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Desperate fishwives

A team of scientists from Norwegian University of Science and Technology found that during the mating season, female gobies become increasingly aggressive and eager to mate, while males become more coy. As a result, females assume the dominant role in courtship, with males often surrounded by harems of willing partners.

Tai Chi wheelchair brings mobility, self-esteem, better health to practitioners

A new 13-posture Tai Chi designed for wheelchair users has been developed to promote mobility, self-esteem and overall health. The program was featured in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and has shown benefits for individuals with disabilities, including lower back and hip movements, upper body mobility and internal circulation.

SourceUniversity of South Florida (USF Health)·JournalJournal of Technology and Innovation·DateApr 17, 2012

Mobile technology helps explore nicotine addiction

A team of researchers used mobile devices to collect data on nicotine addiction and found that successful quitters had a weaker association between their urge to smoke and their ability to quit. The study suggests that baseline nicotine dependence and negative emotional states influence people's urge to smoke while trying to quit.

SourcePenn State·JournalPrevention Science·DateApr 4, 2012

Middle school boys who are reluctant readers value reading more after using e-readers

A new study by Southern Methodist University found that middle school boys who used e-readers rated reading more valuable as an activity, but girls struggled with motivation. The study, which included Amazon's Kindle e-reader, showed that boys improved their attitudes towards reading after using the e-readers.

SourceSouthern Methodist University·JournalInternational Journal of Applied Science and Technology·DateMar 27, 2012

The brains behind skaters

A new study reveals that short-track speed skaters' brains undergo significant structural adaptations in response to training, particularly in the right hemisphere of the cerebellum. This results in enhanced balance and coordination abilities, essential for high-speed cornering and passing on ice.

Dance like a neutrino: Quantum scheme to simulate neutrino oscillations

Physicists at the National University of Singapore have developed a scheme to simulate neutrino oscillations using three charged ions. This quantum simulation could aid in understanding more complex models of neutrino behavior and potentially inspire simulations of other particles with similar properties.

Checks and balances for medical practitioners?

A USC Marshall School of Business study found that video capture and automated systems can significantly reduce medical errors by minimizing the tendency to operate outside normal procedures. The research suggests that technology can overcome human tendencies to cover up mistakes, but training is essential to improve interpretive errors.

SourceUSC Marshall School of Business·JournalInformation Systems Research·DateMar 20, 2012

Should patent and commercialization activities by faculty count toward tenure and promotion?

A survey found that 75% of institutions surveyed do not include patent and commercialization considerations in their tenure and promotion criteria. However, there are good arguments for adding these activities to the criteria, as it could inspire innovative activities earlier in a professor's career and increase research dollars.

SourceUniversity of South Florida (USF Health)·JournalJournal of Technology and Innovation·DateFeb 22, 2012

Harvard's Wyss Institute develops DNA nanorobot to trigger targeted therapeutic responses

Researchers at Harvard's Wyss Institute have developed a DNA nanorobot that can seek out specific cell targets and deliver molecular instructions to cause cancer cells to self-destruct. The technology uses modular components to mimic the body's immune system and has the potential to treat various diseases.