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Science News Archive December 2013


Page 17 of 27

You are what your father eats

A McGill study suggests that a father's diet before conception plays a crucial role in the health of their offspring. The research found that paternal folate levels may be as important as those of the mother, with potential consequences for birth defects and long-term development.

Malnourished children still have hope beyond first 1,000 days

A new study by Brigham Young University researchers found that nutritional recovery after early growth faltering can have significant benefits on schooling and cognitive achievement. Children who experienced catch-up growth scored relatively better on tests than those who continued to grow slowly.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Strong state alcohol policies protective against binge drinking

A new study finds that states with stronger alcohol policies have significantly lower binge drinking rates. The study analyzed 29 alcohol policies and found that stronger policy environments can reduce binge drinking rates by one-fourth, even after accounting for demographic factors.

NASA sees Tropical Cyclone Madi nearing India's east coast

Tropical Cyclone Madi maintained its tropical storm-force strength as it approached the eastern coast of India. The storm's proximity to the coast was confirmed by NASA's Aqua satellite, which captured a visible image of the elongated system with no visible eye.

Novel cancer cell DNA damage repair mechanism unveils

Scientists at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland have discovered a novel DNA repair mechanism in cancer cells that allows them to survive DNA damage. This finding provides valuable insights into how cancer cells evade programmed cell death and can be targeted by new cancer therapies.

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.

Viral puzzles

Researchers identified weak points in capsids and inferred spontaneous assembly processes, discovering each shell is made of protein 'tiles' that spontaneously join up like Lego pieces.

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.

Gut microbes affect MicroRNA response to bacterial infection

Researchers found that gut microbiota influences MicroRNA expression in mice infected with Listeria monocytogenes. Conventional mice exhibited lower miRNA levels after infection compared to germ-free mice, suggesting a protective role for the gut microbiome.

Low vitamin B12 levels increase the risk of fractures in older men

A Swedish study of 1,000 men aged 75 found that low vitamin B12 levels increased the risk of fractures by up to 70% in six years. The researchers used a new method to measure vitamin B12 uptake and found that physical activity and quitting smoking can help prevent fractures.

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.

Transportation research aimed at designing more livable communities

A University of Texas at Arlington civil engineer will investigate the impact of technology on pedestrian safety, sustainable commuting practices and driver safety. The research aims to develop comprehensive, more livable transportation solutions that prioritize community and public health.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Majority of Americans avoid addressing end-of-life issues, according to new study

A new study found that only 26.3% of adults have completed an advance directive, with women, whites, and those with higher education or income being more likely to have one. The study highlights racial and educational disparities in advance directive completion, emphasizing the need for education on facilitating end-of-life decisions.

Serengeti's animals under pressure

Conflicts between humans and wildlife in Serengeti National Park increase despite efforts to protect the environment and local communities. Research suggests that education and support are crucial for preventing attacks on livestock and crops.

First the hype, now the science: Evidence-based recommendations for PRP

A new study provides the first evidence-based recommendations for the use of PRP in orthopaedic care, identifying successful treatments and areas where further research is needed. The authors conclude that PRP can be effective for conditions like arthritis in the ankle and tennis elbow, but more study is required for other applications.

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.

Silver Banksia plants excel at phosphate saving

The Silver Banksia plant genus has developed a strategy to cope with phosphorus scarcity by reducing ribosomal RNA in their cells, saving phosphorus and water. By optimizing phosphate use, Proteaceae plants outperform Arabidopsis thaliana in photosynthetic efficiency.

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.

Rising mountains dried out Central Asia, Stanford scientists say

Researchers suggest formation of lesser mountain ranges Hangay and Altai may have driven climate in Central Asia, leading to expansion of Gobi Desert. The new data indicate that rainfall decreased by 50-90 percent over tens of millions of years, contradicting the traditional explanation.

Acid-suppressing medications associated with vitamin B12 deficiency

A large population-based study found that long-term use of proton pump inhibitors and histamine 2 receptor antagonists increases the risk of vitamin B12 deficiency. The association was strongest in women and younger age groups with potent acid suppression, and decreased after discontinuation.

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.

