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Science News Archive 2017 - Page 246


Page 246 of 461

This week from AGU: Remarkable 2016 storms caused massive Antarctic sea ice loss

A new study in Geophysical Research Letters finds that a series of unprecedented storms over the Southern Ocean likely caused the most dramatic decline in Antarctic sea ice seen to date. The extreme weather event led to significant losses of sea ice, with researchers suggesting that the storms' impact was exacerbated by climate change.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateJun 21, 2017
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

No mercury accumulation in fish after fire

A study by researchers from the USDA Forest Service and the University of Minnesota found that controlled burns did not lead to increased mercury levels in yellow perch, contradicting previous mixed results. The research also showed no significant disruption to watershed food webs.

SourceAmerican Society of Agronomy·JournalJournal of Environmental Quality·DateJun 21, 2017

Three ways neuroscience can advance the concussion debate

Neurologists and neurotraumatologists review the science of concussions and outline areas where neuroscience and clinical research can help create consensus. They emphasize the importance of diagnosis in treatment and suggest using animal models to discover better treatment plans.

SourceCell Press·JournalNeuron·DateJun 21, 2017

Identified brain circuitry bridges neural and behavioral roles in PTSD

A comprehensive review of rapidly changing data identified four neural-behavioral models associated with PTSD, pinpointing specific circuits in the brain that mediate between chemical changes and behavioral expressions. The study provides detailed tables to help healthcare providers recognize signs and symptoms of PTSD for diagnosis.

SourceNYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJun 21, 2017

Enzyme catalyzed decomposition of 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide

New research reveals the role of enzyme-catalyzed decomposition in the antitumor effect of oxazaphosphorines. Activated oxazphosphorines are decomposed into phosphoreamide mustard and 3-hydroxypropanal, causing DNA damage that can lead to apoptosis.

SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalThe Open Conference Proceedings Journal·DateJun 21, 2017
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.

Fossil holds new insights into how fish evolved onto land

A new fossil discovery challenges our understanding of the early evolution of tetrapods, revealing a fish-like creature with a snake-like exterior. The Lethiscus stocki fossil shows immediate and dramatic evolutionary experimentation, dropping its position on the 'family tree' and impacting evolutionary biology.

SourceUniversity of Calgary·JournalNature·DateJun 21, 2017

Parasite strain-specific factors determine malaria disease severity

Three distinct parasite strains show varying ability to infect human liver cells, with some causing more severe symptoms. Future antimalarial vaccine trials should use multiple strains to accurately predict efficacy.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJun 21, 2017
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.

Eating fish may reduce arthritis symptoms

A recent study found that individuals with rheumatoid arthritis who consumed fish at least 2 times a week had lower disease activity compared to those who ate fish less than once a month. The study, which assessed 176 patients, suggests that fish consumption may lower inflammation related to rheumatoid arthritis.

SourceWiley·JournalArthritis Care & Research·DateJun 21, 2017

The world's largest canary

The São Tomé grosbeak is the world's largest canary, measuring 20 cm long and possessing a flat head and large beak. It is found only on the island of São Tomé in the West African Gulf of Guinea and is 50% larger than the runner-up species.

SourceLund University·JournalIbis·DateJun 21, 2017

When estimating extinction risk, don't leave out the males

Research found that population growth in birds is sensitive to male-to-female ratio, affecting mating behavior and survival rates. A male-biased population can lead to increased aggression, while a female-biased population can result in lower parental investment.

SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 21, 2017

Clear view on stem cell development

Researchers developed an algorithm to correct images and make hitherto hidden development steps visible, allowing for more accurate detection of regulatory proteins active during stem cell development. The 'BaSiC' software can correct changes in the background of time-lapse videos, making it a valuable tool for stem cell researchers.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 21, 2017

Researchers recommend specific diabetes medications to protect bone health

A comprehensive review highlights the most effective treatment options for co-managing type 2 diabetes and osteoporosis. Researchers suggest using medications like Metformin and DPP-4 inhibitors to protect bone health. Meanwhile, insulin therapy is recommended for achieving glycemic control in patients with T2D and fractures.

SourceThe Endocrine Society·JournalThe Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism·DateJun 21, 2017
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.

