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Science News Archive January 2018 - Page 35


Page 35 of 37

Novel methodology increases resolution in oligodendrocyte proteomics

Researchers at UNICAMP developed a new method to increase the resolution of proteomic analysis by mass spectrometry, identifying 10,390 proteins expressed in oligodendrocytes. This improved resolution enables the study of previously undetectable proteins, potentially leading to novel therapeutic approaches for schizophrenia.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalPROTEOMICS·DateJan 3, 2018

American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) takes steps to improve the quality of ultrasound imaging in obstetrics and gynecology

The American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM) has developed a roadmap for improving the quality of ultrasound imaging in obstetrics and gynecology. A consensus curriculum and competency assessment tools have been established to standardize ultrasound training in residency programs, aiming to enhance patient safety and quality...

SourceElsevier·JournalAmerican Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology·DateJan 3, 2018

Researchers show high-performance breathing in bones

A team of researchers from the University of Bonn has discovered a unique type of bony tissue called pneumosteum, which is found in birds and some dinosaurs. This discovery provides new insights into the evolution of their respiratory systems and opens up possibilities for studying extinct species.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalBiology Letters·DateJan 3, 2018

Malcolm Gladwell published in the Journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology

A study published in Ophthalmology found that art training improved medical students' observation and diagnostic skills. The study involved 36 first-year medical students who received six 90-minute art observation sessions at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, resulting in significantly improved observational skills and empathy.

SourceAmerican Academy of Ophthalmology·JournalAmerican Journal of Ophthalmology·DateJan 3, 2018
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Bird recognition

Researchers have developed an automated bird recognition system using spectrographic analysis of bird calls and songs, improving accuracy by reducing background noise and applying pattern recognition techniques.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Computer Applications in Technology·DateJan 3, 2018

Trastuzumab: No negative impact on cardiac function

The NRG Oncology trial found that trastuzumab did not negatively affect cardiac function in patients with node-positive, HER2-positive breast cancer who survived without cancer recurrence. Both groups maintained good cardiac function at a median of 8.8 years after treatment.

SourceNRG Oncology·JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology·DateJan 3, 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.

Pong paddles and perception: Our actions influence what we see

A new study led by Colorado State University researcher Jessica Witt investigates the impact of actions on vision. The findings suggest that vision is influenced by actions, but this effect may not be entirely dependent on the participant's level of understanding the experiment's purpose.

SourceColorado State University·JournalPsychological Science·DateJan 3, 2018

Glucagon receptor structure offers new opportunities for type 2 diabetes drug discovery

Scientists at SIMM have determined the crystal structure of the human glucagon receptor in complex with a glucagon analogue, providing insights into its activation mechanism. The study reveals significant conformational changes in the linker region and extracellular loop that facilitate peptide binding and initiate receptor activation.

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalNature·DateJan 3, 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.

UK scientists to prevent the global spread of new diseases

The Future Vaccine Manufacturing Hub aims to increase vaccine coverage worldwide, improve response to deadly outbreaks, and overcome barriers in vaccine distribution. Researchers will explore innovative approaches, including synthetic RNA vaccines and protein stabilisation, to rapidly respond to emerging threats.

SourceEngineering and Physical Sciences Research Council·DateJan 3, 2018

New behavioral science approach combines experiments, models

Researchers combine small-scale experiments with computer models to explore human behavior in large groups, shedding new light on group problem-solving approaches. The approach validates the model by informing future experiments and examining policy interventions that alter social behavior.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalManagement Science·DateJan 3, 2018

The sixth taste?

Researchers at UCSB have identified a unique class of gustatory receptor neurons necessary for calcium taste in fruit flies. They found that calcium is sensed as slightly bitter and sour, but its effects on human health are complex, with high levels associated with diseases.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalNeuron·DateJan 3, 2018

Could viruses take cancer immunotherapy to the next level?

Researchers found that combining oncolytic viruses and checkpoint inhibitors cured 60-90% of triple negative breast cancer in mice, while traditional treatments failed. The combination therapy showed promising results, but further research is needed to test its efficacy in humans.

SourceAlliance for Cancer Gene Therapy·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJan 3, 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.

Cultural evolution has not freed hunter-gatherers from environmental forcing

Researchers found that climate-related primary productivity, biodiversity, and pathogen stress influence global pattern of population densities of ethnographically documented hunter-gatherers, showing cultural evolution did not free humans from environmental forces.

