MedWorm: Economy

New Mexico First Town Hall to focus on state’s future

bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:46:53 +0100

The Centennial version of New Mexico First’s Town Hall will take place in Albuquerque March 22 to 23. The statewide public policy organization is releasing its New Mexico Progress Report this month, which focuses on education, the economy, health and energy. Heather Balas, NM First’s president and executive director, said it most likely will inform much of the town hall, which will ask participants to develop their best public policy ideas for the future of New Mexico. During the two-day gathering, participants will explore the state’s strength’s and weaknesses, its opportunities and threats, and identify urgent needs that will have the greatest influence on the future of the state, according to the organization’s news release... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician P...

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New Guidelines Debunk 'Economy Class Syndrome'

WebMD Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:20:22 +0100

New guidelines debunk evidence to support the existence of an “economy class syndrome” -- the idea that passengers in the cheaper seats with the least leg room have an elevated risk for developing deep vein blood clots. (Source: WebMD Health)

Is Economy Class Air Travel Linked To Blood Clot Risk? Apparently Not

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:00:00 +0100

"Economy Class Syndrome" is a myth, your risk of developing a blood clot during a long-distance economy trip by plane is not higher than in first class, researchers report in an article published in Chest. The American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) has issued new evidence-based guidelines which address some of the risk factors linked to DVT (deep vein thrombosis) - it says that there is no compelling evidence linking economy class air travel to the development of DVT... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Avoid Window Seats to Cut Risk for In-Flight Blood Clots: Study

The Doctors Lounge - Cardiology — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:00:00 +0100

Experts say DVTs can strike any immobilized passenger, not just those in economy class (Source: The Doctors Lounge - Cardiology)

Avoid Window Seats to Cut Risk for In-Flight Blood Clots

MedlinePlus Health News — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:00:00 +0100

Experts say DVTs can strike any immobilized passenger, not just those in economy class Source: HealthDay Related MedlinePlus Pages: Deep Vein Thrombosis, Traveler's Health (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)

No greater risk of blood clots from flying economy class

USATODAY.com Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:08:13 +0100

New guidelines offer a short list of those at highest risk for blood clots and refute the notion that people flying economy class are at a greater ... (Source: USATODAY.com Health)

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New DVT guidelines: No evidence to support 'economy class syndrome'

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(American College of Chest Physicians) New evidence-based guidelines from the American College of Chest Physicians address the many risk factors for developing a deep vein thrombosis, or blood clot, as the result of long-distance travel. These risk factors include the use of oral contraceptives, sitting in a window seat, advanced age, and pregnancy. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

UCSF study: Boosting cigarette tax could bolster California economy by $2 billion

bizjournals.com Health Care:Hospitals headlines — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 22:51:45 +0100

A June 5 ballot initiative designed to boost the tax on cigarettes by $1 a pack could create 12,000 new permanent jobs right away and add nearly $2 billion in economic activity in the Golden State annually, according to a new study by UC San Francisco. The positive impacts would come, UCSF says, because “Californians would smoke less and spend their money in other ways.” Roughly 4 dollars in every 5 spent on cigarettes goes to out-of-state manufacturers and farmers, since no tobacco is grown here and no cigarettes are made here... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Hospitals headlines)

Let the country, not the City, drive the UK economy | Colin Tudge

Guardian Unlimited Science — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:02:51 +0100

In one Oxfordshire village, an idea is gathering traction: that it's time for a new agricultural revolutionOxford city council has decided that we need more houses and jobs – not least in my own village of Wolvercote, to the north-west of the city. Under the coalition's neighbourhood development order (part of the localism bill) we, the yokels, the ordinary Joes, have some say in what should be done.So now we plot and ponder in the village hall – and we are witnessing what I hope will prove to be a seismic shift in public mood, in the economy, and in the balance of power. For more and more people are beginning to feel that "development" shouldn't mean more of the same – more city-bound jobs and city-sprawl. Instead what we need is an agrarian renaissance: small-scale farming, includi...

Big jolt to state economy with new tax on cigarettes

EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(University of California - San Francisco) A new UCSF analysis has found that a state ballot initiative to increase the cigarette tax would create about 12,000 jobs and nearly $2 billion in new economic activity in California. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)

Slide show: Top 10 regional conventions and trade shows in Seattle

bizjournals.com Health Care:Hospitals headlines — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 07:43:05 +0100

Conventions and trade shows impact the Puget Sound area economy to the tune of millions of dollars — and they attract millions of enthusiastic attendees from the region, nation and the world. Some of the more colorful events include the Northwest Flower & Garden Show and two conventions that welcome legions of costume-clad comics fans: Emerald City ComiCon and Sakura-Con. Other exhibitions cater to prospective college students, motorcycle lovers, and engaged couples planning weddings. The Puget Sound Business Journal has compiled a list of the top 24 regional conventions and trade shows staged at the Washington State Convention Center in 2011... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Hospitals headlines)

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White House Begins to Map Course toward Bio-Based Economy

Washington Watch — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:26:34 +0100

Politicians and pundits clogged the airwaves last year with rhetoric about the state of the nation's economy. Amid this noise, a few economic policy initiatives did begin to take shape. For instance, last fall, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) issued a request for comments on a draft policy to stimulate the bioeconomy. Scientists have long asserted that research is an investment that yields economic prosperity. A growing number of scientists and engineers have more recently advised that the biological sciences are poised to inspire transformative discoveries that can solve persistent problems while stimulating new economic opportunities. Indeed, in 2009, the National Research Council (NRC) released a 112-page report, A New Biology for the 21st Century: Ensuri...

Febuary eFactor

Environmental Factor - NIEHS Newsletter — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:31:33 +0100

Weis addresses industrial hygiene group on mineral fibers LST fellow makes a move from lab bench to global health Former NIEHS staff fellow named vice chancellor Staffers and trainees gain toxicology certification NIH turns 125 Public health officials work to keep research first during a tough economy Prins honored by University of Illinois at Chicago NIEHS Public Interest Partner honored Superfund promotes safe drinking water at Agua Fria Festival Registration is underway for NIEHS and HHS national research conference NTP toxicologist Kamal Abdo remembered Minisymposium brings epigenetic experts to NIEHS BPA researchers meet for updates and assessment Women's health takes the spotlight Study estimates millions have autoantibodies that target their own tissues Fry maps arsen...

