This Is How Music Can Change Your Brain

 

Actively learning to play an instrument can help a child's academic achievement Science has shown that when children learn to play music, their brains begin to hear and process sounds that they couldn’t otherwise hear. This helps them develop “neurophysiological distinction” between certain sounds that can aid in literacy, which can translate into improved academic results for kids. Many parents probably read the above sentence and started mentally Google-ing child music classes in their local area. But if your kid doesn’t like learning an instrument or doesn’t actively engage in the class–opting to stare at the wall or doodle in a notebook instead of participating–he or she may not be getting all the benefits of those classes anyway. A new study from Northwestern University revealed that in order to fully reap the cognitive benefits of a music class, kids can’t just sit there and let the sound of music wash over them. They have to be actively engaged in the music and participate in the class. “Even in a group of highly motivated students, small variations in music engagement — attendance and class participation — predicted the strength of neural processing after music training,” said Nina Kraus, director of Northwestern’s Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory  in an email to TIME. She co-authored the study with Jane Hornickel, Dana L. Strait, Jessica Slater and Elaine Thompson of Northwestern University. Additionally, the study showed that students who played instruments in class had more improved neural processing than the children who attended the music appreciation group. “We like to say that ‘making music matters,'” said Kraus. “Because it is only through the active generation and manipulation of sound that music can rewire the brain.” Kraus, whose research appeared today in Frontiers in Psychology, continued: “Our results support the importance of active experience and meaningful engagement with sound to stimulate changes in the brain.” Active participation and meaningful engagement translate into children being highly involved in their musical training–these are the kids who had good attendance, who paid close attention in class, “and were the most on-task during their lesson,” said Kraus. To find these results, Kraus’s team went straight to the source, hooking up strategically placed electrode wires on the students’ heads to capture the brain’s responses. Kraus’s team at Northwestern has teamed up with The Harmony Project, a community music program serving low-income children in Los Angeles, after Harmony’s founder approached Kraus to provide scientific evidence behind the program’s success with students. According to The Harmony Project’s website, since 2008, 93 percent of Harmony Project seniors have gone on to college, despite a dropout rate of 50 percent or more in their neighborhoods. It’s a pretty impressive achievement and the Northwestern team designed a study to explore those striking numbers. That research, published in September in the Journal of Neuroscience, showed direct evidence that music training has a biological effect on children’s developing nervous systems. As a follow up, the team decided to test whether the level of engagement in that music training actually matters. Turns out, it really does. Researchers found that after two years, children who not only regularly attended music classes, but also actively participated in the class, showed larger improvements in how the brain processes speech and reading scores than their less-involved peers. “It turns out that playing a musical instrument is important,” Kraus said, differentiating her group’s findings from the now- debunked myth that just listening to certain types of music improves intelligence, the so-called “Mozart effect.” “We don’t see these kinds of biological changes in people who are just listening to music, who are not playing an instrument,” said Kraus. “I like to give the analogy that you’re not going to become physically fit just by watching sports.” It’s important to engage with the sound in order to reap the benefits and see changes in the central nervous system. As to how to keep children interested in playing instruments, that’s up to the parents. “I think parents should follow their intuitions with respect to keeping their children engaged,” said Kraus. “Find the kind of music they love, good teachers, an instrument they’ll like. Making music should be something that children enjoy and will want to keep doing for many years!” With that in mind, it’s not too late to trade in those Minecraft Legos, Frozen paraphernalia, XBox games, and GoldieBlox presents that you may have purchased, and swap them out for music lessons for the kids in your life. For exclusive parenting content, check out our TIME for Family subscription. And to receive parenting news each week, sign up for our parenting newsletter.

Atom-thick CCD could capture images

 

Rice University researchers fabricated a three-pixel, CIS-based optoelectronic sensor array to test the two-dimensional compound’s ability to capture image information. They started with few-layer exfoliated CIS on a silicon substrate, fabricated three pairs of titanium/gold electrodes on top of the CIS and cut the CIS into three sections with a focused ion beam. An atomically thin material developed at Rice University may lead to the thinnest-ever imaging platform. Synthetic two-dimensional materials based on metal chalcogenide compounds could be the basis for superthin devices, according to Rice researchers. One such material, molybdenum disulfide, is being widely studied for its light-detecting properties, but copper indium selenide (CIS) also shows extraordinary promise. Sidong Lei, a graduate student in the Rice lab of materials scientist Pulickel Ajayan, synthesized CIS, a single-layer matrix of copper, indium and selenium atoms. Lei also built a prototype -- a three-pixel, charge-coupled device (CCD) -- to prove the material's ability to capture an image. The details appear this month in the American Chemical Society journal Nano Letters. Lei said the optoelectronic memory material could be an important component in two-dimensional electronics that capture images. "Traditional CCDs are thick and rigid, and it would not make sense to combine them with 2-D elements," he said. "CIS-based CCDs would be ultrathin, transparent and flexible, and are the missing piece for things like 2-D imaging devices." The device traps electrons formed when light hits the material and holds them until released for storage, Lei said. CIS pixels are highly sensitive to light because the trapped electrons dissipate so slowly, said Robert Vajtai, a senior faculty fellow in Rice's Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering. "There are many two-dimensional materials that can sense light, but none are as efficient as this material," he said. "This material is 10 times more efficient than the best we've seen before." Because the material is transparent, a CIS-based scanner might use light from one side to illuminate the image on the other for capture. For medical applications, Lei envisions CIS being combined with other 2-D electronics in tiny bio-imaging devices that monitor real-time conditions. In the experiments for the newly reported study, Lei and colleagues grew synthetic CIS crystals, pulled single-layer sheets from the crystals and then tested the ability of the layers to capture light. He said the layer is about two nanometers thick and consists of a nine-atom-thick lattice. The material may also be grown via chemical vapor deposition to a size limited only by the size of the furnace, Lei said. Because it's flexible, CIS could also be curved to match the focal surface of an imaging lens system. He said this would allow for the real-time correction of aberrations and significantly simplify the entire optical system. Co-authors of the paper are Rice graduate students Fangfang Wen and Yongji Gong; postdoctoral researchers Bo Li, Pei Dong, Anthony George and Liehui Ge; undergraduates Qizhong Wang, James Bellah and Yihan Huang; complementary appointee Yongmin He of Lanzhou University, China; Jun Lou, an associate professor of materials science and nanoengineering, and Naomi Halas, the Stanley C. Moore Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and a professor of chemistry, biomedical engineering, physics and astronomy and of materials science and nanoengineering. Ajayan is Rice's Benjamin M. and Mary Greenwood Anderson Professor in Engineering, professor of materials science and nanoengineering and of chemistry and chair of the Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering. The research was supported by the Army Research Office Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative, the Function Accelerated nanoMaterial Engineering Division of the Semiconductor Technology Advanced Research Network, the Microelectronics Advanced Research Association, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research, the Robert A. Welch Foundation, the National Security Science and Engineering Faculty Fellowship and the Office of Naval Research. Story Source: The above story is based on materials provided by Rice University. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. Journal Reference: Sidong Lei, Fangfang Wen, Bo Li, Qizhong Wang, Yihan Huang, Yongji Gong, Yongmin He, Pei Dong, James Bellah, Antony George, Liehui Ge, Jun Lou, Naomi J. Halas, Robert Vajtai, Pulickel M. Ajayan. Optoelectronic Memory Using Two-Dimensional Materials. Nano Letters, 2014; 141217153644008 DOI: 10.1021/nl503505f

