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Coping with smart phone threats

A Canadian team outlines possible coping mechanisms for lost or stolen mobile devices, highlighting the importance of user awareness and organization security measures. The researchers found that many users are either unaware or unwilling to use security countermeasures, leaving them vulnerable to data loss risks.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Mobile Communications·DateAug 21, 2014

Bloomberg's health legacy: Urban innovator or meddling nanny?

Lawrence O. Gostin praises Bloomberg's policies addressing obesity epidemic, disease surveillance, and tobacco control, citing successes in trans fat limits and tobacco reduction. He argues that Bloomberg's approach is a necessary response to lifestyle-related diseases, demonstrating creativity and courage in public health advocacy.

SourceThe Hastings Center·JournalHastings Center Report·DateOct 30, 2013

Extreme political attitudes may stem from an illusion of understanding

A new study suggests that people may hold extreme policy positions due to an illusion of understanding, which is debunked when they're asked to explain the policies. The researchers found that participants softened their positions after explaining the policies, indicating a potential psychological process to combat political polarization.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·DateApr 29, 2013

Psychology study shows distance plays key role in gun control arguments

A new psychology study from the University of Texas at Austin suggests that public officials located out of state from their constituents are more likely to gain approval by framing their arguments around the abstract rather than specific incidents. This prompts people to consider the larger picture, according to researchers.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalPersonality and Social Psychology Bulletin·DateMar 25, 2013

The hidden burden of bovine Tuberculosis

A new study published in PLOS Computational Biology found that up to 21% of herds in Great Britain may be hiding bovine Tuberculosis despite restrictions. The study used mathematical models to estimate the efficiency of cattle-based controls for the disease, which had previously been eliminated in the UK.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateOct 18, 2012

NaCl to give way to RockSalt

RockSalt, a new tool developed by Harvard computer scientists, uses Coq to verify that native code complies with security policies. The tool has improved performance and security compared to previous solutions like Google Native Client (NaCl), with no reported vulnerabilities.

Realising the public health benefits of policies to tackle health security and other risks of mass gatherings -- a call to action

The paper outlines research priorities to develop effective policies and planning for mass gatherings, highlighting the need for evidence-based mitigation measures. The authors propose five key public health research directions to control public health emergencies and reduce adverse health consequences.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet Infectious Diseases·DateJan 15, 2012

Estimating global malaria incidence

A study estimates global malaria incidence to be 225 million episodes worldwide in 2009, using routine surveillance data. The authors find that accurate surveillance is essential for monitoring progress towards the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals and controlling malaria outbreaks.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Medicine·DateDec 20, 2011

Is sustainability science really a science?

Researchers from Los Alamos National Laboratory and Indiana University analyzed the field's evolution, composition, and collaboration structure. The study concludes that sustainability science is both applied and basic, spanning worldwide institutions and governments. A global collaboration network emerged around 2000, defining the fie...

SourceDOE/Los Alamos National Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 22, 2011

Structure, not scientists to blame for Los Alamos failings

The article reveals how Los Alamos' decline is linked to misguided policies and mismanagement, rather than a culture of arrogance. The lab's scientists faced harsh conditions, including polygraph tests and shutdowns, after media scrutiny of one individual's actions was misconstrued as institutional failure.

SourceSAGE·JournalBulletin of the Atomic Scientists·DateNov 1, 2011