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Science News Archive December 2018


Page 2 of 33

Genetic polymorphisms and zinc status

Genetic variations in metallothionein and zinc transporter genes impact zinc homeostasis and immune function. SNPs may influence the response to zinc supplementation in individuals with certain non-communicable diseases.

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.

Sugar-sweetened beverage pattern linked to higher kidney disease risk

A study of 3003 African-American adults found that consuming a pattern of soda, sweetened fruit drinks, and water was associated with a higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease. The researchers were surprised to see that water as part of this beverage pattern was linked to a higher risk of CKD.

How exercise reduces belly fat in humans

A 12-week exercise intervention reduced visceral abdominal fat in obese adults, but tocilizumab treatment abolished this effect and increased cholesterol levels. Exercise promotes better health and reduces the risk of cardio-metabolic diseases by reducing abdominal fat mass.

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.

Multicenter trial supports use of topical antibiotics in NICU babies

A clinical trial tested the effectiveness of topical antibiotic mupirocin in eliminating Staphylococcus aureus colonization in hospitalized infants. The study found that mupirocin is safe and highly effective in reducing SA infection, with over 90% of treated infants testing negative for SA after treatment.

Sleeping sickness parasite uses multiple metabolic pathways

Research reveals that trypanosomes use gluconeogenesis and glycerol metabolism to produce ATP and synthesize glucose, challenging the long-held assumption of exclusive reliance on glycolysis. This metabolic flexibility is essential for adaptation to environmental conditions and survival in mammalian host tissues.

Distinguishing between students who guess and those who know

A new approach solves challenges in assessing student knowledge in online courses, considering multiple attempts and student experience. The expanded Rasch model provides a single scale for comparing students' proficiency even with changing test questions.

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.

The landscape of protein tyrosine phosphatase (Shp2) and cancer

Recent studies have highlighted the significant role of Shp2, a phosphatase protein, in governing signaling response amplitude and regulating cell differentiation and growth. Dysregulation of Shp2 has been linked to various types of leukemia, including acute myeloid, juvenile myelomonocytic, and B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Online mirrors: Video bloggers and viewers share emotions

Researchers from Tilburg University studied over 2000 YouTube vlogs and found that people mirror the emotions of those they see online. They also seek out others with similar outlooks and moods, a phenomenon known as homophily. This emotional contagion can be seen in both immediate and sustained reactions.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

A boundary dance of amyloid-β stepping into dementia

Scientists have elucidated the formation mechanism of amyloid-β substances, causative agents of Alzheimer's disease. They found that Aβ peptides tend to aggregate at hydrophilic/hydrophobic interfaces, forming β-hairpin structures that facilitate intermolecular hydrogen bonding.

These nine measures reveal how forests are controlled by climate

Researchers analyzed global forest communities to understand how climate affects tree growth traits, revealing nine key changes that could impact forest productivity and composition. Temperature variability and vapor pressure emerged as major factors influencing these traits.

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.

Reliable tropical weather pattern to change in a warming climate

The Madden-Julian Oscillation is likely to experience increased precipitation intensity under a warmer climate, while wind variations may slow or even decrease, according to a new study published in Nature Climate Change. This change could impact weather prediction for extreme events like hurricanes and droughts.

A tilt of the head facilitates social engagement, researchers say

A new study by Nicolas Davidenko and colleagues reveals that a small tilt of the head can reduce the left-gaze bias and increase the upper-eye bias when viewing faces, making people more approachable. This finding has potential implications for individuals with autism and amblyopia.

Silver nanowires promise more comfortable smart textiles

Researchers developed a simple method to create silver nanowire-coated fibers with high conductivity, flexibility, and mechanical strength. The fibers have promising applications in wearable devices, addressing the need for comfortable and functional smart textiles.

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.

Flavonoids as P-gp inhibitors: A systematic review of SARs

Research reveals flavonoids as potent P-gp modulators with high binding affinity and low toxicity, offering a new generation of drug candidates to reverse multidrug resistance. Synthetic flavonoid dimer FD18 specifically targets the pseudodimeric structure of the drug transporter.

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.

Losing neurons can sometimes not be that bad

Neuronal cell death in Alzheimer's disease may be beneficial as it removes dysfunctional neurons, according to new research published in Cell Reports. The study suggests that the anti-aging mechanism of 'cell competition' plays a crucial role in protecting the brain from damage.

Breast cancer drugs could help treat resistant lung cancers

A class of breast cancer drugs could potentially benefit patients with EGFR-mutant lung cancers that have become resistant to treatment. Lung tumours in mice caused by mutations in a gene called EGFR shrunk significantly when a protein called p110α was blocked.

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.

Treatment of Parkinson's disease: Separating hope from hype

Recent advancements in Parkinson's disease treatment hold promise for patients, with gene therapy approaches showing potential, and brain stimulation techniques also being explored. Despite progress, hurdles persist, and understanding the reasons for treatment failure is crucial to overcoming the disease.

UC San Diego researchers identify how skin ages, loses fat and immunity

Researchers discovered the pathway that causes dermal fibroblasts to lose their ability to convert into fat cells as people age. This process affects the skin's ability to fight infections, particularly bacterial ones like MRSA. The study may lead to new treatments for obesity, diabetes, and autoimmune diseases.