Possible avenue to better electrolyte for lithium ion batteries

 

X-ray absorption spectra, interpreted using first-principles electronic structure calculations, provide insight into the solvation of the lithium ion in propylene carbonate. The lithium-ion batteries that mobilize our electronic devices need to be improved if they are to power electric vehicles or store electrical energy for the grid. Berkeley Lab researchers looking for a better understanding of liquid electrolyte may have found a pathway forward. A team led by Richard Saykally, a chemist with Berkeley Lab's Chemical Sciences Division, David Prendergast, a theorist with Berkeley Lab's Molecular Foundry, and Steven Harris, a chemist with the Lab's Materials Sciences Division, found surprising results in the first X-ray absorption spectroscopy study of a model lithium electrolyte. "A crucial process in lithium ion batteries is the transport of lithium ions between the electrodes," explains Saykally. "Commercial lithium-ion batteries contain a liquid electrolyte comprising a lithium salt dissolved in an alkyl carbonate solvent system. There's disagreement in the battery industry on the nature of the local solvation environment of lithium ions in these solutions, a critical issue because the desolvation of the ions as they move through the negative electrode is believed to limit the electrical power that can be made available." Most previous computational simulations have predicted a tetrahedral solvation structure for the lithium ion in the electrolyte, but the new study by Saykally, Prendergast, Harris and their collaborators show this to not be the case. "Our results indicate a solvation number of 4.5, which points to a non-tetrahedral solvation structure for the lithium ions," says lithium-battery expert Harris. "This contradicts numerous theoretical studies which indicated a primarily tetrahedral coordination structure with a solvation number near 2 or 3, depending on the prevalence of ion pairing. Based on our results, to design better performing electrolytes, future computational models will need to move beyond tetrahedral coordination structures." Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) make any short list of great inventions of the 20th century. Today LIBs represent a multibillion dollar industry as the power supply of cellular phones, tablets, laptops and other handheld electronic devices. However, serious shortcomings -- high costs, inadequate energy densities, long recharge times and short cycle-life times -- have hampered the use of LIBS for electric vehicles and for efficient electrical energy storage systems that can be used in conjunction with wind and solar energy sources. Although it has become increasingly clear to the battery industry that improvements in the liquid electrolyte are essential if LIBs are to be effective for electric vehicles and large-scale energy storage, most LIB research has focused on the electrodes and solid electrolyte interphase. The problem has been a lack of capabilities for the requisite experiments, particularly X-ray spectroscopy. This deficiency was addressed by Saykally and his group with their development of a unique liquid microjet technology in which two aqueous samples rapidly mix and flow through a finely tipped silica nozzle only a few micrometers in diameter. The resulting liquid beam travels a few centimeters in a vacuum chamber before it is intersected by an X-ray beam then collected and condensed out. This liquid microjet system has been set up at Beamline 8.0.1 of Berkeley Lab's Advanced Light Source (ALS). Beamline 8.0.1 is a high flux undulator beamline that produces X-ray beams optimized for X-ray spectroscopy. "Working at the ALS with our liquid microjet system, we used X-ray absorption spectroscopy to study lithium tetrafluoroborate in propylene carbonate," Saykally says. "X-ray absorption spectroscopy is an atom-specific core-level spectroscopic probe of unoccupied electronic states. It is highly sensitive to both the intra- and intermolecular environment of the target atom." The XAS experimental spectra were interpreted through molecular dynamics and density functional theory spectral simulations carried out on the supercomputers at the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC) by Prendergast and Jacob Smith, a graduate student in Saykally's research group. The ALS, the Molecular Foundry and NERSC are all DOE Office of Science national user facilities hosted at Berkeley Lab. A paper describing this research has been published in the journal Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. The paper is titled "X-Ray absorption spectroscopy of LiBF4 in propylene carbonate: a model lithium ion battery electrolyte." Saykally is the corresponding author, Smith the lead author. Other co-authors in addition to Harris and Prendergast were Royce Lam, Alex Sheardy, Orion Shih, Anthony Rizzuto and Oleg Borodin. This research was supported by the DOE Office of Science. Story Source: The above story is based on materials provided by DOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. Journal Reference: Jacob W. Smith, Royce K. Lam, Alex T. Sheardy, Orion Shih, Anthony M. Rizzuto, Oleg Borodin, Stephen J. Harris, David Prendergast, Richard J. Saykally. X-Ray absorption spectroscopy of LiBF4in propylene carbonate: a model lithium ion battery electrolyte. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2014; 16 (43): 23568 DOI: 10.1039/c4cp03240c

