A lot of scientists wear worried frowns these days. Science seems under attack from numerous directions. Some of the attackers are wearily familiar. Peddlers of dogma have been sworn enemies of science since the Dark Ages. People whose political beliefs are challenged by research seek to shut it down. And nobody is much surprised when scientists whose findings threaten the basis of a person's or corporation's wealth find themselves facing well-financed opposition and even personal attacks. Scientists who study astronomy, evolution, discrimination and global warming to name a few are used to this situation, and while they surely don't enjoy it, it's really nothing new.

However, scientists now have something else to worry about. The very foundation of science is suddenly being brought into question. The issue concerns "replicability," the assumption that valid scientific studies can be repeated by anybody with the necessary skills and will yield the same results.

In 2005, a distinguished medical researcher wrote an article entitledand its publication seemed to mark some kind of turning point. In the years since, serious concerns regarding the trustworthiness of research findings have been voiced in major journals and at professional meetings of fields as diverse as medicine, physics, cell biology, economics, and my own field, social psychology. []

Across all of those disciplines, the concern has been the same: Findings garnered in one lab, sometimes important and famous findings, have turned out to be difficult, if not impossible, to reproduce anywhere else. When that happens, it's called a "failure to replicate" a phrase that strikes a chill in the heart of any scientist who hears it.

Why do findings sometimes fail to replicate? There are many possible reasons. In a few cases which have become infamous and literally made up their data. One of the most famous instances involved Dutch psychologist Diederik Stapel, the subject of a recent , who fraudulently invented data for dozens of studies over a period of years. Other cases of data fraud have been reported recently in oncology, genetics and even dentistry.

But while these egregious cases justly cause widespread alarm, focusing too tightly on them can be misleading. Such fraud is actually rare, and the typical reasons for failures to replicate are different. To list just a few: The replication study might not follow exactly the same methods as the original study, or the new investigators may not have the skills necessary to successfully repeat a complex experimental procedure; the finding in question might have undiscovered "moderator variables," factors that cause the finding to get stronger, or go away; or, the original finding might been a "lucky" accident.

The mechanisms of nature are complicated, sometimes even almost chaotic. Scientists work hard to find signal amidst all that noise, and when they think they find something, are eager to report it to their colleagues and to the world. They also might, in some cases, be a little too eager. After all, research dollars, reputations and careers are all on the line, and it would be surprising indeed if these incentives did not lead scientists who are as human as anyone else to do what they can to convince themselves and their colleagues that they have found something important.

For this reason, it is only natural thatin dealing with replicability issues and developing prescriptions for improvement that are relevant to all areas of science. Special articles or complete special issues with specific recommendations have recently been published by Perspectives on Psychological Science, Psychological Inquiry and the . Social psychologist Brian Nosek and his colleagues have initiated an onlineto make it easier for researchers to share methods and data. And recently, a task force of theformulated other recommendations to help improve the conduct and reporting of research, and to reconsider the incentives that affect the behavior of research scientists.

The recommendations are numerous, and some are rather technical (involving, for example, new statistical standards). But the recommendation that might be the most important is also the simplest: Do more research.

Because nature is complicated and reliable findings are difficult to find, we need to examine it using more powerful methods. For astronomy, this might mean a ; for microbiology, it might be a stronger microscope. For all fields of science, including psychology, it means simply more data.

Studies need to get bigger. Small studies are useful for trying out new ideas, but only replications can sort genuine discoveries from false starts, and replication studies need to be large to be conclusive. A finding based on 100 rats will be more reliable than a finding based on 10; a treatment outcome that is evaluated with 1,000 patients will be more reliably assessed than one that looks at only 100; and, in general, the bigger the number of research subjects in a study, the more reliable the finding.

But big studies are expensive and time-consuming. The typical scientist works under conditions of scarce resources and intense time pressure, and replication studies are not conducted or reported as often as they should be. Changing this state of affairs will require some behavior change by some scientists a challenge we in social psychology are eager to tackle but also more resources. Specific replication studies may be deemed successes or failures while firm conclusions only emerge over time. What matters most is that scientists continue to work hard to determine which exciting preliminary findings stand up under repeated research.