Fish bones yield new tool for tracking coal ash contamination

Researchers at Duke University have discovered that fish ear bones can serve as a fingerprint for identifying and tracking coal ash contamination in aquatic ecosystems. The study used strontium isotope ratios in otoliths to connect high levels of toxic elements back to the contamination source.

Illuminating nanoparticle growth with X-rays

Researchers developed a new catalyst composed of platinum and nickel, which is more efficient than pure platinum. The study used ultrabright x-rays to reveal the growth pathway and chemical characterization of the nanoparticles in real time.

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.

Buzzed flies reveal important step to intoxication

Researchers at Scripps Research Institute have identified an important intermediate step in how alcohol intoxication occurs. The enzyme phospholipase D2 links ethanol molecules to lipid membranes, triggering a metabolite called phosphatidylethanol that causes nerves to fire more easily, leading to hyperactivity in flies.

Antifungal activity and detoxification of aflatoxins

Essential oils and aqueous plant extracts inhibit Aspergillus growth and aflatoxin biosynthesis, offering potential solutions to prevent food contamination. Standardization of extraction procedures and further study on active compounds are necessary to ensure safe use in food products.

What influences a person's psychological boundaries?

Researchers found that age and sex play a greater role in forming psychological boundaries than culture. In the study, youth had a higher level of personal sovereignty than adolescents, with men being more concerned with territory sovereignty and women with time habits sovereignty.

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.

Confronting the side effects of a common anti-cancer treatment

Researchers found that aromatase inhibitors suppress estrogen synthesis, but paradoxically increase estrogen levels in the brain, leading to memory and thermal regulation deficits. The study calls for new therapies to prevent breast cancer recurrence while minimizing side effects.

Cell size and cell-cycle states play key decision-making role in HIV

Researchers found that HIV-infected cells can only reactivate in larger host cells, while smaller cells remain latent or silent. The study suggests a natural mechanism for viral reactivation and offers potential strategies for biasing viral decision-making through drug treatments.

Kicking, yelling during sleep? Study finds risk factors for violent sleep disorder

A study found that people taking antidepressants, having post-traumatic stress disorder or anxiety are at risk of developing REM sleep behavior disorder. Men are also more likely to have the condition. Lifestyle factors such as education level, income, smoking status and moderate to heavy drinking habits were also linked to the disorder.

Collecting clean water from air, inspired by desert life

Researchers at Ohio State University have discovered ways to gather water from nighttime fog and condensation using surfaces with conical shapes and grooved patterns. These designs can efficiently collect water droplets, similar to how cacti and desert grasses do in nature.

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.

Artificial activation of cancer cells to destroy them

Researchers at Far Eastern Federal University propose using stem cell activation to target glioma tumors. The approach aims to bring cancerous stem cells into an active state, making them vulnerable to chemotherapy. This method has been approved for publishing and is considered promising despite its risks.

Tree-ring analysis explains physiology behind drought intolerance

A study of 2,800 hectares of mixed-conifer forest found that increasing tree density due to fire suppression leads to increased drought stress and reduced resilience to wildfires. Rising carbon dioxide levels exacerbate this effect, suggesting that denser forests will be more vulnerable to drought in the future.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Autophagy and mitochondria: Targets in neurodegenerative disorders

Research suggests that autophagy on neuronal cells can lead to neurodegeneration, highlighting the importance of targeting mitochondria and autophagy-related proteins in disease treatment. Mitochondrial dysfunction is a significant contributor to neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer

Give it the plasma treatment: strong adhesion without adhesives

Researchers at Osaka University have developed a method to make industrial polymers adhesive without the need for adhesives or corrosive chemical treatments. This breakthrough enables vulcanized rubber and plastic PTFE to adhere strongly to each other, or to glass and copper, using surface chemistry.

How the brain enables us to rapidly focus attention

Researchers discovered a key brain mechanism that underlies our ability to rapidly focus attention. The cholinergic system plays a crucial role in triggering desynchronization of neurons, allowing individual neurons to respond to sensory information differently. This allows us to focus on specific stimuli while ignoring distractions.

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.

Study yields new insight on how memory works

Researchers discover that conscious knowledge is key to declarative memory, a type of memory linked to facts and events. The study, using amnesic patients with MTL lesions, found impaired performance in recognizing changes in images, highlighting the role of the hippocampus in memory acquisition.

European wheat lacks climate resilience

Researchers at Aarhus University found that current breeding programs for European wheat do not provide sufficient climate resilience. This lack of response diversity can lead to reduced yields, increased yield variability, and market volatility.

Editing malarial parasite gene expression

Researchers developed a modified CRISPR/Cas9 system to efficiently edit the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum's gene expression. By altering histone acetylation near invasion-related genes, they increased or decreased erythrocyte invasion efficiency.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Climate resilience of European wheat

A decline in European wheat's climate resilience is reported, as analyzed from farmers' field data and trials. Wheat cultivar diversity hotspot exists in Slovakia, but deserts are found in Czechia, Germany, Italy, and Spain

Academic success and social relationships

Researchers surveyed 226 engineering students finding that socially isolated students received lower grades compared to those developing more friendships and collaborations. Friendships can evolve into collaborative academic relationships, improving academic success.