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Science News Archive April 2018 - Page 26


Page 26 of 42

Hepatitis E virus infections can be life threatening and transmitted through blood products

Researchers found that hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections can be fatal in immunocompromised individuals and are linked to blood-borne transmission, highlighting the importance of HEV RNA screening of all blood products destined for transplant or immunosuppressed patients. The studies also show that HEV infection has been increasing ste...

SourceEuropean Association for the Study of the Liver·DateApr 12, 2018
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Marker substance for research into brain diseases

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a marker substance to visualize NMDA receptors on nerve cells using positron emission tomography (PET). This will aid in researching various brain diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and depression. The PET tracer may also help determine the correct dosage of drugs influencing NMDA receptor ...

SourceETH Zurich·JournalJournal of Nuclear Medicine·DateApr 12, 2018

Sexual objectification influences visual perception

Researchers found that symmetrical stimuli are less likely to trigger an inversion effect when targets are sexualized, suggesting a cognitive mechanism behind human sexual objectification. Visual exploration strategies may play a role in this phenomenon, with lower fixations on the face region of sexualized targets.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalPLOS ONE·DateApr 12, 2018

RAND identifies new strategies for countering Russian social media

A new RAND Corporation report reveals Russia's sophisticated social media campaign targeting the Baltics, Ukraine, and nearby states. The report recommends strengthening tracking, blocking, and tagging of Russian propaganda, offering alternative media, and developing compelling arguments to align populations with Western values.

SourceRAND Corporation·DateApr 12, 2018

How social media helps scientists get the message across

A new study published in PeerJ found that scientists who communicate their research through social media, particularly Twitter, tend to receive more citations. This positive correlation suggests that science communication can help increase the reach of scientific discoveries.

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalPeerJ·DateApr 12, 2018
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.

Recycling experts hit milestone in quest for zero-waste phone

Researchers developed a gravity separation process to cleanly lift organic resins from inorganic fibreglass, making it possible to recycle non-metal parts of cellphones. The process has the potential to create raw materials for construction and insulation.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalWaste Management·DateApr 12, 2018
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.

Study suggests ways to close CEO pay gap

Researchers examined how cultural perceptions affect compensation of female CEOs in China, where women earn significantly less than men. Female CEOs can narrow the pay gap by exhibiting agentic qualities or working in female-dominated industries, but not both.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Dallas·JournalJournal of Business Ethics·DateApr 12, 2018

Equal earnings help couples say 'I do' and stay together

A recent study by Patrick Ishizuka at Cornell University suggests that cohabitating couples are more likely to get married when they earn as much as their married peers. When both partners have equal earnings, they are less likely to separate. The study validates a theory called the marriage bar, which states that couples who reach a c...

SourceCornell University·JournalDemography·DateApr 12, 2018

Remnants of antibiotics persist in treated farm waste, research finds

Research reveals that advanced treatment technologies on dairy farms do not fully remove antibiotics from manure, leaving behind concerning levels of antibiotic residues. Composting and multistep processes may help reduce these levels, according to lead researcher Diana Aga.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalEnvironmental Pollution·DateApr 12, 2018

How mitochondria cope with too much work

Researchers discovered that mitochondria employ the mitoCPR response to handle overwhelming protein imports, involving increased expression of PDR3 and genes facilitating protein clearance. The mechanism's existence in higher eukaryotes like humans remains unknown.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateApr 12, 2018
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.

St. Jude Cloud launches for researchers worldwide

Researchers worldwide can now access the world's largest public repository of pediatric cancer genomics data via St. Jude Cloud. The platform offers accelerated data mining, analysis, and visualization capabilities, enabling faster progress toward cures for catastrophic diseases of childhood. By harnessing collective power, global rese...

SourceSt. Jude Children's Research Hospital·DateApr 12, 2018

Study explores carbohydrates' impact on head, neck cancers

A new study reports that consuming high amounts of carbohydrates and sugar prior to treatment for head and neck cancer may increase patients' risks of cancer recurrence and mortality. However, moderate fat and starchy food consumption after treatment appears to have protective benefits, reducing disease recurrence and death rates.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalInternational Journal of Cancer·DateApr 12, 2018
Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Optical tweezers steer a chemical reaction from just 2 atoms

Scientists have successfully trapped and manipulated two individual sodium and cesium atoms using optical tweezers, resulting in the creation of a new sodium-cesium molecule. This technique enables precise control over chemical reactions, paving the way for studying complex molecules and designer molecules for quantum applications.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateApr 12, 2018

'Scaffolding' method allows biochemists to see proteins in remarkable detail

UCLA biochemists have developed a new technique called cryo-electron microscopy that allows them to view large biomolecules like viruses in extraordinary detail. Using this method, they have successfully imaged the smallest protein ever seen by this technique, paving the way for better understanding of disease-causing proteins.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 12, 2018
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.

Cytochrome P450 3A4 induction: Lumacaftor versus ivacaftor?

Research by Dr Elena K Schneider investigates the pharmacology of cystic fibrosis medications, specifically cytochrome P450 3A4 induction. The study finds that lumacaftor induces cytochrome CYP3A4 activity more than ivacaftor, potentially reducing plasma concentrations and affecting treatment efficacy.

SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalDrug Metabolism Letters·DateApr 12, 2018
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.

What makes someone believe or reject science?

A new study found that poor-quality audio negatively affects perception of scientists and their research, while style triumphs over substance in communicating science. Researchers highlight the need to consider not only content but also delivery features.

SourceAustralian National University·JournalScience Communication·DateApr 12, 2018

Understanding a cell's 'doorbell'

A multi-institutional project has provided new understanding of how GPCRs regulate in response to physiological ions like sodium, calcium, and magnesium. This research could lead to more effective drugs for controlling pain, hunger, and other conditions by targeting the receptors' function.

SourceDOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 12, 2018

All pooped out -- this is how norovirus does it

Researchers have identified tuft cells as the primary target of norovirus infection, a discovery that could pave the way for new treatments. The study found that administering immune signaling proteins IL-4 and IL-25 increased viral transmission and abundance in mice.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateApr 12, 2018
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.

The Trolley Problem version of autonomous vehicles

Wiseman and Grinberg propose a system to evaluate collision potential and choose the least harmful course of action for autonomous vehicles. The system uses Spatial Data Structures and Bounding Volumes to analyze possible crashes and decide on the most destructive option.

SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalThe Open Transportation Journal·DateApr 12, 2018

Imagining an object can change how we hear sounds later

Research suggests that imagining an object can produce the ventriloquist illusion and its aftereffect, changing future perception of sound. The brain integrates information from multiple senses to produce a coherent experience of the world, making it difficult to distinguish between real and imagined stimuli.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateApr 12, 2018

Deep learning: A superhuman way to look at cells

A groundbreaking study by Gladstone and Google AI uses deep learning to analyze cell images, identifying features that humans can't detect. The method uncovers important information that was previously impossible or problematic for scientists to obtain.

SourceGladstone Institutes·JournalCell·DateApr 12, 2018
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.

Researchers optimize lung stem cell engineering process

CReM researchers engineered two new categories of lung epithelial cells in vitro using pluripotent stem cells. The study used single-cell RNA sequencing to generate comprehensive profiles of air sack-like and airway-like cells, which can be used to create lung tissue in vitro.

SourceBoston Medical Center·JournalStem Cell Reports·DateApr 12, 2018

Italy: Ongoing hepatitis A virus outbreak among men who have sex with men is linked to current outbreaks in Europe

A study found that the Italian outbreak is predominantly caused by strains linked to recent European outbreaks, highlighting the risk of acute HAV infection via sexual transmission in high-risk groups like MSM. The study also emphasizes the importance of hepatitis A vaccine coverage and awareness campaigns for prevention.

SourceEuropean Association for the Study of the Liver·DateApr 12, 2018

Protein moonlighting

Researchers at UCSB discovered that syntaxin 3S, a soluble form of SNARE protein, regulates gene expression in the nucleus, potentially playing a role in cancer progression. This finding opens up a new field of research into the moonlighting properties of proteins.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateApr 12, 2018
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Sitting is bad for your brain -- not just your metabolism or heart

A study by UCLA researchers found that sedentary behavior is a significant predictor of thinning in the medial temporal lobe, a region critical for memory formation. Regular physical activity, even at high levels, is insufficient to offset the harmful effects of prolonged sitting.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalPLOS ONE·DateApr 12, 2018
Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

Healthy soil lifts animal weight

A new study by Rothamsted Research reveals that well-designed grazing practices can improve animal growth and wellbeing, linked to soil health and pasture value. The study developed a method to measure individual fields' contribution to animal performance, providing insights into sustainable production.

SourceRothamsted Research·Journalanimal·DateApr 12, 2018

New study finds genetic evidence that magnetic navigation guides loggerhead sea turtles

A new study by UNC-Chapel Hill biologists found that loggerhead sea turtles genetically similar to one another nest on beaches with similar magnetic fields. The research implies that turtles can mistakenly nest at different beaches with similar magnetic fields, even if it's geographically far away from their hatching beach.

SourceUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill·JournalCurrent Biology·DateApr 12, 2018
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.

Art is in the eye of the beholder

A study published in Acta Psychologica found that people's personality traits influence their eye movements when viewing abstract artwork. Volunteers who tended towards neuroticism spent more time looking at the left side of images, while those with schizophrenia-like traits looked less often at the top.

SourceJames Cook University·JournalActa Psychologica·DateApr 12, 2018

Scientists unlock path to use cell's own nanoparticles as disease biomarkers

Researchers at University of Sydney establish method to identify individual extracellular vesicles (EVs) using resonance-enhanced atomic force microscope infrared spectroscopy. This allows for biomarkers for diverse diseases such as cancers, cardiovascular, kidney and liver disease, dementia, and multiple sclerosis.

SourceUniversity of Sydney·JournalNanoscale Horizons·DateApr 12, 2018

The raw power of human motion

KAUST researchers create triboelectric nanogenerators that capture mechanical energy from human movements and convert it into electricity. They also engineer a wearable self-powered bracelet that can store converted energy for operating electronic devices.

SourceKing Abdullah University of Science & Technology (KAUST)·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateApr 12, 2018
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.

The fewer the deadlier

Researchers discovered that HTLV-1 survives by evading immune surveillance through transient Tax expression in infected cells. This unique strategy allows the virus to maintain a population of infected leukemic cells, making it a potential target for new therapies.

SourceKyoto University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 12, 2018

Newly identified gene mutation results in intellectual disability and developmental delay

Researchers at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have discovered a genetic mutation associated with intellectual disability, developmental delays, autism spectrum disorder, and congenital cardiac anomalies. The mutation, in the NAA15 gene, is linked to Ogden syndrome, a more severe condition also caused by a mutation in the NAA10 gene.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalAmerican Journal of Human Genetics·DateApr 12, 2018

An unexpected discovery in a central line

A 6-year-old boy with intestinal pseudo-obstruction and chronic health issues develops a rare fungal infection Mucor velutinosus in his central line. He is successfully treated with an antifungal drug, highlighting the importance of thorough investigation and good antibiotic stewardship.

SourceChildren's National Hospital·JournalJournal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society·DateApr 12, 2018
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.