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Science News Archive August 2014


Page 13 of 31

First indirect evidence of so-far undetected strange baryons

Researchers have discovered indirect evidence of higher-mass strange baryons in heavy-ion collisions, which lower the temperature at which other particles 'freeze out' from quark-gluon plasma. This finding provides crucial insights into nuclear physics and the formation of matter.

Hartford/VA Geriatric Social Work Scholars Program selects new cohort

The prestigious Hartford/VA Scholars Program has selected three new researchers to focus on improving health outcomes for older veterans. The scholars will receive career development and mentorship support for their projects, which include examining physical activity among veterans and post-traumatic stress disorder in older veterans.

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.

How steroid hormones enable plants to grow

Researchers at TUM have mapped a new signaling mode for brassinosteroids, which regulate cell elongation and division. The study shows that brassinosteroids trigger a multi-level cascade of reactions controlling the activity of the CESTA transcription factor.

VCU Massey Cancer Center receives $4.4 million NCORP grant

The VCU Massey Cancer Center has been awarded a $4.4 million grant to establish a statewide cancer clinical trials network in Virginia, focusing on minority access and addressing cancer disparities. The network will provide cancer patients with opportunities to participate in clinical trials in their local communities.

Bubbling down: Discovery suggests surprising uses for common bubbles

Princeton researchers find that bursting bubbles inject tiny oil droplets into water when covered with a layer of oil. The discovery provides new insight into the mixture of non-soluble liquids and has potential applications in industries such as drug manufacturing and oil spill cleanups.

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.

How parents juggle work hours may influence kids' weight

Adolescents with parents who spend more time at home tend to have better eating behaviors and exercise habits. Parents' availability can also play a crucial role in shaping their children's health, with fathers' presence being particularly important.

Leave the car at home for a healthier daily commute, say experts

A UK study published in the BMJ Group reveals a significant association between active commuting methods (walking, cycling, or using public transport) and lower BMI scores. For men, this equates to a difference of nearly half a stone in weight, while for women, it's around 5.5lb, compared to those who used private transport.

Antibacterial soap exposes health workers to high triclosan levels

A study by UCSF researchers found that hospital workers exposed to antibacterial soap had significantly higher triclosan levels in their urine compared to those using plain soap and water. Washing with antibacterial soap accounted for even higher triclosan levels than brushing with toothpaste containing triclosan.

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.

The difficult question of Clostridium difficile

Scientists have identified key regions of the Cwp84 enzyme that could be targeted by drugs to prevent Clostridium difficile colonization and toxin production. The research may lead to the development of a new type of anti-colonization inhibitor to treat C. difficile infection.

Gene therapy protects mice from lethal heart condition, MU researchers find

Researchers at the University of Missouri School of Medicine have developed a gene therapy that protects mice from a life-threatening heart condition caused by muscular dystrophy. The therapy targets a different gene involved in the heart's response to stress and shows significant improvements in overall heart health.

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.

'Tickling' your ear could be good for your heart

A team at the University of Leeds used a standard TENS machine to apply electrical pulses to the tragus, reducing nervous signals that can drive failing hearts too hard. The stimulation changed the influence of the nervous system on the heart by increasing heart rate variability and suppressing sympathetic nervous system activity.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Natural (born) killer cells battle pediatric leukemia

Researchers at Children's Hospital Los Angeles have developed a method to multiply natural killer cells from patients with leukemia in the lab. These autologous NK cells can be used to destroy cancer cells, potentially providing a less toxic and more effective treatment for pediatric leukemia.

Guiding stars

A new study by Cornell University researchers found that the Guiding Stars System brands items with zero, one, two or three star rating leads to a decline in sales of less healthy foods. Sales of healthy food purchases rose by 1.39% while 'junk food' sales fell by 8.31%. This trend may be due to consumers making healthier choices.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Targeted brain training may help you multitask better

A study published in PLOS ONE found that targeted cognitive training can improve attention and memory in healthy seniors and those with specific brain damage. The researchers developed a predictive model to map the effects of this training on brain function, suggesting potential for improving daily lives.

Organic photovoltaic cells of the future

A team of researchers has developed a method to determine the absolute value of charge formation efficiency in organic photovoltaic cells, enabling high-throughput screening of materials. The technique, combining two types of spectroscopy, reveals a high charge formation efficiency even at low temperatures.

Engineering new bone growth

Researchers create implantable tissue scaffold coated with bone growth factors that induce rapid formation of new bone. The scaffold induces the body to rapidly form new bone that looks and behaves like original tissue.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Laser optical tweezers reveal how malaria parasites infect red blood cells

Researchers used laser optical tweezers to study interactions between malaria parasites and red blood cells, revealing new insights into the disease process. The study found that attachment is mediated by multiple weak interactions, which could potentially be blocked by a combination of drugs or antibodies.

