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Science News for January 19, 2016


Can we improve acceptance of HIV testing?

A randomized controlled trial evaluated consent for HIV testing, showing opt-out schemes can substantially increase patient acceptance compared to opt-in schemes. Active choice testing may be the most effective approach in reflecting patients' true preferences, researchers suggest.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalThe BMJ·DateJan 19, 2016

Race a factor in repeated victimizations of people with mental illness

Research at Georgia State University reveals that African Americans with serious mental illness are more likely to experience recurring victimization over time. The study, published in the Journal of Quantitative Criminology, found that racial disparities in mental health services access and social barriers contribute to these outcomes.

SourceGeorgia State University·JournalJournal of Quantitative Criminology·DateJan 19, 2016

Post-term delivery raises risk of complications and illness for newborns

A new Tel Aviv University study found that infants born past 42 weeks have twice the risk of contracting infections, experiencing respiratory difficulties, and being admitted to NICUs compared to those born at 39-40 weeks. This is the first time the isolated effect of post-term delivery on neonatal outcomes has been determined.

SourceAmerican Friends of Tel Aviv University·JournalArchives of Disease in Childhood·DateJan 19, 2016

Anxiety can impact people's walking direction

Research at the University of Kent reveals a clear link between anxiety and activation in the right side of the brain, causing individuals to walk in a leftward trajectory. This finding has implications for the treatment of unilateral neglect, suggesting that reducing anxiety may benefit individuals suffering from right-sided neglect.

SourceUniversity of Kent·JournalCognition·DateJan 19, 2016

Warmer oceans could produce more powerful superstorms

A new study by the University of Maryland found that warmer ocean temperatures could result in storms up to 160% more destructive than Hurricane Sandy. The simulations showed that a warmer pool of warm water in the tropical Atlantic gave hurricanes more time to grow before encountering colder water or land.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateJan 19, 2016

Using LEGO® blocks to develop stretchable electronics

Researchers developed a tensile tester using LEGO blocks, showcasing their potential for prototyping stretchable and flexible electronics. The innovative approach combines cost-effective machinery design with easy handling, comparable to commercial testing devices.

SourceWiley·JournalAdvanced Science·DateJan 19, 2016

Graphene oxide 'paper' changes with strain

Rice researchers found that graphene oxide layers change their mechanical properties depending on the strain rate, making it brittle when pulled fast but more pliable under slow stress. This discovery can help build three-dimensional structures from two-dimensional materials for various applications.

SourceRice University·JournalNano Letters·DateJan 19, 2016

Colorado State University's breakthrough imaging tool maps cells' composition in 3-D

Colorado State University's new mass-spectral imaging system allows for unprecedented detail in cellular analysis, mapping surface composition in three dimensions. Researchers can now examine how cells respond to new medications and investigate antibiotic resistance, with potential applications in combating tuberculosis and bioterrorism.

SourceColorado State University·JournalOptics and Photonics News·DateJan 19, 2016

Nearing the limits of life on Earth

A team of researchers from McGill University failed to detect active microbial life in permafrost soil from the University Valley in Antarctica, a location thought to be similar to Martian permafrost. The study's findings suggest that even in the coldest and driest conditions on Earth, it may be difficult to find signs of life.

SourceMcGill University·JournalThe ISME Journal·DateJan 19, 2016

How face-to-face still beats Facebook

A University of Oxford study published in Royal Society Open Science found that online social media groups are constrained to around 150-200 people, similar to offline networks. Regular Facebook users averaged 155 and 183 friends, respectively, with women having more connections than men.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·DateJan 19, 2016

Aerobic exercise benefits patients with Parkinson's disease

Ongoing aerobic exercise has been shown to enhance factors that potentially have a protective effect on the brain, counteracting brain shrinkage and improving connections in individuals with Parkinson's disease. Aerobic exercise can also help manage symptoms such as rigid muscles, slowed movement, and impaired posture and balance.

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalJAMA Neurology·DateJan 19, 2016

When older adults stop driving, they may experience health declines

A new review suggests that stopping driving in older adults can contribute to various health problems, including depression. The decision to stop driving is often accompanied by declining cognitive and physical functions, highlighting the need for personalized plans to maintain mobility and social functions.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of the American Geriatrics Society·DateJan 19, 2016

Mechanical quanta see the light

Researchers at University of Vienna develop nanomechanical device that converts quantum vibrations to light, paving the way for a future quantum Internet. The device allows for connection between different quantum systems, enabling global exchange of quantum information.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalNature·DateJan 19, 2016

Disrupting cell's supply chain freezes cancer virus

Researchers at Duke University have discovered a way to freeze cancer-causing Epstein-Barr virus in its tracks. By triggering senescence, a suspended state of the cell, the virus's advance can be halted, providing new hope for controlling the disease.

SourceDuke University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 19, 2016

Can 3 pigeons be in 2 pigeonholes with no 2 pigeons in the same hole?

