Tag Archives: negative effect

Sexualized Body Image Has Negative Effect on Young Adolescent Girls

By Guest PostNovember 15, 2014Scienceaustin, demokratie, ivan martin, knochenmark, maria bertel, negative effect, safety in texas, university of texas, vfgh, vfgh erkenntnisse, wesen der demokratie

AUSTIN, Texas — Middle-school girls who value sex appeal differ from their peers in troubling ways, according to new research from The University of Texas at Austin. (more…)

Nighttime smartphone use zaps workers’ energy

By Guest PostFebruary 3, 2014Health, Technologyamericans, christopher barnes, energy, job, klodiana lanaj, knowledge based work, michigan state university, negative effect, nighttime smartphone, recovery function, russell johnson, smartphone usage, university of florida, university of washington, worker

Using a smartphone to cram in more work at night results in less work the next day, indicates new research co-authored by a Michigan State University business scholar.

In a pair of studies surveying a broad spectrum of U.S. workers, Russell Johnson and colleagues found that people who monitored their smart phones for business purposes after 9 p.m. were more tired and were less engaged the following day on the job. (more…)

Southwest Regional Warming Likely Cause of Pinyon Pine Cone Decline, Says CU Study

By Guest PostFebruary 18, 2013Environmentbird, black bears, black chinned hummingbirds, boulder, climate change, climate warming trend, cone initiation, creeping climate change, crossbill, dramatic warming, drought, ecologists, ecosphere study, ecosystems, environmental stimulus, fire, forcella, frank forcella, germination, growing season, impact, increases in temperatures, insects, jeffry mitton, lower elevations, mammal species, masting events, miranda redmond, negative effect, new mexico, northern arizona, northwestern oklahoma, nut carrying cones, nutcrackers, pinyon pine, pinyon pine reproduction, pinyon pine seedlings, pollination, precipitation, season, southwest, temperature, university, university of colorado, us tree, woodland ecosystems

Creeping climate change in the Southwest appears to be having a negative effect on pinyon pine reproduction, a finding with implications for wildlife species sharing the same woodland ecosystems, says a University of Colorado Boulder-led study.

The new study showed that pinyon pine seed cone production declined by an average of about 40 percent at nine study sites in New Mexico and northwestern Oklahoma over the past four decades, said CU-Boulder doctoral student Miranda Redmond, who led the study. The biggest declines in pinyon pine seed cone reproduction were at the higher elevation research sites experiencing more dramatic warming relative to lower elevations, said Redmond of CU’s ecology and evolutionary biology department. (more…)

Father’s Death Affects Early Adolescents’ Futures in Developing World, Says MU Anthropologist

By Guest PostDecember 31, 2012Economy, Generaladolescence, bangalore, brooke scelza, child, child outcomes, childhood, data, degree of risk, developing world, educational achievement, effect, evaluation, fathers death, harmful, India, loss of father, mary shenk, measurement tool, needy families, negative effect, offspring success, paternal investment, success in life, united states, university of missouri

Knowledge of effects could lead to better assistance for youths

COLUMBIA, Mo. – A father’s death can have long-term effects on a child’s later success in life and can be particularly harmful if the father passes away during a child’s late childhood or early adolescence, according to new research by a University of Missouri anthropologist. Recognizing the impact that a father’s death can have on adolescents could lead to improved counseling and assistance programs, especially for needy families in the developing world.

“Certain negative effects of a father’s death can’t be compensated for by the mother or other relatives,” said Mary Shenk, assistant professor of anthropology in MU’s College of Arts and Science. “The loss of a father can result in lower adult living standards for the bereaved children. Not only is a child emotionally affected, but the lack of a father’s earning power can cause children to get married younger or drop out of school in order to work.” (more…)

Ecologists Shed New Light on Effects of Light Pollution on Wildlife

By Guest PostDecember 3, 2012Environment, Naturealarm calls, animal behaviour, Antarctica, artificial light, asia, common redshank, data, earth, ecologist, electrical lighting, Europe, exeter, feeding habit, forth estuary, full moon, gas flare, grangemouth, light pollution, longannet, marshes, negative effect, nervous birds, oil refinery, power station, ross dwyer, satellite, scotland, sentinel, shorebirds, spring migration, teu hoo, uk coasts, university, us military, wildlife

Light pollution is often associated with negative effects on wildlife. Now, ecologists have found that by mimicking a perpetual full moon, the gas flares and electrical lighting along Scotland’s Forth estuary are helping shorebirds stock up on more food during the winter to fuel their spring migration.

