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Science News for November 14, 2016


New way to make low-cost solar cell technology

Researchers at Australian National University have developed a new way to fabricate high-efficiency semi-transparent perovskite solar cells, which can improve the performance of conventional silicon solar cells. The new fabrication method could increase power output by up to 25% and achieve efficiencies of up to 30%.

SourceAustralian National University·JournalAdvanced Energy Materials·DateNov 14, 2016

Ensuring medical care is consistent with patient goals

A recent study from Indiana University highlights the challenges of ensuring medical care is consistent with patient preferences. The authors propose practical recommendations to overcome barriers, including documenting specific treatment preferences and reviewing patient records regularly.

SourceIndiana University·JournalJournal of Pain and Symptom Management·DateNov 14, 2016

Catalyzing excellence

Dr. Wachs' research aims to identify fundamental structure-activity/selectivity relationships for catalysts, guiding the design of advanced catalysts. His team explores direct conversion of natural gas into liquid fuels without oxidizing reagents, offering a promising solution to overcome stranded gas.

Tiny super magnets could be the future of drug delivery

Researchers have discovered a method to control the movement of microscopic crystals, enabling precise targeting of diseased organs for drug delivery. The crystals, which exhibit superparamagnetic properties, can be directed using a magnetic field, opening new applications for improving lives.

SourceElsevier·JournalPhysics Letters A·DateNov 14, 2016

Numenta brings brain theory to machine learning

Researchers at Numenta compared their biologically-derived HTM sequence memory to traditional machine learning algorithms, demonstrating comparable prediction accuracy. The new paper highlights the algorithm's properties, including continuous online learning and robustness to sensor noise, making it ideal for streaming data applications.

SourceKrause Taylor Associates·JournalNeural Computation·DateNov 14, 2016

2-D material a brittle surprise

Researchers at Rice University discovered that molybdenum diselenide's tensile strength can be significantly reduced by flaws as small as one missing atom. The material's brittle nature may limit its use in next-generation technologies.

SourceRice University·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateNov 14, 2016

Retail clinics do not reduce ER visits for minor ailments

A new study by RAND Corporation found that retail clinics near hospital emergency departments did not reduce visits to emergency departments for minor health ailments. The study examined over 2,000 emergency departments across 23 states and found no significant reduction in low-acuity visit rates despite increased retail clinic access.

SourceRAND Corporation·JournalAnnals of Emergency Medicine·DateNov 14, 2016

Trash that pop can, trash yourself

A study by the University of Alberta and Boston University found that people are more likely to recycle items bearing their name or a national flag. This association helps individuals link the item to their sense of identity, making them feel more connected and reducing negative feelings associated with discarding it.

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateNov 14, 2016

Underwater Stone Age settlement mapped out

Researchers at Lund University have mapped out an exceptionally well-preserved Stone Age site in southern Sweden, shedding light on the lives of Mesolithic humans. The discovery includes a 9,000-year-old pick axe made from elk antlers, indicating mass fishing and a semi-permanent settlement.

SourceLund University·JournalQuaternary International·DateNov 14, 2016

Graphene plasmons reach the infrared

Researchers at Technical University of Denmark have demonstrated efficient absorption enhancement at a wavelength of 2 micrometers by graphene plasmons. This breakthrough brings graphene into the regime of telecommunication applications.

SourceOptica·JournalOptics Letters·DateNov 14, 2016

Improving pain care through implementation of the Stepped Care Model for Pain Management

A new study published in Journal of Pain Research found that implementation of the Stepped Care Model for Pain Management resulted in clinically significant improvements in quality of pain care outcomes, including increased provider knowledge and referrals to behavioral health providers. The model's individualized approach has the pote...

SourceDove Medical Press·JournalJournal of Pain Research·DateNov 14, 2016

What molecules you leave on your phone reveal about your lifestyle

Researchers used mass spectrometry to detect molecules on phones and skin, creating personalized lifestyle profiles with diet, medication, beauty product usage, health status, and location information. The study has potential applications in crime scene investigations, airport screening, and environmental exposure studies.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 14, 2016

Mississippi River could leave farmland stranded

A University of Illinois study suggests that the Mississippi River's natural course could permanently reroute Dogtooth Bend peninsula, leaving approximately 15,000 acres of farmland inaccessible by road. The researchers propose three alternative solutions to mitigate this threat and ensure sustainable land use in the region.

How visual attention selects important information

Researchers at Tohoku University found that visual attention has multiple functions and stages, including early visual processing and selective extraction of information. The study proposes a model of spatial attention that can predict different attention effects for various visual processes, which is useful for complex tasks like driv...

SourceTohoku University·JournalScientific Reports·DateNov 14, 2016

Not without my microbiome

The legume-rhizobia symbiosis significantly impacts the microbial community in plant roots, leading to changes in bacterial composition and stability. The absence of symbiosis results in drastic alterations to the root microbiome, affecting plant growth and nitrogen uptake.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 14, 2016

Taking the pulse of underwater forests

A new study found that kelp forests are relatively well-faring, with some regions increasing in size, while others decline or show no change. The researchers suggest that this variability reflects regional differences in drivers of environmental change and the unique capacity of kelp to recover from disturbances.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 14, 2016

November/December 2016 Annals of Family Medicine tip sheet

A recent study by European researchers found that patients with acute bacterial lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) had only slightly worse symptoms and returned more often to their physician than those without bacterial LRTIs. The authors conclude that these infections are generally mild and self-limiting, allowing physicians t...

SourceAmerican Academy of Family Physicians·JournalThe Annals of Family Medicine·DateNov 14, 2016

Zhao Dongyuan wins TWAS-Lenovo Prize

Zhao Dongyuan's work on mesoporous materials has led to the development of filters that can precisely manage chemical movement in water, improving water quality. His research also enables the delivery of medicine with pinpoint precision and the improvement of battery capacity and efficiency.

SourceTWAS·DateNov 14, 2016

Oxidative stress induces senescence in cultured RPE cell

Researchers induced oxidative stress in cultured RPE cells to explore the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Oxidative stress led to cell senescence and proliferation inhibition, highlighting its potential role in AMD progression. The study suggests antioxidants may be a new treatment approach for AMD intervention.

SourceBentham Science Publishers·JournalThe Open Neurology Journal·DateNov 14, 2016

Study supports road map to saving lives through cardiac rehabilitation participation

A study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings advocates for increasing Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) participation rates from 20-30% to 70%, which could save 25,000 lives and prevent 180,000 hospitalizations annually. The authors suggest two steps: systematic referral of eligible patients and successful enrollment optimization.

SourceUniversity of Vermont College of Medicine·JournalMayo Clinic Proceedings·DateNov 14, 2016

SLU geologists discover how a tectonic plate sank

Researchers found that a divergent plate boundary can be forced to converge, leading to the formation of a new subduction zone. The study suggests that buoyant but weak plate material at a divergent boundary can resist subduction, but eventually gives way to denser older material, creating a self-sustaining subduction zone.

SourceSaint Louis University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 14, 2016