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Tendency to select targeted retirement fund ending in zero may impact wealth

A new study by Iowa State University researchers reveals that individuals tend to select retirement funds ending in zero, leading to an incompatible level of risk and potentially lower total wealth at retirement. The findings suggest that demographic factors such as age, income, and education can influence the likelihood of this 'zero'...

SourceIowa State University·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateJul 27, 2020

No honor among cyber thieves

A study examining online user activity on two carding forums reveals the vast majority of users aren't buyers or sellers but rather seek free tutorials, malware source codes, and hacking guides. Actual buyers and sellers comprise a fraction, primarily using stolen identity info for unauthorized purchases.

SourceWashington State University·JournalSocial Science Computer Review·DateJul 22, 2020

Shortening of average serial interval over time indicates isolation effectively limits COVID-19 transmission

A new analysis of SARS-CoV-2 transmission data in China shows that faster identification and isolation of infected individuals contributed to the shortening of the average serial interval over time. This indicates that isolation effectively limits COVID-19 transmission by reducing opportunities for viral transmission.

Advancing knowledge on archaea

A web-based database, Archaeal Proteome Project (ArcPP), collects and makes available datasets to further research on archaea, a domain of microorganisms. The platform provides easily accessible data and expertise for analyzing proteomics studies, yielding significant new insights into archaeal biology.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 20, 2020

Does early access to pension funds improve health?

A recent study from Singapore found that early access to pension wealth improves overall health status. The researchers analyzed monthly survey data from 2015 to 2019 and discovered that individuals who accessed their pension funds before age 55 had better self-reported health status afterward.

SourceWiley·JournalEconomic Inquiry·DateJul 8, 2020

Illinois professor proposes guide for developing common data science approaches

A University of Illinois professor has proposed a framework for guiding researchers in developing common data science approaches, aiming to unify conversations and share knowledge across disciplines. The data science life cycle framework identifies key issues that can be generalized across fields and those specific to each discipline.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalCommunications of the ACM·DateJun 25, 2020

Cancer survivors overestimate the quality of their diets, finds first study on the topic

A recent study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that cancer survivors tend to overestimate the quality of their diets. The researchers analyzed data from over 2,300 cancer survivors and compared it to a control group, revealing that those who overrated their diet quality had poorer overall health.

SourceGeorge Mason University·JournalEuropean Journal of Clinical Nutrition·DateJun 25, 2020

'Knowing how' is in your brain

A new study by Carnegie Mellon University researchers has found the brain programs that code the sequence of steps in performing a complex procedure. The main findings were that each knot had a distinctive neural signature, so the researchers could tell which knot was being tied from the sequence of brain images collected.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalPsychological Science·DateMay 27, 2020

Heat now more lethal than cold for people with respiratory diseases in Spain

A new study by ISGlobal found that heat is now more lethal than cold for people with respiratory diseases in Spain, particularly women and older adults. The study analyzed data on over 1.3 million deaths between 1980 and 2016 and found a significant decline in temperature-attributable mortality during the colder months.

SourceBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 20, 2020

New insights into links between national income and obesity

Analysis of data from 147 countries found a strong association between rising incomes and increasing obesity rates, with an average increase in obesity rates for every 1% rise in GDP per capita. The study suggests that policy initiatives may be necessary to combat obesity in low- and middle-income countries undergoing income growth.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMay 13, 2020

Better antibiotic dosing could save lives in ICU

The University of Queensland's new Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) guidelines aim to personalise antibiotic treatment for critically ill patients in ICU. By using advanced software to predict accurate drug dosages, the guidelines have shown promise in reducing adverse outcomes and improving patient response.

SourceUniversity of Queensland·JournalIntensive Care Medicine·DateMay 8, 2020

Evolution of lions

Researchers analyzed genomic data of 20 lion specimens, including extinct cave lions from Siberia and India, finding a shared ancestor 500,000 years ago. The study suggests limited gene flow between modern lions' lineages after their divergence 70,000 years ago.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 4, 2020

'Gargantuan' hail in Argentina may have smashed world record

A recent storm in Argentina produced hailstones up to 9.3 inches across, potentially setting a new world record. Researchers suggest classifying such large hailstones as 'gargantuan' and emphasize the need for more awareness and data collection to better understand these extreme events.

SourcePenn State·JournalBulletin of the American Meteorological Society·DateApr 29, 2020

Study from Chinese city of Shenzhen, outside Hong Kong in southern China, provides key insights on how coronavirus spreads

A study in Shenzhen, China analyzed data from 391 COVID-19 cases and their contacts to understand the virus's transmission dynamics. The analysis revealed that contact tracing and extensive testing reduced the incubation period to about three days, and household contacts were at high risk of infection.

SourceJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health·JournalThe Lancet Infectious Diseases·DateApr 28, 2020

Coffee changes our sense of taste

A study published in Foods found that coffee makes people more sensitive to sweetness and less sensitive to bitterness. The researchers suggest that the bitter compounds in coffee may be responsible for this effect. This discovery could have implications for our understanding of how we regulate sugar consumption.

SourceAarhus University·JournalFoods·DateApr 21, 2020