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Science News Archive November 2015


Page 8 of 35

Tuberculosis: Daily antibiotics recommended to prevent resistant strains

A computer model of tuberculosis has shown that daily antibiotic regimens are more effective than once or twice a week in preventing drug-resistant strains. The study suggests that increasing the number of doses and improving drug properties can lead to significant improvements in treatment success rates.

Adapting to -70 degrees in Siberia: A tale of Yakutian horses

The study reveals that Yakutian horses developed their adaptations in less than 800 years, making it one of the fastest examples of adaptation in mammals. The genome analysis shows that the founders of modern Yakutian horses entered the region with Yakut horse-riders in the 13-15th century AD.

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.

Complex hospital infection data confuses consumers

A recent study published in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology found that patients struggle to understand CMS hospital infection data, which is meant to help them make informed decisions. The authors recommend improving the way this data is presented to increase transparency and quality of care.

Hydra can modify its genetic program

Researchers at the University of Geneva discovered that Hydra cells can modify their genetic program by overexpressing genes involved in nervous functions. This study sheds light on cellular plasticity, a phenomenon that could influence research into regenerative medicine and neurodegenerative diseases.

Next-generation infrared detectors win NSF funding

The Rochester Institute of Technology and Raytheon Vision Systems collaboration has received $2 million in NSF funding to develop new infrared detectors grown on silicon wafers. The technology is expected to increase discovery space for telescopes and expand its use to homeland security, remote sensing, and biomedical imaging.

Anti-fat attitudes shaped early in life

Researchers found that older toddlers as young as 32 months prefer looking at average-weight figures over obese ones, with maternal anti-fat prejudice strongly correlated. This suggests that children absorb and display societal attitudes early on, highlighting the need to address weight-based prejudice.

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.

New research may draw a 'curtain of fire' on dinosaur extinction theory

A new study provides a quantitative estimate of the effects of continental flood basalts on climate, vegetation, and oceans during the time of the dinosaurs. The researchers found that temperatures would cool by as much as 4.5 degrees Celsius due to volcanic gas emissions but return to normal within 50 years after an eruption ceased.

Tandem solar cells are simply better

Researchers at EMPA have developed tandem solar cells that convert a larger portion of light energy into electricity, using polycrystalline thin films and semi-transparent perovskite film. The new process enables large area low-cost processing and flexible plastic or metal foils as substrates.

New test may improve diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancers

Researchers found CTCs in 100% of patients with suspected tumors, but only 4% detected through peripheral blood. Portal vein samples provided more accurate tumor cell information, enabling better clinical decisions. The test could help predict patient outcomes and guide treatment options.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Sharing economy can help financial struggles

A QUT research found that sharing economy model could be developed to support people experiencing financial hardship by providing essential services like food relief. Clients who interacted with each other at the centre appreciated social value and gained useful knowledge, while stigma attached to seeking help was reduced.

Ants filmed building moving bridges from their live bodies

Researchers discovered that army ant bridges can move to span large gaps and change position as needed, balancing a cost-benefit trade-off between colony benefits and worker sequestration. This finding has implications for developing swarm robotics for disaster relief and exploration.

Exploring the causes of cancer

Cancer occurs when cell signals are dysregulated, leading to abnormal growth. The RET protein plays a crucial role in kidney and nerve development, as well as many human cancers.

NASA eyes Tropical Cyclone Annabelle in Southern Indian Ocean

Tropical Storm Annabelle formed on Nov. 21 with NASA's Terra satellite capturing its development, intensified winds reaching up to 67 mph/108 kph. The storm weakened on Nov. 23 as cloud tops warmed, indicating a decrease in convection and tropospheric height.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Fruit flies provide new insight into body's rhythms

Researchers discovered that IR25a plays a key role in entraining fruit fly brains to small changes in temperature. The study found that when temperature fluctuations were large, flies lacking IR25a could adapt, but when they were small, the flies struggled to synchronize their circadian clocks.

A huge chunk of a tardigrade's genome comes from foreign DNA

Researchers found that tardigrades have a massive amount of foreign DNA, with around 17.5% coming from non-tardigrade sources, primarily bacteria. This challenges conventional views on how DNA is inherited and raises new questions about the connection between foreign DNA and extreme environment survival.

New finding offers hope for diabetic wound healing

Researchers at the University of Notre Dame have discovered a compound that accelerates diabetic wound healing, opening doors to new treatment options. The study found that combining an MMP-9 inhibitor with enzyme MMP-8 enhances healing even further.

Seizure risk of anti-shivering agent meperidine greatly overstated

A new review of 45 years of medical literature found relatively few cases of meperidine-associated seizures, with coexisting conditions often contributing to the increased risk. The study concludes that meperidine's role as an effective anti-shivering agent should continue to be explored.

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.

Ultrastable materials investigated in depth

Researchers measured thermal expansion of ceramics and silicon in a precise temperature range, revealing significant deviations from reference values. The results are crucial for future space missions like JWST and SPICA.

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.

Neuroscientists gain insight into cause of Alzheimer's symptoms

A study published in the journal Brain found that amyloid plaques around blood vessels in the brain can disrupt astrocyte function, leading to reduced cerebral blood flow. This could account for symptoms such as memory lapses, impaired decision-making, and personality changes associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Christopher H. Scholz wins top honor in seismology

Scholz has made significant contributions to seismology, bridging laboratory studies of rock mechanics with fundamental research on crustal-scale deformation. He has developed influential models for earthquake prediction and helped create regional seismic hazard maps.

