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Policy statements on the effects of media overlook scientific complexity

A scholarly review found that policy statements on media effects frequently oversimplify complex issues, relying on biased evidence and exaggerated claims. The study evaluated 24 policy statements from professional organizations and identified widespread citation bias, false consistency, and overgeneralization.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalAdvances in Methods and Practices in Psychological Science·DateFeb 4, 2019

Can you pick an MMA winner by studying fighters' faces?

Czech researchers used 360-degree headshots to assess fighters' perceived fighting ability. Despite this, ratings were not linked to actual MMA score or physical characteristics. However, heavier fighters with higher anaerobic performance were judged as more successful based on their facial features.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateJan 23, 2019

Trazadone associated with similar risk of falls and major fractures as antipsychotics in seniors with dementia

New research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that trazadone is associated with a comparable risk of falls and major osteoporotic fractures to atypical antipsychotics. This finding challenges the assumption that trazodone is a safer alternative for treating behavioral symptoms in seniors with dementia.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·DateNov 26, 2018

Can Superman trigger heroic helping in people?

Priming individuals with superhero images, such as Superman, increases their likelihood of engaging in prosocial behaviors. However, the study found no direct effect on perceptions of meaning in life. The research used both self-reported and actual helping behavior experiments to explore this phenomenon.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateNov 23, 2018

Voters' preexisting opinions shift to align with political party positions

A longitudinal study of voters in New Zealand found that participants tended to shift their opinions to align with those of their preferred political party. Strong supporters of a party were more likely to change their opinions over time, while those whose opinions were already aligned with the party position were less likely to shift.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateNov 2, 2018

RENCI to lead two $1 million grants to support data-intensive scientific research

Two new $1 million NSF grants will support RENCI's efforts to develop a high-performance platform for scientific data processing and detect unintentional data errors. The projects aim to improve scientific productivity, increase confidence in outcomes, and facilitate seamless integration of available resources and networks.

Physician burnout in small practices is dramatically lower than national average

Research led by NYU School of Medicine found that physicians in small independent primary care practices (SIPs) report dramatically lower levels of burnout compared to the national average. The study suggests that independence and autonomy may provide some protection against symptoms of burnout, highlighting the importance of creating ...

SourceNYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine·JournalThe Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine·DateJul 9, 2018

Study: Guns in Chicago just '2.5 handshakes' away

A recent study by Northwestern University researchers used network science to map the gun market in Chicago, finding that individuals are on average 2.5 handshakes away from a gun. Gang membership was found to reduce this distance by 27 percent, highlighting the role of gangs in facilitating access to guns.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalJournal of Urban Health·DateMay 22, 2018

Getting health data sharing off the ground

The Swiss Personalized Health Network aims to develop guidelines for responsible health data sharing, addressing key topics like data quality and patient sovereignty. Innovative solutions, including blockchain and reciprocity-based incentives, are being explored to overcome hurdles in data sharing.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalHealth Affairs·DateMay 9, 2018

SourceData is making data discoverable

SourceData provides a suite of tools to generate, validate and use figure data, making it efficient to find and reuse published results. The platform links figures to other related figures across papers and journals, creating a searchable knowledge graph.

SourceEMBO·JournalNature Methods·DateOct 31, 2017

Household with mother (-in-law) means fewer kids

Researchers analyzed records of over 2.5 million women from 14 countries, finding that living with a mother-in-law actually results in lower family sizes. Women who live with either their own or husband's mother have fewer children compared to those who only live with their spouse.

SourceUniversity of Vienna·JournalRoyal Society Open Science·DateOct 25, 2017

ESnet's science DMZ design could help transfer, protect medical research data

A Science DMZ architecture can be adapted to meet the needs of the medical research community, allowing for secure sharing of large datasets while protecting individual privacy. The design provides speed and security for moving large data sets, enabling teams of experts to collaborate in real-time.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalJournal of the American Medical Informatics Association·DateOct 16, 2017

CoreTrustSeal Certification launched

The ICSU World Data System has launched the CoreTrustSeal Certification, a core-level certification for Trustworthy Data Repositories. The certification is based on the DSA-WDS Core Trustworthy Data Repositories Requirements catalogue and procedures, aiming to promote sustainable and trustworthy data infrastructures.

Study: Managers may compromise safety due to earnings expectations

A recent study found that companies facing market pressure to meet earnings expectations may compromise on safety, resulting in a 12% higher injury rate for employees. This is due to managers cutting back on safety-related expenditures and increasing employee output, leading to an economic trade-off between profits and worker health.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Dallas·JournalJournal of Accounting and Economics·DateApr 19, 2017

Improving memory with magnets

Scientists at McGill University used magnetoencephalography and electroencephalography to study the relationship between theta waves and auditory memory. They found that applying transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) at the same frequency as natural theta waves improved memory performance, while arrhythmic TMS had no effect.

SourceMcGill University·JournalNeuron·DateMar 27, 2017