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In-vitro fertilization clinics offering money-back guarantees achieve better outcomes with less aggressive treatments

Research found that IVF clinics offering money-back guarantees have a higher live-birth success rate and lower multiple birth risks compared to those without MBGs. The study suggests that these programs serve as signals of high-quality care in the field of IVF and other healthcare services.

SourceRensselaer Polytechnic Institute·JournalJournal of Marketing Research·DateMar 23, 2022

Trapping molecules to find new physics

Researchers at the University of Groningen have successfully trapped molecules of strontium fluoride, setting a new record for molecular trapping. This achievement is significant because it allows scientists to investigate the fundamental laws of the universe, including the asymmetry between matter and anti-matter.

SourceUniversity of Groningen·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 28, 2021

Parental alienation, partner abuse: Two sides of same coin, says CSU social psychologist

A new study by CSU social psychologist Jennifer Harman finds that parental alienating behaviors closely resemble coercively controlling violence, intimate terrorism, and battery. The research highlights power imbalances in families affected by parental alienation, emphasizing the need to treat it similarly to other forms of abuse.

SourceColorado State University·JournalPersonal Relationships·TypeContent analysis·DateSep 16, 2021

The psychosocial benefits of plastic surgery for young women with congenital breast asymmetry

A new study reveals that surgical treatment of breast asymmetry in young women yields significant and sustained improvements in psychosocial quality of life. The procedure corrected severe breast asymmetry, averaging two cup sizes difference between breasts, and led to notable enhancements in self-esteem, social functioning, and emotio...

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalPlastic & Reconstructive Surgery·DateSep 24, 2020

Touch-and-know: Brain activity during tactile stimuli reveals hand preferences in people

Researchers distinguish between brain activities of right-handers and left-handers using functional near-infrared spectroscopy, revealing asymmetry in response to passive touch stimulations. The study may have implications for brain-computer interfaces, rehabilitation robotics, and cognitive enhancement treatments.

New research deepens mystery of particle generation in proton collisions

Researchers have found that neutral pions emitted in the very forward area of polarized proton-proton collisions retain a large degree of left-right asymmetry. This finding suggests reevaluation of previous theories on particle generation. Further study is needed to understand the mechanism underlying this phenomenon.

SourceRIKEN·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJun 23, 2020

The secret to sneaky float serves

A team from the University of Tsukuba studied volleyball aerodynamics using wind tunnel experiments and found that standard panels create an asymmetric surface, affecting flight patterns. This research may help develop more efficient drones.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalApplied Sciences·DateOct 10, 2019

Facial Asymmetry Increases with Age

A study published in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery found that facial asymmetry increases steadily with aging, especially in the lower two-thirds of the face. Researchers used 3D photogrammetry to measure facial symmetry in 191 volunteers, ranging from four months to 88 years old.

SourceWolters Kluwer Health·JournalPlastic & Reconstructive Surgery·DateOct 30, 2018

Sexual objectification influences visual perception

Researchers found that symmetrical stimuli are less likely to trigger an inversion effect when targets are sexualized, suggesting a cognitive mechanism behind human sexual objectification. Visual exploration strategies may play a role in this phenomenon, with lower fixations on the face region of sexualized targets.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalPLOS ONE·DateApr 12, 2018

Study reveals vision's role in vowel perception

Researchers found that people closely watch lip movement and shape when perceiving speech, with subtle distinctions between vowel sounds suffering without these cues. The study's findings have implications for designing more intelligible avatars and improving communication devices for the hearing impaired.

Lopsided ear function can lead to lopsided brain development

Researchers found that lopsided ear function can lead to asymmetric brain development, causing differences in motor behavior. They used mice with a genetic defect to demonstrate the link between inner ear function and brain asymmetry, which was also observed in humans with normal ear function.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateMar 13, 2018

Right-handed or left-handed?

A study published on Scientific Reports reveals that hand preference is already defined at the 18th week of gestation. Foetal kinematics analysis predicts manual dominance with an accuracy of 89-100% in boys and girls, which may lead to early recognition of pathologies like depression, schizophrenia, and autism spectrum disorders.

'Left-handed' fish and asymmetrical brains

Biologists have found that cichlid fish with a distinct preference for one side of their bodies exhibit corresponding asymmetry in brain structure and gene expression. The study reveals a functional relationship between brain shape and behavioral laterality, suggesting an evolutionary link to handedness in humans.

SourceUniversity of Konstanz·JournalGenome Biology and Evolution·DateNov 15, 2017

Neuronal calculations consider expectations

Researchers found that the fruit fly's visual system incorporates expectations of typical environment features into its calculations. The unequal distribution of bright and dark regions in nature is reflected in asymmetric processing by the fly brain, enabling efficient course correction in virtual environments.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateMar 3, 2016

Asymmetry of an emotion

A study found that individuals with right- or left-sided facial hemiparesis have difficulty interpreting emotions, particularly when the expression starts on the paralyzed side. Facial mimicry, which helps understand emotions, is also affected by asymmetry, suggesting a lateralized and anatomical basis for this phenomenon.

SourceInternational School of Advanced Studies (SISSA)·JournalJAMA Facial Plastic Surgery·DateMar 3, 2016