CWRU researchers find a chemical solution to shrink digital data storage

Researchers at Case Western Reserve University found a way to store digital data in half the space required by current systems. They developed an optical storage system using polymer films containing two dyes, which can represent information using a quaternary code.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry C·DateJun 21, 2017

Scientists shed new light on preventative measures for diabetes

Researchers discovered that physical activity offers health benefits against insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes. The study found that exercise's ability to remove damaged cellular materials and enhance mitochondrial quality is more effective in preventing insulin resistance than previously thought.

SourceThe Physiological Society·JournalExperimental Physiology·DateJun 21, 2017

Could flu during pregnancy raise risk for autism?

A study of 338 mothers found no evidence of increased autism risk from maternal influenza diagnosis alone, but a trend towards risk was seen in those with lab-verified infection and symptoms.

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalmSphere·DateJun 21, 2017

U study finds recognition technology a step closer to use in courtroom

A University of Minnesota study suggests American jurors can accurately integrate brain-based memory recognition evidence in evaluating criminal defendants. The research found that while the technology has potential, its effectiveness depends on more collaboration across disciplines.

SourceUniversity of Minnesota·JournalJournal of Law and the Biosciences·DateJun 21, 2017
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.

Head impact exposure increases as youth football players get older, bigger

A study by researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center found that youth football players aged 9-13 experience more forceful head impacts as they progress to higher levels of competition. The study recorded over 40,000 head impacts and found significant differences in impact exposure between different levels of play.

SourceAtrium Health Wake Forest Baptist·JournalJournal of Neurotrauma·DateJun 21, 2017

Villous tree model with active contractions for estimating blood flow conditions

Researchers developed a computational model to estimate blood flow conditions in the human placenta, leveraging villous tree structures and active contractions. The results showed that displacement caused by contraction can help maintain robust blood circulation even under changed mechanical properties.

SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalThe Open Biomedical Engineering Journal·DateJun 20, 2017

City rats: Why scientists are not hot on their tails

Rats in cities face significant challenges due to lack of access to urban properties, making it difficult for scientists to study them. This limits our understanding of rat ecology and population dynamics, ultimately affecting disease surveillance and control methods.

SourceOxford University Press USA·JournalJournal of Urban Ecology·DateJun 20, 2017
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.

A unique data center for cosmological simulations

A unique data center for cosmological simulations, Cosmowebportal, has been initiated by astrophysicists from TUM and LRZ. The facility pools the results of the Magneticum Pathfinder simulations, allowing scientists to explore and analyze the universe's evolution.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalAstronomy and Computing·DateJun 20, 2017
Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

New study advances understanding on the treatment of pediatric feeding disorders

A new study found that children with feeding disorders who received behavioral intervention and D-cycloserine experienced more rapid treatment gains, with a 76 percent improvement in feeding after five days of treatment. The results also suggest that the brain changes account for the drug's ability to result in behavioral changes.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalTranslational Psychiatry·DateJun 20, 2017

Simple method measures how long bacteria can wait out antibiotics

A new method, MDK99, measures bacterial tolerance to antibiotics, allowing clinicians to effectively treat antimicrobial-tolerant strains. This metric can also estimate the duration of antibiotic treatments and provide insights into the prevalence of tolerance, ultimately reducing treatment failure and resistance.

SourceCell Press·JournalBiophysical Journal·DateJun 20, 2017
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.

Familiar faces look happier than unfamiliar ones

Researchers found that even when facial expressions are objectively identical, familiar faces are judged more positively. The study suggests that prior experience with a face can influence how happy it appears, highlighting the dynamic nature of emotion perception processes.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalPsychological Science·DateJun 20, 2017

Modeling Gulf War illness: Knowing the cause of brain dysfunction is key to finding a cure

Gulf War veterans experience long-term side effects of their service due to exposure to chemicals like pyridostigmine bromide, DEET, and permethrin. Animal models demonstrate how these chemicals cause brain dysfunction, inflammation, and oxidative stress, leading to symptoms such as cognitive decline, memory problems, and chronic fatigue.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalFrontiers in Molecular Neuroscience·DateJun 20, 2017

Penn study details impact of antibiotics, antiseptics on skin microbiomes

A study by Penn researchers found that antibiotics can significantly change the skin microbiome, leading to lingering effects even after treatment is stopped. Antiseptics, on the other hand, had a less durable impact and did not significantly alter the skin's microbial communities.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalAntimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy·DateJun 20, 2017
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

