Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Science News Archive December 2017 - Page 6


Page 6 of 33

Emphasizing the auto in automobile: A unified approach for automated vehicles

A team of researchers from Cranfield University and Chinese institutions developed a framework combining cyber, physical, and social systems to integrate vehicle connectivity and automation attributes. They proposed the use of parallel learning theory to analyze information regarding vehicle, human driver, and driving actions in parallel.

SourceChinese Association of Automation·JournalIEEE/CAA Journal of Automatica Sinica·DateDec 20, 2017

Tics are common in famous boys choir

A new study found that 35% of young singers in an elite choir exhibited tics during a performance. This discovery may indicate a relation between ticcing and exceptional motor skills, potentially leading to a reevaluation of the perception of tics as a disorder.

SourceWiley·JournalAnnals of Neurology·DateDec 20, 2017

Community factors and social connection may determine whether sexual minority parents view their community as tolerant versus supportive

A new study found that LGB parents' perceptions of community tolerance depend on the presence of supportive structures like legal protections, employer acceptance, and religious affirmation. However, these factors alone do not guarantee a supportive climate, as individual experiences can vary significantly.

SourceWiley·JournalFamily Relations·DateDec 20, 2017

Diabetes, but not diabetes drug, linked to poor pregnancy outcomes

A study published in British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology found that pregnant women with pre-gestational diabetes who take metformin are at a higher risk for major birth defects and pregnancy loss compared to the general population. The increased risk is not due to metformin, but rather the underlying diabetes.

SourceWiley·JournalBritish Journal of Clinical Pharmacology·DateDec 20, 2017

More tumor mutations equals higher success rate with cancer immunotherapy drugs

A new study led by Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers found that tumors with high mutational burden are more likely to respond to checkpoint inhibitors, a class of cancer immunotherapy drugs. The study suggests that precision medicine could be used to guide clinical trials and improve treatment outcomes for specific patient populations.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateDec 20, 2017

The coldest chip in the world

Physicists successfully cool a nanoelectronic chip to a temperature lower than 3 millikelvin using magnetic cooling. They also maintain these extremely low temperatures for seven hours, enabling various experiments close to absolute zero.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalApplied Physics Letters·DateDec 20, 2017

Review sheds light on prostate orgasms

A recent clinical anatomy review sheds light on the discovery of prostate orgasms, discovering that stimulating the prostate via the rectal wall can create exceptionally pleasurable feelings. The study highlights the need to explore this previously ignored area of orgasm research.

SourceWiley·JournalClinical Anatomy·DateDec 20, 2017

Are phages our best bet against antibiotic-resistant bacteria?

Researchers are exploring phages as a solution to combat antibiotic resistance. Studies suggest that phages can alter microbial balances and have been proposed for use in faecal microbiota transplantations. Despite challenges, phage therapy may offer a promising alternative to traditional antibiotics.

SourceWiley·JournalBritish Journal of Pharmacology·DateDec 20, 2017

Unifying the theories of neural information encoding

Researchers at IST Austria and Paris create framework connecting three neural information encoding theories, providing concrete predictions for previously unstudied coding regimes. The unified theory allows neurons to have mixed coding objectives, covering a range of constraints and phenomena not explained by existing models.

SourceInstitute of Science and Technology Austria·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 20, 2017

Putting a fork in cognitive decline

A study published in Neurology suggests that consuming daily leafy green vegetables can help preserve memory and thinking skills as people age. The research found that those who ate more leafy greens showed a slower rate of decline on cognitive tests, equivalent to being 11 years younger in age.

SourceRush University Medical Center·JournalNeurology·DateDec 20, 2017

New AI method keeps data private

Researchers at University of Helsinki develop a new privacy-aware machine learning method that enables accurate modeling using private user device data. This method ensures limited information on each data subject is revealed, making it ideal for protecting sensitive health and human behavior data.

Study examines conflict between farmers and livestock predators

A new study found that black-backed jackals have a preference for eating livestock, including sheep and goats, over similarly sized wild prey. This has significant consequences for farmers and the management of predators in South Africa, highlighting the need to protect livestock from these animals.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Wildlife Management·DateDec 20, 2017