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Science News Archive September 2018 - Page 5


Page 5 of 37

New allergy vaccine for hay fever shows promising results

Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have developed a new vaccine for hay fever that targets specific sugar molecules to improve vaccination efficacy. The vaccine has been tested on mice and in vitro tests, showing potential for increased effectiveness and reduced treatment time.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - The Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences·JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology·DateSep 26, 2018

Compound improves social interaction in autism mouse model

Scientists have discovered a compound that promotes social interaction among laboratory mice with autistic traits, offering new hope for treating autism. The finding builds on previous research showing oxytocin's potential benefits and develops a drug candidate to overcome its limitations.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalJournal of Medicinal Chemistry·DateSep 26, 2018

Urine liquid biopsies could help monitor bladder cancer treatment

A new study by Cancer Research UK has found that immune cells in urine samples can accurately reflect the tumor environment, offering a non-invasive window into bladder cancer. This discovery could help monitor response to immunotherapy and identify patients most likely to benefit from treatment.

SourceCancer Research UK·JournalJournal of Experimental Medicine·DateSep 26, 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.

Rare genetic disorders more complex than thought

A new study reveals that common genetic variants can affect the risk of rare developmental disorders, changing our understanding of their causes. The research found that these variants can contribute to a range of conditions, including autism and schizophrenia.

SourceWellcome Trust Sanger Institute·JournalNature·DateSep 26, 2018

Did key building blocks for life come from deep space?

Researchers at University of Hawaii at Manoa discovered that phosphates, a key element in life's building blocks, were generated in outer space and delivered to early Earth via meteorites or comets. This breakthrough suggests that the origins of life on Earth may have been influenced by extraterrestrial materials.

SourceUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 26, 2018
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

Olfactory cells may act as 'Trojan horse,' carry anticancer therapy to deadly brain tumors

Researchers genetically engineered olfactory ensheathing cells to carry an anticancer drug, reducing tumor growth and improving survival in a mouse model. The treatment delivered the medication directly to glioblastoma cells while sparing healthy tissue, leading to a significant reduction in tumor size and prolonged survival.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalJNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute·DateSep 26, 2018

Scientists unlock secret of how the brain encodes speech

Researchers discovered how the brain encodes speech production, finding that it controls both goals (speech sounds) and individual movements (lip, tongue, and larynx movements). This breakthrough aims to develop better brain machine interfaces to decode speech for paralyzed individuals.

SourceNorthwestern University·DateSep 26, 2018

Canadian clinics are marketing unproven stem cell treatments

A new study examines Canadian clinics marketing unproven stem cell treatments, highlighting regulatory gaps and potential risks to patients. The majority of marketed treatments target orthopedic and musculoskeletal conditions, with some companies advertising for a wide range of disorders.

SourceFuture Science Group·JournalRegenerative Medicine·DateSep 26, 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.

Dental research shows that smoking weakens immune systems

A study published in the Journal of Endodontics found that smoking damages the pulp inside teeth, reducing their ability to fight illness and disease. This increases the risk of gum disease and delayed healing, with smokers nearly twice as likely to require a root canal as non-smokers.

SourceCase Western Reserve University·JournalJournal of Endodontics·DateSep 26, 2018

More persistent weather patterns in US linked to Arctic warming

A Rutgers-led study suggests that rapid Arctic warming is causing persistent dry and wet spells, leading to extreme weather events like droughts, heat waves, and storms. The frequency of these long-duration weather conditions has increased over recent decades.

SourceRutgers University·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateSep 26, 2018

Elusive origin of stellar geysers revealed by 3D simulations

Astrophysicists use 3D simulations to explain how luminous blue variables launch material into space through intense light and turbulent motion. The study sheds light on the violent mood swings of rare, massive stars that can shed billions of metric tons of material annually.

SourceSimons Foundation·JournalNature·DateSep 26, 2018

Researchers create smartphone system to test for lead in water

Researchers have created a low-cost smartphone system using nano-colorimetry and dark-field microscopy to detect lead in tap water. The system can identify concentrations as low as 5 parts per billion, posing a significant risk to health, especially for young children.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalAnalytical Chemistry·DateSep 26, 2018
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

VLA discovers powerful jet coming from 'wrong' kind of star

Astronomers detected a fast-moving jet from a neutron star with a strong magnetic field, challenging the long-held idea that magnetic fields prevent jets from forming. The discovery was made using the VLA, which revealed radio waves produced by the jet, characteristic of other jet-producing systems.

SourceNational Radio Astronomy Observatory·JournalNature·DateSep 26, 2018

Moffitt researcher awarded World Molecular Imaging Society gold medal

Dr. Robert Gillies, chair of Cancer Physiology and Radiology Research at Moffitt Cancer Center, receives the World Molecular Imaging Society's Gold Medal Award for his lifetime research in molecular imaging. His work focuses on understanding cancers as complex systems, leading to new cancer treatment options.

