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Science News Archive 2016 - Page 306


Page 306 of 423

ORNL tracks how halogen atoms compete to grow 'winning' perovskites

ORNL researchers have found a potential path to improve solar cell efficiency by understanding the competition among halogen atoms during perovskite synthesis. The study reveals that bromine, chlorine, and iodine ions facilitate growth but only iodine gets into the final crystal structure.

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateApr 6, 2016
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Argentinian researchers develop trap for mosquito that transmits Zika

Researchers have developed a new trap to monitor and control Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the primary transmitters of Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever. The plastic ovitrap infused with pyriproxyfen has been shown to be 100% effective in preventing larvae from developing into adults.

SourceEntomological Society of America·JournalJournal of Medical Entomology·DateApr 6, 2016

Minimally invasive treatment could freeze out phantom limb pain

A pioneering technique using cold blasts has shown promise in improving the quality of life for patients suffering from phantom limb pain. After treating 20 patients with cryoablation therapy, researchers found a significant reduction in pain scores, from an average of 6.4 to 2.4 points.

SourceSociety of Interventional Radiology·DateApr 6, 2016

Network governance connects people to solve collective environmental problems

Researchers argue that network governance models can help big conservation alliances govern themselves and strengthen connections through communication. This approach emphasizes inclusivity, allowing disparate stakeholders to envision common goals and choose metrics for measuring progress.

SourceEcological Society of America·JournalFrontiers in Ecology and the Environment·DateApr 6, 2016

New study shows much longer survival for heart transplants across species

A new immune-suppressing drug regimen has led to the longest survival yet for a cross-species heart transplant, involving pig hearts in baboons. The study's results could lead to increased use of xenotransplantation and potentially help severe organ shortage among human patients.

SourceUniversity of Maryland School of Medicine·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 6, 2016
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.

BU professor receives Excellence in Education Award from AMSER

Kitt Shaffer, MD, PhD, received the 2016 Alliance of Medical Students Educators in Radiology (AMSER) Excellence in Education Award. She has made significant contributions to medical student radiology education through her work on curriculum development and faculty mentorship.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·DateApr 6, 2016

For young people with schizophrenia, physical and mental exercises offer hope

Researchers found that physical exercise significantly improves cognitive performance in individuals with schizophrenia, particularly in areas such as memory, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving skills. The study suggests that early intervention and combined cognitive training with aerobic exercise may lead to long-lasting impr...

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalSchizophrenia Bulletin·DateApr 6, 2016

Duke study uncovers genetic elements that drive regeneration

Researchers have discovered regulatory sequences in zebrafish that can turn on genes involved in regeneration, which also exist in humans. These 'tissue regeneration enhancer elements' or TREEs may hold the key to improving human regenerative capabilities through genome editing technologies.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature·DateApr 6, 2016
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.

Respirator mask reduces effects of pollution on the heart

A study by researchers at the Heart Failure Center of the University of São Paulo suggests that wearing a respirator mask can lessen the impact of vehicle emissions on people with heart failure. The results also indicate that this type of mask can reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease for healthy individuals.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·DateApr 6, 2016

Ring-shaped sugar helps in cases of atherosclerosis

Researchers at the University of Bonn discovered that cyclodextrin promotes the breakdown of cholesterol deposits in arteries, reducing inflammation and plaque formation. The ring-shaped sugar increases natural mechanisms for cholesterol breakdown and reduces inflammatory response, offering a potential new treatment for atherosclerosis.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateApr 6, 2016

Americans & Canadians favor practical wisdom

Researchers found that over 70% of mentioned exemplars represented practical wisdom, which includes insight into real-life issues and strategic problem-solving. The study identified three prototypes: practical, philosophical, and benevolent, with practical wisdom being the most frequently mentioned.

SourceSociety for Personality and Social Psychology·JournalPersonality and Social Psychology Bulletin·DateApr 6, 2016
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.

NASA's GPM views Tropical Cyclone Zena hitting Vanuatu

Tropical Cyclone Zena intensified in the South Pacific Ocean near Vanuatu on April 5, 2016, causing sustained winds of over 35 knots. The GPM satellite measured intense downpours dropping rain at a rate of almost 154 mm per hour

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateApr 6, 2016

Factors associated with good heart health may also protect kidneys

A new study found that achieving ideal cardiovascular health factors, such as healthy blood pressure and cholesterol, is associated with a reduced risk of new-onset kidney disease. The study included 14,832 adults aged 45-64 and followed them for an average of 22 years to develop chronic kidney disease.

SourceAmerican Heart Association·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·DateApr 6, 2016

'Honeycomb' of nanotubes could boost genetic engineering

Researchers have developed a new method for gene transfer using an array of carbon nanotubes, overcoming limitations of existing technologies. The device successfully delivers DNA into tens of thousands of cells simultaneously with minimal toxicity and no restrictions on genetic payload.

