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Science News for August 15, 2014


On the edge of graphene

Researchers discovered graphene devices have different electronic properties at edges and centers. Edge conduction was found to be p-type, while the center exhibited n-type electron conduction. These findings offer insights into developing graphene nanoribbon devices and studying edge photocurrents.

SourceNational Physical Laboratory·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 15, 2014

New X-ray imaging developed by scientists

Scientists at Monash University developed an x-ray imaging system that allows researchers to monitor the effectiveness of treatments for cystic fibrosis. This breakthrough enables non-invasive assessment of treatment efficacy on airway surfaces, accelerating development of new treatments.

SourceMonash University·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateAug 15, 2014

Visual exposure predicts infants' ability to follow another's gaze

A study found that preterm infants' ability to follow another's gaze emerges earlier than expected, implying the influence of early visual exposure. This challenges previous assumptions about cognitive development and suggests a potential link between visual experience and social cognition.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateAug 15, 2014
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.

Bivalirudin versus heparin in patients planned for coronary stenting

A study analyzed all trials to date, finding that bivalirudin-based regimens increase the risk of heart attacks and stent thrombosis, while heparin-based regimens decrease bleeding risk. The magnitude of benefit was attenuated when glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor use was similar in both arms.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalThe Lancet·DateAug 15, 2014

Federal agencies provide new opportunities for dying languages

The National Science Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities have awarded over $4 million to support the documentation of nearly 40 endangered languages. These awards will build research infrastructure and encourage long-term collaboration with host countries, as well as involve significant community engagement.

SourceU.S. National Science Foundation·DateAug 15, 2014

NASA sees no punch left in Tropical Storm Julio

Tropical Storm Julio's strong thunderstorms have weakened, with cloud tops warming and dropping lower in the atmosphere. The storm is expected to continue weakening and lose its tropical characteristics due to cooler sea surface temperatures.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateAug 15, 2014
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Scientists discover interstellar stardust

A new study reveals seven tiny pieces of interstellar dust found in samples collected by the Stardust Interstellar Dust Collector, which traveled through space and returned to Earth in 2006. The discovery allows researchers to study contemporary stardust for the first time on Earth.

SourceField Museum·JournalScience·DateAug 15, 2014

NASA satellite spots a weakening Karina, now a tropical storm

Hurricane Karina's vertical wind shear was evident in NASA imagery captured on August 14, with clouds being pushed to the western side of the storm. The National Hurricane Center predicts further weakening over the next two days as Karina moves over sea surface temperatures near 26C.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateAug 15, 2014

Human milk fat improves growth in premature infants

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have successfully incorporated a cream supplement into premature infants' diets, improving their growth outcomes in the NICU. The study found that adding human milk fat to an exclusive human milk diet enhanced weight and length gain in premature babies, indicating improved lean mass growth.

SourceBaylor College of Medicine·JournalThe Journal of Pediatrics·DateAug 15, 2014

New study takes the shine off magpie folklore

A new study from the University of Exeter challenges traditional views on magpie behavior, finding that these birds are not attracted to shiny objects. Instead, they exhibit neophobia, or fear of new things, when encountering novel and unfamiliar items.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalAnimal Cognition·DateAug 15, 2014
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Guidelines can predict early menopause in child cancer survivors

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have validated a set of guidelines that identify girls with cancer most likely to enter early menopause. These criteria will help select patients for ovarian tissue freezing, potentially allowing young cancer survivors to have children in the future.

SourceUniversity of Edinburgh·JournalThe Lancet Oncology·DateAug 15, 2014

Follow that cell

The NIH Follow that Cell Challenge seeks tools to monitor a cell's behavior and function over time, potentially leading to earlier diagnosis and improved therapies for diseases. The challenge aims to generate creative ideas and methods for following a single cell's behavior, using multiple integrated measures.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Mental Health·DateAug 15, 2014

Environment and health experts commit to actions on climate change

More than 500 delegates from 62 countries have issued a call to action to address the impacts of climate change on human health and the global environment. The ecohealth community has developed a vision and commitment to action that will bring together existing efforts to respond to climate change.

SourceEcoHealth 2014·JournalEcoHealth·DateAug 15, 2014
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

New ways to treat solid tumors

Researchers have found that an antibody against EphA3 can slow tumour growth and kill cancer cells by disrupting blood vessels and the tumour micro-environment.

SourceMonash University·JournalCancer Research·DateAug 15, 2014

A study of possible extended symmetries of field theoretic systems

Researchers investigate possible Galileon-like theories with new kinds of symmetries, potentially describing systems near multi-critical points and superfluids. Non-relativistic systems like Goldstone bosons are also considered for potential applications.