SourceH. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute·DateSep 26, 2018

Bees' medicine chest should include sunflower pollen, UMass Amherst study suggests

A new UMass Amherst study found that eating sunflower pollen dramatically reduced a protozoan pathogen infection in bumble bees. The researchers also discovered that incorporating sunflowers into pollinator gardens could provide a simple solution to improve the health of economically and ecologically important pollinators.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalScientific Reports·DateSep 26, 2018

GW launches program to address regional health care workforce needs

The GW Health Careers Opportunity Program aims to create a more diverse health care workforce by introducing high school students to a health sciences-focused curriculum. The program addresses regional disparities in healthcare access and outcomes through partnerships with public schools, community colleges, and healthcare employers.

SourceGeorge Washington University·DateSep 26, 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.

Your Facebook friends don't mean it, but they're likely hurting you daily

Research from University at Buffalo suggests that unintentional social exclusion on Facebook and other social media sites can hinder thought processes, leading to negative emotions and increased susceptibility to advertising messages. The study's findings highlight the importance of critical thinking when interacting with these platforms.

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalSocial Science Computer Review·DateSep 26, 2018

Bariatric surgery linked to safer childbirth for the mother

An observational study by researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden found that bariatric surgery is associated with fewer complications during childbirth, including reduced risk of post-term delivery or uterine inertia. The study compared deliveries in women who had undergone weight loss after bariatric surgery to those who did not.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateSep 26, 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.

Researchers evaluate controversial treatment for Parkinson's disease psychosis

Researchers evaluated the safety of pimavanserin for treating Parkinson's disease psychosis, finding a lower mortality risk compared to quetiapine or combination therapy. The study provides reassurance for clinicians and families but highlights the need for further research on disease severity and cause of death.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalNeurology·DateSep 26, 2018

Taller plants moving into Arctic because of climate change

New research reveals Arctic plant height increased by 20-60% over 30 years, with non-native species like vernal sweetgrass spreading into the region. Soil moisture plays a crucial role in changing plant traits, contrary to previous climate change models.

SourceUniversity of Edinburgh·JournalNature·DateSep 26, 2018

Combination HIV antibody infusions safely maintain viral suppression in select individuals

Researchers found that a combination of multiple antibodies targeting distinct regions of HIV can suppress the virus and prevent resistance. In a pilot clinical trial, participants who received infusions of broadly neutralizing antibodies maintained viral suppression for over 15 weeks after stopping antiretroviral therapy.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases·JournalNature·DateSep 26, 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.

Manta rays could teach us a thing or two about effective filtration

Researchers studied manta ray filtration using physical modeling and CFD, discovering a novel non-clogging mechanism that resists clogging. The 'ricochet' separation process allows water to pass through while tiny particles are eaten, promising applications for industrial wastewater treatment and reducing microplastic pollution.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience Advances·DateSep 26, 2018

Contactless water quality control with the use of spectroscopy

Researchers developed a theory of relaxation in hexagonal ice, which can indicate water purity and quality through dielectric polarization changes. The study used spectroscopy to analyze ice under different temperatures, revealing non-Arrhenius behavior.

SourceKazan Federal University·JournalPhysical Chemistry Chemical Physics·DateSep 26, 2018

Protecting probiotics from the stomach

Researchers have created a stable encapsulation system using cellulose and alginate to protect probiotics from stomach acid, allowing them to survive until reaching the intestine. This breakthrough may lead to more effective treatments for conditions like diarrhea and inflammatory bowel disease.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering·DateSep 26, 2018

Leaders may create ineffective cultures because they are stuck in the past, study shows

Researchers from the University of Toronto found that leaders tend to transfer their past cultural experience to new groups, creating ineffective cultures. This 'cultural transfer perspective' highlights the need for leaders to disconnect from their past experiences and analyze current circumstances to create effective cultures.

SourceUniversity of Toronto, Rotman School of Management·JournalAcademy of Management Journal·DateSep 26, 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.

Interpreting new findings of methane on Mars

The presence of methane on Mars presents novel challenges to explain its formation and implications for potential life on the planet. Researchers recommend further studies to clarify geochemical processes and sources of methane.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalAstrobiology·DateSep 26, 2018

Army scientists discover mathematics of brain waves

Researchers create a new model for collective behavior within the brain, bridging the gap between EEG waves and random fluctuations. The technique has potential to reduce stress and onset of conditions like PTSD in military personnel.

SourceU.S. Army Research Laboratory·JournalFrontiers in Physiology·DateSep 26, 2018

Study: Damaged liver cells undergo reprogramming to regenerate

Researchers at the University of Illinois have discovered how damaged liver cells repair themselves by reprogramming into an early stage of postnatal organ development. The findings reveal that injured liver cells undergo partial reprogramming, which is regulated by a specific RNA-binding protein called ESRP2.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalNature Structural & Molecular Biology·DateSep 26, 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.