The Worth of the Rural 'Creative Economy'

News stories via the Rural Assistance Center — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:52:04 +0100

Daily Yonder article tells how from the Blues Trail through the Delta to the Walter Anderson Museum on the Gulf Coast, rural Mississippi's economy is buoyed by what they call the "creative economy." (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)

U.S. Economy Adds 243,000 Jobs, Unemployment Rate Falls to 8.3 Percent

Arkansas Business - Health Care — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:33:27 +0100

The U.S. economy added 243,000 jobs and the unemployment rate fell to 8.3 percent in January, according to a report Friday by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Source: Arkansas Business - Health Care)

Health Insurance Stocks For a Republican Win

Forbes.com Healthcare News — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 12:16:03 +0100

Investors busy assessing how the state of the global economy will affect their stock portfolios should start thinking about how the presidential race will weigh in. In particular, investors may want to look at how to play the health insurance space. Health care remains a subject of divide between the two parties, with Republicans trying to repeal Obama's nationwide health care reform since 2010. And, while it is unlikely they can overturn the entire law, they can certainly chip away at parts of it. Related Links (Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News)

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Obama's economic policies have created a nation of jobless citizens dependent on government handouts

NaturalNews.com — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0100

It's no secret that the U.S. national debt is poised to increase by more than $6 trillion during President Obama's first four years in office. All of this additional spending, he has often said, was needed to "stimulate the economy", curtail unemployment and get Americans... (Source: NaturalNews.com)

Reflections on having children in the future-interviews with highly educated women and men without children.

Upsala Journal of Medical Sciences — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion. Highly educated women and men reflect on various factors when considering family planning. Being of reasonable age and having good living conditions, in particular a sound personal economy, were important. Given their goals, it is not surprising that many postpone parenthood until ages when female reproductive capacity is decreased. PMID: 22300332 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Upsala Journal of Medical Sciences)

The Epidemiology of Finding a Dead Body: Reports from Inner-City Baltimore, Maryland US.

Community Mental Health Journal — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Latkin C, Yang C, Ehrhardt B, Hulbert A Abstract In the US, there are no national statistics on encountering a dead body, which can be viewed as a measure of community health and a stressful life event. Participants for an HIV prevention intervention targeting drug users were recruited in areas of inner-city Baltimore, Maryland. Nine hundred and fifty-one respondents, most with a history of drug use, were asked "have you ever found a dead body?" and 17.0% reported they had. Leading causes of death were: violence (37%), natural causes (22.2%), drug overdose (21.6%), accidental death (3.1%), and suicide (2.5%). In multivariate logistic models, respondents with longer history of drug use and more roles in a drug economy were more likely to be exposed to a dead body. The study...

[Reporting of work-related mental health].

Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

This article deals with the mental health of employees from ten different companies. These data show that almost 1 in 5 employees rate their mental well-being as poor. Most notably, women with lower status in the services sector are affected. Those who are temporarily in a bad mood are often affected by strong physical complaints and tend to assess the quality of their work as rather poor. Moreover, the data from 3,349 employees show that the extent of social capital of an organization highly correlates with the mental well-being of their employees. Our results show that work-related stress factors and (psychological) illnesses can be detected and prevented more often if the influence of social parameters on mental well-being are taken into consideration. PMID: 22290163 [PubMed - in ...

How to fix Medicare, Redux

Forbes.com Healthcare News — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:39:24 +0100

The Republican Presidential primary’s shift down south to Florida has brought discussions of healthcare, particularly Medicare, back to the forefront of the national discourse. With its struggling economy and sizeable elderly population, social welfare programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security are top of mind to Florida voters. (Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News)

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Under pressure? Tips on how to deal with stress

Daily Express - Health — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0100

WHETHER it's the grey skies, the huge credit card bill that has just landed on the doormat or fears over the economy and job security that are to blame, it is little wonder our stress levels are soaring. According to the mental health charity Mind millions of Britons are sufferers. (Source: Daily Express - Health)

Who came up with the model for excessive pay? No, it wasn't the bankers – it was academics | Aditya Chakrabortty

Guardian Unlimited Science — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 20:30:01 +0100

All the focus has been on bankers' bonuses, yet no one has looked at the economists who argued for rewarding bosses by giving them a bigger financial stake in their companiesTake a big step back. Ignore those sterile debates about how Dave screwed up over Stephen Hester's pay and where this leaves Ed. Instead, ask this: which profession has done most to justify the millions handed over to the boss of RBS, his colleagues and counterparts? Which group has been most influential in making the argument that top people deserve top pay? Not the executives themselves – at least, not directly. Nor the headhunters. Try the economists.The ground rules for the system by which City bankers, Westminster MPs and ordinary taxpayers live today were set by two US economists just a couple of decades ago. I...

Status of occupational health and safety in Iran. - Vigeh M, Mazaheri M, Seyedaghamiri Z.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:32:08 +0100

In recent decades, Iran has had a steadily growing economy with an annual rate of 6% on average. The country's economy is dominantly influenced by oil and natural gas production and related industries like petrochemicals and fertilizers. There are two mill... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))

Bystander Reaction to Women Fighting: Developing a Theory of Intervention. - Lowe RD, Levine M, Best RM, Heim D.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:32:08 +0100

This article explores accounts of bystanders to female-on-female public violence. Group interviews with participants in the night-time economy are carried out. Whereas men tend to respond to the discussion topic of female-on-female violence with laughter, ... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))

The Florida Republican primary: a basket case of sick puppies | Carl Hiaasen

Guardian Unlimited Science — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:07:10 +0100

This article was first published by the Miami Herald, and is reproduced by permissionFloridaRepublican presidential nomination 2012RepublicansBarack ObamaNewt GingrichMitt RomneyUS politicsUnited StatesCubaFidel CastroNasaUS economyCarl Hiaasenguardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds (Source: Guardian Unlimited Science)

