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Identifying a piranha by its bark

Scientists have discovered that different piranha species can be identified by the pattern of their barks, which could lead to more efficient conservation efforts. The study's findings suggest that passive acoustic monitoring may be a useful tool for studying piranha behavior in the wild.

How clear speech equates to clear memory

A study by University of Texas at Austin researchers found that listeners who heard sentences spoken in a clear style did better on memory recall tasks than those who heard them spoken in a conversational manner. The researchers suggest that clearly produced speech may be an efficient way to convey information and improve retention.

The order of response options on online questionnaires impacts respondents' choice

Researchers found that the order of response options on online questionnaires affects respondents' choices, with people without a degree more likely to choose the first option. The study also showed that questionnaire design can impact responses, with grid designs reducing the primacy effect.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalInternational Journal of Social Research Methodology·DateOct 9, 2018

Research brief: A look at 377 metros -- can local food product meet local household demand?

Researchers from the University of Minnesota's Sustainable Healthy Cities Network found that one in five metropolitan areas have sufficient milk and egg production to meet residents' demands, while about one in ten can fully meet fruit and vegetable needs. This challenges common assumptions about local food self-reliance in urban areas.

SourceUniversity of Minnesota·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·DateOct 1, 2018

Study: Having an online social forum for class networking gives physics students a boost

A new study by Indiana University found that online social forums for class networking improve physics students' success in calculus-based physics courses. The study analyzed data from a course where students participated in an online forum and found that those who were most central in the network achieved higher final grades.

SourceIndiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis School of Science·JournalPhysical Review Physics Education Research·DateOct 1, 2018

Changes are needed to fund US water infrastructure

A new study highlights the need for policy changes to allow private capital to invest in US water systems with aging infrastructure. The Journal of the American Water Resources Association article notes that public-private partnerships and loan guarantees are hindered by existing federal budgetary policies.

SourceWiley·JournalJAWRA Journal of the American Water Resources Association·DateSep 19, 2018

Study examines how heartfelt guilt affects individuals

A recent study in the Australian Journal of Psychology found that heartfelt guilt leads to elevated arousal and biased preferences towards cleansing products. Participants who experienced guilt showed enhanced memory recall of threat words and a stronger desire for cleaning items.

SourceWiley·JournalAustralian Journal of Psychology·DateSep 19, 2018

Greener neighborhoods may be good for children's brains

Research suggests that living in greener neighborhoods can positively impact children's cognitive functioning, particularly in spatial working memory and mathematics performance. A study of 4758 English children found a strong association between neighborhood greenspace and improved spatial working memory.

SourceWiley·JournalJournal of Educational Psychology·DateSep 6, 2018

Smoking linked to higher dementia risk

A nationwide health claims analysis from Korea found smoking increases dementia risk, while quitting reduces it by up to 32%. Long-term quitters had a 14% lower risk of dementia compared to continual smokers, while never smokers had an 18% reduced risk for Alzheimer's disease.

SourceWiley·JournalAnnals of Clinical and Translational Neurology·DateSep 6, 2018

Study: Denver's inequities in park access traced to segregation, funding policies

A comprehensive case study found that Denver's parks don't adequately serve all city residents due to historical zoning codes and funding policies. The study suggests that improving park access for low-income people of color requires working with equity-oriented nonprofits and utilizing publicly owned land.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of Plant Registrations·DateAug 31, 2018