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Science News for May 5, 2017


Researchers shed new light on influenza detection

A new study by University of Notre Dame researchers has led to the development of a test kit for detecting influenza using fluorescent light. The test kit emits red fluorescence when exposed to infected patient samples, indicating the presence of the virus.

SourceUniversity of Notre Dame·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateMay 5, 2017

Benefits of antipsychotics outweigh risks, find experts

A comprehensive review of clinical and basic research studies found that antipsychotics improve outcomes for patients with schizophrenia and related disorders. The benefits of these medications outweigh potential side effects, and delaying treatment can lead to poorer long-term outcomes.

SourceColumbia University Irving Medical Center·JournalAmerican Journal of Psychiatry·DateMay 5, 2017
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

Researchers discover a potential new target for cancer treatment

Researchers identified RIOK1 as a potential new target for cancer therapy that slows down disease progression by blocking its enzymatic activity. The study found that inhibiting RIOK1 can reduce the growth and aggressiveness of cancer cells, including those with mutated RAS proteins.

SourceUniversity of Freiburg·JournalEBioMedicine·DateMay 5, 2017

New defence mechanism against bacteria discovered

Scientists at Lund University have identified a novel defence mechanism that uses thrombin fragments to aggregate and neutralize bacteria and toxins in wounds. This discovery could provide an alternative approach to treating bacterial infections, potentially reducing the reliance on antibiotics.

SourceLund University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 5, 2017

Adaptive radiotherapy reduces pneumonitis while controlling lung cancer

Researchers found that adaptive radiation treatment significantly decreased the incidence of radiation pneumonitis in advanced lung cancer patients, while still slowing and controlling cancer growth. The study also showed no difference in cancer recurrence rates between the two groups.

SourceEuropean Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO)·DateMay 5, 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 identify gene that controls birth defect common in diabetes

Researchers have identified a gene, Prkca, that plays a key role in the formation of neural tube defects, commonly found in infants of pregnant women with diabetes. The study's findings may lead to new methods for reducing risk and potentially prevent these birth defects.

SourceUniversity of Maryland School of Medicine·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 5, 2017

From pill to needle: Prescription opioid epidemic may be increasing drug injection

A new USC-led study suggests that the prescription opioid epidemic is creating a heroin epidemic, which may lead to an injection drug use epidemic. The study found that individuals born in the 1980s and 1990s are more likely to progress from first illicit drug use to drug injection than previous generations.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalDrug and Alcohol Dependence·DateMay 5, 2017

Group rituals can make us biased against outsiders

A series of experiments found that people trust others who did not engage in the same ritual less than those who did. The study's lead author explains that even minimal rituals can lead to bias against people from other groups.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateMay 5, 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.

Macular evaluation with spectral domain type optic coherence tomography

Researchers evaluated macular changes using spectral domain type optic coherence tomography in 63 eyes of patients with acute NAION, finding normal posterior pole in 33.3% and subretinal fluid in 34.9%. The study suggests that macular OCT can identify coexistent macular abnormalities and monitor disease progression.

SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalThe Open Ophthalmology Journal·DateMay 5, 2017

New butterfly species discovered in Israel for the first time in 109 years

Researchers have discovered a new butterfly species, Acentria's fritillary, in northern Israel, with a unique molecular signature different from other fritillary species. The species is likely to be endemic to the region, highlighting its evolutionary history and possible hybridization between two other species.

SourcePensoft Publishers·JournalComparative Cytogenetics·DateMay 5, 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.

Red light, green light invention prevents work interruptions

A UBC computer scientist invented a unique desk light that automatically switches from green to red when an employee is 'in the zone' and shouldn't be disturbed by colleagues. The FlowLight reduces interruptions, changes office culture, and motivates employees to finish work faster.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·DateMay 5, 2017

Internet of things sensors could connect via ambient radio waves

Researchers at Disney Research have demonstrated an ultra-wideband backscatter communication system that enables IoT sensors to transmit data via ambient radio waves. This approach radically reduces the power requirements of sensor nodes, allowing for widespread deployment in metropolitan areas.

SourceDisney Research·DateMay 5, 2017

Platelets suppress T cell immunity against cancer

Researchers found that platelets release TGF-beta to suppress T cells and promote immune tolerance to certain cancers. Adding antiplatelet drugs like aspirin may improve adoptive T cell therapy against melanoma and other cancers.

SourceMedical University of South Carolina·JournalScience Immunology·DateMay 5, 2017

Scientists track porpoises to assess impact of offshore wind farms

Researchers used underwater microphones to detect and map harbor porpoise habits in the Maryland Wind Energy Area. They found that porpoises occur significantly more frequently during January to May and forage for food in the evenings.

SourceUniversity of Maryland Center for Environmental Science·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMay 5, 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.

American Scientific publishers give UTA physicist Wei Chen Best Paper Award

Wei Chen, a UTA physics professor, has received the Best Paper Award from American Scientific Publishers for his pioneering work on using nanoparticles to treat cancer. His research involves activating toxins to kill cancer cells and has led to over 20 further journal articles and international recognition.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Arlington·DateMay 5, 2017

New theory on how Earth's crust was created

Scientists at McGill University propose a new theory on how Earth's crust was created, suggesting that silica-rich minerals condensed and fell back to earth over about a million years. This process, called aerial metasomatism, could provide clues for the search for life on exoplanets.

