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Science News Archive June 2015 - Page 4


Page 4 of 36

Humans across the world dance to the same beat

A new study by University of Exeter and Tokyo University of the Arts found that songs from around the world share features like strong rhythm to enable coordination and group bonding. The researchers analysed 304 recordings of diverse music, revealing dozens of statistical universals related to pitch, rhythm, and social context.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 29, 2015

Umbilical cord 'milking' improves blood flow in preterm infants

A technique called cord milking increases blood flow from the umbilical cord to the infant's circulatory system, improving blood pressure and red blood cell levels in preterm infants delivered by Cesarean section. This study found benefits only in Cesarean-delivered infants, while vaginal births showed no difference.

Almost 1 in 3 US adults owns at least 1 gun

A recent study found that nearly a third of US adults own guns, with a higher prevalence among white married men over 55. Gun ownership is also linked to social gun culture, where family or friends also own guns or engage in activities involving firearms.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalInjury Prevention·DateJun 29, 2015

Acceptance of working moms at all-time high

Research from San Diego State University reveals that societal acceptance of working mothers is at an all-time high among millennials. Attitudes towards women's work and family roles have changed significantly since the 1970s, with only 22% of 12th graders in the 2010s believing a preschool-aged child would suffer if their mother worked.

SourceSan Diego State University·JournalPsychology of Women Quarterly·DateJun 29, 2015

Recent mercury pollution on the rise, but quick to change, Dartmouth-led study shows

A Dartmouth-led study using a 600-year-old ice core shows that global mercury pollution increased dramatically during the 20th century, but declined faster than previously thought after emissions started to decrease in the late 1970s. The study suggests present-day efforts to cut mercury emissions will reduce pollution more quickly tha...

SourceDartmouth College·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateJun 29, 2015

Is marriage good or bad for the figure?

A comparative study of 9 European countries found that married couples have a higher body mass index than singles, with differences attributed to changes in eating behaviors. However, the study also shows that married couples tend to eat healthier, with increased consumption of regional and organic products.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalSocial Science & Medicine·DateJun 29, 2015

Public health surveillance system may underestimate cases of acute hepatitis C infection

A new study suggests that less than 1% of diagnosed acute hepatitis C cases met CDC reporting criteria, indicating massive underreporting in the public health surveillance system. This finding is crucial for guiding public health initiatives and planning for future needs, as accurate estimates are essential for targeting resources.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateJun 29, 2015

Food for thought: Use more forages in livestock farming

Researchers argue that increasing the use of forages to feed livestock can enhance food security and improve productive capacity in poor producers. They suggest introducing new forage varieties and animal management practices to specific farming areas, as well as coordinated efforts by farmers, extension workers, and scientists.

SourceSpringer·JournalAMBIO·DateJun 29, 2015

Computers get with the beat

Researchers developed a simple system to automate music genre categorization by focusing on just pitch, tempo, and amplitude variation patterns. The approach uses random sample consensus (RANSAC) as a classifier and demonstrated accuracy in seven major musical genres.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Computational Intelligence Studies·DateJun 29, 2015

Experts cover MERS outbreak in American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine

The recent MERS-CoV outbreak in Korea spread quickly due to poor infection prevention and control measures, overcrowding, and environmental contamination. The authors emphasize the importance of implementing stringent hospital protocols, contact tracing, and mandatory quarantine for close contacts.

SourceAmerican Thoracic Society·JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine·DateJun 29, 2015

Stink bugs have strong taste for ripe fruit

Researchers found stink bugs track ripening fruit to maximize food access, suggesting limiting fruit availability in spring and fall could be an effective strategy for controlling stink bug populations. The study provides critical intelligence in the battle against these pests and their annual destruction.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalJournal of Pest Science·DateJun 29, 2015

License plate decals don't seem to curb learner driver crash rates

Research published in Injury Prevention found that license plate decals did not reduce crash rates among young drivers with learner permits in New Jersey. The study analyzed data from January 2006 to June 2012 and found no association between decal provision and crash rates, citing high compliance with passenger restrictions

SourceBMJ Group·JournalInjury Prevention·DateJun 29, 2015

The peaks and valleys of silicon

USC Viterbi researchers have developed new layered semiconducting materials that can be adjusted to achieve unique electronic and optical properties. These materials have potential applications in LIDAR systems, infrared thermal imaging technology, and flexible night vision glasses.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateJun 26, 2015

Building a better semiconductor

Researchers at Michigan State University have developed a new method to change the electronic properties of materials, enabling more efficient solid-state electronics. By using ultrafast laser pulses, they can create new electronic phases with desired properties.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalScience Advances·DateJun 26, 2015

Opening a new route to photonics

Researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have discovered a new route to ultrahigh density, ultracompact integrated photonic circuitry. By applying mathematical concept 'adiabatic elimination' to optical nanowaveguides, they can effectively control pulses of light in closely packed waveguides, eliminating the crosstalk p...

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 26, 2015

High-performance microscope displays pores in the cell nucleus with greater precision

Researchers have developed a new method to display the spatial structure of nuclear pores in high resolution. This has led to a better understanding of how certain molecules are transported into or out of the nucleus. The discovery sheds light on various diseases, including cancer, that involve defective transport through nuclear pores.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 26, 2015