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Science News Archive January 2020 - Page 12


Page 12 of 40

The 'place' of emotions

A study by IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca found that a specific region of the right temporo-parietal junction can represent various affective states. The researchers used fMRI data and found smooth transitions in this region, which allows the brain to map emotions in a single patch of cortex.

SourceIMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 24, 2020
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.

Shaping the social networks of neurons

A protein complex of Teneurin, Latrophilin, and FLRT attracts neighboring neurons during development, enabling synapse formation and information exchange. In early brain development, however, the same proteins repel migrating nerve cells, guiding them to their target brain area.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalCell·DateJan 24, 2020

Lung microbiome may help predict outcomes in critically ill patients

Research suggests that lung bacteria can predict clinical outcomes in critically ill patients, with certain bacteria associated with worse outcomes and the presence of gut-associated bacteria found in the lungs. The study's findings have implications for developing new therapies to prevent and treat critical illness.

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateJan 24, 2020

Malaria-fighting technology earns 2019 AAAS Newcomb Cleveland Prize

A team of researchers developed a promising tool to combat malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases. Their genetically engineered fungus toxin killed 75% of insecticide-resistant mosquitoes, causing an established population to collapse within 45 days.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·DateJan 24, 2020

The regulators active during iron deficiency

A team of researchers has developed an artificial intelligence method to predict iron deficiency responses in plants, identifying key regulatory elements and transcription factors. This breakthrough can lead to improved plant cultivation by increasing iron uptake in new varieties, enhancing adaptation to poor soil conditions.

SourceHeinrich-Heine University Duesseldorf·JournalPLANT PHYSIOLOGY·DateJan 24, 2020

Marburg virus found in Sierra Leone bats

Scientists detected Marburg virus in Egyptian rousette fruit bats in Sierra Leone, highlighting the risk of human exposure. The presence of Marburg virus means people living nearby could be at risk for becoming infected without reported cases of illness.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 24, 2020
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.

MTU engineers examine lithium battery defects

Michigan Tech engineers focus on lithium's unique mechanics at small scales to address battery defects. They find that at tiny lengths, lithium is much stronger than at macroscopic scales, relying on diffusion instead of dislocation motion to relieve stress.

SourceMichigan Technological University·JournalJournal of Materials Research·DateJan 24, 2020

30-year study identifies need of disease-modifying therapies for maple syrup urine disease

A 30-year study details clinical course of 184 individuals with genetically diverse forms of MSUD, showing increased survival and hospitalization rates. Despite advances in care, patients continue to suffer from cognitive and psychiatric disabilities, highlighting the need for safer and more effective disease-modifying interventions.

SourceClinic for Special Children·JournalMolecular Genetics and Metabolism·DateJan 24, 2020

Benefits of fetal surgery for spina bifida continue through school age

A longitudinal study of 161 children with spina bifida found that fetal surgery improved mobility and reduced the need for follow-up surgeries. Fetal surgery also resulted in fewer shunt placements and better motor skills scores compared to traditional postnatal repair.

SourceVanderbilt University Medical Center·JournalPEDIATRICS·DateJan 24, 2020
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

The highways of our brain

A new technique reveals that myelin produces multiple waves of electrical potentials traveling at high speeds, contradicting earlier assumptions. This discovery has significant implications for understanding demyelinating diseases like multiple sclerosis.

SourceNetherlands Institute for Neuroscience - KNAW·JournalCell·DateJan 24, 2020

Stanford researchers conduct census of cell surface proteins

Researchers conducted a global census of diverse proteins on the outer membrane of cells, governing their interactions and assembly into organs. The study's agnostic approach revealed 20 new cell surface proteins important for brain wiring in fruit flies.

SourceStanford University - School of Humanities and Sciences·JournalCell·DateJan 24, 2020

New species of Allosaurus discovered in Utah

A new species of Allosaurus, Allosaurus jimmadseni, has been discovered in Utah, inhabiting the flood plains of western North America during the Late Jurassic Period. The species possesses unique features, including a short narrow skull and relatively long legs and tail.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalPeerJ·DateJan 24, 2020
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.

Advancing frozen food safety: UGA evaluates environmental monitoring programs

A University of Georgia study evaluated environmental monitoring practices across the frozen food industry to identify effective methods for controlling Listeria monocytogenes. The research found that facilities were predominantly testing for Listeria spp., but there is a need for facilities to review their sampling strategy.

