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Science News Archive November 2018 - Page 22


Page 22 of 42

Researchers identify a mechanism that fuels cancer cells' growth

Scientists at UCLA have identified sodium glucose transporter 2 (SGLT2) as a key mechanism in lung cancer cell growth, which could lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment. The study found that SGLT2 is predominantly used by lung cancer cells to transport glucose, even in pre-malignant lesions.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateNov 14, 2018

Non-coding genetic variant could improve key vascular functions

A recent study discovered a non-coding genetic variant, rs17114036, that enhances endothelial response to blood flow, reducing the risk of coronary artery disease. This variant is associated with increased expression of phospholipid phosphatase 3 (PLPP3), which promotes vascular health.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Medical Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 14, 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.

Winners of the 2018 AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards

The 2018 AAAS Kavli Science Journalism Awards honored journalists for their work on a male contraceptive pill, the environmental impact of toxic algae and invasive mussels, and efforts to restore patients with severe brain injuries. The awards also recognized a documentary on NASA's mission to the outer planets.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·DateNov 14, 2018

Tropical trees in the Andes are moving up -- toward extinction

A study led by University of Miami biologists found that tropical trees in the Andes are migrating to higher, cooler elevations to escape warming temperatures. However, this migration is not happening quickly enough to avoid biodiversity loss, functional collapse, or extinction.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalNature·DateNov 14, 2018

Tropical Cyclone Gaja approaching Southeastern India

Tropical Cyclone Gaja's powerful thunderstorms circled its center, forming a thick band that wrapped into the low-level center from the eastern quadrant. The storm is moving west-southwest and has maximum sustained winds near 45 knots.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateNov 14, 2018
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

A world without brick-and-mortar stores? Even avid online shoppers say, 'no, thanks'

The study surveyed nearly 400 consumers about their shopping habits and perceptions, finding that most agreed that physical stores are part of the social fabric of society. Respondents preferred online shopping for convenience and accessibility but prioritized tactile experiences in-store, while favoring social interaction with family ...

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalJournal of Retailing and Consumer Services·DateNov 14, 2018

Parents, kids actually agree about confidential medical care

Parents and adolescents largely agree on preventive care and confidentiality, but doctors have a different opinion. The study suggests that providing opportunities for private conversations with a doctor can lead to better health outcomes.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Chicago·JournalJournal of Adolescent Health·DateNov 14, 2018

Super-Earth discovered around the second nearest stellar system

Astronomers have discovered a cold Super-Earth orbiting around the Barnard's star, which is about six light-years away from Earth. The planet candidate has a minimum of 3.2 Earth masses and orbits its red star every 233 days near the snow-line.

SourceSpanish National Research Council (CSIC)·JournalNature·DateNov 14, 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.

Seismic study reveals huge amount of water dragged into Earth's interior

A new seismic study reveals that subduction zones drag about three times more water down into the deep Earth than previously estimated. The observations from the Mariana Trench have important implications for the global water cycle, suggesting that much of the Earth's water is being recycled through volcanic activity.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalNature·DateNov 14, 2018

Helping an oral diabetes drug go the extra mile

Researchers have created an oral formulation of semaglutide, a successful type 2 diabetes therapy, that can be more readily absorbed in the stomach. This development has the potential to improve treatment flexibility and patient adherence to T2D treatment programs, offering patients a less invasive route of administration.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateNov 14, 2018

Earth's magnetic field measured using artificial stars at 90 kilometers altitude

Researchers have successfully measured the Earth's magnetic field in the sodium layer of the mesosphere using laser-generated artificial stars. This technique allows for ground-based observations of the mesosphere, previously difficult to access, and holds promise for monitoring space weather and measuring electrical currents.

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 14, 2018
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

The first rains in centuries in the Atacama Desert devastate its microbial life

Recent rainfall in the Atacama Desert has caused widespread devastation among local microbial species, with 85% extinction rate reported. This study provides crucial information for understanding the microbiology of extremely arid environments and its implications for the search for life on Mars.

SourceSpanish National Research Council (CSIC)·JournalScientific Reports·DateNov 14, 2018

Low-carb diets cause people to burn more calories

A study by Boston Children's Hospital found that low-carb diets increase the number of calories burned, providing a new approach to treating obesity. The study, which controlled participants' diet for 20 weeks, showed significant differences in calorie expenditure between high- and low-carbohydrate diets.

SourceBoston Children's Hospital·JournalThe BMJ·DateNov 14, 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.

Photo recognition that keeps personal interests private

A new framework, EnfPire, is proposed to preserve users' privacy when using photo-based information services. The framework successfully abstracts location information and returns a set of candidates to the user, who compares them with the original feature using a simple recognizer.

SourceOsaka University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security·DateNov 14, 2018

Patient engagement as a new blockbuster drug, not quite yet, study finds

A new study published in BMJ Open found that healthcare professionals in accountable care organizations have a positive sentiment towards patient engagement and activation, but struggle with understanding and implementing these approaches. The researchers highlight the need for improved training and support to overcome barriers and ach...

