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Science News for May 11, 2016


Are Italians or Swedes more likely to cheat on their taxes?

A recent study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that Italians are more likely to 'fudge' slightly, whereas Swedes are more willing to pay taxes if they believe they get more value for their money. Despite national stereotypes, the results suggest that both countries contribute equally to the public good.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateMay 11, 2016

Level of self-control linked to environment

A recent study found that individuals with neurotic personalities thrive in urban environments, while those who are less neurotic benefit from natural settings. The research suggests a correlation between environment and self-control, which could have implications for health outcomes and consumer behavior.

SourceSociety for Consumer Psychology·JournalJournal of Consumer Psychology·DateMay 11, 2016

Crowd-augmented cognition

Researchers developed tools that empower distributed groups of workers to perform complicated cognitive tasks with greater speed and accuracy. The Knowledge Accelerator and Alloy systems combine human intelligence and machine learning to synthesize online information, identifying patterns and themes among documents.

Innovative traffic interchanges help drivers avoid crashes, save lives

Recent studies from the University of Missouri found that Diverging Diamond Interchanges decrease overall crashes by more than 50 percent nationwide. Additionally, fatal and injury crashes decreased by over 70 percent, proving these innovative designs are efficient, effective, and life-saving.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalTransportation Research Record Journal of the Transportation Research Board·DateMay 11, 2016

A quasiparticle collider

Researchers create quasiparticles, directly observe collision events using laser pulses, and shed light on quasiparticles and many-body excitations in condensed matter systems. The findings demonstrate that basic collider concepts from particle physics can be transferred to solid-state research.

Persistent childhood asthma linked to COPD

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found a link between persistent childhood asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in early adulthood. Children with low lung function at a young age were more likely to develop COPD later in life, regardless of treatment or smoking exposure.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateMay 11, 2016

Cosmic dust reveals Earth's ancient atmosphere

A new study published in Nature found that Earth's ancient upper atmosphere contained about the same amount of oxygen as today, with a methane haze layer separating the oxygen-rich upper layer from the lower, oxygen-starved atmosphere. This challenges the accepted view that Earth's ancient atmosphere was oxygen-poor.

SourceMonash University·JournalNature·DateMay 11, 2016

In a connected world, privacy becomes a group effort

A study by Penn State researchers reveals that social media users act autonomously on some privacy issues but become interdependent when information is co-owned by multiple users. Participants relied on strategies like group discussions and private groups to manage privacy rights for group content.

Social objects in the brain

Researchers used LEGO bricks to investigate symbolic object engagement, finding brain areas associated with social cognition and language activation when attending to model meaning. Special activation patterns were observed for models built with own group members versus others

SourceAarhus University·JournalNeuroImage·DateMay 11, 2016

These audio cues are for the birds

A study published in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America found that birds can differentiate between whole and broken songs using spatial and intensity cues. The research used zebra finches and budgerigars, demonstrating that stream segregation is not a uniquely human ability

SourceUniversity at Buffalo·JournalThe Journal of the Acoustical Society of America·DateMay 11, 2016

Soft wearable robot lightens heavy loads

A flexible exosuit developed by Harvard University researchers reduces the metabolic cost of loaded walking by 7.3% on average, allowing wearers to return to a natural walking profile. The device is composed of textiles and assists the hip and ankle joints, reducing work done without impacting movement freedom.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalJournal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation·DateMay 11, 2016

Greater social media use tied to higher risk of eating and body image concerns

A study found that frequent social media use is associated with a greater risk of developing eating and body image concerns in young adults. Participants who spent more time on social media had a higher risk of reporting these issues. The research suggests that preventative messages should target a broad population.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences·JournalJournal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics·DateMay 11, 2016

High-throughput screening strategy identifies compounds active against antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Researchers developed a high-throughput screening strategy that identified multiple compounds with potent antimicrobial activity against an antibiotic-resistant strain of Klebsiella pneumoniae. The study also showed the potential of these compounds as adjunctive treatments to restore the effectiveness of antibiotics.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalAssay and Drug Development Technologies·DateMay 11, 2016

How to boost online ratings

A study by Temple University researchers discovered that people who waited longer or traveled farther before writing a review gave more favorable evaluations. This suggests that businesses can improve online ratings by asking out-of-town customers to review, and companies may want to reconsider their immediate feedback strategies.