SourceUniversity of Rochester Medical Center·JournalSmall·DateApr 6, 2016

Treating sugar addiction like drug abuse: QUT leads world-first study

A world-first study by QUT finds that drugs used to treat nicotine addiction can also reduce sugar cravings and consumption. The study highlights the importance of reevaluating our relationship with sweetened food, and may represent a novel new treatment strategy for obesity.

SourceQueensland University of Technology·JournalPLOS ONE·DateApr 6, 2016
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.

Food should be labeled with 'activity equivalent' calorie information

The Royal Society of Public Health advocates for introducing activity equivalent calorie labelling on food packaging to prompt people to be more mindful of their energy consumption and encourage physical activity. Public polling shows that almost half of people find current front-of-pack information confusing, but 53% would positively ...

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThe BMJ·DateApr 6, 2016

Epilepsy drug may not increase risk of birth defects

A new study published in Neurology found that babies born to mothers taking the epilepsy drug lamotrigine may not be at an increased risk of birth defects such as cleft lip and clubfoot. The study, which analyzed over 10 million births, estimated the excess risk of these defects to be less than one in every 550 babies.

SourceAmerican Academy of Neurology·JournalNeurology·DateApr 6, 2016
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.

Optical approach offers faster and less expensive method for carbon dating

Researchers have developed a compact and highly sensitive optical method for detecting radiocarbon dioxide concentration, enabling on-site carbon dating and greenhouse gas measurements. The SCAR instrument can deliver results in just two hours with lower cost and faster delivery time compared to traditional methods.

SourceOptica·JournalOptica·DateApr 6, 2016

Travels with my smart phone

Research suggests that relying on smartphones for internet access while traveling can cause significant anxiety. The study, conducted by Hui-Jen Yang and Yun-Long Lay, found that young people and those with higher levels of education experience greater 'smart phone web-dependence' and associated anxiety.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Information and Communication Technology·DateApr 6, 2016

How a metabolic pathway promotes breast cancer metastasis

A metabolic pathway up-regulated in certain breast cancers promotes disease progression by activating the cell signaling protein Arf6, according to a recent study. Statin-like drugs may be effective treatments for patients whose tumors express high levels of Arf6 signaling proteins.

SourceRockefeller University Press·JournalJournal of Cell Biology·DateApr 6, 2016
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.

Stroke survivors face 'invisible impairments' to return to work

A study from the University of Cambridge and Queen Mary University of London found that stroke survivors often face 'invisible impairments' that make it difficult to maintain a job. Online forums provided valuable advice and support, highlighting the need for employers to be more supportive and aware of these challenges.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalBMJ Open·DateApr 6, 2016

UOG scientists seek genetic reasons for coral reef survival

Researchers are studying coral genomes to better comprehend why some reefs thrive while others die, with implications for Guam's economy and tourism industry. The new genetic sequencer will enable local scientists to tackle molecular reef ecology and train the next generation of researchers.

SourceUniversity of Guam·DateApr 6, 2016

Brain responses found to originate from previously unknown source

Researchers detected frequency-following responses coming from the auditory cortex, in addition to known sub-cortical generators, using magnetoencephalography (MEG) technology. This discovery will inform further research into neuroplasticity and its potential to improve auditory processing.

SourceMcGill University·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 6, 2016

Understanding the scent of death

Researchers compare odor of human remains with dead animals to identify signature smells. They hope an artificial nose can help rescuers find bodies and aid law enforcement search for homicide victims.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemical & Engineering News·DateApr 6, 2016
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.

Shortened RT schedule benefits low-risk prostate cancer patients

A clinical trial confirms that a shortened radiotherapy schedule is as effective as conventional radiotherapy in treating low-risk prostate cancer patients. Patients treated with the shorter regimen experienced more mild side effects, but no difference in severe late side effects.

SourceNRG Oncology·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·DateApr 6, 2016

Brain guardians remove dying neurons

Salk scientists discovered that specific immune receptors in the brain play a crucial role in clearing both healthy and dying neurons. In their absence, new neurons increased dramatically in certain regions, suggesting that these receptors may also target living but dysfunctional cells.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalNature·DateApr 6, 2016
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.

Supermassive black holes may be lurking everywhere in the universe

Researchers found a supermassive black hole with an estimated mass of 17 billion solar masses in the galaxy NGC 1600, located 200 million light-years from Earth. This discovery suggests that these massive objects may be more common than previously thought and could be living in smaller galaxies.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalNature·DateApr 6, 2016

Advance may make quantum computing more practical

Researchers at MIT describe a feedback-control system that preserves quantum superposition in nitrogen-vacancy centers, enabling reliable quantum computing. The system uses entangled spins of nitrogen and NV center atoms to correct errors during computations.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalNature·DateApr 6, 2016

Behemoth black hole found in an unlikely place

Astronomers have discovered a record-breaking supermassive black hole weighing 17 billion suns in the center of a galaxy in a sparsely populated area of the universe. The massive object's size defies expectations, as it is 10 times more massive than predicted for a galaxy of its mass.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·JournalNature·DateApr 6, 2016
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.