SourceThe Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice·JournalBMJ Open·DateNov 14, 2018
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.

Quantum science turns social

Researchers developed a remote gaming interface that allowed external experts and citizen scientists to optimize a quantum gas experiment in real-time. The team found that collective search behavior of humans balances innovative attempts and refines existing solutions, making human problem-solving unique.

SourceAarhus University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 14, 2018

Next step on the path towards an efficient biofuel cell

Researchers from Ruhr-University Bochum developed a system combining gas diffusion electrode technology with the enzyme hydrogenase to achieve significantly higher current densities. The resulting biofuel cell achieved a power density of up to 3.6 milliwatts per square centimeter and an open circuit voltage of 1.13 volts.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 14, 2018

Older adults' abstract reasoning ability predicts depressive symptoms over time

A longitudinal study of 1,091 Scottish adults aged 70-79 found that decreased abstract reasoning ability was linked to worsening depressive symptoms over time. Lower cognitive function at each assessment was associated with subsequent increases in depressive symptoms, suggesting a potential causal relationship.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateNov 14, 2018

Physicists discover new way of resonance tuning for nonlinear optics

Researchers from ITMO University and the Australian National University have discovered a new physics of high-Q resonances in asymmetric metasurfaces, governed by bound states in the continuum. This breakthrough enables the creation of thin, highly efficient sensors, lasers, and nonlinear radiation sources.

SourceITMO University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateNov 14, 2018
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.

Putting food-safety detection in the hands of consumers

Researchers have developed a wireless system that leverages RFID tags on billions of products to sense potential food contamination. The system, called RFIQ, includes a reader that detects minute changes in wireless signals emitted from RFID tags when they interact with food.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·DateNov 14, 2018

Colder, darker climates increase alcohol consumption and liver disease

A new study found a clear negative correlation between climate factors and alcohol consumption, with colder regions and areas with less sunlight experiencing higher drinking rates. Climate is also tied to binge drinking and the prevalence of alcoholic liver disease, which claims many lives in patients with prolonged excessive alcohol use.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences·JournalHepatology·DateNov 14, 2018

Migraines that affect vision may increase risk of irregular heartbeat

Researchers found that people with migraines who experience visual disturbances are at a higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation. The condition increases the risk of stroke and blood clots, highlighting the need for further research on screening and management strategies.

SourceAmerican Academy of Neurology·JournalNeurology·DateNov 14, 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.

For arid, Mars-like desert, rain brings death

A recent study published in Scientific Reports found that heavy rainfall in the Atacama Desert wiped out most microbe species, contradicting expectations of floral blooms. The research has implications for our understanding of microbial life on Mars and suggests that sudden water exposure can be lethal to microorganisms.

SourceCornell University·JournalScientific Reports·DateNov 14, 2018

Investigational drug shows promising results in Phase II study of aggressive, often fatal blood disorder with no approved therapies

Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center report high response rates of 90% among frontline-treated patients with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN). The study, led by Naveen Pemmaraju, presents a novel targeted therapy targeting CD-123, a cell surface receptor expressed in BPDCN and other hematologic malignancies.

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·DateNov 14, 2018

Breeding corn for water-use efficiency may have just gotten easier

Scientists at the University of Illinois have developed a new method to measure water-use efficiency in corn, which could make breeding more efficient. The method uses leaf samples and measures the ratio of heavy to light carbon isotopes to determine water status.

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·JournalThe Plant Journal·DateNov 14, 2018

Study of two tribes sheds light on role of Western-influenced diet in blood pressure

A South American tribe living in near-total isolation shows no increase in average blood pressure from age one to age 60, contrasting with a nearby tribe exposed to Western dietary influences. The findings support the idea that exposure to Western diet and lifestyle may contribute to age-related blood pressure rise.

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·JournalJAMA Cardiology·DateNov 14, 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.

The first impact crater found underneath the Greenland ice sheet

Researchers have identified a large impact crater beneath Hiawatha Glacier in northwest Greenland, measuring 31 kilometers wide and featuring three distinct ice layers. The discovery suggests that the impactor could have been more than a kilometer wide, leading to significant environmental consequences.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience Advances·DateNov 14, 2018

Rainforest vine compound starves pancreatic cancer cells

Researchers have identified a compound, ancistrolikokine E3, from the twigs of the Ancistrocladus likoko vine that kills pancreatic cancer cells when nutrients are scarce. The compound inhibits the Akt/mTOR pathway, which is responsible for the aggressive proliferation of these cancer cells.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalJournal of Natural Products·DateNov 14, 2018

Venom shape untangles scorpion family tree

Scientists use venom shapes to identify distinct branches in the scorpion family tree, supporting a new evolutionary relationship. The study reveals that venom shape carries information about its function and has remained relatively unchanged over 300 million years.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalPeerJ·DateNov 14, 2018

Study finds early career publications as likely source of NIH funding racial gap

Researchers identified early career publications as a contributor to the racial gap in NIH funding, suggesting that mentoring interventions can help convert grant funding into competitive publication records. The study found that black or African-American scientists reported fewer papers and citations compared to their white counterparts.