Yellowstone's thermal springs: Their colors unveiled

 

This is a photograph of Morning Glory Pool from Aug. 23, 2012. Researchers at Montana State University and Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences in Germany have created a simple mathematical model based on optical measurements that explains the stunning colors of Yellowstone National Park's hot springs and can visually recreate how they appeared years ago, before decades of tourists contaminated the pools with make-a-wish coins and other detritus. The model, and stunning pictures of the springs, appear today in the journal Applied Optics, which is published by The Optical Society (OSA). If Yellowstone National Park is a geothermal wonderland, Grand Prismatic Spring and its neighbors are the ebullient envoys, steaming in front of the camera and gracing the Internet with their ethereal beauty. While the basic physical phenomena that render these colorful delights have long been scientifically understood -- they arise because of a complicated interplay of underwater vents and lawns of bacteria -- no mathematical model existed that showed empirically how the physical and chemical variables of a pool relate to their optical factors and coalesce in the unique, stunning fashion that they do. "What we were able to show is that you really don't have to get terribly complex -- you can explain some very beautiful things with relatively simple models," said Joseph Shaw, a professor at Montana State University and director of the university's Optical Technology Center. Shaw, along with his Ph.D. student Paul Nugent and German colleague Michael Vollmer, co-authored the new paper. Using a relatively simple one-dimensional model for light propagation, the group was able to reproduce the brilliant colors and optical characteristics of Yellowstone National Park's hot springs by accounting for each pool's spectral reflection due to microbial mats, their optical absorption and scattering of water and the incident solar and diffuse skylight conditions present when measurements were taken. "When we started the study, it was clear we were just doing it for fun," Vollmer said. But they quickly discovered there was very little in the scientific literature on the subject. That's when things got interesting. Montana State University, in Bozeman, Mont., is a short drive away from Yellowstone National Park. In the summer of 2012, Vollmer, on sabbatical from the Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences, travelled with Shaw and Nugent to the park. Using handheld spectrometers, digital SLR cameras for visible images and long wave infrared thermal imaging cameras for non-contact measurement of the water temperatures, the group took measurements at a number of pools in Yellowstone, including Morning Glory Pool, Sapphire Pool and Grand Prismatic Spring. Using these data, along with previously available information about the physical dimensions of the pools, they were able to create a simple model whose renderings of the pools were strikingly similar to actual photographs. In the case of Morning Glory Pool, they were even able to simulate what the pool once looked like between the 1880s and 1940s, when its temperatures were significantly higher. During this time, its waters appeared a uniform deep blue. An accumulation of coins, trash and rocks over the intervening decades has partially obscured the underwater vent, lowering the pool's overall temperature and shifting its appearance to a terrace of orange-yellow-green. This change from blue was demonstrated to result from the change in composition of the microbial mats, as a result of the lower water temperature. A general relationship between shallow water temperature (hence microbial mat composition) and observed colors was confirmed in this study. However, color patterns observed in deeper segments of the pool are caused more by absorption and scattering of light in the water. These characteristics -- mats having greater effect on color in shallow water, and absorption and scattering winning out in the deeper areas -- are consistent across all the measured pools. "Our paper describes a very simple, one-dimensional model, that gives the first clue if you really want to do more," Vollmer said. "We didn't start this project as experts on thermal pools," Shaw said. "We started this project as experts on optical phenomena and imaging, and so we had a lot to learn." "There are people at my university who are world experts in the biological side of what's going on in the pools," Shaw said. "They're looking for ways to monitor changes in the biology -- when the biology changes, that causes color changes -- so we're actually looking at possibilities of collaborating in the future." Future work for Nugent, Vollmer and Shaw includes delving further into infrared imaging at Yellowstone National Park. Story Source: The above story is based on materials provided by American Institute of Physics (AIP). Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. Journal Reference: Paul W. Nugent, Joseph A. Shaw, Michael Vollmer. Colors of thermal pools at Yellowstone National Park. Applied Optics, 2014; 54 (4): B128 DOI: 10.1364/AO.54.00B128

Breakthrough in optical fiber communications

 

