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Science News Archive 2014


Page 57 of 376

Can (and should) happiness be a policy goal?

A new article finds that happiness levels can reflect societal conditions, allowing policymakers to test the impact of policies on citizens' well-being. Researchers conclude that prioritizing policy-related welfare programs can lead to a more ideal society where citizens feel happy and satisfied.

Shaping up: Researchers reconstruct early stages of embryo development

Using mouse embryonic stem cells, researchers have successfully reconstructed the early stage of mammalian development in a lab, showing that a critical mass of cells is needed for self-organisation into an embryo. This breakthrough allows for the creation of an axis and gastrulation-like movements, mimicking the process of embryonic d...

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.

How cells defend themselves against antibiotics and cytostatic agents

Researchers have determined the structure of an ABC transporter complex, enabling targeted therapeutic approaches to combat antibiotic resistance and cancer cell defense. The study's breakthrough has significant implications for treating cystic fibrosis, bacterial infections, and cancer.

Researchers advocate for optimum level of 'unequality' for the US economy

A new study published in Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences suggests that American citizens desire an unequal but more equal distribution of wealth and income. Lower levels of inequality are associated with decreased unethical behavior and increased motivation, while high levels lead to demotivation and negative per...

The inside story: How the brain and skull stay together

A study published in the journal Development reveals that cells at the head-trunk junction communicate not only about tissue type but also location, ensuring proper alignment. The findings have important implications for treating congenital defects like Spina Bifida and Chiari malformations.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

March of Dimes calls for 50 percent reduction in preterm births by 2030

The March of Dimes aims to reduce US preterm birth rates to 5.5% by 2030 through evidence-based interventions such as eliminating early elective deliveries and optimizing birth spacing. The organization is also funding research to discover unknown causes of premature birth and identify new interventions.

Coenzyme Q10 helps veterans battle Gulf War illness symptoms

A recent study published in Neural Computation found that CoQ10 supplements improved physical function in 80% of treated veterans with Gulf War illness. The study suggests that CoQ10 may be beneficial for those suffering from this chronic condition, which is linked to chemical exposures and mitochondrial damage.

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.

Thirdhand smoke: Toxic airborne pollutants linger long after the smoke clears

A new study by Berkeley Lab researchers found that thirdhand smoke continues to have harmful health effects for many hours after a cigarette has been extinguished. The study, which assessed levels of volatile organic compounds and airborne particles, found that particulate matter accounted for 90% of the health damage.

How a giant impact formed asteroid Vesta's 'belt'

Researchers used super high-speed cannon to simulate collisions on celestial bodies. They found that damage from the impact starts where one would expect, but fails in opposite direction and propagates outward like a blooming flower. The study suggests Vesta's 'belt' formed by an oblique impact.

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.

Massey researchers develop the first cancer health literacy tool

The Cancer Health Literacy Study developed an evaluation tool called the Cancer Health Literacy Test (CHLT)-30 to measure cancer health literacy along a continuum. The study found that 18% of cancer patients have limited CHL, with an overrepresentation of African-American, undereducated and low-income patients.

On the throne with the flu

Researchers discovered flu infection prompts immune cells to migrate to gut, altering bacterial composition and causing inflammation that promotes tissue injury. Blocking inflammatory molecules or antibiotics attenuates intestinal injury, suggesting relief options for flu-induced gastrointestinal symptoms.

School environment affects teacher expectations of their students

A new study by researchers at the University of Montreal found that school environment plays a determining role in teacher expectations of students. The study showed that school academic composition is the most influential factor, followed by socioeconomic and ethnic composition of students.

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.

Report: Performance measures should include patient actions

Shared accountability between patients and clinicians can improve patient-centered outcomes and reduce morbidity and mortality. The report proposes incorporating patient actions into performance measures, tracking lifestyle changes, medication adherence, and follow-up appointments.

Western retailers in China boost Chinese manufacturing supremacy

A new study by the University of British Columbia's Sauder School of Business finds that Western retailers like Walmart enhance Chinese suppliers' export capabilities through improved productivity, efficiency, and quality. The study reveals a significant boost in exports from Chinese cities when foreign retail outlets increase.

Improving memory deficits following anesthesia

A new study found that general anesthesia impairs memory in mice by increasing the activation of α5GABA(A) receptors, leading to reduced synaptic plasticity. Inhibition of these receptors reversed memory defects in animals given anesthesia, suggesting a potential treatment for post-anesthesia cognitive impairment.

PNAS: From HIV to cancer, IL-37 regulates immune system

The study reveals IL-37's role in regulating the adaptive immune system by inhibiting antigen recognition. This allows for potential manipulation of IL-37 levels to sensitize or desensitize the immune system in various diseases.

News from Nov. 4, 2014 Annals of Internal Medicine

The American College of Physicians recommends increasing fluid intake to at least two liters per day to prevent kidney stone recurrence. A new guideline also suggests dietary changes, including reducing oxalate and animal protein consumption, to help prevent stone formation. Sofosbuvir plus ledipasvir has shown promise in re-treating H...

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.

Food allergy development linked to skin exposure

A new study suggests that skin sensitization to food proteins, triggered by pro-inflammatory molecules like TSLP and IL-25, can lead to food allergy development. The research found that mice exposed to food antigens through the skin developed severe allergic reactions when ingested.

New tool could help reshape the limits of synthetic biology

A novel tool called 'telomerator' enables the creation of linear yeast chromosomes with precise telomere endings, improving gene study and engineering. This advancement allows researchers to test how genes interact with their chromosomes, promoting more realistic synthetic biology.

