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Science News Archive May 2022


Page 23 of 40

How sleep helps to process emotions

Researchers at the University of Bern have identified how the brain processes emotions during dream sleep. During REM sleep, the brain favors the discrimination of safety versus danger in the dendrites, but blocks the over-reaction to emotion, particularly danger. This decoupling is essential for optimizing survival and stability.

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.

Tidal blade facility to be at leading edge of green energy testing

The world's first rapid testing facility for tidal turbine blades has opened, aiming to speed up development of marine energy technologies while reducing costs. The £4.6 million FastBlade facility uses powerful hydraulic cylinders to simulate stresses on blades over two decades in under three months.

Structure of key protein for cell division puzzles researchers

Researchers from Max Planck Institute have determined the 3D structural details of the human CCAN complex, highlighting its unique features and implications for interactions with centromere protein A. This discovery raises fundamental questions about creating artificial chromosomes.

Mechanism revealed for spread of antibiotic resistance among bacteria

Researchers from the University of Tsukuba discovered a mechanism for the transfer of antibiotic resistance among Staphylococcus aureus bacteria through natural transformation. The study found that biofilm formation promotes horizontal gene transfer, which can lead to the spread of methicillin resistance.

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.

Early study finds new lymphoma drug effective

A new lymphoma treatment, zanubrutinib, has been found to be effective in 80% of patients with marginal zone lymphoma, resulting in significant cancer shrinkage. However, its impact on follicular lymphoma is less pronounced.

Paper or plastic?

Researchers at the University of Tokyo have developed a waterproof coating called Choetsu that adds strength to paper, making it a viable alternative to plastic. The coating, made from safe and low-cost chemicals, also has photocatalytic activity, protecting against dirt and bacteria.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

New measure of sperm age may be predictor of pregnancy success

Researchers at Wayne State University developed a novel technique to measure the age of male sperm, finding a link between sperm epigenetic aging and pregnancy outcomes. The study suggests that older sperm can be associated with lower pregnancy success rates and shorter gestation periods.

Criminal justice and mental health, disability

A study published in the Australian Journal of Psychology found that people with certain mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia and depression, may display behaviors that are commonly associated with deception. These behaviors, including gaze aversion and flat affect, can lead to unfair judgments in the criminal justice system...

Algae reveal clues about climate changes over millions of years

Researchers at the University of Göttingen discovered an unknown group of marine eustigmatophyte algae that produces distinctive lipids, allowing for the reconstruction of summer sea surface temperatures. The Long chain Diol Index provides a novel climate proxy based on these lipids.

Malaria parasites form vortices

Researchers at Heidelberg University discovered that malaria parasites form rotating vortices in infected salivary glands, showcasing emergent behavior and fluctuating size. The study's findings have implications for understanding the physics of collectives and potentially disrupting sporozoite movement.

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.

Gallstone disease shown to be strong predictor of pancreatic cancer

Research suggests gallstone disease may be an early indicator of pancreatic cancer, with patients having gallstones nearly six times more likely to develop the disease. This association could lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment, potentially improving survival rates for pancreatic cancer patients.

Lightening up the nanoscale long-wavelength optoelectronics

Researchers have created a hybrid Dirac semimetal photodetector that captures low-energy photons with high sensitivity and efficiency. The device features excellent environmental stability and can generate photocurrent across a wide spectral regime.

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.

COVID-19 and hospital financial viability

Despite significant operating margin reductions in 2020, hospitals' overall profit margins remained similar to prior years, thanks to the COVID-19 relief fund. Government and rural hospitals saw higher profit margins during this time.

Links connecting stress, depression and heart disease risk found in mouse model

A new mouse model study found that stress and depression can increase heart disease risk by preventing the beneficial effects of cholesterol-lowering medications. The research suggests that chronic stress can mediate epigenetic changes that make bone marrow precursors more inflammatory, leading to increased plaque formation.

The role of variability: From playing tennis to learning language

The study found that variability in input leads to better generalization of learned concepts, with relevance being key. Researchers also discovered four types of variability affecting learning, including set size and scheduling, with the 'Mr. Miyagi principle' suggesting unrelated skills can benefit from practice.

