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Science News Archive December 2019 - Page 25


Page 25 of 36

Sport-related concussions

A study by Dr. Ingo Helmich and his team found significant differences in non-verbal gestures and behavior between athletes with and without concussion, providing a new tool for improving diagnosis. These findings suggest that motion quality presentation gestures can offer insight into post-concussion motor sensory experience.

SourceGerman Sport University·JournalJournal of Science and Medicine in Sport·DateDec 9, 2019

'Safety signals' may help slow down anxiety

Researchers at Yale University discovered that safety signals, such as symbols or sounds not associated with danger, can relieve anxiety. This approach differs from behavioral therapy and may be an effective way to augment current therapies for anxiety-related disorders.

SourceYale University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 9, 2019

Creating switchable plasmons in plastics

Scientists at Linköping University develop optical nanoantennas made from a conducting polymer, allowing for controllable nano-optical components. The antennas react to light and can be switched on and off, making them suitable for applications such as smart windows.

SourceLinköping University·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateDec 9, 2019

Detours may make batteries better

Scientists at Rice University have discovered that placing specific defects in the crystalline lattice of lithium iron phosphate-based cathodes can broaden the avenues through which lithium ions travel. This could improve performance by up to two orders of magnitude and potentially lead to similar improvements in other types of batteries.

SourceRice University·Journalnpj Computational Materials·DateDec 9, 2019

Too few hospitals have clinical decision support tools to calculate nutrition in NICU

Most NICUs lack fully automated clinical decision support tools to calculate nutrition for premature infants, leading to manual calculations and potential errors. The study's findings emphasize the importance of developing standardized computerized solutions to monitor and improve caloric intake delivery.

SourceAnn & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago·JournalJournal of Perinatology·DateDec 8, 2019

Women, exercise and longevity

A study of 4,714 adult women found that those with good exercise capacity were at lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other causes. Women with poor exercise capacity had nearly four times higher annual rates of death from these causes compared to those with good exercise capacity.

Dendrites filtering neuron's excitement

Researchers at Kyoto University discovered that Purkinje cell dendrites can filter and modulate incoming signals, enabling new learning mechanisms in the cerebellum. This finding provides insight into the brain's ability to modify itself and change signaling properties.

Improved pH probes may help towards cancer treatments

Researchers have developed a nanopipette pH biosensor that can detect changes in extracellular pH with high sensitivity and spatial resolution. The device uses a zwitterionic membrane to enable faster responses and has been tested on live cancer cells, showing its potential for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and targeted therapies.

SourceKanazawa University·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 6, 2019