December 19, 2014 University of Southampton Researchers from the University of Southampton have revealed a breakthrough in optical fiber communications. They developed an approach that enables direct modulation of laser currents to be used to generate highly advanced modulation format signals. The research explores a radically new approach to the generation of spectrally-efficient advanced modulation format signals as required in modern optical communication systems. This is a constellation diagram of one of the mainstream modulation formats of the future system: Sixteen Quadrature-Amplitude modulation. Researchers from the University of Southampton have revealed a breakthrough in optical fibre communications. Academics from the University's Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC) have collaborated with colleagues at Eblana Photonics Inc, in Ireland, to develop an approach that enables direct modulation of laser currents to be used to generate highly advanced modulation format signals. The research, published in the journal Nature Communications, explores a radically new approach to the generation of spectrally-efficient advanced modulation format signals as required in modern optical communication systems. This new technology, patented by the University of Southampton and licensed to Eblana Photonics Inc, avoids the need for costly and power-inefficient external modulator schemes that are currently used to generate such signals.. Dr Radan Slavik, Principal Research Fellow at the ORC, said: "Our paper highlights the exquisite control that we have achieved over the optical field generated directly from a current-modulated semiconductor laser." Direct current modulated lasers are of huge commercial relevance and are already widely used in optical communications, telecommunications and sensor and high power fibre laser systems. However, the inability to accurately control the full optical field emitted directly from such lasers has been a fundamental problem limiting applications. Dr Slavik explains: "The new capability we have demonstrated will be of relevance and could be of significant impact within many scientific and engineering communities that are directly concerned with or exploit laser radiation. "We have previously presented some of the results included in this paper at conferences, including a post-deadline presentation at Optical Fibre Communications (OFC), and at an international symposium and this has already generated a lot of interest from senior academics in our community, as well as from leading industrial players." Dr Rob Lennox, Director of Sales at Eblana Photonics Ltd., Dublin, said: "We are very pleased to have collaborated on this innovative development work performed by the ORC team and are looking towards making this new approach a commercial reality." Story Source: The above story is based on materials provided by University of Southampton. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. Journal Reference: Zhixin Liu, Joseph Kakande, Brian Kelly, John O’Carroll, Richard Phelan, David J. Richardson, Radan Slavík. Modulator-free quadrature amplitude modulation signal synthesis. Nature Communications, 2014; 5: 5911 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6911

Helping parents understand infant sleep patterns

 

December 19, 2014 Penn State Most parents are not surprised by the irregularity of a newborn infant's sleep patterns, but by six months or so many parents wonder if something is wrong with their baby or their sleeping arrangements if the baby is not sleeping through the night. Health-care providers, specifically nurse practitioners, can help parents understand what 'normal' sleep patterns are for their child, according to researchers. Most parents are not surprised by the irregularity of a newborn infant's sleep patterns, but by six months or so many parents wonder if something is wrong with their baby or their sleeping arrangements if the baby is not sleeping through the night. Healthcare providers, specifically nurse practitioners, can help parents understand what "normal" sleep patterns are for their child, according to researchers. "Nurse practitioners are at the frontline of healthcare," said Robin Yaure, senior instructor of human development and family studies, Penn State Mont Alto. "They are in an ideal position to help parents understand infant sleep pattern norms. Thus, nurse practitioners can help parents understand that 'sleeping through the night' is not entirely likely in young infants and that infants' sleep patterns change during the first few years of life." According to the researchers, there are four common areas of concern for both parents and practitioners: what constitutes "normal" infant sleep and waking patterns, whether nightwakings are a problem or not, is a parent's presence disruptive when an infant is falling asleep, and whether sleep training is safe and healthy for infants. Sleep training is one way to establish a sleep routine for a child, although the methods used may not be appealing to parents or in the best interests of the child, the researchers said. Yaure and colleagues reviewed current research on infant sleep, focusing on the above four areas of concern, and specifically infant safety and the well being of both infant and mother during nighttime care. The researchers suggest how to best integrate parents' preferences for care and best practice information, and include conversation points for nurse practitioners recently online in the Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Infants' sleep patterns vary for at least the first three years of life. There are many reasons for this, including changes in infant health and mobility and the development of separation anxiety. "Sharing this basic information with parents is one way of assuring parents that infants' waking does not necessarily mean that the parents are doing something wrong," the researchers wrote. Parent presence at bedtime, sleep training and infant self-settling are frequently debated topics about which parents might look to healthcare professionals for advice. Yaure and colleagues again point to sharing information with parents -- for example, recent research suggests that the presence of parents at bedtime, specifically during the transition to sleep, may not trigger nightwakings as previously thought. The researchers also point out that recent research on the nonresponsiveness of mothers during nighttime care can raise stress for both mom and baby. Elevated stress increases cortisol in the body, which may hurt the baby in the long run. Increased cortisol levels are associated with depression, aggression and attention problems, among other issues, in children and adults. "I worry about parents who feel like they can't trust their own instincts," said Yaure. "Different parents have different goals and ideas for parenting, and we want parents to figure out how to incorporate best practices into their belief system. We have to be culturally aware and sensitive to different families and beliefs." By encouraging nurse practitioners to talk about current knowledge on infant nightwakings and parental presence, among other things, Yaure hopes that parents will become more comfortable and confident with their nighttime care choices. Further research will include how doctors can also help translate research-based knowledge of infant sleep into practice. Story Source: The above story is based on materials provided by Penn State. The original article was written by Victoria M. Indivero. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. Journal Reference: Wendy Middlemiss, Robin Yaure, Erron L. Huey. Translating research-based knowledge about infant sleep into practice. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 2014; DOI: 10.1002/2327-6924.12159

Gene critical for proper brain development discovered

 

