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Science News Archive August 2017 - Page 29


Page 29 of 41

A metabolic pathway that feeds liver cancer

A little-studied gene SLC13A5 may explain how liver cancer cells obtain energy to proliferate. Suppressing SLC13A5 in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines resulted in slower growth and division of cancer cells.

SourceAmerican Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateAug 10, 2017

Innovative way to understand nature of an entire tiny particle

Researchers from UNH developed a novel method to estimate the extent of small particles in 3D models, enabling more accurate assessments of their properties. This innovation has practical applications in modeling volcanic ash clouds, sediment transport, and blood test development.

SourceUniversity of New Hampshire·JournalMeasurement Science and Technology·DateAug 10, 2017

Link between biological clock and aging revealed

A UCI-led study found that a low-calorie diet helps maintain efficient energy processing in cells, which is linked to younger aging. The researchers also discovered that calorie restriction can rejuvenate the biological clock and prevent tissue aging in stem cells.

SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalCell·DateAug 10, 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.

Four ORNL researchers receive DOE early career funding awards

The Department of Energy's Office of Science Early Career Research Program has awarded funding to four Oak Ridge National Laboratory researchers. The selected researchers will study exotic nuclei, simulate magnetically confined fusion plasmas and investigate the role of symbiotic relationships between plants and microbes.

SourceDOE/Oak Ridge National Laboratory·DateAug 10, 2017

Consistent backswing crucial in helping sportspeople produce optimum results

A study published in Scientific Reports found that consistent lead-in motions enable faster learning of new techniques, with participants perfecting their skills twice as quickly when executing consistent movements. The research has implications for skill learning and movement rehabilitation following neurological conditions.

SourceUniversity of Plymouth·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 10, 2017

Review: Cholera vaccines effective for adults, much less so for children

A review of clinical trials and observational studies found that cholera vaccines reduce the risk of getting cholera by 58% in adults but only 30% in children under 5. The findings could inform policymakers on how to use the vaccine, particularly in outbreak settings like Yemen.

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·JournalThe Lancet Infectious Diseases·DateAug 9, 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.

First winged mammals from the Jurassic period discovered

Fossil discoveries of Maiopatagium furculiferum and Vilevolodon diplomylos reveal ancient gliding behavior among extinct mammalian ancestors. These Jurassic mammals lived 100 million years before modern mammal fliers, with adaptations allowing them to thrive in a dinosaur-dominated landscape.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Medical Center·JournalNature·DateAug 9, 2017

Updated computer code improves prediction of particle motion in plasma experiments

Physicist Mario Podestà develops a new subprogram to simulate particle motion in fusion plasmas, enabling faster and more accurate predictions. The improved code can now approximate the behavior of highly energetic atomic nuclei, crucial for achieving high-performance tokamaks like ITER.

SourceDOE/Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory·JournalPlasma Physics and Controlled Fusion·DateAug 9, 2017

The ethics of animal research

A new review examines the evolution of animal experimentation ethics, providing strategies for teaching and alternatives like tissue cultures and computer modeling. Practical approaches are offered to improve ethical practices in animal research.

SourceWiley·JournalPharmacology Research & Perspectives·DateAug 9, 2017

Spying on malaria parasites at -196 Celsius

Researchers used X-ray fluorescence microscopy and soft X-ray tomography to study malaria parasites in liquid nitrogen, gaining insights into their ravaging mode of operation. The findings suggest a potential mechanism controlling the speed of hemoglobin digestion and crystallization, which could be targeted with new medication.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Faculty of Science·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 9, 2017
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Report confirms 2016 was another warm year

A new report confirms 2016 as the second-warmest year on record, with global temperatures reaching 1°C above pre-industrial levels due to human-induced climate change and El Niño events.

SourceWiley·JournalWeather·DateAug 9, 2017

2017 Massry Prize honors microbiome research pioneers

The 2017 Massry Prize recognizes the groundbreaking research of Knight, Gordon, and Pace on the human microbiome. Their work has led to a deeper understanding of microbes' role in human health and disease, with applications in fields such as medicine and environmental science.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·DateAug 9, 2017

New 13-million-year-old infant skull sheds light on ape ancestry

A newly discovered infant ape skull from 13 million years ago provides insights into the evolution of human ancestors. The fossil, nicknamed Alesi, reveals a brain cavity, inner ears, and unerupted teeth that indicate it belonged to a new species, Nyanzapithecus alesi.

SourceThe Leakey Foundation·JournalNature·DateAug 9, 2017

Rewired taste system reveals how flavors move from tongue to brain

A study by Charles Zuker and colleagues has shown that the taste system wires itself through a process of cellular reconnection, allowing flavor information to flow from tongue to brain. The researchers found that specific chemical signals in newborn taste receptor cells can pull the right nerve cell connections towards them.

