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Science News Archive May 2013 - Page 4


Page 4 of 30

A new kind of cosmic glitch

Researchers detected a magnetar suddenly rotate slower, dubbed an 'anti-glitch', revealing puzzling behavior in the internal structure of neutron stars. This finding may lead to renewed progress in understanding these exotic objects.

SourceMcGill University·JournalNature·DateMay 29, 2013

Radiotherapy remains the treatment of first choice for high-risk low-grade glioma

In a large, international randomized trial, initial radiotherapy was compared to temozolomide chemotherapy. No significant difference in progression-free survival was observed between the two treatment strategies, with radiotherapy numerically favored. Molecular tumor characterization may allow personalized treatment approaches.

SourceEuropean Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer·DateMay 29, 2013
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Cholesterol sets off chaotic blood vessel growth

Researchers at UC San Diego identified apoA-I binding protein as a key player in regulating blood vessel growth by removing excess cholesterol from endothelial cells. This process inhibits angiogenesis and can help prevent tumor growth.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalNature·DateMay 29, 2013

Team describes molecular detail of HIV's inner coat, pointing the way to new therapies

A team led by Peijun Zhang has described the 4-million-atom structure of HIV's capsid protein shell, revealing critical molecular interactions that could lead to new treatments. The findings may enable the development of drugs that disrupt the shell's assembly or disassembly, potentially stopping the virus from replicating.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences·JournalNature·DateMay 29, 2013
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.

Genetic engineering alters mosquitoes' sense of smell

Researchers genetically engineered mosquitoes, altering their response to odors, including human scent and insect repellent DEET. The study reveals the insects' unique attraction to humans and paves the way for understanding why they are so attracted to humans, potentially leading to new repellants.

SourceHoward Hughes Medical Institute·JournalNature·DateMay 29, 2013
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.

Researchers shed new light on egg freezing success rates

Researchers from New York Medical College and University of California Davis have developed an individualized patient data meta-analysis to report the probability of live birth after in vitro fertilization (IVF) with frozen eggs. The study shows that egg freezing success rates decline with age, with a sharper drop after age 36.

SourceNew York Medical College·JournalFertility and Sterility·DateMay 29, 2013

Travelers play valuable role assisting crew in common medical emergencies on flights

A University of Pittsburgh study found that most medical emergencies on flights are well-treated by passengers and flight attendants, with physicians providing guidance via FAA-required emergency medical kit. In nearly half of calls, physician passengers provided medical assistance, while nurses and EMTs helped in another 28 percent.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateMay 29, 2013

Coupled particles cross energy wall

Researchers have demonstrated a new type of quantum phenomenon called Klein tunnelling for two interacting particles. By crossing an energy barrier together, the particles can tunnel through what would otherwise be impassable to individual particles.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateMay 29, 2013

Are children who take Ritalin for ADHD at greater risk of future drug abuse?

A comprehensive study by UCLA researchers found that children with ADHD who take medications like Ritalin are not at greater risk of using alcohol, marijuana, nicotine, or cocaine later in life. The study analyzed over 2,500 children and concluded that medication use has no significant association with future substance abuse.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalJAMA Psychiatry·DateMay 29, 2013
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.

Want to move up at work? Be a true believer

A recent study by Brigham Young University found that employees who exhibit a strong belief in a brand's mission or cause become more influential in important company circles. Those who simply focus on their job performance without being invested in the organization's mission tend to be less influential.

SourceBrigham Young University·JournalOrganization Science·DateMay 29, 2013

Childhood abuse linked with food addiction in adult women

A new study finds that women who experienced childhood abuse are more likely to have a food addiction, with eight percent meeting the criteria for food addiction. Women who experienced both physical and sexual abuse in childhood had an even higher likelihood of developing food addiction.

SourceWiley·JournalObesity·DateMay 29, 2013

Thyroid conditions raise risk of pregnancy complications

Women with thyroid disorders face higher risks of complications such as preterm birth and preeclampsia. The study found that women with underactive or overactive thyroids were more likely to develop gestational diabetes and have a higher rate of cesarean delivery.

SourceThe Endocrine Society·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·DateMay 29, 2013

Living in poor area as teen could increase risk for chlamydia in young adulthood

Research suggests that living in a poor neighborhood as an adolescent increases the risk of getting chlamydia in young adulthood. A study published in Journal of Urban Health found that children who grew up in disadvantaged areas had a higher risk of contracting the bacterial infection, even if they didn't experience other risk factors.

SourceOhio State University·JournalJournal of Urban Health·DateMay 29, 2013
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.

Physicians insufficiently informed of the side effects of drugs

A recent study has found that physicians are often poorly informed about the side effects of prescription drugs, with medical sales reps dominating discussions and rarely disclosing serious risks. The research highlights a concerning trend in the pharmaceutical industry's information practices.

