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Science News Archive November 2014


Page 9 of 31

Crops help to drive greater seasonal change in CO2 cycle

Researchers found that agricultural production, particularly corn, boosts the productivity of four leading food staples, significantly modifying the annual cycle of atmospheric CO2 in the Northern Hemisphere. This growth contributes up to a quarter of the total increase in seasonal carbon exchange, and possibly more.

An alternative to 'Turing Test'

Georgia Tech researcher Mark Riedl develops Lovelace 2.0 Test to evaluate artificial intelligence's human-level creativity, moving beyond the limitations of the Turing Test. The new test requires agents to create artifacts that demonstrate a range of human-like intelligent capabilities.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

A grant to see molecules in 3-D

The Pitt Quantum Repository aims to create an open, mobile-ready database of accurate quantum calculations for molecules. This will enable students to visualize and understand molecular structures in 3D, improving learning outcomes.

Humans and mice: So similar but yet so different

A team of international researchers has detailed the functional parts of the mouse genome and compared them with those in humans, finding that certain processes are preserved through time. The study reveals new insights into mammalian biology and human illness mechanisms.

Bacterial infections suppress protective immune response in neurodermatitis

Researchers found that bacterial infections due to Staphylococcus aureus aggravate neurodermatitis by triggering the formation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells, which suppress both harmful and beneficial immune responses in the skin. This can lead to chronic inflammation, itching, and social stigmatization in patients.

People's movement perturbed during, but similar after Hurricane Sandy

A study analyzing Twitter data from over 700,000 tweets found that New Yorkers resumed normal mobility less than 24 hours after Hurricane Sandy. The researchers observed similar geographical and statistical distributions of locations before and after the hurricane, suggesting resilience in human movement during the disaster.

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.

Vanderbilt study finds more breast cancer patients opting for mastectomy

A Vanderbilt study reveals a significant increase in the number of women with early-stage breast cancer choosing mastectomy over breast conservation surgery. The trend was most pronounced among younger women and those with smaller tumors, suggesting factors other than disease burden are at play.

Fountain of youth underlies Antarctic Mountains

Researchers discovered a vast network of lakes and rivers at the Gamburtsev Mountains' base, preserved by thick ice. The study explains how the blanket of ice has halted erosion, stalling aging of the mountains at higher elevations.

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.

Study: Teens who mature early at greater risk of depression

A new study by University of Illinois psychologist Karen D. Rudolph found that early puberty triggers psychological, social-behavioral and interpersonal difficulties that predict elevated levels of depression in both boys and girls. Early maturation was particularly detrimental to girls, who experience immediate psychological and envir...

Thin film produces new chemistry in 'nanoreactor'

Physicists at the University of Groningen have discovered a new manganese compound produced by tension in the crystal structure of terbium manganese oxide. The discovery could lead to the creation of new nanoscale circuits.

Laser for tattoo removal appears to improve facial acne scarring

A laser used for tattoo removal has been found to improve facial acne scarring in a small study. The treatment showed significant improvement in skin appearance and texture, with patients reporting satisfaction rates of 25-100%. Additional research is needed to confirm these findings.

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.

Professional majors strengthen the mission of liberal arts colleges

A University of Iowa study finds that adding professional and vocational majors to liberal arts colleges strengthens their mission, with students achieving similar educational gains across majors. Key findings include increased interest in literacy among liberal arts majors and higher leadership skills among professional majors.

Can eating blueberries really help you see better in the dark?

A new study by Wilhelmina Kalt and colleagues found that a blueberry-supplemented diet did not improve sight in the dark, but helped subjects recover normal vision after exposure to bright light. The enhancement was small and unlikely to be noticeable to most healthy individuals.

Power behind 'master' gene for cancer discovered

Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center have identified a protein complex called CSN and its subunit CSN6 as a key factor in cancer development. The study found that inhibiting CSN6 can quickly destabilize the master cancer gene Myc, greatly impairing tumor growth and metastasis.

A signature for success

Researchers have identified specific genetic mutations in melanoma tumors that predict effective responses to a groundbreaking immunotherapy. The discovery, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, could lead to more targeted and personalized cancer treatments, including tailored therapies for patients with diverse tumor genomes.

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.

The Affordable Care Act in Kentucky, one year later

The Affordable Care Act has led to improved health care access for Kentucky's lowest-income residents, with 413,000 people gaining medical coverage. Residents are now able to seek non-urgent medical attention and receive guideline-based care, reducing financial stress.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Unhealthy behavior may be cross-generational

A study found that children who spend more time in front of screens are at increased risk for obesity and heart disease. The researchers suggest reducing parental screen time may help lower the risk in children. Parents' behavior can have a lasting impact on their child's health.

