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Science News Archive December 2016


Page 32 of 32

URI scientist: Rare childhood disease linked to major cancer gene

A team of researchers has established a molecular link between Fanconi anemia and the PTEN gene, strongly associated with uterine, prostate, and brain cancer. The discovery improves understanding of Fanconi anemia and could lead to improved treatment outcomes for some cancer patients.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Frequency of tornado clusters in US is increasing

A new study found that US tornado clusters are becoming more frequent and intense over the past 50 years, with an estimated doubling of extreme outbreaks from 1965 to 2015. The data suggests that climate change is not a primary driver of this trend, and other factors such as low-frequency climate variability may be at play.

Unique strains of Brazilian leishmaniasis set apart by genetics

A recent study by Guimarães et al. found that patients with atypical cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) in northeast Brazil have distinct genetic variations and higher levels of inflammatory cytokines. ACL is characterized by longer disease duration, more lesions above the waist, and reduced effectiveness of antimony treatment.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

How Zika infects the growing brain

Researchers at Harvard University and Novartis have discovered that Zika virus can infect neural progenitor cells by grabbing onto a specific protein called AXL on the cell surface. This finding contradicts previous studies suggesting that targeting the AXL protein alone could defend against the virus.

Increasing tornado outbreaks -- is climate change responsible?

A recent study has found that the frequency of US tornado outbreaks is increasing, but the trend does not resemble those expected under global warming. Instead, researchers attribute the rise to trends in storm relative helicity, a factor not previously linked to climate change.

Psychological well-being and physical activity in older adults

A study published by Chapman University researchers found that higher psychological well-being is associated with greater levels of physical activity in older adults. The study, which followed 9,986 English adults over 11 years, suggests that boosting mental health may encourage physical activity and improve overall well-being.

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.

How it takes just 6 seconds to hack a credit card

Researchers at Newcastle University found that hackers can hack a credit card account in as little as 6 seconds by guessing the card number, expiry date, and CVV. The 'Distributed Guessing Attack' method allows hackers to circumvent security features and validate card details across multiple websites.

New police training draws from science of deadly force

A new portable use-of-force simulator, CBTsim, is being rolled out by Washington State University to launch a science-driven era in police training. The device projects realistic video scenarios where officers must make rapid decisions in tense situations, tracking every movement and action.

Computer learns to recognize sounds by watching video

Researchers at MIT's CSAIL develop a sound-recognition system that outperforms predecessors without requiring expensive hand-annotated data. The system is trained on video and achieves high accuracy rates, with applications in improving mobile device context sensitivity and situational awareness of autonomous robots.

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.

In cancer immunotherapy, one PD-L1 test to rule them all?

A study comparing four tests for PD-L1 expression has found that three tests cluster together, but the results vary with different scales. The goal of the ongoing study is to determine which test predicts treatment response most accurately.

New chemistry of life

Researchers at Goethe University Frankfurt discovered a new ubiquitination mechanism in Legionella bacteria that affects cellular processes and causes cell death. This mechanism reveals a broader role of ubiquitin in regulating life processes and may lead to new strategies for developing antibacterial agents.

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.

Perovskite solar cells hit new world efficiency record

Researchers at the University of New South Wales achieved a 12.1% efficiency rating for a 16 cm2 perovskite solar cell, making it the largest single certified with the highest energy conversion efficiency. The team has also demonstrated an 18% efficiency rating on smaller cells and plans to extend durability.

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.

Narcissistic individuals use social media to self-promote

A study of 62 studies with over 13,000 individuals found that narcissism correlates with a range of social media behaviors, including the number of friends and selfies posted. Grandiose narcissism positively relates to time spent on social media, while vulnerable narcissism does not show a relationship.

A friend of a friend is ... a dense network

A new theoretical model shows that dense networks evolve differently depending on the rate of second-neighbor connections. Networks with high copying probabilities exhibit densifying behavior, growing faster than themselves, and an unlimited number of growth transitions related to copying are discovered.

Climate cycles may explain how running water carved Mars' surface features

A team of planetary scientists suggests that dramatic climate cycles on early Mars could have created the planet's deep canyons and extensive valley networks. The researchers propose a glacier-covered Mars with long warm periods lasting up to 10 million years, producing enough water to form these features.

How do children hear anger?