Diet affects pesticide resistance in honey bees

Researchers found that pesticide exposure causes changes in gene expression that are sensitive to diet and nutrition. Feeding bees a complex diet of pollen improves their resistance to lethal doses of pesticides.

New test shows promise in identifying new drugs to treat Lyme disease

Researchers have developed a new test that can analyze thousands of FDA-approved drugs to find effective treatments for Lyme disease. The test, called the SYBR Green I/PI assay, enables the measurement of bacterial viability after drug treatment, making it more accurate and efficient than existing methods.

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

MRSA bugs linked to livestock are found in hospitals, study finds

A study by the University of Edinburgh found that MRSA bacteria from farm animals has been detected in UK hospitals, highlighting the need for strict biosecurity practices and responsible antibiotic use. The strain, CC398, is resistant to some common antibiotic drugs and can be transmitted to humans through contact with livestock.

Study: Maple syrup production declines after big seed year

New research suggests that maple syrup production is linked to mast seeding events, where trees produce more seeds than usual. Following every mast seed year, syrup production declined in Vermont. The study's findings could help producers plan ahead for the upcoming season.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

ACP releases new recommendations to prevent recurrent kidney stones

The American College of Physicians recommends increasing daily fluid intake to at least two liters to reduce kidney stone recurrence. Additionally, medication with a thiazide diuretic, citrate, or allopurinol can effectively reduce stone recurrence in patients with calcium stones.

No quick fix for global warming

A new study published in PNAS suggests that eliminating short-lived climate pollutants (SLCF) has a minor effect on slowing down global warming. The research found that these gases have a measurable impact but are short-lived and quickly disappear from the atmosphere, making them less effective in mitigating climate change.

New way to make batteries safer

Researchers at MIT have developed a new way to coat batteries with a special material that prevents them from conducting electricity after being swallowed. The QTC-coated batteries were found to not damage the gastrointestinal tract in animal tests, showing promise as a safer alternative.

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.

Study shows clear new evidence for mind-body connection

A study has demonstrated a clear new evidence for mind-body connection in breast cancer survivors, showing that mindfulness meditation and support groups can influence telomere length. This suggests potential health benefits beyond the initial three-month period studied.

Hurricane Vance dwarfs developing low pressure area

Hurricane Vance's tropical-storm force winds stretched over northwestern Mexico, producing rainfall totals of 4-8 inches with isolated amounts up to 12 inches. The storm is expected to rapidly weaken due to increasing vertical wind shear.

Lung cancer diagnosed before it is detected by imaging

A team of researchers has made a breakthrough in early diagnosis of invasive cancers, detecting lung cancer in patients at risk through circulating cancer cells in their bloodstream. This method could enable early surgical intervention and potentially improve patient survival.

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.

Nanotubes could serve as 'universal scaffolding' for cell membrane channels

Researchers have discovered that single-wall carbon nanotubes can form channels in artificial membranes and living cell membranes with comparable transport properties to protein channels. These structures are stable in solution and can transport ions and even DNA, offering a promising approach for membrane transportation mechanisms.

Preterm, low birth-weight babies may need new hips in adulthood

Researchers found a significant association between low birth weight and preterm birth with an increased incidence of hip arthroplasty independent of age, sex, BMI, education level, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and physical activity. No significant association was found with knee replacement surgery.

Putting batteries in a kidsafe coat of armor

Researchers developed a simple coating to render small batteries harmless if ingested, reducing esophagus damage and potentially eliminating deaths. The cost-effective solution uses a quantum tunneling composite to conduct electricity only under pressure.

String field theory could be the foundation of quantum mechanics

Researchers propose a connection between string field theory and quantum mechanics, suggesting that string field theory could be the basis of all physics. They showed that fundamental quantum mechanical principles can be derived from the geometry of strings joining and splitting in string field theory.

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.

How bile acids could fight diabetes

Researchers have discovered a receptor that can be activated by bile acids to reduce inflammation in fat tissue, which is associated with type-2 diabetes. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new anti-diabetes drugs.

Gender fairness prevails in most fields of academic science

Despite early differences and biases, women's participation in math-intensive sciences levels out after earning a PhD, but disparities persist in certain fields. Interventions targeting early education and work-life balance are needed to increase representation in STEM fields.

Outsmarting thermodynamics in self-assembly of nanostructures

Researchers at Berkeley Lab have developed a novel method for creating symmetry-breaking optical metamaterials by using a feedback mechanism to self-assemble colloidal nanorods in solution. This breakthrough solves the problem of achieving large-scale symmetric breaking, allowing for new properties and applications.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Grant success for Monash economists

Researchers will study past interventions and decision-making processes at the household level to understand what works and what doesn't. The project aims to identify drivers of food security status and constraints on improvements at the household level.

Plasma: Casimir and Yukawa mesons

Researchers discovered a connection between nuclear particles and electromagnetic theories via plasmas, suggesting an equivalence between generalized Casimir forces and weak nuclear interactions. The study found that long-range electromagnetic fluctuations differ from those in vacuum conditions.

Immunotherapy for cancer toxic with obesity

Researchers at UC Davis found that immunotherapy regimens can be lethal to obese mice due to increased body fat, which affects the immune system's response. The study suggests a link between obesity and toxicity in cancer treatment outcomes.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Biosimilar drugs could create billions in health care savings, study finds

A new study by the RAND Corporation estimates that biosimilar drugs could save the US healthcare system $44.2 billion over 10 years by reducing costs and increasing competition. The introduction of biosimilars is expected to drive down prices for complex biologic drugs used to treat illnesses such as cancer and rheumatoid arthritis.