ScienceDaily: Society - October 22, 2024
Top society research news
Raising happy eaters: Unlocking the secrets of childhood appetite
The foundation for healthy eating behavior starts in infancy. Young children learn to regulate their appetite through a combination of biological, psychological, and sociological factors. Researchers propose a model that explores these factors and their interactions, providing guidelines for better understanding childhood appetite self-regulation.
Image: Veyselcelikdemir/Shutterstock.com
Sweetened beverage taxes decrease consumption in lower-income households by nearly 50%
New research investigated responses to sweetened beverage taxes using the purchasing behavior of approximately 400 households in Seattle, San Francisco, Oakland and Philadelphia. Researchers found that after the tax was introduced, lower-income households decreased their purchases of sweetened beverages by nearly 50%, while higher-income households reduced purchases by 18%.
The transformative power of movies
Docudrama can lead people to be more empathetic toward people who are stigmatized in society, a new study finds.
U.S. infant mortality increased 7 percent in months following Dobbs, researchers find
U.S. babies died at a higher rate in the months following the Supreme Court's 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health decision, and infant mortality was highest among those born with chromosomal or genetic abnormalities, new research has found. The findings mirror previous research analyzing the experience in Texas after a ban on abortions in early pregnancy and illuminate the consequences of restricting access to abortion care, said researchers who conducted the national analysis.
New study urges enhanced recruitment strategies to help address US primary care physician shortages
A new study evaluated the effects of citizenship status on physician specialty choice and practice location among U.S. citizen and non-citizen international medical graduates (IMGs), which account for a quarter of all active physicians in the U.S. Citizenship status has significant effects on IMGs' choices of specialties and practice locations. Though non-citizen IMGs were historically found to be more likely to specialize in primary care and work in rural areas and shortage areas, the proportion has declined over the past decade. Strategies to recruit physicians to specialize in primary care, and especially to practice in underserved areas, should be tailored to the unique characteristics of IMGs.
This multi-state study is a real world data analyses of the effectiveness of the RSV -- short for respiratory syncytial virus -- vaccine. VISION Network researchers report that across the board these vaccines were highly effective in older adults, even those with immunocompromising conditions, during the 2023-24 respiratory disease season, the first season after RSV vaccine approval in the U.S.
Manliness concerns impede forgiveness of coworkers
The more men are concerned about appearing masculine, the less likely they will forgive a co-worker for a transgression such as missing an important meeting, a study has found. What's more, such men are also more likely seek revenge or avoid the transgressor, which contributes to an unhealthy and less effective work environment.
Smaller, more specific academic journals have more sway over policy
Journals focused on ferns, clams, or coral reefs had proportionally more of their articles cited by the federal government when protecting species than more prominent, higher-impact journals. The naturalist stepping through old-growth forest collecting fern samples is the most likely to observe subtle species and habitat changes on the ground and find an outlet in a specialized journal willing to publish a species-specific article.
Ultra-processed foods pose unique dangers for people with type 2 diabetes
Researchers describe how -- even more than just the presence of sugar and salt in the diet -- having more ultra-processed foods laden with additives can lead to higher average blood glucose levels over a period of months, a measure called HbA1C.
When hurricanes hit, online chatter drowns out safety messaging
Research shows, during four recent major hurricanes, important public safety messaging was drowned out by more trivial social content--including people tweeting about pets, sharing human-interest stories, or bickering about politics. That's a big problem for officials working to understand where help is needed and to communicate effectively with people impacted by disasters.
Tool helps analyze pilot performance and mental workload in augmented reality
Researchers developed HuBar, a visual analytics tool that summarizes and compares task performance sessions in augmented reality (AR) by analyzing performer behavior and cognitive workload. Using aviation as a case study, the research team demonstrated that HuBar provides insights into pilot behavior and mental states, helping researchers and trainers identify patterns, pinpoint areas of difficulty, and optimize AR-assisted training programs to improve learning outcomes and real-world performance.
The Autism Transitions Research Project has released new findings that underscore critical challenges and opportunities in transitioning autistic youth into adulthood.
Model reveals why debunking election misinformation often doesn't work
A new computational model analyzes the factors that help determine whether debunking efforts will persuade people to change their beliefs about the legitimacy of an election.
