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Science News Archive 2015 - Page 208


Page 208 of 402

Aromatic couple makes new chemical bonds

Researchers at ITbM have developed a novel, relatively inexpensive synthetic strategy using nickel catalyst to form useful compounds. Esters have been identified as a clean coupling partner for the carbon-carbon bond forming cross-coupling reaction.

SourceInstitute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (ITbM), Nagoya University·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 29, 2015

GPs and the Fit for Work scheme

The GP's advisory role in the new Fit for Work scheme aims to provide additional support for those at risk of long-term incapacity. GPs can help patients weigh up pros and cons of returning to work, reducing negative consequences.

SourceUniversity of Plymouth·JournalBritish Journal of General Practice·DateJun 29, 2015
Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

Scoring system can help trauma centers improve care during surges in trauma cases

A new scoring system called Trauma Surge Index (TSI) can identify periods of high activity and increased trauma patient deaths in hospital emergency rooms. The TSI ranks surge activity on a scale from 0 to 8 and is unique for each hospital, accounting for severity of injuries and time of admission.

SourceAmerican College of Surgeons·JournalJournal of the American College of Surgeons·DateJun 29, 2015

Americans' best efforts not enough to cut heart disease deaths

Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of death in the US, with elevated cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and smoking contributing to half of heart disease deaths. Despite decades of progress, reducing these modifiable risk factors has not led to significant reductions in cardiovascular mortality.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateJun 29, 2015

Let's talk about sex

A study by Ben-Gurion University researchers found that seniors are using online communities to discuss sex and share advice on keeping their mojo working. The websites provide opportunities for this population to explore its sexuality and overcome sexual vulnerabilities, such as health issues and limited access to information.

SourceAmerican Associates, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev·JournalJournal of Leisure Research·DateJun 29, 2015

Athletes should drink only when thirsty, according to new guidelines

Athletes should drink only when thirsty to prevent exercise-associated hyponatremia (EAH), a condition that can lead to life-threatening swelling in cells. Drinking excess fluids does not prevent fatigue or heat stroke, and athletes can safely lose up to 3% of their body weight during competition without loss of performance.

SourceLoyola Medicine·JournalClinical Journal of Sport Medicine·DateJun 29, 2015

Most plastic surgeons now use fat grafting as part of facelift surgery

A recent study found that 85% of US plastic surgeons now use fat grafting in facelift surgery to enhance facial volume and reduce age-related deflation. The technique involves transferring small amounts of a patient's own fat to strategic areas, such as the cheek and nasolabial folds.

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalPlastic & Reconstructive Surgery·DateJun 29, 2015
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.

Most Internet anonymity software leaks users' details

A recent study revealed that 11 out of 14 popular VPN providers leak user information due to IPv6 weaknesses. This vulnerability affects users' browsing activities, including website access and online communications. Researchers warn that this exposure puts users at risk of being tracked by hackers or oppressive regimes.

SourceQueen Mary University of London·DateJun 29, 2015

Pioneering gene therapy takes aim at inherited blindness

A clinical trial is underway at the Royal Alexandra Hospital to test a new gene therapy treatment for choroideremia, a genetic disorder that causes inherited blindness. The treatment involves injecting a customized virus into the retina to transfer a healthy gene, with promising results already seen in early patients.

SourceUniversity of Alberta Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry·DateJun 29, 2015
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

OU student use nation's weather radar network to track bird migration at night

Two University of Oklahoma doctoral students have developed a technique to forecast the orientation behavior of birds as they migrate through the atmosphere at night using the nation's weather radar network. The approach has discovered broad-scale flight orientation of nocturnal migrant birds, offering a promising development for biolo...

