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Science News Archive August 2019


Page 1 of 38

Hepatitis B: Unusual virus discovered in shrews

Researchers have identified an unusual hepatitis B virus in shrews, which lacks a key protein essential for chronic infection. This discovery offers new insights into the disease's pathogenesis and may lead to the development of effective treatments.

New guidance on potentially fatal blood clots published today

The new guidelines clarify the diagnosis and treatment of acute pulmonary embolism, emphasizing the importance of quick and reliable diagnosis to prevent death. The guidance also provides recommendations on the use of anticoagulant drugs and clot busters, as well as distinguishing between fresh thrombi and chronic obstructions.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

4TEEN4 Pharmaceuticals reports first results on Procizumab

Procizumab shows high therapeutic potential in treating acute heart failure and cardiogenic shock by targeting the DPP3 enzyme. The company is setting up GMP process for Procizumab manufacturing and expects to enter regulatory non-clinical safety studies next year.

Cardiovascular disease patients benefit more from exercise than healthy people

A study of nearly half a million people found that those with heart or blood vessel problems benefited more from having a physically active lifestyle than healthy people without cardiovascular disease. Increased physical activity reduced the risk of dying during a six-year follow-up period for people with and without CVD.

Diabetes medication shows potential to reduce heart disease

A new study suggests that a diabetes medication called empagliflozin can protect against heart disease by regulating circulating progenitor cells and reducing inflammation. The findings from the EMPA-HEART CardioLink-6 Trial may provide the basis for new therapies for patients with heart disease complicated by diabetes.

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.

Tiny wearable cameras may improve quality of life in heart failure patients

Researchers developed a tiny wearable camera to track heart failure patients' daily activities, providing valuable data for fine-tuning self-management. The study found that the cameras could identify areas for improvement in diet, exercise, and medication adherence, with potential applications for guiding newly diagnosed patients.

Dipeptidyl Peptidase 3 (DPP3) cause of acute myocardial depression

A novel disease mechanism links circulating DPP3 to cardiac and renal dysfunction, with sustained high DPP3 levels associated with reduced cardiac function, impaired kidney function, and increased mortality. The DPP3 biomarker has high potential utility in diagnosing organ dysfunction and predicting outcomes in cardiogenic shock patients.

Microbes may play a role in heart attack onset

A study found that bacteria in coronary plaques were pro-inflammatory, whereas gut bacteria were diverse and varied. Patients with acute coronary syndrome had different gut microbiota compared to those with stable angina. The research suggests a possible role for microbes in plaque destabilization and heart attack onset.

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.

Eating nuts linked with lower risk of fatal heart attack and stroke

A recent study found that eating nuts at least twice a week is associated with a lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease. The researchers analyzed data from 5,432 Iranian adults and found that nut consumption was linked to a 17% reduced risk of fatal heart attack and stroke.

Aspirin should not be recommended for healthy people over 70

A sub-group analysis from the ASPREE trial found that daily low-dose aspirin did not prolong disability-free survival in healthy people over 70, even in those at high cardiovascular disease risk. The study suggests that improved risk prediction methods are needed to identify those who could benefit from aspirin therapy.

Guidelines on diabetes and cardiovascular diseases published today

The guidelines emphasize healthy behaviors, such as physical activity and a Mediterranean diet, to prevent cardiovascular disease. They also recommend specific medications, including GLP-1 receptor agonists and PCSK9 inhibitors, for patients with diabetes at high risk of cardiovascular disease.

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.

Motivational text messages help patients with diabetes

A low-cost text-messaging programme improves blood sugar control in patients with diabetes and coronary heart disease. The programme, which consisted of six messages per week, resulted in a significant reduction in HbA1c levels and an increase in participants achieving the target level of less than 7%.

Guidelines on management of fast heartbeat published today

The European Society of Cardiology has published new guidelines for the management of fast heartbeat, highlighting the benefits of catheter ablation in treating supraventricular tachycardia. The guidelines recommend invasive methods for eradicating arrhythmias and provide specific recommendations for pregnant women.