SourceHoward Hughes Medical Institute·JournalNature·DateAug 9, 2017

A portable DNA sequencer enables researchers to monitor the evolution of Zika virus

Researchers used a portable DNA sequencer to track the movement of the Zika virus, understanding its evolution and predicting future outbreaks. The study analyzed 254 whole genomes of the pathogen, revealing that Zika circulated silently in all regions of the Americas at least a year before the first confirmed cases.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalNature·DateAug 9, 2017
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Biochar shows benefits as manure lagoon cover

Researchers found that biochar can absorb nutrients from manure, reducing nutrient runoff and water pollution. Biochar also demonstrated significant reductions in ammonia emissions, a primary contributor to manure odors.

SourceAmerican Society of Agronomy·JournalJournal of Environmental Quality·DateAug 9, 2017

Salk neuroscientist receives new NSF award to model the brain

Terrence Sejnowski will use advanced modeling techniques to understand how the brain stores information and how diseases like schizophrenia and Parkinson's affect it. The project aims to create a layered control system model of the brain, testing its accuracy with human tasks requiring fast reflexes and long-range planning.

SourceSalk Institute·DateAug 9, 2017

1 in 12 doctors accepts payment from pharmaceutical companies related to opioids

A new study found that nearly one in five family medicine physicians accepted payments from pharmaceutical companies related to opioids, while anesthesiologists received the most total annual payments. The study suggests that pharmaceutical companies may have a stronger hold on how doctors prescribe opioids than previously known.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateAug 9, 2017

A battery-inspired strategy for carbon fixation

Researchers in Japan and China create a way to isolate solid carbon dust from gaseous carbon dioxide, yielding a promising approach to fix carbon in a stable form. The method also shows potential for treating atmospheric CO2 and scrubbing other harmful gases.

SourceCell Press·JournalJoule·DateAug 9, 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.

The color of people's clothing affects lizard escape behavior

A study found that western fence lizards preferentially flee from dark blue T-shirts over other colors, suggesting they respond to the color itself rather than its detectability. The researchers suggest that this could have implications for animal conservation and ecotourism, where human clothing color may affect animal behavior.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateAug 9, 2017

Insight into learning via 'friend of fragile X' gene

Researchers identify FMR1 and ZC3H14 as friend genes, regulating messenger RNA in neurons, affecting learning and memory. Mutant flies and mice display impaired working memory and altered brain development.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalCell Reports·DateAug 9, 2017

Scientists unearth cell 'checkpoint' that stops allergic diseases

Scientists at Trinity College Dublin have identified a 'checkpoint' manned by immune cells that can halt allergic disease development. This discovery provides a potential new target for drug developers to regulate overly aggressive allergic responses.

SourceTrinity College Dublin·JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine·DateAug 9, 2017
Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

People with mental illness reoffend less if on specialty probation

A study led by the University of California, Berkeley, found that people with mental illness reoffend less if placed on specialty probation, a program using individualized treatment-oriented approaches. Specialty probationers had a 52% recidivism rate over two years compared to 29% for traditional probationers.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalJAMA Psychiatry·DateAug 9, 2017

Marijuana associated with three-fold risk of death from hypertension

Research published in European Journal of Preventive Cardiology found a significant association between marijuana use and an increased risk of death from hypertension. Marijuana users had a three-fold higher risk of dying from hypertension compared to non-users, with the risk increasing with each additional year of use.

SourceEuropean Society of Cardiology·JournalEuropean Journal of Preventive Cardiology·DateAug 9, 2017
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Hepatitis A vaccination for Alaskan children has wiped out the virus

Alaska's comprehensive hepatitis A vaccination program, established in the 1990s, has dramatically reduced the virus's presence among native peoples. The program's success is attributed to widespread vaccination requirements for school entry, resulting in an 88% decline in imported cases since 2008.

SourceWorld Hepatitis Alliance·DateAug 9, 2017

Study on religious development continues

Researchers are studying how people's beliefs change over time, comparing German and American respondents. They will analyze questionnaire data and conduct in-depth interviews to document changes in religiosity and worldviews.

SourceBielefeld University·DateAug 9, 2017

Pioneering immunotherapy shows promise in type 1 diabetes

A clinical trial has observed noticeable changes in the behavior of immune systems of type 1 diabetes patients treated with peptides. The treatment has a noticeable effect on the immune system and suggests a potential way to protect remaining beta cells.

SourceKing's College London·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateAug 9, 2017
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.

Dutch and Canadian researchers detail one of the biggest proteins ever found

Researchers from Eindhoven University of Technology and Queen's University have detailed the structure of a 600-nanometer protein in an Antarctic bacterium, revealing its role in gripping onto ice surfaces. The discovery has potential applications in preventing pathogenic bacteria from attaching to human cells.

SourceEindhoven University of Technology·JournalScience Advances·DateAug 9, 2017

How the tongue keeps its tastes straight

Scientists discovered that molecules help the tongue communicate with the brain to identify the correct taste. By rewiring the taste-system of mice, researchers found that taste receptor cells determine their own connectivity by providing instructive signals to neurons.

