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Science News for May 9, 2014


Salt needed: Tolerance lessons from a dead sea fungus

A team of researchers studied the genome of a Dead Sea fungus to understand its survival strategy in salty environments. The study found that the fungus needs to control cell membrane transport under tight conditions to cope with extreme salt levels.

SourceDOE/Joint Genome Institute·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 9, 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.

Overexpression of Notch1 in temporal lobe epilepsy

The study found that overexpression of Notch1 in temporal lobe epilepsy rats reduced seizure frequency and brain discharges. Increased presence of Notch 1 and hairy and enhancer of split-1 was observed in intractable temporal lobe epilepsy patients, suggesting a potential role for Notch signaling in the disease.

SourceNeural Regeneration Research·JournalNeural Regeneration Research·DateMay 9, 2014

Calcium supplements not associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease in women

A new study by researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital found that taking calcium supplements did not increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in women. The study, published in Osteoporosis International, examined 74,245 women over 24 years and found no association between calcium supplement intake and heart attack or stroke.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalOsteoporosis International·DateMay 9, 2014

Molecular high-speed origami

The study reveals that chaperones, like GroEL and GroES, use a high-speed origami-like mechanism to accelerate protein folding. This process, which was previously thought to be energetically unfavorable, is now understood to be a favorable reaction, allowing proteins to fold faster than they are produced.

SourceMax Planck Institute of Biochemistry·JournalCell·DateMay 9, 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.

Bee biodiversity boosts crop yields

Research from North Carolina State University found that more diverse bee species improve blueberry yield by $311 per acre, with a total value of $1.42 million annually. The study suggests that differences in weather tolerance among bee groups contribute to this benefit.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMay 9, 2014

Autism-related protein shown to play vital role in addiction

A study published in Neuron reveals that Fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) plays a critical role in the development of addiction-related behaviors. FMRP is also linked to Autism Spectrum Disorders and controls brain connections during normal development.

SourceMcLean Hospital·JournalNeuron·DateMay 9, 2014
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Plugging leaky blood vessels to save vision

Researchers developed a novel compound, Sticky-trap, to treat retinopathy by selectively closing off abnormal blood vessels without affecting healthy ones. The treatment has shown promise in mice and may lead to a new class of pharmacological entities for various conditions.

SourceLunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute·JournalEMBO Molecular Medicine·DateMay 9, 2014

Study finds patients AFib at higher risk of dementia when meds out of range

A study by Intermountain Medical Center found that AFib patients on blood thinning medications are at higher risk of developing dementia if their doses are not within the optimal recommended range. Patients with dosages outside this range were 4.5 times more likely to develop dementia.

SourceIntermountain Medical Center·JournalHealth Policy and Planning·DateMay 9, 2014

Paleontologists discover new fossil organism

Researchers discovered a new fossil organism, Plexus ricei, resembling a tapeworm or modern flatworm, with bilateral symmetry unlike any other Precambrian fossils. The discovery sheds light on the earliest origins of bilaterian animals and their evolutionary history.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalJournal of Paleontology·DateMay 9, 2014

Love makes you strong

Researchers discovered that young adults in romantic relationships exhibit reduced neuroticism over time. The study found that partners support each other and positive experiences change thought structures, leading to increased stability. This effect is observed in both men and women, with long-term relationships having a stronger impact.

SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalJournal of Personality·DateMay 9, 2014
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Back to the future to determine if sea level rise is accelerating

Researchers have developed a new method to analyze sea level records, revealing substantial evidence for global and regional sea level acceleration. By 2020-2030, there will be statistical certainty of what the sea level rise situation will look like for the end of the century.

SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 9, 2014

Research indicates coyote predation on deer in East manageable

Research indicates that coyote predation on fawns in the East may not be significant enough to cause deer population decline, especially with reduced doe harvests. In contrast, extremely low doe survival rates combined with high fawn mortality support stabilization of Eastern deer populations.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Wildlife Management·DateMay 9, 2014

Teaching robots right from wrong

A team of scientists from Tufts University, Brown University, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is working on a project to create robots capable of making moral decisions. The researchers aim to develop formal frameworks for modeling human-level moral reasoning that can be verified and implemented in computational architectures.

SourceTufts University·DateMay 9, 2014
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.

