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Alternative inflation rate may offer more accurate economic guidance

Researchers found that official inflation indexes, such as CPI and PCE, may overestimate or underestimate the true inflation rate due to errors in housing rent assessments. The alternative method suggests an error range of 1.7-4.2% during the Great Recession and 0.3-0.9% during the current expansionary period.

SourcePenn State·JournalJournal of Macroeconomics·DateMay 30, 2018

How recent economy kept black, white young adults from leaving nest

A new study from Johns Hopkins University finds that increasing rents and declining employment rates disproportionately affected young black adults, causing them to stay with their parents longer. In contrast, white young adults were more likely to delay moving out due to job insecurity.

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalJournal of Housing Economics·DateMay 7, 2018

£1 million toolkit to calculate economic value of urban greenspace

A £1 million toolkit will help cities and developers accurately assess the benefits of green infrastructure, supporting recreation, community events, and wildlife. The project aims to provide a practical decision-making tool for land owners and managers, protecting existing provision and promoting high-quality green space.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·DateApr 23, 2018

Sagging confidence can lead to more self-interested behaviour -- or less.

A study by the University of Toronto Rotman School of Management found that low confidence can lead to selfish behavior, but also increased generosity when public choices are made. In contrast, high confidence participants tend to be more generous in their choices.

SourceUniversity of Toronto, Rotman School of Management·JournalJournal of Behavioral Decision Making·DateMar 22, 2018
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

Flood protection is everyone's responsibility

A mathematical economist has developed conceptual models to describe economic decisions for long-term flood protection strategies. The study highlights the importance of central government investment in infrastructure and private sector responsibility, with calculations showing that government investment is better than direct subsidies.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalCentral European Journal of Operations Research·DateMar 21, 2018

Wildlife conservation in North America may not be science-based after all

Researchers analyzed 667 hunt management systems across US and Canadian states, identifying hallmarks of science-based management such as clear objectives, evidence use, transparency, and external review. However, only 60% of these systems met these criteria, casting doubt on the science-based nature of North American wildlife management.

SourceSimon Fraser University·JournalScience Advances·DateMar 7, 2018

New partnership aids sustainable growth with Earth observations

The partnership aims to develop decision-making tools based on satellite observations of Earth, which can be used worldwide. Conservation International is working with governments and stakeholders to implement policies that preserve natural resources along the Mekong River.

SourceNASA/Goddard Space Flight Center·DateFeb 22, 2018

Researchers have found a link between earthquakes and currency jumps

Mathematicians at National Research University Higher School of Economics have found a link between earthquakes and currency jumps, using the Japanese ETAS approach. This method predicts financial risks with 40% accuracy, comparable to traditional econometric models.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalProcedia Computer Science·DateFeb 15, 2018

Study examines methane emissions reduction from oil and gas in North America

A new study proposes a North American Methane Reduction Framework to integrate public and private research and mitigation policies in the US, Canada, and Mexico. The researchers suggest that estimating emissions consistently across U.S. jurisdictions can help achieve the goal of reducing methane emissions from oil and gas sectors by 2025.

SourceTaylor & Francis Group·JournalClimate Policy·DateFeb 12, 2018
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

How far to the nearest city? Global map of travel time to cities published

A global map of travel time to cities has been published by the European Commission Joint Research Centre, showing that over 80% of people live within one hour of a city. However, accessibility is not equally distributed across development spectrum, with lower-income countries in sub-Saharan Africa having limited access.

SourceEuropean Commission Joint Research Centre·JournalNature·DateJan 12, 2018

DFG supports two new research groups at Goethe University Frankfurt

The university is tackling socially relevant topics such as earth's water resources and the effects of regulatory measures on market development with funding from the German Research Foundation. Researchers will examine how institutional and regulatory parameters influence financial market decisions and outcomes.

SourceGoethe University Frankfurt·DateJan 5, 2018

How neurotechnologies impact risk appetite

Researchers found that transcranial alternating current stimulation at 20 Hz increased voluntary risky decision-making, suggesting a link between reward processing and beta oscillatory activity. This discovery provides insights into the neurobiological mechanisms of risky decision-making.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournaleNeuro·DateDec 28, 2017

How much should a victim be compensated for emotional suffering?

