From sports to the stock market and even winning the lottery, it's in our nature to predict who or what will come out on top. But, sometimes we can't see the forest for the trees. According to a new study in the Journal of Consumer Research, people are more likely to make a prediction about something when it is grouped in a large category of similar items. "One factor that can contribute to a person's flawed judgment is categorization," write authors Mathew S. Isaac (Seattle University) and Aaron R. Brough (Utah State University). "When making a prediction, we can become ...

In a recent analysis by the RECIST Working Group published in the European Journal of Cancer, EORTC researchers had explored whether a more refined categorization of tumor response or various aspects of progression could improve prediction of overall survival in the RECIST database. They found that modeling target lesion tumor growth did not improve the prediction of overall survival above and beyond that of the other components of progression. The RECIST Working Group includes the EORTC, the United States National Cancer Institute, and the National Cancer Institute of ...

Case Western Reserve University dental researchers have found a less invasive way to extract single rare immune cells from the mouth to study how the mouth's natural defenses ward off infection and inflammation. By isolating some specialized immune cells (white blood cells known as "leukocytes") to study how they fight diseases in the mouth—or reject foreign tissues, such as in failed organ transplants—researchers hope to learn more about treating and preventing such health issues as oral cancers, cardiovascular disease, AIDS and other infectious diseases. To this point, ...

By 2050, deforestation could cause temperatures in the Congo Basin to increase by 0.7 °C. The increase would intensify warming caused by greenhouse gases by half, according to a study by researchers at the University of Leuven, Belgium. Explosive population growth and inefficient agricultural practices are causing large-scale destruction of tropical rainforests in Central Africa. A team of researchers from the University of Leuven examined how these practices will affect longer-term temperatures in the region. Using a sophisticated computer model, they forecasted Congo ...

Disturbances in the icy rings of Saturn have given scientists an insight into how moons are made. Writing in the journal Icarus this week, Professor Carl Murray from Queen Mary's Astronomy Unit reports that recently discovered disturbances at the very edge of Saturn's outer bright A ring result from a small icy object that formed within the ring and which may be in the process of migrating out of it. They have nicknamed the object, 'Peggy'. "We hadn't seen anything like this before," explained Professor Murray. "We may be looking at the act of birth, where this object ...

The aim of this study was to develop a screening tool to identify infants prior to 12 months at risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and developmental learning delay (DLD) and provide immediate determination of risk for autism spectrum disorder. The importance of early detection and treatment for children with ASD has been well documented. Since 2006, the American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended routine screening measures for toddlers at risk for ASD at 18 and 24 months of age, however the authors of this study were not aware of any screening questionnaires available ...

After experiencing a tragic and truncated end to the 2013 Boston Marathon, race organizers were faced not only with grief but with hundreds of administrative decisions, including plans for the 2014 race – an event beloved by Bostonians and people around the world. One of the issues they faced was what to do about the nearly 6,000 runners who were unable to complete the 2013 race. The Boston Athletic Association, the event's organizers, quickly pledged to provide official finish times for these runners. Thinking ahead, they also had to consider how to provide these runners ...

University of Adelaide research into parasites of cuttlefish, squid and octopus has uncovered details of the parasites' astonishing life cycles, and shown how they may help in investigating populations of their hosts. Researcher Dr Sarah Catalano has described 10 new parasite species− dicyemid mesozoans −, which live in the kidneys of cephalopods (cuttlefish, squid and octopus). They are the very first dicyemid species to be described from Australian waters. "Although dicyemid parasites have been studied by other groups, nothing has been known about dicyemid ...

Court decisions that favor a heterosexual parent over a gay or lesbian parent in a custody dispute often do not consider important social science research on parenting by gay and lesbian individuals, according to a new review from Drexel University. Previous research shows that gay and lesbian individuals are as effective in parenting as heterosexuals, and that children raised by gay or lesbian parents are as well-adjusted as their peers raised by heterosexual parents. This research could greatly impact how legislatures and courts make decisions regarding custody for ...

Engineers at the University of California, San Diego, have created new ceramic materials that could be used to store hydrogen safely and efficiently. The researchers have created for the first time compounds made from mixtures of calcium hexaboride, strontium and barium hexaboride. They also have demonstrated that the compounds could be manufactured using a simple, low-cost manufacturing method known as combustion synthesis. The work is at the proof of concept stage and is part of a $1.2 million project funded by the National Science Foundation, a collaboration between ...

ARLINGTON VA, April 15, 2014 – New research, partially funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the USA Rice Federation, shows that consumers can improve their diets simply by enjoying white or brown rice as part of their daily meals. In a study published online in the peer-reviewed journal Food and Nutrition Sciences, lead author Theresa Nicklas, DrPH, of Baylor College of Medicine, analyzed the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey datasets from 2005-2010 and evaluated the association of rice consumption with overall diet quality and key nutrient ...

The bacterium that causes whooping cough, Bordetella pertussis, has changed in Australia - most likely in response to the vaccine used to prevent the disease - with a possible reduced effectiveness of the vaccine as a result, a new study shows. A UNSW-led team of researchers analysed strains of Bordetella pertussis from across Australia and found that many strains no longer produce a key surface protein called pertactin. About 80 per cent of the 2012 whooping cough cases in Australia studied by the team were caused by pertactin-free strains. Pertactin is one of the ...

Infection is bad news for all of us - but it can be really serious to people who have had a stroke. Evidence is mounting that infection makes things much worse after a stroke. A team of scientists at the University of Manchester has now found a key to why and how infection is such a bad thing for stroke sufferers In the research published today in the medical journal Annals of Neurology, the researchers show that rodents with pneumonia fared worse after having a stroke than those without the bacterial infection. When people get an infection their natural defences ...

