ScienceDaily: Science & Society News

Real estate bidding wars aren't going away, experts say Posted: 03 Mar 2015 11:17 AM PST Frenzy, frustration and disappointment are what home buyers have come to dread about real estate bidding wars. They'd better get used to it, suggests a new study. Once a rarity -- representing between 3 and 4 per cent -- homes sold through bidding wars tripled their market share during the real estate boom between 1995 and 2005, says the paper.

Bans don't help smokers quit, researchers say Posted: 03 Mar 2015 10:11 AM PST No significant change in home habits of smokers have been observed in the aftermath of a ban on smoking in public spaces, researchers report. Greater inspiration to kick the habit likely comes from having friends or family who set an example by giving up cigarettes themselves, the authors write.

Understanding electric car 'range anxiety' could be key to wider acceptance Posted: 03 Mar 2015 09:39 AM PST Drivers have been slow to adopt electric vehicles due to 'range anxiety,' the fear of becoming stranded with an empty battery. This phenomenon was recently addressed in a study that aims to explain range anxiety and determine whether hands-on experience can reduce drivers' stress.

Tools can identify nations vulnerable to Ebola and aid response, analysis finds Posted: 03 Mar 2015 09:39 AM PST Ebola remains a serious problem in parts of West Africa and the experiences in affected areas may provide lessons for future public health emergencies. A set of tools newly created may help identify nations that are vulnerable to future outbreaks of Ebola or other emergencies. The tools evaluate a nation's strengths across a wide range of measures such as political strength and health care capabilities, and can help assess remedies.

Outcomes of lung transplantations since implementation of need-based allocation system Posted: 03 Mar 2015 09:37 AM PST Since implementation of a medical need-based allocation system of donor lungs in 2005, double-lung transplantation has been associated with better graft survival than single-lung transplantation in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF); at 5 years, there has been no survival difference between single- and double-lung transplant recipients in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), according to a study.

Examination of prior authorization policies for antipsychotic prescribing to children Posted: 03 Mar 2015 09:37 AM PST With a concern about inappropriate prescribing of antipsychotic medications to children, 31 states in the U.S. have implemented prior authorization policies for atypical antipsychotic prescribing, mostly within the past 5 years, and with most states applying their policies to children younger than 7 years of age, according to a study.

Intervention results in more stable housing for homeless adults Posted: 03 Mar 2015 09:37 AM PST A program that included scattered-site supportive housing using rent supplements and case management services led to more stable housing for homeless adults with mental illness in four cities in Canada, compared with usual access to existing housing and community services -- but the intervention did not result in significant improvements in health-related quality of life, according to the study.

Nice to sniff you: Handshakes may engage our sense of smell Posted: 03 Mar 2015 07:59 AM PST Why do people shake hands? A new study suggests one of the reasons for this ancient custom may be to check out each other's odors. Even if we are not consciously aware of this, handshaking may provide people with a socially acceptable way of communicating via the sense of smell. People sniff their hands twice as much after a handshake.

Stress markers in unemployed linked to poor health Posted: 03 Mar 2015 07:57 AM PST It appears that stress markers in unemployed people can be found, independent of smoking, alcohol consumption and overweight/obesity. Results from a study suggest that long-term unemployment may be especially damaging to health. Authors also note that older jobseekers appear more affected than younger counterparts.

Vaccine skeptics aren't swayed by emotional scare tactics Posted: 03 Mar 2015 06:58 AM PST On the heels of an American nationwide measles outbreak comes a report that campaigns aimed at scaring people about the consequences of non-vaccination might not be as effective as many think. Authors challenge the popular assumption that emotional appeals have a wide, sweeping effect on people's health beliefs.

One million patients could lose primary care if residency training in underserved regions is eliminated Posted: 03 Mar 2015 04:54 AM PST The shortage of primary care doctors could worsen if funding for the Teaching Health Centers, a program to train medical residents in underserved areas, is eliminated in the United States, says a new report.

'Cardiovascular revolution' has increased life expectancy in Spain Posted: 03 Mar 2015 04:51 AM PST Over the last century, life expectancy for Spaniards has increased by 40 years. A study highlights the main cause, since 1980, as being the reduced incidence of cardiovascular diseases while other pathologies, such as mental illnesses and certain types of cancer, have been seen to rise. The authors predict that the effects of the economic recession on mortality will show up in the long-term.

US spends more on cancer care, saves fewer lives than Western Europe Posted: 02 Mar 2015 03:24 PM PST Despite sharp increases in spending on cancer treatment, cancer mortality rates in the United States have decreased only modestly since 1970, a study has found. "Our results suggest that cancer care in the U.S. did not always avert deaths compared to Western Europe and, when it did avert deaths, it often did so at substantial cost," explained an author. "The greatest number of deaths averted occurred in cancers for which decreasing mortality rates were more likely to be the result of successful prevention and screening rather than advancements in treatment."

You can't take your genes with you: Strategies to share genetic information after death Posted: 02 Mar 2015 10:07 AM PST Does the child of a person with a heritable form of cancer have the right to access their parent's genetic information after death? What if no consent was ever established? Biomedical ethicists review current arguments about how to disclose genetic information of the deceased and offer suggestions that may help clinicians and officials develop their own policies.

Republicans trust science -- except when it comes to health insurance and gay adoption Posted: 02 Mar 2015 09:33 AM PST A new study finds that while Democrats are generally more 'pro-science' than other political groups, Republicans are also inclined to defer to science across a range of policy issues. In fact, there are only four issues where Republicans exhibit less trust than independents: global warming, evolution, gay adoption, and mandatory health insurance.

For patients with brain tumors, insurance status linked to differences in patient safety and quality of care Posted: 27 Feb 2015 11:48 AM PST Patients that are on Medicaid or uninsured have higher rates of reportable patient safety and quality of care issues during hospitalization for brain tumors, reports a new study.