Norwegian University signs research agreement worth US $50 million

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology has signed a research agreement worth US$50 million with Statoil to improve the rate of recovery from gas and oil wells in the Norwegian Sea. The funding will support several projects, including the Norne Village and VR Village initiatives.

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 method for efficient removal of uranium and other heavy metals from water

Researchers at University of Eastern Finland developed a new method to remove uranium and other heavy metals from water using a solid material that collects metal ions directly from the solution. The CH Collector method is efficient, selective, and can recover even small amounts of metal without adjustments to the solution's pH.

Kurt H. Becker named a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors

Kurt H. Becker, NYU-Poly's associate provost and professor, has been recognized by the National Academy of Inventors for his pioneering work on atmospheric-pressure cold plasmas, leading to new sterilization methods and biomedical applications. He is also a key figure in fostering innovation at NYU-Poly.

Researcher finds way to identify aggressive cancers in black women

African-American women with breast cancer are more likely to develop aggressive forms of the disease at a younger age. Researcher Ritu Aneja has found a protein called HSET as a potential biomarker for identifying these cancers, which could lead to customized treatment plans.

Stimulant-addicted patients can quit smoking without hindering treatment

A new study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse found that smokers addicted to cocaine or methamphetamine can quit smoking while being treated for their stimulant addiction. The study showed that treating tobacco addiction may reduce negative health consequences and improve substance use disorder treatment 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.

Study examines drug labeling and exposure in infants

A study by researchers found that only 46% of neonatal labeling changes made clear the drug was approved for safety and effectiveness in infants. Few drugs were used in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) with most studied drugs not tested in over 60 neonates.

High chair-related injuries to children on the rise

A study by Nationwide Children's Hospital found nearly all high chair-related injuries involve a fall, with 93% of cases reporting a child climbing or standing in the chair. The annual number of injured children increased by almost 90%, with closed head injuries and facial injuries being most common.

Oregon scientists offer new insights on controlling nanoparticle stability

Researchers at the University of Oregon have captured fundamental new insights about the stability of gold nanoparticles, which could enhance or destabilize their properties depending on use. Smaller nanoparticles exhibit better structural integrity than larger ones, making them suitable for applications where stability is crucial.

Ovarian cancer discovery deepens knowledge of survival outcomes

Researchers at Cedars-Sinai have discovered a 10-gene biomarker panel that can identify the aggressiveness of ovarian cancer, predict survival outcomes, and inform novel therapeutic strategies. The study suggests that this biomarker panel may have predictive value and biological relevance for treating patients with ovarian cancer.

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.

A stopwatch for electron flashes

Researchers at the Laboratory for Attosecond Physics have developed a system to precisely measure the duration of energetic electron pulses using laser fields. This allows for the investigation of ultrafast processes in atoms and molecules, providing insights into nature's smallest scales.

Network theory to strengthen the banking system

A recent study published in PLoS ONE analyzes how financial connections affect economic crises and suggests modifying links between entities to increase robustness. The research highlights the importance of addressing relationships between banks, rather than just focusing on individual entity capital requirements.

Recycled plastic proves effective in killing drug-resistant fungi

Researchers at IBN and IBM have developed a novel biocompatible material from recycled PET that effectively kills drug-resistant fungi and their biofilms. The material targets fungal cells without harming surrounding healthy cells, displaying great potential as an antifungal agent.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

UNH scientists launch 'CubeSats' into radiation belts

Researchers launched two small satellites, FIREBIRD, into the outer radiation belt to investigate microbursts, which can pose a risk to spacecraft. The mission aims to improve our understanding of the radiation belts and design more resilient satellites.

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.

Neural prosthesis restores behavior after brain injury

Scientists have successfully restored behavior in rats using a neural prosthesis after brain injury. The device, a closed-loop microelectronic system, recorded signals from one part of the brain and stimulated another to facilitate repair. Two weeks after implantation, rat models recovered nearly all function lost due to injury.

Ancient fresh water lake on Mars could have sustained life

Researchers from NASA's Curiosity rover mission found evidence of a calm and fresh-watered lake on Mars that may have supported simple microbial life. The team believes the lake may have lasted for tens or hundreds of thousands of years, providing perfect conditions for chemolithoautotrophs to thrive.