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Science News Archive September 2015


Page 22 of 35

A more acidic ocean will bend the mermaid's wineglass

Scientists studied how a more acidic ocean affects the protective shell of the mermaid's wineglass algae. They found that in high carbon dioxide conditions, skeletons contained 32% less calcium carbonate and were 40% less stiff and droopier. This could make them more susceptible to damage from ocean currents and grazing by marine animals.

World's turtles face plastic deluge danger

A study by the University of Queensland found that over half the world's sea turtles have eaten debris, including plastics and other human waste. This poses a significant threat to their survival due to blockages or toxic chemical releases.

Increased memory with a flash of light

Researchers created a plant-human hybrid protein OptoSTIM1 to modulate calcium channels, leading to improved memory in mice. The study showed a nearly twofold increase in fear stimulus response memory compared to non-light-stimulated mice.

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.

Study examines role of vegetable food pairings in school plate waste

Researchers at Texas A&M University found that pairing popular vegetables with school entrees, such as burgers and chicken nuggets, can lead to increased vegetable consumption. The study suggests optimizing entrée-vegetable pairings in schools meals could positively impact vegetable intake for students relying on school meals.

Upslope migration of tropical plants due to climate change

A new study by Aarhus University researchers found that plant communities on the Chimborazo volcano in Ecuador have shifted upwards by more than 500 meters over the last two centuries. This dramatic shift is attributed to climate change and human-induced land cultivation, which has reduced precipitation and glacier coverage.

World has lost 3 percent of its forests since 1990

The world has lost 129 million hectares of forest area since 1990, with tropical forests taking the hardest hit. However, there have been positive signs, including a halving of net forest loss from 7.3 to 3.3 million hectares between 2010 and 2015.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Sierra Nevada snowpack lowest in five centuries

A new report led by University of Arizona researchers reveals the Sierra Nevada snowpack was at its lowest level in 500 years in 2015, exacerbating California's ongoing drought. The study uses tree-ring data to compare snowpack levels with temperatures, finding a strong correlation between warmer winters and lower snowpack.

Birds reveal the evolutionary importance of love

A new study by Malika Ihle and colleagues found that zebra finches choose mates based on stimulation, leading to increased reproductive success. The research suggests that this mate-choice process is essential for the survival of the species, as it maximizes gene perpetuation through successful offspring.

Mediterranean diet plus olive oil associated with reduced breast cancer risk

A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that women who followed a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra virgin olive oil had a significantly lower risk of developing breast cancer. The study, which involved over 4,200 women, showed that the Mediterranean diet with olive oil reduced breast cancer risk by 68%.

Racial disparities in pain children of children with appendicitis in EDs

A study published in JAMA Pediatrics found racial disparities in pain management among children with appendicitis in emergency departments, with black children receiving less pain medication and opioids. The study analyzed data from 2003 to 2010 and suggested that more research is needed to understand why such disparities exist.

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.

Social factors may impact young leukemia patients' survival

A new study reveals that social factors such as insurance status, marital status, and county-level income significantly affect the chances of survival in young patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). The findings highlight the need to address these non-biological patient characteristics to improve health outcomes.

Research shows evolution in real time

A UC Riverside-led study illustrates how guppies adapt to new environments in less than a year, showing evolution as a contemporary process. Researchers tracked the success of male guppies in making babies and surviving using DNA from their scales.

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.

NSF supports urban-scale instrument to measure city's fitness

The National Science Foundation awards nearly $40 million to support the development of smart cities, including a new instrument called Array of Things in Chicago. The instrument will enable researchers to rapidly deploy sensors and systems at scale in an urban environment.

Globalization is not saving developing countries from inequality

A study by Eric Maskin and Michael Kremer finds that globalization has increased income inequality in poor countries by widening the gap between low- and high-skilled workers. Increasing education levels of low-skilled workers is proposed as a solution to address this issue.

Switched before birth: Study shows protein creates tumor-fighting cells

Researchers have found a way to mobilize immune cells to attack and destroy malignant tumors by using a cell surface receptor called GITR. This protein can switch immature T-cells from becoming regulatory T-cells to tumor killers called Th9 cells, which produce the cancer-fighting protein interleukin 9.

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.

Myanmar looks to agroforestry for its uplands

A new project promotes agroforestry in Myanmar's uplands as a sustainable alternative to shifting cultivation, which harms livelihoods and ecosystems. The project aims to reduce the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides while boosting yields and diversifying income sources.

