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Novel monitoring tools tackle chemical surface waters pollution

The European technical report presents aquatic effect-based monitoring tools to address chemical pollution in surface waters, including bioassays and biomarkers for detecting toxic effects. These tools support the Water Framework Directive's goal of achieving a 'good status' for all Europe's surface waters by 2015.

SourceSpringer·JournalEnvironmental Sciences Europe·DateMar 13, 2015

Mind reading thanks to metaphors

Researchers Andrea Bowes and Albert Katz found that people are better able to infer the mental and emotional state of others after reading metaphors. This is because metaphors activate embodied social experiences, making it easier to understand others' emotions and mental states.

SourceSpringer·JournalMemory & Cognition·DateMar 12, 2015

Sexism -- it's in his smile

A study by Jin Goh and Judith Hall found that men who display benevolent sexism are perceived as more approachable, warmer, and friendlier, while those with hostile sexism are less friendly. The researchers also discovered that men with benevolent sexism use positive emotional words and are more patient, despite appearing harmless.

SourceSpringer·JournalSex Roles·DateMar 9, 2015

Weight-loss surgery can be a safe option for obese children

A new clinical pathway has been shown to significantly reduce complications and improve growth in obese children who undergo weight-reducing procedures. According to the study, the procedure also led to improved management of life-threatening diseases such as diabetes, sleep apnea, and hypertension.

SourceSpringer·JournalObesity Surgery·DateMar 5, 2015

Mountain birds beat the odds

Researchers found that mountain chickadees living at harsher high elevations exhibit superior spatial memory and problem-solving abilities. However, these birds tend to avoid novel objects, contradicting the expectation that enhanced problem-solving skills would come with increased innovation.

SourceSpringer·JournalBehavioral Ecology and Sociobiology·DateFeb 25, 2015

Cattle damage to riverbanks can be undone

A study published in Springer's Environmental Management journal found that removing grazing cattle from a wildlife refuge in Oregon has led to significant rehabilitation of the natural environment. The removal of cattle has resulted in an increase in woody riparian vegetation, reduction in erosion, and improved water quality.

SourceSpringer·JournalEnvironmental Management·DateFeb 19, 2015

How do vertebrates take on their form?

French scientists have discovered that vertebrate formation is guided by a pattern present from early development stages, with folds along boundaries of elastic contrast forming the final shape. This finding explains how complex structures like vertebrates emerged during evolution.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateFeb 18, 2015

New journal Science China Materials launched by Springer

Science China Materials is an international peer-reviewed journal covering all aspects of materials science, fostering communication of innovative research results. The journal aims to develop into a world-leading academic journal of materials science, benefiting from Springer's international publishing platform.

SourceSpringer·JournalScience China Materials·DateFeb 16, 2015

Novel high-power microwave generator

A new study by scientists from Bangladesh explores the viability of a novel structure for generating high-power microwaves, offering an alternative to traditional approaches. The proposed semi-circular slow wave structure is capable of producing high-power microwaves via ultra-high-frequency radio waves.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateFeb 11, 2015

The power of light-matter coupling

Researchers study polaritons in organic molecules strongly coupled with photons, finding they can remain at lowest energy levels for an unusually long time. This phenomenon opens the door to novel applications, including modifying optical, electronic and chemical properties.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateFeb 5, 2015

Home is a safe haven for female deer

Researchers tracked female black-tailed deer's movements and found their home ranges were very small, averaging 0.74 square kilometers, with core areas of just 0.08 km². This site familiarity helps them survive by knowing the best foraging spots and avoiding risky territories.

SourceSpringer·JournalBehavioral Ecology and Sociobiology·DateJan 29, 2015

Towards a scientific process freed from systemic bias

Large-scale analysis of bibliographic data reveals insights into scientific evaluation methods and publication practices. The studies found cumulative advantage in initial publishing success, detectable patterns in author name disambiguation, and limitations of citation-based measures for quantifying scientific impact.

SourceSpringer·JournalEPJ Data Science·DateJan 26, 2015

Attractiveness speeds up performance

A study by British researchers found that aesthetically appealing visuals speed up people's ability to solve multi-step problems with visuals on websites or mobile phones. Simple and familiar icons were the easiest to find, but when the task got harder, pleasing aesthetics provided a performance boost.

SourceSpringer·JournalPsychonomic Bulletin & Review·DateJan 22, 2015

Biomimetic dew harvesters

Researchers have discovered how a desert beetle collects dew on its back, which could lead to improved water yield in man-made dew condensers. The beetle's unique nanostructure allows for near-perfect infrared emissivity, enabling efficient cooling and dew formation.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateDec 8, 2014

When noise gets electrons moving

Researchers discovered a counter-intuitive current induced by sound waves in a disordered environment. Noise fluctuations lead to directed electron transport behavior and current reversal, paving the way for innovative semi-conductor devices.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateDec 4, 2014

Don't worry, be happy: Just go to bed earlier

A study published in Cognitive Therapy and Research found that individuals who sleep for shorter periods and go to bed later experience more repetitive negative thoughts. This association suggests that prioritizing regular sleep schedules may help mitigate anxiety symptoms.