SourceWorld Scientific·JournalInternational Journal of Modern Physics D·DateAug 15, 2014

Utility of sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) markers

SRAP markers exhibit high variability and are less technically demanding than traditional methods, making them suitable for various research fields including plant systematics, biogeography, conservation, and ecology. The new study suggests that these markers will be useful when paired with next-generation sequencing technologies.

SourceBotanical Society of America·JournalAmerican Journal of Botany·DateAug 15, 2014

Low vitamin D levels linked to increased risks after noncardiac surgery

Patients with low vitamin D levels are at increased risk of death and serious complications after noncardiac surgery. Higher vitamin D concentrations were associated with decreased odds of in-hospital mortality/morbidity, but the association was only statistically significant for cardiovascular complications.

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalAnesthesia & Analgesia·DateAug 15, 2014
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.

Incentives, innovation and growth

The Lindau Meeting on Economic Sciences brings together Nobel laureates and young economists to discuss the scope of incentives, innovation, and growth. The meeting will explore how to encourage mass flourishing and dynamism in economics.

SourceLindau Nobel Laureate Meetings·DateAug 15, 2014

'Science' features PRB, WSU, DMC advances in preterm birth

Researchers at PRB, WSU, and DMC identify preterm labor as a syndrome caused by multiple disease states, including silent infections and maternal anti-fetal rejection. Studies show that administering vaginal progesterone can reduce preterm birth rates by 45%, highlighting potential therapeutic interventions.

SourceWayne State University - Office of the Vice President for Research·JournalScience·DateAug 15, 2014

Credit allocation among researchers determined by new algorithm

A new algorithm developed by Hua-Wei Shen helps accurately allocate credit to researchers based on their contributions. The algorithm, which has been tested on 63 Nobel prize-winning papers, found that authors deserving of the most credit corresponded to the Nobel laureate in 81% of cases.

SourceNortheastern University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 15, 2014
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.

Previous pulmonary disease linked to increased lung cancer risk in large study

A large pooled analysis of seven studies involving over 25,000 individuals found associations between lung cancer and chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and pneumonia. Patients with co-occurring chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and pneumonia had a higher risk of lung cancer.

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateAug 15, 2014

Stronger drunk driving laws lead to safer roads: Study

A new study by the University of British Columbia found that changes to B.C.'s impaired driving laws reduced fatal crashes by 21%, hospital admissions by 8% and ambulance calls by 7.2%. The study attributes these reductions to stricter penalties for impaired driving.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateAug 15, 2014

Charges for blood tests vary across California hospitals

A UCSF study found significant price differences in common blood tests across California hospitals, with prices ranging from $35 to $7,303. Hospital ownership and teaching status explain some variation, but factors like location and labor costs do not.

SourceUniversity of California - San Francisco·JournalBMJ Open·DateAug 15, 2014

Bats bolster brain hypothesis, maybe technology, too

New research suggests that bats' brains use the temporal binding hypothesis to focus on targets in cluttered scenes, which could inspire new navigation technology. By studying bat echolocation, scientists have developed a better understanding of how to design radar and sonar systems for real-time performance.

SourceBrown University·JournalJournal of Experimental Biology·DateAug 15, 2014

Experts close to perfect in determining truth in interrogations using active question methods

A recent study found that using active questioning techniques can significantly improve the accuracy of lie detection in interrogations, with experts achieving near-perfect results (97.8%) compared to non-experts. This suggests that simply watching or listening is not enough for effective deception detection.

SourceInternational Communication Association·JournalHuman Communication Research·DateAug 15, 2014
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.

TUM researchers develop defense against cyberattacks

Researchers at TUM developed TCP Stealth, a free software that inhibits identification of systems through Hacienda and similar cyberattack software. The software uses secret tokens to protect against remote control of servers worldwide.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·DateAug 15, 2014

Do gut bacteria rule our minds?

Researchers found that gut bacteria can sway food choices by releasing signaling molecules into the gut, influencing physiological and behavioral responses. The microbiome's diversity of interests can be manipulated through diet and supplement changes, offering a tractable approach to obesity and unhealthy eating.

SourceUniversity of California - San Francisco·JournalBioEssays·DateAug 15, 2014

The beetle's white album

Researchers discovered that beetle scales scatter light efficiently to achieve ultra-whiteness, using a complex network of chitin filaments. This finding could lead to brighter, whiter materials for paper, plastics, and paints while reducing material usage.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 15, 2014