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Young talent, the internet and the labour market of the "creative economy"

Psicologia e Sociedade — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 08:36:33 +0100

Cada vez mais jovens fazem sucesso no mundo "real" a partir da exposição de seus talentos na Internet. Este é um fenômeno inédito do qual o presente artigo oferece uma análise inicial. Tendo em vista que encarar tais sucessos exclusivamente como iniciativas individuais bem-sucedidas não é suficiente para explicar seu crescente número, torna-se necessária outra abordagem. Neste artigo é proposto o esboço de uma integração teórica que envolve áreas tradicionalmente distintas em cuja interseção o novo fenômeno se insere: as da economia de mercado, da criatividade e das tecnologias digitais. Nesse esboço, a concepção de economia criativa atua como o elemento articulador dessas três áreas, dado que atribui à criatividade o papel de sua força motriz e às tecnologias di...

Down Economy, Poor Mental Health

Sound Medicine — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

A slow economy affects families in multiple ways. Gustavo Carlo, PhD, of the University of Missouri, studies how financial uncertainty affects family relationships. Dr. Carlo explains that parents with financial problems are prone to depression, making them less effective parents. Carlo is the Millsap Professor of Diversity at the University of Missouri Department of Human Development and .... (Source: Sound Medicine)

[This Week in Medicine] January 28–February 3, 2012

LANCET — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

At the end of 2011, China's urban population overtook its rural population for the first time. The National Bureau of Statistics reports that 51·3% of the country's 1·35 billion people now live in cities. For an economy at China's stage of development, this ratio is still low, possibly due to past constraints on free movement. (Source: LANCET)

South Africa: HIV-Related Deaths Slow Economy

AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 17:21:40 +0100

IPS (Johannesburg)-If there was no HIV/AIDS, South Africa would have 4.4 million more people than today, the size of a major city. This significant slow-down in population growth is causing a slow down in economic growth and resulting in social ills, researchers warn. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)

HEALTH-SOUTH AFRICA: HIV-Related Deaths Slow Economy

IPS Inter Press Service - HIV/AIDS — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:17:00 +0100

If there was no HIV/AIDS, South Africa would have 4.4 million more people than today, the size of a major city. This significant slow-down in population growth is causing a slow down in economic growth and resulting in social ills, researchers warn. (Source: IPS Inter Press Service - HIV/AIDS)

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Chicago News Cooperative: Cook County Tracks High Rate of Sick Leave for Workers

NYT Health — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:48:04 +0100

On average last fiscal year, each Cook County employee took 6.64 hours of paid sick leave a month, compared with 3.6 hours a month for state and local government workers nationally. (Source: NYT Health)

As economy implodes and households seek cheaper food, McDonald's profits soar

NaturalNews.com — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:00:00 +0100

When times get tough, many people cope by flocking to their favorite "comfort" foods that make them feel good, and that are perceived as being affordable. And this appears to be precisely why fast food giant McDonald's has posted record revenues for this past year, according... (Source: NaturalNews.com)

Political and social determinants of life expectancy in less developed countries: a longitudinal study

BMC Public Health - Latest articles — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 03:50:23 +0100

Conclusions: Though the effect of democratic politics on increasing life expectancy was relatively small in the short term when compared to the effects of the other socioeconomic factors, the long-term impact of democracy should not be underestimated. (Source: BMC Public Health - Latest articles)

The Power to Be Me

Psychology Today Personality Center — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:07:24 +0100

We certainly have a wealth of anecdotes about what having power does to people: Power has led political figures like Herman Cain (allegedly) and John Edwards to engage in adultery, facilitated unethical financial practices on Wall Street, and contributed to some of the most overconfident moments in our nation's history.read more (Source: Psychology Today Personality Center)

Comparison of anemia between pregnant and non-pregnant adolescents in the Gaza Strip

Journal of Public Health — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:45:37 +0100

Conclusion Approximately one of three female students in the studied group was diagnosed as anemic. The study showed that anemia existed among female students before conception, and pregnancy did not increase anemia in adolescents, which is partly due to the different WHO standards. This data shows the need for a public health program concerning prevention. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original ArticlePages 1-7DOI 10.1007/s10389-012-0489-8Authors Amin Hamad, Al-Azhar University, Gaza, Palestinian National AuthorityMarwan O. Jalambo, Ministry of National Economy, Gaza, Palestinian National AuthorityYehia Abed, Al-Quds University, Al-Quds, Israel Journal Journal of Public HealthOnline ISSN 1613-2238Print ISSN 0943-1853 (Source: Journal of Public Health)

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European Commission proposes online reforms

Hospital IT Europe — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:38:00 +0100

Data protection rules to strengthen online privacy rights and boost Europe's digital economy (Source: Hospital IT Europe)

Commentary in Nature: Can economy bear what oil prices have in store?

EurekAlert! - Biology — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(University of Washington) The economic pain of a flattening oil supply will trump the environment as a reason to curb the use of fossil fuels, say two scientists, one from the University of Washington and one from the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, in the Jan. 26 issue of the journal Nature. (Source: EurekAlert! - Biology)

Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up

Red Cross Chat — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:36:22 +0100

This Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up is courtesy of Scott Waggoner, from Cross Blog: Award-winning Red Cross news and views from Oregon and beyond Welcome to the Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up, in which we consolidate the international Red Cross and Red Crescent news into one list of bite-sized links for you. It’s a non-comprehensive sampling of the larger and/or more intriguing aspects of our global work… SYRIA: Violence in Syria continues with one of the latest casualties being the secretary-general of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, Dr. Abd-al-Razzaq Jbeiro. Dr. Jbeiro was shot in a vehicle clearly marked with the red crescent emblem after attending meetings at Syrian Arab Red Crescent headquarters in Damascus. The Syrian Arab Red Crescent, IFRC, and ICRC are renewing calls for an e...

