ScienceDaily: Science & Society News

Politics and economics affect 'Health in All Policies' Posted: 19 Feb 2015 01:05 PM PST Some governments have decided that health care is too important to leave to their health departments and have made health care a priority for all departments. The concept, called Health in All Policies, or HiAP, has gained traction in some governments but little research has gone into measuring its effectiveness.

Tracing languages back to their common ancestors through the statistics of sound shifts Posted: 19 Feb 2015 10:30 AM PST A statistical technique that sorts out when changes to words’ pronunciations most likely occurred in the evolution of a language offers a renewed opportunity to trace words and languages back to their earliest common ancestor or ancestors.

Possible regulation of cigarettes not likely to significantly change US illicit tobacco market Posted: 19 Feb 2015 08:57 AM PST Although there is insufficient evidence to draw firm conclusions about how the US illicit tobacco market would respond to any new regulations that modify cigarettes -- for example, by lowering nicotine content -- limited evidence suggests that demand for illicit versions of conventional cigarettes would be modest, says a new report.

Clearing up Europe's air pollution hotspots Posted: 19 Feb 2015 07:16 AM PST Europe cannot achieve the WHO air quality guidelines without strictly controlling emissions from coal and wood burning for home heating, road traffic, and other sources such as industrial-scale factory farming, according to new research.

Global impact of debris on marine life studied Posted: 19 Feb 2015 07:16 AM PST Nearly 700 species of marine animal have been recorded as having encountered humanmade debris such as plastic and glass according to the most comprehensive impact study in more than a decade.

Airport screening misses half of disease cases but could be improved Posted: 19 Feb 2015 06:03 AM PST Researchers have found that in order to be effective, the screening of passengers for disease at airports must be tailored to the outbreak in question.

25 percent of children who are homeless need mental health services Posted: 19 Feb 2015 06:03 AM PST 25 percent of children who are homeless are in need of mental health services, a pilot study that took place in North Carolina, USA, has found. The study highlights the need for more screening and support for the millions of homeless children in the United States.

New test could significantly reduce burden on UK hospitals Posted: 19 Feb 2015 05:58 AM PST A new test that rules out heart attacks in patients could reduce hospital admissions by as much as 40%, for patients with chest pain, according to research.

People with 'bonding identity' cope better with structural disadvantage Posted: 19 Feb 2015 05:58 AM PST Individuals from socially disadvantaged populations who define themselves as connected to a group are better prepared to deal with barriers encountered in their life-course. Their self-esteem is indeed less harmed as a result of stronger sense of efficacy, a new article suggests.

Wikipedia use: nothing to be ashamed about, experts say Posted: 11 Feb 2015 09:37 AM PST Academics and students alike should be making better use of Wikipedia, a major study of digital technology use in Higher Education has recommended.

Rate of Latino physicians shrinks, even as Latino population swells Posted: 11 Feb 2015 07:18 AM PST Latinos are one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in the United States, with their numbers having risen 243 percent since 1980. Yet the number of Latino physicians per 100,000 Latinos has declined by 22 percent during that period.

Stress caused by discrimination linked to mental health issues among Latino teens Posted: 11 Feb 2015 05:29 AM PST Latino adolescents who experience discrimination-related stress are more likely to experience anxiety, depression, and issues with sleep, according to research. These mental health outcomes were more pronounced among Latino teens born in the U.S. to immigrant parents, as opposed to foreign-born teens.