SourceAmerican Frozen Food Institute·JournalJournal of Food Protection·DateJan 24, 2020

Going with the flow: New insights into mysterious fluid motions

Researchers develop a new approach for studying transitional flows, finding that the energy spectrum of small eddies conforms to Kolmogorov's universal theory. This breakthrough has practical applications in engineering, particularly in predicting friction between flow and pipe.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalScience Advances·DateJan 24, 2020

Study: Commercial air travel is safer than ever

A new study by MIT professor Arnold Barnett reveals that airline passenger fatalities have declined significantly between 2008 and 2017, with a global fatality rate of one death per 7.9 million passenger boardings.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalTransportation Science·DateJan 24, 2020
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.

'Jumping genes' help stabilize DNA folding patterns

Researchers found that jumping genes, also known as transposable elements, play a crucial role in stabilizing the 3D folding patterns of DNA molecules. This discovery contradicts the long-held assumption that the precise order of letters in the DNA sequence dictates the broader structure of the DNA molecule.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalGenome Biology·DateJan 24, 2020

The skin of the earth is home to pac-man-like protists

Researchers discovered that most soil protists consume smaller organisms, while others thrive in tropical soils and are affected by annual precipitation. The study provides new insights into the ecological roles of these single-celled organisms in ecosystems worldwide.

SourceSmithsonian Tropical Research Institute·JournalScience Advances·DateJan 24, 2020

How Chinese opera masks compare to spider evolution

Biology student Jenny Yi-Ti Sung studies how Beijing operas convey details about motivation and character through colorful masks. Her research reveals recurring archetypes and facial features, similar to those found in jumping spiders, which use pattern and color to communicate species, sex, and romantic intentions.

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·DateJan 24, 2020
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.

A new twist on quantum communication in fiber

A team from Wits and HUST shows that multiple quantum patterns of twisted light can be transmitted across a conventional fibre link, enabling a new approach to realising a future quantum network. The researchers demonstrated transfer of multi-dimensional entanglement states over 250m of single-mode fibre.

SourceUniversity of the Witwatersrand·JournalScience Advances·DateJan 24, 2020
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.

Chemist and nanoscientist Chad Mirkin receives 2020 AAAS Philip Hauge Abelson Prize

Mirkin is being honored for multiple contributions to the fields of chemistry and nanoscience, including the discovery and development of spherical nucleic acids (SNAs) with unique chemical and physical properties. He has also invented and developed scanning probe-based tools and techniques that allow researchers to pattern nanostructu...

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·DateJan 23, 2020

Organoids open window into development of human forebrain

Brain region-specific organoids reveal transcriptional signatures of neuropsychiatric disorders and allow researchers to study chromatin accessibility and gene expression in specific cells over critical developmental stages. The development of the human forebrain is a complex process guided by epigenetic gene regulation.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateJan 23, 2020
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Taking aim at gastric cancer

FerriIridium, a novel drug, can diagnose and treat gastric cancer by selectively activating in tumor cells. The iron-based compound reduces side effects by targeting cancer cell mitochondria, leading to their destruction.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJan 23, 2020

Researchers uncover two-drug combo that halts the growth of cancer cells

Researchers have discovered a two-drug combo that can counter resistance to a promising new breast cancer therapy. The combination of neratinib and everolimus effectively blocks the growth of cancer cells with HER2 mutations, providing a novel treatment option for patients with these types of cancers.

SourceUT Southwestern Medical Center·JournalCancer Cell·DateJan 23, 2020

Warmer, dryer, browner

The 2018 Four Corners drought in the US was exacerbated by human-induced warming, with temperatures rising 2 degrees Celsius. The region's vegetation turned brown due to increased evaporation, resulting in economic losses of over $3 billion and impacts on Native American communities.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalBulletin of the American Meteorological Society·DateJan 23, 2020
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.

UW research expands bilingual language program for babies

A new study by UW's Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences found that bilingual teaching led to sustained English-language comprehension and vocabulary-building in infants, regardless of socioeconomic background. Online training enabled the replication of the research-based method globally.

SourceUniversity of Washington·DateJan 23, 2020

How old are they? Some non-photosynthetic orchids consist of dead wood

Researchers used radiocarbon analysis to determine the carbon age of non-photosynthetic orchids, revealing they obtain carbon from dead wood via saprotrophic fungi. This finding overturns traditional views and opens a new perspective on how these plants have become ecologically successful.

SourceKobe University·JournalNew Phytologist·DateJan 23, 2020

Women-only business groups marginalize and fail to empower members

New research reveals women-only business networks in Northern Ireland fail to overcome societal issues hindering female entrepreneurship. Despite policy efforts, these networks perpetuate women's marginalization and reinforce the masculinity of entrepreneurship.

SourceLancaster University·JournalJournal of Economic Geography·DateJan 23, 2020

New light shed on damaging impact of infrared and visible rays on skin

A new study by Newcastle University scientists found that both UV and non-UV light from sunlight can damage the skin's cells, with visible and infrared rays causing greater harm at deeper levels. The research aims to improve sunscreen protection strategies against all three types of light.