Too Much Overtime May Raise Depression Risk

WebMD Health — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 22:06:34 +0100

Eleven hour days may seem like the norm at work in this economy, but regularly logging long days can make employees more than twice as likely to develop depression. (Source: WebMD Health)

Industry mergers and acquisitions barreling along into 2012

CMIO.net: The News Weekly for Health IT Executives — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 11:25:50 +0100

If mergers and acquisitions are signs of health within a given industry, the healthcare products-and-services sector is in fighting condition despite a punishing economy; and the medical device segment is leading the way. (Source: CMIO.net: The News Weekly for Health IT Executives)

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Young Americans recognize the impact of innovation on US economy according to survey

EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Lemelson-MIT Program) The 2012 Lemelson-MIT Invention Index indicates that young Americans are acutely aware of the importance of invention and innovation in their personal lives, and within the context of the nation's economy. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)

Clean Up World Seas to Boost Economy, UN Body Says

Scientific American - Official RSS Feed — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:01:00 +0100

By Nina Chestney LONDON (Reuters) - Cleaner and better-managed seas and coasts would help boost economic growth and reduce poverty and pollution, a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report said on Wednesday. The report, produced with several other U.N. [More] (Source: Scientific American - Official RSS Feed)

No Mention of Health Care in White House's State of the Union Talking Points

Forbes.com Healthcare News — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:54:15 +0100

This morning, the White House put out their talking points for President Obama’s State of the Union address, which is taking place tonight. According to the memo, the President will “lay out a blueprint for an economy built on American manufacturing, American energy, skills for American workers, and a renewal of American values.” Remarkably, the memo makes no mention of health care: neither the President’s signature legislative achievement, nor his thoughts on entitlement reform. (Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News)

“Short-termism” hindering efforts to meet Nicholson Challenge

OnMedica Latest News — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

MPs warn NHS reforms and “salami-slicing” of services getting in the way of service redesignRelated items from OnMedicaStaff will drive NHS forward, says NicholsonSir David Nicholson casts doubt on timetable of move to GP consortiaBMA leader slams market economy for healthBMA demands Bill’s drastic revision or withdrawalPublic health experts urge Lords to scrap Health Bill (Source: OnMedica Latest News)

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Interpolity exchange of basalt tools facilitated via elite control in Hawaiian archaic states [Anthropology]

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Ethnohistoric accounts of late precontact Hawaiian archaic states emphasize the independence of chiefly controlled territories (ahupua‘a) based on an agricultural, staple economy. However, elite control of unevenly distributed resources, such as high-quality volcanic rock for adze production, may have provided an alternative source of economic power. To test this hypothesis we used nondestructive energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) analysis of 328 lithic artifacts from 36 archaeological features in the Kahikinui district, Maui Island, to geochemically characterize the source groups. This process was followed by a limited sampling using destructive wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WD-XRF) analysis to more precisely characterize certain nonlocal source groups. Seventeen ...

The Secret of Credit

Psychology Today Work Center — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:03:07 +0100

Trust Is the Glue . . . Most of us view trust as valuable and desirable, something that improves the quality of our personal lives. We seldom take the next step and view it as indispensable, a vital ingredient in society — and in the economy. read more (Source: Psychology Today Work Center)

Opinionator: What We Give Up for Health Care

NYT Health — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 22:41:04 +0100

If liberals care about middle-class salaries, public education and other state-funded services, they need to care about controlling health care costs as much as conservatives do. (Source: NYT Health)

INDIA: Advancing Economy Reveals a Hungry Underbelly

IPS Inter Press Service - Health — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 03:26:00 +0100

Even a year after Rani, a three-year-old tribal girl in the backward Wayanad district of southern Kerala state, was treated in a government hospital for gastroenteritis she remains grossly underweight and suffers from frequent bouts of diarrhoea. (Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health)

Nursing Salary Trends: Where the Money Will Be in 2012 (and Beyond)

NurseZone.com Nursing News — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 02:23:50 +0100

January 18, 2012 - With the economy improving and an anticipated greater demand for experienced nurses, salaries are inching up, especially for in-demand specialties. (Source: NurseZone.com Nursing News)

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ALCTS webinar: The Black, White, and Gray Areas of Licensing: a review and update for librarians and publishers

Midcontinental Region News — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 21:43:38 +0100

Date: February 29, 2012 All webinars are one hour in length and begin at 11am Pacific, noon Mountain, 1pm Central, and 2pm Eastern time. Description: Building on a preconference offered at ALA Annual 2010 entitled “Taming the Licensing Tiger,” the presenters will carry on the conversation around library licensing issues and answer questions submitted in advance by attendees. Using an interactive approach employing chat, audience polling and pre-submitted questions, the presenters will cover hot topics and current challenges facing libraries in licensing digital content. The presenters represent the viewpoints of a publisher (Robert Boissy), an academic library (Becky Albitz) and a consortium (Tracy Thompson-Przylucki). Participants will be asked to submit questions upon registration. L...

The Key to Self-Esteem? Accomplishment.

Psychology Today Personality Center — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:15:38 +0100

A fisherman wants to catch his own fish, not be handed one. If you want self esteem, do estimable things.read more (Source: Psychology Today Personality Center)

Medical sanity - and a call for natural healing success stories

NaturalNews.com — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:00:00 +0100

I have written miles on pharmaceutical terrorism and medical insanity so naturally I am very happy that I developed a system of medicine that serves humankind more effectively than traditional allopathic pharmaceutically based medicine. When the world economy collapses... (Source: NaturalNews.com)

An overview of evidence-based management of hepatocellular carcinoma: A meta-analysis

Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: RFA should be the first-line treatment in patients with a single small HCC tumor ≤ 3 cm. Careful patient selection is crucial prior to transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), as the procedure may be associated with an increased risk of liver failure. Tamoxifen has no role to play in the treatment of HCC. Sorafenib should be the first-line treatment in patients with advanced and inoperable HCC. The role of Sorafenib in the management of early stage HCC remains to be determined. (Source: Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics)

