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Science News Archive March 2019


Page 30 of 43

Sex differences in personality traits in Asian elephants

The study found that male Asian elephants exhibited higher levels of aggressiveness and lower sociability compared to females. In contrast, female elephants displayed more agreeable personalities and consistent social behaviors within their family units.

No silver bullet for helping the Great Barrier Reef

Chronic exposure to poor water quality limits coral recovery rates across the Great Barrier Reef. Improving water quality can enhance recovery rates, but it won't suffice to rescue the reef from threats like climate change and pollution.

How susceptible are hospital employees to phishing attacks?

A multicenter study by Brigham and Women's Hospital found that hospital employees are susceptible to phishing attacks, with a high click rate of 14.2%, but also showed improvement in response rates with increasing campaigns and phishing awareness training.

Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

Sinister blastocystis: a clandestine killer of good bacteria revealed

A new study reveals that Blastocystis subtype 7 selectively kills beneficial Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus in the gut, leading to oxidative stress and lesions. This pathogenic microbe can contribute to inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and gastrointestinal cancers.

Racial-ethnic inequity in air pollution

Air pollution exposure varies significantly among racial-ethnic groups in the US, with blacks and Hispanics facing higher levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) than their individual contributions to total PM2.5 exposure. Consumption patterns also play a crucial role in determining these disparities.

Children's expectations of ingroup support

A study of toddlers and infants found that they expect group members to punish wrongdoers, indicating early understanding of group norms. This suggests that young children's expectations of indirect punishment are driven by an abstract sense of ingroup support.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

School diversity and cardiometabolic health

Research reveals that schools emphasizing ethnic and racial diversity show health benefits for students of color, particularly in cardiometabolic health. The study, which followed 270 eighth graders in the Chicago area, found improved cardiovascular outcomes among diverse student populations.

Moderate muscle strength may lower risk for type 2 diabetes

A recent study found that moderate muscle mass reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes by 32 percent. The benefits were independent of cardiorespiratory fitness, and higher levels of muscle strength did not provide additional protection. Building strength with resistance exercise may be a helpful way to prevent type 2 diabetes.

Environmental responses to Holocene climate variation

Researchers analyzed fossil pollen and sedimentary records to study Holocene climate variability's impact on the northeastern US. The findings suggest rapid ecological changes in response to changing climate conditions.

Faster robots demoralize co-workers

A study by Cornell University found that when robots excel in competitions, people perceive themselves as less capable and less likable. The research suggests optimizing teams of humans and robots to minimize negative effects on human behavior and reactions.

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.

BU researcher named 2019 William B. Kannel, MD, Memorial Lecturer

Vasan Ramachandran, a renowned BU researcher, discussed the fundamental concepts of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and its sociological factors. He highlighted how structural, macrosocial, economic, cultural, and societal factors influence human behavior and lifestyle choices, leading to CVD risk factor development and progression o...

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.

Genes that evolve from scratch expand protein diversity

A new study reveals that random DNA sections can evolve into novel proteins, contributing to biodiversity and challenging classic assumptions about protein evolution. At least 175 de novo genes were detected, with 57% translating into new peptides.

A tale of two cities: Is air pollution improving in Paris and London?

A joint study by King's College London and Airparif found that air pollution in both cities has improved since 2010, but not enough to meet legal limits. Newer diesel cars and buses have led to declines in particle pollution, while nitrogen dioxide levels from traffic in London have deteriorated.

Are eyes the window to our mistakes?

Scientists investigate how humans make mistakes and find that pupil dilation is linked to the brain's level of norepinephrine. Four sources of suboptimal decision-making are identified, including unequal weighing of evidence and noise in the brain.

Woodland caribou, wolves, and adaptive management

Researchers found that a combination of wolf reduction and short-term caribou penning during calving season maximized population growth. Adaptive management is recommended for direct population restoration of endangered species.

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.

Old World monkeys and dental evolution

Researchers discovered an ancient species of Old World monkey, filling a gap in the fossil record. The findings suggest that Alophia may have fed on hard objects like fruits and seeds, leading to the evolution of bilophodonty.

Multitasking amygdala neurons respond to sights, sounds, and touch

New research reveals that individual amygdala neurons in monkeys respond to both touch, imagery, and sounds, suggesting these cells facilitate the processing of multisensory social and emotional information. The findings challenge assumptions about the amygdala's primary response to visual stimuli.

Thyroidectomy more effective than medication for Hashimoto disease

Complete surgical removal of the thyroid gland improved symptoms in patients with Hashimoto thyroiditis, including profound fatigue, poor sleep quality, and muscle tenderness. Thyroidectomy also normalized serum antithyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibodies, providing a more effective treatment option for these patients.

Alliances and rank reversal in hyena clans

Female spotted hyenas can increase their dominance rank by forming alliances with other females, ultimately improving their lifetime reproductive success. The offspring of these individuals inherit their mother's acquired rank, leading to a decline in individual rank within clans over time.

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.

Researchers say education a major barrier to following heart healthy diet

A study published in The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association found that people with a college education are nearly seven times more likely to adhere to a Mediterranean Diet than those with only a high school education. Women and individuals familiar with the diet also showed higher rates of adherence.

Mindfulness found to improve mental health of students

A study at the University of Bristol found that mindfulness training improved mental health and wellbeing in medical students, reducing anxiety and stress. Students reported enhanced empathy, communication skills, and coping techniques, leading to better emotional wellbeing and professional development.

