Searching the Internet for evidence of time travelers

arXiv: 1312.7128 [physics.pop-ph]
(Submitted on 26 Dec 2013)

Robert J Nemiroff and Teresa Wilson

Department of Physics, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931

Abstract

Time travel has captured the public imagination for much of the past century, but little has been done to actually search for time travelers. Here, three implementations of Internet searches for time travelers are described, all seeking a prescient mention of information not previously available. The first search covered prescient content placed on the Internet, highlighted by a comprehensive search for specific terms in tweets on Twitter. The second search examined prescient inquiries submitted to a search engine, highlighted by a comprehensive search for specific search terms submitted to a popular astronomy web site. The third search involved a request for a direct Internet communication, either by email or tweet, pre-dating to the time of the inquiry. Given practical verifiability concerns, only time travelers from the future were investigated. No time travelers were discovered. Although these negative results do not disprove time travel, given the great reach of the Internet, this search is perhaps the most comprehensive to date.

http://arxiv.org/abs/1312.7128

Reducing pathogen transmission in a hospital setting. Handshake verses fist bump: a pilot study

Journal of Hospital Infection
Volume 85, Issue 4, December 2013, Pages 321–323
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2013.08.010

P.A. Ghareeb [a], T. Bourlai [b], W. Dutton [a], W.T. McClellan [a]

[a] Department of Surgery, West Virginia University, School of Medicine, 1085 Van Voorhis Rd #350, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
[b] West Virginia University, Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, Morgantown, WV, USA

Summary

Handshaking is a known vector for bacterial transmission between individuals. Handwashing has become a major initiative throughout healthcare systems to reduce transmission rates, but as many as 80% of individuals retain some disease-causing bacteria after washing. The fist bump is an alternative to the handshake that has become popular. We have determined that implementing the fist bump in the healthcare setting may further reduce bacterial transmission between healthcare providers by reducing contact time and total surface area exposed when compared with the standard handshake.

Keywords

Fist bump; Hand hygiene; Handshake; Nosocomial infection

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195670113003186

The effect of the color red on consuming food does not depend on achromatic (Michelson) contrast and extends to rubbing cream on the skin

Appetite
Volume 71, 1 December 2013, Pages 307–313
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2013.08.012

Nicola Bruno, Margherita Martani, Claudia Corsini, Claudio Oleari

Dipartimento di Neuroscienze
Unità di Psicologia
Università di Parma
Borgo Carissimi 10
43100 Parma
Italy

Highlights

• We replicate the effect of the color red on food consumption in a different setting.
• We show that a similar effect can be observed for the consumption of moisturizing cream.
• We make a conceptual distinction between achromatic (luminance) and chromatic (color per se) contrast.
• We show that these effects are not due to achromatic contrast.

Abstract

Recent literature suggests that individuals may consume less food when this is served on red plates. We explored this intriguing effect in three experiments. Independent groups of participants were presented with constant amounts of popcorns, chocolate chips, or moisturizing cream, on red, blue, or white plates. They were asked to sample the foods (by tasting them) or the cream (by rubbing it on the hand and forearm) as they wished and to complete mock “sensory analysis” questionnaires. Results confirmed that red plates reduce taste-related consumption and extended this effect to the touch-related consumption of moisturizing cream. Suggesting that the effect was not due to a decrease in the consciously experienced appeal of products on red plates, overall appreciation of the foods or cream did not differ according to plate color. After careful photometric measures of the materials used for each food-plate pairing, we determined that food and cream consumption was not predicted by Michelson (achromatic) contrast. Although the origin of the intriguing effect of the color red on consumption remains unclear, our results may prove useful to future potential explanations.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S019566631300370X

The Greedy Bastard’s Guide to Business

Journal of Macromarketing
December 2013 vol. 33 no. 4 369-385
doi: 10.1177/0276146713491435

Morris B. Holbrook, W. T. Dillard Professor Emeritus of Marketing, Graduate School of Business, Columbia University, 140 Riverside Drive, #5H, New York, NY 10024, USA

Abstract

Greedy Bastards, eager to achieve success in the business world, need helpful advice on steps toward climbing to the top. Drawing on the author’s 35-plus years of experience in teaching MBAs, the present treatise offers tips in the form of a self-help tutorial intended as an inspirational guide. In that spirit, the discussion covers pertinent aspects of business education; impression management (Dre$$ for $ucce$$); tips from travel services; ethics; borderline-legal corruption; unintended benefits such as obesity, traffic, cell phones, and impacts on popular culture – culminating in a Greedy Bastard’s Honor Roll of Civic Achievements.

http://jmk.sagepub.com/content/33/4/369.abstract