News on measuring and increasing the impact of research. Covers research-impact data, AI publishing workflows, open-access programs, and scholarly metrics.
Albert Fert's discovery of giant magnetoresistance has revolutionized the development of spintronics, enabling high-performance magnetic read heads in hard drives. This technology has a significant impact on information and communications technologies.
Restricting travel can significantly reduce the spread of infections like SARS, with a 50% decrease in infected individuals and over 80% reduction in affected municipalities. A ban on trips longer than 20 km would have an even greater impact, reducing the spread even if compliance is as low as 70%
Researchers are developing climate-ready crops to withstand heat, drought, and flooding, aiming to boost agriculture's role in reducing greenhouse gases. The CGIAR is focusing on refining a comprehensive climate change agenda to streamline research and improve crop yields.
A recent study by University of Alberta psychologist Dr. Norman Brown found that momentous events like 9/11 do not drastically change people's daily lives. Instead, their memories are influenced more by historical events that have a significant impact on their daily routines.
Research finds that parity pricing increases the likelihood of customers ordering dessert when unsure what to choose. Differential pricing can both help and hinder decision-making depending on consumer preferences.
A survey by ARVO found that the major factor limiting the use of human eye tissue is a lack of availability meeting stringent criteria. Researchers are exploring ways to manage the shortage, including working closely with eye banks and clarifying experimental needs.
A study found that exposure to The Daily Show led participants to rate candidates more negatively and view the political system as more cynical. Researchers conclude that this may deter young Americans from voting. The study's implications for political participation should be explored further.
The Gerontological Society of America has recognized ten faculty scholars from across the US for their outstanding research contributions to the field of aging. The awardees include researchers exploring topics such as caregiver neglect, nursing home psychosocial care and health disparities among older Latinos.
Researchers investigate transformation of air pollution as it flows downwind from Mexico City, focusing on impacts on human health and climate. The study aims to understand pollution transport across continents and assess regional air quality and climate effects.
Research reveals farmed salmon have evolved genetically differently to wild salmon, backing claims of negative impact on health. The study found 20% difference in genes and potential for hybridization altering wild salmon's fitness.
Collaborative research in nutritional genomics aims to develop new diagnostic tests, identify nutrient needs, and create more nutritious foods. The international consortium seeks to address health disparities by involving diverse cultures and protecting individual biological information.
Scientists used ancient sea creature shells to uncover a monumental reversal in deep-ocean circulation patterns around the world. The shift was triggered by global warming and led to drastic climatological and biological changes.
A study by Jennifer Edson Escalas and James R. Bettman found that consumers use brands to communicate their social self, with more symbolic brands having a greater impact. Independent consumers tend to reject out-group associations, while interdependent consumers build brand connections that align with their in-groups.
A Canadian study found that job strain increases systolic blood pressure by 2.8 mmHg, while high marital cohesion in the presence of job strain decreases it by 2.5 mmHg over a year. The study suggests people with high job strain and low marital cohesion should see their doctor for a blood pressure check.
Researchers found that distinct brain regions were active when rats chose between environments associated with pups or cocaine. This discovery may provide insight into the neural basis of decision-making and preference formation in mammals.
Researchers found that women with fourth-degree tears were significantly more likely to have bowel problems and incontinence of stool. The study suggests that third- and fourth-degree lacerations should not be grouped together as 'severe perineal lacerations' due to differing outcomes.
A recent study by a UC sociologist examines how audiences have shaped the evolution of capital punishment. The research highlights four areas where audiences have influenced contemporary conflicts in the death penalty: pain and technology, procedures and professionals, publicity and public access, and witness and psychological closure.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's arts program offers expressive-arts classes for HIV/AIDS patients, providing a supportive community for them to express themselves. The program's facilitator-researcher, Dr. Kellman, aims to enable and facilitate healing through art-making.
Researchers found that consumers prefer a balance between social interaction and non-interaction, becoming uncomfortable when the experience becomes too intense. The study utilized Social Impact Theory to demonstrate the influence of mere presence on consumer behavior in retail contexts.
Researchers found that credit card practices define consumption lifestyles and facilitate their attainment through consumption. However, some practices impede consumers from achieving desired lifestyles.