The research is the first to use night-time light data from US military satellites to study animal behaviour.

Coasts and estuaries are among the most rapidly developing areas on Earth. Night-time satellite images of the planet show that except Antarctica, continents are ringed with halos of brightly-lit human development. But coasts are also key wildlife sites. Every year, millions of waterbirds arrive from the Arctic to overwinter on UK coasts, yet scientists remain largely in the dark about how these birds respond to the bright lights of coastal cities and industry. (more…)

Sharks: Bad Creatures or Bad Image?

By Guest PostNovember 8, 2012Media, Naturebret muter, climate change, conservation biology, conservation issue, ecology, extinction, fins, habitat loss, international, key issue, Media, media coverage, media market, meredith gore, michigan, negative effect, negative report, news article, overfishing, overharvesting, pollution, risks, shark attack, shark biology, shark conservation, shark population, sharks, species, state university, survival, threat, threatened species, udall foundation, wildlife

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Historically, the media have been particularly harsh to sharks, and it’s affecting their survival.

The results of a Michigan State University study, appearing in the current issue of the journal Conservation Biology, reviewed worldwide media coverage of sharks – and the majority isn’t good.

Australian and U.S. news articles were more likely to focus on negative reports featuring sharks and shark attacks rather than conservation efforts. Allowing such articles to dominate the overall news coverage diverts attention from key issues, such as shark populations are declining worldwide and many species are facing extinction, said Meredith Gore, MSU assistant professor of fisheries and wildlife and the School of Criminal Justice. (more…)

Virtual Reality Could Help People Lose Weight, Fight Prejudice, Says MU Researcher

By Guest PostNovember 8, 2012Health, Technologyafrican american, alter ego, avatar, black like me, caucasian author, cyber representation, deep south, discrimination, electronic doppelganger, elizabeth behm-morawitz, interactive game, internet based, missouri, moderation, negative effect, obesity treatment, online relationship, outlet, physical realities, practice, racial, second life, self presence, sexual prejudice, skin, social media, unhealthy ways, university, virtual entertainment, virtual world, well being

Study found that online presence can positively affect physical health and well-being

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Internet-based interactive games and social media outlets have become intertwined with the physical realities of millions of people around the world. When an individual strongly identifies with the cyber representation of themselves, known as an avatar, the electronic doppelganger can influence that person’s health and appearance, according to a University of Missouri researcher’s study. Harnessing the power of the virtual world could lead to new forms of obesity treatment and help break down racial and sexual prejudices.

“The creation of an avatar allows an individual to try on a new appearance and persona, with little risk or effort,” said Elizabeth Behm-Morawitz, assistant professor of communication in MU’s College of Arts and Science. “That alter-ego can then have a positive influence on a person’s life. For example, people seeking to lose weight could create fitter avatars to help visualize themselves as slimmer and healthier.” (more…)

The Bright Side of Death: Awareness of Mortality Can Result in Positive Behaviors, Say MU Researchers

By Guest PostApril 30, 2012Culture, Sciencealtruism, catastrophe, climate change, control topic, death, disaster, discrimination, divorce rate, global threat, jamie arndt, ken vail, monty python, morose despondency, mortality, muslim, negative behavior, negative effect, news media, oklahoma city bombing, peaceful, terrorism, terrorist attack, university of missouri

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Contemplating death doesn’t necessarily lead to morose despondency, fear, aggression or other negative behaviors, as previous research has suggested. Following a review of dozens of studies, University of Missouri researchers found that thoughts of mortality can lead to decreased militaristic attitudes, better health decisions, increased altruism and helpfulness, and reduced divorce rates.

“According to terror management theory, people deal with their awareness of mortality by upholding cultural beliefs and seeking to become part of something larger and more enduring than themselves, such as nations or religions,” said Jamie Arndt, study co-author and professor of psychological sciences. “Depending on how that manifests itself, positive outcomes can be the result.” (more…)