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Science News Archive December 2023


Page 24 of 29

Improving dietary habits of gastrointestinal cancer patients and their caregivers

A recent study from Drexel University's College of Nursing and Health Professions aimed to understand the challenges and supports affecting individuals with GI cancer and their caregivers when it comes to maintaining a healthy diet and avoiding malnutrition. The research highlighted the importance of creating dietary interventions that...

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.

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.

Repeated blast exposures may harm the brain health of military personnel

A study found increased brain inflammation and structural changes in special operations personnel exposed to blasts, potentially increasing the risk of long-term brain-related disease. The research suggests that repetitive exposure to low-level blasts may cause brain injuries and highlights the need for better protective measures.

Can brain stimulation benefit individuals with schizophrenia?

Researchers found that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) improved event-based prospective memory in patients with schizophrenia, but not time-based prospective memory. The study suggests rTMS as a potential therapeutic option for prospective memory impairments in individuals with schizophrenia.

Plant diversity stabilizes soil temperature

Researchers found that high plant diversity acts as a buffer against fluctuations in soil temperature, protecting ecosystems and agricultural productivity. Plant diversity increased shading and organic carbon content, reducing heat conduction and stabilizing soil temperature.

New dark matter theory explains two puzzles in astrophysics

A new theory, self-interacting dark matter (SIDM), proposes that dark matter particles interact through a dark force, explaining high-density halos and low-density halos of ultra-diffuse galaxies. SIDM simulates cosmic structure formation with strong dark matter self-interactions, diversifying halo density in central regions.

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

Novel dice loss functions for improved image segmentation

Novel Dice loss functions, t-vMF Dice loss and Adaptive t-vMF Dice loss, have been developed to improve image segmentation accuracy in medical images. These new functions outperform conventional formulations and show great potential for critical fields like medical imaging and diagnosis.

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.

Wood materials make for reliable organic solar cells

Scientists at Linköping University have created stable and environmentally friendly organic solar cells by incorporating untreated kraft lignin into the electron transport layer. This innovation improves the overall efficiency and reliability of organic solar cells, paving the way for a more sustainable future.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

New insight into the impact of arsenic exposure on vaccine efficacy in children

A new study by Texas A&M University researchers found a significant decrease in measles antibody concentrations with increasing urinary arsenic levels in children with low serum folate levels. Folate intake may mitigate the toxic effects of chronic arsenic exposure, but the unequal impact of arsenic by sex remains unclear.

Fascicle gearing dynamics: Unveiling 3D rotation effects in muscle elongation

Researchers at Waseda University used diffusion tensor imaging to reconstruct fascicles in three dimensions, finding that a gearing mechanism reduces individual fascicle elongation during stretching. This mechanism allows muscles to extend without significant fiber length changes, preventing overstretching and injury.

Why do some older adults show declines in their spatial memory?

A new study by University of Arizona psychologists investigated the possible scenarios leading to waning memory in older people. The researchers found that the hippocampus contributes to the difficulty in learning new environments and locations in some older adults.

Luttinger's theorem at the core of topological matter

A connection has been found between Luttinger's theorem and the topological classification of quantum matter, revealing that certain exotic phenomena arise from its violation. The Ishikawa-Matsuyama invariant is shown to be insufficient to classify correlated insulators in these cases.

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.

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.

Light therapy may improve symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease

A meta-analysis of 15 randomized controlled trials found significant improvements in sleep efficiency and psycho-behavioral symptoms in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Light therapy also alleviated depression and reduced patient agitation and caregiver burden.

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.

Study reshapes understanding of mass extinction in Late Devonian era

Researchers have long debated the cause of the Late Devonian mass extinction event, with some attributing it to large-scale volcanic eruptions and others to a mass deoxygenation event caused by land plants. A new study now posits that both factors played a role, highlighting the environmental tipping points the planet faces today.

The ocean may be storing more carbon than estimated in earlier studies

A recent study has found that the ocean's capacity to store atmospheric carbon dioxide is significantly higher than previously estimated. The research team analyzed data from around the world and calculated a new estimate of 15 gigatonnes per year, an increase of around 20% compared to previous studies.

Possible treatment for anaemia in myelodysplastic neoplasms (MDS)

Imetelstat, a telomerase inhibitor, successfully treated anaemia in MDS patients for up to one year, reducing the need for red blood cell transfusions. The drug offers a novel mechanism of action for patients with lower-risk MDS who do not respond to standard treatment.

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.

In search of the perfect mirror at mid-infrared wavelengths

An international team of researchers has demonstrated the first true mid-infrared supermirrors, achieving reflectivities of 99.99923% and losing only 8 photons out of 1 million. These mirrors enhance climate and biofuel research via precision trace gas sensing.

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.

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.

From infamy to ingenuity

Researchers have uncovered the intricate molecular mechanism used by parasitic phytoplasma bacteria to manipulate plants. The discovery sheds light on a peculiar phenomenon in nature, where plants exhibit 'zombie-like' effects due to bacterial infection.

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.

Photoswitchable bactericide

Researchers have developed a photoswitchable bactericide that can target either Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacteria using a light-driven 'switch'. The nanomaterial was shown to be effective in healing MRSA-infected wounds in mice models, offering a potential new solution to combat antibiotic-resistant infections.

Forecasting forest health using models to predict tree canopy height

Researchers enhanced the Allometric Scaling and Resource Limitations (ASRL) model to predict tree canopy height in beech-maple-birch forests. The modified model factors in known growth limitations and local meteorological datasets, achieving more realistic predictions compared to previous versions.

Insights on the formation of polar ice clouds

Marine bacteria and atmospheric rivers play a crucial role in forming ice clouds at higher-than-expected temperatures over the Southern Ocean. The findings from this study provide key information for improving numerical models of ice cloud formation, which can help better predict climate conditions in vulnerable polar regions.

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.

Mice pass the mirror test, a classic indicator of self-recognition

Researchers found that mice require significant external sensory cues to recognize changes in their reflection and can detect visual differences, but not tactile ones. The study identified a subset of neurons involved in developing self-image, highlighting the neural mechanisms behind self-recognition in mice.

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.

New study finds that male pathology drives avian epidemic dynamics

A new study by University of Arkansas researchers suggests that male-biased pathology makes male canaries more likely to transmit the avian bacterial pathogen Mycoplasma gallisepticum. The study found that male birds have shorter incubation periods, longer recovery periods, and higher pathogen loads than females.