SourceNewcastle University·JournalThe FASEB Journal·DateJan 23, 2020

ICUs receive higher satisfaction scores for end-of-life care than other hospital units

A new study found that intensive care units (ICUs) have better end-of-life care ratings than other hospital departments, contrary to previous beliefs. The research suggests that higher staffing ratios and more favorable symptom management in ICUs contribute to these improved outcomes.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateJan 23, 2020
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.

Weight loss and health improvements with Mediterranean, fasting & paleo diets

Overweight adults who followed the Mediterranean, Intermittent Fasting and Paleo diets experienced modest weight loss (2-4kg) and clinically significant improvements in blood pressure. The Mediterranean diet also improved blood sugar levels, while the fasting diet led to slightly more weight loss.

SourceUniversity of Otago·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·DateJan 23, 2020

Global warming could have a negative impact on biodiversity generation processes

A recent study published in Journal of Systematics and Evolution suggests that global warming could negatively impact the processes that generate biodiversity. The research focuses on the evolutionary success of Carex, a genus with over 2000 species, which is favored by cold climates during the past 10 million years.

SourceUniversidad Pablo de Olavide UPO·JournalJournal of Systematics and Evolution·DateJan 23, 2020

How we learn is a quantum-like manner!

Researchers developed a quantum reinforcement learning framework to explain human decision-making behaviors, revealing a quantum-like neural mechanism. This breakthrough suggests that the human brain functions similarly to quantum systems, with potential implications for machine learning efficiency.

SourceUniversity of Science and Technology of China·JournalNature Human Behaviour·DateJan 23, 2020
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.

Wannier90 program becomes community code in major new release

The Wannier90 program has transitioned to a community-driven model, featuring new functionalities, improvements, and features. The 3.0 release includes methods for WFs calculation, parallelization, interfaces with new codes, and user functionality.

SourceNational Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) MARVEL·DateJan 23, 2020

NIAID officials discuss novel Coronavirus that recently emerged in China

The emergence of a new coronavirus from animals to humans poses a significant threat, prompting the need for swift action. Researchers are developing diagnostic tests, exploring broad-spectrum anti-viral drugs, and adapting approaches used with earlier outbreaks to jumpstart candidate vaccine development.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases·JournalJAMA·DateJan 23, 2020

Scanning system in sperm may control rate of human evolution

Sperm cells activate 90% of their genes, a pattern seen in other species, to repair DNA before passing it to the next generation. This process may influence the evolution of specific genes, with unexpressed genes containing fewer DNA code errors.

SourceNYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine·JournalCell·DateJan 23, 2020

Liver fibrosis 'off switch' discovered in mice

Researchers at UC San Diego School of Medicine identified genetic switches that determine whether or not liver cells produce collagen, leading to a potential therapeutic target for liver fibrosis. By manipulating these transcription factors, liver fibrosis progression can be addressed.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalGASTROENTEROLOGY·DateJan 23, 2020
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.

New experimental vaccine for African swine fever virus shows promise

A new experimental vaccine for African swine fever has shown promising results, with both low and high doses being 100% effective against the virus when challenged 28 days post-inoculation. The vaccine was developed to combat the highly contagious and lethal ASFV-G strain, which has been devastating Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia.

SourceAmerican Society for Microbiology·JournalJournal of Virology·DateJan 23, 2020

Why cells need acidic lysosomes

Researchers discovered that a rise in pH within lysosomes causes iron depletion, leading to cell death and inhibition of proliferation. This finding has implications for understanding and treating diseases, including cancer.

SourceRockefeller University·JournalMolecular Cell·DateJan 23, 2020

Brilliant iridescence can conceal as well as attract

A new study reveals iridescence can act as highly-effective camouflage, increasing prey survival and explaining its evolution in many animal species. Researchers found that iridescent beetle models survived best against bird attacks, suggesting a clever strategy to confuse predators.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalCurrent Biology·DateJan 23, 2020
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.

Novel approach to immune system could lead to personalized therapy against sepsis

Researchers propose combining fever resistance with temporary tolerance promoted by controlled hypothermia for studying and treating severe conditions like sepsis. This innovative concept aims to understand human physiology's integrated defense strategies against infection.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalTrends in Endocrinology and Metabolism·DateJan 23, 2020

Kidney structural features from living donors predict transplant failure in recipients

Research found subtle structural features of donated kidneys, such as scarring and hardening of vessels, are associated with shorter kidney lifespan after transplantation. These findings may help clinicians evaluate organ quality at time of donation and identify potential predictors of transplant failure.

SourceAmerican Society of Nephrology·JournalJournal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateJan 23, 2020