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Science News for September 11, 2015


An antibody that can attack HIV in new ways

Researchers at Caltech have identified a broadly neutralizing antibody that can recognize HIV's envelope spike in different conformations, making it easier to detect and neutralize the virus. This discovery could lead to the development of combination therapies to fight HIV, which is currently evolving rapidly.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalCell·DateSep 11, 2015

Remnants of ex-Tropical Storm Linda spreading inland

The remnants of Tropical Storm Linda are spreading northward into northern Baja California and parts of the southwestern US, triggering shower and thunderstorm activity. Moisture from the remnant low is expected to bring increased risk of rip currents and dangerous high surf to Southern California coastline.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateSep 11, 2015
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.

Stellar discovery by Queen's researcher

A PhD candidate at Queen's University has made a groundbreaking discovery of the first massive binary star with magnetic fields. The research provides new insights into the origin of magnetism in massive stars and may help explain why only 10% of these stars have strong magnetic fields.

SourceQueen's University·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateSep 11, 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.

Making a difference with open source science equipment

A new study proposes open source tools can reduce research costs by redirecting funding to upgradeable equipment, improving performance and grant competition outcomes. The technology has already shown promise with customizable syringe pumps that match high-end performance, potentially yielding significant returns on investment.

SourceMichigan Technological University·JournalScience and Public Policy·DateSep 11, 2015

Ebola virus mutations may help it evade drug treatment

Genetic mutations in Ebola virus appear to block antibody-based treatments from warding off infection. The mutations, or 'escape variants,' have implications for the continued development of therapeutics to treat Ebola virus disease, which has claimed over 11,000 lives in West Africa.

SourceUS Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases·JournalCell Reports·DateSep 11, 2015

Innovative imaging technique reveals new cellular secrets

A team of researchers has developed a novel optical technique to resolve individual components of spindle pole body (SPB) duplication in living yeast cells, uncovering surprising facts about this nanoscale process. The study reveals that SPB duplication begins near the end of mitosis and forms structures not previously seen.

SourceStowers Institute for Medical Research·DateSep 11, 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.

Nano in food and agriculture: Regulations require collaboration to ensure safety

The European Commission's Joint Research Centre highlights the need for global cooperation to regulate nanotechnology in food and agriculture. Current approaches vary between countries, with EU and Switzerland introducing binding provisions and others relying on non-legally binding guidance.

SourceEuropean Commission Joint Research Centre·JournalRegulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology·DateSep 11, 2015

A better class of cancer drugs

A chemist at San Diego State University developed a new technique to improve the selectivity of protein kinase inhibitors, which can lead to fewer side effects. By locking in either the right- or left-handed version of an atropisomeric compound, researchers found more selective inhibition of specific kinases.

SourceSan Diego State University·JournalAngewandte Chemie·DateSep 11, 2015

Extreme pressure causes osmium to change state of matter

Scientists have successfully altered the state of matter of metallic osmium under extreme pressure conditions. The research uses ultra-high pressures to interact with core electrons in osmium, leading to anomalies in its compression behavior. This breakthrough could lead to new materials with unique properties.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalNature·DateSep 11, 2015

Too many candidates spoil the stew

A new study by Michigan State University researcher Arend Hintze found that moderate competition optimally drives the evolution of decision-making strategies in humans. In crowded areas, hermit crabs evolve split-second decision-making to claim new shells, demonstrating a similar phenomenon in human politics.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalScientific Reports·DateSep 11, 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.

Resveratrol impacts Alzheimer's disease biomarker

Researchers found that high-dose resveratrol stabilized a biomarker associated with Alzheimer's disease progression. The study, involving 119 participants, also showed that resveratrol was safe and well-tolerated, but its effects on brain volume were unclear.

SourceGeorgetown University Medical Center·JournalNeurology·DateSep 11, 2015

Stroke patients fare better with private insurance than with Medicaid

A study by University of Florida Health researchers found that stroke victims with private insurance had lower mortality rates, shorter hospital stays, and fewer complications compared to those on Medicaid. The study analyzed nationwide data from over 1.5 million hospital admissions between 2002 and 2011.

SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalNeurosurgery·DateSep 11, 2015

Study shows Africanized bees continue to spread in California

Researchers have found that more than 60 percent of the foraging honey bees in San Diego County are Africanized, and that Africanized bees can now be found as far north as California's delta region. The study suggests that the northward expansion of Africanized bees in California is consistent with patterns previously documented in Texas.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalPLOS ONE·DateSep 11, 2015
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.

Insights into obscure transition uncovered by X-rays

Researchers use X-rays to study nickelates and discover that tensile strain facilitates the transfer of electrons between atoms, ruling out electronic checkerboard theory. The findings provide new insight into the metal-insulator transition, guiding the design of new electronic devices.

SourceDOE/Argonne National Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateSep 11, 2015

Predicting tornadoes months or even seasons in advance

Researchers at University of Toronto develop model predicting tornado activity relative to changes in atmospheric conditions. The model takes into account instability and vertical windshear, shedding light on why actual tornado activity is vastly underestimated.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 11, 2015

Young male cyclists are the most likely to die after being involved in a traffic accident

A University of Granada study found that young male cyclists between 15 and 24 years old are at highest risk of death in traffic accidents. The researchers analyzed data from over 50,000 cyclists involved in accidents between 1993 and 2009, concluding that age and sex play a significant role in mortality rates among cyclists.