Anti-malarial shows promise in human clinical study

The study demonstrated that DSM265 can clear low-level Plasmodium falciparum parasitemia with a single oral dose. A companion drug is needed to prevent development of resistance and advance the goal of eradicating malaria.

Across diseases, women are diagnosed later than men

A comprehensive study found that women are diagnosed later than men for most diseases, with significant differences in patient care courses. The study analyzed data from 6.9 million Danish people and found an average difference of 4 years across 770 types of diseases.

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.

Researchers discover new nitrogen source in Arctic

Scientists have found a new way for microorganisms to convert nitrogen into a form usable by organisms in the Arctic Ocean. This process, known as nitrogen fixation, could make phytoplankton more productive, ultimately decreasing atmospheric carbon levels.

New study highlights 'alarmingly high' rate of visual problems in stroke survivors

A new University study highlights the high incidence and prevalence of visual problems in acute stroke survivors, with 48% of all stroke admissions and 60% of survivors experiencing new onset visual conditions. The study found that three quarters of patients had visual problems, including impaired central vision, eye movement abnormali...

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.

Radionuclide evidence of ancient solar storm

Researchers have found evidence of a strong solar storm around 660 BC in two Greenland ice cores, with concentrations of beryllium-10 and chlorine-36 consistent with an extreme event. The estimated strength of the storm is an order of magnitude higher than any instrumentally recorded solar event.

For infection-fighting cells, a guideline for expanding the troops

A team from Princeton University used mathematical modeling to explore the relationship between T cell expansion and infectious agent levels. They found that the starting amount of infectious agent and affinity for the cells are key factors in determining the expansion rate. The study suggests a simple underlying mechanism governing th...

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.

Biparental care in polyandrous bee

Researchers observed Ceratina nigrolabiata bees employing biparental care and social monogamy to safeguard offspring. This unconventional approach allows for increased protection of offspring, benefiting male bees by enhancing their mating prospects.

New device could help minimize scarring in cosmetic surgery

Researchers at Binghamton University developed a new device that can ascertain the orientation of skin tension lines, crucial for wound-healing post-surgery. The device directly measures skin tension direction with high accuracy, making it more reliable than existing methods.

Birth order and risk-taking

A large-scale study of 187 explorers and 11,000 households found no correlation between birth order and risk-taking behavior in adulthood. The research suggests that family dynamics do not impact an individual's willingness to take risks in adulthood.

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.

Guidelines on the use of genetic testing in psychiatry

The revised guidelines address pharmacogenetics, diagnosis of mental disorders with new molecular genetic technologies, and ethical challenges of genetic testing in psychiatric patients. Key findings include a lack of consensus on CNV testing in adults with mental illness and the need for more research to identify relevant genes.

A robotic leg, born without prior knowledge, learns to walk

A team of USC researchers developed an AI-controlled robotic limb that can learn a new walking task in 5 minutes and adapt to other tasks without programming. The robot uses bio-inspired algorithms to build an internal map of its limb and environment, enabling it to develop personalized movements.

Blood pressure control is beneficial, is it not?

Researchers found that lower blood pressure is associated with increased risk of death in adults over 80, and those who've had a heart attack or stroke. This study's results suggest adjusting antihypertensive treatment based on individual needs, moving away from blanket approaches.

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.

New regulatory factor identified in bone formation

Researchers have identified a novel transcription factor called Osteoblast Inducer-1 (ObI-1) that regulates the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into bone in mice. This discovery has significant implications for regenerative medicine, as MSCs offer a promising source of stem cells for therapeutic applications.

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.

The fiddlers influencing mangrove ecosystems

Researchers found that mangrove fiddler crab burrows change the surrounding sediment, attracting bacteria with similar functions across three locations. This effect, known as bioturbation, influences environmental processes such as carbon and nutrient fluxes in mangrove ecosystems.

Nature's own biorefinery

A new study reveals how the long-horned passalid beetle's gut microbiome breaks down woody biomass into energy-rich products like acetate and biofuels. The findings provide insights into a nature-derived approach to producing affordable fuels and bioproducts.

Could an eye doctor diagnose Alzheimer's before you have symptoms?

Researchers at Duke University Medical Center found that loss of blood vessels in the retina may signal Alzheimer's disease, even before cognitive symptoms appear. The study used non-invasive technology to analyze retinal blood vessels and detected differences between people with Alzheimer's and those with healthy brains.

Controlling thermal conductivity of polymers with light

Researchers have designed a novel polymer that can switch its thermal conductivity in response to light, enabling on-demand heat routing. The material's unique behavior has potential applications in managing heat for sensitive electronics and keeping electrical devices warm.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

Hospital cleaning trial cuts infections

A QUT-led study found that improved hospital cleaning practices reduced healthcare-associated infections by 37% and decreased overall infection rates by 5.8%. The cleaning bundle was successful in improving thoroughness and showed promise in reducing vancomycin-resistant enterococci infections.

Researchers turn liquid metal into a plasma

Scientists at the University of Rochester's LLE have successfully turned a liquid metal into a plasma, exhibiting classical properties at high temperatures. This discovery has implications for better understanding stars and planets, as well as realizing controlled nuclear fusion, a promising alternative energy source.