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Science News Archive August 2016


Page 27 of 38

New model sheds light on secondary bacterial pneumonia

Researchers have developed a new model to study the phenomenon of secondary bacterial pneumonia caused by S. aureus and influenza A virus. The model, which simulates the natural pathogenesis of infection, reveals that viral infection induces bacteria to disseminate to the lungs.

Study may lead to better breast cancer drugs

Researchers have identified key proteins involved in regulating gene expression in blood cells, which could lead to the development of more effective breast cancer treatments. The study's findings may also help explain how existing drugs work inside human cells.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Sex hormones skew outcomes in clinical trials -- here's how

A growing number of scientists argue that sex hormones and other variables affect how therapeutics behave, necessitating male and female inclusion in trials. Hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle can significantly impact research, making it essential to consider these differences when testing drugs or transplant tolerance.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

1967 solar storm nearly took US to brink of war

A solar storm in May 1967 jammed radar and radio communications at the height of the Cold War, prompting a potential military conflict. However, thanks to the U.S. Air Force's space weather forecasting efforts, the military action was prevented, and the nation avoided a disastrous nuclear exchange.

African-American surgical patients benefit in universally insured health system

Research found no significant differences in post-operative complications or mortality between African American and white patients treated in a universally insured military health system. In contrast, uninsured or Medicaid-receiving African Americans experienced significantly higher odds of mortality, complications, and readmission aft...

Talking back: Countering terrorist narratives may reduce recruitment

Researchers suggest that analyzing and countering terrorist narratives can be an effective way to reduce recruitment. By understanding the processes used by terrorists to persuade people to join their groups, experts can craft counter-narratives that contradict these themes and promote alternative messages.

NREL technique leads to improved perovskite solar cells

Researchers at NREL and Shanghai Jiao Tong University develop a method to treat perovskite films with MABr solution, repairing defects and improving efficiency. The new approach boosts the efficiency of perovskite solar cells to up to 19% and demonstrates improved reproducibility.

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.

Report: People buy most of their junk food at the supermarket

A study found that nearly half of US adults consume sugar-sweetened beverages daily, and two-thirds eat discretionary foods like cookies and candy. Despite supermarket access, these unhealthy choices persist, suggesting a need to address junk food marketing and nutrition education.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

New study shows breast tumors evolve in response to hormone therapy

A new study analyzes breast tumors before and after hormone-reduction therapy, revealing the genetic complexity of these tumors and their varying responses to estrogen-deprivation treatments. The findings suggest that analyzing a single sample is insufficient for understanding how a patient should be treated.

Diet designed to lower blood pressure also reduces risk of kidney disease

A study published in American Journal of Kidney Diseases found that following a DASH-style diet can lower the risk of developing chronic kidney disease over two decades. The diet, which emphasizes whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy, was also shown to reduce blood pressure and cardiovascular disease risk.

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.

1 in 5 are discharged from hospital with unstable vital signs

A new study by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers found that nearly 20% of hospitalized adults are discharged with one or more vital sign instabilities. Patients who had vital sign abnormalities on the day of discharge had higher rates of hospital readmission and death within 30 days.

NIH awards $9 million grant for study on health disparities in HIV prevention

A research team from Penn Nursing, University of Michigan School of Nursing and Emory's School of Public Health is awarded a $9 million grant to test an HIV prevention intervention for adolescent men who have sex with men. The iCON intervention offers life skills training and community-based resources through an online app.

LISA best strategy to prevent chronic lung disease in preterm infants

The study compared seven ventilation strategies and found that LISA, a non-invasive ventilation strategy, was the most effective in preventing death and/or chronic lung disease in preterm infants. On average, LISA resulted in 164 fewer preterm babies dying or having long-term breathing problems.

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

Double whammy for important Baltic seaweed

A study by GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel reveals that climate change and eutrophication could lead to a decline in bladder wrack, a crucial species in the Baltic Sea ecosystem. Rising temperatures and increased nutrient supply have negative effects on the seaweed's biomass, while smaller species of algae benefit from ...

Developmental psychology: Little strategists

A study by Markus Paulus found that preschoolers (3-5 years) expect reciprocity in social interactions, even before it's explicitly taught. This strategic behavior is rooted in the understanding of relative amounts of social capital they build with others.

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.

'Fixing' blood vessel cells to diagnose blood clotting disorders

A new device replicates the crucial interface between endothelial cells and circulating blood, enabling the diagnosis of blood clotting disorders and monitoring of anti-platelet therapy. The device uses chemically fixed human endothelial cells to mimic cellular and vascular flow conditions, increasing robustness and diagnostic accuracy.

Research reveals patient can have more than one breast cancer, points at treatments

Researchers found that treating human breast cancer tumors with estrogen-deprivation therapy changes the spectrum of mutations in the tumor population. This suggests using this information to improve cancer treatment. The study also discovered 'collision tumors' - separate tumors of different origin growing closely together, undiagnose...

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.

Stem cells of worms and humans more similar than expected

Researchers identified new mechanisms controlling stem cell properties in flatworms, including alternative splicing processes that operate only in stem cells. The study also reveals a previously unknown interaction between proteins MBNL and CELF, which may have implications for human regenerative medicine.

