Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Financial incentives show no overall effect on viral suppression: May influence control of HIV in some clinical settings

A new study by the HIV Prevention Trials Network found that financial incentives had no significant overall impact on achieving viral suppression among HIV-positive patients. However, specific clinical settings such as hospital-based clinics and those with lower patient engagement saw enhanced viral suppression rates. The study also sh...

SourceHIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN)·DateFeb 24, 2015
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.

Corporate philanthropy increases workers' productivity

A study from the University of Southampton found that corporate philanthropy increases workers' productivity by up to 30% when tied to their job performance. When workers can choose how much of their pay to donate, it improves performance by an average of 13%, rising to 26% in those who were initially less productive.

SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalManagement Science·DateJan 6, 2015

Benefits of whistleblower programs outweigh costs

A new study finds that whistleblower involvement leads to greater penalties and enforcement, resulting in a $21.27 billion increase in penalties over 35 years. This research supports the increase of whistleblower incentive programs, as policymakers push for more rewards without considering economic benefits.

SourceAmerican University·JournalSocial Science Research·DateNov 18, 2014

UTHealth smoking study: Financial incentives double quit rates

Researchers found that small financial incentives doubled smoking cessation rates among socioeconomically disadvantaged smokers. The study, published in the American Journal of Public Health, suggests that such programs could be a cost-effective solution to reduce smoking-related illnesses.

SourceUniversity of Texas Health Science Center at Houston·JournalAmerican Journal of Public Health·DateNov 17, 2014
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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

HIV risks high in Mexico City's male sex trade

A new study reveals a stark assessment of the health dangers faced by male sex workers in Mexico City, with 38% having HIV and 21% having syphilis. The study highlights the need for incentives to promote condom use and improve individual and population health.

SourceBrown University·JournalJournal of the International AIDS Society·DateNov 14, 2014

Incentives, innovation and growth

The Lindau Meeting on Economic Sciences brings together Nobel laureates and young economists to discuss the scope of incentives, innovation, and growth. The meeting will explore how to encourage mass flourishing and dynamism in economics.

SourceLindau Nobel Laureate Meetings·DateAug 15, 2014
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Farmers market vouchers may boost produce consumption in low-income families

A study by NYU's Steinhardt School found that vouchers to buy fresh fruits and vegetables at farmers markets increased the amount of produce in the diets of some economically disadvantaged women. More than half reported consuming vegetables more frequently, with those who consumed little produce initially seeing the greatest increase.

SourceNew York University·JournalFood Policy·DateJul 24, 2014

Forests crucial to green growth

A new report promotes REDD+ and Green Economy as a pathway to sustainable development, benefiting all nations. Forests are the foundation of sustainable societies, storing carbon, supporting biodiversity, regulating water flows, and reducing soil erosion.

SourceWorld Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)·DateMar 21, 2014
Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

Health care savings: Reducing inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions

A new study at the University of Southern California found that a signed commitment letter in exam rooms lowered inappropriate antibiotic prescriptions for cold symptoms by nearly 20%. This simple intervention, displayed in both English and Spanish, saved $70 million/year in drug costs alone.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalJAMA Internal Medicine·DateJan 27, 2014

Hartz IV reform did not reduce unemployment in Germany

A recent study by Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz found that the Hartz IV reform had no significant impact on reducing unemployment in Germany. However, earlier reforms such as Hartz I to Hartz III were more effective in lowering unemployment rates.

SourceJohannes Gutenberg Universitaet Mainz·JournalInternational Economic Review·DateNov 7, 2013

Study explains how a job-market system lands couples in the same city

A recent study by MIT economists provides justification for current rules in job-placement programs, which can accommodate married couples. The researchers found that a properly calibrated system can work well even with large job markets and specific constraints. In fact, data from the medical job market suggests that stable matching i...

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalThe Quarterly Journal of Economics·DateNov 1, 2013
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.

Study finds that paying people to become kidney donors could be cost-effective

A study suggests that paying living kidney donors $10,000 could increase the number of transplants by 5% or more, resulting in incremental cost savings and improved patient outcomes. This approach could also improve quality and quantity of life for patients with end-stage renal disease.

SourceAmerican Society of Nephrology·JournalClinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateOct 24, 2013

Can financial incentives inspire exercise?

A systematic review suggests that small rewards increase the odds of maintaining an active lifestyle in patients with heart disease. The study found that receiving coupons and vouchers can help patients stick to new fitness regimes and continue exercising after a cardiac program.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·DateSep 19, 2013

Financial incentives motivate sedentary adults to exercise

A review study of 1,500 patients found that financial incentives can increase exercise amounts, helping to overcome time commitment and discomfort barriers. The study suggests providing short-term incentives can drive long-term behavior change, preventing repeat heart events and saving the health system millions.

