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Science News Archive November 2018


Page 25 of 42

Pancreatic cancer's addiction could be its end

Researchers identified TP63 as the culprit behind aggressive pancreatic cancer's addictive behavior. Suppressing its activity could lead to a tumor's demise. The study aims to understand why TP63 gets active in some patients' pancreas, with the goal of developing a treatment to improve their survival.

NASA analyzed Tropical Cyclone Alcide's rainfall before dissipation

The Global Precipitation Measurement mission provided detailed insights into Tropical Cyclone Alcide's heavy rainfall, revealing convective storms dropping rain at rates of over 255 mm/h. The satellite data showed the most powerful storms were located in the western eye wall, reaching heights above 16 km.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Blocking 'secondary cataracts'

Researchers are exploring ways to prevent secondary cataracts, a condition that occurs when scar tissue forms in the eye after surgery. Melinda Duncan's team has made several discoveries, including molecules critical for forming PCO scar tissue, and is working on a drug to block this potentially blinding condition.

Stealth-cap technology for light-emitting nanoparticles

Researchers developed stealth-cap technology to increase stability and biocompatibility of light-transducing nanoparticles. The new nanoparticles are water-soluble, stable in complex body fluids, and can store medications like cancer drugs.

Studies examine availability of opioid-overdose antidote at pharmacies

Two studies found that fewer than 25% of California retail pharmacies dispense naloxone without a physician's prescription, and 69% of Texas chain pharmacies reported having the medication in stock. The studies aimed to assess naloxone accessibility after legislation allowed pharmacists to provide the antidote without a prescription.

Pressure helps to make better Li-ion batteries

Scientists have discovered a new strategy to enhance the conductivity of lithium titanium oxide (LTO) anode materials for Li-ion batteries. By applying high pressure, LTO can transform into an amorphous phase that displays better conductivity. The findings provide insight into the relationship between structure and conducting properties.

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.

Detecting light in a different dimension

Scientists improved graphene's response to light by 600% using self-assembling wire-like nanostructures. The new design enhances light absorption and charge transfer, enabling faster detection of low-level light in various applications.

The dawn of a new era for genebanks

A world collection of over 22,000 barley varieties has been characterised at the molecular level, enabling effective use of genebank collections in research and breeding. The dataset guides the identification of duplicate samples and provides insights into global barley diversity.

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.

Synthetic DNA-delivered antibodies protect against Ebola in preclinical studies

Scientists at The Wistar Institute have successfully engineered novel DNA-encoded monoclonal antibodies targeting Zaire Ebolavirus, which offered complete and long-term protection against lethal virus challenges. The study provides a simple, rapid, and reproducible approach for immunization and evaluation of antibody efficacy.

Climate change damaging male fertility

New research from the University of East Anglia reveals that heatwaves can halve male reproductive fitness, reducing offspring production by three-quarters. The study found that heatwaves also damage inseminated sperm within female reproductive tracts, leading to reduced fertility and population viability.

Your heart hates air pollution; portable filters could help

Researchers found that using low-cost portable air purifiers at home significantly lowered urban seniors' fine particulate matter exposure and blood pressure. The study showed a 40% reduction in air pollutant exposure and an average of 3.4 mm Hg decrease in systolic blood pressure.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Scientists identify potential new treatment strategy for kidney cancer

A new study published in eLife suggests that activating the protein ISGF3 could be a novel therapeutic strategy for patients with clear cell renal cancer. ISGF3 regulates key tumor suppressor genes and acts as a brake on tumor growth, which can be disabled by loss of secondary tumor suppressors.

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.

Mathematical understanding of Bell nonlocality and quantum steering

Bell nonlocality and EPR steering are characterized using strict definitions, establishing a foundation for defining metric functions of Bell locality and EPR steering. The study generalizes previous results and provides sufficient conditions for determining the quantum state's EPR steerability.

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.

New scheduling system could help reduce flight delays

Researchers developed a new scheduling system that considers the actual cost of delayed passengers, including missed connections and rebooking costs. The system reduced delay costs by up to 6.4% and minimized flight delays by 8.6-65.4%.

Purple bacteria 'batteries' turn sewage into clean energy

Researchers have discovered a way to harness the power of purple phototrophic bacteria to recover valuable biofuels from organic waste in wastewater treatment plants. By using an electric current to optimize metabolic output, they can generate hydrogen gas with near-100% carbon recovery and minimal CO2 emissions.