Business culture in banking industry favors dishonest behavior

A new study by Alain Cohn, Ernst Fehr, and Michel Maréchal found that bank employees are not inherently more dishonest than those in other industries. The study suggests that the banking sector's business culture, which implicitly favors dishonest behavior, is a significant contributor to the industry's reputational loss.

Cochrane Review of reminder systems to improve TB diagnoses and care

A systematic review found that reminder systems, including pre-appointment prompts and contact with missed appointments, can significantly improve treatment completion rates. The review's findings suggest these policies have important benefits and can contribute to improving TB treatment outcomes.

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Fathers' engagement with baby depends on mother

Researchers found that fathers' positive engagement increased as their intuitive parenting increased, but only when mothers had shown lower levels of intuitive parenting. The study involved highly educated, dual-earner couples and few in which the mother would be staying at home full-time.

New technology may speed up, build awareness of landslide risks

Researchers developed a non-subjective technology to analyze and classify landslide risks on a landscape scale, revealing some areas have landslides from one time or another in history. The new system can identify risks common to broad areas, potentially leading to increased awareness and informed land use decisions.

Syracuse geologists shed light on formation of Alaska Range

Geologists have figured out what caused the Alaska Range to form its distinctive topography and why it boasts such an enigmatic signature. The narrow mountain range's high peaks are built from previously fractured rock units, driven by movement along the Denali fault.

More children surviving dilated cardiomyopathy without heart transplant

Recent research has shown that children with dilated cardiomyopathy are living longer without heart transplants, with a survival rate of 15% without transplantation. The study found that the more recent era (2000-09) had better survival rates and was associated with factors other than transplantation availability.

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.

New leadless pacemaker safe, reliable

Researchers have developed a new self-contained leadless cardiac pacemaker that reduces complications associated with traditional pacemaker systems. The device was implanted in eight patients with no complications in an average of 41 minutes and demonstrated reliable performance during follow-up sessions.

Response to new drug in patients with lymphomas and advanced solid tumors

Patients with B-cell Non-Hodgkin lymphomas and advanced solid tumors have responded to the new drug E7438, a histone methyltransferase inhibitor. The drug has shown anti-tumor effects in four patients with refractory lymphoma and one patient with a malignant rhabdoid tumor, indicating potential for personalized medical therapy.

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.

Crescendo Bioscience highlights new Clinical Data on Vectra DA at ACR

New clinical data show Vectra DA is a strong predictor of radiographic progression over two years compared to other tests used to assess risk of joint damage. The study found that among patients with low CRP, high Vectra DA scores were associated with increased risk of radiographic progression.

Arab countries take a new direction for national food security

The Arab Food Security Project aims to improve domestic productivity by investing in agricultural research, resulting in a 28% increase in wheat yield across 10 countries. The initiative will work towards reducing dependence on food imports and promoting better rural livelihoods through knowledge sharing and improved technologies.

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.

Spiraling light, nanoparticles and insights into life's structure

Researchers at the University of Michigan found that circularly polarized light can influence the self-assembly of nanoparticles into chirally specific structures. This phenomenon has implications for understanding homochirality and potentially developing new methods for inducing chirality in molecules.

Surgeons use 3-D printed model of heart to treat patients with disorders

Researchers used 3D printing to create detailed heart models of three patients with complex congenital heart defects. Surgeons successfully repaired severe abnormalities in all three patients, potentially extending their lifespan by decades. This emerging technology has the potential to revolutionize surgical planning and treatment.

A gut reaction

Queen's University scientists found that nanosilver can upset the human gut community at low concentrations. The discovery highlights the potential risks of nanoparticles in everyday life and underscores the need for further research on their long-term effects on health.

Sun's rotating 'magnet' pulls lightning towards UK

Researchers found a 50% increase in UK thunderstorms when the Sun's spiral-shaped magnetic field pointed towards or away from Earth, potentially exposing the upper atmosphere to galactic cosmic rays. This discovery could lead to a reliable lightning forecast system that provides weeks-in-advance warnings of hazardous events.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

What agricultural 'ecosystems on steroids' are doing to the air

Scientists found that agricultural crops play a significant role in seasonal fluctuations of carbon dioxide, which could help understand and predict how Earth's vegetation reacts to global warming. The study reveals a nuance in the carbon cycle, explaining about 25% of the increase in seasonal swings with croplands.

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.

Social sensing game detects classroom bullies

A new social sensing game created at Illinois detects bullying behavior and identifies classroom bullies more effectively than traditional research methods. The game analyzes students' interactions in real-time, revealing behaviors like private messages and negative nominations.

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.