SourceUniversity Health Network·JournalAmerican Journal of Preventive Medicine·DateSep 17, 2013
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

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

UT Arlington researcher finds that money motivates employees to lose weight

A study by UT Arlington researcher Joshua Price found that financial incentives can encourage employees to lose weight. The most effective payment structure was a refundable participation fee, which led to the greatest weight loss outcomes. Regular payments seemed to work as a reinforcement for people to continue losing weight.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Arlington·JournalJournal of Health Economics·DateAug 14, 2013

Giving blood donors a good reason to give

A study by University of Toronto Mississauga researchers found that offering economic incentives such as gift cards increased blood donations without compromising safety. The study used field-based studies with larger samples and found that incentives like paid vacation days led to a significant rise in annual blood donations.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalScience·DateMay 23, 2013

Annals of Internal Medicine tip sheet for April 2, 2013

Researchers found that obese employees who received group-based financial incentives lost more weight than those with individual incentives. In contrast, higher blood levels of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids protected against death, primarily due to reduced cardiovascular events.

SourceAmerican College of Physicians·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateApr 1, 2013
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.

Cash for weight loss? Works better when employees compete for pots of money, study finds

A new study found that group-based financial incentives for weight loss are significantly more effective than individual incentives. Group-based rewards led to nearly three times more weight loss among participants. The study suggests that peer pressure and competition can be powerful motivators in promoting healthy behaviors at work.

SourceMichigan Medicine - University of Michigan·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateApr 1, 2013

Program that pays for weight loss seems to pay off

A study found that modest financial incentives significantly increased sustained participation in a weight-loss program and long-term maintenance of weight loss. Participants who received financial rewards lost more weight (9.08 pounds) compared to those without incentives (2.34 pounds).

SourceAmerican College of Cardiology·DateMar 7, 2013

Money talks when it comes to losing weight, Mayo Clinic study finds

A Mayo Clinic study found that participants who received financial incentives lost more weight and remained in the program longer than those without incentives. The results suggest that financial incentives can improve weight loss outcomes and adherence, potentially helping to address the growing obesity epidemic in the US.

SourceMayo Clinic·DateMar 7, 2013

Sloan Foundation announces 2013 Sloan Research Fellows

The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation has honored 126 outstanding U.S. and Canadian researchers as recipients of the prestigious Sloan Research Fellowships for 2013. These early-career scientists are making significant contributions to various fields, including computer science, mathematics, molecular biology, chemistry, oceanography, economi...

SourceAlfred P. Sloan Foundation·DateFeb 19, 2013
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.

Dollars for donors: Many support financial incentives to encourage organ donation

A study found that nearly half of Canadians view financial incentives for deceased kidney donation as acceptable. Lower-income individuals were not more likely to donate for financial gain, according to the researchers. The study suggests that financial incentives may increase donations from both living and deceased donors.

SourceAmerican Society of Nephrology·JournalClinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateSep 27, 2012

Student performance improves when teachers given incentives upfront

A new study at the University of Chicago found that teacher incentives can improve student academic performance. When teachers received a bonus upfront with conditions attached, students showed a significant gain of up to 10 percentiles in their scores compared to those without such incentives.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·DateAug 8, 2012
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro)

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro) powers local ML workloads, large datasets, and multi-display analysis for field and lab teams.

UK welfare reform 'uninspiring' and adding to economic woes and inequality

A UK policy expert warns that the country's welfare reform policies are re-creating conditions that led to the 2007 economic crisis. The critic argues that the dominant political party's emphasis on reducing taxes and rolling back the state will lead to more poverty and economic instability.

SourceSAGE·JournalLocal Economy The Journal of the Local Economy Policy Unit·DateJul 27, 2012

How to make global fisheries worth 5 times more: UBC research

A new UBC study suggests that reducing the global fishing fleet, eliminating harmful subsidies, and implementing effective management systems could make global fisheries worth $54 billion annually. The study's authors estimate a potential return on investment of three- to seven-fold over 50 years.

SourceUniversity of British Columbia·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJul 13, 2012

A better way to help high-risk pregnant smokers

A contingency management program significantly improves smoking reduction and abstinence in drug-dependent pregnant women. The study found that nearly half of the participants met a 75% reduction target and a third achieved total abstinence.

SourceWiley·JournalAddiction·DateJun 21, 2012

Radiation exposure from medical imaging has increased even at HMOs

A recent UCSF study found that radiation exposure from medical imaging doubled in integrated health care systems (HMOs) between 1996 and 2010, with significant variations between systems. The study, which analyzed millions of patient records, showed a dramatic increase in imaging rates and high radiation doses.

SourceUniversity of California - San Francisco·JournalJAMA·DateJun 12, 2012

Why do people choke when the stakes are high?