A team of researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and acoustic analysis to study how children's brains respond to emotional speech cues. They found that lower frequency characteristics in voice spectra may play a significant role in understanding brain activity and differentiating emotional processing.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Natural alternatives to protect plants inspired by pharmaceutical research

French researchers have discovered that Streptomyces bacteria can be used as an environmentally friendly alternative to pesticides. The bacteria promotes plant growth and controls pests in the soil. This study could lead to sustainable agricultural practices and reduce harm to human health and the environment.

Feathered fathers and mothers have diverse parenting arrangements

A study published in Nature found that mated pairs of wild shorebirds have diverse schedules for parental care of the nest. The researchers used geolocators to track the birds' movements and timing, revealing a range of incubation bouts from every other hour to two days.

UA receives $1.5 million to study cancer in firefighters

Researchers at the University of Arizona will lead a collaborative project to develop the framework for a larger long-term study of cancer in firefighters, focusing on measuring exposures and determining mechanisms. The goal is to reduce cancer risk in firefighters through improved occupational health and safety practices.

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.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Research team discovers a pathogen's motility triggers immune response

A research team at the University of Georgia has discovered that a pathogen's ability to move through the body triggers an immune response. The study found that bacterial motility induces the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps, which are web-like structures of DNA associated with antimicrobial molecules.

Study reveals new role for Hippo pathway in suppressing cancer immunity

A new study by University of California San Diego School of Medicine scientists discovered the Hippo pathway's unexpected function in subduing cancer immunity. Deleting LATS1/2 from mouse cancer cells enhanced anti-tumor immune responses, suggesting a potential therapeutic approach to improve immunotherapy efficiency.

A&A special issue: GREGOR first results

The GREGOR solar telescope has demonstrated its potential with high precision measurements of magnetic fields and material motion. High spatial resolution imaging data have also provided unprecedented details of the Sun's photosphere, revealing features smaller than 100 km in sunspot light bridges.

New evidence on the formation of the solar system

A new study published in Nature Communications presents evidence suggesting that a low-mass supernova played a crucial role in the formation of our solar system. The research team analyzed short-lived radioactive nuclei found in meteorites and discovered unique 'fingerprints' that point to a low-mass supernova as the trigger.

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.

China's pristine parks get more merit

A large-scale study found China's smaller parks in warmer regions were more heavily modified, while larger parks in colder areas remained pristinely untouched. The research provides valuable insights into the conservation value of protected areas and will aid in achieving international recognition for China's conservation efforts.

Scientists report that bismuth is superconducting

Scientists discover Bismuth is superconducting at extremely low temperatures, defying expectations due to its low carrier density. The finding opens new avenues for research into the fundamental laws of superconductivity.

'Bickering' flies make evolutionary point

Rice University biologist Julia Saltz found that fruit flies' genotypes and behaviors affect their social environments. In experiments, she observed that males in preferred groups were more aggressive than those in nonpreferred groups, while losing an encounter made them less aggressive.

Concerns over bodybuilders injecting natural oils

A young bodybuilder's use of non-prescribed injections, including coconut oil and insulin, led to severe complications, including a ruptured triceps and multiple cysts. The case highlights the risks of self-administered natural oils and steroids used to achieve a desired body image.

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.

IUPUI chemists develop new technique that could speed drug development

IUPUI chemists have developed a new molecular binding technique that can shorten or abridge the human and animal drug discovery and development process. The new method, which uses site-selective C-H arylation of primary aliphatic amines, has potential benefits for both the pharmaceutical industry and patients.

Modifying a live virus in a vaccine to be just strong enough

Researchers successfully developed a vaccine against influenza using genetically modified live virus that activates the immune system but cannot replicate in healthy cells. The new vaccine proved effective in mice, guinea pigs, and ferrets, offering an antibody response comparable to existing vaccines.

IPM's ring study results published in New England Journal of Medicine

A Phase III study published in NEJM shows the dapivirine ring safely reduced HIV infection by 31 percent overall among all women in the trial. The risk of HIV infection was reduced by at least 56 percent among women who used the ring consistently, with subgroup analyses suggesting a 75 percent or more reduction with near-perfect use.

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.

UTSA receives $5.29 million grant for brain health research

UTSA has received a prestigious $5.29 million grant to advance its brain health research, focusing on the basal ganglia region and potential treatments for Parkinson's disease. The funding will support local cell signaling research to develop a model of basal ganglia function.