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.

Novel biomaterial prevents rejection of transplants for type 1 diabetes

Researchers have developed a novel biomaterial that promotes immune tolerance and allows islets to survive after transplant without the need for long-term immunosuppression. This breakthrough enables patients with type 1 diabetes to control their blood sugar levels without lifelong medication.

Research warns to beware of your alliance partners’ acquisitions

A study finds that an acquisition by an alliance partner can either destroy or create alliance value depending on the business similarity between the firm and acquired company. The strength of the relation between the firms also plays a crucial role in determining the outcome.

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.

Astronomers reveal first image of the black hole at the heart of our galaxy

The Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration has captured the first direct visual evidence of a supermassive black hole at the centre of our galaxy. The image reveals a dark central region surrounded by a bright ring-like structure, indicating the presence of a massive object four million times more massive than our Sun.

Modifying the body’s immune system to help treat Type 1 diabetes

Researchers at University of Missouri, Georgia Tech and Harvard University have successfully demonstrated a new Type 1 diabetes treatment in large animal models. By transplanting pancreatic islet cells with a molecule called FasL, they prevent rogue immune cells from destroying the transplanted cells.

Understanding the genomic modifications in transgenic papaya

A new study has identified genomic modifications in the transgenic papaya 'SunUp', which was developed to resist the papaya ringspot virus. The researchers used advanced sequencing technologies to read long stretches of DNA and found that the insertion did not cause any change in gene expression.

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.

Demographics, not bias, best predict traffic stops

Research from Washington University in St. Louis found that counties with a higher proportion of white residents have stronger anti-Black/pro-white attitudes, leading to larger disparities in traffic stops. The study suggests that racial demographics are a more reliable predictor of traffic stop discrepancies than racial biases.

COVID-19 and hospital financial viability

The COVID-19 relief fund effectively offset financial losses for hospitals during the pandemic, with overall profit margins remaining similar to previous years. Government and rural hospitals generated higher profit margins in 2020 compared to prior years.

mRNA booster vaccines may be a good investment in developing countries

Researchers found that a single mRNA vaccine booster shot can provide the same level of protection as three doses, making it a promising investment for resource-poor countries. The study suggests that this strategy could benefit billions of people worldwide and help combat emerging COVID-19 variants.

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.

In franchising, playing tough early may support long-term benefits

A study of over 6,000 franchises in South Korea found that terminating contract with a wayward franchisee can decrease profitability initially but leads to recovery in two years. Young, rapidly growing chains benefit more from ending contracts compared to mature, slow-growing chains.

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.

Microbes help orchestrate how the gut uses its genes

Researchers found microbes influence which genes are used for fat digestion and absorption, leading to changes in epithelial cells. The study also showed microbes promote lipid absorption and impact systemic processes like weight gain.

Light, sound and action!

Researchers develop 'Chemical logic systems' (CLSs) that can process information from light, sound, and atmospheric oxygen to execute desired outcomes. CLS-1 exhibits AND logic-gate response towards three inputs, while CLS-2 displays fast reversible dissolution of a peptide-based assembly in response to blue light irradiation.

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.

Effect of expanded abbreviations on patient comprehension of their health records

A randomized clinical trial found that expanding common medical abbreviations increased overall comprehension, suggesting automated expansion can enhance patient understanding of their health information. Researchers observed significant improvements in patient comprehension after the expansion of 10 common medical abbreviations.

Asking for ideas boosts collective action

New research found that seeking ideas and perspectives from fellow group members can boost collective action among racial and ethnic minorities. Positive everyday experiences with fellow minority group members are a key driver of collective action, contrary to the focus on unjust treatment.

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.

"Growing end" of inflammation discovered

Researchers find NLRP3 protein forms filament that grows in one direction, allowing for targeted treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases. The discovery could potentially stop inflammation at the 'growing end', bringing relief to those suffering from conditions like Alzheimer's disease.

Throwing drug resistance for a loop

Researchers at Gladstone Institutes have developed a novel class of therapeutics called feedback disruptors that target viral proteins' negative feedback loops. These drugs break the genetic feedback circuits, causing infected cells to self-destruct and stopping infection in its tracks.