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Science News for November 21, 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

Genetic studies reveal how rat lungworm evolves

Researchers found transposable elements and gene expansions related to antioxidants in the rat lungworm parasite, suggesting adaptive evolution. The study also discovered convergent evolution of a key enzyme with flukes, which share similar host requirements.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateNov 21, 2019

New algorithms train AI to avoid specific bad behaviors

Researchers at Stanford and UMass Amherst develop a new technique to create machine-learning algorithms that can learn to avoid undesirable outcomes such as gender bias and excessive risk. Their approach, called the Seldonian algorithm, enables users to specify what behaviors they want an AI system to avoid with high probability.

SourceStanford University·JournalScience·DateNov 21, 2019

Who is left behind in Mass Drug Administration?

Research reveals that MDA programmes often fail to reach marginalized communities due to inequitable treatment delivery, affecting PC NTD prevention. The study highlights the need for consideration of gender and equity issues in health systems to address these disparities.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateNov 21, 2019

Illinois researcher's theory of pore-scale transport to enable improved flow batteries

A new theory by Assistant Professor Kyle Smith predicts how fluid flow affects molecule reaction at porous electrode surfaces in redox flow batteries. The research enables prediction of mass transfer coefficients based on microscopic pore structure, enabling engineers to design optimal structures.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·JournalJournal of The Electrochemical Society·DateNov 21, 2019

Brain biomarker predicts compulsive drinking

Researchers at Salk Institute discover a brain circuit controlling alcohol drinking behavior in mice, which can predict compulsive drinking. The study found that neural communication patterns between two brain regions are related to the development of compulsive drinking.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalScience·DateNov 21, 2019

Neighborhood matters for fentanyl-involved overdose deaths

A study by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health found that fentanyl-involved overdose deaths are concentrated in resource-deprived neighborhoods. The research used census block group-level data to examine the local geographic distribution of drug overdoses, revealing a unique perspective on overdose locations.

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateNov 21, 2019

Predicting metastasis from primary tumor size

A new mathematical model predicts the presence of undetectable metastases based on primary tumor size, which is associated with a poorer prognosis. The model accurately reflects clinical study data for several cancer types, highlighting the potential dangers of delays in surgery for smaller tumors.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateNov 21, 2019

New Alzheimer's risk gene discovered

A new study has identified a genetic variation in the Mucin 6 gene that may contribute to late-onset Alzheimer disease. The findings suggest a strong association between the genetic variant and the disease, implying a large effect size and opening up possibilities for future therapeutic targets.

SourceOxford University Press USA·JournalJournal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology·DateNov 21, 2019

Algorithm for preventing 'undesirable behavior' works in gender fairness and health tests

A new framework for designing machine learning algorithms helps prevent undesirable behavior, including biases in medical diagnoses and financial predictions. The approach shifts the burden from users to designers, making it easier to create 'well-behaved' algorithms without requiring extensive domain knowledge or complex data analysis.

Breaking (and restoring) graphene's symmetry in a twistable electronics device

Researchers at Columbia University have developed a new way to control the properties of two-dimensional materials by adjusting the twist angle between them. By creating multiple moiré patterns in a graphene-boron nitride device, they were able to study the effects of coexisting moiré superlattices on a layer of graphene.

New research finds signal of decreased early post transplant survival in new heart transplant system

Researchers have identified a decrease in heart transplant survival rates following the implementation of a new donor allocation system in the US. The study found that patients receiving hearts are sicker than in previous systems, leading to an increase in post-transplant mortality.

SourceUniversity of Minnesota Medical School·JournalThe Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation·DateNov 21, 2019

Survey: Most teenagers in legalized states see marijuana marketing on social media

A study found that 94% of adolescents in California, Colorado, Nevada, and Washington reported exposure to marijuana marketing on social media. This exposure is linked to recent marijuana use by adolescents. The researchers suggest that current restrictions on social media content are not effective in preventing exposure.

SourceUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst·JournalJournal of Adolescent Health·DateNov 21, 2019

Sugar delivered to Earth from space

Researchers found ribose and other essential sugars in meteorites, indicating an extraterrestrial origin. The discovery suggests that these sugars could have contributed to the formation of primordial RNA on Earth.

SourceTohoku University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 21, 2019

Deep learning to analyze neurological problems

A new study uses deep neural networks to accurately assess neurological disorders in rats and mice, identifying key features of motor impairments. This breakthrough technology has the potential to standardize diagnosis and monitoring of neurological disorders, enabling early interventions and improved patient outcomes.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateNov 21, 2019

Bone breakthrough may lead to more durable airplane wings

Researchers at Cornell University have discovered a way to strengthen bone structure using computer software, potentially treating osteoporosis and creating lightweight materials for the aerospace industry. The team found that horizontal rod-like struts play a crucial role in extending the fatigue life of bone.

SourceCornell University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 21, 2019

How to fight illegal cocoa farms in Ivory Coast

A study by Ohio State University researchers found that regular foot patrols in two forest reserves reduced illicit activity by over half between 2012 and 2016. The patrols led to the arrest of six poachers, destruction of hundreds of hectares of cocoa farms, and a significant decline in gunshots and snares used to capture game.

SourceOhio State University·JournalTropical Conservation Science·DateNov 21, 2019

UT mathematician develops model to control spread of aquatic invasive species

A mathematical model has been developed to predict how invasive species spread in rivers and how to control their movement using optimal water flow rates. The study, published in Mathematics, uses a partial differential equation model to illustrate how adjusting the water flow rate can prevent invasive populations from expanding upstream.

SourceUniversity of Tennessee at Knoxville·JournalMathematics·DateNov 21, 2019

Eastern equine encephalitis virus poses emergent threat, say NIAID officials

Eastern equine encephalitis virus is a deadly mosquito-borne illness that has existed for centuries, with a particularly deadly year in the US in 2019. Current research efforts focus on developing vaccines and treatments, but challenges include limited funding and difficulties in reaching target populations.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateNov 21, 2019