, 2012

Automatic building mapping could help emergency responders

A prototype sensor array worn on the chest automatically creates a digital map of the wearer's environment, recognizing movement between floors. The system is envisioned as a tool to help emergency responders coordinate disaster response by providing accurate location estimates and visual features of the surroundings.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·DateSep 24, 2012

Wolters Kluwer Health launches Cardiovascular Endocrinology journal

The new online journal bridges the disciplines of cardiology, endocrinology, and metabolism to address diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and related diseases. Original research articles and reviews will provide insights into the interaction between these specialties.

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalCardiovascular Endocrinology·DateSep 24, 2012

Climate is changing the Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is experiencing significant changes in sea surface temperatures and seasonal patterns over the past 25 years. Water temperatures have increased by an average of 0.2 degrees, with more pronounced warming in certain areas. This shift affects marine life and poses challenges for managing protected areas.

SourceARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies·JournalConservation Biology·DateSep 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.