SourceUniversity of Granada·JournalAccident Analysis & Prevention·DateSep 11, 2015
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Burning remaining fossil fuel could cause 60-meter sea level rise

A recent study suggests that burning all accessible fossil fuels would lead to a 50- or 60-meter sea level rise, putting over a billion people at risk. The team's models indicate that the West Antarctic ice sheet becomes unstable within 60-80 years if carbon emissions continue at current levels.

SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalScience Advances·DateSep 11, 2015

Wavelets improve medical imaging

Research published in the International Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology reveals a wavelet transform approach that improves medical imaging. The technique boosts the signal-to-noise ratio and reduces artifacts, allowing for earlier disease detection and diagnosis.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Biomedical Engineering and Technology·DateSep 11, 2015

Diet beverage drinkers compensate by eating unhealthy food, study finds

A new study of over 22,000 U.S. adults found that diet-beverage consumers often make up for the calorie lack in their drinks by consuming more sugar, sodium, fat, and cholesterol in other foods. The study suggests a possible compensation effect where people who drink diet beverages may feel justified in eating more high-calorie foods.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics·DateSep 11, 2015
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.

Sedentary lifestyle and overweight weaken arterial health already in childhood

A new study published in Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports found that low levels of physical activity, weaker physical fitness, and higher body fat content are linked to arterial stiffness in 6-8 year-old children. Regular high-intensity exercise may help improve arterial health.

SourceUniversity of Eastern Finland·JournalScandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports·DateSep 11, 2015

More time for school lunches equals healthier choices for kids

Elementary and middle school students given at least 25 minutes to eat lunch are more likely to choose fruits and consume key nutrients. Longer lunch periods can lead to healthier food choices and reduced plate waste in schools.

SourceElsevier Health Sciences·JournalJournal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics·DateSep 11, 2015

Large eyes come at a high cost

Well-developed eyes require between 5% and 15% of an animal's total energy budget, according to a study on Mexican cavefish. The visual system's high energy cost leads to trade-offs with other organ systems in environments where it is not essential.

SourceLund University·JournalScience Advances·DateSep 11, 2015

Periodontitis and heart disease: Researchers connect the molecular dots

Periodontitis has been shown to increase the expression of pro-inflammatory angiopoietin 2, while decreasing anti-inflammatory angiopoietin 1 in aortic smooth muscle cells, leading to increased inflammation and atherosclerosis. This study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms linking periodontitis to heart disease.

SourceAmerican Society for Microbiology·JournalInfection and Immunity·DateSep 11, 2015

Montefiore and Einstein receive $3.9 million NCI Calabresi grant

The Montefiore-Einstein Center for Cancer Care has received a $3.93 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to support clinical oncology research. Four new scholars have been selected, including Drs. Thomas Ow and Akiva Novetsky, who will focus on radiation therapy and gynecologic oncology surgeries.

SourceAlbert Einstein College of Medicine·DateSep 11, 2015
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Down but not out -- inhibited Tyk2 retains anti-cancer activity

A team of researchers found that inhibiting the enzymatic activity of Tyk2 does not hinder its ability to activate natural killer cells. In fact, this inhibited form of Tyk2 still boosts NK cell maturation and activity, leading to strong suppression of cancer growth. This breakthrough suggests promising potential for new cancer therapies

SourceUniversity of Veterinary Medicine -- Vienna·JournalOncoImmunology·DateSep 11, 2015

Best precision yet for neutrino measurements at Daya Bay

The Daya Bay Collaboration has achieved the most precise measurements of neutrino oscillation to date, tracking the transformation of neutrinos and confirming that the experiment is paving the way for further research. The new results will have far-reaching implications for understanding the nature of neutrinos and the universe.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·DateSep 11, 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.

Inside climate politics

A study by MIT economist Christopher Knittel reveals an essential mechanism underlying the politics of climate change. The research shows that certain climate policies, like transportation fuel subsidies, contain asymmetries that benefit a smaller group at the expense of most people.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalThe Review of Economics and Statistics·DateSep 11, 2015

Best precision yet for neutrino measurements at Daya Bay

The Daya Bay Collaboration has made the most precise neutrino measurements to date, tracking neutrino oscillations and confirming that the experiment is a key player in advancing our understanding of fundamental physics. The new findings will aid in unraveling the mysteries of matter and antimatter asymmetry in the universe.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateSep 11, 2015
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.

Scientists learn how to predict plant size

VIB and UGent scientists developed a new method to predict plant size by analyzing RNA molecules. This approach allows breeders to select disease-resistant plants earlier and accelerate breeding programs. The study's findings have the potential to improve agricultural productivity and address global food security challenges.

SourceVIB (the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology)·JournalGenome Biology·DateSep 11, 2015

Burning all fossil energy would eliminate all ice of Antarctica

A new study finds that burning all fossil fuels would eliminate the Antarctic ice sheet, causing unprecedented sea-level rise. The risk increases with every additional tenth of a degree of warming, threatening major coastal cities like Tokyo and New York.

SourcePotsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)·JournalScience Advances·DateSep 11, 2015

Cancer patient receives 3-D printed ribs

A 54-year-old Spanish man received a revolutionary new implant made from 3D printed titanium alloy, designed to replicate the intricate structures of his sternum and ribs. The innovative prosthesis was created by medical device company Anatomics in collaboration with CSIRO's 3D printing facility Lab 22.

SourceCSIRO Australia·JournalEuropean Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery·DateSep 11, 2015

Short lunch periods in schools linked with less healthy eating

A new study from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that students with less than 20 minutes to eat school lunches consume significantly less of their entrées, milk, and vegetables. This can lead to unhealthy eating habits, as these students are more likely to skip fruits and vegetables.

SourceHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health·JournalJournal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics·DateSep 11, 2015