SourceUniversity of Helsinki·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 3, 2018

Predicting the effect of climate change on crop yields

Researchers at University of Illinois create new maize growth model by integrating features from Community Land Model and Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator. The new model can simulate crop yields with improved accuracy and mechanism, correcting deficiencies in the original CLM model.

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·JournalAgricultural and Forest Meteorology·DateJan 3, 2018
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.

Cellular barcoding helps scientists understand the behavior of stem cells

Scientists tagged bone marrow cells with a genetic label to track their family tree as they form naturally. The study reveals differences in how stem cells behave in their native environment versus laboratory settings, with implications for blood cell transplantation and gene therapy.

SourceNIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute·JournalNature·DateJan 3, 2018

Carbon nanotubes devices may have a limit to how 'nano' they can be

Researchers at the Energy Safety Research Institute discovered that hard-to-remove contaminants like iron catalyst, carbon, and water can skew conductivity test results. Cleaning these contaminants using vacuum annealing or argon ion bombardment can improve measurement accuracy, but may also introduce defects that degrade conductivity.

SourceSwansea University·JournalNano Letters·DateJan 3, 2018
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.

Virus could treat brain tumours by boosting immune system

Scientists have found that a naturally occurring virus called reovirus can act as an effective immunotherapy in patients with brain cancer or other cancers that have spread to the brain. The virus replicates and kills cancer cells, while also stimulating the body's own immune system.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJan 3, 2018

Alfalfa loss? Annual ryegrass is a win

Researchers identified annual ryegrass as the most economically viable option to provide early season forage after alfalfa winterkill. This forage crop offers high yields and nutrient content, making it an effective way for farmers to offset losses.

SourceAmerican Society of Agronomy·JournalAgronomy Journal·DateJan 3, 2018

Dietary sugar linked to increasing bacterial epidemics

Researchers found that dietary trehalose enhances the virulence of epidemic C. difficile lineages, leading to increased disease severity and mortality in animal models. The study suggests that trehalose may be a key trigger for the predominance of these lineages, contributing to hospital-acquired infections.

SourceBaylor College of Medicine·JournalNature·DateJan 3, 2018
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.

Rare forms of 'thunder' protein may be linked to schizophrenia

Researchers identified rare genetic variations in Thorase protein associated with schizophrenia, reversed anti-social behavior in mice using perampanel. The study provides preliminary support for Thorase's role in behavioral disorders.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJan 3, 2018

Gene fusion shifts cell activity into high gear, causing some cancer

Researchers at Columbia University Medical Center discovered that a gene fusion can cause cancer by increasing mitochondrial activity and fueling cell growth. Drugs targeting this pathway can prevent tumor growth in human cancer cells and mice with brain cancer.

SourceColumbia University Irving Medical Center·JournalNature·DateJan 3, 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.

In clinical trial, cream reduces squamous cell carcinoma risk

A new clinical trial shows that using a generic skin cream containing fluorouracil (5-FU) for two to four weeks can reduce the risk of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) needing surgery by 75% within a year. The study, led by Dr. Martin A. Weinstock, involved over 900 military veterans at high risk for keratinocyte carcinoma skin cancer.

SourceBrown University·JournalJAMA Dermatology·DateJan 3, 2018

Which came first: Complex life or high atmospheric oxygen?

Researchers found that high atmospheric oxygen levels were not critical to the origin of animals, but rather occurred between 540 and 420 million years ago. The transition to a world with an oxygenated deep ocean required significant changes in atmospheric O2 levels, which approached modern levels around 400 million years ago.

SourceUniversity of California - Berkeley·JournalNature·DateJan 3, 2018

The making of biorelevant nanomaterials

The authors propose a scalable and cost-effective preparation protocol for low-dimensional polyion complex nanomaterials with tunable morphologies. The protocol, called PIESA, enables the synthesis of biorelevant nanostructures with controllable shape and charge state.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJan 3, 2018
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.

Could viruses take cancer immunotherapy to the next level?

A study led by The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa suggests combining oncolytic viruses with checkpoint inhibitors could cure resistant breast cancer in mice. This combination therapy showed success in models that mimic metastatic spread after surgery, curing 60-90% of mice.