A new quantum phenomenon, the 'quantum pigeonhole principle,' violates a fundamental principle of nature by demonstrating how to put an arbitrarily large number of particles in two boxes without any two particles ending up in the same box. This discovery has major implications for understanding non-locality and the future of technology.

SourceChapman University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 19, 2016

New tool puts accurate DNA analysis in fast lane

Researchers at Rice University have created a new tool to analyze DNA in its native conditions, reducing analysis time from months to hours. The method generates more accurate results and can be used to build a comprehensive database of thermal behaviors of genetic molecules.

SourceRice University·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 19, 2016

Leadership study hints that age beats height

A study by Professor Mark Elgar at the University of Melbourne found that older athletes were more likely to be selected as team captains in elite-level sports. The research revealed a significant impact on team discipline, with teams led by older captains receiving fewer penalties per game.

SourceUniversity of Melbourne·JournalThe Leadership Quarterly·DateJan 19, 2016

Family preferences on quality end-of-life care

A study found that family members perceive better end-of-life care for patients who received hospice care for longer periods, avoided intensive care unit admissions, and died outside the hospital. These findings suggest that multifaceted approaches can improve preference-sensitive care and overall quality of end-of-life care.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalJAMA·DateJan 19, 2016

Water dispensers in NYC public schools associated with student weight loss

The study, which analyzed over one million students in 1,227 elementary and middle schools across the city, found that students at schools with water jets experienced a reduction in standardized body mass index (zBMI) and the likelihood of being overweight. Easy access to water led kids to substitute it for caloric beverages.

Text messages can help reduce blood pressure

A study found that text message reminders can significantly improve treatment adherence and reduce blood pressure in adults with high blood pressure. The intervention was particularly effective among patients who received interactive text messaging, which allowed them to change appointment times or languages.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalCirculation·DateJan 19, 2016

Socio-economic status may impact care of children with epilepsy

Children with lower socio-economic status have reduced access to neurology visits and increased emergency department visits due to transportation and employment barriers. These disparities highlight the need for additional support to reduce costly hospitalizations and improve specialist care access.

SourceWiley·JournalEpilepsia·DateJan 19, 2016

Group learning makes children better decision-makers, study finds

A new study by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign found that children who participate in collaborative group work to learn about significant social issues become better decision-makers than their peers. The study compared the efficacy of collaborative group work with conventional direct instruction, and found that students ...

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalAmerican Educational Research Journal·DateJan 19, 2016

Quantum knots are real!

Researchers have successfully created and observed knotted solitary waves, or knot solitons, in a quantum field. The discovery opens up new avenues of study for understanding the properties of quantum mechanics and its potential applications in fields such as cosmology and quantum computers.

SourceAalto University·JournalNature Physics·DateJan 19, 2016

Using electrical signals to train the heart's muscle cells

Researchers have shown that electrical stimulation of human heart muscle cells can aid their development and function. The team used electrical signals designed to mimic those in a developing heart to regulate and synchronize the beating properties of nascent cardiomyocytes, which support the beating function of the heart.

Young whites at elite colleges see Asian-Americans as more competent than other minorities

A Baylor University study found that young white students at elite colleges perceive Asian-Americans as more competent than other minority groups. The study, published in Social Psychology Quarterly, surveyed 898 participants from 27 prestigious universities and found that perceptions of competence were linked to attitudes towards raci...

SourceBaylor University·JournalSocial Psychology Quarterly·DateJan 19, 2016

Size matters

Researchers found that people eat fewer calories when served smaller pizza slices on large tables, as the larger surface distracts from slice size. The study recommends serving food in small portions and on large surfaces to promote eating less.

SourceCornell Food & Brand Lab·JournalJournal of the Association for Consumer Research·DateJan 19, 2016

One-stop shop for biofuels

Researchers at Joint BioEnergy Institute developed a high-gravity one-pot process for producing cellulosic ethanol, achieving unprecedented yields while minimizing water use and waste disposal. The process utilizes ionic liquid pretreatment, enzymatic saccharification, and yeast fermentation.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalEnergy & Environmental Science·DateJan 19, 2016

Too much sugar during adolescence may alter brain's reward circuits

A study in rats suggests that over-consuming sugary foods during adolescence can lead to reduced activity in the nucleus accumbens, a key hub of the brain's reward circuitry. This alteration could have long-lasting implications for individuals and may contribute to the development of substance abuse or eating disorders later in life.

SourceWiley·JournalEuropean Journal of Neuroscience·DateJan 19, 2016

What's height got to do with it?

A study of over 13,000 couples found that genetic variation affecting height influences mate choice, revealing an innate preference for partners of similar height. The research provides new insights into the mechanisms driving sexual attraction and human variation.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalGenome Biology·DateJan 19, 2016

Advances in continuous glucose monitoring technology will pave the way to an artificial pancreas

The article discusses the development and future promise of Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) technology, which combines CGM with an insulin pump and sophisticated algorithms for automating insulin control. Key challenges facing successful commercialization include cost, reimbursement issues, and lack of FDA approval for insulin dosing.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalDiabetes Technology & Therapeutics·DateJan 19, 2016