SourceINSERM (Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale)·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·DateMay 29, 2013

New possibilities for prostate cancer treatment revealed

Researchers at Monash University have identified a sub-group of cells that can contribute to prostate cancer recurrence, opening up new treatment options. These previously unidentified cells are potential targets for future therapies and may be targeted before the cancer reaches an incurable stage.

SourceMonash University·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateMay 29, 2013

Super-dense star is first ever found suddenly slowing its spin

Astronomers detected a neutron star's abrupt slow-down with NASA's Swift observatory, which is an unprecedented event. The discovery of the 'anti-glitch' neutron star named 1E2259+586 has significant implications for understanding pure physics in extreme conditions.

SourcePenn State·JournalNature·DateMay 29, 2013
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.

New research finds hernia surgery offers value for money

Hernia surgery appears cost-effective, with an average cost per QALY of £1,881, and patients report greater health benefit after keyhole surgery than open surgery. The study challenges the idea that hernia surgery has low clinical value.

SourceSAGE·JournalJournal of the Royal Society of Medicine·DateMay 29, 2013

Organic polymers show sunny potential

Researchers at Rice and Penn State universities have created solar cells using block copolymers, which outperform other polymer compounds as active elements. The new cells reach about 3% efficiency, surprisingly better than previous labs have achieved.

SourceRice University·JournalNano Letters·DateMay 29, 2013

'Junk DNA' plays active role in cancer progression, researchers find

A genetic rogue element known as chimeric transcript LCT13 is linked to the silencing of a tumor suppressor gene TFPI-2, promoting cancer invasion and metastasis. The study suggests that 'junk DNA' can interfere with normal cell function, providing new insights into cancer progression.

SourceUniversity of Nottingham·JournalNucleic Acids Research·DateMay 29, 2013
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.

Gene therapy gives mice broad protection to pandemic flu strains, including 1918 flu

Researchers develop a gene therapy that gives mice complete protection against lethal strains of H5N1 and H1N1 flu virus, including the infamous 1918 flu. The treatment involves expressing a broadly neutralizing antibody in nasal epithelial cells, providing substantial reductions in flu replication and virus load.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateMay 29, 2013

Adult stem cells could hold key to curing Type 1 diabetes

Researchers at the University of Missouri School of Medicine have discovered a potential cure for Type 1 diabetes by combining adult stem cells with a new drug. The discovery reveals that blood vessels are essential for insulin production and repairing them can help restore insulin-making cells.

SourceUniversity of Missouri School of Medicine·JournalDiabetes·DateMay 29, 2013

More at-risk bird species in Brazilian forest than previously thought

Researchers applied a novel method to assess extinction risk for bird species in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil, revealing two distinct groups: those with severe and mild fragmentation impacts. Out of 58 severely fragmented species, 28 are not currently considered threatened.

SourceNew Jersey Institute of Technology·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMay 29, 2013
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.

NASA's HS3 mission aircraft to double team 2013 hurricane season

The HS3 mission will investigate hurricane formation and intensity change in the Atlantic Ocean basin using two unmanned Global Hawk aircraft. The aircraft will be equipped with advanced instruments to measure eyewall and rainband winds, precipitation, and atmospheric temperature and humidity profiles.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateMay 29, 2013

Nordic diet lowers cholesterol, study finds

A healthy Nordic diet is shown to lower cholesterol levels and reduce inflammation associated with pre-diabetes. The diet's emphasis on local produce, whole grains, and lean protein sources contributes to its benefits.

SourceLund University·JournalJournal of Internal Medicine·DateMay 29, 2013

From trauma to tau

Traumatic brain injuries generate toxic tau oligomers that cause nerve cells to clump together and spread to other parts of the brain. These damaging protein assemblages can contribute to memory deficits, seizures, and disruptions in the sleep-wake cycle.

SourceUniversity of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateMay 29, 2013

MRSA study slashes deadly infections in sickest hospital patients

Researchers found that using germ-killing soap and ointment on all ICU patients was more effective than other strategies, reducing bloodstream infections and MRSA presence by up to 44%. The study also showed the approach could prevent infections caused by germs other than MRSA.

SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateMay 29, 2013
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.

Team finds gene that helps honey bees find flowers (and get back home)

Researchers have identified a key gene in honey bees that enables them to learn and remember how to find food and navigate back to the hive. The Egr gene plays a crucial role in learning and novelty detection in both humans and insects.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateMay 29, 2013

More precision from less predictability: A new quantum trade-off

Researchers at Griffith University have demonstrated that particle properties can be measured simultaneously with high precision, challenging the long-held idea that this is impossible. The findings provide an important advance in the quantitative understanding and experimental verification of complementarity.