UH chemical engineer earns Early Career Award from DOE

UH chemical engineer Lars Grabow has received a $750,000 five-year award from the Department of Energy to continue his research on upgrading bio-oil. Bio-oil is created by heating biomass and has high oxygen content, making it unstable for use as transportation fuel or chemical feedstock.

SourceUniversity of Houston·DateMay 9, 2014

Longevity gene may boost brain power

Researchers discovered that people with a variant of the longevity gene KLOTHO have improved brain skills, such as thinking and learning, which decreases with age. Increasing KLOTHO levels in mice may boost cognitive abilities by strengthening connections between nerve cells.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke·JournalCell Reports·DateMay 9, 2014

Plants' oil-desaturating enzymes pair up to channel metabolites

Scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory have found that certain desaturating fatty acid enzymes can link up to efficiently pass intermediate products from one enzyme to another. This process, known as metabolic channeling, enables the efficient production of useful plant products, such as healthful polyunsaturated fatty acids.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateMay 9, 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.

Life on cheese

Scientists investigate Vorarlberger Bergkäse, a regional Austrian cheese, to understand its unique microbiome. The study reveals the presence of halophilic microbe Halomonas on young rinds, which plays an unknown role in cheese-making.

SourceUniversity of Veterinary Medicine -- Vienna·JournalInternational Journal of Food Microbiology·DateMay 9, 2014

Scientists find gene behind a highly prevalent facial anomaly

Researchers found that duplication of the OTX2 gene is associated with hemifacial microsomia, a common facial disorder. The study used genomic analysis to identify the genetic cause of the condition in a large family affected by HFM.

SourceWhitehead Institute for Biomedical Research·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMay 9, 2014

Properties of water at nanoscale will help to design innovative technologies

Researchers have modeled water properties at the nanoscale, revealing surprising characteristics that can benefit various technological applications. The study's findings may lead to advancements in biomedical imaging, particularly Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), by optimizing contrast agents and improving image quality.

SourcePolitecnico di Torino·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 9, 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.

Colonization of Brazil by the cattle egret

The cattle egret's colonization of Brazil offers insights into non-native species dispersal and adaptation. The bird's ability to establish itself in the Americas without human introduction highlights its adaptability and potential ecological impacts.

SourcePensoft Publishers·JournalNeoBiota·DateMay 9, 2014

New method sneaks drugs into cancer cells before triggering release

Researchers developed a novel anti-cancer drug delivery method using lipid-based nanocapsules to deliver drugs directly to cancer cells. The technique triggers the release of the drug, leading to cell death in breast cancer tumors. This efficient and fast-acting approach may improve treatment outcomes for cancer patients.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalAngewandte Chemie·DateMay 9, 2014

New species of metal-eating plant discovered in the Philippines

Scientists have discovered a new plant species that can absorb high amounts of nickel, accumulating up to 18,000 ppm without being poisoned. This rare phenomenon has great potential for developing green technologies such as phytoremediation and phytomining.

SourcePensoft Publishers·JournalPhytoKeys·DateMay 9, 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.

Multimillion-dollar grant propels lab toward HIV cure

Yuntao Wu's lab has won a $3.3 million NIH grant to develop an HIV cure using a Trojan Horse approach. The strategy aims to eliminate the virus by targeting its hiding places in T-cells. If successful, it could offer a cure for people struggling with HIV.

SourceGeorge Mason University·DateMay 9, 2014

Forty is not too old or too late to start endurance training

A study of healthy senior men found that intense endurance exercise confers cardiac benefits regardless of age. The research, published by the European Society of Cardiology, indicates that 40 is not too old to start endurance training and that the heart remains amenable to modification through exercise even at this age. This finding s...

SourceEuropean Society of Cardiology·DateMay 9, 2014

Leadless pacemaker showing promising results after 1 year

The LEADLESS study found that the leadless pacemaker demonstrated overall device performance comparable to conventional pacemakers, with no infections or failures to sense, pace, or communicate. The device's benefits may allow for less patient discomfort and device complications.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·DateMay 9, 2014

How to increase the survival rate of motor neurons after spinal root avulsion

Researchers found that preconditioning crush can increase the survival rate of motor neurons after spinal root avulsion. The study, published in Neural Regeneration Research, discovered that induction of heat shock protein 27 inhibits neuronal nitric oxide synthase, attenuating cytotoxic effects and preventing ventral motor neuron loss.

SourceNeural Regeneration Research·JournalNeural Regeneration Research·DateMay 9, 2014
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.