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.

It's never too late to start exercising, new study shows

Researchers found that older men who never exercised before could build muscle at a similar rate as master athletes, highlighting the benefits of starting exercise later in life. The study suggests that regular physical activity can help delay age-related decline and improve overall health.

Rethinking our resilience to wildfire

A new paper by researchers at the University of Colorado Denver calls for a fundamental shift in how we approach wildfires, from basic recovery to transformation. The study highlights the need for communities to adopt more resilient strategies, such as reducing flammability and promoting prescribed burns.

AI uncovers new details about Old Master paintings

Researchers used a newly developed algorithm to study mixed x-ray images of the Ghent Altarpiece, separating features from the front and back of the painting's double-sided panels. The analysis improved our understanding of art masterpieces and provided new opportunities for art investigation, conservation, and presentation.

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.

Moving faster in a crowd

New research shows that particle transport in crowded cells can be faster than in non-crowded environments, especially when moving from densely crowded areas to less crowded ones. The study used microfluidics and tracer colloids to investigate the effects of non-uniformly distributed crowding molecules on particle movement.

Scientists discover evidence for past high-level sea rise

A team of scientists discovered geologic evidence in a Mallorcan cave showing sea levels were 16 meters higher than present day 4 million years ago. The findings provide insights into past global sea level rise and implications for predicting current-day rise amid a warming climate.

New ATS Clinical Practice Guideline: Diagnosing fungal infections

The guideline covers the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, invasive candidiasis, and three common endemic mycoses. Effective treatment depends on rapid and accurate diagnosis, with recommendations for laboratory tests such as galactomannan testing and polymerase chain reaction approaches.

Humans were changing the planet earlier than we knew

Researchers at the University of Queensland have found that human-induced landcover change was globally extensive by 2000BC, four millennia ago. The study used crowdsourcing-from-experts approach to gather archaeological data and found long-term cumulative changes caused by early food producers.

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.

Does appointment time influence primary care opioid prescribing?

Primary care physicians tend to prescribe opioids more for pain issues later in the day and if appointments are running late. The likelihood of an opioid prescription increased from 4% to 5.3% as appointments progressed, with a notable increase for appointments over 60 minutes behind schedule.

Defrosting surfaces in seconds

Researchers have developed a way to remove ice and frost from surfaces efficiently using less than 1% of the energy needed for traditional methods. The technique works by melting the interfacial layer directly, allowing the ice to slide off the surface.

HOT SHOT findings could save defense tech developers time and money

The HOT SHOT program has revealed a way to improve tests, providing an earlier indicator of technology success and saving taxpayer money. The analysis of sounding rocket data has produced more complete vibration pictures, used to create accurate simulations and ground tests.

Hurricane Dorian marching slowly across Atlantic

Hurricane Dorian has strengthened to near 110 mph with higher gusts, threatening the Bahamas and southeastern US with life-threatening storm surge and heavy rainfall. The storm is expected to produce 6-12 inches of rain and cause life-threatening flash floods.

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.

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.

Chewing gum use in the perioperative period

Preoperative chewing gum use does not affect gastric emptying, while postoperative gum may aid recovery. Chewing gum can be a useful tool to aid recovery and reduce complications after certain types of surgery.

Victorian child hearing-loss databank to go global

A unique Victorian databank that profiles children with hearing loss will help researchers globally understand why some children adapt and thrive, while others struggle. The study found that language development and speech in hearing-impaired children lags behind other children despite advancements in earlier detection and intervention.

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.

Early start of 20th century arctic sea ice decline

Researchers found evidence of earlier Arctic sea-ice decline starting at the beginning of the 20th century using a new proxy from coralline algae. The study provides insight into past sea-ice variability and may help reduce uncertainties in ocean model simulations.