Fish study links brain size to parental duties

A new study from the University of British Columbia found that male stickleback fish with bigger brains are more likely to care for their young. The research compared regular male sticklebacks to white sticklebacks, which do not care for offspring, and found a link between brain size and parental behavior.

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.

Sequencing at sea

A team of researchers from San Diego State University overcame numerous challenges to successfully sequence DNA samples in real-time at sea. Despite equipment failures, space constraints, and shark encounters, they managed to collect and analyze data on the Line Islands, developing new research questions and hypotheses along the way.

Zebrafish help to unravel Alzheimer's disease

Scientists used zebrafish as a model to study the regulation of stem cells in nerve tissue, discovering a previously unknown process that may contribute to Alzheimer's disease. They found that reducing miRNA-132 levels in zebrafish impairs stem cell development and blocks further maturation into nerve cells.

Biomarker in an aggressive breast cancer is identified

Researchers have identified a biomarker, STAT3 protein, strongly associated with basal-like breast cancer, a highly aggressive and resistant carcinoma. This finding suggests a potential target for new therapeutics designed to treat this deadly cancer subtype.

Why global warming is taking a break

Researchers find that El Niño and La Niña events, as well as weakened solar activity and aerosol concentrations, contributed to the recent slowdown in global warming. The study suggests that short-term climate fluctuations can be explained by natural factors without contradicting long-term warming trends.

Life on Mars? Implications of a newly discovered mineral-rich structure

A newly discovered ovoid structure in the Nakhla Martian meteorite contains a variety of minerals and shows evidence of shock events, sparking debate about its formation and potential for life on Mars. The study suggests that subsurface hydrothermal alteration could support niche environments conducive to life.

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.

CU Denver researcher shows economic disparities impact infant health

A new study by CU Denver researcher Zaneta Thayer found that poor women experience higher cortisol levels during pregnancy, giving birth to infants with elevated cortisol responses to stress. These early life disparities can lead to serious disease later in life and highlight the need for stress reduction and social support.

Opioid users breathe easier with novel drug to treat respiratory depression

A study published in Anesthesiology found that GAL-021, a novel therapeutic drug, may reverse or prevent respiratory depression in patients taking opioid medication without compromising pain relief. Researchers also found that GAL-021 had no adverse effects on non-respiratory variables such as sedation or blood flow.

Intervention helps smokers quit following hospital stay

A postdischarge intervention that included automated telephone calls and free medication resulted in higher sustained smoking cessation rates at six months than standard advice. The study found that more participants achieved biochemically confirmed past 7-day tobacco abstinence and reported continuous abstinence for 6 months.

Solar energy that doesn't block the view

Researchers at Michigan State University developed a transparent luminescent solar concentrator that can be used on buildings, cell phones, and other devices. This technology absorbs specific nonvisible wavelengths of sunlight and converts it to electricity.

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.

Nurses driven mainly by a desire to help others are more likely to burn out

Researchers at the University of Akron discovered that nurses motivated primarily by personal satisfaction, lifestyle, and patient interaction experience lower stress levels, improved health, and increased job commitment. In contrast, those driven mainly by a desire to help others are more susceptible to burnout.

Nurse staffing and mortality in stroke centers

A study of 56,666 patients with stroke found that weekend nurse staffing was strongly associated with mortality outcomes, regardless of the day of admission. Patients admitted to hospitals with lower nurse-to-patient bed ratios had a higher risk of death, highlighting the importance of adequate staffing levels on weekends.

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.

Evolution of marine crocodilians constrained by ocean temperatures

A new study reveals that marine crocodilian diversity is closely tied to sea temperature, with colonisation events occurring during global warming periods. The research suggests that environmental temperatures constrained the evolution and lifestyle of modern crocodilians.

Exporting US coal to Asia could drop emissions 21 percent

A new study suggests that exporting US coal to power plants in South Korea could lead to a 21 percent drop in greenhouse gas emissions. However, the economic benefits of such exports would come with increased water use, land degradation, and potential harm to fish and wildlife habitats.

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.

Moving single cells around -- accurately and cheaply

Researchers at Houston Methodist have created a handheld single-cell pipette that can accurately pick up individual cells using a modified pipette. The technology, known as the hSCP, has potential to revolutionize single-cell research and make it more accessible to biologists worldwide.

VCU receives NIH grant to expand Alcohol Research Center

The VCU Alcohol Research Center will investigate the genetic systems contributing to alcoholism using advanced statistical and bioinformatic methods. Researchers will focus on gene networks influencing alcohol behaviors in humans and animals.

Rates of heart disease and stroke continue to decline in Europe

Death rates from heart disease and stroke are declining overall in Europe, but at differing rates. Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death among Europeans, accounting for close to half of all deaths. However, cancer is now causing more deaths than heart disease in some countries, particularly among men.

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.

Asian inventions dominate energy storage systems

A study by Technical University of Munich reveals that Asian companies are leading the charge in developing new electrochemical energy storage technologies. Lithium batteries have seen a significant increase in patent applications, making them the clear frontrunners in this field.