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Posted via web from Genius Now

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The contagious effect in the study was symmetric; uncooperative behavior also spread, but there was nothing to suggest that it spread any more or any less robustly than cooperative behavior, Fowler said.

From a scientific perspective, Fowler added, these findings suggest the fascinating possibility that the process of contagion may have contributed to the evolution of cooperation: Groups with altruists in them will be more altruistic as a whole and more likely to survive than selfish groups.”
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-03/uoc–if030510.php

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Conversely, having low energy (or low blood glucose levels) may make an individual focus more on the present. The finding that a diet soda drink increased the degree of future discounting suggests that artificial sweeteners may alarm the body of imminent caloric crisis, leading to increased impulsivity.

The authors conclude that if controlling blood glucose levels may affect our decisions for later versus current rewards, then “reducing the degree of fluctuation in blood glucose may offer a possible means for the treatment and intervention of some impulsive disorders, anorexia, drug addiction, and gambling addiction.”

Sweet future: Fluctuating blood glucose levels may affect decision making.

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People tend to mimic the behavior of those around them, and characteristics such as smoking, drug use and obesity tend to spread through social networks. But vanDellen's study is thought to be the first to show that self-control is contagious across behaviors. That means that thinking about someone who exercises self-control by regularly exercising, for example, can make your more likely to stick with your financial goals, career goals or anything else that takes self-control on your part.

via Self-control is contagious, study finds.

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photo credit:
djuggler

Interesting news – and right in line with our research objectives.

The competition aimed to develop new ways to understand how information is disseminated through social networks within small amount of time, the study could further be used to help solve big problems through chain of social networking.

The Contest objective included exploring basic research issues like mobilization, collaboration, and trusts in diverse social networking constructs and could serve to fuel innovation across a wide spectrum of applications.

via Social networking power & recursive incentive helped MIT team win Balloon hunt | White Hat News.

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The trademarked system, called HyGreen, logs, down to the second, the frequency of hand cleaning and contact with patients in a database that clinical supervisors can review immediately.

This is the first system that enables real-time monitoring of hand washing.

“This isn’t big brother, this is just another tool,” said Richard J. Melker, M.D., Ph.D., a UF College of Medicine anesthesiology professor who developed the technology ……

Here’s how it works: The health-care worker squirts sanitizer gel or soap into his or her hand before passing it under a wall-mounted sensor. A wireless signal from a badge worn by the worker activates a green light on the hand-washing sensor. When the worker enters a patient room, a monitor near the bed detects the status of the badge, and flashes green if the person has clean hands. If the person has not washed, or too much time has passed between washing and approaching the patient, the badge will give a gentle “reminder” vibration.

“I do wash my hands more often,” said nurse Carrie McGirr, R.N., who volunteered to help test the HyGreen system. “It’s a fairly simple process to learn.”

via Soap-sniffing technology encourages hand washing to reduce hospital-acquired infections, save money.

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My first question on this is “how is a gang defined?” If this is an actual link to a predisposition to group violence, I would expect to see it also correlated with military volunteers, and particularly those most inclined to violence within the military. Casting this as a “gang-related” gene is a political statement of framing.

Boys who carry a particular variation of the gene Monoamine oxidase A (MAOA), sometimes called the “warrior gene,” are more likely not only to join gangs but also to be among the most violent members and to use weapons, according to a new study from The Florida State University that is the first to confirm an MAOA link specifically to gangs and guns.

via FSU study links ‘warrior gene’ to gang membership, weapon use.

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