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Science News Archive October 2013


Page 25 of 34

Why we can't accurately judge our friends' behavior

Researchers found that people judge their friends' behavior based on preexisting images and attitudes, leading to inconsistent evaluations. This bias can be beneficial for social cohesion but also poses problems in specific situations, such as job interviews or legal settings.

Carbon's new champion

Carbyne nanorods or nanoropes have a host of remarkable and useful properties, including surpassing the tensile strength of any other known material and having twice the tensile stiffness of graphene. Stretching carbyne alters its electronic band gap significantly, making it suitable for applications such as sensors and energy storage.

New strategy lets cochlear implant users hear music

Researchers developed a new way to process signals in cochlear implants, allowing users to perceive differences between musical instruments. The technique significantly improved timbre recognition, but melody perception remained challenging.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Scientists use blur to sharpen DNA mapping

Scientists at Rice University have created a method to locate specific sequences along single strands of DNA, which could help diagnose genetic diseases. The 'motion blur point accumulation' technique resolves structures as small as 30 nanometers by capturing images of fluorescent probes binding to target DNA.

Insulin 'still produced' in most people with type 1 diabetes

New technology enabled scientists to prove that most people with type 1 diabetes have active beta cells producing insulin in response to food, contrary to previous thought. This finding has significant implications for understanding the biology of Type 1 diabetes and may lead to new therapies to preserve or replenish beta cells.

Penn study: Visits to multiple HIV clinics linked to poorer outcomes

Patients who received care at multiple HIV clinics had lower ART adherence, higher viral loads, and increased healthcare costs compared to those receiving care at a single clinic. The study emphasizes the importance of continuous care with one provider for optimal outcomes and reducing transmissions.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Physician job satisfaction driven by quality of patient care

A RAND Corporation study finds that physician job satisfaction is driven by quality patient care, with electronic health records being a significant source of stress. Physicians report frustration with systems that hinder face-to-face interactions and accuracy of medical records.

Notre Dame researchers make progress toward a treatment for dangerous allergies

Researchers at the University of Notre Dame have made progress toward a treatment for dangerous allergies by designing a special molecule that can out-compete allergens in their race to attach to mast cell receptors. The team has demonstrated the effectiveness of their inhibitor molecule on allergic reactions using animal models.

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.

Crystal mysteries spiral deeper, NYU chemists find

Researchers found that L-cystine crystals form stacked hexagonal 'islands' with one screw dislocation, contradicting long-standing BCF theory. However, further analysis revealed that the crystals actually grow in a manner predicted by the theory, showcasing the complexity of crystal growth.

Historic trends predict future global reforestation unlikely

Historic global trends predict that global forest cover will decline by 10% over the next century unless new technologies boost yields or strategies to decrease food consumption are introduced. Reforestation may increase global forest cover to 35% within 70 years if food production and consumption stabilize.

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.

Gene and stem cell therapy combination could aid wound healing

Researchers have found that combining gene therapy with an extra boost of stem cells leads to faster healing of burns and greater blood flow to the site of the wound. The study uses elderly mice as a model to understand why older people with burns fail to heal well and how to potentially harness the body's own bone marrow stem cells to...

PENTAX Medical supports AGA's technology initiatives

PENTAX Medical will provide substantial funding over three years to stimulate innovation in gastroenterology, advancing science and practice. The partnership supports the AGA Institute's development of essential programming to promote innovation and technology in digestive diseases.

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.

Big data reaps big rewards in drug safety

A team of researchers at Mount Sinai used systems biology and big data analysis to find that combining diabetes drug rosiglitazone with exanatide reduced heart attacks. The approach identifies potential safer combinations, sparking interest in repurposing FDA-approved drugs.

Evidence for a new nuclear 'magic number'

Researchers at RIKEN have provided evidence for a new nuclear 'magic number' in the unstable calcium isotope 54Ca, which has 34 neutrons. This discovery challenges the traditional understanding of atomic nuclei and sheds light on the behavior of highly unstable nuclei.

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.

Recombinant human prion protein inhibits prion propagation

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University discovered that recombinant human prion protein inhibits the propagation of prions, which cause fatal brain diseases. The study's findings have significant implications for treating prion diseases, including Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease and mad cow disease.

Household chaos may be hazardous to a child's health

A study by Ohio State University researchers found that households with crowding, noise, and lack of routine are associated with poorer health outcomes in preschoolers. The study suggests that chaos in the home environment can lead to stress, which in turn can increase exposure to toxins and germs.

Water impurities key to an icicle's ripples

A new study by Canadian physicists reveals that small impurities in the water are a critical factor in the formation of icicle ripples. The researchers found that icicles grown from pure distilled water exhibited no ripples, but those grown with salt impurities developed characteristic ripples.