A new study from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business found that people tend to award less compensation for emotional suffering when a small economic loss is present. The researchers suggest that victims should focus on emotional losses, rather than combining them with economic losses, to receive more favorable compensati...

SourceUniversity of Chicago Booth School of Business·JournalOrganizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes·DateNov 28, 2017
Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station

Davis Instruments Vantage Pro2 Weather Station offers research-grade local weather data for networked stations, campuses, and community observatories.

Generous people give in a heartbeat -- new study

Research at Anglia Ruskin University and Stockholm University links sensitivity to heartbeats with generosity. Participants in a game showed higher generosity when better at detecting heartbeats.

SourceAnglia Ruskin University·JournalScientific Reports·DateNov 15, 2017

Running on autopilot: Scientists find important new role for 'daydreaming' network

Researchers at the University of Cambridge discovered that the default mode network plays a crucial role in switching to 'autopilot' during familiar tasks. The DMN enables fast and accurate responses by leveraging memory associations, suggesting an essential function beyond mere daydreaming.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 23, 2017
Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope

Celestron NexStar 8SE Computerized Telescope combines portable Schmidt-Cassegrain optics with GoTo pointing for outreach nights and field campaigns.

Without a nudge, old prescribing habits die hard for clinicians

Researchers found that two psychological approaches, peer comparison and accountable justification, significantly reduced inappropriate antibiotic prescribing rates. However, when these interventions were removed after a year, some clinicians' bad habits returned, highlighting the need for long-term adoption of nudges to maintain bette...

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalJournal of the American Medical Association·DateOct 10, 2017

Obama and Trump administrations get opposite environmental assessment results

The Obama and Trump administrations have produced vastly different environmental assessment results related to the Clean Water Act. A systematic protocol for government cost-benefit analyses of proposed regulations is urgently needed to ensure better decision-making on human health and environmental issues.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateOct 5, 2017

Management studies: Dishonesty shift

A new study by Martin G. Kocher and colleagues reveals that groups are more likely to behave unethically than individuals, with honest participants often deciding to misreport in a team setting. The researchers attribute this phenomenon to the exchange of arguments over the validity of honesty norms, which leads to a shift in behavior.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalManagement Science·DateSep 19, 2017

$1.6M from NSF to UC Davis to study water, land use in disadvantaged communities

The National Science Foundation has awarded a $1.6M grant to UC Davis to analyze the complex relationships between surface water and groundwater supply, agricultural land use and economic wellbeing of rural, disadvantaged communities. The project aims to provide new insights for other regions facing similar issues and help local commun...

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·DateSep 14, 2017
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

Chronic lack of sleep increases risk-seeking

A study by researchers at the University of Zurich found that chronic lack of sleep leads to increased risk-taking behavior in young adults. After sleeping only 5 hours a night for a week, participants displayed significantly riskier behavior, including taking greater financial risks.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalAnnals of Neurology·DateAug 28, 2017

Understanding decisions: The power of combining psychology and economics

A collaborative effort between psychologists and economists reveals that combining both disciplines leads to better understanding of decisions. The research focuses on individuals' expectations for major life events, such as finding work or having children, and shows that teens are capable of estimating numerical probabilities with acc...

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 18, 2017
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Deep learning and stock trading

Researchers used deep learning and machine learning techniques to analyze S&P 500 data, achieving statistically significant and economically substantial returns. The findings challenge the efficient-market hypothesis and suggest AI can excel in times of high volatility.

SourceFriedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg·JournalEuropean Journal of Operational Research·DateMar 16, 2017

Some bed bugs are better climbers than others

Researchers found that tropical bed bugs can climb out of smooth-walled traps more effectively than US common bed bugs due to unique adaptations. This discovery has significant implications for monitoring and managing bed bug infestations.

SourceEntomological Society of America·JournalJournal of Economic Entomology·DateMar 15, 2017
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Information avoidance

Research reveals that people deliberately avoid information that challenges their beliefs, leading to harm in individual wellbeing and societal polarization. By understanding the reasons behind information avoidance, governments and firms can develop effective strategies to reach their audiences.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalJournal of Economic Literature·DateMar 10, 2017

Higher pay no enticement to blue-collar politicians, study finds

A new study by Duke University found that increasing politicians' pay does not encourage more working-class people to run for office. Research shows that high-paying jobs attract professionals rather than lower-paid individuals, making it difficult for blue-collar workers to break into politics.