Learning is not a spectator sport

A study by Carnegie Mellon University's Simon Initiative shows that MOOCs are ineffective and that interactive approaches improve learning outcomes. Students who completed combined courses with OLI learned 66% on a final exam, compared to 57% for those in MOOC-only courses.

Rocky planets may be habitable depending on their 'air conditioning system'

Scientists from KU Leuven discovered that two of three possible climates on rocky exoplanets are potentially habitable. The 'air conditioning system' keeps surface temperatures within the habitable range, despite permanent day and night sides. This finding provides valuable input for future space missions.

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.

New leukemia gene stops blood cells 'growing up'

Scientists have identified a FOXC1 gene that causes more aggressive cancer in AML patients. When switched on in blood cell tissue, it stunts the development of blood cells and stops them maturing into normal specialized blood cells, leading to faster cancer growth.

An even more versatile optical chip

Researchers at INRS have developed an optical chip that can generate cross-polarized photon pairs, paving the way for more efficient and low-cost telecommunication networks. This breakthrough technology has the potential to revolutionize optical communication and applications such as signal processing and spectroscopy.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

September/October 2015 Annals of Family Medicine tip sheet

Researchers find PCMH costs per physician FTE were $7,691 in Utah and $9,658 in Colorado. Family physicians with high HIV experience are more likely to adhere to antiretroviral therapy protocols. Adequate compensation is critical for practices to sustain medical home services.

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.

Nutritional deficiencies common before weight loss surgery

A study by Johns Hopkins Medicine reveals that many obese people are malnourished before weight loss surgery. The research highlights the importance of addressing nutritional deficiencies to reduce surgical complications and improve overall health after the procedure.

New classification system developed for gout

A new classification system for gout has been developed to standardize its diagnosis and treatment. The system uses evidence-based criteria and has been validated by comparing it to existing published criteria, outperforming them in performance.

Real X-ray vision: See-through brains ready for study

Researchers at RIKEN Brain Science Institute developed a new optical clearing technique called Sca l eS, enabling the creation of transparent brain samples for detailed analysis. The technique has provided new insights into Alzheimer's disease pathology and revealed associations between amyloid beta plaques and microglial cells.

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.

2016 to be the International Year of Global Understanding

The International Year of Global Understanding aims to foster smart policies by promoting better understanding of local impacts on the global. Activities include research projects, educational programmes, and information campaigns to translate scientific insight into sustainable lifestyles.

Improving utility smart metering, energy services and conservation

Researchers at UMass Amherst are developing smart energy services that use data from Holyoke Gas & Electric Co.'s smart meters to reduce peak demand, promote local renewable energy and save customers money. The services will also provide real-time notifications for unusual energy usage and suggested conservation tips.

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.

Viruses flourish in guts of healthy babies

A new study found that viruses flourish in the guts of healthy infants, with diverse viral strains and a dynamic ecosystem of interacting organisms. The researchers discovered viral strains that exclusively kill bacteria, which declines as the babies grow older.

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.

Food supply chain topic of symposium

The symposium will cover the entire food supply chain, from input companies to consumers, and feature representatives from major food companies, including American Crystal Sugar and General Mills. Sustainability will be a key focus of the event, with panel discussions from industry experts.

Blacks in all socioeconomic groups have poorer outcomes after heart attack

A new study by the American Heart Association reveals that black patients and those with low socioeconomic status have shorter life expectancies after a heart attack. Life expectancy gaps are largest among black patients with higher socioeconomic status, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to address these disparities.

Filling a void in stem cell therapy

A new strategy using porous, transplantable hydrogels has experimentally improved bone repair by boosting the survival rate of transplanted stem cells and influencing their cell differentiation. This breakthrough could lead to enhanced regenerative therapies for various tissues and organs.

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.

University of Iowa receives $10.67 million SPORE grant to study NETs

The University of Iowa has received a $10.67 million SPORE grant to research neuroendocrine tumors, which have seen a five-fold increase in incidence over three decades. The grant aims to develop new diagnostic and treatment approaches through analyzing gene expression profiles and identifying important mutations.

Researchers develop key component for terahertz wireless

Researchers from Brown University have developed a system for multiplexing terahertz waves, which enables separate streams of data to travel through a single medium. This technology has the potential to support terahertz wireless systems that can deliver data at much higher speeds than current cellular or Wi-Fi networks.

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.

UCI study uncovers anticonvulsant effects of valproic acid

Researchers at University of California, Irvine discovered that valproic acid preserves the M-current during seizures, which contributes to neuronal hyperexcitability. This finding points to new drug discovery approaches with fewer side effects.