Scientists at A*STAR's Institute of Medical Biology (IMB) and Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology (IMCB) have identified a genetic pathway that accounts for the extraordinary size of the human brain. The team led by Dr Bruno Reversade[1] from A*STAR in Singapore, together with collaborators from Harvard Medical School, have identified a gene, KATNB1, as an essential component in a genetic pathway responsible for central nervous system development in humans and other animals. By sequencing the genome of individuals of normal height but with a very small head size, the international team revealed that these individuals had mutations in the KATNB1 gene, indicating that this gene is important for proper human brain development. Microcephaly (literally meaning "small head" in Latin) is a condition often associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. Measured at birth by calculating the baby's head circumference, a diagnosis of microcephaly is given if it is smaller than average. Microcephaly may stem from a variety of conditions that cause abnormal growth of the brain during gestation or degenerative processes after birth, all resulting in a small head circumference. In general, individuals with microcephaly have a reduced life expectancy due to reduced brain function which is often associated with mental retardation. The team also carried out further experiments to determine the function of KATNB1, whose exact mode of action was previously unknown in humans. Using organisms specifically designed to lack this gene, they realised that KATNB1 is crucial for the brain to reach its correct size. Zebrafish and mice embryos without this gene could not live past a certain stage and showed dramatic reduction in brain and head size, similar to the human patients. Their results were published in the 17 December 2014 online issue of Neuron. Sequencing and screening for this particular gene before birth or at birth might also help to detect future neurocognitive problems in the general population. Dr Reversade said, "We will continue to search for other genes important for brain development as they may unlock some of the secrets explaining how we, humans, have evolved such cognitive abilities." Prof Birgit Lane, Executive Director of IMB, said, "This is one of a small number of genes that scientists have found to be vital for brain development. The work is therefore an important advance in understanding the human brain. The team's findings provide a new platform from which to look further into whether -- and how -- this gene can be used for targeted therapeutic applications." Prof Hong Wanjin, Executive Director of IMCB, said, "This coordinated effort shows the increasingly collaborative nature of science. As the complexity and interdisciplinary nature of research evolves, so do the networks of collaborations between research institutes at A*STAR and across continents." Story Source: The above story is based on materials provided by A*Star Agency for Science, Technology and Research. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. Journal Reference: Ketu Mishra-Gorur, Ahmet Okay Çağlayan, Ashleigh E. Schaffer, Chiswili Chabu, Octavian Henegariu, Fernando Vonhoff, Gözde Tuğce Akgümüş, Sayoko Nishimura, Wenqi Han, Shu Tu, Burçin Baran, Hakan Gümüş, Cengiz Dilber, Maha S. Zaki, Heba A.A. Hossni, Jean-Baptiste Rivière, Hülya Kayserili, Emily G. Spencer, Rasim Ö. Rosti, Jana Schroth, Hüseyin Per, Caner Çağlar, Çağri Çağlar, Duygu Dölen, Jacob F. Baranoski, Sefer Kumandaş, Frank J. Minja, E. Zeynep Erson-Omay, Shrikant M. Mane, Richard P. Lifton, Tian Xu, Haig Keshishian, William B. Dobyns, Neil C. Chi, Nenad Šestan, Angeliki Louvi, Kaya Bilgüvar, Katsuhito Yasuno, Joseph G. Gleeson, Murat Günel. Mutations in KATNB1 Cause Complex Cerebral Malformations by Disrupting Asymmetrically Dividing Neural Progenitors. Neuron, 2014; 84 (6): 1226 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2014.12.014

Disabled dog is now able to run, thanks to 3D-printed prostheses

 

Derby with his new 'legs' Derby the dog faced a challenge right from Day One. Due to a congenital deformity, he was born with very small forelegs and no front paws. This resulted in his ending up in the care of Hillsborough, New Hampshire-based dog rescue group, Peace and Paws. Fortunately, he then proceeded into the foster home of Tara Anderson. She works for 3D printing company 3D Systems (3DS), and set about using her employer's technology to make him a set of prostheses. As a result, he's now able to run for the first time. Anderson worked with animal orthotist Derrick Campana and two of her 3DS co-workers, designers Kevin Atkins and Dave DiPinto. They started by 3D-scanning Derby's forelegs. They then used 3DS' Geomagic Freeform digital sculpting platform to create computer models of leg-attachment cups for the prostheses, which would perfectly match the contours of Derby's appendages. Using a ProJet 5500X multi-material 3D printer, the actual physical prostheses were then created in a single build within a few hours. Along with the cups, they incorporate rubber treads and rigid spokes, and are attached with straps. As can be seen in the video below, Derby is now able to run across all manner of surfaces. He had previously been set up with a wheeled cart-style apparatus, although this was awkward, and didn't allow him to actually run with his front legs. Making things better yet, Anderson found a permanent home for him, with adoptive human parents Sherri and Dom Portanova. "He runs with Sherri and I every day, at least two to three miles," said Dom. "When I saw him sprinting like that on his new legs, it was just amazing." Source: 3D Systems

8 Passos Lentos e Difíceis Para Ser Um Milionário

 