SourceGriffith University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMay 29, 2013

Low sodium diet key to old age for stars

Researchers found that 70% of stars in a globular cluster do not undergo the final nuclear burning and mass-loss phase, contradicting previous theories. The team discovered that these stars have low levels of sodium, suggesting a link between sodium content and stellar evolution.

SourceESO·JournalNature·DateMay 29, 2013
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.

Study finds that radiation oncology research is critically underfunded by NIH

A study found that radiation oncology received only 1.6% of the $30.9 billion in NIH-funded grants for cancer research in FY 2013. This disparity highlights an urgent need for increased funding to improve patient survival and treatment outcomes.

SourceAmerican Society for Radiation Oncology·JournalInternational Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics·DateMay 29, 2013

Wildfires in Siberia

Wildfires in Siberia have been reported across two regions, with multiple hotspots detected by NASA's MODIS satellite. The Kosmosnimki website reports a total of 85 outbreaks in the Suntarsky Ulus region and 237 outbreaks in the Kobjajsky ulus region.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateMay 29, 2013

Brain haemorrhage patients offered better treatment

A new formula predicts when brain haemorrhage patients need surgery for the best outcome, helping ensure the right treatment at the right time. This study aims to improve patient survival rates and independence.

SourceNewcastle University·JournalThe Lancet·DateMay 29, 2013
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.

Immigration status affects educational achievement

A study by Penn State and University of California, Irvine researchers found that Mexican American mothers' formal immigration status impacts their children's and grandchildren's educational attainment. Unauthorized immigrant mothers' children lag behind in education compared to authorized immigrant mothers' and U.S.-born mothers' chil...

SourcePenn State·DateMay 29, 2013

Low-sodium 'diet' key to a stellar old age

A study published in Nature found that 70% of stars with high sodium content fail to reach the final red giant phase. This discovery challenges previous assumptions about the life cycle of low-mass stars, including our Sun.

SourceMonash University·JournalNature·DateMay 29, 2013

Small dams on Chinese river harm environment more than expected, study finds

A study of small dams in China found that they can pose a greater threat to ecosystems and natural landscapes than large dams. The research team surveyed habitat loss and damage at several dam sites, revealing that the environmental harm from small dams was often greater, sometimes by several orders of magnitude.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalWater Resources Research·DateMay 29, 2013

More deaths from surgery closer to the weekend

A study published in the British Medical Journal found that patients undergoing planned surgery are more likely to die if they have their operation at the end of the week. The mortality rate was lowest for patients having operations on Monday and increased for each subsequent day of the week, with a significant increase on Fridays.

SourceImperial College London·JournalThe BMJ·DateMay 28, 2013
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.

Evolution in the blink of an eye

A novel songbird disease has rapidly evolved to become more harmful to its host in just two decades, according to a new study. The research found that the disease became more virulent in both regions studied, with birds exposed to later disease strains developing more swollen eyes that took longer to heal.

SourceCornell University·JournalPLOS Biology·DateMay 28, 2013

Engineered stem cell advance points toward treatment for ALS

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have made an engineered stem cell advance that points toward a treatment for ALS. The study, published in Molecular Therapy, found that using adult stem cells to deliver growth factors improved survival and delayed disease progression in rat models with symptoms resembling ALS.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalMolecular Therapy·DateMay 28, 2013
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Changing gut bacteria through diet affects brain function, UCLA study shows

Researchers found that consuming beneficial bacteria probiotics through yogurt altered brain function in healthy women, both at rest and in response to emotional tasks. The discovery highlights the gut-brain connection and potential benefits of dietary changes for brain function.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalGASTROENTEROLOGY·DateMay 28, 2013

Key hydrogen report now available on OpenEnergyInfo wiki site

The Technical Reference on Hydrogen Compatibility of Materials offers detailed information on the effects of hydrogen on various materials, including steel, aluminum, copper, and nickel alloys. This report helps industry target and develop components with fewer compatibility issues, potentially accelerating the timetable for the hydrog...

SourceDOE/Sandia National Laboratories·DateMay 28, 2013

Research shows copper destroys norovirus

New research from the University of Southampton reveals copper can rapidly destroy norovirus on surfaces, potentially disrupting infection cycles and lowering outbreak risks. The virus can remain infectious on solid surfaces, but copper alloy surfaces containing over 60% copper prove highly effective in destroying it.

SourceUniversity of Southampton·DateMay 28, 2013
Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition

Sky & Telescope Pocket Sky Atlas, 2nd Edition is a durable star atlas for planning sessions, identifying targets, and teaching celestial navigation.