SourceDuke University·JournalAmerican Political Science Review·DateJan 4, 2017
Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Economics made simple with physics models

Researchers have applied physics models to understand economic systems, but results show that universal features may be the exception rather than the rule. Econophysics has led to discoveries like the inverse cubic law describing stock price fluctuations.

SourceSpringer·JournalEPJ Techniques and Instrumentation·DateJan 3, 2017

DFG to fund 14 new Collaborative Research Centres

The DFG is establishing 14 new Collaborative Research Centres to investigate topics such as the practices of comparison, neutrinos, dark matter, and the robustness of vision. The CRCs will receive a total of €117.4 million in funding over an initial four-year period.

SourceDeutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft·DateNov 29, 2016

Princeton-led study finds facial impressions driven by our own experiences

A Princeton-led study explores how people form impressions from facial appearances, finding that exposure to different faces influences what is perceived as typical and evaluates positively. The results suggest that social meaning is imbued in faces based on their statistical position relative to an individual's learned central tendency.

SourcePrinceton University·DateNov 14, 2016

New evidence that politics, not economics, drives inequality

A new study from Ohio State University found that political factors, particularly presidential administrations, are the primary drivers of rising income inequality in the US. The research used IRS data to analyze economic and political factors contributing to inequality over 33 years.

SourceOhio State University·JournalAmerican Journal of Sociology·DateOct 26, 2016

Conservation decisions rely on balancing incentives with unpredictable variables

Researchers examine how large payments are necessary to induce landowners to accept conservation contracts, considering permanent and temporary options. The study reveals that permanent lump-sum payments need to be higher due to 'loss of option value,' while linking carbon payments to profits reduces uncertainty and hesitation.

SourceUniversity of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences·JournalAmerican Journal of Agricultural Economics·DateOct 5, 2016
Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

Blood sugar slumps affect how lean men treat the more rotund

A study found that lean men who experience low blood sugar are less fair in their economic decision-making, especially when it comes to hiring and salary decisions involving obese individuals. This bias can lead to employment disparities and unfair treatment of corpulent people in the workplace.

SourceSpringer·JournalInternational Journal of Obesity·DateAug 3, 2016
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

Trading changes how brain processes selling decisions

Researchers at the University of Chicago found that trading experience reduces emotional pain associated with selling, leading to a decrease in the endowment effect. Brain scans showed reduced activity in areas linked to negative emotions and anticipation of losses.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 1, 2016

Switch from observation only to active treatment by prostate cancer patients varies by race/ethnicity

A new study published in The Journal of Urology found that non-Hispanic black men were more likely than white men to begin active treatment for low-risk prostate cancer, independent of clinical measures. Ethnicity influenced this decision, suggesting a need for greater attention to race/ethnicity in disease management.

SourceElsevier Health Sciences·JournalThe Journal of Urology·DateJul 27, 2016

Biodiversity falls below 'safe levels' globally

A recent study found that biodiversity loss is no longer within the safe limit in most parts of the world. The greatest changes have happened in areas where most people live, affecting physical and psychological wellbeing. Conservation efforts are needed to preserve remaining natural vegetation and restore human-used lands.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalScience·DateJul 14, 2016
GoPro HERO13 Black

GoPro HERO13 Black records stabilized 5.3K video for instrument deployments, field notes, and outreach, even in harsh weather and underwater conditions.

Climate tipping points: What do they mean for society?

Scientists clarify difference between 'tipping point' and 'critical threshold' in climate system, highlighting potential for social tipping elements to trigger economic shocks. Researchers propose research agenda to study social and economic consequences of climatic tipping elements.

SourceRutgers University·DateJul 11, 2016

Researchers look into the brains of music fans

A study by the University of Bonn reveals that when participants were given the freedom to set prices themselves, their brains showed increased activation in the lingual gyrus, an area associated with social stimuli. This suggests that social considerations, such as fairness, played a significant role in their decision-making process.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateJun 27, 2016

Small brain area plays key role in making everyday decisions

Researchers found that neurons in a small brain area, the orbitofrontal cortex, assign values to options and re-map to make different decisions when circumstances change. This neural circuit is remarkably stable while allowing for flexibility in individual neurons.