Artigo de Dharmesh Shah, Fundador e CTO @ HubSpot O dinheiro, como diz a sabedoria tradicional, não é tudo. Pelo menos no longo prazo. Quando a sua definição de sucesso está em jogo, o dinheiro pode ficar num lugar baixo do ranking. A definição de “sucesso” varia de pessoa para pessoa. Aqui está a minha: Sucesso é fazer com que aqueles que acreditam em si sejam brilhantes. Para mim, o dinheiro não é assim tão importante, mas confesso que já o foi (provavelmente porque não tinha assim tanto). Digamos que o dinheiro está na sua lista de prioridades. E digamos que, tal como outros milhões de pessoas, gostava de ser milionário. Que tipo de coisas deverá fazer para aumentar a probabilidade de se tornar num milionário? Aqui estão alguns passos. Nenhum deles é fácil nem rápido, mas deverão ter resultados melhores que a procura de atalhos rápidos e fáceis. Deixe de viver obcecado por dinheiro. Embora pareça contraditório, manter o foco no quanto já ganhou e ganha só o distrai das coisas que realmente contribuem para a construção e crescimento de riqueza. Portanto, mude de perspectiva. Veja o dinheiro não como objectivo principal, mas como um produto resultante de fazer as coisas certas. Comece a rastrear quantas pessoas ajuda, mesmo com pequenos atos. As pessoas mais bem-sucedidas – tanto financeiramente como de outras formas (nunca se esqueça, o conceito de sucesso varia de pessoa para pessoa) – tão incrivelmente úteis. Eles são excelentes a entender as outras pessoas e a ajudá-las a atingir os seus objectivos. Eles sabem que o seu sucesso é, em última instância, baseado no sucesso das pessoas à sua volta. Eles trabalham para que os outros sejam bem-sucedidos: os seus colaboradores, clientes e fornecedores. Sabem que se aqueles com quem trabalham são bem-sucedidos, então eles também o serão. Desta forma vão construindo um negócio – ou uma carreira – do qual se podem orgulhar. Deixe de pensar em como fazer um milhão de euros e comece a pensar sobre como servir um milhão de pessoas. Quando tem apenas alguns clientes e o seu objectivo é fazer um monte de dinheiro, o seu foco está virado para encontrar maneiras de extrair o último euro desses clientes. Mas quando encontra uma maneira de servidor um milhão de pessoas, seguem-se muitos benefícios. O efeito do boca a boca é ampliado. O feedback que recebe é exponencialmente maior – e assim são as suas oportunidades para melhorar os seus produtos e serviços. Começa a atrair mais funcionários, beneficiando da sua experiência e habilidades. E, com o tempo, o seu negócio torna-se algo que nunca sonhou – porque os seus clientes e colaboradores levam-no a lugares que nunca imaginou. Sirva um milhão de pessoas – e sirva-as incrivelmente bem -, de seguida virá o dinheiro. Olhe para o crescimento de riqueza como uma maneira de fazer mais coisas. De um modo geral, existem dois tipos de pessoas: O primeiro tipo são as pessoas que querem fazer coisas porque querem mais dinheiro; quanto mais coisas fizerem, mais dinheiro poderão fazer. O que fazem não lhes interessa muita – eles fazem qualquer coisa desde que pague. O segundo tipo são as pessoas que querem mais dinheiro para fazer mais coisas. Querem melhorar um produto. Querem alargar o seu negócio. Querem escrever outro livro, compor outra música ou produzir outro filme. Amam o que fazem e olham para o dinheiro como uma maneira de fazerem ainda mais do que gostam. Sonham em construir uma grande empresa e que faça as coisas o melhor possível. Embora seja possível descobrir um produto pretendido por todo o mundo e fazer crescer riqueza vendendo esse produto, as empresas mais bem-sucedidas evoluem e crescem, reinvestem o dinheiro numa busca incessante pela excelência. Nós não fazemos filmes para ganhar dinheiro, nós fazemos dinheiro para fazer mais filmes – Walt Disney  Faça uma coisa melhor. Escolha uma coisa na qual já é melhor que a maioria a fazer. Apenas. Uma. Coisa. Torne-se um maníaco focado em fazer essa coisa. Trabalhe. Treine. Aprenda. Pratique. Evolua. Seja um auto-crítico implacável, não de uma maneira masoquista, mas para garantir que continua a trabalhar para melhorar em todos os aspectos. As pessoas financeiramente bem-sucedidas fazem pelo menos uma coisa melhor que a maioria das pessoas. (Claro que ajuda se for uma coisa valorizada pelo mundo.) A excelência é a sua própria recompensa, mas a excelência também traz lucros mais elevados – e mais respeito, maior auto-estima, maior satisfação, maior sentimento de realização… tudo o que o tornará rico em termos não-monetários. Ganhar-ganhar. Faça uma lista das dez melhores pessoas do mundo na sua área. Como escolheu as dez pessoas? Como determinou que são os “melhores”? Como mediu o seu “sucesso”? Utilize esses critérios para acompanhar o seu próprio progresso no caminho para a excelência. Se for um escritor, o seu progresso poderá ser entrar nos rankings da Amazon. Se for um música, poderá ser subir nos downloads do iTunes. Se é um programador, poderá ser aumentar o número de pessoas que utiliza o seu software. Se é um líder, o progresso poderá ser levar as pessoas que treina e desenvolve a fazer coisas melhores e maiores. Não se limite a admirar essas pessoas. Aproxime os seus olhos do que os torna tão bem-sucedidos. Em seguida, use esses critérios para ajudar a criar as suas próprias medidas de sucesso. E, em seguida…  Acompanhe o seu progresso. Temos tendência a tornar-nos o que medimos, por isso, acompanhe o seu progresso, pelo menos uma vez por semana. Talvez meça quantas pessoas ajudou. Talvez meça quantos clientes serviu. Talvez avalie os principais passos no seu caminho para se tornar o melhor do mundo nalguma coisa. Talvez seja uma combinação de todas estas coisas e muito mais.  Crie rotinas que garantam progresso. Nunca se esqueça que o caminho para alcançar um objectivo é baseado na criação de rotinas. Digamos que quer escrever um livro de 200 páginas; esse é o seu objectivo. O seu sistema para atingi esse objectivo poderia ser escrever quatro páginas por dia; essa é a sua rotina. Desejar e esperar não o vai levar a livro concluído. Seguir fielmente a sua rotina, garante que alcança o seu objectivo. Ou digamos que pretende “atrair” 100 novos clientes através de uma campanha de marketing. Esse é o seu objectivo; a sua rotina é criar novos conteúdos, vídeos, podcasts, artigos, etc. num qualquer horário que definir. Mantenha essa rotina e cumpra os seus prazos. Se o seu conteúdo for óptimo, você vai conseguir esses novos clientes. Desejar e esperar não o vai fazer chegar lá – adira fielmente à sua rotina. Estabeleça metas, crie rotinas que suportem esses objectivos e, em seguida, acompanhe o seu progresso. Mude o que não funciona. Melhor e repita o que funciona. Refine e reveja e adapte e trabalhe duro todos os dias para ser melhor do que era ontem. A partir dai você será muito bom. Será grande. E um dia será de classe mundial. Depois disso, mesmo que não dê conta, você será um milionário.