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. This article was originally published on LiveScience.com.

Original article published on .

But the scars of the almost three-year insurgency still could be seen from shops burnt by soldiers, a major hotel firebombed and the sandbagged embankments hiding soldiers pointing heavy machine guns at passing traffic.

These two visions of Maiduguri, a bustling state capital by day and an eerie ghost town of barking stray dogs and empty streets by 8 p.m., represents the difficulty of knowing what exactly is happening as Nigeria's military continues its offensive against the extremists.

While the military presents an optimistic view about the gains they've made, they continually refuse to offer any specifics about the ongoing fighting. But with mobile phone networks shut down in the region, it is only their word that gets publicized by the nation's newspapers and broadcasters in this shadow war.

"The operation is still on and the information is being collated," Brig. Gen. Chris Olukolade, the military's top spokesman, said Thursday when pressed by journalists for any specifics on civilian or military casualties. "In many locations, we are still mopping up and until we finish mopping up, it is wrong to give you any inaccurate figure."

Foreign and local journalists who accompanied soldiers on a two-day trip into the northeast to see the offensive heard the same thing repeatedly from military commanders.

The offensive comes after President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency May 14 in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states a territory of around 155,000 square kilometers (60,000 square miles) of the Sahel bordering Cameroon, Chad and Niger. In a nationally televised speech, Jonathan admitted the nation had lost control of some villages and towns to extremist fighters already responsible for more than 1,600 killings since 2010 alone, according to an Associated Press count.

While displaying seized arms and showing journalists an abandoned extremist camp near Marte, about 95 kilometers (60 miles) away from Maiduguri, commanders contradicted themselves on details of fighting. They declined to take journalists to the areas believed to have been targeted by aerial bombing raids. Meanwhile, some acknowledged under questioning that insurgents, including those from the extremist network Boko Haram, likely escaped with heavy weaponry like anti-aircraft guns and remain a serious danger to the region.

In Maiduguri itself Thursday, the military-led convoy journalists took drove past the city's main hospital, where security forces have dumped bodies and fought with doctors. They also drove past the scene of a retaliatory attack by soldiers in October that saw troops kill more than 30 civilians and burn down blocks of shops and homes, witnesses said. Also never mentioned was the April attack in the fish village of Baga, where witnesses and human rights organizations say soldiers burned neighborhoods and killed at least 187 people.

The military's suspicion of journalists especially foreign media remains a hangover from decades of military rule in a country where simply taking a photograph on the street can still get one detained by police. A journalist with the state-run Nigerian Television Authority at one point asked Olukolade to rate the media's coverage of the fighting.

"Some (in the media) have negative mindsets mindsets that there must be some abuses that (have) not been verified," the brigadier general said. "Particularly from the local media, we've got good cooperation."

That local media cooperation comes in the form of newspapers and broadcasters in Nigeria that largely reprint statements verbatim from military officials. In one case, newspapers provided panting coverage of the discovery of condom wrappers at the extremist camp near Marte. The source: A military news release the day before with the headline "CONDOM EVERYWHERE" that called it a sign of the "dirty sides of the insurgents' lifestyle."

A military news release Wednesday highlighted the journalists' trip, as soldiers shot many photographs and filmed the foreign journalists.

After largely avoiding questions, journalists on the trip cornered Olukolade on Thursday. He said the military "substantially achieved" having no civilian casualties, while also implying soldiers would fire at will when suspicious.

"Anyone that was killed in a camp cannot call himself a civilian. Most of the camps are populated definitely by terrorists," Olukolade said. "All the forests are being combed. In the course of combing, anyone that we stumble upon (in what) looks like a camp will be destroyed."

Pressed again about how many extremists the military held in custody, Olukolade said "hundreds" before saying: "I cannot give you specific details."

The lieutenant colonel over his shoulder waved the interview closed and added: "Gentleman, thank you."