SourceUniversity of Oklahoma·JournalIEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing·DateJun 29, 2015

New plan proposed to send humans to Mars

A new US strategy to send humans to Mars is proposed by NASA, utilizing existing or planned assets to minimize development costs. The plan involves a series of missions starting with a landing on Mars' moon Phobos in 2033, followed by short-stay and year-long landings in subsequent years.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalNew Space·DateJun 29, 2015

Key element of human language discovered in bird babble

Researchers discovered that chestnut-crowned babbler birds can rearrange meaningless sounds to create new meanings, similar to human language formation. This finding suggests a potential early step in the evolution of complex language systems.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateJun 29, 2015

Using bacterial 'fight clubs' to find new drugs

A team of Vanderbilt chemists used a novel approach called 'fight clubs' to identify promising new anti-cancer compounds from natural sources. By analyzing the interactions between bacteria and other microorganisms, they discovered a class of biomolecules with broad-spectrum activity.

SourceVanderbilt University·JournalACS Chemical Biology·DateJun 29, 2015
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.

Improving rice flour to aid food poverty

Researchers at Yamagata University have developed a high-quality rice flour that can overcome issues associated with previous rice flours. The new flour's improved properties enable better dough formation, increased elasticity, and more consistent texture, making it suitable for those with wheat intolerance.

SourceSociety for Experimental Biology·DateJun 29, 2015

Making new materials with micro-explosions: ANU media release

Researchers at ANU have developed a method to create laser-induced micro-explosions in silicon, resulting in the formation of two entirely new crystal arrangements and potentially four more. The new materials exhibit complex structures and altered electronic properties, including an altered band gap and superconductivity.

SourceAustralian National University·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 29, 2015

Cattle ID system shows its muzzle

Researchers in Egypt have developed a biometric identification system for cattle using unique muzzle features, reducing the risk of food fraud and improving tracking efficiency. The system achieved high accuracy rates of 94% in actual tests, making it a promising solution for ranchers to control their stock.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Image Mining·DateJun 29, 2015

Humans across the world dance to the same beat

A new study by University of Exeter and Tokyo University of the Arts found that songs from around the world share features like strong rhythm to enable coordination and group bonding. The researchers analysed 304 recordings of diverse music, revealing dozens of statistical universals related to pitch, rhythm, and social context.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 29, 2015
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.

Study: Severe asthma fails to respond to mainstay treatment

Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have discovered a unique immune response feature in patients with severe asthma, which may lead to new treatments. The study found that boosting levels of secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) reduces airway hyper-reactivity in animal models.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJun 29, 2015

Umbilical cord 'milking' improves blood flow in preterm infants

A technique called cord milking increases blood flow from the umbilical cord to the infant's circulatory system, improving blood pressure and red blood cell levels in preterm infants delivered by Cesarean section. This study found benefits only in Cesarean-delivered infants, while vaginal births showed no difference.

SourceNIH/Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development·JournalPEDIATRICS·DateJun 29, 2015

Almost 1 in 3 US adults owns at least 1 gun

A recent study found that nearly a third of US adults own guns, with a higher prevalence among white married men over 55. Gun ownership is also linked to social gun culture, where family or friends also own guns or engage in activities involving firearms.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalInjury Prevention·DateJun 29, 2015

Precise ages of largest number of stars hosting planets ever measured

A new study has precisely measured the ages of 33 Kepler stars with solar-like oscillations, revealing that even stars older than 11 billion years have Earth-like planets. The research uses asteroseismology to analyze tiny variations in starlight and provides a large sample for studying galactic archeology.

SourceAarhus University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateJun 29, 2015

Earthquake not to blame for Indonesian mud volcano

New research from the University of Adelaide suggests that a major mud volcano disaster in Indonesia was triggered by a drilling accident rather than an earthquake. The study used physical data collected before and after the disaster to disprove existing earthquake-triggering models.

SourceUniversity of Adelaide·JournalNature Geoscience·DateJun 29, 2015
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.

Automatic bug repair

CodePhage analyzes application execution to identify security checks missing from vulnerable code, then imports and inserts them into the source code. The system can repair common open-source programs in minutes, reducing grunt work for developers.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·DateJun 29, 2015

Researchers discover how petunias know when to smell good

A team of University of Washington biologists has identified a key mechanism plants use to decide when to release their floral scents. They found that the petunia's LHY gene controls when the plant releases its fragrance, connecting it to the innate circadian rhythms that pulse through all life on Earth.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 29, 2015
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.

