MedWorm: Learning

Inoculation Against Falls: Rapid Adaptation by Young and Older Adults to Slips During Daily Activities. - Pai YC, Bhatt T, Wang E, Espy D, Pavol MJ.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 16:31:30 +0100

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether aging diminishes one's ability to rapidly learn to resist falls on repeated-slip exposure across different activities of daily living. DESIGN: Quasi-experimental controlled trial. SETTING: Two university-based research labor... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))

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CSEDU 2010: 2nd international conference on computer supported education

MEDEV Events — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 16:29:40 +0100

CSEDU 2010 (the International Conference on Computer Supported Education) aims at becoming a yearly meeting place for presenting and discussing new educational environments, best practices and case studies on innovative technology-based learning strategies, institutional policies on computer supported education including open and distance education, using computers. In particular, the Web is currently a preferred medium for distance learning and the learning practice in this context is usually referred to as e-learning. CSEDU-2010 is expected to give an overview of the state of the art as well as upcoming trends, and to promote discussion about the pedagogical potential of new learning and educational technologies in the academic and corporate world. CSEDU seeks papers reporting research ...

Confirmed rare copy number variants implicate novel genes in schizophrenia.

Biochemical Society Transactions — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 03:07:32 +0100

Authors: Tam GW, van de Lagemaat LN, Redon R, Strathdee KE, Croning MD, Malloy MP, Muir WJ, Pickard BS, Deary IJ, Blackwood DH, Carter NP, Grant SG Understanding how cognitive processes including learning, memory, decision making and ideation are encoded by the genome is a key question in biology. Identification of sets of genes underlying human mental disorders is a path towards this objective. Schizophrenia is a common disease with cognitive symptoms, high heritability and complex genetics. We have identified genes involved with schizophrenia by measuring differences in DNA copy number across the entire genome in 91 schizophrenia cases and 92 controls in the Scottish population. Our data reproduce rare and common variants observed in public domain data from >3000 schizophrenia cas...

Dysfunction and recovery of synapses in prion disease: implications for neurodegeneration.

Biochemical Society Transactions — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 03:07:04 +0100

Authors: Moreno JA, Mallucci GR Synaptic dysfunction is a key early process in many neurodegenerative diseases, but how this ultimately leads to neuronal loss is not clear. In health, there is ongoing remodelling of synapses and spines in the adult brain: their elimination and formation are continual physiological processes fundamental to learning and memory. But in neurodegenerative disease, including prion disease, lost synapses are not replaced, and their loss is followed by neuronal death. These two processes are separately regulated, with mechanistic, spatial and temporal segregation of the respective death routines of synapses and cell bodies. Mice with prion disease can be cured at the stage of early synaptic dysfunction, when they have reversible impairments at neurophysiologic...

Health headlines: Eczema, triplets and growing pains

Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 12:00:05 +0100

Other stories we’ve been reading: Another court case rules that vaccines don’t cause autism. Eczema drugs need tougher warnings. Deep brain stimulation reduces epileptic seizures. [Read one patient’s story of how brain stimulation is keeping her epileptic seizures at bay.] Kids do outgrow their growing pains. More strides are seen in pediatric orthopedic surgery. Naughty children are more likely to report chronic pain as adults. Babies are born to dance. There’s a rise in triplet births, but the death rates are high. The First Lady tells food makers to hurry up on making healthy food. PepsiCo pledges not to sell sugary beverages in school. Kraft plans to cut sodium levels in food products. [Read Thrive’s stories on childhood obesity and healthful eating.] MTV launches an online �...

EJPH president's column: in partnership for the public health response to the environmental change * EUPHA office: listen and learn (Objective 1) * Message from the WHO Regional Director for Europe

The European Journal of Public Health — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 07:45:28 +0100

(Source: The European Journal of Public Health)

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Link Between Learning Deficits In Adolescence And Novel Brain Receptor

Health News from Medical News Today — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 07:00:00 +0100

It is well known that the onset of puberty marks the end of the optimal period for learning language and certain spatial skills, such as computer/video game operation. Recent work published in the journal Science by Sheryl Smith, PhD, professor of physiology and pharmacology, and colleagues at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn shows that a novel brain receptor, alpha4-beta-delta, emerges at puberty in the hippocampus, part of the brain that controls learning and memory. Before puberty, expression of this receptor is low and learning is optimal... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Link Between Learning Deficits In Adolescence And Novel Brain Receptor

Pediatrics News From Medical News Today — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 07:00:00 +0100

It is well known that the onset of puberty marks the end of the optimal period for learning language and certain spatial skills, such as computer/video game operation... (Source: Pediatrics News From Medical News Today)

Did you feel that quake? Online survey helps USGS seismologists

Los Angeles Times - Science — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 07:00:00 +0100

Feedback from Web surfers about what they feel during quakes is proving valuable to scientists and emergency responders. When a magnitude 4.4 earthquake shook Southern Californians awake in the predawn hours Tuesday, many rushed to their computers to learn about it from the U.S. Geological Survey website. (Source: Los Angeles Times - Science)

Deviant processing of letters and speech sounds as proximate cause of reading failure: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study of dyslexic children

Brain — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 05:20:01 +0100

Learning to associate auditory information of speech sounds with visual information of letters is a first and critical step for becoming a skilled reader in alphabetic languages. Nevertheless, it remains largely unknown which brain areas subserve the learning and automation of such associations. Here, we employ functional magnetic resonance imaging to study letter–speech sound integration in children with and without developmental dyslexia. The results demonstrate that dyslexic children show reduced neural integration of letters and speech sounds in the planum temporale/Heschl sulcus and the superior temporal sulcus. While cortical responses to speech sounds in fluent readers were modulated by letter–speech sound congruency with strong suppression effects for incongruent letter...

Oculopalatal tremor explained by a model of inferior olivary hypertrophy and cerebellar plasticity

Brain — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 05:20:01 +0100

The inferior olivary nuclei clearly play a role in creating oculopalatal tremor, but the exact mechanism is unknown. Oculopalatal tremor develops some time after a lesion in the brain that interrupts inhibition of the inferior olive by the deep cerebellar nuclei. Over time the inferior olive gradually becomes hypertrophic and its neurons enlarge developing abnormal soma-somatic gap junctions. However, results from several experimental studies have confounded the issue because they seem inconsistent with a role for the inferior olive in oculopalatal tremor, or because they ascribe the tremor to other brain areas. Here we look at 3D binocular eye movements in 15 oculopalatal tremor patients and compare their behaviour to the output of our recent mathematical model of oculopalatal tremor. Thi...

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Life Long Learning

Riverbend Down Syndrome Parent Support Group — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 04:35:00 +0100

The Dakar Framework (World Education Forum, 2002) committed nations to education for all. The Forum spoke of an 'education geared to tapping each individual's talents and potential, and developing learner's personalities, so that they can improve their lives and transform their societies'. Clearly there is a huge gap between aspiration and need on one hand and legislation, policy and funding on the other. This brief paper comments on current trends in the provision of lifelong education for people with an intellectual disability, with particular emphasis on the needs of young people transitioning from school to work. (Source: Riverbend Down Syndrome Parent Support Group)

The Attention and Executive Function Rating Inventory (ATTEX): Psychometric properties and clinical utility in diagnosing ADHD subtypes

Scandinavian Journal of Psychology — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This study presents a new inventory, the Attention and Executive Function Rating Inventory (ATTEX), and examines the psychometric properties and the clinical utility of ATTEX in indentifying the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder combined type (ADHD-C) and the ADHD predominantly inattentive type (ADHD-I) in school environments. A normative sample of Finnish 7- to 15-year-old children and adolescents (N = 701) and a clinical sample consisting of children with ADHD-C (N = 190) and ADHD-I (N = 25) were examined with the ATTEX and the ADHD Rating Scale-IV. The ATTEX and its scales had good internal consistency reliability (0.67[ndash]0.98) and criterion validity (0.68[ndash]0.95). Normative data was provided for the total normative sample and for boys and girls separately. Gender differe...

Endoscopic extraperitoneal radical prostatectomy: critical analysis of outcomes and learning curve

BJU International — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Study Type [ndash] Therapy (case series)Level of Evidence 4OBJECTIVE To assess the outcomes and learning curve of extraperitoneal endoscopic radical prostatectomy (EERP) using cumulative summation charts from a single tertiary referral centre.PATIENTS AND METHODS The data from 300 consecutive men with localized prostate cancer who underwent EERP at Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK, between February 2006 and July 2009 were prospectively maintained in a database. The data collected included demographic details, perioperative outcomes, complications and follow-up for functional and oncology outcomes. The learning curve was analysed using generalized linear models for complication rate, operative time and blood loss, using procedure experience.RESULTS The mean (sd, range) operative dura...

A reduction in hippocampal GABAA receptor α5 subunits disrupts the memory for location of objects in mice

Genes, Brain and Behavior — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The memory for location of objects, which binds information about objects to discrete positions or spatial contexts of occurrence, is a form of episodic memory particularly sensitive to hippocampal damage. Its early decline is symptomatic for elderly dementia. Substances that selectively reduce [alpha]5-GABAA receptor function are currently developed as potential cognition enhancers for Alzheimer's syndrome and other dementia, consistent with genetic studies implicating these receptors that are highly expressed in hippocampus in learning performance. Here we explored the consequences of reduced GABAA[alpha]5-subunit contents, as occurring in [alpha]5(H105R) knock-in mice, on the memory for location of objects. This required the behavioral characterization of [alpha]5(H105R) and wild-type a...

Oh, The Drama! Med School Class Of 2010 To Learn Where They've "Matched" For Residency

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Hugs, high fives, cheers and a few tears will abound when the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine's seniors find out which hospital residency programs they will enter after graduation this spring. The fourth-year students will gather for this annual, invitation-only celebration on the medical campus, where they'll open official letters in the presence of classmates, professors and loved ones. The event for the 107th graduating class is slated to take place on Thursday, March 18, from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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Oh, The Drama! Med School Class Of 2010 To Learn Where They've "Matched" For Residency

Medical Students News From Medical News Today — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Do You Have a Dependent Personality?