A study by Caltech researchers suggests that when high financial incentives are involved, people become afraid of losing their potential reward and perform worse. The team found that the more someone is afraid of loss, the worse they perform, and that this effect even occurs when there are no explicit losses.

SourceCalifornia Institute of Technology·JournalNeuron·DateMay 9, 2012
Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C) keeps Macs, tablets, and meters powered during extended observing runs and remote surveys.

CAFE standards create profit incentive for larger vehicles

A new study by the University of Michigan finds that CAFE standards can create a financial incentive for automakers to produce larger vehicles, leading to increased carbon emissions. The study suggests that the policy can be adjusted to reduce these unintended incentives.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·JournalEnergy Policy·DateDec 8, 2011

Study: Tiger Woods' superstar status hobbled the competition

Research by Northwestern University economist Jennifer Brown found that when Tiger Woods played in a tournament, other golfers' scores were substantially worse compared to tournaments where Woods did not play. This phenomenon, known as the 'superstar effect,' suggests that superstars can be a disincentive to competition.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Political Economy·DateDec 6, 2011

It pays to be healthier

Financial incentives are effective for altering simple behaviors like immunization take-up and attendance at health services, but less effective for complex behaviors such as smoking. Regular reinforcement with social support and skill training significantly increases success rates.

SourceSpringer·JournalInternational Journal of Behavioral Medicine·DateNov 21, 2011
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.

How incentives can hurt group productivity and shared resources

A study by Columbia Business School professor Stephan Meier found that incentives can decrease public goods contribution and increase free-riding behavior in group environments with informal norm enforcement. The researchers discovered that incentives changed the norm of contribution, making it acceptable to exploit common resources.

SourceColumbia Business School·JournalManagement Science·DateMar 11, 2011
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.

Total cooperation among people is not viable

Researchers found that people can be categorized into different types based on their cooperation behavior, with around 5% always helping, 35% never helping, and 60% cooperating depending on circumstances. The study suggests that economic incentives are not the primary driver of cooperation, but rather individual motivations and behaviors.

SourceUniversidad Carlos III de Madrid·JournalPLOS ONE·DateFeb 14, 2011

New mortgage design would minimize home foreclosures

Researchers propose a new adjustable balance mortgage contract that resets the loan balance and monthly payment based on the mortgaged home's market value. This design reduces the economic incentive to default, costing about the same as a typical fixed-rate mortgage.

SourcePenn State·JournalReal Estate Economics·DateJan 19, 2011
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

Primary care financial incentives cut heart disease deaths and admissions

Research finds that linking financial incentives to quality improvement has improved primary care in the UK, leading to reduced heart disease deaths and hospital admissions. Practices with higher quality scores had lower death rates and fewer hospital admissions, especially in deprived areas.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalJournal of Epidemiology and Community Health·DateSep 6, 2010

US hospitals making only modest gains in adoption of electronic health records

A new study found that US hospitals made modest gains in adopting electronic health records between 2008 and 2009, with only 2% meeting federal guidelines for 'meaningful use.' This progress is unlikely to lead to improved healthcare quality and cost reductions due to the high costs of implementing EHR systems.

SourceHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health·JournalHealth Affairs·DateAug 26, 2010

Common working conditions hurting both workers and employers

New research from North Carolina State University finds that business practices like outsourcing and project-based teams lead to worker stress, decreased employee loyalty, and lower quality of life. Employers also face long-term problems such as increased turnover and higher costs.

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalSocial Problems·DateJul 13, 2010

State biofuel subsidies costly but effective, MSU research shows

A new study by MSU researchers suggests that state biofuel subsidies can be costly, but also highly effective in attracting ethanol producers to the industry. The study found that larger subsidies and tax credits increase the likelihood of an ethanol plant locating in a state.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalSouthern Economic Journal·DateApr 26, 2010
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.

Medical 'pay for performance' programs help improve care -- but not always, study finds

A new study found that certain types of financial incentives for improving patient care have a positive effect on patient experiences. However, placing too much emphasis on physician productivity can actually harm patient satisfaction. Researchers analyzed data from 124,021 patients and found improvements in areas like communication an...

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalJournal of General Internal Medicine·DateNov 23, 2009

Costs of plug-in cars key to broad consumer acceptance

A University of Michigan survey found that the cost of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) is a significant predictor of purchase probabilities, even more so than environmental considerations. Economic factors, such as willingness to pay for fuel savings and price premiums, played a crucial role in consumer attitudes towards PHEVs.

SourceUniversity of Michigan·DateOct 21, 2009

Do electronic health records help or hinder medical education?

A recent PLOS Medicine study examines the effects of electronic health records (EHRs) on medical education. Two groups of researchers present contrasting views: one arguing that EHRs may erode physician education due to potential risks, while another highlights opportunities for enhanced clinical skills and patient communication.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateMay 11, 2009