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Science News for September 1, 2017


Scientists identify climatic risks for dengue disease outbreaks

Researchers found a strong correlation between rainfall and dengue disease burden in most states except Gujarat. Climatic conditions play a crucial role in the extrinsic incubation period (EIP) of the virus, with lower temperatures resulting in longer EIPs.

SourceUniversity of Liverpool·JournalEmerging Microbes & Infections·DateSep 1, 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.

Palliative care makes only limited gains in Africa

A scoping review of palliative care development in Africa found that only a small subset of countries have made progress, with the majority concentrated in East Africa. The review highlights the need for increased access to opioids and postgraduate educational opportunities to address structural inequities in care delivery.

SourceThe Mount Sinai Hospital / Mount Sinai School of Medicine·JournalThe Lancet Oncology·DateSep 1, 2017

NASA gets a night-time and under-the-hood look at Hurricane Irma

The Suomi NPP Satellite provided a night-time image of Hurricane Irma, revealing powerful thunderstorms with cloud top temperatures as cold as 190 kelvin. The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission confirmed heavy rainfall within the hurricane, with a convective storm dropping rain at a rate of almost 6.3 inches per hour.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateSep 1, 2017

Study: Drug may curb female infertility from cancer treatments

Researchers at Cornell University have identified a potential solution to protect premenopausal women from life-altering infertility after cancer treatment. By inhibiting the checkpoint pathway, the study found that oocytes survived radiation and remained fertile, enabling birth of healthy pups.

SourceCornell University·JournalGenetics·DateSep 1, 2017

Melatonin may help treat blood cancers

Researchers found melatonin boosts immune response against cancer cells, inhibits growth and protects healthy cells from chemotherapy effects. Timing of melatonin treatments is crucial for their anticancer effects due to its role in regulating circadian rhythms.

SourceWiley·JournalBritish Journal of Pharmacology·DateSep 1, 2017
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Bacteria act as aphrodisiac for the closest relatives of animals

Scientists have discovered that bacteria can act as an aphrodisiac for choanoflagellates, one-celled marine organisms notable for being the closest living relative of all animals. The discovery reveals how these eukaryotes regulate their life history in response to bacterial cues.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalCell·DateSep 1, 2017

AJR study: Musculoskeletal extremity imaging use among Medicare population climbs sharply

The study found that utilization rates for musculoskeletal extremity imaging modalities increased significantly between 1994 and 2013, with MRI experiencing an initial period of rapid growth. The four most common modalities - radiography, ultrasound, MRI, and CT - saw increases in volume and per-beneficiary utilization.

SourceAmerican Roentgen Ray Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Roentgenology·DateSep 1, 2017

Equatorial jet in Venusian atmosphere discovered by Akatsuki

Researchers analyzed Akatsuki data to uncover wind velocities with temporal and spatial variabilities in lower-to-middle cloud layers. The discovery of an equatorial jet near the equator has significant implications for understanding superrotation theories.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalNature Geoscience·DateSep 1, 2017

Virus hijacks cell's transportation system

A deadly tick-borne virus uses the host neuron's transportation system to move its RNA, resulting in local reproduction of the virus and severe neurological symptoms. The unique virus-host interaction reveals a pivotal non-coding sequence that hijacks the neuronal granule system.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 1, 2017

Vaccines save 20 million lives, $350 billion in poor countries since 2001

A new study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that vaccination efforts in poor countries have prevented 20 million deaths and saved $350 billion by 2020. The researchers also estimated a broader economic value of $820 billion, with certain vaccines providing the greatest benefits.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill·JournalBulletin of the World Health Organization·DateSep 1, 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.

Nature imagery calms prisoners

A study published in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment found that inmates who viewed nature videos committed 26 percent fewer violent infractions than their peers. The study showed that exposure to nature, even through images, can have a positive impact on prisoners' behavior.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalFrontiers in Ecology and the Environment·DateSep 1, 2017

Etosis phenomenon discovered in human blood monocytes

Researchers discovered etosis in human blood monocytes, a type of immune cell that can project DNA outside the cell. This process has implications for understanding inflammation and potentially developing new diagnostic tools and therapeutic targets.

SourceFederation of American Societies for Experimental Biology·JournalJournal of Leukocyte Biology·DateSep 1, 2017

Can corals survive climate change?

International scientists issue recommendations for future research on coral acclimatization and adaptation to climate change. Key findings suggest that while there is a 'nugget of hope' for corals to adapt, major knowledge gaps remain regarding their ability to cope with rapid warming,

SourceARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies·JournalNature Climate Change·DateSep 1, 2017

Research analyzes how development clusters are born

The study highlights São Paulo State as a prime example of an entrepreneurial ecosystem, where firms can benefit from each other's presence. Knowledge-intensive firms should connect to optimize resources and expand their competencies. The analysis also explores cross-border developing zones and innovation policies.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·DateSep 1, 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.

Electricity production: When enzymes rival platinum

Researchers have developed biocells that use enzymes to convert hydrogen into electrical energy, rivaling the performance of platinum-based fuel cells. The new technology uses heat-stable enzymes that can withstand high temperatures and resist inhibitors, overcoming major hurdles in industrial development.