Psychology Today Personality Center — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:45:56 +0100

People with dependent personality styles or disorders often seek treatment for what they describe as depression or uncontrolled anxiety. But the underlying behaviors include difficulty making decisions and feelings of helplessness, loneliness, and abandonment. The anxiety appears to be part of this system, as the overall helplessness and dependence lead right into this. Dependent personality disorder was poorly understood until Freud was conceptually able to place the genesis of this disorder, in part, into a specific developmental stage in terms of overindulgence during early life. In treating patients who present with depression symptoms and anxiety disorders, I stay alert to negative expressions such as "I can't," "I'll never be able to," "I'm no good at it," "You figure it out," or "I ...

Modelling the molecular mechanisms of synaptic plasticity using systems biology approaches

Nature Reviews Neuroscience — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:56:31 +0100

Authors: Jeanette Hellgren Kotaleski & Kim T. Blackwell Synaptic plasticity is thought to underlie learning and memory, but the complexity of the interactions between the ion channels, enzymes and genes that are involved in synaptic plasticity impedes a deep understanding of this phenomenon. Computer modelling has been used to investigate the information processing (Source: Nature Reviews Neuroscience)

Puberty Impairs Plasticity

This Week in Science — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:10:32 +0100

While the existence of a period of reduced learning coinciding with the onset of puberty in mice is well characterized, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Shen et … [Read more] (Source: This Week in Science)

[Report] A Critical Role for α4βδ GABAA Receptors in Shaping Learning Deficits at Puberty in Mice

Science: Current Issue — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:10:21 +0100

Learning incapacity observed during puberty is related to receptor location in the hippocampus.Authors: Hui Shen, Nicole Sabaliauskas, Ang Sherpa, André A. Fenton, Armin Stelzer, Chiye Aoki, Sheryl S. Smith (Source: Science: Current Issue)

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[Podcast] Science Podcast

Science: Current Issue — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:10:21 +0100

The show includes the biology behind learning deficits at puberty, a 3D invisibility cloak, and the Nile delta's sinking future. (Source: Science: Current Issue)

Supported further education provision for people with long-term mental health needs: Findings from a survey of further education colleges and primary care trusts across the south east of England

The Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:03:58 +0100

Conclusion: This research has implications for budget holders, health promotion staff and mental health teams working within a social model of health, and the collaborative use of resources to assist people recovering from or managing mental health difficulties in moving forward in their lives. (Source: The Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health)

Firearm Homicide in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand: What Can We Learn From Long-Term International Comparisons? - McPhedran S, Baker J, Singh P.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:46:07 +0100

Although firearm homicide remains a topic of interest within criminological and policy discourse, existing research does not generally undertake longitudinal comparisons between countries. However, cross-country comparisons provide insight into whether "lo... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))

WEBIST 2010: 6th international conference on web information systems and technologies

MEDEV Events — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:42:03 +0100

The purpose of the 6th International Conference on Web Information Systems and Technologies (WEBIST) is to bring together researchers, engineers and practitioners interested in the technological advances and business applications of web-based information systems. The conference has four main track, covering different aspects of Web Information Systems, including Internet Technology, Web Interfaces and Applications, Society, e-Communities, e-Business and Web Intelligence. WEBIST focuses on real world applications; therefore authors should highlight the benefits of Web Information Systems and Technologies for industry and services, in addition to academic applications. Ideas on how to solve business problems, using web based information systems and technologies, will arise from the conferen...

Why teenagers find learning a drag

New Scientist - The Human Brain — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:42:03 +0100

The brain molecules behind a learning deficit that sets in during puberty have been identified in mice – and blocked (Source: New Scientist - The Human Brain)

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Festival of learning 2010: the way forward with education in health professions

MEDEV Events — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:42:01 +0100

The Festival of Learning is an innovative concept developed by the Higher Education Academy Health Sciences and Practice Subject Centre. It is held annually each time in a different UK location.The eighth Festival of Learning will be hosted by the Edinburgh Napier University at their beautiful Craighouse campus. The Festival blends elements of established event formats - high profile keynote presentations, workshops, special interest groups - to provide a unique celebration of diverse approaches to education and training in the Health Sciences. This year, the Festival 2010, will focus on the three themes as follows: Making connection - Assimilating theory and practice; developing partnerships between the NHS and HEIs and also education and employers; aiding awareness of educational pol...

School Consultation(Erchul et al.)

Springer Psychology titles — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:20:29 +0100

Conceptual and Empirical Bases of Practiceseries:Issues in Clinical Child PsychologySince its emergence during the 1960s, school consultation has become an important vehicle for delivering psychological and educational services. Cooperative efforts between skilled consultants and teachers, rooted in the principles of problem solving, social influence, and professional development, enhance student learning and adjustment while encouraging consultees to be more effective and ... (Source: Springer Psychology titles)

Daily life of children with acute asthma in school settings

Acta Paulista de Enfermagem — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:55:04 +0100

OBJETIVO: Compreender o significado que a criança asmática grave e sua família atribuem à doença e suas implicações na escola. MÉTODOS: Estudo de caso qualitativo, desenvolvido no ambulatório de pediatria de um hospital do Município de São Paulo. Foram estudadas três crianças e seus familiares, utilizando observação participante, entrevista e brinquedo terapêutico dramático. RESULTADOS: As demandas do tratamento e as freqüentes crises de asma influenciaram no cotidiano da criança na escola como: falta às aulas; deixar de aprender; restrinção nas brincadeiras e relacionamento conflituoso com colegas. CONSIDERAÇÕES FINAIS: Tendo em vista as dificuldades encontradas pelas crianças em freqüentar a escola e conviver com os colegas, recomenda-se um trabalho conjunto ent...

Preferences for health care and self-management among Dutch adolescents with chronic conditions: A Q-methodological investigation

International Journal of Nursing Studies — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:54:44 +0100

Conclusion: This study increases our understanding of different subjectivities of adolescents living with a chronic condition related to their treatment and health. There is no “one size fits all” approach to adolescent health care, but rather a limited number of distinct preference profiles. This study demonstrates the value of a non-disease-specific approach in that adolescents with various chronic conditions were found to have much in common. The profiles seem a promising tool for nurses to actively seek adolescents’ opinion and participation in health care and will be further explored. (Source: International Journal of Nursing Studies)

How to review journal manuscripts

Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:22:34 +0100

Abstract: Reviewing manuscripts is central to editorial peer review, which arose in the early 1900s in response to the editor's need for expert advice to help select quality articles from numerous submissions. Most reviewers learn by trial and error, often giving up along the way because the process is far from intuitive. This primer will help minimize errors and maximize enjoyment in reviewing. Topics covered include responding to a review invitation, crafting comments to editors and authors, offering a recommended disposition, dealing with revised manuscripts, and understanding roles and responsibilities. The target audience is primarily novice reviewers, but seasoned reviewers should also find useful pearls to assist their efforts. (Source: Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery)

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Secondary Infertility: When having more children is an unexpected challenge for parents

Psychology Today Relationships Center — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:03:55 +0100

In earlier blogs, I've mentioned the fertility challenges faced by such public figures as Celine Dion and Sarah Jessica Parker, both of whom grappled with secondary infertility (and, earlier, with primary infertility). So, what exactly is secondary infertility? Statistically the most common form of infertility, it is the inability to become pregnant or carry a pregnancy to term following the birth of one or more biological children to the same couple.The unique dilemma of a couple with secondary infertility is that everyone presumes them to be fertile, unless they had an earlier child with the help of reproductive technology. And, just as primary infertility often is referred to as an invisible disability, secondary infertility seems even more invisible, since it occurs in the context of a...

Could a pill increase learning ability post-puberty?

ScienceDaily Headlines — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:00:00 +0100

New research shows that a novel brain receptor, alpha4-beta-delta, emerges at puberty in the hippocampus, part of the brain that controls learning and memory. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)

Why teenagers find learning a drag

New Scientist - Health — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:32:54 +0100

The brain molecules behind a learning deficit that sets in during puberty have been identified in mice - and blocked (Source: New Scientist - Health)

Celebrate science every week

Guardian Unlimited Science — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:30:00 +0100

This article was commissioned after the author suggested it in a You tell us threadMathematicsPhysicsChemistryBiologyScienceClaire McWhirterguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds (Source: Guardian Unlimited Science)

To Continue or Discontinue Aspirin in the Perioperative Period: A Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial

Medscape Cardiology Headlines — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:02:28 +0100

Learn more about the effects of perioperative aspirin for high-risk patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. British Journal of Anaesthesia (Source: Medscape Cardiology Headlines)

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The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Bench to Bassinet Program: A New Paradigm for Translational Research

Journal of the American College of Cardiology — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:00:32 +0100

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common birth defect and is a significant source of morbidity and mortality in children. Despite considerable recent progress in the clinical arena, we have a lot yet to learn about the causes of CHD and the genetic modifiers of clinical outcome. It is our hope that an improved understanding of the etiology of CHD will lead to improved care for the patient with this disease. To accelerate discovery in these areas, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) launched a novel translational research program in pediatric cardiovascular disease, the Bench to Bassinet program, in September 2009 (http://www.benchtobassinet.com). (Source: Journal of the American College of Cardiology)

The Ethical Dog

Scientific American - Official RSS Feed — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:00:00 +0100

Every dog owner knows a pooch can learn the house rules--and when she breaks one, her subsequent groveling is usually ingratiating enough to ensure quick forgiveness. But few people have stopped to ask why dogs have such a keen sense of right and wrong. Chimpanzees and other nonhuman primates regularly make the news when researchers, logically looking to our closest relatives for traits similar to our own, uncover evidence of their instinct for fairness. But our work has suggested that wild canine societies may be even better analogues for early hominid groups--and when we study dogs, wolves and coyotes, we discover behaviors that hint at the roots of human morality.Morality, as we define it in our book Wild Justice , is a suite of interrelated other-regarding behaviors that cultivate and ...

