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Science News for November 28, 2016


Model could shatter a mystery of glass

Princeton University researchers have developed a new model that creates a 'perfect glass' that never crystallizes, even at absolute zero. The model considers 2-, 3-, and 4-body interactions to suppress crystallization, revealing unique properties of perfect glasses.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalScientific Reports·DateNov 28, 2016

UMD researchers crack the code of a deadly virus

Researchers at the University of Maryland have created a mutated version of the Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus that is less deadly and could lead to the development of a vaccine. The discovery was made by exploiting a weakness in the virus' genetic code, which could also help combat other RNA viruses such as HIV and Zika.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalJournal of Virology·DateNov 28, 2016

When judging other people, first impressions last

A Cornell University study found that first impressions formed from photographs predicted how people felt and thought about the person after a live interaction. Participants consistently evaluated the same person differently after meeting in person compared to their initial impression.

SourceCornell University·JournalSocial Psychological and Personality Science·DateNov 28, 2016

Safe hair care spares hair, Johns Hopkins dermatologists report

Hair loss and breakage caused by acquired trichorrhexis nodosa (TN) can be reduced with proper cleansing and styling. Researchers recommend choosing the right shampoo based on hair type and minimizing frequent washing for those with tightly curled or dry hair. Conditioners, especially protein-containing ones, are also crucial for healt...

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalJournal of Dermatological Treatment·DateNov 28, 2016

Missed connections

Researchers found that brain connections change with age, but compensate for this by using new strategies to remember things. The study used fMRI data to analyze brain activity in individuals, revealing distinct patterns of connectivity among older people.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateNov 28, 2016

How kids' brains respond to a late night up

A new study found that sleep deprivation in children increases slow-wave activity in posterior brain regions, suggesting these areas may be more susceptible to lack of sleep. The research also discovered a correlation between sleep loss and myelin content, indicating the potential for temporary effects on early brain development.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Human Neuroscience·DateNov 28, 2016

Voice appeal

A study by Canadian researcher Emily Blamire found that female listeners rank male voices as more attractive when the 's' sound is shorter, while male listeners do not. The study suggests that men and women use different criteria when judging vocal attractiveness.

Gene discovered to cause rare, severe neurological disease

A debilitating neurological disease in children has been linked to mutations in the DENND5A gene, which regulates neuronal development through control of protein movement within neuronal cells. The study found that recessive loss-of-function mutations in DENND5A cause severe mental and physical disabilities.

SourceMcGill University·JournalAmerican Journal of Human Genetics·DateNov 28, 2016

An exercise in good health

The study confirms that cardiorespiratory fitness is a stronger predictor of mortality than established risk factors such as smoking and hypertension. Higher levels of CRF are associated with improved outcomes for certain forms of cancer, surgical risk, dementia, Alzheimer's disease, depression and Type 2 diabetes.

SourceQueen's University·JournalCirculation·DateNov 28, 2016

Light switch in autumn leaves

Researchers have discovered that yellow phyllobilins in autumn leaves function as four-step molecular switches that react to light, with the molecular environment determining the switching mechanism. These findings suggest potential physiological roles for these compounds in plant photoregulation.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateNov 28, 2016

A change of heart

Cardiac diseases cause pathological growth leading to heart failure. Researchers found epigenetic marks responsible for this growth are lost in disease, allowing cells to switch back to fetal form and leading to irregular rhythms. This finding points to a new strategy for epigenetic therapy.

SourceBabraham Institute·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateNov 28, 2016

West Antarctic ice shelf breaking up from the inside out

Researchers at Ohio State University discovered a crack that formed deep beneath the Pine Island Glacier, leading to its breaking apart in 2015. The rift's origin suggests that warming ocean waters are melting the center of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, potentially causing accelerated ice loss and sea-level rise.