Concerning levels of PFAS in fish miles away from large contamination source
Fish can accumulate high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), even far from sources of contamination, according to a new study. The research highlights the need for expanded monitoring in watersheds affected by large PFAS sources, such as military bases across the country that have been contaminated by the use of PFAS-containing foams for fire-training and firefighting activities.
Study finds widespread exposure to hormone-disrupting chemical during pregnancy
Researchers link zearalenone levels to diet quality and call for further study.
Deep learning illuminates atmospheric blocking events of past, future
Atmospheric blocking events are persistent, high-impact weather patterns that occur when large-scale high-pressure systems become stationary and divert the jet stream and storm tracks for days to weeks, and can be associated with record-breaking flooding or heat waves, such as in Europe in 2023. Scientists used a deep learning model to infer the frequency of blocking events over the past 1,000 years and shed light on how future climate change may impact these significant phenomena.
People sympathize with bullied AI bots
In a new study, humans displayed sympathy towards and protected AI bots who were excluded from playtime.
Plastic pollution harms bees, review finds
A new review systematically shows the harmful effects of nano- and microplastics on bees and other beneficial insects. Their function as pollinators is impaired by the plastic particles. This harbors risks for global food security.
Why leadership outweighs an interdisciplinary mix in the effectiveness of a research team
An analysis of a child health project reveals surprising factors in early-stage team success.
Honey bees in demand: New contract strategies to support pollination services
As the world's native bee populations are declining, crop production requiring pollinators increasingly relies on commercial pollination services. In the U.S., the beekeeping industry is in great demand, and truckloads of bee colonies travel the country to accommodate crop growers. A new study looks at pollination contracts between beekeepers and California almond growers, exploring clauses that could make the agreements more appealing for both parties.
Machine learning analysis sheds light on who benefits from protected bike lanes
A new analysis leverages machine learning to help answer a thorny question: where should new protected bike lanes be placed to provide maximum benefit? The research team use machine learning and optimization to help inform such decisions. It's a challenge that required new computational approaches.
A new study suggests that large-scale adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) could lead to significant population-level health benefits. The research team used computer simulations to show that aggressive electrification of the U.S. vehicle fleet, coupled with an ambitious rollout of renewable electricity generation, could result in health benefits worth between US$84 billion and 188 billion by 2050. Even scenarios with less aggressive grid decarbonization mostly predicted health benefits running into the tens of billions of dollars.
Good physical fitness from childhood protects mental health
A recent study found that good physical fitness from childhood to adolescence is linked to better mental health in adolescence. These results are significant and timely, as mental health problems are currently a major societal challenge, affecting up to 25%--30% of young people. These findings suggest that improving physical fitness from childhood can help prevent mental health problems.
New temperatures in two thirds of key tropical forest
Two thirds of Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) in tropical forests are experiencing new temperature conditions as our climate changes, research shows.
Rangers lead ground-breaking effort to monitor Uganda's lion population in critical stronghold
New study highlights the vital role of wildlife rangers in lion conservation and identifies Uganda's Nile Delta as a key area for protection.
Climate change impacts internal migration worldwide
The influence of climate change on migration, both current and future, has garnered significant attention from the public and policymakers over the past decade. A new study has provided the first comprehensive analysis of how climate factors -- specifically drought and aridity -- affect internal migration.
Comprehensive efforts needed to develop health-promoting learning environments
Mental ill-health among students in higher education is a growing problem globally. Most efforts implemented to address ill-health involve individual treatment and adjustments to pedagogy. But more can and needs to be done at a structural or environmental level for higher education institutions to ensure learning and well-being among all students.
US air pollution monitoring network has gaps in coverage, say researchers
The lack of air-quality monitoring capabilities across the U.S. affects the health of millions of people and disproportionately impacts minority and low socioeconomic-status communities, say researchers. Motivated by a new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standard for air pollution, the team employed a model for fine-scale air pollution mapping using real-world data, and it indicates there is an urgent need to address gaps in the agency's monitoring network.
How do you remember how to ride a bike? Thank your cerebellum
Researchers have shown that, just like declarative memories, short-term and long-term memories for motor skills form in different regions of the brain, with the cerebellum being critical for the formation of long-term skill memories.