SourceSociety for Consumer Psychology·JournalJournal of Consumer Psychology·DateMay 11, 2016

Study probes heart of synthetic heart valves

Researchers create natural polymer-based scaffolds to grow spongiosa tissue, mimicking the middle layer of heart valve leaflets. The study finds that these scaffolds can be tuned to match the stiffness of natural tissue and may offer a promising alternative to existing mesh-based polymers.

SourceRice University·JournalBiomacromolecules·DateMay 11, 2016

Neighborhoods with more takeaways amplify social inequalities in unhealthy eating and obesity

Research from the University of Cambridge found that neighborhoods saturated with fast food outlets exacerbate social inequalities in diet and obesity. Individuals with lower education levels consumed more unhealthy takeaway food and were more likely to be obese in areas with higher takeaway outlet densities.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·DateMay 11, 2016

How to make a faster ski

Researchers found that skis with wide grooves and narrow plateaus perform faster on warm snow, while narrower grooves and wider plateaus excel on cold snow. The study could lead to improvements in ski surface preparation.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateMay 11, 2016

Mitochondrial gene expression

A team of European researchers led by Aleksandra Trifunovic will explore the molecular mechanisms regulating mitochondrial gene expression in a four-year project. The goal is to elucidate the complex processes governing these genes and their association with aging diseases.

Revolutionary drug being explained

Researchers developed a line of mitochondria-targeted antioxidants, SkQ-ions, to protect cardiolipin molecules from oxidation. The study revealed that small doses of synthetic antioxidants could provide a distinct therapeutic effect despite the presence of large quantities of natural antioxidants.

SourceLomonosov Moscow State University·JournalOxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity·DateMay 11, 2016

You are what you eat: IU biologists map genetic pathways of nutrition-based species traits

Researchers at Indiana University have identified the genetic pathways that control physical traits in horned beetles based on nutritional conditions during development. The study reveals a complex relay system transmitting information about external circumstances to the cell nucleus, allowing organisms to produce different traits in r...

SourceIndiana University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 11, 2016

Fetal mice with Zika infection get microcephaly

Researchers in China report that fetal mice infected with the Asian Zika virus strain display characteristic features of microcephaly. The study found that neural progenitor cells were initially infected, followed by neurons, and that almost all cell death occurred in neurons, not progenitor cells.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateMay 11, 2016

How urban living affects children's mental health

A new study from Duke University and King's College London found that urban children are at a higher risk of experiencing psychotic symptoms due to low social cohesion and high crime rates. The study, which followed 2,232 British twins, found that 7.4% of urban children had experienced at least one psychotic symptom by age 12 compared ...

SourceDuke University·JournalSchizophrenia Bulletin·DateMay 11, 2016

Gut model HuMiX works like the real thing

Researchers developed HuMiX, a human microbiome research tool that accurately models the complex interactions between human cells and bacteria. The model allows for the study of metabolic processes, including communication between the intestine and brain, and has potential applications for understanding neurodegenerative diseases.

SourceUniversity of Luxembourg·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 11, 2016

An enzyme enigma discovered in the abyss

Researchers at University of Bristol and Newcastle University have discovered a natural Diels-Alder enzyme, AbyU, which catalyzes the powerful chemical reaction. The discovery could lead to the development of new antibiotics and other medical treatments.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateMay 11, 2016

Why do tomatoes smell 'grassy'?

Researchers from Kobe University identified enzymes that convert 3-hexenal into 2-hexenal, reducing the grassy odor in tomatoes. This breakthrough can be used to produce sweet tomatoes with less unpleasant fragrance.

SourceKobe University·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateMay 11, 2016

This week from AGU: More concentrated storms, methane emissions, and 4 research spotlights

Researchers study concentrated storms causing extreme flooding in urban areas and high methane emissions from the Bakken oil field. Scientists also investigate black carbon in oceans and its impact on marine life. Additionally, a new study reveals that half of streamflow in the Upper Colorado River Basin originates as groundwater.

SourceAmerican Geophysical Union·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateMay 11, 2016