Physical Interaction of Jab1 with Human Serotonin 6 G-protein-coupled Receptor and Their Possible Roles in Cell Survival [Signal Transduction]

Journal of Biological Chemistry — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:36:05 +0100

The 5-HT6 receptor (5-HT6R) is one of the most recently cloned serotonin receptors, and it plays important roles in Alzheimer disease, depression, and learning and memory disorders. However, unlike the other serotonin receptors, the cellular mechanisms of 5-HT6R are poorly elucidated relative to its significance in human brain diseases. Here, using a yeast two-hybrid assay, we found that the human 5-HT6R interacts with Jun activation domain-binding protein-1 (Jab1). We also confirmed a physical interaction between 5-HT6R and Jab1 using glutathione S-transferase pulldown, fluorescence resonance energy transfer, co-immunoprecipitation, and immunocyto(histo)chemistry assays. The manipulation of Jab1 expression using Jab1 small interference RNA decreased 5-HT6R-mediated activity and cell membr...

Puberty: A Time for Less Learning

Scientific American - Official RSS Feed — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:32:08 +0100

Ah, puberty. A time for raging hormones, growing independence and being stupid. Okay, not every teenager gets stupid. But they actually do learn less. And in a study published in the journal Science [see Hui Shen et al, http://bit.ly/dbeLY6 ], researchers describe the cellular and molecular changes that drive this puberty-associated desmartification. [More] (Source: Scientific American - Official RSS Feed)

Residents Learn How Much Resistance Can Reveal [Clinical & Research News]

Psychiatr News — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:01:30 +0100

(Source: Psychiatr News)

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Speech Therapy - does my toddler need it?

Gurgle — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:00:39 +0100

All toddlers learn to speak at different times, but when should you worry that your child isn't improving with his speech or need to see a speech therapist? (Source: Gurgle)

More U.S. Medical School Seniors To Train As Family Medicine Residents

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:00:00 +0100

The number of U.S. medical school seniors who will enter residency training in family medicine rose 9 percent over 2009, according to the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). These individuals will be among the more than 16,000 U.S. medical school seniors who will learn today at noon where they will spend the next three to seven years of residency training in "Match Day" ceremonies across the country. In 2009, the number of U.S. medical school seniors placed in family medicine residencies dropped by 7 percent... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Pay attention, Radford!

Guardian Unlimited Science — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 08:30:22 +0100

Tim Radford discovers an effervescent enthusiasm and humour in Ian Stewart's mathematical curiosities and treasures that was absent from the morose maths lessons of his schooldaysProfessor Stewart's Cabinet of Mathematical Curiosities, and Professor Stewart's Hoard of Mathematical TreasuresIn his quiet way, Ian Stewart may have done more for his subject in these two books than he or his colleagues have done in perhaps the previous 10 or 15 books about mathematics I have read. One has to allow for that warmth towards a book just finished, but I might still feel the same a week or a fortnight from now.There is no story in these books, no moral, no parable, no implied rebuke for my failure to master the calculus or to remember the difference between a prime and a Mersenne prime. There is only...

I wish I'd looked after my genes

Guardian Unlimited Science — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 08:00:02 +0100

This article was amended on 19 March 2010. Genes undergo random mutations, rather than cause them (ninth paragraph). This has been corrected in the online version.EvolutionBiologyOliver Burkemanguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds (Source: Guardian Unlimited Science)

Diabetes Patients' Lives May Be Shorter If They Have Difficulty Trusting And Reaching Out To Others

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 07:00:00 +0100

Mistrust can exact a high toll. Being overly cautious or dismissive in relating to people, researchers are learning, may shorten the lives of people with diabetes. Diabetes patients who have a lower propensity to reach out to others have a higher mortality rate than those who feel comfortable seeking support. These are the findings of a five-year study reported by Dr. Paul Ciechanowski, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington (UW) and an affiliate investigator at Group Health Research Institute in Seattle... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

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Diabetes Patients' Lives May Be Shorter If They Have Difficulty Trusting And Reaching Out To Others

Diabetes News From Medical News Today — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 07:00:00 +0100

Researcher maps how age, gender can affect risk to radiation exposure

ScienceDaily Headlines — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 06:00:00 +0100

Scientists imaged cartilage, bone marrow and two types of mineral bone in 20 different skeletal sites from two newborns to learn more about how much radiation is absorbed by the body. They discovered that children have a greater percentage of total mineral bone in direct contact with sensitive bone marrow than do adults. This has implications for radiation treatments and types of chemotherapy used to treat cancer patients, especially therapies targeting pediatric bone cancers. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)

Distance Learning and Telemedicine (DLT) Grant Program; Announcement of Funds Availability and Grant Application Deadlines

Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 06:00:00 +0100

Rural Utilities Service, USDA announces the application availability for the Distance Learning and Telemedicine grant program, to provide loans and grants designed to provide access to education, training and health care resources for people in rural America. (Source: Federal Register updates via the Rural Assistance Center)

20 Ways to Get the Job You Want

Psychology Today Work Center — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 01:26:42 +0100

You can help make the job you want happen. The key is believing in you. Plant your feet firmly on the path to the job you desire. Take the time to free yourself of the shackles of doubt so you can see yourself in the most positive accurate way. Confidence is what allows you to see the asset you are. Dream, plan, try and stretch yourself to get that job you desire.Read more ways to gain confidence on your job pursuit: 1. Stay Positive - Remind yourself of all the positive qualities and skills you bring to any job by making a list.2. Put Your Best Qualities Forward - Keep in mind that you are a composite of all those wonderful qualities and be prepared to share them at your next possible job opportunity.3. Inner Confident Shows - Inner confidence shines through on the ou...

Learn about investment opportunities during residency.

Modern Medicine — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Paying off student loans is addressed (Source: Modern Medicine)

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Social group norms, school norms, and children's aggressive intentions

Aggressive Behavior — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This study examined whether the effect of social group norms on 7- and 10-year-old children's aggression can be moderated or extinguished by contrary school norms. Children (n=384) participated in a simulation in which they were assigned membership in a social group for a drawing competition against an outgroup. Participants learnt that their group had a norm of inclusion, exclusion, or exclusion-plus-relational aggression, toward non-group members, and that the school either had a norm of inclusion, or no such norm. Findings indicated that group norms influenced the participants' direct and indirect aggressive intentions, but that the school norm moderated the group norm effect, with the school's norm effect tending to be greater for indirect vs. direct aggression, males vs. females, and ...

HEFCE announces funding of £7.3 billion for universities and colleges in England

MEDEV News — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

HEFCE will distribute £7,356 million to 130 universities and higher education colleges, and 123 directly funded further education colleges, for the academic year 2010-11 (see note 1). The main elements of the grant are £4,727 million for teaching, £1,603 million for research and £150 million for the Higher Education Innovation Fund. In addition HEFCE is providing £562 million for earmarked capital grants and £294 million for special funding (see note 2). The changes in allocations to individual universities and colleges vary (see the summary of grant tables) depending on a number of factors. The most significant are the increased concentration of funding to universities with the highest quality research (see note 3), funding for additional student places, reduction in targeted allo...

Measles outbreaks in displaced populations: a review of transmission, morbidity and mortality associated factors

BMC International Health and Human Rights — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: Measles patterns have varied over time among populations displaced by natural and man-made disasters. Appropriate risk assessment and surveillance strategies are essential approaches for reducing morbidity and mortality due to measles. Learning from past experiences of measles outbreaks in displaced populations is important for designing future strategies for measles control in such situations. (Source: BMC International Health and Human Rights)

Teaching medical students about chronic disease: patient-led teaching in rheumatoid arthritis

Musculoskeletal Care — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: We have demonstrated that our patient was at least as good as a doctor at teaching about the impact of chronic disease on patients. Furthermore, this experience is valued by students who appreciate the personal insight that a patient can offer. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. (Source: Musculoskeletal Care)

Inside the Black Box: Assessing and Improving Quality in Youth Programs.

American Journal of Community Psychology — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Yohalem N, Wilson-Ahlstrom A Over the past decade, structured programming for children and youth during the non-school hours has expanded exponentially. A confluence of recent research studies and program evaluations backs the publicly perceived notion that after-school programs can positively influence important developmental and learning outcomes. The rapid expansion of the field and the potential of programs to contribute to child and youth development have made defining what high quality programs look like and learning how to improve program quality key challenges facing the field. This paper describes what is known about the relation between youth program quality and youth developmental outcomes, summarizes different quality assessment tools being used in the field, and d...

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NPSA Signal: Wrong strength phenol

NeLM - News — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Source: NPSA Area: News The NPSA has issued a 'Signal' relating to confusion between different strengths and preparations of phenol, resulting in severe harm to a child when a high-strength product is injected in error. The antibacterial phenol is available in different formulations, the most common include: 80% aqueous (liquefied) phenol used topically in podiatry for removal of ingrown toenails; 5% oily phenol injection, used in treatment of haemorrhoids, and other low strength forms used for pain relief and to control spasticity. Confusion between these products has resulted in patient harm. The National Reporting and Learning Service (NRLS) was alerted to the problem following the case of a child who suffered severe harm following confusion between different forms ...

Learn about investment opportunities during residency

Modern Medicine — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Paying off student loans is addressed (Source: Modern Medicine)

In response to some of your questions about the ataluren survey, PPMD has posted FAQs. And if your child took part in the ataluren trial, and you have not participated in the survey, please do so today.www.parentprojectmd.org

Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The Voice of the Patient: A Re-Examination of the ataluren Data Again last week we spoke with a number of parents about their experiences with ataluren. They shared their thoughts about the trial and about what changes they noticed. In parallel, PTC’s analysis of the data continues. While the trial(s) produced a wealth of data that will inform all future trials, we are interested in plans, next steps, and WHEN. We are not finished with this conversation and are not giving up on ataluren. For all of us, this is about buying time. To that end, we want to be responsive as parents and responsible as partners in this research, to move ataluren (and all strategies) forward, if there is a chance for benefit for the boys. We must understand the nitty gritty of who may benefit, at what specific...