Hydromorphone vs. diacetylmorphine for long-term opioid addiction

A randomized clinical trial found that injectable hydromorphone was noninferior to injectable diacetylmorphine in treating long-term severe opioid dependence. The study suggests that hydromorphone could be a licensed alternative for patients where diacetylmorphine is unavailable or unsuccessful.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Psychiatry·DateApr 6, 2016

A warming climate puts Europe at risk for seasonal outbreaks of dengue fever

A warming climate is expanding Europe's seasonal window for mosquito-borne dengue fever, posing a significant global health concern. The study found that increased temperatures will intensify the ability of Aedes mosquitoes to transmit the disease, putting much of Europe at risk of seasonal outbreaks by the end of the century.

SourceUmea University·JournalEBioMedicine·DateApr 6, 2016

Vanderbilt researchers identify potent antibodies against HIV

Researchers at Vanderbilt University have isolated antibodies with a loop-like structure that binds tightly to HIV and disables it. The study suggests a new approach to rapidly induce broadly neutralizing antibodies in people who have not been exposed to HIV.

SourceVanderbilt University Medical Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 6, 2016

PPPL scientists help test innovative device to improve efficiency of tokamaks

Researchers at PPPL designed and tested a 'liquid lithium limiter' that circulated protective liquid metal within the walls of China's EAST tokamak, keeping plasma from cooling down and halting fusion reactions. The system improved tokamak performance by reducing impurities and maintaining optimal plasma conditions.

SourceDOE/Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory·JournalNuclear Fusion·DateApr 6, 2016
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.

Discrimination on Facebook: A matter of gender

A study by sociologists found that young, less educated males share a greater amount of discriminatory content on Facebook, while young university females share the least. The researchers discovered that there is a feminine and masculine way to behave on the internet, with males tendings to be more direct in their posts.

SourceSpanish Foundation for Science and Technology·JournalComunicar·DateApr 6, 2016

Children's interactions more complex than predicted

Researchers studied kindergarten children's social exchanges to understand dynamics of complex interactions, finding evidence of non-traditional hierarchies and reciprocal pairings such as leadership/followship and aggression/submission. The study suggests people do not always behave in a hierarchical manner, with some 'leaders' showin...

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateApr 6, 2016

Acupuncture in the military for rapid pain relief on the battlefield

The article discusses the successful implementation of acupuncture in US military settings, specifically Battlefield Acupuncture (BFA), and its potential benefits for treating pain. The authors highlight the importance of data collection to assess outcomes and explore additional integrative medicine techniques.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalThe Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine·DateApr 6, 2016
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.

Honduras: 215 LGBT people killed in 7 years

A new report exposes the shocking statistics of LGBT activists' murders in Honduras, with 215 killings between 2009 and 2015, and only 48 cases going to court. The violence rocketed after the 2009 coup, but remains largely unreported.

SourceSAGE·JournalIndex on Censorship·DateApr 6, 2016

Key advance: UC Davis neuroscientists get a new look into how we read

Researchers at UC Davis have made a breakthrough in understanding how we read by developing a new brain-scanning technique called FIRE-fMRI. This method combines functional MRI with eye tracking to study brain activity during natural reading, providing insights into how words are represented in the brain.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·DateApr 6, 2016

Yeast against the machine: Bakers' yeast could improve diagnosis

A team led by Professor Fritz Roth found that bakers' yeast can identify harmful genetic mutations more reliably than leading algorithms. By testing the effects of human mutations in yeast, they identified 62% of disease variants as damaging, outperforming computational methods.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalGenome Research·DateApr 6, 2016
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.

SMFM releases statement on use of antenatal corticosteroids in late preterm birth period

The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine recommends the use of antenatal corticosteroids to improve outcomes for babies at risk of preterm birth in the late preterm period. The recommendations are based on a randomized trial that found significant benefits in reducing neonatal respiratory complications and other adverse outcomes.

SourceSociety for Maternal-Fetal Medicine·JournalAmerican Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology·DateApr 6, 2016

Enzyme discovery leads scientists further down path to pumping oil from plants

Researchers have discovered an enzyme that enables the production of fuel-grade oil from plants, a breakthrough that could lead to sustainable energy solutions. The enzyme, lycopaoctaene synthase (LOS), is capable of initiating the production of hydrocarbons, which can be used to make fuels such as gasoline and diesel.

SourceTexas A&M AgriLife Communications·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 6, 2016