Acceptance of working moms at all-time high

Research from San Diego State University reveals that societal acceptance of working mothers is at an all-time high among millennials. Attitudes towards women's work and family roles have changed significantly since the 1970s, with only 22% of 12th graders in the 2010s believing a preschool-aged child would suffer if their mother worked.

SourceSan Diego State University·JournalPsychology of Women Quarterly·DateJun 29, 2015

Recent mercury pollution on the rise, but quick to change, Dartmouth-led study shows

A Dartmouth-led study using a 600-year-old ice core shows that global mercury pollution increased dramatically during the 20th century, but declined faster than previously thought after emissions started to decrease in the late 1970s. The study suggests present-day efforts to cut mercury emissions will reduce pollution more quickly tha...

SourceDartmouth College·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateJun 29, 2015

Extreme makeover: Mankind's unprecedented transformation of Earth

Researchers at the University of Leicester identify four key changes driven by human activity: homogenization of species, Homo sapiens as top predator, direction of evolution, and interaction with technology. These changes represent a planetary transformation as fundamental as major extinction events.

SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalThe Anthropocene Review·DateJun 29, 2015
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.

Up, up and away, in the name of science education

Researchers propose high-altitude balloons as a tool for science education, enabling students to conduct experiments in near-vacuum environments. This technology offers opportunities for hands-on learning, creativity, and enthusiasm, while also advancing scientific knowledge.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Learning Technology·DateJun 29, 2015
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Is marriage good or bad for the figure?

A comparative study of 9 European countries found that married couples have a higher body mass index than singles, with differences attributed to changes in eating behaviors. However, the study also shows that married couples tend to eat healthier, with increased consumption of regional and organic products.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalSocial Science & Medicine·DateJun 29, 2015

Public health surveillance system may underestimate cases of acute hepatitis C infection

A new study suggests that less than 1% of diagnosed acute hepatitis C cases met CDC reporting criteria, indicating massive underreporting in the public health surveillance system. This finding is crucial for guiding public health initiatives and planning for future needs, as accurate estimates are essential for targeting resources.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateJun 29, 2015

PTSD, traumatic experiences may raise heart attack, stroke risk in women

Research examines the link between PTSD and cardiovascular disease in women, finding that those with four or more PTSD symptoms have a 60% higher rate of cardiovascular disease compared to those without. Women who experience traumatic events but no PTSD symptoms also show a 45% increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

SourceAmerican Heart Association·DateJun 29, 2015

Food for thought: Use more forages in livestock farming

Researchers argue that increasing the use of forages to feed livestock can enhance food security and improve productive capacity in poor producers. They suggest introducing new forage varieties and animal management practices to specific farming areas, as well as coordinated efforts by farmers, extension workers, and scientists.

SourceSpringer·JournalAMBIO·DateJun 29, 2015

Computers get with the beat

Researchers developed a simple system to automate music genre categorization by focusing on just pitch, tempo, and amplitude variation patterns. The approach uses random sample consensus (RANSAC) as a classifier and demonstrated accuracy in seven major musical genres.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Computational Intelligence Studies·DateJun 29, 2015
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.

Experts cover MERS outbreak in American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine

The recent MERS-CoV outbreak in Korea spread quickly due to poor infection prevention and control measures, overcrowding, and environmental contamination. The authors emphasize the importance of implementing stringent hospital protocols, contact tracing, and mandatory quarantine for close contacts.