New metrology technique measures electric fields

American scientists have developed a new method to measure electric fields using atomic resonance-based technology, allowing for accurate and traceable measurements. This technique has improved spatial resolution and can measure frequencies up to one terahertz, relevant for future wireless mobile telecommunication systems.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalJournal of Applied Physics·DateJun 20, 2017

Computer scientists repurpose laparoscopy video for medical training

Computer scientists at MIT and Massachusetts General Hospital develop a new system to analyze hundreds of hours of laparoscopic surgery videos for training purposes. The system efficiently searches for events and visual features in the videos, enabling speedy analysis and improved surgical outcomes.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·DateJun 20, 2017

Corn better used as food than biofuel, study finds

A new study from the University of Illinois found that corn is more valuable for food production than biofuel, with a net social and economic worth of $1,492 per hectare. The research also highlighted the importance of soil nutrients in determining the environmental impacts of corn production.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·DateJun 20, 2017

Study: While trust is inherited, distrust is not

A recent study led by the University of Arizona found that trust is significantly influenced by genetics, while distrust appears to be primarily socialized. The research suggests that trust and distrust are distinct qualities, with genetics playing a more significant role in shaping trust behaviors.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 20, 2017
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.

Unlock molecular secrets with mobile game BioBlox2-D

The game, developed by Imperial College London researchers, challenges players to dock molecules into proteins while learning about the science. The 3D version, BioBlox3D, aims to crowdsource protein docking problems through citizen science challenges.

SourceImperial College London·DateJun 20, 2017

Infections in early life associated with increased risk for celiac disease

Recurring gastrointestinal infections in early childhood significantly increase the risk of developing gluten intolerance, according to a new study. The research found a strong association between early respiratory tract infections and an elevated risk of celiac disease.

SourceHelmholtz Munich (Helmholtz Zentrum München Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (GmbH))·JournalAmerican Journal of Epidemiology·DateJun 20, 2017

San Diego team tests best delivery mode for potential HIV vaccine

In a preclinical study, optimizing immunizations reliably elicits protective antibodies in non-human primates. Delivering the vaccine subcutaneously and increasing time intervals between immunizations improves efficacy and induces neutralizing antibodies.

SourceLa Jolla Institute for Immunology·JournalImmunity·DateJun 20, 2017
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.

NASA examines potential tropical or sub-tropical storm affecting Gulf states

A developing low-pressure area in the Gulf of Mexico is being monitored by NASA's GPM core satellite, which gathered rainfall and storm height information. The system has triggered Tropical Storm Warnings and Watches along the U.S. Gulf Coast, with a potential tropical cyclone expected to reach the coast late Wednesday or Wednesday night.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateJun 20, 2017

Long-term memories made with meaningful information

Researchers at Baycrest Health Sciences found that focusing on the meaning of words rather than repeating them creates better short-term memories. The study used brain scans to identify brain activity related to memorizing through sound and meaning.

SourceBaycrest Centre for Geriatric Care·JournalNeuroImage·DateJun 20, 2017

Pacemakers and other cardiac devices can help solve forensic cases

A study found that pacemakers and other cardiac devices can determine the time and cause of death in unclear cases where autopsy fails. The devices revealed this information in 76% of cases, with changes in lead impedance and pacing threshold used to assign the time of death.

SourceEuropean Society of Cardiology·DateJun 20, 2017

Increase in use of high-dose vitamin D supplements

The prevalence of daily supplemental vitamin D use above 1,000 IU increased from 0.3% in 1999-2000 to 18.2% in 2013-2014. Intake of 4,000 IU or more daily also rose, with 3.2% of participants using such supplements in 2013-2014. The trend was observed across most age groups, race/ethnicities, and sexes.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateJun 20, 2017
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.

Plant reveals anti-Alzheimer's compounds

Japanese scientists have developed a method to isolate and identify active compounds in plant medicines, which accurately accounts for drug behavior in the body. They identified several active compounds from Drynaria Rhizome that improve memory and reduce disease characteristics in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Pharmacology·DateJun 20, 2017

The story of music is the story of humans

A recent Frontiers article explores the origins of music and its significance in human society. The study reveals that music is closely tied to human emotions, bonding, and social cohesion, suggesting that it may have played a crucial role in shaping human culture.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Sociology·DateJun 20, 2017
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.