news 2012

Temporary increases in safety net programs and tax credits for working families helped keep many in Wisconsin from poverty during the recession and its aftermath, a new report by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison finds. The fourth annual Wisconsin Poverty Report study, conducted by the Institute for Research on Poverty (IRP), revealed lower numbers of poverty than official statistics released in fall 2011.

In a study with implications for businesspeople in a global economy, researchers at the University of Chicago have found that people make more rational decisions when they think through a problem in a non-native tongue. People are more likely to take favorable risks if they think in a foreign language, the new study showed.

The first report to systematically assess how online-only news websites across Western Europe are faring has found that new start-ups are struggling to find business models that can cover their operating costs. It suggests that the funding environment is more challenging for new start-ups than for traditional media outlets that also have online content, because the latters' operations can be subsidised by revenues from offline businesses.

New technique may help severely damaged nerves regrow and restore function Engineers at the University of Sheffield have developed a method of assisting nerves damaged by traumatic accidents to repair naturally, which could improve the chances of restoring sensation and movement in injured limbs. In a collaborative study with Laser Zentrum Hannover (Germany) published today (23 April 2012) in the journal Biofabrication , the team describes a new method for making medical devices called nerve guidance conduits or NGCs.

When it comes to being generous with time and money, Americans who are not Mormons can learn from Americans who are. A new study from researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis explores Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints culture and explains LDS members' volunteering and charitable giving-habits.

New research from the University of Warwick suggests girls benefit significantly from more interaction with very bright peers at secondary school, but it can be detrimental for boys. In a paper published in the latest edition of the Journal of Labor Economics , a research team from the University of Warwick's Economics department and the London School of Economics looked at data from all secondary schools in England to determine the effect of ability of peers.

ANN ARBOR, Mich.-People who experience financial declines during a recession are more likely to report general and mental health problems that interfered with their daily lives, regardless of their education, income, age or race, according to a new study from the University of Michigan's School of Public Health.

Gypsum is a naturally occurring mineral which is often used in industrial processes and which in nature, if left alone for thousands of years, can grow into huge translucent, towering and eerie, crystals more than 10 metres tall. These are famed for their beauty in places such as the Cave of Crystals in Mexico.

A majority of elite athletes would not support their promotion of alcohol and junk food, a study by the University of Sydney has found. The findings are published in the April issue of Health Promotion Journal of Australia . "Building on the resistance of elite athletes to promoting alcohol and junk food could transform the use of sport in sponsorship and advertising," said Anne Grunseit from the School of Public Health at the University of Sydney.

Variety is not only the spice of life. It's also the key to persuasion, according to research at Cornell. An analysis of the behavior of millions of Facebook users has found that whether users joined and became "engaged" with the social network did not depend on how many members they knew, but on how many different social contexts the people they knew represented.

ANN ARBOR, Mich.-Even a $10 increase in premiums can drive people to a different health care plan. That's good news for health care reform, which relies heavily on competition and consumer response to pricing. A new study by the University of Michigan looked at only the Medicare population. Younger people who aren't eligible for Medicare are even more likely to shop around if prices or premiums in benefit plans increase, said Richard Hirth, professor at the U-M School of Public Health and study co-author.

Is your March Madness bracket filled out yet? Imagine you're watching a close game. As the teams head to the locker room at half time, only two points separate the two competitors. Which team do you think is more likely to win? The team down by one or the team up by one? If you're like most people, you said up by one.

The unemployment experience of parents can have adverse effects on their children's wellbeing, according to an international study by the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research. The research looked at sons and daughters aged between 17 and 25 who still lived with their parents, drawing on data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).

A recent spike in worldwide carbon emissions growth was caused by the rebound from the global financial crisis (GFC) and is likely to be a one-off, according to a new study from The Australian National University. The study found that global carbon emissions remain on a relentless upward trend, though efforts to shift to low-carbon energy and cut energy demand are bearing some fruit.

Consumers with poor financial skills pay over the odds for loans and are eight times more likely to use highly expensive credit such as payday loans and home credit, new research has revealed. The research from The University of Nottingham on the UK consumer market published today, shows that consumers who have a poorer understanding of key financial concepts such as interest rates and credit terms pay nine percentage points more for loans than those with better numerical skills.

NSERC program aims to provide professional skills training to researchers Two projects led by McGill professors are among the 17 that will receive a total of $28 million over six years to help scienc

The executive briefcase in Australia is getting heavier, with new research from the University of Sydney showing that most executives carry two smartphones, as well as a tablet and possibly a laptop with them every day. Just a few years ago, IT departments around the globe were abuzz with the idea executives could carry just one integrated technological device, but this research reveals that most executives carry multiple devices on a daily basis.

People's personalities can change considerably over time, say scientists, suggesting that leopards really can change their spots. Psychologists from The University of Manchester and London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) also showed that small positive personality changes may lead to greater increases in happiness than earning more money, marrying, or gaining employment.

Shortcuts in the design of payment schemes to persuade farmers to undertake conservation works could be putting the potential environmental benefits at risk, a study involving researchers at The University of Nottingham has found. Farmers in the EU and US receive billions of dollars/pounds in government subsidies.

PA 70/12 When new evidence published last year in the Journal of Physiology revealed the dramatic benefits of taking L-carnitine and carbohydrate in combination with exercise, researchers at The University of Nottingham did not stop there. They created a supplement for elite athletes, a nimble spin-out company to arrange manufacture and marketing, and began talking to UK Sport, the English Institute of Sport, and leading coaches and sports nutritionists to make it available to start contributing to athletes' training and performance.