Cultural and hierarchical influences: ethical issues faced by Taiwanese nursing students

Medical Education — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions Taiwanese nurse ethics training was only recently introduced and the curriculum has not addressed the clinical reality in Taiwan. This reality includes limitations arising from the medical hierarchy and the socio-cultural role of families in medical decision making, which may inhibit ethical judgements and decision making. In clinical dilemmas, the most common problems faced by Taiwanese nursing students involved not knowing how to handle some situations, inability to abide by principles, and a lack of appropriate role models. Hence, we suggest that nursing ethics education should: (i) integrate scenarios involving ethical dilemmas into daily routines; (ii) give students opportunities to discuss their feelings about their experiences; (iii) allow teachers and students to talk a...

Posterior dorsomedial striatum is critical for both selective instrumental and Pavlovian reward learning

European Journal of Neuroscience — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

The dorsal striatum (DS) has been implicated in instrumental learning but its role in the acquisition of stimulus-driven behaviour is not clear. To explore the contribution of the DS to both response-outcome (R-O) and stimulus-outcome (S-O) associative learning, we pharmacologically inactivated subregions (dorsolateral, anterior dorsomedial and posterior dorsomedial) of the DS during acquisition sessions in which subjects acquired two unique, novel R-O pairs or two unique, novel S-O pairs. To test whether specific R-O or S-O associations were learned under inactivation, rats were tested following selective-satiety devaluation of one outcome under drug-free conditions. In the instrumental task, control rats and rats with dorsolateral striatum (DLS) inactivation during learning responded les...

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Inter-individual and age differences in exploration, neophobia and problem-solving ability in a Neotropical raptor (Milvago chimango).

Animal Cognition — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Biondi LM, Bó MS, Vassallo AI Animal innovations have far-reaching ecological and evolutionary consequences. The occurrence and persistence of an innovation require several processes, including exploration, social and asocial learning, and low neophobia. In addition, the identity of the innovator may determine how these new behaviours are socially transmitted. Taking into account inter-individual and age differences, we investigated three correlates of animal innovation: object exploration, neophobia level and novel problem-solving ability in an opportunistic generalist raptor, the Chimango Caracara (Milvago chimango). Eighteen individuals (7 adults and 11 juveniles) were caught during the non-breeding period and housed in individual cages in outdoor aviaries. Each bird w...

Verbal and academic skills in children with early-onset type 1 diabetes

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

This study aimed to explore the mechanism of learning deficits in children with diabetes by assessing basic verbal and academic skills in children with early-onset diabetes and in comparison children. In addition, the incidence of dyslexia ([le]10th centile in reading speed or reading[ndash]spelling accuracy) was studied.Method The performance of 51 children with early-onset diabetes (25 females, 26 males; mean age 9y 11mo, SD 4mo; range 9[ndash]10y) was compared with that of 92 children without diabetes (40 females, 52 males; mean age 9y 10mo, SD 3mo; range 9[ndash]10y) in the tasks of phonological processing, short-term memory, rapid automatized naming, reading, spelling, and mathematics.Results The performance of children with diabetes was poorer than that of the comparison children in ...

Science Podcast, 19 March 2010

Science Magazine Podcast — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:59:00 +0100

The biology behind learning deficits at puberty; a three-dimensional invisibility cloak; the Nile delta's sinking future; and more. (Source: Science Magazine Podcast)

Spatial Learning and Expression Patterns of PP1 mRNA in Mouse Hippocampus

Neuropsychobiology : Last 20 articles — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Neuropsychobiology 2010;61:188196 (DOI:10.1159/000297736) (Source: Neuropsychobiology : Last 20 articles)

Specialist English as a foreign language for European public health: evaluation of competencies and needs among Polish and Lithuanian students.

Medicina (Kaunas) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:02:03 +0100

CONCLUSIONS. Similar levels of English language in all five areas of language skills were established in Polish and Lithuanian university students. Respondents gave more priorities to less formal and practice-based interactive English teaching methods (going abroad, contacts with native speakers) in comparison with theory-oriented or classroom-based methods of learning (self-studying, Internet courses). Survey showed a growing interest of students in improving English language in the future in Poland and Lithuania. PMID: 20234164 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Medicina (Kaunas))

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Can Adults Have ADHD?

Psych Central — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:33:15 +0100

Attention deficit disorder is not just a childhood disorder. Adults can be diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADHD) as well. Sometimes this is a result of the person’s childhood ADHD progressing into adulthood (up to 70 percent of children will continue to struggle with ADHD as adults). Other times, an adult can either simply never been diagnosed as a child, or develop the disorder later on in life. Adult attention deficit disorder looks a lot like childhood attention deficit disorder. That shouldn’t come as a surprise, since the symptoms are largely the same. If you answer “Yes” to six or more of the below symptoms, you may have adult ADHD: Often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in course work, work, or other activities ...

Successful evaluation of a new animal model using mice for esophageal adenocarcinoma

Langenbeck's Archives of Surgery — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:27:48 +0100

Conclusion After a certain learning curve esophagojejunostomy is feasible in mice with an acceptable mortality rate and leads to esophageal adenocarcinoma. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original ArticleDOI 10.1007/s00423-010-0607-4Authors Matthias Raggi, Klinikum rechts der Isar, TU Muenchen Department of Surgery Ismaningerstr. 22 81675 Munich GermanyRupert Langer, TU München Department of Pathology Munich GermanyMarkus Feith, Klinikum rechts der Isar, TU Muenchen Department of Surgery Ismaningerstr. 22 81675 Munich GermanyHelmut Friess, Klinikum rechts der Isar, TU Muenchen Department of Surgery Ismaningerstr. 22 81675 Munich GermanyMatthias Schauer, Klinikum rechts der Isar, TU Muenchen Department of Surgery Ismaningerstr. 22 81675 Munich GermanyJörg Theis...

Altered parahippocampal functioning in cannabis users is related to the frequency of use

Psychopharmacology — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:15:17 +0100

Conclusions Our findings suggest that the frequency of use might have a particular critical impact on intact parahippocampal functioning in cannabis users. Increased activity within the encoding-related network might reflect functional compensation to maintain cognitive functioning. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original InvestigationDOI 10.1007/s00213-010-1805-zAuthors Benjamin Becker, University of Cologne Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Kerpener Strasse 62 50924 Cologne GermanyDaniel Wagner, University of Cologne Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Kerpener Strasse 62 50924 Cologne GermanyEuphrosyne Gouzoulis-Mayfrank, University of Cologne Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Kerpener Strasse 62 50924 Cologne GermanyElmar Spuentrup...

Impact of simulation-based learning on medication error rates in critically ill patients

Intensive Care Medicine — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:14:57 +0100

Conclusions Simulation-based learning provides a significant advantage to patient care through the reduction of medication administration errors compared to lecture style education. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory OriginalDOI 10.1007/s00134-010-1860-2Authors Daniel G. Ford, Fairfield Department of Pharmacy, NorthBay Medical Center 1200 B. Gale Wilson Blvd Fairfield CA 94533 USAAmy L. Seybert, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy 200 Lothrop Street Suite 302 Pittsburgh PA 15213 USAPamela L. Smithburger, University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy 200 Lothrop Street Suite 302 Pittsburgh PA 15213 USALawrence R. Kobulinsky, University of Pittsburgh 230 McKee Place Suite 300, 3rd Floor Pittsburgh PA 15213 USAJoseph T. Samosky, University of Pittsburgh 230 McKe...

Science for Kids: A Closer Look at Saturn and its Rings

AAAS — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:00:00 +0100

A Closer Look at Saturn and its Rings The Cassini spacecraft was launched into space by NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Italian Space Agency. This international space mission reached Saturn almost six years ago, and it has been collecting data from the planet ever since. Now, researchers are learning more than ever about Saturn, and Cassini's detailed observations are bringing the planet into clearer focus than ever before. (Source: AAAS)

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Mo'Nique's Open Marriage

Psychology Today Relationships Center — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:06:25 +0100

Just when you think you have heard it all, along comes Mo'Nique! Here is what she says about her marriage to Sid -- "Could Sid have sex outside of his marriage with me? Yes. That's not a deal-breaker," she says. "That's not something that would make us say, 'Pack your things and let's end the marriage.'"And according to US.Magazine.com she says "she wouldn't call it quits even if he had numerous flings."We are sorry Mo'Nique but you are sending a terrible message to those who are married - to those who are in love. Trust us when we say this - you are plain wrong and your message is not supported by any research on successful marriage!We have interviewed successfully married couples in over 40 countries of the world for 27+ years. And here's the deal - we find absolutely no support for her ...

CATalyst Council Press Conference

Health News from Medical News Today — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:00:00 +0100

Want to know how to get your cat to the veterinarian without being clawed? The CATalyst Council and American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) are holding a press conference on Friday, March 19, offering advice on how to make veterinary visits for feline patients pain free for cats and their owners. "Even more than dog owners, cat owners commonly report that it's difficult to get their pet to the veterinarian. With a little planning and training, cats can learn how to travel comfortably and safely in a carrier," explains Dr... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Range-Doppler Imaging via Forward-Backward Sparse Bayesian Learning

IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:53:03 +0100

We consider range-Doppler imaging via transmitting a train of probing pulses as in radar and active sonar. We show that range-Doppler imaging can be formulated as a sparse signal recovery problem and that we can use an expectation maximization based sparse Bayesian learning (EM-SBL) algorithm to achieve high resolution imaging. We also reduce the complexity of EM-SBL significantly by using an efficient forward-backward algorithm in the E step of the EM algorithm. (Source: IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing)

Computationally Efficient Sparse Bayesian Learning via Belief Propagation

IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:53:00 +0100

We present a belief propagation (BP)-based sparse Bayesian learning (SBL) algorithm, referred to as the BP-SBL, to recover sparse transform coefficients in large scale compressed sensing problems. BP-SBL is based on a widely used hierarchical Bayesian model, which is turned into a factor graph so that BP can be applied to achieve computational efficiency. We prove that the messages in BP are Gaussian probability density functions and therefore, we only need to update their means and variances when we update the messages. The computational complexity of BP-SBL is proportional to the number of transform coefficients, allowing the algorithms to deal with large scale compressed sensing problems efficiently. Numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of BP-SBL. (Source: IE...

