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Science News Archive January 2016


Page 23 of 31

Drip irrigation rates tested for eggplant growth and yield

Researchers tested eggplant irrigation rates and found that moderate watering can reduce nitrogen leaching and maintain fruit yields. The study suggests a potential to lower current irrigation rates without negatively impacting crop performance.

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.

Decision making in action

The brain initially represents and decides between competing action options by planning multiple movements simultaneously. Researchers found that participants planned a movement for each potential target and executed these movements simultaneously when the target was uncertain.

DNA 'building blocks' pave the way for improved drug delivery

Scientists have developed a new strategy for constructing highly specific synthetic pores using DNA, which can control the release of therapeutics. The pores are designed to act like doors, opening only when provided with the right key, allowing for precise targeting of drugs to specific tissues.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

NCAR announces powerful new supercomputer for scientific discovery

Cheyenne will be a critical tool for researchers studying climate change, severe weather, and other important geoscience topics. The new system will help scientists lay the groundwork for improved predictions of various phenomena, including thunderstorm outbreaks and solar cycles.

Girls should expect poorer physics grades

A study by ETH Zurich researchers found that teachers with less experience discriminate against female students in physics exams, leading to poorer grades. The findings highlight the importance of teacher training and objective grading criteria to combat biases and stereotypes.

A simple way to make lithium-ion battery electrodes that protect themselves

Scientists at DOE national laboratories discovered a simple manufacturing technique to form cathode material into tiny, layered particles that store energy while protecting themselves. This technique, called spray pyrolysis, is cheap and widely used, and could lead to cheaper and higher capacity lithium-ion batteries.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

High folic acid intake in aged mice causes a lowered immune response

A study by Tufts University researchers found that high folic acid intake causes a lowered immune response in aged mice, particularly affecting natural killer cells. The study used an aged mouse model and found that excess folic acid impaired NK cell development, leading to reduced immunity against viral infections and cancer.

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.

Digital imagery useful for pyrethrum analysis

Researchers have successfully used digital imaging to measure pyrethrum flowers before harvesting, detecting 88% of flowers compared to manual recognition. This automated system allows for faster and easier image collection, enabling greater plot areas to be sampled for yield estimation.

Polymer puts new medical solutions within reach

Researchers developed a process to create a water-loving polymer with structure, opening up possibilities for artificial blood vessels and soft tissue-like mechanical properties. This breakthrough addresses the challenge of balancing hydrogel's water-loving nature with the need for crystallinity.

LA BioMed researcher honored for distinguished teaching

Dr. John Michael Criley receives the 2016 Distinguished Teacher Award for his innovative and compassionate teaching, training over 2,200 cardiologists and medical professionals worldwide. He has made significant contributions to cardiovascular medicine through his research papers and textbooks.

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

Creating 'medical homes' involves significant costs, study finds

Transforming primary care practices into 'medical homes' requires substantial investments, with median one-time costs ranging from $7,694 to $117,810 per practice. Ongoing costs include adding staff and investing in information technology, constituting a significant financial burden for small medical practices.

Technique matters: A different way to make cathodes may mean better batteries

Berkeley Lab researchers have discovered a technique called spray pyrolysis that can improve the performance of lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) cathodes, which are crucial for electric vehicle applications. By controlling surface chemistry, they were able to reduce surface reactivity and increase material stability.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Squeezing cells into stem cells

EPFL scientists have developed a gel that boosts the ability of normal cells to revert into stem cells by simply squeezing them into shape. This method paves the way for large-scale production of stem cells for medical purposes, offering new ways to treat injuries and diseases such as Parkinson's and diabetes.

Sugar-sweetened drinks linked to increased visceral fat

A new study published in Circulation journal found that drinking sugar-sweetened beverages daily increases visceral fat, a type of body fat that affects diabetes and heart disease risk. The study showed a direct correlation between greater sweetened beverage consumption and increased visceral fat among middle-aged adults.

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.

Kids' robotic rehab

A team of researchers is exploring the use of the NAO robot in a new approach to pediatric rehabilitation based on social interaction between robots and humans. The robot can read moods, recognize family members, and learn preferences, providing personalized interventions for children with motor disabilities.

Preschoolers who eat their veggies just as likely to eat junk food

A new study by Ohio State University researchers found no link between eating healthy foods and avoiding unhealthy options in preschoolers. Despite frequent consumption of fruits, vegetables, and milk, children were just as likely to eat high-sugar, salty, and fatty foods.