UVA discovers link between cold severity, bacteria living in your nose

Researchers found a correlation between the type and severity of cold symptoms and the mix of bacteria living inside the nose. Six different patterns of nasal microbiomes were identified, each associated with differences in symptom severity and viral load. Probiotics did not have an impact on cold symptoms or nasal microbiomes.

SourceUniversity of Virginia Health System·JournalScientific Reports·DateSep 26, 2018

The origins of the High Plains landscape

The High Plains landscape was formed 20 million years ago through geological uplift and erosion, resulting in a unique ecosystem with hundreds of thousands of ephemeral lakes. These lakes provide crucial breeding and wintering habitats for millions of birds and recharge the Ogallala aquifer, North America's largest groundwater reservoir.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature·DateSep 26, 2018

Hit 'em where they eat: Stealth drug fights resistant bacteria

Researchers have discovered a new approach to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria by tricking them into taking up a molecule that causes harm. Gallium, a metal similar to iron, is used as a Trojan horse to disrupt bacterial nutrition and shut down essential processes.

SourceUniversity of Washington School of Medicine/UW Medicine·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateSep 26, 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.

Predictable, preventable and deadly: Carbon monoxide poisonings after storms

After severe weather events, households may use generators, leading to carbon monoxide (CO) poisonings. CO is a silent killer with no odor or taste, caused by malfunctioning appliances, and can cause coma, heart attack, and death. Regular appliance checks and generator usage precautions can prevent CO poisoning.

SourceChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateSep 26, 2018

Giddy up: help for plump ponies is fast on its way

QUT researchers have discovered a drug that prevents laminitis in ponies with equine metabolic syndrome. The drug, velagliflozin, works by causing the kidneys to excrete more glucose in the urine, taking pressure off the pancreas and lowering insulin levels.

SourceQueensland University of Technology·JournalPLOS ONE·DateSep 26, 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.

Sunflower pollen has medicinal, protective effects on bees

A study by North Carolina State University found that sunflower pollen reduces infection rates in bees and improves colony health. However, it also had a deleterious effect on honey bees, leading to higher mortality rates compared to other diets.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalScientific Reports·DateSep 26, 2018

Plate tectonics may have been active on Earth since the very beginning

A new study published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters proposes that plate tectonics could have started as early as the planet's formation. Researchers analyzed noble gas isotopes Helium-3 and Neon-22 to establish a timeline of Earth's tectonic plate cycling, providing insight into the planet's earliest conditions.

SourceUniversity of Tennessee at Knoxville·JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters·DateSep 26, 2018

By Jove! Methane's effects on sunlight vary by region

Scientists discovered that methane absorption is 10 times stronger over desert regions like the Sahara Desert and Arabian Peninsula than elsewhere on Earth. Cloud cover also enhances methane radiative forcing, with increased forcing found over oceanic stratus cloud decks and the Intertropical Convergence Zone near the equator.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalScience Advances·DateSep 26, 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.

Big increase in economic costs if cuts in greenhouse gas emissions are delayed

A new analysis warns that delaying efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions could result in substantial economic costs, potentially exceeding the benefits of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees. The study suggests that the remaining carbon budget for this goal is very small, requiring unprecedented scale and significant investment.

SourceUniversity of East Anglia·JournalAnnual Review of Environment and Resources·DateSep 26, 2018

The whole day matters for cognitive development in children

A new study from CHEO Research Institute found that children aged nine and 10 who meet Canadian 24-hour Movement Guidelines for physical activity, screen time, and sleep time have superior global cognition. The results suggest a positive relationship among childhood global cognition, future academic success, and lower all-cause mortality.

SourceChildren's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute·JournalThe Lancet Child & Adolescent Health·DateSep 26, 2018

'Paintable' chemotherapy shrinks skin tumors in mice

Researchers have developed a gel-based chemotherapy that can shrink melanoma skin tumors in mice by penetrating deep into the skin. The gel, called transfersome, was found to slow tumor growth when applied daily and administered intravenously every other day, with results showing a significant reduction in tumor size.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Nano·DateSep 26, 2018

Neutron star jets shoot down theory

Researchers observed a strongly magnetized accreting X-ray pulsar using the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array and NASA's Swift space telescope. The discovery reveals a new class of jet-producing sources, contradicting previous expectations about strong magnetic fields.

SourceInternational Centre for Radio Astronomy Research·JournalNature·DateSep 26, 2018
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.

NIAID releases strategic plan to address tuberculosis research

The NIAID Strategic Plan for Tuberculosis Research prioritizes expanding fundamental knowledge of TB by using modern tools to better understand the disease. The plan also focuses on developing rapidly accurate inexpensive point-of-care tests for different forms of TB, as well as identifying host and microbial biomarkers.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases·JournalJAMA·DateSep 26, 2018