Recursive Least Squares Dictionary Learning Algorithm

IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:53:00 +0100

We present the recursive least squares dictionary learning algorithm, RLS-DLA, which can be used for learning overcomplete dictionaries for sparse signal representation. Most DLAs presented earlier, for example ILS-DLA and K-SVD, update the dictionary after a batch of training vectors has been processed, usually using the whole set of training vectors as one batch. The training set is used iteratively to gradually improve the dictionary. The approach in RLS-DLA is a continuous update of the dictionary as each training vector is being processed. The core of the algorithm is compact and can be effectively implemented. The algorithm is derived very much along the same path as the recursive least squares (RLS) algorithm for adaptive filtering. Thus, as in RLS, a forgetting factor $lambda$ can ...

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Families Facing Cancer: Coping with the problems and possibilities together

Psychology Today Relationships Center — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:21:24 +0100

It is still dark with just a hint of light in the Eastern sky. But the full moon gives the snow cover in our back yard a ghostly glow. I have the gift of a quiet Sunday morning at home to write to you and introduce myself and my family.Before May, 2005, we were a relatively normal family, very close and mostly happy. We were immersed in planning our lives. Then, on May 1, I woke up with a searing pain in my shoulder. Within a week I was hospitalized with extremely advanced Stage 4, Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. I was given less than a 25 percent chance of surviving. Our family's comfortable world was shattered. The challenges were overwhelming for each of us separately and for us as a family. How would we come together and encourage each other, while simultaneously needing so much support ourselv...

The Path to Simulated Learning: Developing a Valid and Reliable Tool to Evaluate Performance of Radiological Technology Students in Patient Interactions

Journal of Allied Health — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:48:58 +0100

(Source: Journal of Allied Health)

An Online Learning Module Focused on Smoking Education and Prevention for College Students: Implications for College Health Instructors and Allied Health Professionals

Journal of Allied Health — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:48:58 +0100

(Source: Journal of Allied Health)

Public engagement society awards

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:48:37 +0100

To encourage people of all ages and walks of life to learn about these developments and have an opportunity to consider, question and debate the implications and issues arising from such work. By inspiring, informing and involving whole communities, Society Awards enable people to consider and discuss issues that affect them, those close to them and the world in which they live. Description: Projects should aim to achieve at least one of the following: * stimulate interest, excitement and debate about biomedical science through various methods * examine the social, cultural, historical and ethical impact of biomedical science * encourage new ways of thinking about biomedical science. In October each year they accept pre-proposals only on a selected theme. The theme for the 2009 Wellcome ...

Higher Education student volunteering awards

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:48:37 +0100

We are delighted to announce that HESVA 2010 is now open for entries. The Awards celebrate the diversity of the student learning experience and recognise the outstanding contributions to community volunteering made by students in higher education across the UK. As part of the Academy's UK-wide remit, HESVA is open to all UK higher education institutions. It is also open to further education institutions with 100 or more full-time equivalent students in England and Northern Ireland. Scottish or Welsh FE Colleges may submit a joint nomination with a sponsoring higher education institution. Entries can be submitted across two categories: * Student Volunteering Awards (up to two entries per institution) * Outstanding Project Awards (one entry per institution). Fifteen awards are available...

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Becoming a lecturer in initial teacher education

MEDEV Events — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:48:36 +0100

A series of workshops: The first on 3rd March 2010 at Mary Ward House, London. The second on 22nd March 2010 at Leeds Trinity University, Leeds. The third on 25th March 2010 at University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. The fourth on 29th March at University of West of England, Bristol. The workshop will focus on raising awareness of your professional learning and development in relation to your teaching in Higher Education, your emerging scholarly and research activities and your roles and responsibilities in relation to your partner schools. It aims to provide a supportive environment for gaining more understanding about factors that impinge on professional learning in the new setting and for sharing and listening to a variety of other experiences as new teacher educators. The workshop wi...

7th LDHEN Symposium - Celebrating partnerships in Learning

MEDEV Events — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:48:36 +0100

This event will identify partnerships of many kinds, such as between students, teachers and researchers; between scholars across disciplines; between professions and university programmes; between learning developers and subject-focussed academics - all are rich contexts for developing learning, and for exploring work (Source: MEDEV Events)

Living and learning, learning and teaching: Mental health in higher education

MEDEV Events — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:48:36 +0100

> What do learners learn from what we teach? > How else do they learn about mental wellbeing and ill health? > Through lived experience? > Does the notion of a ''threshold concept' have relevance in mental health? What are the areas and concepts that we neglect to teach? > How, as educators in a higher education context, do we prepare learners for practice in the context of a changing workforce? > What relevance does learning and teaching about mental health have for disciplines outside health and social care (eg education, the arts, performing arts and humanities)? Mental Health in Higher Education (mhhe) aims to enhance learning and teaching about mental health. This interdisciplinary event sets out to: 1. shed light on the above questions, and pose some others (see call for submiss...

Taking Science Education to the Next Level

AAAS — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:40:00 +0100

Project 2061’s Atlas of Science Literacy Illustrates Standards-Based Science Learning from K-12 AAAS’s Project 2061 is offering workshops through 2010 for educators who want to use the Atlas of Science Literacy, the pioneering, standards-based science teaching tool. (Source: AAAS)

Robotically assisted hysterectomy: 100 cases after the learning curve

Journal of Robotic Surgery — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:39:31 +0100

Abstract To report on perioperative outcomes of robotic hysterectomy after the learning curve, we performed a retrospective review of our second 100 consecutive robotic hysterectomies performed by two surgeons between January 2007 and February 2008. Operative time following our learning curve was 79.3 ± 36.1 min. Patient age was 44.2 ± 9.6 years, body mass index (BMI) was 30.9 ± 8.3 kg/m2, and uterine weight was 223.7 ± 195.8 g. Indications for surgery included fibroids, menstrual disorders, and endometriosis. We performed total robotic-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy type IVE. There were no conversions, no blood transfusions, and one cystotomy, repaired intraoperatively. Blood loss was 68.8 ± 105....

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RNA localization in neurite morphogenesis and synaptic regulation: current evidence and novel approaches

Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:13:40 +0100

Abstract It is now generally accepted that RNA localization in the central nervous system conveys important roles both during development and in the adult brain. Of special interest is protein synthesis located at the synapse, as this potentially confers selective synaptic modification and has been implicated in the establishment of memories. However, the underlying molecular events are largely unknown. In this review, we will first discuss novel findings that highlight the role of RNA localization in neurons. We will focus on the role of RNA localization in neurotrophin signaling, axon outgrowth, dendrite and dendritic spine morphogenesis as well as in synaptic plasticity. Second, we will briefly present recent work on the role of microRNAs in translational control in den...

Anal Fissures Associated With Targeted Therapies in Ovarian Cancer

Medscape Today Headlines — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:04:28 +0100

Learn how anal fissure management by advanced practice nurses can directly influence the quality of life of patients on targeted therapies. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

Angola: Over 500 People Attend Nephrology Campaign

AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 08:16:43 +0100

Over 500 people attended nephrology consultation in Luanda's Viana district, under a project of the Health Ministry, aiming at informing the situation of the kidney illness, Angop has learnt. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)

Dr. Nicholas DiMartino reveals ways to eliminate fatigue on the NaturalNews Talk Hour

NaturalNews.com — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 07:00:00 +0100

(NaturalNews) This week's NaturalNews Talk Hour features Nicholas DiMartino, D.O., ND talking about how to "Eliminate Fatigue -- New Ways to Energize YOUR Health". Low energy is the first sign of poor health... stop the damage before it's too late. Our program runs this Thursday evening at 6pm Pacific / 9pm Eastern, and registration is FREE. Simply enter your email address in the registration form on the right column of this page and you'll receive call-in details for the broadcast.The NaturalNews Talk Hour is a behind-the-scenes, up close and personal look at the most important issues of our time. Discover what the mainstream media hasn't told you about the secrets of optimal health, freedom and the pursuit of happiness. Jonathan Landsman, host of NaturalNews Talk Hour, says "Dr. DiMartin...

Heal yourself in 15 days with the "Attitude of Gratitude" (part twelve)

NaturalNews.com — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 07:00:00 +0100

(NaturalNews) So far in this 15-day self healing series, we've talked about healing yourself through many innovative methods that help protect you from threats to your health while activating the inner healing potential you already possess. Today, in part twelve of this series, we're going to explore the power of gratitude in accelerating your healing even further.This isn't some etheric, touchy-feely self-help exercise, by the way: there is a very real healing effect that is initiated in your body when you express gratitude towards people or things outside of yourself. Some of this effect can be measured biochemically, while other aspects of it are currently beyond scientific measurement. But the bottom line is irrefutable: Expressing gratitude initiates a powerful healing effect in your ...

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Colon cancer treatment for older patients often less aggressive than recommended, study finds

UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 07:00:00 +0100

New results from a major initiative on the quality of cancer care in the United States show that patients with a common type of colon cancer, especially older patients, often do not receive the aggressive treatment with chemotherapy that research shows is associated with better survival. Led by researchers from UCLA and the RAND Corp., a nonprofit research organization, the study is among the first to track how findings from specialty research trials are applied in diverse practices in the community, where a wider variety of patients are treated. The results will appear in the March 17 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association, which is devoted to developments in cancer care. The study indicates that older patients, and to some extent youn...

