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Science News for May 17, 2019


Owning a dog is influenced by our genetic make-up

A recent study using Swedish Twin Registry data found that genetic variation explains more than half of the variation in dog ownership, implying a significant role for genetics in determining who owns a dog. The study's findings have major implications for understanding dog-human interaction throughout history and modern times.

SourceUppsala University·JournalScientific Reports·DateMay 17, 2019
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

'Stepped' treatment reduces drinking in patients with HIV

A Yale-led study found that integrated stepped alcohol treatment reduced heavy drinking days and improved abstinence rates in patients with HIV. The treatment model, which involves 'stepping up' treatments based on patient needs, also led to better HIV outcomes, including higher medication adherence and undetectable viral loads.

SourceYale University·JournalThe Lancet HIV·DateMay 17, 2019

Manipulating atoms one at a time with an electron beam

Researchers at MIT and the University of Vienna have developed a new method to manipulate atoms using a highly focused electron beam, enabling precise control over atomic positioning and bonding orientation. This breakthrough could lead to new ways of making quantum computing devices and sensors.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalScience Advances·DateMay 17, 2019

NIST team demonstrates heart of next-generation chip-scale atomic clock

Physicists at NIST have demonstrated a compact, high-stability chip-scale atomic clock using rubidium atoms and frequency combs. The clock requires minimal power and has the potential to replace traditional oscillators in navigation systems and telecommunications networks.

SourceNational Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)·JournalOptica·DateMay 17, 2019

Cancer drug could be repurposed to provide treatment for brain aneurysms

A new genetic basis of a type of brain aneurysm has been identified, suggesting that an existing cancer drug can counter its effects. Researchers have discovered 'gain-of-function variants' in the PDGFRB protein, which causes it to remain locked in a hyper-active form.

SourceUniversity of Sussex·JournalAmerican Journal of Human Genetics·DateMay 17, 2019
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.

Integrated stepped alcohol treatment for people in HIV care improves both HIV & alcohol outcomes

A new clinical research study shows that increasing the intensity of treatment for alcohol use disorder among people with HIV improves both HIV-related disease measures and alcohol-related outcomes. Integrated stepped alcohol treatment (ISAT) involves consecutive steps of increased AUD treatment intensity.

SourceNIH/National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism·JournalThe Lancet HIV·DateMay 17, 2019

Clinical trial at IU School of Medicine improves treatment of genetic rickets

A new clinical trial at IU School of Medicine shows that Burosumab significantly alleviates symptoms of X-linked hypophosphatemia, a phosphate-wasting disease causing rickets and osteomalacia. The study found substantial healing in 72% of children treated with Burosumab versus 6% in the conventional therapy group.

SourceIndiana University·JournalThe Lancet·DateMay 17, 2019
Meta Quest 3 512GB

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

USC researchers imagine a cheaper, fairer marketplace for digital goods

USC researchers Bhaskar Krishnamachari and Aditya Asgaonkar propose a blockchain-based solution to reduce costs and increase efficiency in online transactions. Their system allows buyers and sellers to interact directly without third-party mediators, using smart contracts to verify honesty and disincentivize malicious behavior.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·DateMay 17, 2019

Restaurant acoustics that schmeckt

The new ISO TS 12913 standard provides a framework for identifying optimal dining spaces, including binaural sound recording for immersive evaluation. Restaurants present a challenge due to varying noise levels, but the guidelines address this with psychoacoustics and diner feedback.

SourceAcoustical Society of America·DateMay 17, 2019
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.

'Imagine...' -- our attitudes can change solely by the power of imagination

A study led by Roland Benoit and Philipp Paulus found that imagining interacting with a liked person at a neutral place can transfer emotional value to the location. The ventromedial prefrontal cortex plays a key role in this process, evaluating importance of individuals and places.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 17, 2019

Study finds narrowing gender gap in youth suicides

A recent study found a disproportionate increase in female youth suicide rates compared to males, particularly among younger youth. The study's findings indicate a narrowing of the gender gap in youth suicides, suggesting that future work should examine gender-specific risk factors and inform intervention strategies.

SourceMediaSource·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateMay 17, 2019

Changes in subsistence hunting threaten local food security

Subsistence hunters face threats from fragmented habitats, modern hunting methods, mining, and tourism, impacting local food security and species persistence. WCS suggests banning large species, shifting to smaller ones, strengthening protected areas, and diversifying income sources.

SourceWildlife Conservation Society·JournalBiotropica·DateMay 17, 2019

Nanoscale sculpturing leads to unusual packing of nanocubes

Researchers found that cube-shaped nanoparticles coated with single-stranded DNA chains assemble into an unusual 'zigzag' arrangement that maximizes attraction and minimizes repulsion. The discovery breaks the orientational symmetry of cubes relative to the vectors of the unit cell, allowing for a new type of nanoscale packing.

SourceDOE/Brookhaven National Laboratory·JournalScience Advances·DateMay 17, 2019

IU researchers develop electric field-based dressing to help heal wound infections

Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine have developed an electric field-based dressing that can disrupt and treat bacterial biofilms, which are responsible for many wound infections. The dressing, combined with other medications, shows promise as a potential game-changer in treating antibiotic-resistant infections.

SourceIndiana University·JournalAnnals of Surgery·DateMay 17, 2019
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.

Ultra-clean fabrication platform produces nearly ideal 2D transistors

Researchers at Columbia Engineering developed a two-step, ultra-clean nanofabrication process that separates the pristine device from dirty fabrication processes. This method yields high-performance devices with improved stability and scalability for real-world engineering problems.

SourceColumbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalNature Electronics·DateMay 17, 2019

Scientists capture first-ever video of body's safety test for T cells

Immunologists from The University of Texas at Austin captured a first-ever video of T-cells undergoing assassin-training in the body's safety test. The new imaging technique holds promise for improving human health by better understanding T-cell development and function in autoimmune disorders like Type 1 diabetes.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 17, 2019

Polymers jump through hoops on pathway to sustainable materials

A new study reveals a 'threading' mechanism where linear molecules thread through ring polymers, causing shape fluctuations under fluid flow. This insight may lead to new processing methods for sustainable polymer materials.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 17, 2019
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.

Earliest evidence of the cooking and eating of starch

Researchers discovered charred food remains at the Klasies River Cave in South Africa, indicating early humans were roasting plant starches from tubers and rhizomes as far back as 120,000 years ago. This finding supports the hypothesis that the duplication of starch digestion genes is an adaptive response to a high-starch diet.

SourceUniversity of the Witwatersrand·JournalJournal of Human Evolution·DateMay 17, 2019

The science and technology of FAST

The Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) has enabled groundbreaking discoveries in pulsar and neutral hydrogen observations. With its ultra-wideband capabilities, FAST allows for the study of rotating radio transients in greater detail than ever before.

SourceScience China Press·DateMay 17, 2019

A new approach to targeting cancer cells

A new approach to targeting cancer cells has been developed by UC Riverside researchers, who have found that drugs targeting other amino acids like lysine and tyrosine can be more effective. The study provides novel avenues for deriving potent and selective PPI antagonists

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalJournal of Medicinal Chemistry·DateMay 17, 2019

Intensive silviculture accelerates Atlantic rainforest biodiversity regeneration

A study conducted in Brazil found that intensive silviculture using herbicide spraying and substantial fertilizer application promotes tropical forest regeneration and biomass gain, exceeding traditional manual weeding methods. Researchers aimed to maximize woody biomass accumulation for carbon sequestration and financial viability.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalEcological Applications·DateMay 17, 2019
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.

Enzyme may indicate predisposition to cardiovascular disease

A study suggests that low plasma levels of PDIA1, an enzyme involved in protein disulfide isomerization, are associated with a higher risk of thrombosis. Researchers found no correlation between PDIA1 levels and well-known risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalRedox Biology·DateMay 17, 2019

Dangerous pathogens use this sophisticated machinery to infect hosts

Researchers at Caltech have unveiled the 3D molecular architecture of Legionella pneumophila's Type IV secretion system, a sophisticated machinery used by dangerous pathogens to infect human cells. The discovery could enable the development of precisely targeted antibiotics to combat diseases like Legionnaires' disease and whooping cough.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalNature Microbiology·DateMay 17, 2019

Metals influence C-peptide hormone related to insulin

Researchers at the University of California, Davis have discovered that metals can subtly affect the structure of C-peptide, a hormone involved in insulin production. The study found that certain metals, such as copper and chromium, prevent cells from taking up C-peptide, while others like zinc do not.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalChemBioChem·DateMay 17, 2019

Early dengue virus infection could 'defuse' Zika virus

Researchers from Germany have found that a previous dengue infection can protect against Zika-associated damage. This discovery has important implications for pregnant women, particularly those living in regions with high Zika virus prevalence.

SourceGerman Center for Infection Research·JournalEmerging Infectious Diseases·DateMay 17, 2019

Human capital benefits of military boost economy by billions

A recent study by North Carolina State University estimates that US government spending on military personnel improves the American workforce, with a positive impact of $89.8 billion on the economy in 2019. This improvement is attributed to human capital investments made by the military through personnel training and education efforts.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalThe Social Science Journal·DateMay 17, 2019
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.

Opposite pathways in forest recovery

Research reveals tree species with durable wood persist longer, but slow growth comes at the expense of reduced resources; Early stages dominate 'fast' pioneer species with soft wood.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateMay 17, 2019

For many HIV+ women, daily survival takes precedence over viral suppression

A study of 1,989 HIV+ women found that while 71% achieved viral suppression, others struggle with mental health, unstable housing, and lack of social support. The researchers suggest 'wrap-around' services addressing these issues are crucial for universal treatment and viral suppression.

SourceGeorgetown University Medical Center·JournalJAMA Network Open·DateMay 17, 2019

Cell polarity -- an aurora over the pole

Researchers identify Aurora-A kinase as the master switch that triggers symmetry breaking and establishes cell polarity in nematode worm zygotes. The protein regulates actomyosin contractions, creating a two-stage process to establish front-rear asymmetry and lock polarity regulators in place.

SourceNational University of Singapore·JournalDevelopmental Cell·DateMay 17, 2019
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

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

Research reveals insulin-producing beta cells may change function in diabetes

Research reveals that insulin-producing beta cells can change their function in diabetes, producing somatostatin instead of insulin. This change may be reversible with the restoration of normal environment or chemical treatment. The study provides new insights into the effects of high blood sugar on hormone-producing cells.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalHuman Molecular Genetics·DateMay 17, 2019

Project to deter opioid tampering wins top Addiction Science Award

A 14-year-old high school student developed a novel technology to prevent opioid pill tampering, earning the top prize at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. The project, called Tampr-X, uses a protein matrix-based substance that discourages crushing or melting for misuse.

SourceNIH/National Institute on Drug Abuse·DateMay 17, 2019
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.