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Daily weighing and quick action keeps pounds off

A new study by The Miriam Hospital and Brown Medical School found that daily weighing and taking quick action when needed can significantly help dieters maintain weight loss. Participants who weighed themselves daily had an 82% reduction in the odds of regaining five or more pounds compared to those who did not weigh daily.

SourceLifespan·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateOct 11, 2006

A better diet through online shopping?

Researchers found that tailored dietary advice delivered through an internet shopping system led to participants buying foods lower in saturated fat. This study demonstrates the potential of low-cost technologies to motivate users to change their behavior.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Clinical Trials·DateSep 21, 2006

Nature vs Nintendo: Video games or national parks

A study by University of Illinois Chicago researchers found a significant correlation between the rise of video games and internet use, as well as rising fuel prices, and a decline in U.S. national park visits. The study suggests that increased home entertainment activity may be contributing to a decrease in outdoor activities.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Chicago·JournalJournal of Environmental Planning and Management·DateMay 9, 2006

How Internet addiction is affecting lives

Internet addiction is increasingly affecting people's lives, leading to negative consequences such as divorce and physical symptoms like cyber shakes. Recognizing this addiction will allow for appropriate treatment, enabling therapists to address technological addictions and their associated issues.

SourceBlackwell Publishing Ltd.·JournalPerspectives In Psychiatric Care·DateMay 9, 2006

Internet use involves both pros and cons for children and adolescents

Research suggests that the Internet can provide essential social support for isolated adolescents and improve academic achievement in low-income youth. However, online interactions may also normalize self-destructive behaviors and expose vulnerable individuals to potentially damaging communities. Additionally, the Internet has been fou...

SourceAmerican Psychological Association·JournalDevelopmental Psychology·DateApr 30, 2006

Responsibility in gambling?

A £920,000 ESRC-funded research venture aims to investigate the effects of gambling on those involved and the broader community. The study will examine social contexts for problem gambling, internet gambling, brain responses, and family life, with the goal of developing policies and services to prevent problem gamblers.

Spyware poses a significant threat on the Net

A new study by University of Washington researchers found that more than one in 20 executable files contain piggybacked spyware, with game and celebrity sites posing the greatest risk. Drive-by download attacks also frequent pirated software sites. The density of spyware decreased from spring to fall last year but remained substantial.

A sense of place

A new study examines how publicly funded organizations used information and communications technologies to shape regional identities and overcome social, economic, and political problems. The research reveals the widespread adoption of ICTs in 'place-making' projects across Europe.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalCurrent Anthropology·DateNov 4, 2005

Via Internet, Australian-based researchers perform real-time cell surgery in California

Using RoboLase, Australian scientists successfully performed sub-cellular surgery on a laser microscope system in California, demonstrating the potential for remote medical procedures. The technology enabled researchers to collaborate without traveling to a single laboratory site, paving the way for increased global scientific collabor...

SourceUniversity of California - Irvine·JournalMicroscopy Research and Technique·DateAug 1, 2005

Posting and lurking

A study by Ann Schlosser found that reading negative reviews triggers concerns among posters about social outcomes, causing them to lower their ratings. In contrast, lurkers' private attitudes did not differ from those of posters.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateJul 25, 2005

Name your price

Researchers Sucharita Chandran and Vicki Morwitz found that participative pricing affects consumers' goal-related focus, influencing their cognitions and purchasing decisions. By measuring personal characteristics like perceived control, marketers can tailor offerings to match different consumer types.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateJul 25, 2005

Soliciting organs over the Internet

The article discusses the rise of online organ donation platforms like MatchingDonors.com, which have successfully paired donors with recipients. However, the medical community is divided over the ethics of soliciting organs online, with concerns about subverting the UNOS system and policing financial remuneration for living donors.

Company Web sites need re-design to lure job searchers

Researchers analyzed 7,000 job-related queries and found that online job searches have a higher percentage of non-relevant returns (60%) compared to general web searches (50%). The study suggests that company web sites need re-design to highlight geographical information and use user-friendly terms for better search engine indexing.

SourcePenn State·JournalInternet Research·DateMar 11, 2005