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateJun 29, 2015

Key element of human language discovered in bird babble

A new study has deciphered the sounds of chestnut-crowned babbler birds to reveal a key element of human language, where rearranging meaningless sounds creates meaningful signals. This finding suggests that the ability to generate new meaning may have evolved early in the emergence of complex communication systems.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalPLOS Biology·DateJun 29, 2015

Interest in child-specific nurse practitioner programs dwindling

Research suggests that most pediatric and neonatal nurse practitioner programs have vacancies due to low interest, even with decreasing class sizes. Experts emphasize the need for greater awareness about employment opportunities for graduates.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalJournal of Professional Nursing·DateJun 29, 2015

ASHG honors Kay E. Davies with William Allan Award

Kay E. Davies has made significant contributions to understanding Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a genetic disorder that causes rapid muscle weakness. Her research has led to the development of dystrophin minigenes and utrophin-based treatments, offering hope for all DMD patients.

SourceAmerican Society of Human Genetics·DateJun 29, 2015

Sandia's Z machine receives funding aimed at fusion energy

Researchers aim to develop more efficient fusion reactions using laser technology, leveraging Sandia's Z accelerator and LLE's OMEGA laser facility to study intermediate-density plasmas. The goal is to improve techniques for compressing and heating fuel to increase efficiency and understand subsidiary processes.

SourceDOE/Sandia National Laboratories·DateJun 29, 2015
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.

Stink bugs have strong taste for ripe fruit

Researchers found stink bugs track ripening fruit to maximize food access, suggesting limiting fruit availability in spring and fall could be an effective strategy for controlling stink bug populations. The study provides critical intelligence in the battle against these pests and their annual destruction.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalJournal of Pest Science·DateJun 29, 2015

License plate decals don't seem to curb learner driver crash rates

Research published in Injury Prevention found that license plate decals did not reduce crash rates among young drivers with learner permits in New Jersey. The study analyzed data from January 2006 to June 2012 and found no association between decal provision and crash rates, citing high compliance with passenger restrictions

SourceBMJ Group·JournalInjury Prevention·DateJun 29, 2015

Genes responsible for increased activity during the summer

A study by the University of Leicester reveals that a thermosensory gene called TrpA1 is linked to changes in behavior in flies during warmer climates. The research suggests that this gene plays a crucial role in regulating the biological clock, which is essential for controlling circadian rhythms.

SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 29, 2015
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.

New nanogenerator harvests power from rolling tires

Researchers at University of Wisconsin-Madison developed a nanogenerator that converts wasted friction energy into electricity, potentially increasing gas mileage by up to 10%. The device uses the triboelectric effect to harness energy from tire friction, providing an innovative way to reuse energy and reduce waste.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalNano Energy·DateJun 29, 2015

Danish researchers map important enzyme in the fight against cancer

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen discovered a mechanism that controls ADAM17, an enzyme crucial for cancer tumour growth. By inhibiting PACS-2, they found a way to target ADAM17 without affecting other enzymes, potentially leading to improved cancer treatments.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 29, 2015

More secondary schooling reduces HIV risk

A study in Botswana found that each additional year of secondary school lowers the risk of HIV infection by 8 percentage points, particularly for women. The research suggests that secondary schooling could be a cost-effective way to reduce HIV transmission and has large benefits beyond HIV prevention.

SourceHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health·JournalThe Lancet Global Health·DateJun 28, 2015
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.

SAPH-ire helps scientists prioritize protein modification research

The tool collects non-redundant PTM data across all known members of a protein family and projects it onto 3D protein structures to visualize PTM hotspots. By analyzing these hotspots, scientists can prioritize research on proteins with high potential for biological function.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalMolecular & Cellular Proteomics·DateJun 28, 2015

Emergency visits for childhood food allergy on rise in Illinois

A Northwestern University study finds that severe food allergies are impacting children of all races and income levels in Illinois, with a significant increase in emergency room visits for anaphylaxis. The study also reveals a notable rise in hospitalizations among Hispanic children, up 44% per year.

SourceNorthwestern University·DateJun 26, 2015

Attractive female flies harmed by male sexual attention

A recent Australian and Canadian study on fruit flies reveals that too much male sexual attention hinders the species' adaptation to new conditions. The research found that sexually attractive females were overwhelmed by male suitors, leading to a decrease in their egg-laying ability.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJun 26, 2015