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Science News Archive February 2016


Page 2 of 39

New UTSA study delves into what makes a great leader

According to Dr. Dina Krasikova, a confident leader can boost their subordinates' creativity, trust and productivity. A study by UTSA found that leaders who value creativity must set an example themselves, fostering high-quality interpersonal relationships with their team.

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.

Lung-MAP precision medicine trial makes exciting changes

The Lung Cancer Master Protocol (Lung-MAP) trial is a groundbreaking collaboration that uses genomic profiling to match patients with promising new treatments. With the addition of nivolumab, an FDA-approved immunotherapy, the trial offers innovative therapies for advanced stage squamous cell lung cancer.

Study links normal stem cells to aggressive prostate cancer

A study by the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center reveals that adult stem cells in the prostate basal cell layer express genes similar to those found in deadly prostate cancer, offering a potential new line of treatment for highly aggressive and therapy-resistant forms.

Study finds no link between insomnia and cholesterol levels

A recent study published in the journal SLEEP found that people with insomnia do not have higher levels of cholesterol than those without. However, insomniacs who take sleeping pills were found to have significantly higher levels of LDL cholesterol.

Researchers make key improvement in solar cell technology

The research team improved cell voltage by shifting away from a standard processing step using cadmium chloride. This approach enabled the fabrication of CdTe solar cells with an open-circuit voltage breaking the 1-volt barrier for the first time.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Three 'twisted' photons in 3 dimensions

Researchers have achieved a new milestone in quantum physics by entangling three particles of light in a high-dimensional quantum property. This breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize quantum encryption and secure communication, enabling multiple parties to share information with unconditional security.

Scripps Florida scientists find way to predict activity of stem cells

Researchers at Scripps Florida Institute have developed a new method to predict the activity of stem cells in treating various diseases. The Clinical Indications Prediction scale uses TWIST1 levels to determine therapeutic potential, highlighting the importance of considering both angiogenesis and anti-inflammatory effects.

Study identifies racial bias in US court sentencing decisions

Researchers analyzed over 17,000 South Carolina court decisions to find that black offenders are more likely to be jailed and serve longer sentences than their white counterparts. The study highlights racial bias in sentencing decisions, with the 'black penalty' varying depending on an offender's criminal history.

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.

Major advances and ongoing challenges for gene therapy in SCID-X1

Gene therapy has made significant progress in treating X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID-X1), with hematopoietic stem cells showing promise for a cure. However, ongoing challenges include improving safety and achieving long-term immune reconstitution, highlighting the need for continued research and development.

New insights into how antiarrhythmic drugs work

Researchers discovered that multi-target antiarrhythmic drugs like amiodarone change cell membrane properties, altering the function of multiple proteins. This finding has implications beyond AF treatment, suggesting a general mechanism for drug-induced changes in membrane protein function.

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.

MOOC instructors may need more support for successful courses

Researchers found that most MOOC instructors face challenges throughout the course development and instruction process, including preparation, implementation, and feedback phases. Instructors reported heavy workloads, overwhelming expectations, and difficulty in providing one-on-one guidance in a large online class.

Making better enzymes and protein drugs

Scientists at VIB discover that mutations at specific positions can suppress protein aggregation, increasing solubility. This breakthrough could enable the production of protein drugs and enzymes with improved stability and functionality.

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.

Sleep loss boosts hunger and unhealthy food choices

A study published in SLEEP found that sleep deprivation amplifies the joy of eating, particularly sweet and salty high-fat snack foods. Sleep-restricted participants ate nearly twice as much fat as those with normal sleep, despite minimal energy needs.

NYU study defines social motivations of urban farms

A new NYU study reveals that three out of four top reasons urban farmers grow crops are driven by social motivations, including food security, education, and community building. The research also finds that many urban farms operate as nonprofits, shifting financial focus from sales to donations and grants.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Risk of catching Ebola from survivor 'very low'

The risk of catching Ebola from a survivor is very low, with most body fluids cleared within weeks apart from semen. Studies found that infected blood is the most infectious, but social contact poses little risk.

New Geosphere article examines massive 2014 Colorado avalanche

A 54.5 million cubic meter snow avalanche occurred in western Colorado, killing three people. The study used large-scale field mapping and seismic signals to analyze the avalanche's movement phases, shedding light on rock-avalanche modeling and ongoing hazards.

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.

Nuclear export of opioid growth factor receptor is CRM1 dependent

Researchers at The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine discovered that the nuclear export of the opioid growth factor receptor (OGFr) is CRM1 dependent. OGFr must translocate into the nucleus to facilitate its role in cell cycle regulation and does so utilizing nuclear localization signals and β and Ran proteins.