Psicologia da Linguagem: Porque Algumas Palavras São Mais Persuasivas

 

O que acontece no cérebro quando se processa a linguagem? E se as palavras afetam a mente de maneiras diferentes, é possível que umas sejam mais persuasivas do que outras? O co-fundador do Buffer, Leo Widrich, mergulhou numa pesquisa sobre este tema e descobriu fatos interessantes. Começo por deixar um segredo bem fresquinho e espero que não o ache muito estranho. Umas das coisas que me fazem perder mais tempo são as palavras; palavras simples, na verdade. Devo dizer “Hi” ou “Hey”? Devo dizer “cheers” ou “thanks”? E que tal “but” ou “and”? Suponho que tenha o mesmo tipo de obsessão. Em muitas ocasiões eu e o Joel sentamo-nos os dois e trocamos palavras, mudamo-las um número sem fim de vezes até que sintamos que está perfeito. Em parte isto serve para melhorar a nossa métrica de taxa de cliques. Também serve simplesmente para criar uma emoção. A pergunta fundamental que nos colocamos é: Como esta frase te faz sentir? A pegunta pode parecer óbvia. Mesmo assim, tem um significado muito diferente de, por exemplo: “Que mensagem queres transmitir?” Ou “Qual o conteúdo deste artigo?” Focando no “Como é que alguém se vai sentir ao ler isto” sempre que escrevemos uma linha de texto, melhoramos imediatamente a quantidade de respostas provenientes dos nossos utilizadores. Explorámos, recentemente, a importância do sono e as horas de sono necessárias para trabalharmos de forma produtiva. Vamos fazer o mesmo com a linguagem e mergulhar na forma como o nosso cérebro funciona com a linguagem.   O nosso cérebro enquanto escuta palavras Recentemente, muitos dos paradigmas antigos sobre como o nosso cérebro processa a linguagem foram derrubados. Novos estudos produziram resultados surpreendentes e diferentes. Um dos estudos mais interessantes foi levado a cabo pela UCL e relata como podemos separar as palavras da sua entoação. Sempre que ouvir palavras, é isto que acontece: As palavras são desviadas para o lobo temporal esquerdo [do nosso cérebro] para processamento enquanto a melodia é canalizada para o lado direito do cérebro, uma região mais estimulada pela música. Desta forma, o nosso cérebro utiliza duas áreas distintas do cérebro para identificar a entoação e, de seguida, o real significado das palavras. Pensando bem, o que ainda não faz muito sentido é o porquê de conseguirmos distinguir “linguagem” de forma tão distinta de todos os outros sons. A equipa da UCL tentou descobrir exatamente a razão. Eles reproduziram sons vocais (fala) e, depois, sons não vocais que ainda assim soavam similares aos sons falados. Apesar de medir a sua atividade cerebral, eles descobriram algo fascinante: O  som vocal foi canalizado para um tratamento especial perto do córtex auditivo primário. Em suma, o nosso cérebro consegue, como um truque de magia, identificar sons de linguagem de todos os outros sons existentes e ainda transporá-los para o “departamento” correto para que este lhes dá sentido. A imagem seguinte dá um resumo geral sobre como o nosso cérebro processa a linguagem: Portanto, a entoação e a forma das palavras interessam, mas o que os divide? O mito da regra “55% linguagem corporal, 38% tom de voz e 7% palavras reais Já ouviu, provavelmente muita vez, a regra acima. É um dos estudos que mais tem perdurado e tornou-se um sinónimo obrigatório para definir como a linguagem funciona. Esta regra tem sido explorada nos últimos anos e estuda-se, atualmente, o verdadeiro conteúdo das pesquisas realizadas há bastante tempo atrás. O estudo, que remonta a 1967, tinha um propósito diferente daquele que conhecemos e não estava em nada relacionado com a definição de como processamos a linguagem: O fato é que a pesquisa realizada pelo Prof. Mehrabian não tinha nada a ver com fazer discrusos porque foi baseado em informação que poderia ser gerada por uma única palavra. Aqui está o que aconteceu verdadeiramente para desencadear a regra acima: Os participantes foram convidados a ouvir uma gravação de voz de uma mulher a dizer a palavra “talvez” de três maneiras diferentes, para transmitir sensações diferentes: gosto, neutro e não gosto. Também foi mostrada uma foto do rosto da mulher a transmitir as mesmas três sensações. Os participantes tinham que adivinhar as emoções ouvidas, vistas e, por fim, com voz e imagem em simultâneo. O resultado? Os sujeitos identificaram corretamente as emoções com uma taxa superior em 50% quando se tratava da foto em vez da voz. Expressão facial, brevidade e evitar adjetivos no discurso Sorria – o gesto emocional mais emocional Há, naturalmente, uma série de outros elementos poderosos a considerar quando pensamos num discurso. Um dos mais importantes que o investigador Andrew Newberg desvenda no seu livro Words Can Change Your Brain é a expressão facial que carregamos. Newberg expõe o seu raciocínio explicando o porquê de o sorriso de Mona Lisa ter-se tornado numa das pinturas mais conhecidas em todo o mundo: Nós sabemos que sorrir é um gesto muito poderoso; fizémos um estudo sobre o tema, olhando para diferentes símbolos, e o símbolo que foi avaliado com maior conteúdo emocional positivo foi o rosto sorridente. A pintura da Mona Lisa é um exemplo particular de um sentimento de calma. Não fale mais de 30 segundos numa dada conversação Outro elemento indicativo da forma como processamos a