PASADENA, Calif.—For speed daters, first impressions are everything. But it's more than just whether someone is hot or not. Whether or not we like to admit it, we all may make snap judgments about a new face. Perhaps nowhere is this truer than in speed dating, during which people decide on someone's romantic potential in just a few seconds. How they make those decisions, however, is not well understood. But now, researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have found that people make such speed-dating decisions based on a combination of two different ...

PITTSBURGH—Math instructors promoting calculator usage in college classrooms may want to rethink their teaching strategies, says Samuel King, postdoctoral student in the University of Pittsburgh's Learning Research & Development Center. King has proposed the need for further research regarding calculators' role in the classroom after conducting a limited study with undergraduate engineering students published in the British Journal of Educational Technology. "We really can't assume that calculators are helping students," said King. "The goal is to understand the core ...

ANN ARBOR---About 115,000 women lose their private health insurance every year in the wake of divorce, according to a University of Michigan study. And this loss is not temporary: women's overall rates of health insurance coverage remain depressed for more than two years after divorce. "Given that approximately one million divorces occur each year in the U.S., and that many women get health coverage through their husbands, the impact is quite substantial," says Bridget Lavelle, a U-M Ph.D. candidate in public policy and sociology, and lead author of the study, which ...

ANN ARBOR—Reports indicate that Michigan faces a physician shortage much larger than the national average, and it will grow as millions of Americans qualify for insurance under the Affordable Care Act. Yet Michigan law prevents the medical professionals who could best mitigate this shortage from doing so, because it prohibits advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) from using the full scope of their training and education to treat patients. "Current regulations make it more difficult to provide much needed care," said Joanne Pohl, professor emeritus at the University ...

MassGeneral Hospital for Children (MGHfC) investigators found that a majority of interviewed smoking parents exposed their children to tobacco smoke in their cars, even though many had smoke-free policies at home. The study that will appear in the December 2012 issue of Pediatrics and has been released online, suggests that parents may not recognize the dangers of smoking in their cars with a child present. "Workplaces, restaurants, homes and even bars are mostly smoke-free, but cars have been forgotten," says Emara Nabi-Burza, MBBS, MS, the study's lead author. "Smoking ...

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Many baby boomers want to improve the way people view aging, but an Oregon State University researcher has found they often reinforce negative stereotypes of old age when interacting with their own parents, coloring the way those seniors experience their twilight years. Drawing on in-depth interviews with consumers in their late 80s, their family members, and paid caregivers, Oregon State University researcher Michelle Barnhart found that study participants viewed someone as "old" when that person consumed in ways consistent with society's concept of ...

San Diego, CA, November 13, 2012 – Health warning labels (HWLs) on cigarette packages that use pictures to show the health consequences of smoking are effective in reaching adult smokers, according to the results of a new study published in the December issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Although previous studies have demonstrated that HWLs with pictorial imagery are more effective than HWLs with only text in increasing knowledge about smoking dangers and promoting the benefits of quitting, this new research shows which kind of pictures appears to work ...

On December 22, 1887, Srinivasa Ramanujan was born to a poor family in the state of Tamil Nadu in South India. From humble and obscure beginnings, he blossomed into one of the greatest mathematical geniuses of all time. Largely self-taught and cut off from much of the current mathematical work of his time, he nevertheless produced observations and results that continue to dazzle. This year, the world is celebrating the 125th anniversary of the birth of Ramanujan. To mark this occasion, the NOTICES OF THE AMS is publishing "Srinivasa Ramanujan: Going Strong at ...

OAK BROOK, Ill. – A new three-dimensional (3-D) digital mammography technique has the potential to significantly improve the accuracy of breast cancer screening, according to a study published in Radiology. Two-dimensional (2-D) x-ray mammography, the current primary screening method for early detection of breast cancer in women, is a valuable tool but has some limitations. Surrounding normal tissue can mask lesions, and 2-D views do not provide direct information about the volumetric appearance—meaning the three-dimensional physical shape—of a detected lesion. A novel ...

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Nov. 13, 2012 – The U.S. preterm birth rate dropped for the fifth consecutive year in 2011 to 11.7 percent, the lowest in a decade, giving thousands more babies a healthy start in life and saving billions in health and social costs. Four states – Vermont, Oregon, New Hampshire, and Maine earned an "A" on the March of Dimes 2012 Premature Birth Report Card as their preterm birth rates met the March of Dimes 9.6 percent goal. Although, the US preterm birth rate improved, it again earned a "C" on the Report Card. "These results demonstrate that many ...

European researchers have published a study which analyses the health economics of increased dairy foods and related reduction in risk of osteoporotic fractures in the population aged over 50. The study was based on a new analytical model that links nutrition and fracture risk, and health economics. It was based on data from the Netherlands, France and Sweden, countries which have varying levels of dairy product intake in the population. Study co-author Professor René Rizzoli, Professor of Medicine and Head of the Division of Bone Disease at the University Hospitals ...

It's a simple, transparent acrylic plate – nothing embedded within it and nothing printed on its surface. Place it at a certain angle between a white wall and a light source, and a clear, coherent image appears of the face of Alan Turing, the famous British mathematician and father of modern computer science. There's no magic here; the only thing at work is the relief on the plaque's surface and a natural optical phenomenon known as a "caustic," which researchers in EPFL's Computer Graphics and Geometry Laboratory have succeeded in bending to their will. Their research ...

ANN ARBOR, Michigan (November 13, 2012) – As newly elected or reelected national leaders consider paths forward for continued implementation of the Affordable Care Act, an innovative, locally-implemented program focused on reducing disparities in diabetes is releasing a new set of policy considerations to help inform decisions on national health policy. The Alliance to Reduce Disparities in Diabetes, a national program launched and supported by The Merck Company Foundation, released "Policy Considerations That Make the Link," that offers policymakers options for ways ...

