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Science News for December 19, 2014


Steroid-based treatment may answer needs of pediatric EoE patients

A new formulation of oral budesonide suspension is safe and effective in treating pediatric patients with eosinophilic esophagitis, according to a recent study. The treatment demonstrated remarkable efficacy in reducing eosinophilic inflammation and improving symptoms.

SourceAmerican Gastroenterological Association·JournalClinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology·DateDec 19, 2014

Reducing emergency surgery cuts health care costs

Reducing emergency surgery for common procedures like abdominal aortic aneurysm repair and coronary artery bypass graft can save healthcare costs. Elective surgeries result in lower mortality rates and better patient outcomes compared to emergency surgeries.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalAnnals of Surgery·DateDec 19, 2014

New technique reveals immune cell motion

Researchers developed a new technique to study neutrophil motion in confined spaces, revealing a second mode of motion that doesn't rely on integrins. The findings suggest that physical confinement is key to reproducing this motion and may lead to the development of new drugs to optimize neutrophil movement in specific tissue types.

SourceBrown University·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateDec 19, 2014
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Scientists reveal breakthrough in optical fiber communications

Scientists from the University of Southampton have developed a novel approach to generate spectrally-efficient modulation format signals using direct current modulated lasers. This innovation avoids costly external modulator schemes, reducing power consumption and increasing efficiency.

SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 19, 2014

National Academy of Inventors publishes annual meeting proceedings

The National Academy of Inventors has published a special issue of Technology and Innovation featuring presentations from the Third Annual Conference, including topics such as pharmacy and nanotechnology. The conference attracted 250 inventors and featured presentations by distinguished scientists and innovators.

SourceUniversity of South Florida·JournalJournal of Technology and Innovation·DateDec 19, 2014

Securing future food supply for the developing world

A $10 million project will improve cassava's biomass and starch yield using metabolic engineering and genomics. The goal is to secure food supply for a growing world population, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa.

SourceFriedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg·DateDec 19, 2014

Family criticizing your weight? You might add more pounds

A new study by Professor Christine Logel from the University of Waterloo found that women who received positive weight acceptance messages from their loved ones maintained or lost weight, while those who faced criticism gained almost 4.5 pounds on average.

SourceUniversity of Waterloo·JournalPersonal Relationships·DateDec 19, 2014

The state of shale

Researchers at University of Pittsburgh have contributed three studies to a special issue of the journal Energy Technology, focusing on smart wells, wastewater management, and information gaps related to shale gas drilling. The research aims to improve extraction through wireless communication and safely reuse drilling wastewater.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalEnergy Technology·DateDec 19, 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.

Alaska fish adjust to climate change by following the food

A new study reveals that Dolly Varden, a char species in southeast Alaska, have successfully adjusted their migrations to follow the timing of salmon spawning, ensuring access to a key food source. This adaptability suggests that at least some species may be more resilient to climate-induced changes in migration timing.

SourceNOAA Fisheries West Coast Region·JournalFreshwater Biology·DateDec 19, 2014

Quantum world without queues could lead to better solar cells

Researchers at Lund University used new tech to study fast solar cell processes, raising the efficiency limit to over 40%. Quantum coherence phenomenon allows for energy transfer with minimal obstacles, potentially revolutionizing solar cells.

SourceLund University·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 19, 2014

A vegetarian carnivorous plant

Researchers discovered that aquatic bladderworts like Utricularia consume a wide range of prey, including algae and pollen, in addition to small animals. This diverse diet provides essential nutrients for the plant's survival and growth.

SourceOxford University Press UK·JournalAnnals of Botany·DateDec 19, 2014

The VuePod: Powerful enough for a gamer, made for an engineer

The VuePod allows users to explore 3D environments created from point data, including images captured by LIDAR and drones. This enables engineers to detect changes in natural landscapes and monitor infrastructure more effectively.

SourceBrigham Young University·JournalJournal of Computing in Civil Engineering·DateDec 19, 2014
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.

Technophobia may keep seniors from using apps to manage diabetes

A new study found that only 18% of seniors with Type 2 diabetes use apps to manage their condition, despite interest in web and mobile applications. The study suggests that age-related confidence in technology use is a significant barrier to adoption.

SourceUniversity of Waterloo·JournalJournal of Diabetes Science and Technology·DateDec 19, 2014

Quantum physics just got less complicated

A team of researchers has proved that two features of the quantum world are different manifestations of the same thing. They found that 'wave-particle duality' is simply the quantum 'uncertainty principle' in disguise, reducing two mysteries to one.

