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Science News Archive April 2017 - Page 24


Page 24 of 37

CDC/WHO Ebola guidelines could put sewer workers at risk

A recent study suggests that current CDC and WHO guidelines may not be sufficient to protect sewer workers from the risk of contracting Ebola through inhalation. The researchers found that worker inhalation exposure to Ebolavirus-contaminated aerosols in the sewer is a concern that needs to be addressed.

SourceDrexel University·JournalWater Environment Research·DateApr 11, 2017

Flexible processors with atomically thin materials

The first fully functional microprocessor logic devices based on few-atom-thin layered materials have been demonstrated, enabling flexible and compact electronic devices. The transistors made from molybdenum disulphide (MoS2) can perform 1-bit logic operations and are scalable to multi-bit operations.

SourceGraphene Flagship·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 11, 2017

So you think you can secure your mobile phone with a fingerprint?

NYU Tandon and Michigan State University researchers discovered that partial fingerprints can be used to trick biometric security systems, making them more vulnerable. The study found an average of 92 potential MasterPrints for every batch of 800 partial prints, highlighting the need for multi-factor authentication schemes.

SourceNYU Tandon School of Engineering·JournalIEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security·DateApr 11, 2017

Super sensitive devices work on recycling atoms

Researchers at University of Queensland and University of Sussex have developed a way to recycle atoms, improving the performance of atom interferometers. This technique enables ultra-precise measurements of accelerations, rotations, and gravitational fields, with applications in mineral exploration, hydrology, and navigation.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateApr 11, 2017

Bubble group dancing

Researchers at Zhejiang University discovered a new type of bubbling mechanism that generates periodic and aperiodic bubbles with unique properties. This phenomenon has significant implications for industries such as heat transfer enhancement, mass transfer, and bubble motion control.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalPhysics of Fluids·DateApr 11, 2017

No democracy without women's rights

A new study published in the European Journal of Political Research reveals that women's civil rights are essential for countries to become fully democratic. The research indicates that the failure to foster women's rights compromised any attempt at democratic governance in the Arab Spring countries.

SourceUniversity of Gothenburg·JournalEuropean Journal of Political Research·DateApr 11, 2017

Distantly related fish find same evolutionary solution to dark water

A study found that three-spined stickleback fish evolved the same genetic changes in their color-vision gene to adapt to dark and clear water environments. The research demonstrated convergent evolution across vastly different time scales, showing that mechanisms underlying adaptive evolution are predictable.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateApr 11, 2017

Team tackles mysterious disease afflicting wild and captive snakes

Biologists and veterinarians across the US are working with Illinois researchers to identify, understand and treat snake fungal disease. The team has developed a nebulizer treatment that shows promise in preventing the spread of infection, but more research is needed to determine its effectiveness.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics·DateApr 11, 2017

When firms and customers share social responsibility, profits rise but donations can fall

A new study by researchers Minah Jung and Leif Nelson finds that when firms share social responsibility with customers, consumers are more sensitive to whether a portion of their payment goes to charity than how much. This has critical implications for the design of shared social responsibility programs.

When children see war as better than peace

A new study finds that children born of wartime rape in northern Uganda often endure post-war violence, stigma, and social-exclusion. The children, aged 12-19, reported feeling safer during the conflict and experiencing greater family cohesion within the rebel group.

SourceMcGill University·JournalChild Abuse & Neglect·DateApr 11, 2017

New protein regulated by cellular starvation

Researchers at IBS discovered a new function of DNA repair protein SHPRH, which regulates ribosome synthesis in response to nutrient availability. The protein's behavior changes during cellular starvation, allowing it to quickly recover ribosome production upon nutrient reintroduction.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 11, 2017

Distracted? Slowing down, not a safe option

Distracted drivers who slow down to avoid on-road conflicts may actually increase their own crash risk. Young drivers are particularly vulnerable due to the prevalence of mobile phone use in this age group. The study suggests context-aware mobile phone design, advanced technology, and warning systems as potential solutions.

SourceQueensland University of Technology·JournalAccident Analysis & Prevention·DateApr 10, 2017