Learning deficits in adolescence linked to novel brain receptor

EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:00:00 +0100

(SUNY Downstate Medical Center) Recent work published in the journal Science by Sheryl Smith, Ph.D., professor of physiology and pharmacology, and colleagues at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn shows that a novel brain receptor, alpha4-beta-delta, emerges at puberty in the hippocampus, part of the brain that controls learning and memory. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)

Mobile learning with iPhone now possible

EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:00:00 +0100

(Institute for Tropical Medicine Antwerp) Researchers at the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp, Belgium and at the Institute of Tropical Medicine Alexander von Humboldt in Lima, Peru, are the first to offer an open source code that allows the learning platform Moodle to be accessed with the iPhone. This code enables people worldwide to follow continuing medical education modules wherever and whenever they want. Starting today the demo site is open to all. The open source code will be made available after the demo phase. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)

Large-scale prediction of protein-protein interactions from structures

BMC Bioinformatics - Latest articles — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: The use of structure information for the prediction of protein interaction yields significantly better performance than other sequence-based methods. Among structure-based classifiers, the SVM algorithm, combined with the metric learning pairwise kernel and the MAMMOTH kernel, performs best in our experiments. (Source: BMC Bioinformatics - Latest articles)

Frontostriatal activation in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder before and after cognitive behavioral therapy.

Psychological Medicine — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

CONCLUSIONS: Although these findings are preliminary and need to be replicated in larger samples, they indicate a possible influence of psychotherapy on brain activity in core regions that have been shown to be directly involved both in acquisition of behavioral rules and stereotypes and in the pathophysiology of OCD, the caudate nucleus and the pallidum. PMID: 20236568 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Psychological Medicine)

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Using Machine Learning Methods to Predict Experimental High-Throughput Screening Data.

Combinatorial Chemistry and High Throughput Screening — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

In this study we consider the application of machine learning methods for predicting experimental HTS measurements. Such a virtual HTS analysis can be based on the results of real HTS campaigns carried out with similar compounds libraries and similar drug targets. In this way, we analyzed Test assay from McMaster University Data Mining and Docking Competition [1] using binary decision trees, neural networks, support vector machines (SVM), linear discriminant analysis, k-nearest neighbors and partial least squares. First, we studied separately the sets of molecular and atomic descriptors in order to establish which of them provides a better prediction. Then, the comparison of the six considered machine learning methods was made in terms of false positives and false negatives, method's sensi...

Toddlers with Elevated Autism Symptoms Show Slowed Habituation to Faces.

Child Neuropsychology — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Webb SJ, Jones EJ, Merkle K, Namkung J, Toth K, Greenson J, Murias M, Dawson G We explored social information processing and its relation to social and communicative symptoms in toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their siblings. Toddlers with more severe symptoms of autism showed slower habituation to faces than comparison groups; slower face learning correlated with poorer social skills and lower verbal ability. Unaffected toddlers who were siblings of children with ASD also showed slower habituation to faces compared with toddlers without siblings with ASD. We conclude that slower rates of face learning may be an endophenotype of ASD and is associated with more severe symptoms among affected individuals. PMID: 20301009 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (S...

Obesity Reduction Black Intervention Trial (ORBIT): 18-Month Results.

Obesity — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Fitzgibbon ML, Stolley MR, Schiffer L, Sharp LK, Singh V, Dyer A Obesity is a chronic condition that is prevalent in black women. The Obesity Reduction Black Intervention Trial (ORBIT) was a randomized controlled weight loss and weight-loss maintenance (WLM) trial. Participants (N = 213) were randomized to the intervention or control groups in August 2005 and September 2006. Follow-up data were collected 6 and 18 months after randomization. The main outcome was change in weight and BMI from baseline to 18 months. The mean weight at baseline was 104.9 kg, and the mean weight loss in the intervention group at 6 months was 3.0 kg and a gain of 0.2 kg in the control group (mean difference between groups in weight change at 6 months, adjusting for baseline weight and cohort, -3.27 ...

Editorial - Strategies for managing fibromyalgia

UroToday — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 23:05:00 +0100

BERKELEY, CA (UroToday.com) - What Can We Learn From Other... (Source: UroToday)

[Narration as a means of restoring self-coherency: Thoughts on processing traumatic experiences.]

Zeitschrift fur Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:12:02 +0100

Discussion: It is recommended that research in psychopathology and psychotherapy should take issues of language into account more systematically. PMID: 20229492 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Zeitschrift fur Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie)

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Patients' views of receiving lessons in the Alexander Technique and an exercise prescription for managing back pain in the ATEAM trial

Family Practice — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:41:56 +0100

Conclusion. Using the Alexander Technique was viewed as effective by most patients. Acceptability may have been superior to exercise because of a convincing rationale and social support and a better perceived fit with the patient's particular symptoms and lifestyle. (Source: Family Practice)

RCN Union Learning Representatives Host Motivational Day For Health Care Staff, Wales

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:00:00 +0100

The Royal College of Nursing in Wales in partnership with a local nurse from Abertawe Bro Morganwg Local Health Board has organised an event for health care staff working within the NHS and independent sector at the Aberavon Hotel, Port Talbot on Monday, 1 March, 2010. This event was sponsored by the Welsh Union Learning Fund. The event is a motivational seminar for health care staff and in the spirit of partnership, invitations have been offered to other local union members. A selection of inspirational speakers will feature throughout the day... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

RCN Union Learning Representatives Host Motivational Day For Health Care Staff, Wales

Nursing News From Medical News Today — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:00:00 +0100

End-of-Life Care in the Setting of Cancer: Withdrawing Nutrition and Hydration

Medscape Today Headlines — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:13:34 +0100

Decisions about artificial hydration and nutrition near the end of life challenge clinicians to be excellent communicators with patients and families. Learn more here. Medscape Nurses (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

UCLA medical students brace for news at residency 'Match Day'

UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:02:00 +0100

WHAT: Match Day is the fun, frenzied day when medical students nationwide learn which hospital has accepted them for residency — advanced training in their chosen specialty. At UCLA, the ceremony climaxes in a mad scramble for the envelopes, with 150 aspiring doctors tearing them open with their families and friends. Many videotape themselves and let distant loved ones listen in on cell phones during this emotional rollercoaster of an event. WHEN: Thursday, March 18 8 a.m.: Students and families arrive for check-in and breakfast. 8:30 a.m.: Welcome by Dr. Neil Parker, senior associate dean of student affairs at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. 9 a.m.: Students at UCLA (and across the country) open their envelopes. WHERE: Covel ...

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7T Seminar Series: The Rapidly Changing Brain – Of Taxi Driving Mice and Maze Running Men

Videocast - All Events — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:43:00 +0100

How does the shape of the brain change with learning? Initial studies indicated that spatial expertise - in the form of experienced Taxi drivers - enlarged the hippocampus, one of the key structures involved in spatial navigation. Whether regional growth or shrinkage in the brain can be induced with specific training administered over short time periods is, however, unknown. The talk will present results of training studies in both mice and men, including some initial investigations using histology to ascertain the cellular bases of training induced volume changes. Dr. Jason Lerch is a scientist at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. His research program is focused on how the brain changes it's shape, with activities including the MRI of learning and memory, the effect of speciali...

Chile: MSF help the population overcome fear

MSF News — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:25:00 +0100

The numerous tremors and after-shocks that followed the February 27 earthquake in Chile have added new levels of stress to an already shaken population. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has therefore made mental health care a priority in its response to the disaster. Simultaneously, as the nights grow colder and the chance of rainfall increases, MSF is speeding up its distribution of plastic sheeting and blankets for people whose homes were damaged and who are now often camping outdoors. The MSF psychological team is providing direct counselling and psychosocial workshops for various groups, and debriefings for medical staff. It is also lending support to local authorities by training volunteers who will be deployed to provide mental health care in the affected areas. Photo: © MSF I...

The Blind Side: When The One You Love Cheats

Psychology Today Relationships Center — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:20:45 +0100

Cheaters have been big news lately from Tiger Woods to John Edwards. The media asks who does it, why they do it, signs to look for, types of cheaters and is it an addiction? Although that discussion is important it tends to neglect the equally important questions of what is it like for the partner of a cheater, who are they, how do they feel, do they ever recover and how do they decide whether to stay or leave?The AwakeningJoanne discovered that her husband was having an affair in the typical way, she looked at his cell phone, called the unknown number she found and a woman answered. She hung up the phone and began to pace. The thoughts that followed were "NO, NO, NO not me, not him, not our marriage. He wouldn't." The next thought was a recollection of a moment of suspicion - or was it cl...

Enhanced student experience: an analysis of subjective evaluation and objective learning success after the transformation of a pharmaceutical physiology course

AJP: Advances in Physiology Education — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:25:21 +0100

In the present article, the reorientation of a fourth-semester physiology course for pharmacy students is described. The motivation for the introduction of changes was to prepare the students to not only assimilate facts but to learn and understand how to integrate and apply them. The article considers how this reorganization was received by the students in both subjective and objective terms. Specifically, we investigate whether our changes resulted in both an enhanced learning experience and improved learning success. The following changes were introduced to the course: first, we integrated either experimental, computer-based teaching modules or case studies in five of the eight course units to give the students the opportunity to gain more hands-on experience; second, we organized regul...

Physiology teaching and learning experience in a new modular curriculum at the National University of Rwanda

AJP: Advances in Physiology Education — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:25:21 +0100

In conclusion, the new teaching and learning style was appreciated by the students, but problems related to limited human and material resources need to be solved. (Source: AJP: Advances in Physiology Education)

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Experience with a theme-based integrated renal module for a second-year MBBS class

AJP: Advances in Physiology Education — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:25:21 +0100

In conclusion, the integrated method of curricular delivery was well received by students and faculty members, and it can be used successfully in undergraduate medical education in developing countries. (Source: AJP: Advances in Physiology Education)

Mountains and Mouse Genes

NIGMS Findings — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:00:00 +0100

Passionate about rock climbing and biostatistics, Gary Churchill studies mice at the Jackson Laboratory in Maine to learn how genes work together to influence human disease. Read more. (Source: NIGMS Findings)

Stop Criticizing Your Mate!--Or, How to Learn What You Already Know

Psychology Today Relationships Center — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:50:13 +0100

If you're married or in a committed relationship, odds are that it doesn't begin to live up to that near-idyllic time of courtship. Why? Simply because during courtship, once your partner had endeared themselves to you, you knew better than to threaten the relationship by criticizing them. And it wasn't that back then you simply couldn't find anything to criticize. True, you were focused on what you liked (or had already come to love) about them. But even when you couldn't help noticing some failing of theirs-the clothes haphazardly dropped on the floor, the frustrating tardiness, the mispronounced word or mangled phrase, the blatant misinterpretation of what you'd just told them--the positives far outweighed the negatives. So you weren't about to chance compromising the wondro...