SourceMcGill University·JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters·DateMay 5, 2017

Immune cells derived from specialised progenitors

Dendritic cells are crucial for immunity against pathogens and foreign substances. Researchers found that these cells develop from specialized progenitors, not a common progenitor, providing insights into the regulation of human immune responses.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalScience·DateMay 5, 2017

First molecular diagnostics for insecticide resistance in sandflies

Researchers have identified DNA polymorphisms causing two knockdown resistance mutations in the pyrethroid and DDT target site gene of Phlebotomus argentipes sandfly. These mutations, similar to those found in mosquitoes, are linked with insecticide resistance and pose a significant threat to Leishmaniasis control.

SourceLiverpool School of Tropical Medicine·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateMay 5, 2017
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Antarctic study shows central ice sheet is stable since milder times

Researchers find that parts of Antarctica's ice sheet have remained stable for millions of years, despite recent warming. The discovery helps scientists refine predictions of the region's response to climate change and potential contribution to sea level rise.

SourceUniversity of Edinburgh·JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters·DateMay 5, 2017

NASA sees Tropical Cyclone Donna blanket Vanuatu

Tropical Cyclone Donna was a Category 2 hurricane that blanketed the islands of Vanuatu with strong storms and heavy rain potential. The storm's cloud top temperatures were as cold as minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating heavy rainfall.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateMay 5, 2017

Vitamin A deficiency is detrimental to blood stem cells

Research by the German Cancer Research Center found that vitamin A deficiency can lead to a loss of dormant stem cells in the bone marrow, impairing the immune system. The study suggests that understanding how vitamin A regulates these stem cells could lead to new cancer treatments.

SourceGerman Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ)·JournalCell·DateMay 5, 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.

Researchers discover how flu viruses hijack human cells

A research team identified a mechanism by which influenza A viruses hijack cellular machinery to replicate, including the RNA exosome. This process is linked to congenital defects and neurodegeneration in people with rare mutations. The study offers future insight into common brain disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalCell·DateMay 5, 2017

UT Health diabetes breakthrough increases insulin-producing cells

Researchers at UT Health San Antonio have developed a gene-transfer technique that increases insulin-producing cells, potentially curing Type 1 and improving Type 2 diabetes. The therapy has cured diabetes in mice without side effects, offering a major advance over traditional insulin therapy.

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio·DateMay 5, 2017
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.

Poultry feed with arsenic more problematic than assumed?

Researchers have identified three additional compounds in chicken livers treated with Roxarsone, a common poultry feed supplement containing arsenic. These methylated compounds are up to 30,000 times more toxic than Rox and may pose significant risks to human health if consumed.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateMay 5, 2017

Shape-changing fog screen invented

Researchers at the University of Sussex have developed a shape-changing fog screen called MistForm, allowing users to interact with 2D and 3D objects in mid-air. The display optimizes visibility and facilitates interaction, adapting to single or multiple users.

SourceUniversity of Sussex·DateMay 5, 2017

MRSA blood infections are less fatal in kids, but cause significant complications

Children with MRSA bacteremia have a low mortality rate of 2%, but experience high complication rates that increase with each passing day. The risk of treatment failure is associated with infections in muscles, bones, or blood vessels, and concurrent critical illnesses, highlighting the need for optimized vancomycin dosing and monitoring.

SourceChildren's National Hospital·JournalPEDIATRICS·DateMay 5, 2017

BUSM student awarded third HHMI Medical Research Fellowship

Joseph Park, a second-year student at Boston University School of Medicine, has been awarded his third Howard Hughes Medical Institute's (HHMI) Medical Research Fellowship. He will delve into the cell biology of chlamydia to advance knowledge of the disease and become a physician-scientist.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·DateMay 5, 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.

Extinction of Alpine plants may remain undetectable for a long time

Researchers have developed a new model to predict the extinction of alpine plants, finding that populations are not adapting quickly enough to climate change. The study shows that even favorable climate scenarios can lead to population decline if warming continues without restraint.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 5, 2017

Obese women less likely to suffer from dangerous preeclampsia complications

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found that obese women are less than half as likely to experience strokes, seizures, and other serious complications of preeclampsia. The studies also identified risk factors for persistent high blood pressure after delivery among women with preeclampsia.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·DateMay 5, 2017

You need more than just a white hat to tell the hero from the villain

Researchers found that viewers make comparisons between characters to judge their morality, with heroes appearing after villains making them seem more heroic. The study suggests that perceived villainy comes with certain advantages, such as increased altruism, in fictional narratives.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalCommunication Research·DateMay 5, 2017

Obese women less likely to suffer from dangerous preeclampsia complications

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found that obese women are less likely to experience severe complications from preeclampsia, such as stroke and seizures. The studies also identified risk factors for persistent high blood pressure after delivery among women with preeclampsia.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·DateMay 5, 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.

Scientists gain insights into how Fragile X syndrome disrupts perception

Research on fruit flies reveals that those lacking the Fragile X protein have less inhibition among their neurons, resulting in impaired information processing and increased anxiety. This finding provides valuable insights into human brain diseases and may lead to new treatments for Fragile X syndrome.

SourceVIB (the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology)·JournalCurrent Biology·DateMay 5, 2017

A mutation giving leaves with white spots has been identified

A new mutation in the Lotus japonicus plant has been identified, resulting in leaves with white spots. The mutation is linked to a shortage of chloroplast proteins, which are crucial for plant growth, and may hold clues for improving ornamental plants.

SourceAarhus University·JournalMolecular Plant·DateMay 5, 2017