Walker returns federal health exchange grant

bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:33:19 +0100

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker announced he will not pursue the implementation of a health insurance exchange and has turned down $38 million Early Innovator Grant funding from the federal government. Walker also announced Wednesday he will repeal the executive order that created the Office of Free Market Health Care created by Gov. Jim Doyle. “Stopping the encroachment of ObamaCare in our state, which has the potential to have a devastating impact on Wisconsin’s economy, is a top priority," Walker said... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)

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Short Takes

Public Policy Reports — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:12:42 +0100

Dr. Paul Anastas will step down as assistant administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Research and Development in mid-February, after leading the program for two years. Anastas plans to return to Yale University, where he previously led its Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering. A recent survey by Research!America indicates increasing public support for health research. Most people surveyed (91 percent) feel that research is important to their state's economy. However, 77 percent of respondents fear that the United States is losing its competitive edge in science. Read the report at http://www.researchamerica.org/uploads/AmericaSpeaksV12.pdf. Five federal agencies have developed a pilot website to highlight science and technology careers in the federal go...

Meeting the Grand Challenge for Industrial Biotechnology: Policies to Create a Biobased Economy

Industrial Biotechnology — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:57:18 +0100

Industrial Biotechnology Dec 2011, Vol. 7, No. 6: 414-417. (Source: Industrial Biotechnology)

RSC statement on Shell research centre closure at Thornton

RSC News — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:45:14 +0100

How can a vision for a high-tech future British economy be justified? (Source: RSC News)

A Win-Win: Job Creation Will Grow the Economy and Improve Health [OPINION]

RWJF News Digest - Public Health — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

The current economic recovery effort presents an opportunity to build stronger, healthier communities. That’s a central goal for the Create Jobs for USA Fund that Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) and Starbucks launched late last year to support job creation and retention. (Source: RWJF News Digest - Public Health)

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Psychoactive substances and the political ecology of mental distress

Harm Reduction Journal — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

The goal of this paper is to both understand and depathologize clinically significant mental distress related to criminalized contact with psychoactive biotic substances by employing a framework known as critical political ecology of health and disease from the subdiscipline of medical geography. The political ecology of disease framework joins disease ecology with the power-calculus of political economy and calls for situating health-related phenomena in their broad social and economic context, demonstrating how large-scale global processes are at work at the local level, and giving due attention to historical analysis in understanding the relevant human-environment relations. Critical approaches to the political ecology of health and disease have the potential to incorporate ever-broaden...

Will Burnout Spark the Next Economic Boom?

Psychology Today Work Center — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:58:15 +0100

read more (Source: Psychology Today Work Center)

EDUCATION: Breezing Along with the RML -Wed. January 18, 2012 10:00 Mountain Time, 11:00 Central Time

Midcontinental Region News — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:54:13 +0100

Our first monthly update in 2012 from the MidContinental Region… 1) Join Jean Shipman, Director of the MidContinental Region and NLM Training Center, NNLM, as she guides an exploration and discussion into potential futures for health sciences librarians and thus libraries. Just what will we be doing in 2022 and how will we get there? What changes are on the horizon and how can we continue to adapt to or shape our future? Curious minds want to know! AND 2) The economy may be in a downturn, but your RML is still offering financial opportunities to improve your service and show your value. Claire Hamasu, Associate Director, will describe these opportunities and answer your questions. You have 4 months left to apply! URL: https://webmeeting.nih.gov/mcr/ Equipment: connec...

Cardiovascular health, risks and diseases in contemporary China

International Journal of Cardiology — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:06:39 +0100

Whereas China in recent years is rapidly prospering economically to become the world's second-largest economy after the United States, the cardiovascular health of the Chinese people has deteriorated significantly over the past several decades . The China Multicenter Collaboration Study of Cardiovascular Epidemiology indicated in 2007 that cardiovascular disease was the major cause of death for both men and women . At present, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in China . Because China contributes to one fifth of the world population, this alarming situation becomes a major issue of global concern, to which this article is addressed. (Source: International Journal of Cardiology)

Impact of the Economic Downturn on Nursing SchoolsImpact of the Economic Downturn on Nursing Schools

Medscape Today Headlines — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 04:00:00 +0100

How much and in what ways does the overall economy really impact nursing education? Nursing Economics (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)

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Is Stephen Hawking's voice music to the ears?

Guardian Unlimited Science — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:00:00 +0100

People just don't like voice synthesisers that sound too realistic, say researchersStephen Hawking celebrated his 70th birthday earlier this month with a public symposium at Cambridge University attended by some of the world's most eminent physicists. Although illness prevented him from being there in person, the audience was treated to an inspiring address delivered in the idiosyncratic computer-generated voice that has become his trademark.As well as being the world's most famous living scientist, Hawking is probably the best-known user of speech-synthesis technology, which enables those who have lost their voices through illness or disability to communicate verbally. His progressive motor neurone disease has meant that he has needed to rely on the technology since the mid-80s and t...

Emergency department volume rises as office visits fall

American Medical News - BUSINESS — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:00:00 +0100

The economy is blamed for driving patients to the ED and away from doctors' offices. Visits went up a record 10% from 2008 to 2009. (Source: American Medical News - BUSINESS)

Tiger-Consulting: There's No Time Like the Present for U.S. and...