___

Jon Gambrell can be reached at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP.

NEW YORK (TheWrap.com) - AwesomenessTV has added teen pop idol Austin Mahone and popular Austrialian band The Janoskians to its network of YouTube channels, the company announced on Thursday. With the addition of those two and a few other YouTube personalities, AwesomenessTV now has more than 1 billion views in its network.

Some of the biggest networks on YouTube reach that figure every month, but they have been around for much longer than Awesomeness.

"We're building a community around creating, curating and consuming content that is a talent discovery platform and social network powered by YouTube," AwesomenessTV founder Brian Robbins said in a statement. "YouTube super stars and stars of tomorrow benefit from our ability to help them find and grow their audience on YouTube and beyond by leveraging our marketing, brand and production expertise."

Mahone is a singer who has toured with Taylor Swift and is about to release a new album. He already made a couple series for Awesomeness called Austin Mahone Takeover and Mahomie Madness.

The Janoskians is a band of Aussie pranksters that has more than 1.4 million subscribers. Awesomeness just launched a new series with them, Janoskian Takeover, that will show their world tour.

The violence broke out Saturday after protesters stormed a base belonging to Libya Shield, a grouping of pro-government militias tasked with maintaining security. The protesters were demanding that militias leave their camp and submit to the full authority of Libya's security forces. Officials originally reported seven dead.

Mohamed Belied, who is director at the city's al-Jala hospital, said early Sunday that the deaths were caused by gunshots and explosive fragments. He said dozens were wounded, without saying how many casualties were protesters and how many militiamen.

Nicole Minetti is one of three former Berlusconi aides accused of procuring women as prostitutes for parties at the then-premier's villa near Milan. She spoke at that trial, which is separate from one in which Berlusconi is charged with paying for sex with a minor Karima el-Mahroug and trying to cover it up. Both el-Mahroug, better known by her nickname Ruby, and Berlusconi deny having had sex.

El-Mahroug has testified that Minetti was a key protagonist in the sexually charged parties, dancing provocatively dressed as a nun and then stripping for him.

Minetti told the court she had a "sentiment of true love" toward Berlusconi and denied inviting girls to his home. She also said she learned of el-Mahroug's true age, 17, only when she went to take her home from the police station after the Moroccan girl was accused of stealing from a roommate.

Berlusconi's calls to a police official that night form the basis of the charge of trying to cover up the allegation of having sex with an under-age prostitute a charge for which prosecutors are demanding a lifetime ban from politics on top of a six-year sentence on the prostitution charge. As part of Berlusconi's entourage, Minetti was sent to the police station to bring the girl home.

During the trial, Minetti did not testify, which would have subjected her to cross-examination.

Defendants in Italy are permitted to make statements to the court before the two sides make their closing arguments, though such statements carry less weight than testimony. A verdict is expected in the coming weeks.

(Logo: )

In the comments, NACD expressed appreciation that DHS withdrew its previous PSP proposal from the Office of Management and Budget last year, sought feedback from and considered the views of the CFATS-regulated community, and reissued a new proposal in March that incorporated some of that feedback. However, NACD is concerned that DHS chose not to include additional suggestions from industry into the new proposal.

First, NACD is concerned that DHS will not necessarily inform a facility if an individual whose information that facility has submitted results in a match to the Terrorist Screening Data Base. NACD Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Jennifer Gibson wrote, "If DHS does not notify facilities of the screening results, facility owners and operators will be unable to affirm that individuals with access to sensitive areas do not present security threats. In order to ensure that those intent on harming the chemical industry and the nation are not allowed access to critical assets, NACD strongly encourages DHS to reconsider its decision not to inform facilities of individuals' TSDB status."

