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Science News for March 10, 2017


Rapid blood pressure drops in middle age linked to dementia in old age

Research suggests that temporary episodes of dizziness upon standing may cause lasting damage to the brain, increasing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Middle-aged individuals with orthostatic hypotension were 40% more likely to develop dementia than those without it.

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·DateMar 10, 2017

New nanofiber marks important step in next generation battery development

Researchers at Georgia Tech have developed a nanofiber catalyst that improves the efficiency of rechargeable batteries and hydrogen production. The new catalyst, made from double perovskite nanofibers, shows significantly enhanced oxygen evolution reaction capability compared to existing materials.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 10, 2017

NASA sees wind shear affecting Tropical Cyclone 11S

Tropical Cyclone 11S has been stretched out due to moderate vertical wind shear, according to NASA satellite imagery. The Joint Typhoon Warning Center expects the storm to strengthen before encountering stronger wind shear and cooler sea surface temperatures.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateMar 10, 2017

NASA's aerial survey of polar ice expands its Arctic reach

Operation IceBridge's ninth year in the Arctic will be its most extensive campaign yet, with two new research flights based out of Svalbard to survey the Eurasian sector. The mission aims to collect valuable data on polar ice changes and improve snowfall accumulation models.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateMar 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.

Researchers find a gene that causes Opitz C syndrome

A team of researchers has identified a gene that causes Opitz C syndrome in the only patient diagnosed with this ultra-rare disorder in Catalonia. The study used DNA massive sequencing techniques to identify the altered genes in each patient, providing new insights into the genetic basis of this disease.

SourceCenter for Genomic Regulation·JournalScientific Reports·DateMar 10, 2017

The environmental state of Moscow was assessed in a new way

Scientists at Lomonosov Moscow State University developed a new approach to monitor environmental status in Moscow, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. The method detects novel pollutants and expands the list of hazardous substances, posing potential threats to human health and ecosystems.

SourceLomonosov Moscow State University·JournalEnvironmental Pollution·DateMar 10, 2017
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

The hazards of English spelling

A new study by Kristian Berg and Mark Aronoff found that English suffix patterns can categorize words into grammatical categories, such as adjectives. The researchers analyzed a large sample of written English documents over 1,000 years, discovering consistent spellings for common suffixes like -ous and -ic.

SourceLinguistic Society of America·JournalLanguage·DateMar 10, 2017

Measurements by school pupils paved way for key research findings

A study published in Scientific Reports found that water temperatures generally remain low despite rising air temperatures, helping to curb greenhouse gas emissions. The research, conducted by Uppsala University, involved nearly 3,500 schoolchildren taking measurements and samples from lakes across Sweden.

SourceUppsala University·JournalScientific Reports·DateMar 10, 2017

New application of the selective laser melting method

Researchers at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University and Delft University of Technology created a technology for obtaining gradient microstructures in metals, combining properties of two metals for high performance characteristics.

SourcePeter the Great Saint-Petersburg Polytechnic University·JournalMaterials & Design·DateMar 10, 2017

Benefits of university seed cap programs

University-based startups can benefit from university-funded seed capital programs, which provide expanded funding opportunities, entrepreneur development, and economic growth. These programs also help faculty members and students develop their entrepreneurial skills and support the commercialization of innovative technologies.

SourceUniversity of South Florida·JournalJournal of Technology and Innovation·DateMar 10, 2017
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.

Building on the foundations of innovation

The National Academy of Inventors conference highlights the importance of creating innovation ecosystems and overcoming biases against women in science. The issue also explores the role of technology transfer in universities and its potential to benefit society.

SourceUniversity of South Florida·JournalJournal of Technology and Innovation·DateMar 10, 2017

Halting nearsightedness epidemic goal of UH vision scientist

Earl Smith's research seeks to determine how visual experience affects refractive development and explore new pharmaceutical approaches to eliminate myopia. The goal is to slow the progression of nearsightedness in children, addressing a growing global epidemic that affects over two billion people.

SourceUniversity of Houston·DateMar 10, 2017

A closer look at brain organoid development

Researchers have characterized cerebral organoids, showing they recapitulate human brain developmental processes and involve forebrain organizing centers. These findings advance our understanding of normal organoid development and are essential for modeling human developmental diseases.

SourceEMBO·JournalThe EMBO Journal·DateMar 10, 2017

Organic is only one ingredient in recipe for sustainable food future

A new UBC study examines the environmental and socioeconomic performance of organic farming, finding that its benefits are context-dependent. Organic farming's yield is often lower than conventional methods, but it has an important role to play in promoting sustainable agriculture.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 10, 2017
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.

Effects of weather variability on maple syrup production studied

Research by Montana State University's Selena Ahmed aims to understand the effects of weather variability on maple syrup production. The study found that warmer temperatures lead to higher levels of phenolic compounds, resulting in darker syrups with lower demand and prices.

SourceMontana State University·DateMar 10, 2017

Biodegradable packages will keep your food fresh

Researchers at Kaunas University of Technology have developed biodegradable packaging that can keep food fresh for longer, reducing food waste and plastic usage. The packaging, made from cellulose composites with added ethereal oil and silver particles, degrades in nature in around two years.