New NIST method may find elusive flaws in medical implants and spacecraft

The new NIST method uses nonlinear acoustic measurements to detect cracks in ceramic capacitors before they cause electrical failure. This approach has shown promise in rejecting over 90% of sample capacitors with visible cracks and may help prevent failures in medical implants, spacecraft, and other mission-critical electronics.

Why the 'Johnny Depp Effect' doesn't always work

A recent study found that when people rate the attractiveness of gender-blended face morphs, they tend to judge them as less appealing if initially classified by gender. However, this effect only occurs when people are asked to categorize the face by gender before being shown the blended image

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.

Snoring in children can affect their health

A Swedish study found that approximately 5% of children aged 0-11 years snore several times a week, with only one-third receiving medical help. Children with persistent snoring often experience reduced quality of life, including daytime tiredness and learning difficulties.

Engineered swarmbots rely on peers for survival

Duke University researchers have engineered microbes that can't run away from home; those that do will quickly die without protective proteins produced by their peers. The system could be used to reliably program colonies of bacteria to respond to changes in their surrounding environment, such as releasing specific molecules on cue.

Loss of MHCI in motor neurons leads to ALS astrocyte toxicity

Loss of major histocompatibility complex I (MHCI) expression in motor neurons leads to vulnerability to ALS astrocyte toxicity. Studies show that increased MHCI expression is protective against astrocyte-induced death, providing a potential translational target for ALS treatment.

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.

Lower limit for future climate emissions needed, research says

Researchers estimate that the world can emit even less greenhouse gases than previously estimated if global warming is to be kept under control. The study suggests a carbon budget of 590-1240 billion tons of CO2 from 2015 onwards to limit warming to below 2°C.

Brain boost: ONR Global sponsors research to improve memory through electricity

A breakthrough study sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) Global has significantly boosted the memory and mental performance of laboratory mice through Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS). The researchers observed improved performance in navigating a water maze and distinguishing between known and unknown objects,...

Forensic botany uses plant DNA to trace crimes

Researchers at Sam Houston State University developed a test to individualize marijuana samples using DNA analysis, linking drugs across cases. Pine pollen has also been found to be a viable source of DNA for criminal investigations, persisting on clothing for up to two weeks and helping link suspects or victims to locations.

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.

Developmental psychology: Friendship wins out over fairness

A study published in the Journal of Experimental Child Psychology found that pre-school children prefer to share with a friend who already has an abundance of stickers than with a stranger. The results suggest that social relationships take precedence over fairness as a motivation for sharing behavior.

Understanding ageism prolongs your life

A study published in Nordic Psychology suggests that ageism can have a significant impact on lifespan, regardless of age. Negative attitudes towards aging are linked to a shorter lifespan, highlighting the need for awareness and debate about this complex issue.

When less is more

A new study by NOAA and CIRES scientists reveals that the US is responsible for 8% of global CCl4 emissions, with hotspots in the Gulf Coast region and Colorado. The findings contradict previous reports and highlight the need for further research to understand the source of excess emissions.

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.

Injustice can spread

A study published in Scientific Reports found that writing a message to the perpetrator can disrupt the chain of unfair behavior, calming negative emotions and leading to fairer interactions. The researchers suggest this strategy as a way to stop the spread of injustice.

Illuminating the broad spectrum of disease

Researchers developed a new method called PRISM to test potential drug compounds on cancer and other cell lines simultaneously, allowing for pooling and testing of multiple cell lines. This approach promises to accelerate the search for targeted therapies by better representing the broad genetic diversity of disease.

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.

Helmholtz researchers identify genetic switch regulating satiety and body weight

Researchers at Helmholtz Munich identified a new component regulating body weight and food intake, with histone deacetylase 5 (HDAC5) playing a significant influence on leptin's effect. The study found that HDAC5 is essential for the brain to recognize fat depot levels, enabling adaptation to food intake and reducing obesity.

Capsule shedding: A new bacterial pathway that promotes invasive disease

Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital identified an enzyme that aids pneumococcus survival by removing its capsule, making it harder to be detected and destroyed by the immune system. This discovery has profound implications for treatment and vaccine strategies to combat invasive pneumococcal disease.

A new way to discover DNA modifications

Scientists have developed a systematic approach to discovering unknown DNA modifications, using a combination of bioanalytical chemistry, comparative genomics, and single-molecule real-time sequencing. This approach has led to the discovery of a new epigenetic mark, dADG, which helps bacteria defend their genomes from viral infection.

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.

Stretchable electronics that quadruple in length

EPFL researchers have developed conductive tracks that can be stretched up to four times their original length and still maintain conductivity. The new metallic and partially liquid film has a wide range of possible applications, including artificial skin, connected clothing, and on-body sensors.