Implications of the One Health Paradigm for Clinical Microbiology

Clinical Microbiology Newsletter — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:46:17 +0100

Abstract: Clinical microbiologists have a new and unique opportunity to increase our value to health care by broadening how we think about disease processes and asking ourselves what we can do to help resolve a disease, assist in tracking a cause, or even predict an outbreak before it occurs. Human health, animal health (both wildlife and domestic animals), and environmental health are forever bound together. The convergence of people, animals, and the environment defines the parameters of One Health and directs attention to the impact this overlap has on public health, disease detection, and control. One Health (sometimes referred to as One Medicine) is a concept that promotes, improves, and defends the health and well-being of all species through the integration of the sciences of h...

Zimmer Institute Video

Dental Implants Discussed by Experts — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 16:42:02 +0100

The Zimmer Institute promotes the very best in patient care by providing practitioners with an exceptional pathway for lifelong learning. >>Read More and Comment (Source: Dental Implants Discussed by Experts)

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On-scene victim assistance units within law enforcement agencies. - Ekman MS, Seng MJ.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:49:58 +0100

Purpose – The major purpose of this paper is the review of the administration and operation of four on-scene victim assistance units within law enforcement agencies in one Canadian and three US cities. The primary purpose is to learn how these units oper... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))

ASME: Clinical leadership conference

MEDEV Events — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:48:00 +0100

Call for workshops ASME invites submissions for parallel workshops at this one day symposium on leadership development. The deadline for submissions is Monday 4th January 2010. Workshops should be designed to promote and disseminate effective learning and teaching activities in the area of clinical leadership and management in medical and healthcare education. The primary purpose is to: * Support dissemination of good practice to a wider audience * Promote collaboration to enhance new and existing projects and partnerships * Raise awareness of new initiatives, recommendations and Government policy * Promote evaluation and high quality educational research studies including systematic review * Promote staff development through development and delivery of appropriate workshop/seminar prog...

Becoming a lecturer in initial teacher education

MEDEV Events — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:48:00 +0100

Grappling with the scholarship of learning: students as learning partners

MEDEV Events — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:48:00 +0100

In the current HE climate with the emphasis on research it is timely to also raise the profile of teaching as an aspect of university business which should have equal status with research, especially where quality teaching could be argued to enhance university activity and prestige with the CETL funding. So, in the final year of the Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning this conference will consider the concept of the 'scholarship of teaching' particularly in relation to sharing learning with students. Both MU CETLs have a wide range of experience of working with professionals as worker/ learners in different work contexts so the conference will focus upon teaching and learning from the perspective of both the learner and the teacher, considering themes around negotiated learnin...

Brain abnormalities identified that result from prenatal methamphetamine exposure

ScienceDaily Headlines — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:00:00 +0100

Children whose mothers abused methamphetamine (meth) during pregnancy show brain abnormalities that may be more severe than that of children exposed to alcohol prenatally, according to a new study. While researchers have long known that drug abuse during pregnancy can alter fetal brain development, this finding shows the potential impact of meth. Identifying vulnerable brain structures may help predict particular learning and behavioral problems in meth-exposed children. (Source: ScienceDaily Headlines)

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Learning your Vitamin A, Bs and C

The Cornflower — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:51:44 +0100

MedlinePlus, the premiere consumer health site from the U.S. National Library of Medicine, has newly updated pages on some of the basics: vitamins A, B, C, D, E & K. Check them out. B Vitamins: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bvitamins.html Vitamin A: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/vitamina.html Vitamin C: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/vitaminc.html Vitamin D: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/vitamind.html Vitamin E: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/vitamine.html Vitamin K: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/vitamink.html The primary National Institutes of Health (NIH) organization for [...] (Source: The Cornflower)

Don’t fall behind on newborn’s hearing screening

Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:17:12 +0100

by Brian Fligor, ScD, CCC-A – Director of Children’s Diagnostic Audiology Program Newborn hearing screening is likely the most important public health initiative to ever occur within the field of hearing health. It has been known for decades that permanent hearing loss, which happens in at least three of every 1,000 babies born, in newborns is the most common birth condition. The rate of hearing loss is about 10 times higher in babies who need specialized medical care in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) because they have significant medical problems that put them at risk for developing a hearing loss. Newborns hearing loss is often due to medical conditions, but it is also often caused by inherited traits from both parents, who most often have normal hearing. In fact, 90...

Identifiication Of Brain Abnormalities That Result From Prenatal Meth Exposure Could Help Diagnose Affected Children

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:00:00 +0100

Children whose mothers abused methamphetamine (meth) during pregnancy show brain abnormalities that may be more severe than that of children exposed to alcohol prenatally, according to a study in the March 17 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience. While researchers have long known that drug abuse during pregnancy can alter fetal brain development, this finding shows the potential impact of meth. Identifying vulnerable brain structures may help predict particular learning and behavioral problems in meth-exposed children... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

A Learning Algorithm to Discover Soluble Vesicle-Binding Helical Peptides

Journal of Physical Chemistry B — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 11:57:03 +0100

The Journal of Physical Chemistry B, Volume 0, Issue 0, Articles ASAP (As Soon As Publishable). (Source: Journal of Physical Chemistry B)

Smartphones get smarter with ILRT innovation

University of Bristol news — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:42:12 +0100

The University’s Institute for Learning and Research Technology (ILRT) has developed an exciting new way for students to get real-time campus information on their mobile phones. (Source: University of Bristol news)

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Angola: 200 Cuban Physicians Ready to Work

AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:15:56 +0100

At least 200 Cuban doctors are due to come to Angola in the next months, to boost assistance to population, on Tuesday here announced the ambassador to the Southern African country, Pedro Ross Leal, Angop has learnt. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)

Stroke Survivors Benefit From Robot Tuition

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:00:00 +0100

Shaking hands with a robotic arm could be a new way to help stroke patients learn to use their arms again. Researchers writing in BioMed Central's open access Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation report a pilot trial of the 'Braccio di Ferro' (Iron arm) robot in 10 patients. Elena Vergaro, from the University of Genoa, Italy, worked with a team of researchers from the Italian Institute of Technology, Genoa, to develop the robotic aid... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Stroke Survivors Benefit From Robot Tuition

IT / Internet / E-mail News From Medical News Today — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:00:00 +0100

Shaking hands with a robotic arm could be a new way to help stroke patients learn to use their arms again. Researchers writing in BioMed Central's open access Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation report a pilot trial of the 'Braccio di Ferro' (Iron arm) robot in 10 patients... (Source: IT / Internet / E-mail News From Medical News Today)

NaturalNews connects readers with premium astaxanthin and spirulina at unheard-of discount prices

NaturalNews.com — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 07:00:00 +0100

(NaturalNews) As many NaturalNews readers already know, I've been a strong advocate of the amazing super-antioxidant nutrient astaxanthin for several years. And the source I have consistently recommended is Nutrex Hawaii, the name brand of the Cyanotech corporation based on the Big Island of Hawaii.Today, thanks to the efforts of Matt Monarch from The Raw Food World (which is the actual store behind the NaturalNews store), we've been able to acquire a one-time quantity of astaxanthin, spirulina powder and spirulina tablets from Hawaii at a truly unbelievable price that means huge savings to you on these nutrients I've recommended (and used myself) for years.If you want to get in on these specials, here's the direct link: http://store.naturalnews.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=100151_1...

Using standardized patients to assess communication skills in medical and nursing students

BMC Medical Education — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: A significant proportion of both medical and nursing students required referral for enhanced training in CCS. Medical students requiring enhanced training were more likely not to have English as a first language. (Source: BMC Medical Education)

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Heterozygous deletion of a 2-Mb region including the dystroglycan gene in a patient with mild myopathy, facial hypotonia, oral-motor dyspraxia and white matter abnormalities

European Journal of Human Genetics — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Amy R Frost, Sabrina V Böhm, Raj N Sewduth, Dragana Josifova, Caroline Mackie Ogilvie, Louise Izatt & Roland G Roberts (Source: European Journal of Human Genetics)

Short-term clinical and quality-of-life outcomes in women treated by the TVT-Secur procedure

The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: On the basis of this limited study, we are hesitant to recommend the 'U' configuration of the TVT-Secur over its more established counterparts, the TVT and TVT-O. (Source: The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology)

[Neurobiology and genetics of addiction.]

Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Kiefer F Recent results on the neurobiological bases of addictive disorders allow new insights into the etiopathogenesis of addiction to be made and allow targets for new therapeutic strategies to be defined. An important advancement in the understanding of the underlying pathophysiology derives from recent research results, showing similarities between addiction and physiological neural plasticity in learning and memory. These include basic mechanisms involving dopamine, glutamate, and their cellular and molecular targets leading to drug-induced synaptic alterations in the mesolimbic reward system. Genetic factors modulate the individual vulnerability. The challenge of future research will be to generate more efficient and individualized therapies based on the insights from n...

Learning a visuomotor rotation: simultaneous visual and proprioceptive information is crucial for visuomotor remapping.

Experimental Brain Research — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Shabbott BA, Sainburg RL Visuomotor adaptation is mediated by errors between intended and sensory-detected arm positions. However, it is not clear whether visual-based errors that are shown during the course of motion lead to qualitatively different or more efficient adaptation than errors shown after movement. For instance, continuous visual feedback mediates online error corrections, which may facilitate or inhibit the adaptation process. We addressed this question by manipulating the timing of visual error information and task instructions during a visuomotor adaptation task. Subjects were exposed to a visuomotor rotation, during which they received continuous visual feedback (CF) of hand position with instructions to correct or not correct online errors, or knowledge-of-re...