NACD particularly appreciates the fact that DHS has moved closer to the position of allowing for the expanded use of existing federal vetting programs including the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) and the Commercial Drivers' License Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME), but is also disappointed that DHS elected to retain the requirement that companies submit information on individuals who will have unescorted access to critical assets 48 hours in advance of that access being granted. This is particularly burdensome for chemical distributors who receive the majority of their shipments via truck and who are often small operations unable to afford a TWIC reader. Gibson comments, "Any potential benefit of the 48 hour notification requirement does not justify the burdens that it will place on facility operations. In fact, without an assurance that DHS will notify facilities of the TSDB status of individuals seeking access, there is no justification for the 48 hour notification requirement."

In addition, Gibson stated, "NACD encourages DHS to consider alternatives that would relieve unnecessary burdens and make the PSP more efficient."

NACD and its over 400 member companies are vital to the chemical supply chain providing products to over 750,000 end users. They make a delivery every seven seconds while maintaining a safety record that is more than twice as good as all manufacturing combined. NACD members are leaders in health, safety, security, and environmental performance through implementation of Responsible Distribution, a third-party verified management practice established in 1991 as a condition of membership. For additional information on our members, their safety record or NACD, visit NACD at .

Contact: Lucinda Schofer(703) 527-NACD(6223)

SOURCE National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD)

Foster, who ran for 1,424 yards last season, was injured on the first play of team drills on Tuesday. Coach Gary Kubiak says they will know more about the injury after Foster sees a doctor.

It was unclear exactly how he was injured, but he was taken off the practice field on a cart.

Kubiak says it is "always concerning" when a player in injured in practice, but that he has to work everybody in order for the team to improve.

Receiver Andre Johnson says he saw Foster limping off the field after a running play. Johnson says: "I think if it was real bad, I think we would've known about it by now. I don't think that it's (anything) real bad."

LONDON (Reuters) - Pirelli have shelved plans for Formula One teams to race with new-specification tires in Canada next week, a company spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

She said the modified rear tires would now be used only in Friday practice in Montreal for evaluation purposes, with each team given two sets, with the hope that they could then be used in the race at the British Grand Prix at the end of June.

"The regulations allow us to bring a set of experimental tires to Friday practice," explained the spokeswoman. "We decided to do it that way which gives everyone a chance to test them and hopefully all agree."

Pirelli want to restructure the tires to incorporate a 2012-style inner belt made of kevlar, rather than steel, after a spate of failures caused by debris.

The supplier is keen to eliminate 'delaminations' - where the tread separates from the body of the tire without it deflating.

However any change would have to be approved by all the teams, unless the governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) orders it on safety grounds - which has not been the case.

Champions Red Bull have been vocal in calling for the 2013 tires to be made more durable to reduce the number of pitstops and allow drivers to race harder.

Others such as Lotus, Ferrari and Force India are against the changes because they have got their cars working well with the compounds.

Pirelli have also come under fire for carrying out a 'secret' tire test in Spain with Mercedes after this month's Spanish Grand Prix.

The matter has been referred to the FIA, who could pass it on to their international tribunal, after protests by Ferrari and Red Bull at last weekend's Monaco Grand Prix.

Testing is banned during the season, although Pirelli have it written into their contract that they can carry out a number of 1,000-km tests with a representative car.

Red Bull principal Christian Horner said Mercedes, winners in Monaco, had acted in an 'underhand' manner by not telling others about the test. He suggested they had gained an advantage by running a current car on tires to be used later in the season.

Pirelli have disputed that, saying Mercedes did not know what they were testing.

(Editing by Clare Fallon)

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LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - HBO's "Girls" is getting a little extra oomph for its third season, in the form of Jon Hamm's gal.

Jennifer Westfeldt, known to jealous women everywhere as the gal who's romantically attached to "Mad Men" star Hamm, has booked an appearance on the HBO series, the premium cable network told TheWrap on Tuesday.

News of Westfeldt's appearance on the show first broke when the actress - whose own acting credits include 2011's "Friends With Kids" - was photographed shooting a funeral scene with "Girls" star Adam Driver in New York. And now you know - yeah, it's totally a thing that's happening.

HBO had no further details about Westfeldt's appearance on "Girls," which was created by and stars Lena Dunham.

Hamm and Westfeldt have been together since 1997.