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Science News Archive 2019 - Page 45


Page 45 of 486

Virtual reality would make attending therapy easier for stroke survivors

A virtual reality clinic created by researchers at North Carolina State University makes it easier for stroke survivors to attend physical and occupational therapy sessions. The system, called VERGE, encourages participants to work on therapy exercises with loved ones remotely, leading to increased attendance and engagement.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalArchives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation·DateNov 22, 2019

Zhu examining tolled & priced lanes

Shanjiang Zhu and team to evaluate three alternative modeling approaches for demand responses to tolled and priced lanes, producing detailed technical reports on methods and findings. The study aims to inform FHWA's state-of-art modeling strategies, informing their applicability in different applications.

Filaments that structure DNA

Researchers at the University of Freiburg have discovered a mechanism by which actin filaments are formed in the nucleus, controlling chromatin dynamics and influencing genome readability. Physiological messengers trigger the assembly and disassembly of actin filaments, regulating the density of chromosomes.

SourceUniversity of Freiburg·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 22, 2019

United in musical diversity

A recent study in Science journal found that all cultures studied have similar music characteristics, such as fast rhythms for dance and soft tempos for lullabies. This suggests that there are fundamental universal properties of music that reflect commonalities in human cognition.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalScience·DateNov 22, 2019

DNA repeats -- the genome's dark matter

A new method has been developed to analyze pathogenic DNA repeats in the human genome, revealing their role in genetic diseases such as Fragile X syndrome. The technique combines nanopore sequencing, stem cell culture, and CRISPR-Cas technologies to provide detailed insights into these previously inaccessible regions.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Biotechnology·DateNov 22, 2019

Multifunctional small brains

Researchers at the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience found that the cerebellum is involved in higher perceptual abilities beyond motor coordination. The discovery highlights the importance of functioning small brains in social cognition and suggests that problems with the cerebellum may impair aspects of this cognitive function.

Peritoneal dialysis use has increased in the United States after Medicare payment reform

The use of peritoneal dialysis increased significantly among US patients with kidney failure following a Medicare payment policy implemented in 2011. More patients initiated dialysis with peritoneal dialysis and switched from hemodialysis to peritoneal dialysis, indicating a positive impact on an underutilized form of dialysis.

SourceAmerican Society of Nephrology·JournalClinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateNov 21, 2019

Online reviews reveal need for specialized drug treatment facility assessments

A study from Penn Medicine researchers analyzed online reviews of 539 Pennsylvania facilities to identify common themes associated with high-quality and low-quality care. The analysis found that five-star reviews were more likely to mention focus on recovery, staff helpfulness, and compassionate care, while one-star reviews were often ...

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·DateNov 21, 2019

New disease hits corals

A new coral disease has been found to alter the community of microbes on host corals, and measuring these changes may be a useful tool for monitoring coral health. The disease, known as 'grey-patch disease', was characterized by the growth of cyanobacteria, forming a biofilm that overgrew live coral tissue.

SourceBMC (BioMed Central)·JournalMicrobiome·DateNov 21, 2019

Financial therapy can aid well-being, stability

Researchers found that financial therapy improves couples' overall well-being and financial stability by understanding how financial behaviors are tied to feelings and beliefs. Nearly all participants wanted to learn more about their financial behaviors and communicate better after sessions.

SourceUniversity of Georgia·JournalContemporary Family Therapy·DateNov 21, 2019

Rise of the bots: Stevens team completes first census of Wikipedia bots

Researchers at Stevens Institute of Technology have completed the first census of Wikipedia's 1,601 bots, shedding light on their functions and interactions with human users. The study found that bots play nine core roles, including fixers, connectors, and protectors, which together account for about 10% of all activity on the site.

SourceStevens Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction·DateNov 21, 2019

The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health: Majority of adolescents worldwide are not sufficiently physically active, putting their current and future health at risk

The study found that globally, in 2016, 81% of 11- to 17-year-old school students did not reach WHO recommendations for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. The gap between boys' and girls' physical activity levels has grown, with more than 80% of girls being inactive.

SourceThe Lancet·JournalThe Lancet Child & Adolescent Health·DateNov 21, 2019

Cybershoppers make better buying decisions on PCs than phones -- Ben-Gurion U. researchers

A recent study by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev found that consumers make more accurate purchasing decisions using desktop computers compared to smartphones. The researchers discovered that mobile-friendly websites reduce information output and require more searching, whereas PC-based sites provide a clearer shopping experience.

Music is universal

A comprehensive study by Harvard scientists found that music pervades social life in similar ways worldwide, with behaviors such as infant care, healing, dance, and love associated with specific musical features. The Natural History of Song database collected recordings from 315 societies and 5,000 song descriptions, revealing common p...

SourceHarvard University·JournalScience·DateNov 21, 2019

Nature's secret recipe for making leaves

Researchers from the John Innes Centre discovered that simple shifts in gene activity in the leaf bud provide a flexible mechanism for forming leaves of all shapes and sizes. The study reveals how cup-shaped leaves evolved from flat sheets through simple genetic changes, offering a simple mechanistic explanation for diverse leaf forms.

SourceJohn Innes Centre·JournalScience·DateNov 21, 2019

Protection for pacemakers

Researchers at ETH Zurich have created a protective membrane made of cellulose that significantly reduces fibrotic tissue formation around cardiac pacemaker implants. The membrane's unique surface structure impedes protein deposition and cell adhesion, leading to reduced tissue growth and improved surgical outcomes.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalBiomaterials·DateNov 21, 2019