PRWeb: Medical Pharmaceuticals — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 17:41:50 +0100

HR and Payroll Outsource Firm Helps Western Companies to Join, Take Advantage of Thriving Asia Economy, Which is Well-Positioned for Continued Growth in 2012(PRWeb January 12, 2012)Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/1/prweb9095432.htm (Source: PRWeb: Medical Pharmaceuticals)

Working During Treatment For Depression Can Increase Work Productivity

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:00:00 +0100

A new study from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) has found that employees with depression who receive treatment while still working are significantly more likely to be highly productive than those who do not. This is the first study of its kind to look into a possible correlation between treatment and productivity. The study is particularly significant at a time when the Canadian economy continues to face uncertainty. Mental illness costs the Canadian economy an estimated $51 billion annually, with a third of that attributed to productivity losses... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Health Spending Held Down by Recession

NYT — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:04:58 +0100

The economic downturn reined in the growth of health spending as many people lost jobs, income and health insurance, the government said in a report. (Source: NYT)

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Doctors Unenthusiastic About Obamacare Geeks

ICMCC: The International Council on Medical and Care Compunetics — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:39:27 +0100

Source: Michael Koriwchak, Healthcare Talent Transformation Content: “Despite the success of information technology (IT) in transforming many parts of the economy, the health care sector has proven itself immune to the seduction of smart phones and iPads. This is puzzling at first glance. It is certainly not due to any shortage of health [...] (Source: ICMCC: The International Council on Medical and Care Compunetics)

Report advises collaboration between doctors and community pharmacists to improve pain management

NeLM - News — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Source: BMJ Area: News BMJ news features a story on a report published by the UCL School of Pharmacy and the UK Clinical Pharmacy Association (UKCPA) which suggests that GP practices should work with community pharmacists to provide better pain management for their patients because it could cut GP workload, take the strain off hospital services, and reduce the financial impact on the UK economy. Examples of improved pharmacy services highlighted in the report include: . Increasing the use of structured pain assessments in the community; . Using specialised independent pharmacist prescribers to run weekly or monthly pain clinics . Providing self care support, including better protection against the harmful or ineffective use of 'minor' analgesics and informing...

Predictors of Unintended Pregnancy in Kersa, Eastern Ethiopia, 2010.

Reproductive Health — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: The economy of the family, parity, and walking distance to the nearest health care institution are strong predictors of unintended pregnancy. In order to reduce the high rate of unintended pregnancy Efforts to reach rural women with family planning services should be strengthened. (Source: Reproductive Health)

U.S. Death Rate from Homicide Drops to a Near 50-Year Low

RWJF News Digest - Public Health — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Things weren’t so hot for the American economy and a lot else in 2010, but for the health of the American people, it was a pretty good year. Life expectancy improved, mortality rates fell for all five leading causes of death, and the homicide rate was as low as it has been in almost 50 years, according to data released Wednesday. (Source: RWJF News Digest - Public Health)

Population Trends in Rural Downstate Illinois

Rural publications via the Rural Assistance Center — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:14:33 +0100

Examines trends impacting the Illinois economy, including employment and economic activity in rural areas, wages and regulations, loss of manufacturing in rural communities, and losses in retail employment and construction. -- Illinois Institute for Rural Affairs (Source: Rural publications via the Rural Assistance Center)

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Philips warns on fourth-quarter profits

FT.com - Drugs and Healthcare — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:25:28 +0100

The Dutch electronics manufacturer warned that the worsening economy in Europe would drag down fourth quarter profits (Source: FT.com - Drugs and Healthcare)

Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces Blueprint for Stronger Service to Increase Efficiency in USDA Operations

News stories via the Rural Assistance Center — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 06:00:00 +0100

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) must be built to meet the evolving needs of a 21st century agricultural economy, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said Monday in presenting USDA's Blueprint for Stronger Service, a plan that helps producers continue to drive America's economy by streamlining operations and cutting costs. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)

Canadian province cuts university research money

Physics Today News Picks — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Toronto Star: The Ontario government has cut Can$42 million in university research grants from its budget in order to meet “current fiscal challenges.” The money would have been used to support research in such areas as clean technologies and the bio-economy. In addition, soon after winning the 6 October election, Premier Dalton McGuinty downsized his cabinet and folded the ministry of research and innovation into the ministry of economic development. “We are in an era now of prioritization and rationalization,” said Economic Development Minister Brad Duguid. Ironically, McGuinty has also launched a 30% tuition rebate, totaling Can$423 million, for community college and undergraduate university students. (Source: Physics Today News Picks)

Brain organization: wiring economy works for the large and small.

Current Biology — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Stevens CF Abstract The highest-resolution test to date of the wire minimization hypothesis has found that this principle works well for brain regions with a volume just over 400 μm(3). What is the wire minimization hypothesis, and why should anyone care about it? PMID: 22240476 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Current Biology)

Weak Economy Curbs Health Spending

WSJ.com: Health — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 01:27:37 +0100

Growth in health spending was near a historic low of 3.9% in 2010 as the weak economy prompted people to cut back on medical care, according to data released by federal analysts. (Source: WSJ.com: Health)

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Matrix School of Dental Assisting starts classes

bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:56:46 +0100

The Matrix School of Dental Assisting will open its doors Jan. 31 at 4200 Wyoming Blvd. NE in Albuquerque. The school said it offers a condensed, hands-on curriculum that allows students to earn degrees in 14 weeks for $3,739 plus tax. That’s less than half the cost of comparable programs in the Albuquerque area, said Cherri Carolus, a professional dental assistant and the school’s co-founder, in a news release. “In this economy, today’s students, whether recent high school graduate or an experienced worker looking for a different career option, can’t spend upwards of $14,000 on a seven to 10-month program,” Carolus said... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Biotechnology headlines)

Mining Industry Contests Grand Canyon Moratorium

NPR Health and Science — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:00:00 +0100

The U.S. Department of the Interior is placing a 20-year moratorium on new mining claims in and around the Grand Canyon. Environmentalists say the ban is crucial to protecting the region. However, the mining industry and some Republicans say the moratorium will be harmful to Arizona's economy and the nation's energy independence.» E-Mail This » Add to Del.icio.us (Source: NPR Health and Science)

Interior Announces Grand Canyon Mining Moratorium

NPR Health and Science — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:00:00 +0100

Weak Economy Curbs U.S. Health Spending

RWJF News Digest - Public Health — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reports that total health spending in the U.S. increased by 3.9 percent in 2010, just a notch above the slowest rate since the government started keeping track — 3.8 percent in 2009. (Source: RWJF News Digest - Public Health)

The Effect of Herbal Medications on Thyroid Hormone Economy and Estrogen-Sensitive Hepatic Proteins in a Patient With Prostate Cancer [Clinical Observation]

Archives of Internal Medicine — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Source: Archives of Internal Medicine)

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On Euthanasia, Resistance, and Redemption: The Moralities and Politics of a Hospice

Qualitative Health Research — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Euthanasia/assisted dying, the desire to hasten death, and religious supportive care at the end of life are controversial issues that have been heavily debated within the academic and medical communities. Little research has been done on hospice patients’ views, despite hospices being political spaces, espousing a range of perspectives on assisted dying, religiosity, and "good deaths." In this article I document the presence, articulation, and significance of these issues as perceived and experienced by 20 hospice inpatients in the last 4 weeks of their lives. Key themes to emerge included polarization in desire for hastened death and assisted dying in the hospice; the hospice as a morally bound space situated within particular notions of "dying well"; and the divisive character of r...