SourceCentre for Quantum Technologies at the National University of Singapore·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 19, 2014

One in every three people with type 1 diabetes produces insulin years post-diagnosis

A recent study published in Diabetes Care found that approximately one-third of people with type 1 diabetes produce insulin, as measured by C-peptide, even up to 40 years after diagnosis. This challenges the long-held assumption that these patients lose all ability to produce insulin, highlighting potential implications for clinical pr...

SourceBenaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason·JournalDiabetes Care·DateDec 19, 2014
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.

New challenges for ocean acidification research

As ocean acidification research expands its scope, experts highlight the need for integrated assessments, considering multiple stressors and evolutionary adaptation. Laboratory experiments show that adaptation is possible, but its ability to keep pace with fast-changing ecosystems remains uncertain.

SourceHelmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR)·JournalNature Climate Change·DateDec 19, 2014
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.

Making a good thing better

Researchers have made a breakthrough in understanding liquid electrolytes used in lithium-ion batteries. They found that the actual solvation environment of lithium ions is non-tetrahedral, contrary to previous predictions. This discovery could lead to more efficient and better-performing electrolytes.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalPhysical Chemistry Chemical Physics·DateDec 19, 2014

Microplastics in the ocean: Biologists study effects on marine animals

A study by biologists at the Alfred Wegener Institute found that ingestion of microplastic particles does not mechanically affect marine isopods. In a feeding experiment, researchers offered isopods artificial food supplemented with plastic particles, which were traced through the digestive system using various microscopy techniques.

SourceAlfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateDec 19, 2014

OCD patients' brains light up to reveal how compulsive habits develop

Researchers found that OCD patients were less capable of stopping pedal-pressing habits due to excessive caudate nucleus activity, linking compulsions to the brain's habit system. The study suggests that habits may be behind various psychiatric behaviors, including drug abuse and binge-eating.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalAmerican Journal of Psychiatry·DateDec 19, 2014

Atom-thick CCD could capture images

Researchers at Rice University have developed a two-dimensional, light-sensitive material that can capture images. The material, copper indium selenide (CIS), is highly sensitive to light due to its slow-dissipating electrons, making it 10 times more efficient than previous materials.

SourceRice University·JournalNano Letters·DateDec 19, 2014

NASA balloons begin flying in Antarctica for 2014 campaign

The 2014-2015 Antarctic Scientific Balloon Campaign launched NASA's ANITA-III payload to detect ultra-high energy cosmogenic neutrino fluxes. The campaign also includes the launch of COSI, a gamma-ray telescope to study astrophysical sources of nuclear line emission.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateDec 19, 2014
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.

Yellowstone's thermal springs -- their colors unveiled

Scientists created a simple mathematical model to explain the stunning colors of Yellowstone National Park's hot springs. The model takes into account spectral reflection, microbial mats, and solar conditions, reproducing the brilliant hues of the springs.

SourceOptica·JournalApplied Optics·DateDec 19, 2014

Helping parents understand infant sleep patterns

Researchers highlight four areas of concern for parents and practitioners: normal sleep patterns, nightwakings, parental presence at bedtime, and safe sleep training. The study aims to educate nurse practitioners on sharing current knowledge with parents to promote healthy nighttime care choices.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners·DateDec 19, 2014

Innovative manufacturing to take IT beyond the electronic age

Researchers are developing a new generation of photonic integrated circuits that use photons instead of electrons to transmit data. This technology has the potential to transform data communications and enable faster, smaller components for the growing number of Internet-connected devices.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·DateDec 19, 2014
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.

NASA's SDO captures images of 2 mid-level flares

A mid-level flare with a magnitude of M6.9-class occurred on December 18, 2014, emitting powerful bursts of radiation. The Solar Dynamics Observatory captured the event, which may affect Earth's atmosphere and GPS/communications signals.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateDec 19, 2014

A 'GPS' for molecules

Scientists create a molecular 'GPS' to precisely locate metal ions in enzymes, which play key roles in metabolism and synthesis. This innovation uses spin-labeled amino acids to track metal ion positions, enabling better understanding of biochemical reactions.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalAngewandte Chemie·DateDec 19, 2014

Epithelial tube contraction

Scientists at the National University of Singapore identified a novel mechanosensitive regulation of epithelial tube contraction using the C. elegans spermatheca as a model. The study revealed that SPV-1 protein maintains regular cycles of actomyosin contractility, which helps maintain tube integrity.

SourceNational University of Singapore·JournalCurrent Biology·DateDec 19, 2014

Trade winds ventilate the tropical oceans

Scientists from GEOMAR found a possible reason for increasing oxygen deficiency in tropical zones, attributing it to fluctuations in trade winds. This change affects the habitat of fish species and can reverse once trade winds strengthen.

SourceHelmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (GEOMAR)·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateDec 19, 2014
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.