Increasing CD and microchip capacity 100-fold

The new material allows for more data to be stored on CDs and microchips, with potential applications in high-density memories and devices that mimic human brains. It also addresses a problem called drift, which affects current materials' stability.

Fewer Canadians winning major health research prizes

A decline in Canadian-based researchers winning major health research prizes has been observed over the past few decades. Funding patterns and inconsistent government funding may be contributing factors to this trend.

New framework pushes the limits of high-performance computing

Researchers at Virginia Tech have developed BespoKV, a novel framework that enables high-performance computing (HPC) data systems to thrive with flexibility and scalability. By leveraging key value systems in an innovative way, supercomputers can process huge amounts of data efficiently.

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Synthetic molecule invades double-stranded DNA

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University developed a synthetic molecule that can recognize and bind to double-stranded DNA or RNA under normal physiological conditions. The Janus gamma PNAs have an extraordinarily high binding energy and can be designed to target genomic DNA for gene editing and transcriptional regulation.

Global warming has never stopped in the past hundred years

A new study reveals that global warming continued unabated since the Industrial Revolution, with a constant rate of change after World War II. The hiatus, often attributed to internal variability and external forcing, is actually a decadal balance between global warming and cooling from anomalous sea surface temperatures in the equator...

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.

Increasing iodine deposition in alpine ice

Researchers report a three-fold increase in atmospheric iodine deposition since 1950 due to increased oceanic emissions driven by enhanced ozone levels from nitrogen oxide emissions. The French Alps' summer iodine concentrations tripled between 1950 and 1995, consistent with chemical transport model simulations.

Pulling the genome apart: Chromosome segregation during mitosis explained

A study published in Nature Cell Biology reveals the importance of the CENP-T pathway in ensuring accurate and timely chromosome segregation during cell division. The research, led by Osaka University, shows that this pathway is essential for successful mitosis and could lead to therapeutic options for diseases involving dysfunctional ...

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.

From beaker to solved 3D structure in minutes

A joint UCLA/Caltech team has developed a new technique to determine the 3D structures of small molecules, such as hormones and medications, in under 30 minutes. The method uses micro-electron diffraction and relies on the presence of tiny crystals within the samples.

Less surveillance needed for simple ovarian cysts

A new study of over 72,000 women found that simple ovarian cysts are normal and extremely common, with no association to a higher risk of ovarian cancer. Simple cysts should be considered normal findings in women of any age and can be safely ignored unless symptomatic.

Scientists shine new light on link between obesity and cancer

Scientists have discovered that excess fat in obese individuals clogs up the molecular machinery of Natural Killer cells, preventing them from killing tumour cells. This research outlines possible paths to re-programming and restoring the cancer-fighting abilities of these cells.

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.

Escape responses of coral reef fish obey simple behavioral rules

A new study reveals that coral reef fish employ a sequence of well-defined decision rules to generate evasion behavior in complex natural environments. The escape response is influenced by the perceived size and expansion rate of the threat stimulus, as well as the location of nearby safe shelter.

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.

Putative epigenetic signatures of chronic undernutrition

A study reveals putative epigenetic signatures of chronic undernutrition tied to growth stunting in humans. Chronic undernutrition can result in persistent effects throughout adulthood, with changes in histone methylation patterns found in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from undernourished children.

Obesity both feeds tumors and helps immunotherapy kill cancer

A groundbreaking new study by UC Davis researchers has found that obesity can hinder immunotherapy treatments, but also improve survival rates in some obese patients. The study discovered that increased leptin levels in obese individuals correlate with enhanced expression of PD-1 checkpoint protein.

No cooperation without open communication

Researchers develop a new, more realistic model of human interaction, finding that cooperation is unstable without open communication. The study reveals that even a single difference of opinion can lead to dramatic effects and polarization in the population.

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.

New insights into the aging brain

A new study reveals that klotho acts as a shield between the brain and immune system, protecting against age-related cognitive decline. The research found that low levels of klotho in the choroid plexus lead to increased brain inflammation, which can impair brain functions.

Trends in opioid prescriptions in children, adolescents

Since 2012, prescription opioids dispensed to children and adolescents have decreased, with an average of 4 per 1,000 children receiving an outpatient opioid prescription in 2009-2012. Long-term opioid prescription use has also declined since the start of 2017.

Kawasaki disease: One disease, multiple triggers

Researchers have found evidence of multiple environmental triggers for Kawasaki Disease, with clusters associated with distinct atmospheric patterns and warmer conditions in Southern California. Gene expression analysis revealed distinct groups of patients based on their gene expression pattern, suggesting varying causes for the disease.