Vocal mimicry in male bowerbirds: who learns from whom?

Biology Letters — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Kelley LA, Healy SD Vocal mimicry is one of the more striking aspects of avian vocalization and is widespread across songbirds. However, little is known about how mimics acquire heterospecific and environmental sounds. We investigated geographical and individual variation in the mimetic repertoires of males of a proficient mimic, the spotted bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus maculatus. Male bower owners shared more of their mimetic repertoires with neighbouring bower owners than with more distant males. However, interbower distance did not explain variation in the highly repeatable renditions given by bower owners of two commonly mimicked species. From the similarity between model and mimic vocalizations and the patterns of repertoire sharing among males, we suggest that the bowerbird...

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Alarm calls elicit predator-specific physiological responses.

Biology Letters — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: Mateo JM Glucocorticoids regulate glucose concentrations and responses to unpredictable events, while also modulating cognition. Juvenile Belding's ground squirrels (Urocitellus beldingi) learn to respond to whistle and trill alarm calls, warning of aerial and terrestrial predators, respectively, shortly after emerging from natal burrows at one month of age. Alarm calls can cause physiological reactions and arousal, and this arousal, coupled with watching adult responses, might help juveniles learn associations between calls and behavioural responses. I studied whether young show differential cortisol responses to alarm and non-alarm calls, using playbacks of U. beldingi whistles, trills, squeals (a conspecific control vocalization) and silent controls. Trills elicited very hi...

Researchers ID brain abnormalities in children exposed to methamphetamine in utero

UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:00:00 +0100

In this study, we show that the effects of prenatal meth exposure, or the combination of meth and alcohol exposure, may actually be worse, and our findings stress the importance of seeking drug-abuse treatment for pregnant women." In particular, said Sowell, a structure in the brain called the caudate nucleus, which is important for learning and memory, motor control, and punishment and reward, was one of the regions that was more reduced by methamphetamine than alcohol exposure. Of the more than 16 million Americans over the age of 12 who have used methamphetamine, about 19,000 have been pregnant women, according to 2002–04 data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. "About half of women who say they used meth during pregnancy also used alcohol," ...

Sexual Pain and Dysfunction after Cancer Treatment

Women Speak — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:57:00 +0100

Patients undergoing cancer therapy are faced with many difficult side effects and changes in their bodies. For women, a frequent but unexpected side effect of cancer therapy is painful intercourse. Painful intercourse or dyspareunia may result from physical changes in the vagina following radiation and/or surgery or a depletion of the female hormone, estrogen, which can cause vaginal dryness. Female patients receiving certain chemotherapy agents may be at risk for premature menopause due to the effect of medication(s). Women with cancers of the cervix, uterus, ovaries, or vagina/vulva may undergo radical surgery or radiation, which leads to scarring and narrowing of the vagina. During treatment, most women and physicians are concerned with their battle against cancer, and there is ra...

Sexual Pain and Dysfunction after Cancer Treatment

Women Speak — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:57:00 +0100

Afib Ablation versus Meds, Overcontrolling Rate, and More Highlights from ACC

Medscape Today Headlines — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:38:16 +0100

Learn all about today's late-breaking trials from ACC 2010 with Dr. Melissa Walton-Shirley: STOP-AF, CABANA, RACE-2, CONNECT, SORT OUT III, ISAR-TEST-2, REAL-LATE, ZEST-LATE, and more. Medscape Cardiology (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

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Children’s research part of Shang Dynasty lead poisoning documentary

Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:30:29 +0100

Alan Woolf, MD, MPH was part of a team that conducted experiments to find out if the vessels the Shang Dynasty drank from contributed to their early demise due to a combination of liquid and the materials the vessels were made from. A documentary airing on the National Geographic channel tonight – Treasure Tomb of the Warrior Queen – explores just that. Woolf took the time to answer this question for Thrive: Did lead poisoning pose a potential health risk to the nobility in the ancient Chinese Shang Dynasty? Lead-contaminated cookware, dishes and pottery have been known sources of human poisoning from antiquity to the present. Lead has been found in the skeletal remains of ancient Romans. Roman dishes, beverage containers, cooking cauldrons and the like were all heavily contam...

Can Hybrid Learning Theory Be Used to Teach Working Sonographers Breast Elastography?

Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:01:47 +0100

Hybrid learning is a combination of online learning and face-to-face sessions. This research sought to answer the question, "Can hybrid learning be used to teach working sonographers to perform breast elastography?" A hybrid course was designed titled "Breast Elastography for Working Sonographers." The course consisted of four online training modules, each complete with a posttest and one face-to-face session. After the face-to-face session lectures, participants were interviewed and observed performing elastography on a breast phantom. Results indicate that in this setting, this method for teaching working sonographers breast elastography is successful. (Source: Journal of Diagnostic Medical Sonography)

Become an Advocate for Science: Join the AIBS Legislative Action Center

Public Policy Reports — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:42:25 +0100

Quick, free, easy, effective, impactful! Join the AIBS Legislative Action Center today! The American Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) has launched the AIBS Legislative Action Center. The online resource allows biologists and science educators to quickly and effectively influence policy and public opinion. The AIBS Legislative Action Center is located at www.aibs.org/public-policy/legislativeactioncenter.html. This new tool is made possible through contributions from the Society for the Study of Evolution, American Society for Limnology and Oceanography, Association of Ecosystem Research Centers, and the Botanical Society of America. Each day lawmakers must make tough decisions about science policy. For example, what investments to make in federal research programs, biodiversity c...

Centre for Excellence in Developing Professionalism symposium: Professionalism or post-professionalism?

MEDEV Events — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:08:29 +0100

Applications must be submitted by 1st march 2010 at the latest. You are invited to attend the CEDP Symposium which will explore the current theory and practice of medical professionalism, with particular reference to the work undertaken by The Centre of Excellence for Developing Professionalism, The University of Liverpool. Since the CEDP's inception in 2006, their portfolio has developed and expanded to encompass a wide range of project strands, including; using simulation as a means of assessing professionalism, developing emotional intelligence in medical students, the assessment of higher-order thinking and critical thinking, peer appraisal of professional behaviours, the use of e-learning technologies to promote and develop professionalism, and career choice and management, to name ...

Want to be happy? Tell me about it.

Psychology Today Relationships Center — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:58:41 +0100

I'm not good with the how's-the-weather type of small talk, not too interested in talking about traffic woes or speculating about the latest consumer trends. I can do it, sure. Small-talk is an unavoidable and necessary skill for connecting with business associates and other parents at playdates. Still, at the end of these conversations I often feel anxious and wiped out.But, invite me to a small dinner party with good food and compelling conversation and I leave feeling rejuvenated and satisfied. So how does that work? How does a non-threatening conversation exhaust me while those that tend to me more emotionally risky and intellectually demanding inspire me?A new study led by psychological scientists from the University of Arizona and Washington University offers a little insight.Researc...

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Recognizing Communicative Intentions in Infancy

Mind and Language — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:42:22 +0100

I make three related proposals concerning the development of receptive communication in human infants. First, I propose that the presence of communicative intentions can be recognized in others' behaviour before the content of these intentions is accessed or inferred. Second, I claim that such recognition can be achieved by decoding specialized ostensive signals. Third, I argue on empirical bases that, by decoding ostensive signals, human infants are capable of recognizing communicative intentions addressed to them. Thus, learning about actual modes of communication benefits from, and is guided by, infants' preparedness to detect infant-directed ostensive communication. (Source: Mind and Language)

Kinematic Strategies in Newly Walking Toddlers Stepping Over Different Support Surfaces

Journal of Neurophysiology — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:19:50 +0100

In adults, locomotor movements are accommodated to various support surface conditions by means of specific anticipatory locomotor adjustments and changes in the intersegmental coordination. Here we studied the kinematic strategies of toddlers at the onset of independent walking when negotiating various support surface conditions: stepping over an obstacle, walking on an inclined surface, and on a staircase. Generally, toddlers could perform these tasks only when supported by the arm. They exhibited strategies very different from those of the adults. Although adults maintained walking speed roughly constant, toddlers markedly accelerated when walking downhill or downstairs and decelerated when walking uphill or upstairs. Their coordination pattern of thigh–shank–foot elevation a...

Neural Correlates of Sequence Encoding in Visuomotor Learning

Journal of Neurophysiology — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:19:49 +0100

To examine the neural basis of sequence learning, a fundamental but poorly understood human ability, we recorded event-related potentials (ERPs) while subjects viewed and memorized randomly directed sequences of motions for later imitation. Previously, we found that the amplitude of ERPs elicited by successive motion segments decreased as a function of each segment's serial position. This happened when subjects were required to remember the sequence, but not when they were performing a perceptual task. Here, to study the functional significance of this amplitude gradient in sequence learning, we presented each sequence several times in succession and examined changes in ERP amplitude as subjects learned the sequence through repeated observation and imitation. Behaviorally, with each repeti...

Long-Lasting Synaptic Potentiation Induced by Depolarization Under Conditions That Eliminate Detectable Ca2+ Signals

Journal of Neurophysiology — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:19:48 +0100

Activity-dependent alterations of synaptic transmission important for learning and memory are often induced by Ca2+ signals generated by depolarization. While it is widely assumed that Ca2+ is the essential transducer of depolarization into cellular plasticity, little effort has been made to test whether Ca2+-independent responses to depolarization might also induce memory-like alterations. It was recently discovered that peripheral axons of nociceptive sensory neurons in Aplysia display long-lasting hyperexcitability triggered by conditioning depolarization in the absence of Ca2+ entry (using nominally Ca2+-free solutions containing EGTA, "0Ca/EGTA") or the absence of detectable Ca2+ transients (adding BAPTA-AM, "0Ca/EGTA/BAPTA-AM"). The current study reports that depolarization of centra...