NAIROBI, Kenya (9 April 2014) -----Formalizing trade in herbal medicinal products has the potential to increase the demand for on-farm grown raw material and raise the level of cultivation of medicinal tree species in smallholder farms. A study carried out by the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) in Kenya shows that trade in herbal medicinal products is rising in the urban areas and formalization in terms of better hygienic packaging and labeling of the products is likely to increase cultivation of these tree species. Traditional medicine is practiced in in many rural ...

There are many viral diseases in the world for which no pharmaceutical treatment exists. These include, among others, dengue fever, which is spread by mosquitoes in the tropics, as well as a type of diarrhea, which is more familiar in Finland and is easily spread by the hands and can be dangerous especially for small children and the elderly. Researchers at Aalto University and the University of Eastern Finland have now succeeded in preliminary tests to prevent the spread of one type of virus into cells with the help of a new type of nanocrystalline cellulose. Nano-sized ...

Communities in Africa and Thailand that worked together on HIV-prevention efforts saw not only a rise in HIV screening but a drop in new infections, according to a new study in the peer-reviewed journal The Lancet Global Health. The U.S. National Institute of Mental Health's Project Accept — a trial conducted by the HIV Prevention Trials Network to test a combination of social, behavioral and structural HIV-prevention interventions — demonstrated that a series of community efforts boosted the number of people tested for HIV and resulted in a 14 percent reduction in ...

Rosemont, IL (April 15, 2014) – New research published in the March/April 2014 issue of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition shows whey protein, either as a supplement combined with resistance exercise or as part of a weight-loss or weight-maintenance diet, may provide men and women benefits related to body composition. The meta-analysis included 14 randomized controlled trials with a total of 626 adult participants. When researchers analyzed those weight loss studies that used whey protein to replace calories in the diet, participants had a decrease in ...

Los Angeles, CA (April 15, 2014) Media portrayals of underage sex trafficking include pimps luring girls into prostitution and then controlling, exploiting, and brutalizing them as if they were slaves, but just how representative are these images? A new study finds that pimps are only responsible for luring minors into sex work in a very small number of cases, and that they are not the reason why young prostitutes stay in the industry. This study was published in a new article from the May issue of The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. In ...

"This is excellent opportunity to purchase an industrial/commercial warehouse at auction," said John Nicholls, president of the company. "After rehab this property will be ready to make you money. Make plans now to purchase this great investment property." "The property's highlights include a 38,000 sq. ft. warehouse on 3.93+/- acres in Dinwiddie County Virginia, two (2) loading docks, and two (2) 12' x 12' drive-ins," said Anne Grindstaff, NAMG Auction Coordinator. "Other features include a one story building with a flat roof and 15' ceiling and public water and sewer." "The ...

Matrox Graphics Inc. today announced that the Matrox Mura MPX Series of capture and display boards has been shortlisted for a Star Product Award in the Public Display/Retail category of the 2014 InstallAwards. Mura MPX Series was chosen as a finalist based on its key role in the overall system design of an immense 54-monitor digital signage wall in the Mall of the Emirates atrium that was installed by ALMOE AV Systems. The wall displays dynamic digital signage content aimed at the 33-million-plus shoppers visiting one of the largest shopping centers in the Middle East every ...

Working the night shift on the Orthopedic floor at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, Pratibha Seth can be found carefully checking on her patients, ensuring they're receiving the care they need. After 15 years as a nurse, Seth draws inspiration from her experiences, which is apparent in the conscientious care she gives each patient. Seth is being honored as the March recipient of Fairhaven's Oliver Halsell Care Award. Fairhaven Memorial Park & Mortuary, with locations in Santa Ana and Mission Viejo, created the recognition program in 2012 to pay monthly tribute to individuals ...

Bayramov's research in his new book - Mechanics of Natural Force - Flow Theory of Matter and Gravity argues that the cosmic red-shift is not caused by receding stars but by stellar gravitational flows, and shows that star-light coming from a remote star propagates asymmetrically through the gravitational flow of a local star. Star-light entering a star's gravitational sphere, drifts along the star's gravitational flow, and is accelerated both along its path of propagation, shifting-blue, and towards the local star, curving the star-light. On the other hand star-light exiting ...

Bryan Payne, Co-Founder and CEO of Salmon Social, explained why this event was selected for the debut, "It was really chance timing. I met with Jay Larsen, the CEO of the Idaho Technology Council and he suggested this event could be the perfect place to unveil Salmon Social, as it is the premiere technology event in Boise with over 200 people attending. After hearing this, I spoke with my development team and they too became excited and accelerated the app development to make that happen. It's well worth the effort as we couldn't find a better place to showcase Salmon Social ...

Life is Nutz has a unique business model. Profit4Charity (P4C ) is designed to assist charities that help those in need. Created by Life is Nutz, P4C helps defray the costs associated with operating a charitable organization, such as a non-profit or 501c3, which in turn help those less fortunate. Life is Nutz's goal is to develop and expand a highly profitable lifestyle apparel and accessory company, facilitating those organizations' financial needs by helping them meet their goals. Attached is a document that shows some of our designs for Spring/Summer 2014, with ...

Pittsburgh literary organization Creative Nonfiction is celebrating 20 years of publishing, and with the launch of The Creative Nonfiction Writers' Conference this May, the local nonprofit will provide a forum for discussing new and innovative pathways emerging in the rapidly-changing world of publishing. On the opening day of the conference, experts including Larry Levitsky, CEO of InkShares, and independent book agent and publishing consultant Emily Loose will discuss the shifting landscape of the publishing world, from crowdfunded publishing to the role of small presses ...