This study examines how consumers respond to visual images in advertising, revealing that subtle properties of ad pictures can significantly impact product impressions. Consistency between picture and ad copy is key to positive consumer perceptions.
Research demonstrates that the probability of purchase from a given assortment is contingent on the complementarity of its features, rather than just noncomplementary attributes like size, color, and flavor. The study's findings suggest that assortments with complementary features may lead to a more adverse impact on consumer choice.
The NIH Pioneer Award program aims to support groundbreaking biomedical research through individual scientist awards, promoting diversity in the field. Eligible scientists can submit self-nominations until April 1, 2005, with funding up to $500,000 for five years.
A new method automatically extracts acknowledgments of funding agencies, institutions, and individuals in computer and information science papers. The study finds NSF leads in citations, while DARPA funds established researchers with high impact work.
Researchers have identified a key gene called TTF-1 that delays female puberty. The study found that mice lacking this gene exhibited delayed puberty and reproductive issues, suggesting a potential link to the nation's rising obesity rates.
Researchers pinpointed a specific gene, dardarin, causing PARK8-linked Parkinson's disease, affecting approximately 8% of Basque people with PD. The mutation is expressed throughout the brain and has characteristics of a molecular switch, suggesting a potential role in protein phosphorylation.
Acheson's work uses rational choice theory to understand how groups develop rules to conserve resources, with applications to managing other threatened natural resources. He is recognized for his contributions to applied anthropology and public policy.
A study by USC researchers found that job loss in a family can increase the risk of adolescents starting to smoke. The longitudinal study surveyed over 2,000 middle school students in Southern California and found that students who reported a family member's job loss were 87% more likely to try or smoke within 30 days.
A study found that less educated individuals face higher daily stress levels, which have more significant negative impacts on their health. The researchers discovered that daily stressors vary by socio-economic status, with those in disadvantaged positions experiencing greater health downturns.
The Gerontological Society of America offers the $10,000 Maxwell A. Pollack Award to recognize significant contributions to geriatrics and gerontology. Nominations include a resume, narrative, and policy/practice change examples.
New neutrino research has significant implications for technological advancements and our understanding of the universe. The study aims to improve techniques for making clean materials and detect clandestine nuclear weapons tests, while also shedding light on the role of neutrinos in the early universe and star explosions.
A research team led by Luann Becker found evidence of a large impact at the end-Permian boundary in Antarctica, suggesting it triggered the Great Dying, a time of mass extinctions. The team discovered shocked quartz, metallic grains, and breccia layers with similar characteristics to other mass extinction sites.
Exercise has been found to increase brain capillary volume, particularly in older animals, suggesting physical changes may occur. Additionally, monkeys who exercised showed improved performance and mental engagement compared to sedentary groups.
The current reserve system in the New World is inadequate, with only a tenth of protected areas reaching Disney World's size. Conservation investments may yield greatest impact in ten regions where biodiversity losses can be prevented.
Researchers Ted Sargent and Alex Vasilescu have been named to Technology Review's TR100 list for their groundbreaking work in nanotechnology, face recognition, and human motion analysis. Their innovative research has the potential to impact various industries, including security, biometrics, and filmmaking.
A low-intensity CQI intervention successfully increased the use of preoperative beta-blocker therapy and IMA grafting in elderly patients, achieving significant overall effect and positive trends. The study demonstrates a Medical Specialty Society CQI Platform as a model for rapid translation of evidence into practice.
Engineers studied the impacts of 9/11 on the World Trade Center, discovering factors that minimized infrastructure disruption. The study highlighted the importance of wireless communication, compartmentalized electrical systems, and heroic actions by utility workers.
A study by Penn State researchers found that slow download speeds increase arousal in some individuals, leading to greater physiological excitement and improved memory. Slower speeds also encourage more active browsing behaviors.
A team of researchers led by A. Welford Castleman Jr. has discovered exactly how an acid compound dissolves molecule by molecule using water molecules as a solvent. The study found that the interaction of four surrounding water molecules with the hydrogen-bromide molecule tips the energy balance, triggering its eventual dissolution.
A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found that a healthy diet does not significantly affect Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) levels over a relatively short period. The researchers believe that longer-term dietary effects on prostate cancer are still unknown.
Dr. Doyle, a prominent chemist, has received the ACS George C. Pimentel Award for his contributions to chemical education. His most notable contribution is a study of 136 schools from 1986-2000 that found only 25% of published papers had student authors.
