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Science News for December 20, 2016


Pittsburgh teen girls take barely half the steps recommended for health

A study led by the University of Pittsburgh found that teenage girls in urban settings took significantly fewer steps per day than their suburban counterparts, averaging only about 5% of the recommended daily activity level. This disparity puts them at risk for poor quality of life and chronic diseases.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences·JournalMedicine & Science in Sports & Exercise·DateDec 20, 2016

Good news and bad news about forest fragmentation

A recent study found that fragmented forest edges in New England absorb more carbon than expected due to increased growth rates, but also experience more heat stress. This mixed outcome suggests that while forests may be valuable carbon sinks, they are also sensitive to climate change.

SourceBoston University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 20, 2016

Climate change skepticism may hinge on personal experience

A study by Boston University professor Robert Kaufmann found that experiencing record high or low temperatures affects people's belief in climate change. Local high and low temperatures can influence whether individuals in the US believe in global warming, with recent record lows promoting skepticism.

SourceBoston University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 20, 2016

Predicting future sports rankings from evolving performance

A team of Mexican scientists used tennis, chess, golf, poker, and football performances to identify universal features in hierarchical structure creation. They found that ranking hierarchies may be driven by the same underlying generic mechanisms as rank formation, regardless of sport characteristics.

SourceSpringer·JournalEPJ Data Science·DateDec 20, 2016

Albert Einstein College of Medicine receives major federal grant for research into intellectual and developmental disabilities

The grant will support a new research program focused on 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome, an incurable genetic disorder associated with delayed intellectual development and psychiatric conditions. Einstein's IDDRC will also provide critical support for dozens of ongoing studies in intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Heart valves strive to get oxygen one way or another

Rice University scientists studied physical and computer models of heart valves to learn how oxygen feeds them. The study revealed that aortic and mitral valves handle stress differently, with the former prompting angiogenesis and the latter transforming into cartilage-like tissue. Understanding these mechanisms can lead to new ways to...

SourceRice University·JournalInterface·DateDec 20, 2016

Traffic fatalities decline in states with medical marijuana laws

A study by Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health found that states with medical marijuana laws experienced an 11% reduction in traffic fatalities, with the greatest impact on drivers aged 15-24 and 25-44. Dispensaries were also associated with a significant reduction in traffic fatalities among this age group.

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateDec 20, 2016

Study pinpoints when the Galápagos Islands developed their unique ecology

A new study suggests the Galapagos Islands' incredible biodiversity emerged approximately 1.6 million years ago when the Equatorial Undercurrent collided with the archipelago, bringing nutrient-rich waters to the surface. This event allowed for the growth of unique plants and animals that thrive in the islands' ecosystem.

SourceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder·JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters·DateDec 20, 2016

HIV prevention trials network launches HPTN 083

The HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) has launched a new study, HPTN 083, to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of injectable cabotegravir for PrEP in men who have sex with men and transgender women. The study aims to provide an alternative to daily oral tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) for HIV prevention.

SourceFHI360·DateDec 20, 2016

Going green with nanotechnology

Researchers have developed environmentally friendly organic solar cells using nanomaterials, increasing efficiency and reducing toxic substances. Additionally, hybrid capacitors with enhanced storage capacity and faster charging capabilities have been created using nano-diamond composites, paving the way for more efficient energy stores.

Building a better brain

Scientists at the Salk Institute have developed a 3D mini-brain model grown from human stem cells, which is structurally and functionally more similar to real brains than existing 2D models. This breakthrough model may help understand brain development and neurological diseases like Alzheimer's or schizophrenia.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalCell Reports·DateDec 20, 2016

Levels of DNA in blood test correlated with ovarian cancer outcomes

Researchers found correlations between circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) levels and ovarian cancer size, as well as patient response to treatment. The study used ctDNA carrying mutations in the TP53 gene to predict disease progression and treatment response, offering potential for early diagnosis and alternative treatment options.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateDec 20, 2016

Arctic Inuit, Native American cold adaptations may originate from extinct hominids

A study finds that Arctic Inuit and Native American cold adaptations originated from an extinct hominid population related to the Denisovans. The archaic variant of the TBX15/WARS2 region was introduced into modern humans during their expansion, potentially providing a unique adaptive trait.

Einstein in an iron crystal

Researchers from Forschungszentrum Jülich and LMU Munich use angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to visualize band structure shifts in response to magnetic field changes. This observation confirms the predictions made by Einstein's theory of relativity, which suggests that electrons can sense the direction of a magnetic field.

SourceForschungszentrum Juelich·JournalPhysical Review X·DateDec 20, 2016

The evolutionary secret of H. pylori to survive in the stomach

The study identifies a new nickel transporter crucial for the pathogen's ability to colonize the stomach and survive its acidic environment. The discovery sheds light on the genetic modifications that enabled H. pylori to adapt to this hostile environment, highlighting the importance of metals in bacterial pathogenesis.

SourceInstitut national de la recherche scientifique - INRS·JournalPublication Library and Information Science·DateDec 20, 2016

The dirt on packaged rhino beetles

Researchers discovered that bags of potting soil on Guam's island are a breeding ground for invasive coconut rhinoceros beetles. The beetles spread through holes in plastic bags, which customers unknowingly bring home for their gardens.

SourceUniversity of Guam·JournalProceedings of the Hawaiian Entomological Society·DateDec 20, 2016

Examining toddler temperament around the globe

Research by Maria Gartstein and Sam Putnam found that toddler temperament differs significantly across cultures, with Chilean infants being the most active and Polish babies displaying sadness. The study suggests that parents' cultural values influence their children's behavior and overall temperament.

SourceWashington State University·JournalEuropean Journal of Developmental Psychology·DateDec 20, 2016

Trends in extracorporeal life support -- ASAIO Journal presents latest worldwide registry data

The Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) registry report finds that ECLS is becoming more widely available and frequently used globally. Adults with respiratory failure are the fastest-growing group of ECLS patients, while rates of survival to hospital discharge have improved for this age group. In contrast, newborns with re...

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalASAIO Journal·DateDec 20, 2016

History of TBI linked to poor outcomes for those who are homeless, have mental illness

A study published in Journal of Psychiatric Research found that homeless adults with mental illness and a history of traumatic brain injury are more likely to experience adverse health conditions, increased use of emergency departments, and suicidal risk. The research highlights the need for specialized services such as clinical treatm...

SourceSt. Michael's Hospital·JournalJournal of Psychiatric Research·DateDec 20, 2016

Stabilizing evolutionary forces keep ants strong

Researchers found evidence of stabilizing selection that maintains functional characteristics in ant populations. The study revealed significant genetic differences and limited gene flow among ant populations, suggesting that natural selection acts on important traits while less critical traits diversify over time.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalScientific Reports·DateDec 20, 2016

Bright future for energy devices

Researchers at Michigan Tech created a new way to synthesize sodium-embedded carbon nanowalls, which have two orders of magnitude higher conductivity than three-dimensional graphene. The material also retains high capacity after 5,000 charge/discharge cycles, making it ideal for supercapacitors and energy devices.

SourceMichigan Technological University·JournalNano Letters·DateDec 20, 2016