linguagem é o número de palavras que usamos para nos conseguirmos expressar. Claro que isso é óbvio, mas mesmo assim convém relembrar: O cérebro humano consegue manter 4 coisas diferentes em simultâneo, o que significa que se demora mais de 5 ou 10 minutos a argumentar um ponto de vista, as pessoas apenas se irão lembrar de uma pequena parte. Em vez disso, 30 segundos é a quantidade ideal para falarmos, a qualquer momento, diz Newberg: Falar brevemente significa que você diz uma ou duas frases, talvez 30 segundos em termos de valor. Isso é, na verdade, o que o cérebro humano consegue manter. Evite adjetivos na fala e na escrita Deixar de usar adjetivos é algo que me tem dado imensa luta. Os adjetivos são um dos piores elementos do discurso e podem, inclusive, tirar a confiança a um ouvinte ou leitor. O escritor Kim Peres explica: Usar palavras simples para descrever ações e objetivos traz rapidamente à mente imagens reais . Quando alguém “espeta” uma palhinha na sua bebida nós percebemos, mas quando alguém “fala rapidamente” a mensagem não é tão clara. Quando uma pessoa “cambaleia” é mais preciso que “andar devagar”. Um homem cujo pé é descrito como um “casco” traz imagens mais vivas que “tem os dedos sedosos e únicos”. Ler isto atingiu-me como um calhau e a mensagem não pode ser mais clara. Peres passa a explicar que “o texto desnecessário induz desatenção”. Os adjetivos podem ser negativos para um discurso ou escrita. Outra coisa que esquecemos numa visão de alto nível é que a utilização de poucas palavras permite construir confiança. Assim, todas as palavras que não transmitam um significado claro podem tirar o interesse de leitores e ouvintes. Este é um dos elementos mais importantes que deve começar por relembrar. 3 das ideias mais importantes na utilização de palavras do dia-a-dia A habilidade de colocar questões: “O que você faria?” Quando li isto percebi que sou um zero à esquerda. Um dos melhores jornalistas e agora empreendedor, Evan Ratliff, coloca-o da seguinte forma: “Tudo o que me salvou (até agora) da loucura é ser capaz de formular perguntas que oferecem respostas úteis”. Ele aponta que todas as perguntas iniciadas com “quem”, “o quê”,  “onde”, “quando”, “como” ou “porquê” são susceptíveis a obter grandes respostas. Devem ser evitados “seria”, “deveria”, “é”, “são” e “você acha”, uma vez que podem limitar a reação das pessoas. Para dar um exemplo: Bom: “O que você faria? Mau: “Você faria X?” Terrível: “Você faria X ou Y ou Z ou Q ou M ou W ou…?” Remova o “é” da sua linguagem Esta dica é super interessante. Alfred Korzybski, o criado da Semântica Geral, estava firmemente convencido que o verbo “ser”, como “Eu sou”, “Ele é”, “Eles são”, “Nós somos” promovem a insanidade. Porquê? Simplesmente porque as coisas não podem ser exatamente iguais a qualquer outra coisa. Joshua Cartwright explica: Este X = Y cria todo o tipo de angústia mental desnecessária porque não nos podemos reduzir a conceitos individuais. Você acredita que tem mais complexidade do que essa, certo? No entanto, aceitamos inconscientemente estas limitações da linguagem e acreditamos que nos identificamos com ela. Leia a seguinte lista de exemplo e vai reparar imediatamente o quão diferente é o resultado das declarações: Ele é um idiota vs. A meu ver, ele agiu como um idiota Ela está deprimida vs. Para mim, ela parece deprimida Eu sou um fracasso vs. Acho que errei nessa tarefa Estou convencido de que vs. Parece-me que Você (You), porque (Because), gratuito (Free), de imediato (Instantly), novo (New) – As 5 palavras mais persuasivas em Inglês Num fantástico artigo, Gregory Ciotti investigou o top 5 de palavras em Inglês. A sua lista não é surpreendente mas a pesquisa por trás dela é extremamente poderosa. “Você” – o seu nome é fácil de ser esquecido e, mesmo assim, muito importante para uma boa comunicação: Lembrar-se do nome de uma pessoa é o som mais doce e importante em qualquer idioma ~Dale Carnegie “Gratuito” – Gregory explica o princípio de Ariely da aversão à perda. Todos nós passamos naturalmente do custo menor para o gratuito desta forma: “Porque” – Porque é provavelmente tão perigoso quanto útil. Se cria uma relação causal é incrivelmente persuasivo: Mesmo dando fracas razões, ficou demonstrado que é mais persuasivo que não dar qualquer razão. “Imediatamente” – Se conseguirmos desencadear algo de imediato, o nosso cérebro salta sobre o fato como um tubarão, diz Greg: Palavras como “instante”, “imediatamente” ou mesmo “rápido” são gatilhos para ligar o interruptor e mudar a atividade do cérebro. Último fato rápido: faça 3 comentários positivos por cada comentário negativo A última dica, que me surpreendeu um pouco, vem de Andrew Newberg. A sua pesquisa sugere que os argumentos negativos têm um efeito prejudicial para o nosso cérebro. Precisamos prestar especial atenção para não nos deixar dominar e lutar contra eles numa proporção 3 para 1: Quando você entra num diálogo com alguém para discutir uma questão em particular, uma relação de 3-1 é relativamente boa. Dessa forma cria oportunidade para um diálogo mais construtivo e melhores soluções. Eu gosto de explorar como podemos melhorar a nossa língua para obter melhores conversas e uma vida melhor. O que você encontrou para trabalhar a sua conversa/escrita? The psychology of language: Which words matter the most when we talk