[Comment] Innovating for every woman and every child

LANCET — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

This is a transformational time in global development. Dramatic changes in the economic outlook in many parts of the world, with stagnation in high-income countries and rapid growth in low-income and middle-income countries, are forcing us to reconsider long held assumptions about development. At the same time, new technology and business models have spearheaded an explosion in connectivity that has linked many of the poorest billions of people to the global economy. With this new narrative, an equally fundamental change of development assistance must emerge. (Source: LANCET)

Structural vulnerability and health: latino migrant laborers in the United States. - Quesada J, Hart LK, Bourgois P.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:21:09 +0100

Latino immigrants in the United States constitute a paradigmatic case of a population group subject to structural violence. Their subordinated location in the global economy and their culturally depreciated status in the United States are exacerbated by le... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))

The QR code in society, economy and medicine--fields of application, options and chances. - Flaig B, Parzeller M.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:21:09 +0100

2D codes like the QR Code ("Quick Response") are becoming more and more common in society and medicine. The application spectrum and benefits in medicine and other fields are described. 2D codes can be created free of charge on any computer with internet a... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))

Economy Adds 200,000 Jobs, Unemployment Rate Falls to 8.5 Percent in December

Arkansas Business - Health Care — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 13:32:55 +0100

The U.S. economy adds 200,000 jobs in December, and the national unemployment rate falls to 8.5 percent, according to a report Friday by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Source: Arkansas Business - Health Care)

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Global Economy Could Endure Disaster for a Week

Scientific American - Official RSS Feed — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:55:00 +0100

By Nina Chestney LONDON, Jan 6 (Reuters) - The global economy couldwithstand widespread disruption from a natural disaster orattack by militants for only a week as governments andbusinesses are not sufficiently prepared to deal with unexpectedevents, a report by a respected think-tank said. Events such as the 2010 volcanic ash cloud, which groundedflights in Europe, Japan's earthquake and tsunami and Thailand'sfloods last year, have showed that key sectors and businessescan be severely affected if disruption to production ortransport goes on for more than a week. "One week seems to be the maximum tolerance of the'just-in-time' global economy," said the report by ChathamHouse, the London-based policy institute for...

Cameron to stand firm on spending cuts

HSJ — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 10:30:00 +0100

The prime minister has said he would not bow to pressure to scale back austerity measures even if the UK economy does not soon show signs of recovery. (Source: HSJ)

All that glitters is gold: Metal theft rising in UK and around the world

NaturalNews.com — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 06:00:00 +0100

Ten years ago, it would have been almost unheard of to hear about thieves targeting facilities like churches or hospitals for their copper trim work, steel-encased generators, wiring, and other metal materials. But today, in the midst of a spiraling global economy, a... (Source: NaturalNews.com)

Erratum

Journal of Pediatric Nursing — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 02:27:01 +0100

In the October 2011 issue (26/5) of Journal of Pediatric Nursing, in the Child Health Policy Column article by Niki Fogg and colleagues entitled “Pediatric Nurses Address Children and the Economy Part 2” [Fogg, N., Sterling, Y.M., & Welsh, D. (2011). Pediatric nurses address children and the economy part 2. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 26, 489-493; doi:10.1016/j.pedn.2011.06.008], the affiliation of the first author, Niki Fogg, MS, RN, CPN, was incorrectly acknowledged. The full affiliation is as follows: Texas Woman’s University, Dallas, TX. (Source: Journal of Pediatric Nursing)

A world organisation for an equitable green economy

SciDev.Net — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:19:51 +0100

The proposed UN World Environment Organisation is badly needed to give poor countries a strong voice in green policy, says Zakri Abdul Hamid. (Source: SciDev.Net)

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Majority of Americans say research and development are key to building US economy

EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

(Research!America) The new edition of America Speaks, a compilation of public opinion polls commissioned by Research!America, demonstrates increasing public support for research and innovation to improve health, create jobs and boost the economy. However, nearly 60 percent of Americans don't believe we are making enough progress in medical research, and 54 percent don't believe the US has the best health-care system in the world. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)

The impact of snake bite on household economy in Bangladesh.

Tropical Doctor — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Hasan SM, Basher A, Molla AA, Sultana NK, Faiz MA Abstract The present study aims to assess the different types of costs for treatment of snake bite patients, to quantify household economic impact and to understand the coping mechanisms required to cover the costs for snake bite patients in Bangladesh. The patients admitted to four tertiary level hospitals in Bangladesh were interviewed using structured questionnaires including health-care-related expenditures and the way in which the expenditures were covered. Of the snakes which bit the patients, 54.2% were non-venomous, 45.8% were venomous and 42.2% of the patients were given polyvalent antivenom. The total expenditure related to snake bite varies from US$4 (US$1 = Taka 72) to US$2294 with a mean of US$124 and the mean ...

