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Science News for June 13, 2014


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.

Sjögren's Syndrome significantly increases risk of heart attack

A study found that Sjögren's Syndrome significantly increases the risk of heart attack in patients, particularly within the first year following diagnosis. The research highlights the importance of active management of cardiovascular risk factors to reduce the risk of a future heart attack.

SourceEuropean Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR)·DateJun 13, 2014

NASA experiments recreate aromatic flavors of Titan

Scientists at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center recreated key flavors from Titan's atmosphere using a recipe approach. The team successfully identified a previously unknown material, which showed strong aromatic characteristics.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalIcarus·DateJun 13, 2014

Crossing the goal line: New tech tracks football in 3-D space

Researchers have developed a system to track footballs in three-dimensional space using low-frequency magnetic fields. This technology can improve accuracy for referees and viewers, especially in situations where the ball is blocked from view or visibility is low.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalIEEE Antennas and Propagation Magazine·DateJun 13, 2014

New membrane-synthesis pathways in bacteria discovered

Bacteria have been found to use new mechanisms to produce lipids, which can be used for industrial manufacture and pharmaceutical applications. Researchers have identified enzymes that can generate multiple different lipids, including phosphatidylethanolamine and cardiolipin.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalMolecular Microbiology·DateJun 13, 2014
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

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.

Breakthrough for information technology using Heusler materials

Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz have directly observed 100 percent spin polarization of a Heusler compound, paving the way for future development of high-performance spintronic devices. The study's findings provide a cornerstone for innovative applications in hard disk reader heads and non-volatile storage elements.

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 13, 2014

NIH scientists take totally tubular journey through brain cells

Researchers used X-ray crystallography to study how tubulin acetyltransferase (TAT) interacts with microtubules, revealing that TAT only labels stable microtubules. This discovery may help cells distinguish between stable and unstable microtubules, influencing nerve cell health and behavior.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke·JournalCell·DateJun 13, 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.

First first patient enrolled in PROSPECT II clinical trial

The first patient has been enrolled in the PROSPECT II clinical trial, a study that aims to assess the ability of intracoronary near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to identify non-flow obstructing vulnerable plaques. The trial will enroll 900 patients with acute coronary syndrome and follow them for up to 15 years.

SourceCardiovascular Research Foundation·DateJun 13, 2014

Charity funding study brings alcohol industry influence on UK policy into question

A recent study by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine has found that five UK charities are funded by the alcohol industry and influence alcohol policy. The research highlights concerns over potential conflicts of interest, with two charities receiving significant funding from industry sources.

SourceLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine·JournalEuropean Journal of Public Health·DateJun 13, 2014

Genetic 'barcode' for malaria could help contain outbreaks

A new genetic 'barcode' for malaria parasites has been found, enabling the tracking and containment of disease spread. The barcode can identify the geographic origin of infections and monitor the spread of drug-resistant parasites.

SourceLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 13, 2014
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

NASA sees Tropical Storm Nanauk's soaking swan song

Tropical Storm Nanauk formed over India in June 2014 and moved northwest towards the Arabian Sea. The storm exhibited powerful storms dropping heavy rain at a rate of over 247mm/hour when observed by NASA's TRMM satellite on June 11.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateJun 13, 2014

Cracks in Pluto's moon could indicate it once had an underground ocean

A NASA-funded study suggests that cracks on Pluto's moon Charon could reveal a past underground ocean. The analysis finds that a high-eccentricity phase in Charon's orbit may have generated large tides, causing friction and surface fractures. This friction would have also caused the tides to slightly lag behind their orbital positions.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalIcarus·DateJun 13, 2014

Who's using your data?

Researchers at MIT's CSAIL are developing a protocol called HTTPA that automatically monitors private data transmission and allows owners to examine usage. The system uses distributed hash tables to store transaction logs on multiple servers, ensuring accessible data even if some servers go down.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·DateJun 13, 2014
Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

BRCA test results affect patients' breast cancer surgery plans

A new study found that women with breast cancer who test positive for BRCA mutations are more likely to change their surgical plan, typically opting for a double mastectomy and sometimes ovary removal. Genetic testing before surgery can significantly impact treatment decisions, but may not necessarily delay surgery.

SourceBrown University·JournalGynecologic Oncology·DateJun 13, 2014

Text messages helpful in controlling diabetes

A Scripps Whittier study shows that text messages can help improve glycemic control in Latino patients with type 2 diabetes. The intervention used text messages to provide healthy nutrition tips, physical activity reminders, and medication adherence encouragement.

SourceScripps Health·DateJun 13, 2014

Biomarkers predict long-term outcomes in juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Researchers developed biomarkers from whole blood gene expression profiles to predict disease status at 12 months in children with newly diagnosed JIA. The study found strong predictive properties for disease status after four months of therapy, and identified different mechanisms of response in RF positive patients.

SourceEuropean Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR)·DateJun 13, 2014

Are female hormones playing a key role in obesity epidemic?

Researchers found a correlation between affluence and obesity rates, with women typically having higher levels of obesity than men in developing countries. However, in the Western world, male obesity often exceeds female obesity, suggesting an alternative cause may be at play.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJun 13, 2014
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.

Researchers 'cage' water to see it change form

Scientists have successfully 'caged' water molecules to observe the change in orientation of hydrogen atoms, transforming water from one form to another. By cooling the trapped molecules, researchers can track the percentages of ortho and para isomers at different temperatures.

SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·DateJun 13, 2014

Moffitt study shows utilizing genetic health care professional reduces unnecessary testing

A new Moffitt Cancer Center study found that patients who received pre-test genetic counseling were more likely to recall having a discussion with their healthcare provider, suggesting improved quality of care. The study also showed that genetic health care providers ordered less expensive testing in cases where it was appropriate.

SourceH. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute·JournalGenetics in Medicine·DateJun 13, 2014

Nurses play critical role in responding to global resurgence of pertussis

Pertussis cases are rising globally, with an estimated 50 million cases and 300,000 deaths worldwide. Nurses can educate patients and the public on the importance of follow-up booster vaccinations to maintain immunity. Partnerships between healthcare organizations, schools, and communities can also help increase vaccination rates.

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalJournal of Christian Nursing·DateJun 13, 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.