SourceWashU Medicine·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateMay 9, 2016
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

A picture is worth a thousand... Airbnb guests?

A study published in Tourism Management found that personal photos of Airbnb hosts are critical to their business success, affecting consumers' decisions and prices. The research suggests that the level of trust inferred from a host's photo has a stronger impact on consumer choice than reputation.

SourceThe Hebrew University of Jerusalem·JournalTourism Management·DateApr 21, 2016

Fewer romantic prospects may lead to riskier investments

Research shows that people who face uncertain outcomes may prioritize high-risk options even when unrelated to romance. This study found that exposure to unfavorable sex ratios led participants to make riskier financial decisions, such as investing more in a single high-stakes option.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateApr 18, 2016
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Report reviews 10 years of shared decision making at Massachusetts General Hospital

The report from MGH and Partners HealthCare examines the first decade of a Shared Decision Making Program, which aims to match patients with the right treatment at the right time. The program has seen significant increases in patient engagement and clinician confidence, particularly after integrating decision aids into routine care.

SourceMassachusetts General Hospital·JournalHealth Affairs·DateApr 4, 2016

Why you may skimp on your Valentine's Day gift

New research from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business suggests that people are more likely to opt for inferior gifts if it maximizes overall benefits for themselves and their loved ones. In a series of experiments, researchers found that participants prioritized total benefits over selflessness when making decisions abou...

SourceUniversity of Chicago Booth School of Business·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateFeb 10, 2016

Paper: Homeownership a 'dream deferred' for millennial generation

A new paper finds that millennials still want to own homes but face obstacles like high student loan debt, low credit ratings, and delayed marriage and children. This delay may lead to a more sustainable and financially stable homeownership in the future.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalFamily and Consumer Sciences Research Journal·DateFeb 9, 2016

The secret of scholars who impact policy

A new study in PNAS suggests that environmental scholars can increase their policy impact by consulting widely with stakeholders during research. Stakeholder engagement is found to be a better predictor of future policy impacts than perceived scientific credibility.

SourceUniversity of Vermont·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 1, 2016

Mid-atlantic states present ocean data products

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean has released a set of analytical data products that will improve the scientific basis for regional ocean decision-making. The data, which include information on marine animal distribution, human use patterns, and ocean features, will help stakeholders make informed management decisions.

SourceMid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean·DateJan 29, 2016
Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach

Garmin GPSMAP 67i with inReach provides rugged GNSS navigation, satellite messaging, and SOS for backcountry geology and climate field teams.

Study finds simple ways to increase participation in EITC

A recent study by Carnegie Mellon University found that small changes to tax notices can significantly increase EITC participation. The study showed that making the layout cleaner and displaying the potential credit amount in the headline led to a higher response rate.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalAmerican Economic Review·DateDec 10, 2015

Buried in ash, ancient Salvadoran village shows images of daily life

The village of Ceren shows significant interactions among families and villagers in daily life, challenging traditional top-down societies. Archaeological evidence indicates the villagers had free reign regarding architecture, crop choices, and economics.

SourceU.S. National Science Foundation·JournalLatin American Antiquity·DateNov 3, 2015

Follow your heart as you pursue your career

A new Tel Aviv University study suggests that following one's heart can lead to greater job satisfaction and personal fulfillment. The research found that young people with strong callings are more likely to take risks and achieve success in their chosen fields, regardless of their inherent talent.

SourceAmerican Friends of Tel Aviv University·JournalJournal of Applied Psychology·DateOct 29, 2015

UC3M researches simulator of human behavior

The UC3M is investigating a system that replicates human behavior. This technology could be used to predict social crises, create more realistic robots and AI avatars. The project aims to understand individual behavior using experiments with thousands of participants.

SourceUniversidad Carlos III de Madrid·DateOct 27, 2015
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount provides precise tracking capacity for deep-sky imaging rigs during long astrophotography sessions.

Everything you always wanted to know about marketing channels

The article provides a comprehensive overview of marketing channel systems, tracing their evolution from two-party relationships to networks of channels and multiple platforms. Key findings include the impact of globalization, e-commerce technologies, and big data on channel decisions.

SourceJournal of Retailing at New York University·JournalJournal of Retailing·DateOct 21, 2015