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Science News Archive May 2015 - Page 18


Page 18 of 31

Growing interest

A new Cornell study found that when school-grown salad greens were incorporated into cafeteria lunches, high school students increased their salad selection by 500% and consumed two-thirds of their salads. However, plate waste also rose, indicating a potential trade-off.

SourceCornell Food & Brand Lab·JournalActa Paediatrica·DateMay 14, 2015

Medicaid patients need support to use primary care rather than emergency rooms

More than half of Medicaid enrollees opt for hospital emergency departments due to convenience and access to technology, rather than primary care clinics. This finding exposes a gap in healthcare services, as patients may avoid costs associated with travel and time away from work but neglect preventive care and chronic disease management.

Hazing remains a concern in college marching bands, new study shows

A recent study found that nearly a third of college marching band members surveyed observed hazing in their programs, including public verbal humiliation and degradation, yet few reported the activities due to fears of retribution or social standing. The researchers suggest that education and reporting efforts by band directors may be ...

SourceOregon State University·JournalJournal of Research in Music Education·DateMay 14, 2015

Who should pay the price?

Researchers devise a replicator dynamics model to analyze the effects of incentives and meta-incentives on resolving social dilemmas. The study finds that allowing a reward-to-reward linkage can resolve the dilemma without any social costs, making it an efficient solution for real-world applications.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateMay 14, 2015

Revealing the ocean's hidden fertilizer

A study by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Columbia University reveals a more complex marine phosphorus cycle than previously thought, with microbes playing a key role in using and breaking down forms of the essential element. In the process, about five percent of phosphate is converted to phosphonates in shallow water samples.

Genome-wide DNA study shows lasting impact of malnutrition in early pregnancy

A genome-wide study found that malnutrition in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy is associated with changes in DNA methylation, which can suppress genes involved in growth, development, and metabolism. These findings have significant implications for understanding the long-term effects of prenatal nutrition on health outcomes.

SourceColumbia University's Mailman School of Public Health·JournalInternational Journal of Epidemiology·DateMay 14, 2015

Study investigates the quality of organs from potential donors with HIV

A study explores the quality of organs from HIV-positive donors for potential transplant use in the US, finding that donor kidneys may be of reduced quality. The study suggests nearly 400 potential organ donors might be available annually, but long-term viability and hepatitis C virus infection could impact organ health.

SourceWiley·JournalAmerican Journal of Transplantation·DateMay 14, 2015

Do flies have fear (or something like it)?

Researchers studied flies' response to shadows, finding that they display persistent defensive behavior, generalizable across contexts. The study suggests that flies may help understand the fundamental neurochemistry of fear and emotions.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateMay 14, 2015

Spores for thought

Researchers at the Institute of Food Research have visualized the structural changes Clostridium spores undergo during germination, which could help control pathogenic bacteria. The study provides new insights into the genetic controls of spore germination and reveals that spores have polarity that aligns structures correctly.

SourceNorwich BioScience Institutes·JournalFood Microbiology·DateMay 13, 2015

Caution urged in using measures of students' 'non-cognitive' skills for teacher evaluation, school accountability, or student diagnosis

Researchers warn against using existing measures of non-cognitive skills, such as self-control and grit, for evaluating educators, programs, or diagnosing students. The measures are not yet ready for educational use and may yield misleading results. A multi-method approach to measurement can increase reliability and validity.

SourceAmerican Educational Research Association·JournalEducational Researcher·DateMay 13, 2015

Where do the happiest children live?

A survey of over 50,000 children aged 8-12 across 15 countries reveals that children's happiness differs significantly depending on their geographical location and lifestyle. In Northern European countries, children are dissatisfied with their appearance and self-confidence, while those in African countries tend to be happier with scho...

Learning entrepreneurship: Starting a business is a matter of adequate training

A recent study by Leuphana University of Lüneburg found that action-oriented entrepreneurship training can unlock dormant potential and awaken entrepreneurial spirit in individuals. The training program, STEP, combines practice exercises with theory-based content and provides seed capital to participants. After twelve months, the train...

SourceLeuphana Universität Lüneburg·JournalAcademy of Management Learning and Education·DateMay 13, 2015

'Supercool' material glows when you write on it

Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a new material that stays liquid at temperatures below its expected freezing point but crystallizes upon writing or rubbing. This unique property makes it highly sensitive to pressure and could lead to breakthroughs in biosensors, optical memory, and electronic devices.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalACS Central Science·DateMay 13, 2015

Burmese long-tailed macaque stone-tool use catalogued

Eighty percent of Burmese long-tailed macaques on an island in southern Thailand use stone and shell tools to crack open seafood, employing 17 different action patterns. The study catalogued tool use and action patterns, revealing one-handed hammering for precision striking and two-handed hammering for larger shells.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMay 13, 2015