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Science News Archive December 2016 - Page 6


Page 6 of 32

Speeding up comprehension with grasping actions

Grasping actions have been shown to accelerate the brain's comprehension process, allowing for a faster interpretation of words. This new method could be used in therapies for aphasia, a language disorder affecting stroke patients, by utilizing motor training through grip movements to strengthen word recognition.

SourceBielefeld University·JournalPLOS ONE·DateDec 21, 2016

Rat study provides insights on tendon overuse injuries

Researchers found rotator cuff tendon overuse leads to degeneration of the shoulder tendon and osteoarthritis-like changes to neighboring cartilage. The study may help clinicians determine optimal treatment for tendon overuse injuries, reducing further damage.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Orthopaedic Research®·DateDec 21, 2016

Threading the RSV vaccine needle

Researchers at Emory University School of Medicine have engineered a live attenuated RSV vaccine candidate that is highly effective in mice and cotton rats. The vaccine, called OE4, induces high levels of antibody production while maintaining its immunogenicity, making it a promising candidate for further clinical investigation.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 21, 2016

Analysis examines characteristics of users of online infidelity matchmaking

Researchers studied data from Ashley Madison to identify key characteristics of its users. Income proved to be a significant factor, indicating the service behaves like a luxury good. Religiosity also showed a notable correlation with user spending rates, decreasing by 18% for every additional religious congregation per 1,000 people.

SourceWiley·JournalGeographical Review·DateDec 21, 2016

Shortened treatment for middle ear infection is less effective than standard course

A new study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that a shortened five-day antimicrobial treatment regimen for middle ear infections in young children is less effective than the standard 10-day regimen. The study also failed to show a significant reduction in antibiotic resistance threat.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateDec 21, 2016

Reducing antibiotic duration does more harm than good for ear infections in young children

A landmark trial found that shortened antibiotic courses for ear infections in young children (9-23 months) resulted in more treatment failures and adverse events without reducing antibiotic resistance. The study showed a significantly higher risk of recurrent infections when residual fluid was present after treatment.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateDec 21, 2016

Driverless platoons

MIT engineers analyzed a simple vehicle-platooning scenario and found that relatively simple scheduling policies can save fuel and minimize delays for autonomous vehicle fleets. The findings may also apply to conventional long-distance trucking and ride-sharing services.

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