Infertile worms resist infection-induced neurodegeneration

Researchers have found that infertile animals appear to be protected from neurodegeneration in a study using C. elegans worms. The study, which appears online now, showed that infected worms display hallmarks of neurodegeneration similar to those seen in humans, but infertile animals resist this process.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

CU researchers study palliative care preferences of Latinos on dialysis

A CU research study found that Latino patients on dialysis prefer aggressive care and earlier discussions about end-of-life decisions. The study highlights the importance of delivering palliative care in a culturally sensitive way to meet the needs of this growing segment of the US population.

Breastfeeding lowers risk of type 2 diabetes following gestational diabetes

A recent study published in Annals of Internal Medicine found that breastfeeding significantly lowers the risk of developing type 2 diabetes after gestational diabetes. Women who exclusively or mostly breastfed for at least two months after giving birth were half as likely to develop type 2 diabetes within two years after delivery.

Bird poaching continues to result in victims

In Gipuzkoa province, bird poaching continues to pose a threat to biodiversity conservation, with dozens of birds arriving at rehabilitation centers with firearm-inflicted wounds. Researchers analyzed data from 2006 to 2013 and found that the spatial distribution of shot birds was concentrated around fixed hunting stands.

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.

Young women who survive cardiovascular event have long-term risks

A study found that young women who survived heart attacks or strokes had higher mortality rates from cardiovascular events, with an increased risk of cardiac and cerebral events. The researchers followed up with 226 women who had a heart attack, 160 women who had ischemic stroke, and 782 comparison patients for nearly 19 years.

Marine airgun noise could cause turtle trauma

Scientists warn that seismic surveys may cause behavioural changes and physical harm to turtles, including auditory damage and entanglement in gear. Researchers call for more research to address knowledge gaps and propose preventative measures to minimize the impact of seismic surveys on marine turtle populations.

Blood from small children 'remembers' prenatal smoking exposure

Research led by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health finds that blood from preschoolers contains molecular evidence of prenatal smoking exposure, detectable 5 years post-birth. The study uses epigenetic analysis to identify a signature associated with smoking during pregnancy, which may also be linked to other toxins and hea...

Vitamin D does not reduce colds in asthma patients

A randomized controlled trial found that vitamin D supplementation did not reduce the number or severity of colds in adults with mild-to-moderate asthma. Achieving normal levels of vitamin D made no difference in cold frequency or severity, contradicting previous findings.

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.

Loss of mastodons aided domestication of pumpkins, squash

Research suggests that wild pumpkin and squash were initially used for non-food purposes, such as containers and tools, before humans discovered their edible value. The loss of megafauna allowed wild plants to grow in new environments, leading to the evolution of palatability.

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.

ACP: Doctors should prescribe generic medications whenever possible

The American College of Physicians recommends prescribing generic medications when available, as it improves health outcomes, reduces harm, and eliminates wasteful practices. Generic substitution can lead to better long-term medication adherence and save patients $1.4 billion annually.

Getting under the skin of a medieval mystery

A team of researchers used a non-invasive method to extract protein from medieval parchment samples, identifying the use of multiple mammal species in some manuscripts. The study resolves a long-standing controversy over the origin of 'uterine vellum' and sheds new light on medieval manuscript production techniques.

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.

Sensor sees nerve action as it happens

Researchers at Duke University have created a technique for monitoring neurons in action with a time resolution of about 0.2 milliseconds, allowing for the first holistic view of neural activity in mammalian brains. This breakthrough enables scientists to study how brain activity translates into specific thoughts and behaviors.

UMD study explains racial and ethnic disparities in unintended pregnancy

A new study from the University of Maryland School of Public Health examined why African American and Hispanic women have higher rates of unintended pregnancies than White women. Researchers found that unique factors such as maternal age, income, health insurance status, US born status, and educational level contributed to these dispar...

Surprise: Stretchy slabs in deep Earth

Scientists have observed unusual seismic wave speeds that suggest the frozen olivine structure within the flat-slab slab has vanished and been replaced by a new unexpected structure. This implies that slabs are weak enough to deform internally in the upper mantle over time.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Loneliness triggers cellular changes that can cause illness, study shows

A recent study by the University of Chicago has found that loneliness triggers fight-or-flight stress signaling, leading to increased production of white blood cells and impaired antiviral responses. This shift in monocyte output contributes to loneliness' associated health risks, including premature death.

New class of RNA tumor suppressors identified by Stanford researchers

Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have identified a new class of RNA molecules that act as powerful tumor suppressors by inhibiting the cancer-causing protein KRAS. The study found that these RNAs, called SNORD50A/B, are deleted in over a quarter of common human cancers, leading to poorer survival rates for patients.

Children who take ADHD medicines have trouble sleeping, new study shows

A new study from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln found that children taking ADHD medications experience significant sleep problems, including delayed sleep onset and poor quality sleep. The researchers recommend frequent monitoring by pediatricians and consideration of behavioral treatments to minimize these adverse effects.

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.

NASA's Terra satellite sees Typhoon In-fa stretching

Typhoon In-fa has become elongated to the northeast with powerful thunderstorms surrounding its cloud-filled eye. The storm is expected to weaken over the next couple of days and approach the island of Iwo To, Japan on Nov. 26.

UF creates trees with enhanced resistance to greening

Researchers at the University of Florida have developed genetically modified citrus trees that exhibit enhanced resistance to greening, reducing disease severity and even remaining disease-free after 36 months. The study, published in PLOS ONE, used a gene isolated from Arabidopsis to create the new trees.

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.