Are there risks involved in using a debt settlement company? In Kentucky and across the country, many Americans are struggling to pay their bills, often accumulating large debts in the process. When faced with mounting debts, it can be difficult for people to know how best to tackle the problem. When someone does not have enough money coming in to pay for necessities, finding a way to put a stop to the ever-increasing bills can seem difficult, if not impossible. Unfortunately, some companies are seeking to exploit those in difficult financial situations by making ...

Buying a home in New York City: co-op or condo? The decision to purchase a home is always a complicated one. However, in the New York City housing market, the process can be even more convoluted. In addition to deciding what neighborhood to live in, how much space they need and how much they can afford to pay, purchasers must also make the important decision between buying a co-op or a condo. In many ways, condos and co-ops are very similar. Both involve buying into a common-interest housing development. However, purchasers of condos and co-ops are buying different ...

Not All "Smiles" For Those Charged Under Florida Synthetic Drug Bans There's a new designer drug on Florida's streets, and it's got concerned citizens in an uproar. Known as "smiles," the new synthetic compound has been linked to violent behavior and even several deaths. Makers of synthetic drugs are constantly working to create new chemical compounds that stay ahead of laws that ban specific substances. But as the law becomes more complex, store owners who sell potpourri, incense and other seemingly innocuous substances have to be increasingly ...

Attorney Andrew Weinstein, managing partner and founder of the South Florida-based Weinstein Law Firm (www.weinstein-law.com) recently spoke as a guest lecturer at the Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center. Andrew's presentation, given to students in the Electoral Process class, focused on Federal campaign finance law and his experiences serving as a member of President Obama's National Finance Committee and as a national co-chair of Lawyers for Obama. "It was an honor to be asked to speak to the students and to share my experience with federal ...

Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind (DLB) today announced that the recent award of a Compensation and Productivity Improvement (CPI) grant from National Industries of the Blind (NIB) to update equipment, upgrade software and obtain training for employees, has resulted in surpassing customer expectations for a contact center by increasing daily call volume productivity by 40 percent. "Currently, the employees working on this project are exceeding the customer's expectations by placing more than 20,000 calls per month with a success rate of 70 percent," said DLB ...

Author and poet Alyce Wilson hopes her short story about a woman who gets supernatural help to find love will be the magic key to win America's Next Author 2012. Wilson is competing with over 350 writers to win the most reader votes and social media mentions. The winner will receive $5,000 and a chance at publication. Wilson's story, "Dating Safari," follows a 30-something office worker who's been unlucky with romance. Thanks to a pendant, which may or may not contain magical powers, the protagonist uncovers truths about herself and her taste in men. But will ...

This summer, Poggi Bonsi, a woman-owned independent retailer specializing in imported ceramics and gourmet kitchenware, was selected by the Italian Trade Commission, Artex, and Promozione Toscana as one of 15 stores from across the country to participate in "Tuscan Home." This promotion was developed to enable small artisan manufacturers in Tuscany to connect with independent retail store owners in the United States. The "Tuscan Home" event featuring newly arrived Tuscan ceramics, hand selected during the promotion this summer, will run December 9-13, ...

For a firm that prides itself on recognizing leading entrepreneurs in the real estate market, welcoming Bostonian realtor John Yu has been Realty Direct's most recent gratifying achievement. And think twice before disagreeing with them - Yu is a former competitor turned ally. "John has sold over 20 million dollars worth of homes; I've seen his marketing everywhere and competed with John for years," said Tom Truong, Realty Direct President. "I'm glad that we're now on the same team." John's fascination with realty began at an early age with numerous ...

Comedy Hypnotist Don Barnhart's New Documentary Reefer Rendum Explores America's Prohibition On Marijuana "The movie was inspired while I was performing my hypnosis shows in Colorado and they passed Amendment 64 legalizing the recreational use of marijuana", states Barnhart. "My hypnosis CDs are already featured in many of the medical marijuana clinics as another alternative source of both physical and mental health". Barnhart's comedic background takes a humorous approach to the controversial subject with interviews by celebrities, law enforcement, ...

Star Kids Products today announced the launch of Play-n-Go, an affordable and portable educational entertainment center for children 6 - 24 months to be used on the road or in the air. The invention of the Play-n-Go (MSRP $24.99) was originally the result of a mother's desire to create a form of entertainment for infants and toddlers during air travel. Recruiting the help of her sister, the two women drew on their 20+ years of experience in child-rearing and education to create a portable, entertainment play center designed especially for toddlers and young children ...

As announced earlier this year, LearnCamtasia.com held a contest for interested videographers. The aim of the contest was to show off their screencasting skills and creativity using TechSmith software. Entries were judged on creativity, quality, entertainment value and usefulness to target market. The top 3 winning videos were: * 1st place - "Aerobic Interval Training Exercise For Insulin Resistance, Diabetes and Vascular Dementia" by Usuff Omar, Australia * 2nd place - "Top Five-ish Screencasting Tips" by Ron Hogue, United States * 3rd place ...

Rancho Santa Fe Estate and Fine Jewelry located at 6024 Paseo Delicias in Rancho Santa Fe will be donating 10% of all sales proceeds through December 31, 2012 to the non-profit organization, Friends of San Pasqual Academy. Friends of San Pasqual Academy assists foster teens of San Diego County in their endeavor to become confident, productive, educated, successful adults. Rancho Santa Fe Estate and Fine Jewelry specializes in a variety of services including expert cleaning, re-sizing, jewelry and watch repair, custom jewelry design, pearl re-stringing, appraisal, and acquisition ...