Research suggests asteroids were responsible for a massive impact event 3.9 billion years ago, which destroyed older rocks and created thousands of craters across the inner solar system. This bombardment may have provided an environment conducive to pre-biotic chemistry and early life evolution.
Case studies illustrate how special-interest groups influence policies on needle exchange programs, ergonomics, and mammograms. The authors suggest that institutions must address vested interests to ensure the appropriate use of scientific evidence.
Researchers developed fiber-optic sensors to detect flaws in rails and wheels, improving train safety by pinpointing location, speed, and damage. The palm-sized sensors offer a fast and cost-effective method to detect deformities in rail-car wheels, reducing the risk of derailment.
Researchers from Georgetown University Medical Center present findings on Gulf War illnesses, finding similarities to fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Cognitive-behavioral therapy improves treatment success rates by 48 percent for symptoms of both conditions.
A new study reveals that well-intentioned conservation programs in the Amazon are insufficient to offset the destruction from agriculture, timber, and mining. The researchers project devastating impacts on biodiversity, climate change, and global warming if current trends continue.
Grasslands have been found to sequester carbon under elevated CO2 conditions, with soil microbes playing a critical role in the process. This finding has important implications for understanding how ecosystems can mitigate climate change.
The National Science Foundation has awarded $2.5 million to NLANR to extend technical, engineering, and traffic analysis support to high-performance networking communities. The grant supports over 170 NSF-funded High-Performance Connections sites connecting to vBNS research network backbones.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have identified an imprinted gene called PEG3 on human chromosome 19, which is linked to ovarian cancer and gliomas. This discovery sheds new light on the role of imprinting in human disease and has implications for our understanding of autism.
A study found that concerns about unknown ingredients, inconvenience, and previous side effects are major barriers to flu immunization. Addressing these concerns through outreach efforts and physician-patient interactions can increase vaccination rates in low-income populations.
Recent studies by Max Planck researchers found that presenting statistical information in 'natural frequencies' rather than probabilities improves experts' ability to reach correct conclusions. This method makes it easier for people to understand risk, leading to increased accuracy in medical diagnoses and criminal verdicts.
A new national collaborative network for advanced earthquake engineering research and experimentation is being developed, enabling engineers to pool their experience and perform experiments and simulations on a larger scale. The network will also improve the design of infrastructure to withstand earthquakes and tsunamis.
A recent study by OHSU researchers found that 96% of physicians and nurses believe increased family expectations for pain management contributed to the observed increase in family reports of pain among dying patients. Additionally, decreased physician prescribing of pain medications (66%) and reduced nurse administration of pain medica...
Researchers found that FRAP regulates a membrane-to-cytoplasm communication network, governing cellular response to outside stimuli. The protein must shuttle between the nucleus and cytoplasm to function properly.
A new study found that low-cost self-help approaches, including mail and phone interventions, can help a sizable proportion of smokeless tobacco users quit. Phone counseling was particularly effective in aiding quitting, suggesting that verbal reporting of quit dates and use of oral substitutes may be key to success.
A study found that heavy drinkers were twice as likely to report work-related injuries, but most of this association was explained by working in dangerous occupations or holding jobs requiring a high school education or less. Further analysis revealed no significant association once these factors were considered.
Researchers at UMass developed a new technique for creating densely packed arrays of magnetic nanowires using self-assembling polymer scaffolds and electrodeposition. This technology has great potential in magnetic data storage and could be used to fabricate other array devices with nanoscale dimensions.
The completed Arabidopsis genome provides a roadmap for understanding plants to improve nutrition and health. Monsanto contributed to the effort through Cereon Genomics, releasing over 40,000 genetic markers that increased the resolution of genetic maps used by researchers.
Researchers believe that parts of ancient Mars may have resembled a land of lakes, with layered geologic outcrops suggesting sedimentary rock deposited in horizontal layers. The discovery suggests an extremely dynamic environment on early Mars, with water likely playing a key role in shaping the planet's geology.
Researchers at Imperial College London have developed a technique to measure and visualize how well the lower back moves during rowing, revealing differences between good and bad techniques. The system aims to provide dynamic feedback to rowers and coaches to improve training and reduce injuries.