Slowly pulling proteins apart reveals unexpected path to stability

Researchers at Duke University used single-molecule force-spectroscopy to study Protein S, a large protein found in nature. They discovered a previously unknown stable conformation made possible by the interaction between two domains, which may help explain why some proteins are more stable than others.

In search of neurobiological factors for schizophrenia

A study found that individuals with smaller hippocampi are more likely to have a combination of genetic risk factors associated with an increased risk of psychosis. This discovery may lead to the development of personalized treatment strategies for schizophrenia.

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.

Eat Mediterranean: Your brain will reap the benefit

A Mediterranean diet has been shown to improve cognitive function and slow down cognitive decline. The diet's focus on plant-based foods, low dairy intake, and olive oil as a primary source of fat may contribute to its benefits.

Team digs deep to answer water-safety questions

Researchers at Clemson University are launching a new study using their developed 'microcosm' method to investigate how solvents degrade in rock, which could help determine the need for costly cleanups. The study aims to simulate groundwater flow and test how much solvent is released from rock cores at different sites.

Warmer climate could lower dengue risk

Researchers at Australian National University predict that a warmer climate could lead to a decrease in dengue transmission in certain regions, such as northeast Australia. This finding is relevant to other mosquito-borne viruses like Zika, and highlights the need for continued monitoring of global health impacts.

US diabetic kidney disease rate unchanged

A study by University of Washington researchers found that the prevalence of diabetic kidney disease has remained relatively stable over 30 years, but its clinical manifestations have changed significantly. Albuminuria rates decreased, while reduced glomerular filtration rate increased.

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.

Researchers successfully test modified stun gun with heart monitoring capability

Researchers successfully combined a heart monitoring device with an existing CEW to detect and store cardiac rhythms, producing both incapacitating charges and interpretable EKG signals. The modified prototype demonstrates the potential for safety measures like cardiac biomonitoring to be incorporated into law enforcement devices.

New breakthrough in understanding dystonia

Researchers at VIB-KU Leuven have unraveled the mechanism by which DYT1 dystonia causes cellular defects, linking it to dysregulation of lipids. The findings may lead to new medical approaches to overcome this poorly understood condition.

The 6 steps to extinction

Scientists propose a new framework to understand plant extinctions, identifying six thresholds that species cross before becoming extinct. The study highlights the slow pace of plant extinction and the need for urgent action to protect declining native species.

The long hunted sterile neutrino cannot be traced

Researchers from the Niels Bohr Institute analyzed thousands of neutrinos in the IceCube Neutrino Observatory at the South Pole. They could not find any signs of a sterile neutrino, which would help explain dark matter and the imbalance of matter over antimatter in the universe.

DNA dominos on a chip

Researchers at TU Munich and Weizmann Institute successfully recreated DNA condensation on a biochip, replicating the tightly packed structure found in cell nuclei and viruses. This breakthrough enables better understanding of biological processes and potential applications in artificial cells.

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.

Higher weekly activity levels linked to lower risk of 5 chronic diseases

A study published in The BMJ found that higher total physical activity levels are strongly associated with a lower risk of five common chronic diseases. Most health gains occur at a level of 3000-4000 MET minutes a week, suggesting that current recommended minimum levels may not be sufficient to achieve larger reductions in risks.

Researchers immobilize underwater bubbles

A research team has developed a method to 'freeze' newly created microbubbles in their tracks, enabling potential applications in medicine, such as ultrasound contrast agents and gas embolotherapy. This breakthrough could also improve the nuclear industry by controlling microbubbles in liquid sodium coolant.

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.

Obesity on the rise in adults with a history of cancer

A study at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found that obesity prevalence increased from 22% to 32% among cancer survivors between 1997 and 2014. Colorectal and breast cancer survivors, as well as non-Hispanic blacks, were particularly affected.

Army medicine opens the door for vision prosthetic prototypes

Researchers have successfully developed three novel approaches to restoring vision in individuals with severe eye injuries. Dr. Rizzo's team aims to bypass the damaged optic nerve, while Dr. Weitz's team focuses on generating precise images without causing inaccurate visual field distortions. Meanwhile, Dr. Kao explores using optical p...

Getting it 'just right' in the immune system

Researchers suggest that duration of T-cell interactions with dendritic cells may be key to matching immune response to infection severity. Understanding this process could lead to advancements in vaccine development and the study of autoimmune diseases.

Why is breast cancer common but heart cancer rare?

Researchers propose that natural selection favors strong anti-cancer protection in small, critical organs like the heart and brain. The study suggests that these organs are more resistant to tumor formation due to their smaller size and importance for human survival.

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.

Why are New England's wild blue mussels disappearing?

A study led by University of California, Irvine ecologists found that wild blue mussel numbers have declined by over 60% along the Gulf of Maine coastline. The decline is attributed to warming oceans and increased human harvesting, which heighten physiological stress and mortality rates in the mussels.

Device reduces risk of brain injury after heart valve replacement

A new cerebral protection device has been shown to reduce the number and volume of brain lesions in high-risk patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation. The study found significant reductions in brain damage and adverse events, but calls for further research to assess long-term effects.

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.