SourceUniversity of Kansas·JournalPLOS ONE·DateNov 14, 2018

Astronomers discover super-Earth around Barnard's star

Astronomers have discovered a planet, known as Barnard's star b, which orbits around its host star every 233 days. The 'super-Earth' is estimated to be a frozen world with surface temperatures of -170 degrees Celsius, but could potentially become more hospitable if it has a substantial atmosphere.

SourceQueen Mary University of London·JournalNature·DateNov 14, 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.

Survey reveals how we use music as a possible sleep aid

A survey reveals that music is a widely used sleep aid, with 62% of respondents employing it to enhance their sleep experiences. The study found multiple pathways through which music helps, including auditory masking and mental distraction, offering new insights into the complex motivations driving people to use music as a sleep aid.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateNov 14, 2018

2019 International Brain Stimulation Award winner announced

The 2019 International Brain Stimulation Award recognizes Mark Hallett's pioneering work in developing transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and advancing the field of neuromodulation. His research has led to new treatments for neurological and psychiatric conditions, including depression and OCD.

SourceElsevier·DateNov 14, 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.

Water T2 biomarker could help stop diabetes before it starts

A water T2 biomarker discovered by Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso researcher David P. Cistola can detect individuals at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, allowing for potential disease prevention through lifestyle modifications or therapies.

SourceTexas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso·DateNov 14, 2018

Protection against Malaria: A matter of balance

A balanced pro and anti-inflammatory cytokine signature is associated with lower clinical malaria risk between ages 3-4. Early parasite exposure does not affect the risk, but may impact long-term immunity.

SourceBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)·JournalClinical Infectious Diseases·DateNov 14, 2018

Victims of gun violence tell their stories: Everyday violence, 'feelings of hopelessness'

A narrative inquiry study found that victims of urban gun violence experience everyday violence as a common occurrence, leading to feelings of hopelessness and powerlessness. The study identified four themes: prevailing nature of everyday violence, feeling abandoned by societal institutions, living in a context of reactive violence, an...

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalJournal of Trauma Nursing·DateNov 14, 2018

Difficult-to-treat bowel cancers respond in first study of new drug combination

A phase I trial of a new drug combination using nivolumab and pixatimod has reported clinical benefit in four out of five patients with microsatellite stable colorectal cancer. The combination is thought to overcome intrinsic resistance to PD-1 inhibitors in MSS CRC, suggesting potential benefits for this patient population.

SourceECCO-the European CanCer Organisation·DateNov 14, 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.

Competition for shrinking groundwater

New research by UC Santa Barbara scientists reveals that the world's supply of fresh water may be more limited than previously thought. The study finds that drilling increasingly deeper wells risks pumping saline water in some regions, highlighting the need to protect deep fresh groundwater.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalEnvironmental Research Letters·DateNov 14, 2018

UK must not fall behind in race to 'humanize' drug discovery

Researchers warn that current research models and regulation are blocking human-focused approaches to drug discovery. The UK has world-leading research in this area, but significant investment is taking place in the US and Europe.

SourceSAGE·JournalJournal of the Royal Society of Medicine·DateNov 14, 2018

Alcohol ads with pro-drinking comments on Facebook boost desire to drink

A new study found that social media users who view alcohol ads are more likely to 'Like' or 'Share' an ad when it has pro-drinking comments. The researchers suggest that the industry needs to improve its self-regulatory system to limit or ban comments on social media advertising.

SourceJournal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs·JournalJournal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs·DateNov 14, 2018

Bias-based bullying does more harm, is harder to protect against

A new study reveals that bias-based bullying causes greater harm to students, especially when they are targeted due to multiple identities. The research found that protective factors have varying effectiveness across different types of bullying.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalPsychology of Violence·DateNov 14, 2018

Improved mosquito reference genome assembly produced using long-read sequencing

Scientists have assembled a comprehensive map of Aedes aegypti mosquito DNA using long-read sequencing technology, providing a much more complete and accurate picture of gene elements. The new genome has already revealed critical clues into how the insects sense chemical cues and has identified 49 new genes involved in immune responses.

SourceBioscribe·JournalNature·DateNov 14, 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.

Soil's history: A solution to soluble phosphorus?

A new study suggests that previous applications of phosphorus fertilizers increase their effectiveness, allowing for more judicious use. This can help farmers save money and reduce environmental pollution by using only as much phosphorus as required.

SourceAmerican Society of Agronomy·JournalSoil Science Society of America Journal·DateNov 14, 2018

Checking very preterm babies' head size can help identify long-term IQ problems

Research found that measuring very preterm and full-term babies' head circumference from an early age can identify potential neurocognitive risks later in life. Head growth is a proxy measure of brain volume growth, and slow head growth was linked to lower intelligence scores.

SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalJournal of the International Neuropsychological Society·DateNov 14, 2018