SourceSpringer·JournalCognitive Therapy and Research·DateDec 4, 2014

Taming neural excitations

Researchers aimed to control harmful signals in strokes by understanding neural excitation pulses. The study found that non-local couplings can produce various spatio-temporal patterns, including acceleration, deceleration, and suppression of pulses.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateDec 3, 2014

Problem gambling, personality disorders often go hand in hand

Research highlights connection between problem gambling and various personality disorders, including Borderline Personality Disorder. Screening for personality disorders can aid in successful treatment, with Dialectical Behavior Therapy showing promise for a subset of problem gamblers.

SourceSpringer·JournalJournal of Gambling Studies·DateNov 25, 2014

Mimics do not substitute for the 'real thing' for bomb-sniffing dogs

Researchers at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis found that bomb-sniffing dogs trained on pseudo-explosives could not reliably detect real explosives and vice versa. The study suggests that the exceptional sensitivity of a dog's nose and its temperament cannot be replicated with pseudo-explosive training.

SourceSpringer·JournalAnalytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry·DateNov 24, 2014

The American athletics track is still a man's world

Research by Emily Kaskan and Ivy Ho highlights how American female athletes are objectified and stereotyped in media coverage, influencing their self-esteem and athleticism. The study shows that these microaggressions can lead to psychological stress, impacting hormonal, immune, and cardiovascular systems.

SourceSpringer·JournalSex Roles·DateNov 20, 2014

High heels may enhance a man's instinct to be helpful

A French study found that men are more likely to help women wearing high heels than those wearing flat shoes. The study suggests that men associate high heels with femininity and attractiveness. Men were also quicker to start chatting with women wearing heels, indicating a stronger instinct to be helpful.

SourceSpringer·JournalArchives of Sexual Behavior·DateNov 19, 2014

Penrose's and Hawking's early math award revisited

In 1966, Roger Penrose won the prestigious Adams Prize for his essay on space-time structure, while Steven Hawking received an auxiliary prize for his essay on singularities and spacetime geometry. These early awards laid the foundation for their later work on cosmology and black holes.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal H·DateNov 18, 2014

Family ties that bind: Having the right surname sets you up for life

A study by Gregory Clark and Neil Cummins found that social status is consistently passed down among families over multiple generations, even more strongly than height. The researchers tracked social mobility from 1170 to 2012 using rare English surnames and found little change in social mobility since pre-industrial times.

SourceSpringer·JournalHuman Nature·DateNov 17, 2014

Not all elderly Americans will surf to health

A study finds that elderly Americans with low health literacy are less likely to use the internet for health information. Interventions targeting health literacy among older adults may help bridge the digital divide.

SourceSpringer·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·DateNov 12, 2014

On-demand conductivity for graphene nanoribbons

Researchers have created a theoretical model to tune the conductivity of graphene zigzag nanoribbons by applying periodic ultra-short pulses. This could lead to the development of ultrafast electronic switches and graphene-based devices that only conduct electricity when an external pulse is applied.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateNov 10, 2014

Plasma: Casimir and Yukawa mesons

Researchers discovered a connection between nuclear particles and electromagnetic theories via plasmas, suggesting an equivalence between generalized Casimir forces and weak nuclear interactions. The study found that long-range electromagnetic fluctuations differ from those in vacuum conditions.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateNov 3, 2014

Ion adsorption matter in biology

A new systematic study of lipid membrane-electrolyte interactions provides insights into biological cell function and potential applications in medical diagnostics. The research uses liposomes to model biological membranes and demonstrates the role of ion adsorption in modulating membrane electrical characteristics.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateOct 30, 2014

Sadness lasts longer than other emotions

A study found that sadness lasts up to 240 times longer than shame, surprise, or boredom, likely due to its association with significant life events. Researchers discovered that emotions associated with low event importance have shorter durations.

SourceSpringer·JournalMotivation and Emotion·DateOct 30, 2014

Thermodiffusion in weightlessness

Two studies by Belgian scientists investigate thermodiffusion's impact on binary and ternary mixtures, paving the way for studying multi-component mixtures in orbit. The findings also have implications for oil reservoirs and carbon capture technologies.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateOct 27, 2014

Quantum holograms as atomic scale memory keepsake

Researchers from St. Petersburg State University developed a theoretical model for quantum memory in light, adapting classical hologram concepts to a quantum system. They demonstrated the possibility of retrieving specific portions of stored quantized light signals with precise control over space and time.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal D·DateOct 21, 2014

Informative visit to the toilet

White-footed sportive lemurs use scent-marks in latrines to maintain contact with family members and inform intruders of a male's presence. The study found that males visited latrines more often during nights when an intruder invaded the territory, promoting social bonding among group members.

SourceSpringer·JournalBehavioral Ecology and Sociobiology·DateOct 16, 2014