SourceOhio State University·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·DateNov 28, 2016

Largest resource of human protein-protein interactions can help interpret genomic data

The largest database of protein-to-protein interaction networks, InWeb_InBioMap, can illuminate how numerous disease-associated genes contribute to disease development and progression. By analyzing over 586,000 interactions, researchers may identify new candidate genes and improve understanding of processes that occur in human cells.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalNature Methods·DateNov 28, 2016

Smart patch releases blood thinners as needed

Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a smart patch that monitors a patient's blood and releases blood-thinning drugs as needed. The patch, made with microneedles containing hyaluronic acid and Heparin, can prevent thrombosis in animal models, offering a more effective treatment than traditional methods.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateNov 28, 2016

Quicker and twice as accurate predictions

Researchers at URV develop collaborative filtering model with scalable algorithm for predicting individual preferences and group overlaps. The new approach provides more accurate predictions than existing algorithms by considering individual differences, making it ideal for large datasets.

SourceUniversitat Rovira i Virgili·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 28, 2016

Engineering success

The University of California - Santa Barbara's ESTEEM program offers scholarship funding, outreach, and academic counseling to help low-income engineering transfer students complete their degrees. The initiative aims to address the lack of diversity in STEM fields and provide a critical push to these promising students.

Liver-brain pathway may regulate alcohol consumption

A liver hormone called FGF21 may regulate alcohol drinking by acting directly on a receptor in the brain, according to a new study. The researchers found variations of a gene called β-Klotho that were related to the amount of alcohol people consumed, indicating that this gene may regulate drinking behaviour.

SourceKing's College London·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 28, 2016

Programmable disorder

Scientists at Caltech have developed a method to combine deterministic and random processes for creating complex nanostructures out of DNA. By controlling the design of individual tiles and their interactions, they can produce emergent features with tunable statistical properties, including loop, maze, and tree structures.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateNov 28, 2016

What's up with Madagascar?

Researchers found three areas of hot rock within the mantle beneath three separate volcanic provinces, indicating that Madagascar's volcanoes are not related to nearby tectonic activity. The study suggests that the island's unique geology, with a delaminated lithosphere and a mantle plume, led to the formation of these hot regions.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalEarth and Planetary Science Letters·DateNov 28, 2016

NP predischarge thresholds associated with reduced ADHF mortality, readmission

A systematic review found that achieving brain-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and pro-brain-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) predischarge thresholds is associated with reduced mortality and readmission in patients hospitalized for acute decompensated heart failure. The evidence was low-strength, but the studies consistently showed ...

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateNov 28, 2016

Why conservation fails

New research published in the Journal of Economic Theory highlights a fundamental contradiction in the policy of making land owners paid more than it costs them to conserve forests. This market inefficiency leads to stalemate and makes forest protection unfeasible through logging with some chance or gradual logging to secure funding.

SourceElsevier·JournalJournal of Economic Theory·DateNov 28, 2016

UT Austin engineers develop first-ever capsule to treat hemophilia

Researchers have developed a biodegradable capsule that can administer protein therapy to treat hemophilia B, providing hope for a more accessible and affordable treatment. The oral delivery system contains micro- and nanoparticles that carry the protein therapy and are designed to release it over time, alleviating the burden of inject...

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalInternational Journal of Pharmaceutics·DateNov 28, 2016

Young toddlers can tell when others hold false beliefs, study finds

A new study by Renée Baillargeon and colleagues found that 2.5-year-old children can answer questions about people acting on false beliefs, a skill previously thought to develop until age 4. The researchers developed a modified version of the Sally-Anne test, which gave children a chance to prepare for the question and reduced processi...

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 28, 2016

Modern hunter-gatherers show value of exercise

The Hadza people, an indigenous ethnic group in Tanzania, engage in significantly more physical activity than recommended by US government standards. Their lifestyle, characterized by regular hunting and gathering, is associated with extremely low risk of cardiovascular disease.

SourceUniversity of Arizona·JournalAmerican Journal of Human Biology·DateNov 28, 2016

Vestibular function declines starting at age 40

A new study found that vestibular thresholds double every 10 years above 40, correlating strongly with poorer balance test results and increased fall risk. Vestibular dysfunction is estimated to cause up to 152,000 American deaths each year, making it a leading cause of death.

SourceMass Eye and Ear·JournalFrontiers in Neurology·DateNov 28, 2016