SourceCNRS·JournalEnergy & Environmental Science·DateSep 1, 2017

Immune system changes during pregnancy are precisely timed

Scientists at Stanford University School of Medicine characterized the immune system changes during pregnancy and found a precise timing pattern. The study used mass cytometry to analyze blood samples from 18 women with full-term pregnancies and validated the findings in an additional group of 10 women.

SourceStanford Medicine·JournalScience Immunology·DateSep 1, 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.

NASA examines Hurricane Lidia's eye on the Baja

Hurricane Lidia made landfall on the Baja California peninsula, bringing soaking rains and threatening life-threatening flash floods. The storm's strongest storms surrounded its center, with coldest cloud top temperatures exceeding minus 81 degrees Fahrenheit.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateSep 1, 2017

Researchers find microbes key to reef survival

A team of marine biology researchers from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) identified key mechanisms that enable corals to adapt to environmental changes. The study suggests that microbes play a vital role in coral physiology, allowing them to adjust quickly under changing conditions.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalNature Climate Change·DateSep 1, 2017

Bit data goes anti-skyrmions

Researchers from Max Planck Institute have discovered anti-skyrmions, tiny magnetic objects that can store digital data in a new class of materials. These topologically protected magnetic walls could enable the development of Racetrack Memory with no moving parts.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids·JournalNature·DateSep 1, 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.

Stellar corpse sheds light on origin of cosmic rays

A new study reveals that electromagnetic radiation from the Crab Nebula may originate in a single population of electrons, challenging traditional models. This suggests that a different acceleration process is needed to explain the entire electromagnetic spectrum.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateSep 1, 2017

Breast cancer patients on opioids less likely to stick to vital treatment

A new study found a significant association between opioid use and non-adherence to hormone therapy among breast cancer patients. The study highlights the challenges of managing chronic pain in cancer survivors, who often face 10 years of treatment.

SourceUniversity of Virginia Health System·JournalBreast Cancer Research and Treatment·DateSep 1, 2017

Multi-mechanism approach to treating neonatal hypoxic ischemia

Researchers at MUSC find that adding vitamin D to hypothermia and N-acetylcysteine treatment improves sensorimotor function, working memory, and reduces brain injury volume in male newborns. Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in both males and females, highlighting the need for sex-based treatment approaches.

SourceMedical University of South Carolina·JournalNeuropharmacology·DateSep 1, 2017

NASA sees large Tropical Depression Mawar develop

Tropical Depression Mawar is getting better organized with cloud top temperatures reaching -63 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating stronger storms. The depression is expected to intensify and make landfall near Hong Kong on September 3.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateSep 1, 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.

The 'reality' of accent change

A recent study on reality TV contestants found that accents change in a complex manner, with large daily fluctuations but rare longer-term changes. The research suggests that the degree of accent change is influenced by individual differences and sound characteristics, rather than social interactions.

SourceLinguistic Society of America·JournalLanguage·DateSep 1, 2017

Adipose tissue may affect cancer development in multiple ways

This review indicates that adipose tissue can affect cancer development through various mechanisms, including inflammation, cell metabolism, and immune clearance. The study found that different types of fat have distinct effects on cancer cells, with some types promoting tumor growth and others inhibiting it.

SourceAmerican Association for Cancer Research·JournalCancer Prevention Research·DateSep 1, 2017

Brief primary care intervention cut risky drug use among Latinos by 40 percent

A new study finds that brief interventions in a primary care clinic can reduce patients' risky substance use by 40%, with the greatest impact on Latino patients. The intervention, which included advice and counseling, resulted in two fewer weekends of drug use per month.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalDrug and Alcohol Dependence·DateSep 1, 2017

USDA invests $12.6 million to train future ag science professionals

The USDA has invested $12.6 million in funding doctoral and postdoctoral fellowships for agricultural science research and education. The program aims to foster a diverse pool of skilled professionals to tackle pressing food system issues, including plant health, production, and animal welfare.

SourceNational Institute of Food and Agriculture·DateSep 1, 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.

Physician experts highlight research ahead of Otolaryngology's annual meeting

Several studies explore patient preferences, online presence, and treatment outcomes for various otolaryngology conditions. Research also examines the impact of age on complications following free flap surgery and the effects of common ear drops on tympanic membrane healing.

SourceAmerican Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery·JournalJAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery·DateSep 1, 2017

Molecules move faster near sticky surfaces

Researchers at Université libre de Bruxelles found that molecules move faster as they approach adhesive surfaces due to the nanoconfinement effect. However, this increased movement rate is only temporary, lasting until new molecules fill in the gaps and slow down the molecular movement.

SourceUniversité libre de Bruxelles·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateSep 1, 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.

NASA sees Sanvu strengthen into a Typhoon

Typhoon Sanvu intensified into a powerful storm with cloud top temperatures as low as minus 63 degrees Fahrenheit, indicating strong storm potential. NASA predicts the typhoon will continue to strengthen and become extra-tropical near the Kuril Islands before reaching Russia's coast.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateSep 1, 2017