New potential for nutrient-rich prairie fruits

Researchers discovered that prairie fruits are rich in nutrients, including ascorbic acid, anthocyanin pigments and dietary fibre. These findings support the commercial development of buffaloberry, chokecherry and sea buckthorn berries for global populations.

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.

Peer pressure's influence calculated by mathematician

A mathematician has calculated how peer pressure influences society, examining the effect of direct and indirect social influences on decision-making. The study found that the process begins with individuals directly connected to each other reaching agreement, then the entire social group tips into collective consensus.

Study in Nature reveals urgent new time frame for climate change

The study found that areas in the tropics will experience unprecedented climates first, with a radically different climate projected by 2047 under a business-as-usual scenario. Conservation planning could be undermined as protected areas face unprecedented climates, and rapid changes may lead to extinctions.

NSF awards UC Riverside neuroscientist $867,000 CAREER grant

Khaleel Razak's research aims to develop therapies for age-related hearing problems and Fragile X Syndrome by studying how the brain processes everyday sounds. His lab will investigate neural computations that generate cortical maps underlying sound localization behavior in the pallid bat.

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.

Science Minister announces projects to monitor ocean currents

Two UK-funded projects will monitor crucial ocean currents in the North Atlantic, improving long-term climate predictions and weather forecasts. The first project, OSNAP, will run for five years, with funding of around £20m, while the second project, RAPID, will continue to monitor the strength of the global conveyor belt until 2018.

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.

When it comes to the good cholesterol, fitness trumps weight

Regular weight training may improve HDL function and protect against heart disease even in those who remain overweight. The study found that sedentary men had dysfunctional HDL compared to strength-trained men, regardless of body weight status. Fitness is a better measure of who has healthier functioning HDL cholesterol.

McGill discovery should save wheat farmers millions of dollars

A McGill University team has identified a key gene that regulates how wheat responds to excess rainfall and humidity, potentially preventing the loss of $1 billion annually. This discovery in epigenetic factors may also improve yields and quality of other cereals like barley.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

New strategy to treat multiple sclerosis shows promise in mice

Scientists have identified a new approach to treating multiple sclerosis by boosting oligodendrocyte precursor cells, which can repair damaged nerve fibers. A Parkinson's disease drug called benztropine was highly effective in treating a standard model of MS in mice, both alone and in combination with existing therapies.

No serious adverse reactions to HPV vaccination

A recent study found no significant increase in serious diseases among HPV-vaccinated girls compared to unvaccinated peers, despite monitoring over 900,000 participants. The researchers also noted that mild adverse reactions such as fever and swelling are common but not considered a concern.

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.

Does good cholesterol increase breast cancer risk?

Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University found that an HDL receptor in breast cancer cells may be responsible for the increased risk and aggressiveness of breast cancer. Blocking this receptor could help treat the disease, according to Dr. Philippe Frank.

Having a stroke may shave nearly 3 out of 5 quality years off your life

A new study published in Neurology found that stroke treatments and prevention are not effective enough to improve quality of life for people who experience a stroke. The study suggests that strokes take nearly three out of five quality years off a person's life, depending on the severity of the stroke.

Organ donor promotion at DMV brings increase in registrations

A research campaign aimed at increasing organ donor registrations showed a statistically significant increase in the number of people registering to donate. The campaign, which used multiple messages and volunteers, was implemented at 20 Department of Motor Vehicles facilities in Illinois.

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.

Longer life for humans linked to further loss of endangered species

A new study by UC Davis reveals a strong correlation between human life expectancy and the loss of endangered species, with countries experiencing high GDP growth showing higher percentages of invasive birds and mammals. The research highlights the need for better scientific understanding of human-environment interactions.

Skill ratings predict which surgeons perform safer surgeries

A University of Michigan Health System study found that high-skilled surgeons had significantly fewer post-surgery complications and shorter operations. The study used video ratings data of 20 bariatric surgeons' operating skills to predict patient outcomes, with low skill surgeons experiencing higher complication rates.

An experiment puts auditing under scrutiny

A unique experiment involving 500 industrial plants in Gujarat, India, reveals that changing the auditing system from firm-paid to central-funded auditors significantly reduced pollution levels and increased accuracy. The study's findings have implications for the global debt-rating system and corporate financial reports.

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

40 years of federal nutrition research fatally flawed

A new study by the University of South Carolina reveals significant limitations in NHANES data, with most nutrition data being physiologically implausible and invalid for population-level analysis. This has serious implications for the role of energy intake in obesity and public health policy.