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Science News Archive October 2014


Page 13 of 35

Could I squeeze by you?

Scientists developed a deeper understanding of ideal mesoporous nanoparticle design to maximize catalytic output. They modeled molecular movement within narrow channels and found that the optimal channel diameter balances pore size with reactant and product passage.

Hospital acquisitions leading to increased patient costs

A new study by University of California, Berkeley researchers found that hospital acquisitions and consolidations increase patient costs in California. The study analyzed data from four years and found that per-patient expenditures were higher for physician groups in multi-hospital systems compared to those owned by physicians.

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.

Getting the salt out

Researchers at MIT and Saudi Arabia have developed a method to remove salt from produced water using electrodialysis, which can be economically viable for treating extremely high-salinity water. The technology could reduce the need for fresh water from other sources and minimize contaminated water disposal.

Clot dissolver tPA's tardy twin could aid in stroke recovery

Researchers at Emory University School of Medicine have identified a protein called urokinase-type plasminogen activator or uPA that helps brain cells recover from injuries induced by loss of blood flow. The study found that treating mice with uPA after an experimental stroke can improve their recovery of motor function.

Peanut in house dust linked to peanut allergy in children with skin gene mutation

A study published in Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology found a strong link between early-life exposure to peanut protein in household dust and peanut allergy in children genetically predisposed to a skin barrier defect. Exposure to peanut protein was associated with a three-fold increase in risk of school-age peanut allergy.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Even depressed people believe that life gets better

Middle-aged adults with depression tend to evaluate their past and current lives negatively, yet they also believe in a brighter future. Research suggests that this optimistic belief may not lead to better outcomes for these individuals.

Diet for your DNA: Novel nutrition plan sparks debate around data protection

A new study suggests that personalized nutrition plans based on an individual's genotype could significantly reduce the risk of obesity, heart disease, and Type II diabetes. However, concerns over personal data protection are hindering widespread adoption of nutrigenomics, a relatively new branch of nutrition.

Binge drinking in young men linked with increased risk of hypertension

A recent study published by the American Society of Nephrology found that binge drinking in young men is associated with an increased likelihood of developing high blood pressure. In contrast, low to moderate alcohol use in early adulthood is linked to a reduced risk of hypertension in females.

HP supercomputer at NREL garners top honor

The HP Apollo 8000 platform uses warm water to cool its servers, reusing it to heat the building, reducing energy consumption by 74% and saving $1 million annually. The system's liquid cooling approach provides high computational density in a small space, setting a new standard for energy-efficient data centers.

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.

NC State researchers advance genome editing technique

Researchers at NC State University have made significant advancements in the genome editing technique CRISPR-Cas, identifying key molecular elements that drive its activity. The study sheds light on how guide RNAs interact with the Cas9 endonuclease, enabling more precise genetic modifications.

Preservation technique for marginal livers prevents biliary stricture

A new preservation technique, sequential subnormothermic ex vivo liver perfusion (SNEVLP), has been shown to prevent ischemic type biliary stricture following liver transplantation using grafts from donations after cardiac death (DCD). SNEVLP reduces bile duct and endothelial cell injury post-transplantation compared to cold storage.

Resetting the circadian clock: Shift workers might want to skip high-iron foods

Researchers found that dietary iron plays a crucial role in regulating the liver's circadian clock, which can disrupt blood glucose levels. Eating high-iron foods at night may exacerbate this issue for shift workers, increasing the risk of metabolic disorders. More research is needed to determine optimal iron intake for shift workers.

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.

Special UO microscope captures defects in nanotubes

University of Oregon chemists use special microscope to visualize traps that disrupt energy flow in carbon nanotubes. The study provides a detailed view of internal structures of electronic waves trapped by external electrostatic charges.

Impressions shaped by facial appearance foster biased decisions

Research shows that people associate specific facial traits with personality traits, leading to biased decisions. Studies have found that faces associated with competence, dominance, and friendliness influence social outcomes, such as election results and military rank attainment.

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.

UMD researchers formulate cyber protection for supply chains

Researchers at the University of Maryland's Supply Chain Management Center have developed a user-ready online portal to help companies sense and respond to cyber supply chain risks. The portal combines cybersecurity, enterprise risk management, and supply chain management to provide benchmarking and anonymous industry peer comparison.

Queen's in international 'attosecond' science breakthrough

Scientists from Queen's University Belfast have made a groundbreaking discovery in attosecond science, tracking ultra-fast electron movement within a nanometer-sized molecule. This research has implications for understanding how radiotherapy kills cancer cells and improving solar cells.

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.

Exploring X-Ray phase tomography with synchrotron radiation

Researchers compared three X-ray phase tomography methods to determine which perform best for various conditions. The study found that holotomography and single-distance phase reconstruction outperform X-ray grating interferometry in terms of spatial resolution and contrast-to-noise ratios.

Color and texture matter most when it comes to tomatoes

A new study by the Institute of Food Technologists found that red tomatoes with firm texture, medium size, and high juice content are preferred. Consumers also value factors like familiarity with manufacturers, taste, price, and perceived health benefits.

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.

Researchers take big-data approach to estimate range of electric vehicles

Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a new software that estimates the range of electric vehicles by analyzing traffic data, weather, road grade and other variables. The tool uses a predictive, big-data approach to reduce range estimation error to a couple of miles and achieve 95% accuracy in some case studies.

