ScienceDaily: Science & Society News

Standardized approach to creation and use of antibodies urged Posted: 04 Feb 2015 10:41 AM PST A worldwide group of antibody experts appeal for a standardized approach to the creation and use of antibodies in research and therapeutics.

Evidence from warm past confirms recent IPCC estimates of climate sensitivity Posted: 04 Feb 2015 10:41 AM PST New evidence showing the level of atmospheric carbon dioxide millions of years ago supports recent climate change predictions from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

West Africa: Hepatitis C more prevalent than HIV/AIDS or Ebola yet lacks equal attention Posted: 04 Feb 2015 07:27 AM PST Hepatitis C is more prevalent than HIV/AIDS or Ebola in parts of Africa, yet lacks equal attention, researchers say. 'In West Africa, we believe that there are many transmission modes and they are not through IV drug use, but through cultural and every day practices,' says the principal investigator on the study. 'In this study, tribal scarring, home birthing and traditional as opposed to hospital based circumcision procedures, were associated with hepatitis C infection in Ghana.'

Our thoughts are susceptible to external influence, even against our will Posted: 03 Feb 2015 11:23 AM PST New research documents how our thoughts are influenced by our outside environment. This research is the first demonstration of two thoughts in the stream of consciousness being controlled externally and against participants' will.

Intellectual privacy vital to life in digital age Posted: 03 Feb 2015 11:19 AM PST In our increasingly digital world, the balance between privacy and free speech is tenuous, at best. But we often overlook the important ways in which privacy is necessary to protect our cherished civil liberties of freedom of speech, thought and belief, says an expert.

Study investigates the complex roads that lead families to food insecurity Posted: 03 Feb 2015 09:34 AM PST Food insecurity creates a host of unhealthy consequences. The roads leading there can be very different. A new study examined four risk factors for families that can lead to varying degrees of hunger.

Kids five years after the recession: Smart policies, better lives Posted: 03 Feb 2015 09:31 AM PST A new analysis shows that, five years after its technical end, the recession of the mid-2000s continues to impact America’s children in four key areas: health, hunger, housing, and abuse and neglect, updating research conducted in 2010. It finds lingering effects in every aspect, but it underscores the effectiveness of federal investments in mitigating harm to children.

Income, education affect calorie menu use: Most notice it, few use it Posted: 03 Feb 2015 08:19 AM PST A newly published research study examined whether noticing and using calorie menu labels was associated with demographic characteristics of customers at a national fast food chain currently posting calorie counts. They found that approximately 60% of participants noticed the calorie menu labels but only 16% reported using the labels to determine food and beverage choices.

Complex incentives drive macular degeneration prescription decisions Posted: 02 Feb 2015 06:24 PM PST Researchers suspected that doctors treating Medicare patients would have a financial incentive to prescribe a more costly drug. Instead the prescription practices for two macular degeneration drugs aren't that straightforward.

Findings reinforce use of targeted tutoring to benefit disadvantaged CPS students Posted: 02 Feb 2015 06:22 PM PST A new report provides further evidence that it’s not too late to improve academic outcomes for adolescents from disadvantaged environments if they receive individual attention. The latest data is from the first year of a two-year study that shows that participation in the Match tutoring intervention improved student math test scores, which is equivalent to narrowing the nationwide achievement gap between black and white students by about a third.

Clean technology can partially make up for weak CO2 pricing Posted: 02 Feb 2015 08:45 AM PST Clean technology support can to some extent make up for weak carbon dioxide pricing and hence help keep the two degrees target within reach, a new study shows. Even if the world climate summit in Paris later this year is successful in striking a climate deal, it might not bring about sharp greenhouse-gas cuts in the near-term. However, emission targets could be strengthened by complementary policies.