$2M from NIH to extract meaningful data from CRISPR screens

The National Institutes of Health has granted $2.23 million in funding to develop statistical and computational methods for genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screening. The goal is to improve functional gene identification, analyze non-coding elements, and study genetic interactions, with potential applications in cancer research.

What if we paid countries to protect biodiversity?

A team of international researchers has developed a financial mechanism to support the protection of the world's natural heritage. The socio-ecological design option proved most efficient in incentivizing additional conservation action, particularly for countries lacking in global conservation goals.

Understanding probiotic yeast

Researchers have found that Saccharomyces boulardii, a probiotic yeast, produces uniquely excessive amounts of acetic acid. This discovery may pave the path towards improved treatments for intestinal diseases. The study also showed that modifying the yeast's genetic basis could enhance its probiotic effects.

The 'universal break-up criterion' of hot, flowing lava?

Rice University researchers have developed a new fluid dynamic model that allows scientists to predict when an eruption will transition from spattering to flowing lava. This tool could help emergency officials prepare for potential hazards by providing early warnings of changing behavior.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Illinois engineer continues to make waves in water desalination

University of Illinois researcher Kyle Smith has made significant progress in water desalination with a new publication and research project. His work involves deionization devices that can reversibly store and release cations using intercalation materials, resulting in a nearly 10-fold increase in salt removal rates.

Oxygen depletion in ancient oceans caused major mass extinction

A 420 million-year-old mass extinction event, one of the most dramatic ever recorded, was caused by rapid and widespread depletion of oxygen in global oceans. The study provides a mechanism for the step-wise extinction event, driven in part by sulfidic ocean conditions.

Discovery paves the way for earlier detection of type 1 diabetes

Researchers at Scripps Research Institute have discovered a potential biological marker for early detection of type 1 diabetes using single-cell analysis of immune cells. The discovery could lead to earlier intervention and prevention of the disease, which affects over 1.25 million Americans.

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.

FEFU scientists developed brand-new rapid strength eco-concrete

The new concrete mixture has a compressive strength increase of 2.7-3.3 times compared to traditional concrete, while reducing frost-resistance issues and increasing water-resistance. The eco-friendly concrete technology is cost-effective and can be implemented with minimal spending.

Providing more testing choices does not increase colorectal cancer screening rates

A new study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine found that providing patients with more testing choices, such as home fecal immunochemical testing (FIT), does not increase participation in colorectal cancer screening. However, framing choice did impact patient decision-making, leading to a decrease in colonoscopy rates.

NASA satellites on-hand as Dorian becomes a category 3 hurricane

NASA's fleet of satellites is gathering data on Hurricane Dorian, helping scientists understand its structure and predict its path. The storms maximum sustained winds are currently at 115 mph with higher gusts, posing a significant threat to Florida and the northwestern Bahamas.

How to simulate softness

A team of engineers and psychologists at UC San Diego discovered clever tricks to design materials that replicate different levels of perceived softness. The findings provide fundamental insights into designing tactile materials and haptic interfaces that can recreate realistic touch sensations.

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.

New radiomics model uses immunohistochemistry to predict thyroid nodules

A new machine learning-based model evaluates immunohistochemical characteristics in patients with suspected thyroid nodules, achieving excellent performance for individualized noninvasive prediction. The model improves thyroid nodule diagnoses and helps identify papillary thyroid cancers earlier.

Common stomach bacteria is attracted to bleach

Researchers found that Helicobacter pylori is attracted to bleach, relying on a protein called TlpD to navigate to sites of inflammation in the stomach. This attraction enables the bacterium to turn the body's defenses against it and colonize inflamed tissue.

Many who die waiting for a kidney had multiple offers, new study finds

A new study found that nearly one-third of kidney transplant candidates die or are removed from the list without receiving a transplant, with many having had multiple organ offers declined. The research highlights concerns about the allocation system and suggests better communication between patients and transplant centers could improv...