SourceKaunas University of Technology·DateMar 10, 2017

Doctors and patients often disagree on pain treatment goals

Researchers at UC Davis Health found that doctors and patients often have differing priorities for pain treatment, with patients seeking to reduce pain intensity and physicians focusing on improving physical function. The study recommends pain-focused communication training to improve doctor-patient agreements.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis Health·JournalClinical Journal of Pain·DateMar 10, 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.

Using telemedicine to treat multiple sclerosis

A new home-based telemedicine program will be developed and pilot-tested to treat multiple sclerosis patients. The program, funded by a $100,000 Genentech grant, aims to improve care for people with advanced MS living in medically underserved communities.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·DateMar 10, 2017

Stressed seabird parents think only of themselves

When parent little auks were stressed, they reduced feeding and spent more time searching for food, impacting their offspring's nutrition. Despite this, the birds still displayed a care response to their chicks' begging behaviour.

SourceUniversity of Veterinary Medicine -- Vienna·JournalJournal of Ornithology·DateMar 10, 2017

Severe hypoglycemia linked to increased risk of death in people with diabetes

A new study by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that severe hypoglycemia is associated with nearly double the risk of cardiovascular disease or death in older adults with type 2 diabetes. Within three years of a dangerously low blood sugar episode, one-third of those in the study died.

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·DateMar 10, 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.

A breath of fresh air for severe asthma research

A study by Brigham and Women's Hospital reveals that natural killer cells in patients with severe asthma are disabled from resolving inflammation, leading to ineffective corticosteroid treatment. Researchers also identified lipoxins as a potential therapeutic approach, as they preserve NK cell pro-resolving functions.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalScience Immunology·DateMar 10, 2017

An utter shambles

Researchers found that parenting by ADHD parents is less adequate, with more criticism and household chaos. However, they also rated their relationship to children more positively than non-ADHD parents. The study suggests a complex interplay between these factors and recommends future research on designing parent training programs.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·JournalJournal of Attention Disorders·DateMar 10, 2017

Floods and hurricanes predicted with social media

Researchers tracked social media posts with specific tags before extreme weather events to identify areas at risk. This early warning system has the potential to improve prediction and monitoring of floods and other natural hazards, saving lives and protecting homes.

SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMar 10, 2017
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.

Behavioral biology: Ripeness is all

Researchers discovered that spotted-wing flies use senses of smell, touch, and taste to choose ideal nursery sites. They prefer firm texture and volatile chemicals emitted by freshly ripened fruits.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalCurrent Biology·DateMar 10, 2017

Immunology: Live and let live

Dendritic cells, which help activate and suppress immune responses, play a key role in maintaining the balance between self and non-self in the gut. The discovery of a signaling molecule, CD40, reveals how this balance can be disrupted, leading to severe colitis, but also highlights the importance of regulatory T-cells in maintaining i...

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 10, 2017

This small molecule could have a big future in global food security

Researchers at the University of Arizona have developed a promising method to prevent aflatoxin contamination in crops, which could improve food security in developing countries. The transgenic corn plants produce small RNA molecules that suppress toxin production when infected with a fungus.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 10, 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.

Drug use drops after ER visits used as 'teachable moments'

A new study suggests that ER visits can be effective 'teachable moments' for reducing drug use, with brief chats with counselors or virtual therapists showing promise. Participants who received the intervention had 21% fewer days of drug use compared to those in the control group.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalAddiction·DateMar 10, 2017

Information avoidance

Research reveals that people deliberately avoid information that challenges their beliefs, leading to harm in individual wellbeing and societal polarization. By understanding the reasons behind information avoidance, governments and firms can develop effective strategies to reach their audiences.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalJournal of Economic Literature·DateMar 10, 2017

Childhood bullying may lead to increased chronic disease risk in adulthood

Childhood bullying may lead to an increased risk of chronic stress exposure, which can contribute to the development of diseases such as depression, diabetes, and heart disease. Early-life stress exposure can also affect physiological systems' response to future stressors through epigenetic changes.

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalHarvard Review of Psychiatry·DateMar 10, 2017

What cancer research can learn from military strategy

Researchers are exploring parallels between military counter-insurgency tactics and cancer treatment, focusing on targeted therapies that harness the patient's own resources. By adopting an intelligence-led approach, clinicians can adapt treatment strategies to tackle evolving tumour genetic codes.

SourceLund University·JournalTrends in Cancer·DateMar 10, 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.

Single molecule switch

Researchers successfully demonstrated a reliable and reproducible single molecule switch, enabling electric current to flow between electrodes through the molecule or not. The breakthrough could lead to advancements in molecular electronics.

SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalNature Communications·DateMar 10, 2017

Castration-resistant prostate cancer cell growth impeded by endostatin

Researchers at University of Alabama at Birmingham discovered endostatin's ability to decrease castration-resistant prostate cell growth in culture. Endostatin reduces oxidative stress and targets hormone receptors, shifting metabolism to scavenge reactive oxygen species.

SourceUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham·JournalThe FASEB Journal·DateMar 10, 2017

Investigational vaccine protects cattle from respiratory syncytial virus

A novel vaccine developed by scientists at NIAID protected cattle from respiratory syncytial virus infection, with high levels of neutralizing antibodies and protection against viral replication. The vaccine's pre-F protein construct showed promise in a model that may be applied to human RSV vaccine development.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases·Journalnpj Vaccines·DateMar 10, 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.