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Science News Archive October 2011 - Page 25


Page 25 of 28

Collectivism and bribery

Researchers found that people in collectivist cultures are more likely to offer bribes, as they feel less individually responsible for their actions. In a laboratory experiment, students primed with collectivist words were more likely to offer bribes than those primed with individualist words.

SourceUniversity of Toronto Scarborough·JournalPsychological Science·DateOct 5, 2011

Nursing home flu shots fall short, especially for blacks

A study by Brown University found that nursing home flu shot vaccination rates are lower for black patients compared to white patients. Despite efforts to improve vaccination rates over time, the disparity persists within individual facilities, with black patients refusing shots at a higher rate than whites.

SourceBrown University·JournalHealth Affairs·DateOct 5, 2011

New study shows how trees clean the air in London

A new study shows that trees in London's urban areas remove between 850 to 2000 tonnes of particulate pollution from the air every year. This research uses a prediction model to estimate future air quality and suggests that targeted tree planting and a mix of evergreen species can maximize benefits.

SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalLandscape and Urban Planning·DateOct 5, 2011

Survival increased in early stage breast cancer after treatment with herceptin and chemo

A study by UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center found that a combination of chemotherapy and Herceptin significantly increases survival in patients with HER-2 positive breast cancer. The regimen without Adriamycin was comparable to the standard therapy, reducing heart toxicity and acute side effects.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateOct 5, 2011

Research sheds light on origins of greatness

A new paper by Michigan State University scientist Zach Hambrick finds that working memory capacity can outperform practice in complex tasks such as piano sight reading. The study shows people with higher levels of working memory capacity perform better even with extensive experience and knowledge.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalCurrent Directions in Psychological Science·DateOct 5, 2011

First comet found with ocean-like water

Astronomers at the University of Michigan discovered ocean-like water in Comet Hartley 2, a finding that suggests comets may have delivered a significant portion of Earth's oceans. The discovery was made using data from the Herschel Space Observatory and suggests that the source of Earth's oceans is more complex than previously thought.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalNature·DateOct 5, 2011

A third of elderly Medicare beneficiaries undergo surgery during their last year of life but many procedures are likely to be unnecessary or unwanted

The study found that nearly one in five patients underwent a surgical procedure in the last month of life, and nearly 1 in 10 had a procedure in their last week. The likelihood of surgery varied by age, location, and hospital bed availability, suggesting that some operations may be discretionary or avoidable.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateOct 5, 2011

Earlier tracheostomies result in better patient outcomes

A study found that performing tracheostomies within seven days of a severe head injury improves overall patient outcome. This is especially true for patients with a reasonable chance of survival, where early tracheostomy reduces the risk of complications and increases the likelihood of discharge in an independent state.

SourcePenn State·JournalNeurocritical Care·DateOct 5, 2011

Health Affairs article focuses on health care disparities facing people with disabilities

People with disabilities continue to face difficulties meeting major social needs, including accessing health care facilities and services. Iezzoni's analysis highlights barriers that restrict their access to health services, including lower rates of mammography and Pap tests. She argues that healthcare professionals need to understand...

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalHealth Affairs·DateOct 5, 2011

In the brain, winning is everywhere

A study published in Neuron found that brain regions beyond the reward centers engage when playing games, suggesting a more widespread role for reward processing in the brain. The research used multi-voxel pattern analysis to identify patterns of brain activity associated with wins and losses.

SourceYale University·JournalNeuron·DateOct 5, 2011

US not taking basic step to prevent toxoplasmosis in newborns, Stanford researcher contends

A new study from Stanford University reveals that North American babies infected with toxoplasmosis in the womb are more likely to suffer severe complications, including brain calcifications, hydrocephalus, and eye disease. The study suggests that a lack of prenatal screening and treatment may be contributing to these outcomes.

SourceStanford Medicine·JournalThe Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal·DateOct 5, 2011

Athletes' streaks not all in our (or their) heads

Researchers analyzed 300,000 NBA free-throws, finding strong support for the hot hand phenomenon, which suggests a streak of positive outcomes is likely to continue. This study sheds new light on an old question, supporting fans' view that the phenomenon exists and opens doors for further physiological and psychological investigations.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateOct 5, 2011

Unlocking jams in fluid materials

Researchers developed a theoretical model to understand how to best avoid jamming of soft matter, which can be applied in food and cosmetics production. The model takes into account common properties between three classes of materials: soft matter, metallic liquids, and granular materials.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateOct 5, 2011

How chronic stress short-circuits parenting

A study from the University of Rochester found that chronic stress disrupts a mother's natural stress response, leading to problematic parenting behaviors. Mothers with higher depressive symptoms exhibited hyperactive stress responses, resulting in harsh and reactive parenting.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalDevelopment and Psychopathology·DateOct 5, 2011

Estimating severity of a flu epidemic

Estimating the severity of a flu epidemic can be done in real-time using serological data coupled with clinical surveillance data. This approach provides valuable insights for pandemic preparedness and response, making it useful not only for influenza pandemics but also for other emerging infectious diseases.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateOct 4, 2011