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Science News Archive 2012 - Page 169


Page 169 of 333

Confusion can be beneficial for learning: Study

A new study by Sidney D'Mello and Art Graesser found that strategically inducing confusion in learning sessions on difficult conceptual topics can lead to better retention and application of knowledge. Subjects who were confused scored higher on a difficult post-test and could identify flaws in new case studies.

SourceUniversity of Notre Dame·JournalLearning & Memory·DateJun 20, 2012

A new tool for molecular architects

A team of chemists at the University of Geneva has developed a rare halogen bond that can transport anions across phospholipid bilayer membranes, similar to cellular structures. This discovery has significant implications for medical applications, particularly in treating diseases linked to ion transport issues.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 20, 2012

Stars, jets and batteries

Researchers at Helmholtz Association confirm the existence of Tayler instability, a magnetic phenomenon that reduces rotation rates and creates powerful fluid flows. This discovery has significant implications for the development of liquid metal batteries and their potential use in renewable energy storage.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJun 20, 2012

The math of malaria

A mathematical model has been proposed to study malaria transmission, focusing on the reproduction number and its dependence on human travel rates. The research highlights the critical role of human movement in spreading the disease, suggesting that effective control measures may involve more rigorous border screening and regulation.

SourceSociety for Industrial and Applied Mathematics·JournalSIAM Journal on Applied Mathematics·DateJun 20, 2012

Online weight loss programs that feature successful dieters may help

Researchers created a website called AchieveTogether to study the effectiveness of positive deviance in weight loss. Users lost about 4.5 pounds more weight than those without access to the site. The study suggests that online weight loss programs featuring successful dieters may be an effective strategy for weight loss.

SourcePenn State·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·DateJun 20, 2012

Innovative, automated strategies to engage patients at home are key to improving health outcomes

Researchers propose 'automated hovering' approaches combining technology, behavioral economics, and new payment strategies to motivate patients to improve their health. These approaches aim to reduce costly hospital admissions by targeting specific patient populations and promoting adherence to medication regimens.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJun 20, 2012

Adding nevirapine to HIV regimen halves newborn transmission rate

Adding nevirapine to the regimen of newborns born to HIV-positive mothers halves their risk of contracting the virus, according to a recent study. The research found that the two-drug combination is effective in preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission and is relatively easy to administer.

Preserved frogs hold clues to deadly pathogen

A Yale graduate student has developed a method for detecting an infectious pathogen driving amphibian extinctions worldwide. By analyzing preserved specimens, she found evidence of the pathogen in six older samples from Connecticut, revealing its early presence in the region.

SourceYale University·JournalMethods in Ecology and Evolution·DateJun 20, 2012

How humans predict other's decisions

Researchers at RIKEN Brain Science Institute found two brain signals involved in predicting others' decisions, enabling humans to balance expected and observed rewards and choices. The signals, located in distinct prefrontal circuits, strike a balance between the other's values and their own, allowing for accurate predictions.

SourceRIKEN·JournalNeuron·DateJun 20, 2012

Extra treatment during prolapse repair reduces incontinence rate

A study funded by the NIH found that surgery to support the urethra with a sling reduces incontinence rate, but carries risk of complications such as difficulty emptying bladder and urinary tract infection. The study suggests considering potential benefits and risks when deciding whether to have second procedure at same time as first.

Regional anesthesia reduces complications and death for hip fracture patients

Researchers found that regional anesthesia was associated with a significant reduction in major pulmonary complications and death among hip fracture patients. The use of regional anesthesia versus general anesthesia resulted in a 29% lower adjusted odds of mortality and a 24% decrease in the adjusted odds of any inpatient pulmonary com...

Maths experts question key ecological theory

Researchers at University of York and University of Canterbury disprove the accepted theory of nestedness, finding instead that a species' number of mutualistic partners is a better predictor of individual survival and community persistence. This challenges the idea that ecological communities exhibit nested structures.

SourceUniversity of York·JournalNature·DateJun 20, 2012