SourceThe Ottawa Hospital·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateJan 3, 2018

Study shows stem cell transplant is better than drug therapy for scleroderma

A new study by Duke University researchers found that stem cell transplant significantly improves survival and reduces the need for immune suppressant drugs in patients with severe scleroderma. The regimen, which includes chemotherapy and radiation, showed a highly significant benefit compared to conventional drug therapy.

SourceDuke University Medical Center·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJan 3, 2018

Little wasp bodies mean little wasp brain regions, study shows

Researchers found that Costa Rican paper wasps' brains follow biological rule when overall brain size increases, but specific subregions don't. Complex brain structures like mushroom bodies and antennal lobes decrease in proportional size in smaller-bodied wasps.

SourceDrexel University·JournalBiological Journal of the Linnean Society·DateJan 3, 2018

Tuberculosis drugs work better with vitamin C

Research in mice and tissue cultures suggests that vitamin C enhances the killing power of first-line TB drugs, isoniazid and rifampicin. The combination reduces organ burdens faster than the drugs alone, with a potential to shorten TB chemotherapy duration.

SourceAmerican Society for Microbiology·JournalAntimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy·DateJan 3, 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.

Researchers offer new evidence on 4-year-old children's knowledge about ecology

A new study explores the ecological knowledge of 4-year-old children from urban Native American, rural Native American, and urban non-Native American communities. The research found that rural Native American children were more verbal in their play, while all children displayed realistic and imaginary ecological relations among living ...

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalJournal of Cognition and Development·DateJan 3, 2018

Four-dimensional physics in two dimensions

Researchers at Penn State and ETH Zurich have demonstrated the behavior of particles of light in a two-dimensional array of waveguides, matching predictions for the four-dimensional quantum Hall effect. This achievement provides evidence for higher-dimensional quantum Hall physics, with potential applications in novel photonic devices.

SourcePenn State·JournalNature·DateJan 3, 2018
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.

Scientists find surprising evidence of rapid changes in the Arctic

Researchers have discovered a surge in radium-228 levels in the central Arctic Ocean, indicating large-scale changes along the coast. The team suspects that melting sea ice has stirred up sediments, releasing radium into the ocean, which could have significant impacts on Arctic food webs and animal populations.

SourceWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution·JournalScience Advances·DateJan 3, 2018
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.

Yerkes researchers find clues to AIDS resistance in sooty mangabey genome

A team of scientists led by Guido Silvestri at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center has sequenced the sooty mangabey genome, revealing clues that may help people infected with HIV. The study found two key differences in proteins of the immune system that may contribute to the mangabeys' resistance to AIDS.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalNature·DateJan 3, 2018

Materials from arctic shelves are changing the water's composition

Scientists have observed increasing fluxes of shelf-derived materials to the central Arctic Ocean, altering its composition and potentially harming biological productivity. The study provides an estimate of Arctic shelf flux and sheds light on understudied transport processes in the region.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience Advances·DateJan 3, 2018

Laser evaporation technology to create new solar materials

Researchers at Duke University have developed a method to create hybrid thin-film materials that can absorb and emit light efficiently. The technique, called Resonant Infrared Matrix-Assisted Pulsed Laser Evaporation, allows for the creation of delicate organic-inorganic crystals with improved scalability and durability.

SourceDuke University·JournalACS Energy Letters·DateJan 3, 2018

An adaptation 150 million years in the making

Researchers uncovered the secrets behind snapping shrimp's ability to break water, attributing it to millions of years of evolution and adaptation. The study reveals a series of small changes in claw form led to the development of ultrafast movements.

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJan 3, 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.

Research reveals 'shocking' weakness of lab courses

A new study published in Physics Today found that traditional introductory physics laboratory courses fail to enhance student learning due to lack of active engagement. Researchers designed innovative lab alternatives that encourage iterative experimentation and critical thinking.

SourceCornell University·JournalPhysics Today·DateJan 3, 2018

An unusual form of antibiotic resistance in pandemic cholera

Researchers discovered a new form of antibiotic resistance in pandemic cholera, where the enzyme AlmG modifies lipid A to prevent CAMPs from binding. This unique mechanism offers a new challenge for overcoming increasing antibiotic resistance.

SourceAmerican Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateJan 3, 2018