SourceColumbia University Irving Medical Center·JournalNature·DateAug 9, 2017

Lunar dynamo's lifetime extended by at least 1 billion years

Researchers from MIT and Rutgers University found evidence of an active lunar dynamo that generated a magnetic field lasting at least 1 billion years longer than previously thought. The study suggests two possible mechanisms that powered the moon's ancient core, shedding new light on the phenomena that produced the lunar dynamo.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalScience Advances·DateAug 9, 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.

Researchers look to improve detection of skin cancer lacking pigment melanin

A recent study published in JAMA Dermatology identified key features linked to amelanotic melanoma, including the absence of moles on the back, multiple freckles, and sun-sensitive traits. These characteristics may trigger doctors and patients to pay attention to pink spots that could be indicative of this type of skin cancer.

SourceUNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center·JournalJAMA Dermatology·DateAug 9, 2017

More veterans have enrolled in college with post-9/11 G.I. bill

A new study by NYU's Steinhardt School finds that the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill increased overall college enrollment among veterans by 3 percentage points, with a larger impact immediately after its adoption. However, this effect has waned in recent years.

SourceNew York University·JournalEducational Evaluation and Policy Analysis·DateAug 9, 2017

Why massive galaxies don't dance in crowds

A study of over 300 galaxies found that heavier galaxies spin more slowly due to their mass, contradicting earlier theories. The research used the Sydney-AAO Multi-object Integral field spectrograph to measure galaxy rotation rates.

SourceUniversity of New South Wales·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal·DateAug 9, 2017
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Researchers examine contaminants in hunted wildlife

A recent study analyzed feral pigs, gray squirrels, and waterfowl from uncontaminated and contaminated habitats to assess environmental contamination. Many waterfowl tissues exceeded safe consumption levels, posing health concerns for both birds and humans.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Wildlife Management·DateAug 9, 2017

Engineers find better way to detect nanoparticles

Researchers create whispering gallery mode resonator to detect nanoscale objects, improving performance with smaller target objects, and opening doors for biomedical devices, electronics, and biohazard detection.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalNature·DateAug 9, 2017

Reversing a genetic mutation to restore your smile

A team led by Dr. Rena D'Souza aims to identify the relationship between PAX9 and WNT pathways in permanent tooth formation. The goal is to develop new therapies that reestablish normal interaction between genes and pathways to restore tooth development.

SourceUniversity of Utah Health·DateAug 9, 2017

Increases in alcohol use, especially among women, other groups

Alcohol use disorder increased in the US population from 65.4% to 72.7%, with significant growth among women, older adults, racial/ethnic minorities, and those with lower educational levels and family income. High-risk drinking also rose by 29.9% over two decades.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA Psychiatry·DateAug 9, 2017
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.

Increased risk of suicide, mental health conditions linked to sexual assault victimization

A meta-analysis of nearly 200 studies involving over 230,000 adults found a significant association between sexual assault and increased risk of mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The study suggests that sexual assault survivors are at higher risk of mental health problems regardle...

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalClinical Psychology Review·DateAug 9, 2017

The mystery of the pulsating blue stars

A team of Polish astronomers identified a new class of variable dwarf stars with shorter oscillation periods and higher surface temperatures than known classes. The newly discovered BLAPs are hotter and more compact than previously thought, posing an enigma in the field of astronomy.

SourceFriedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg·JournalNature Astronomy·DateAug 9, 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.

A personalized approach to Alzheimer's disease prevention

Researchers found that brain-stimulating activities, physical activity, and a healthy lifestyle can reduce AD risk by up to 65 percent. Addressing known risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and depression can also prevent up to 30 percent of AD cases.

SourceAmerican Geriatrics Society·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateAug 9, 2017

Men, not women, may be having fewer strokes

A recent study suggests that men may be experiencing a decline in stroke rates, with the rate decreasing by 31% for men compared to no change for women. The study, published in Neurology, analyzed data from 1.3 million adults and found that overall stroke rates declined significantly for men, but not for women.

SourceAmerican Academy of Neurology·JournalNeurology·DateAug 9, 2017

Environmental policy, pollution and economic growth

A new study by Carnegie Mellon University researchers found that environmental regulations can reduce pollution emissions from urbanization without hindering economic growth. The study used annual data on air quality and economic indicators to assess the impact of stricter pollution standards, finding no negative effect on GDP.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateAug 9, 2017
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.

The benefits -- and potential pitfalls -- of urban green spaces

Researchers warn of potential pitfalls in urban green space management, including the risk of creating ecological traps that lack native species support. Urban green spaces will still play a vital role in promoting healthy ecosystems and connecting citizens with nature.

SourceAmerican Institute of Biological Sciences·JournalBioScience·DateAug 9, 2017

Landscapes give latitude to 2-D material designers

Rice University researchers have developed a method to control defects in 2-D materials, which can enhance their electronic, magnetic and optical properties. By growing atomic-thin sheets on curved substrates, they can manipulate the appearance of grain boundaries, which are critical in determining material behavior.

SourceRice University·JournalACS Nano·DateAug 9, 2017