Life-extending hormone bolsters the body's immune function

A Yale University study found that the hormone FGF21 protects against age-related loss of immune function by promoting T cell production. Increasing FGF21 levels may be an additional strategy to bolster immune function in the elderly or cancer patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation.

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.

You can't fool this activity tracker

Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a way to train smartphone activity trackers to spot fake activity, increasing accuracy from 38% to 84%. The system learns to recognize patterns of cheating, such as shaking the phone while lounging on the couch, and can generalize it across individuals.

The way you sound affects your mood

Researchers created an audio platform that modifies voices to sound happier, sadder or more fearful, and found participants' emotional state changed accordingly. The study suggests people don't always control their own voice to match emotions, but listen to it to gauge feelings.

Quick screening method identifies promising anti-Ebola drugs

A quick screening method has been used to identify and test promising anti-Ebola drugs. The method, which allows for the evaluation of candidate drugs and comparison of antiviral effectiveness, has shown potential in reducing the emergence of drug resistance and increasing confidence in experimental results.

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.

Eftekharnejad secures grant to protect power systems from cyberattacks

Eftekharnejad's research will investigate the impacts of data intrusion on phasor measurement units (PMU) devices and propose mitigation strategies for power grid security. The study aims to identify critical components targeted by cyberattacks and develop methods to mitigate cascading blackouts.

NASA sees Tropical Cyclone Ula's eye closing

Tropical Cyclone Ula has weakened from a Category 4 Hurricane to a Category 2 hurricane due to unfavorable environmental conditions. The storm is expected to make its closest approach to Kingston Island and then move north of New Zealand by January 12.

NASA eyeing an interesting weather system in northern Atlantic

A non-tropical low pressure system with potential subtropical characteristics has developed in the Northern Atlantic, producing hurricane-force winds and gale-force conditions. The system is expected to produce hazardous marine conditions over parts of the central and eastern Atlantic for several days.

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.

Giant icebergs play key role in removing CO2 from the atmosphere

A new study reveals that giant icebergs in the Southern Ocean contribute significantly to carbon sequestration, with enhanced phytoplankton productivity extending hundreds of kilometers beyond the iceberg's length. This process helps slow global warming by storing atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Five percent of Ontario residents account for majority of health care costs

A study by the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that five percent of Ontarians account for 65% of provincial health care costs, with the top 1% accounting for one-third of these costs. The study tracked $30.5 billion in healthcare spending, which is about 75% of total government health expenditures.

NSF's iPlant Collaborative rebrands to CyVerse

CyVerse rebranded from iPlant Collaborative to emphasize its expanded mission across all life sciences. The platform provides data management and computation services for various scientific disciplines.

Self-adaptive material heals itself, stays tough

Rice University scientists develop a self-adaptive composite that heals itself and returns to its original form after compression. The material, called SAC, combines self-healing and reversible self-stiffening properties.

Illinois and Syngenta sign agreement for access to RIPE intellectual property

The University of Illinois and Syngenta have signed an agreement to implement a commercialization strategy for the 'RIPE' project, which aims to improve photosynthetic efficiency in food crops. The partnership brings together academic groups with industry partner Syngenta to advance technologies developed under the project.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Study reveals potential therapy targets for triple-negative breast cancer

A multi-institutional international study has revealed new information about the interaction between long non-coding RNAs and HIF-1 signaling pathways in triple-negative breast cancer. The study identifies four previously unknown phosphorylation sites, which predict a worse outcome for TNBC patients, suggesting that these sites could s...

January/February 2016 Annals of Family Medicine tip sheet

Research studies examine the viability of small, solo family practices in rural areas, finding they often provide vital care. Large independent primary care groups are also shown to be attractive options for physicians and patients, offering resources and autonomy while reducing costs.

Making a safe procedure even safer

A comprehensive modeling study found that breast cancer screening with digital mammography poses only a small risk of radiation-induced breast cancer for most women. However, the research showed increased risk for women with large breasts or breast implants. The study suggests biennial screening from ages 50 to 74 may be the safest opt...

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.

Single molecule detection of contaminants, explosives or diseases now possible

Researchers have developed a technique that enables the detection of single molecules of contaminants, explosives, or diseases using a combination of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and a slippery surface. This innovation has vast applications in analytical chemistry, molecular diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and nation...

Even small reductions in kidney function may damage heart, blood vessels

New research found that even very healthy individuals with reduced kidney function experience changes in the heart, including increased left ventricle mass and elevated troponin levels, indicating potential for heart disease. The study tracked living kidney donors to explore direct effects of diminished kidney function on the heart.

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.