POLARBEAR detects B-modes in the cosmic microwave background

The POLARBEAR collaboration has made the most sensitive measurements yet of the cosmic microwave background's polarization, revealing telling twists called B-modes that indicate cosmic history imprints. These findings suggest a new regime in precision cosmology, paving the way for solving mysteries about matter and energy at the Big Bang.

The ocean's living carbon pumps

Phytoplankton, tiny photosynthetic organisms, play a crucial role in regulating the Earth's carbon content. A new study reveals that viruses can rapidly wipe out blooms, fixing large amounts of organic carbon in the process.

Study shows how texas campus police tackle stalking

A study by Sam Houston State University's Crime Victims' Institute found that Texas campus police often fail to respond effectively to stalking cases due to victim fears and lack of policies. The report calls for improved strategies and partnerships between law enforcement and colleges to better support victims.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Once CD8 T cells take on one virus, they'll fight others too

Researchers found that once CD8 T cells fight one pathogen, they join the body's innate immune system, ready to respond to a wide variety of infections. This discovery suggests that adaptive CD8 T cells can contribute to innate immunity and may have important implications for vaccine design.

Smoking interferes with neurocognitive recovery during abstinence from alcohol

A new study found that smoking status significantly influences neurocognitive recovery in treatment-seeking alcohol-dependent individuals. Active-smoking ALC showed poorer recovery than never-smoking ALC on measures of learning and processing speed, while former-smoking ALC recovered less than never-smoking ALC on processing speed meas...

Triplet threat from the sun

Researchers discovered that certain peptides undergo a triplet state when exposed to UV light, leading to greater damage than fragmentation. This finding may help develop better UV protection mechanisms.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Making health services prices available linked to lower total claims payments

A recent study found that searching health service pricing websites before receiving care resulted in lower claim payments for clinical services such as laboratory tests and advanced imaging. The study included medical claims from 2010-2013 of over 502,000 patients who used a price transparency platform to find prices.

Large-scale study shows dramatic decline in mortality rates for ARDS

A large-scale study published in CHEST shows a striking decrease in mortality rates for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) from 46.8% in 1996 to 32.2% in 2011, with an 8.9% absolute reduction between 2000-2005. Advances in critical care medicine are seen as the primary cause of this decline.

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

Unsteady on your feet? Little touches could make all the difference

A new study has shown that even the lightest fingertip touch can significantly reduce sway in people with balance issues. The research, led by the University of Birmingham, found that this phenomenon is due to a sensory weighting mechanism that combines individual sensory feedback and motion cues from a partner.

Scientists take step towards drug to treat norovirus stomach bug

A study published in eLife has found that favipiravir is effective at lowering norovirus levels in the body, which may help reduce disease severity and prevent onward transmission. The experimental drug works by causing the virus to self-destruct through a process called lethal mutagenesis.

New analysis methodology may revolutionize breast cancer therapy

A novel methodology for investigation using modern mass spectrometry has been developed to investigate tumour-promoting activities of breast fibroblasts. This allows for the direct determination of undesirable cell activities in cancer-associated fibroblasts, which may promote tumour growth.

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.

Criminologists try to solve murder mystery: Who will become a killer?

Researchers found that only five factors can distinguish individuals who commit homicide from those who don't, including lower IQs and higher exposure to violence. The study aims to dispel myths about homicide perpetrators being psychopaths or drug addicts with severe mental illness.

Study examines effect of hospital switch to for-profit status

A study of 237 converting hospitals found that for-profit status improved financial margins, but no association was found with changes in care quality or patient outcomes. The findings suggest that regulators and policymakers should consider the potential benefits of for-profit conversions primarily on financial health.

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.

Teenage self-harm linked to problems in later life

A new UK study has found that teenage self-harm is associated with a higher risk of developing mental health and substance misuse problems as adults. The research, which analyzed data from over 4,700 adolescents, reveals that even non-suicidal self-harm can increase the likelihood of depression, anxiety, and other issues.

Tarantula venom illuminates electrical activity in live cells

Scientists have developed a novel probe that uses tarantula venom to visualize electrical activity in neurons and other cells. This breakthrough could help researchers better understand ion channel dysfunctions leading to conditions such as epilepsy and cardiac arrhythmias.

A rich vocabulary can protect against cognitive impairment

A study published in Anales de Psicología found that individuals with a higher vocabulary level had a lower risk of mild cognitive impairment. The research team measured vocabulary levels, years of schooling, and other factors in 326 subjects over 50 to explore the relationship between vocabulary and cognitive reserve.

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.

YEDA-XL-Protein GmbH agreement

The Weizmann Institute of Science has developed a novel, highly active interferon variant called YNSalpha8. PASylation technology extended its half-life in the body, resulting in improved protection from disease progression in a mouse model of human multiple sclerosis.

UNH research highlights extent and effects of school violence

A study by University of New Hampshire researchers found that 14% of school-age children were physically assaulted at school, while 48% experienced some form of victimization. The survey revealed high rates of intimidation and bullying, emphasizing the need for effective violence prevention programs.

Big black holes can block new stars

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University found that massive black holes can block the formation of new stars in mature galaxies. The study suggests that these jets of radio-frequency feedback streaming from central black holes prevent hot gas from cooling and collapsing into baby stars.

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

Temple study suggests a novel approach for treating non-cardiac chest pain

Researchers at Temple University Health System found that patients with non-cardiac chest pain experienced improved pain tolerance and reduced symptoms when treated with dronabinol. The study suggests a potential new approach for treating this condition, which affects an estimated 200,000 Americans annually.