Well: A Recipe for Simplifying Life: Ditch All the Recipes

NYT — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 02:03:45 +0100

In instructing readers on the art of intuitive cooking, the chef and food writer Tamar Adler offers not just cooking lessons, but a recipe for simplifying life. (Source: NYT)

Health Research And Prevention Fared Well In 2011 Says Research!America Chair John Edward Porter

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 08:00:00 +0100

Research!America Chair John Edward Porter has called on elected officials to make a stronger investment in medical research in the new year to improve the health of Americans, maintain the nation's global competitiveness and boost the economy. "As we wrap-up a turbulent year for government funded programs, we're pleased that bipartisan support for medical research remains a hallmark of Congress' commitment to science and innovation," said Porter... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Melanoma of the female urethra

Indian Journal of Urology — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Juan A Ramos, Wilmer E Ramos, Claudia V RamosIndian Journal of Urology 2011 27(4):448-450Melanoma is a malignant tumor that can affect any area of the anatomical economy. Its appearance in the female urethra is extremely rare, with approximately 121 cases in indexed literature since 1966. The subject to be described is an 86-year-old woman who seeks assessment for intermittent macroscopic hematuria with blood clots of 3 months progression. On physical examination, there are no suspicious lesions detected on the surface of the skin. On external genital examination, it is observed a friable lesion at the level of the urethral meatus, with heterogeneous digitations, dark brown to black, and irregular polycyclic borders. No inguinal adenomegalies were palpated. Cystourethroscopy and biopsy of ...

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Food prices may ease in 2012 but won't drop: FAO

Reuters: Health — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:16:27 +0100

ROME (Reuters) - Prices of some foods may ease slightly in 2012 due to a slowing global economy but are unlikely to drop drastically from the high levels reached last year, the new director-general of the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization said Tuesday. (Source: Reuters: Health)

"It's The Economy" - Say Medicare Beneficiaries

Health News from Medical News Today — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:00:00 +0100

According to a survey, 45% of 337 retirees on Medicare consider the economy the most vital issue the United States faces in 2012, followed by health care (15%), national debt (21%), and jobs (19%). 43% of survey respondents anticipate that the economy will remain "about the same" next year. 24% believed the economy will be "somewhat" or "much" worse next year, while 37% said it will be "somewhat" or "much" better... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Employee Discrimination Claims and Awards

Disabled World — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 16:03:28 +0100

Employees filed almost 100,000 federal employment discrimination complaints in 2011, a record-breaking amount. Some believe this phenomenon is a consequence of the weakened U.S. economy and high unemployment. (Source: Disabled World)

China's tomb raiders laying waste to thousands of years of history

Guardian Unlimited Science — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 15:05:03 +0100

Bulldozers and dynamite used to strip priceless artefacts from remote sites, with booty sold on to wealthy collectorsChina's extraordinary historical treasures are under threat from increasingly aggressive and sophisticated tomb raiders, who destroy precious archaeological evidence as they swipe irreplaceable relics.The thieves use dynamite and even bulldozers to break into the deepest chambers – and night vision goggles and oxygen canisters to search them. The artefacts they take are often sold on within days to international dealers.Police have already stepped up their campaign against the criminals and the government is devoting extra resources to protecting sites and tracing offenders. This year it set up a national information centre to tackle such crimes.Tomb theft is a global prob...

Substance use and recessions: What can be learned from economic analyses of alcohol? - Pacula RL.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 12:07:07 +0100

In this paper, I conduct a review of the economics literature examining the relationship between alcohol use and the macro economy comparing methods, measures and findings. Like illicit drug consumption, the relationship between alcohol use and economic co... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))

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The political economy of health promotion: part 1, national commitments to provision of the prerequisites of health. - Raphael D.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 12:07:07 +0100

Canada is a leader in developing health promotion concepts of providing the prerequisites of health through health-promoting public policy. But Canada is clearly a laggard in implementing these concepts. In contrast, France is seen as a nation in which hea... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))

The political economy of health promotion: part 2, national provision of the prerequisites of health. - Raphael D.

SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 12:07:07 +0100

Governmental authorities of wealthy developed nations differ in their professed commitments and activity related to the provision of the prerequisites of health through public policy action. Part 1 of this article showed how nations identified as social de... (Source: SafetyLit: All (Unduplicated))

Strength Training Affects Tendon Cross-Sectional Area and Freely Chosen Cadence Differently in Noncyclists and Well-Trained Cyclists

Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 06:00:00 +0100

In conclusion, freely chosen cadence during submaximal cycling was reduced in recreationally active individuals after a period of strength training but was not reduced in well-trained cyclists. The reduced freely chosen cadence may be associated with the observed increase in patellar tendon CSA through a morphological-sensory-motor interaction. A practical application is that heavy strength training can reduce freely chosen cadence during submaximal cycling and thereby improve cycling economy in recreationally active individuals, whereas other mechanisms should account for improved performance after strength training in well-trained cyclists. (Source: Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research)

The Top Nursing News Story of 2011: The Future of Nursing

AJN — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 06:00:00 +0100

Editor's note: Each January AJN examines the major stories affecting nurses and health care during the previous year. This year's top stories aren't too different from those we highlighted last January: the continuing debate over the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and how to fix the floundering economy continue to top our list. And while we hoped that Congress would move past its partisan squabbling to address these incredibly important issues, it didn't happen, even among members of the bipartisan deficit “super committee,” which failed to find a compromise solution to reduce the deficit. For nursing, it was all about whether the Institute of Medicine's Future of Nursing report would create change. Clinical news shows that consumers are still wary of vaccines and confused ...

The Top Health News Story of 2011: Health Care Reform and a System in Flux

AJN — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 06:00:00 +0100

The Supreme Court's decisions on the ACA won't undo the realization that how we deliver and pay for care must change. Editor's note: Each January AJN examines the major stories affecting nurses and health care during the previous year. This year's top stories aren't too different from those we highlighted last January: the continuing debate over the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and how to fix the floundering economy continue to top our list. And while we hoped that Congress would move past its partisan squabbling to address these incredibly important issues, it didn't happen, even among members of the bipartisan deficit “super committee,” which failed to find a compromise solution to reduce the deficit. For nursing, it was all about whether the Institute of Medicine's Fut...

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Clinical News

AJN — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 06:00:00 +0100

Clinical news.

The American Journal of Nursing — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Nelson R, Pfeifer GM, Pfeifer GM Abstract Editor's note: Each January AJN examines the major stories affecting nurses and health care during the previous year. This year's top stories aren't too different from those we highlighted last January: the continuing debate over the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and how to fix the floundering economy continue to top our list. And while we hoped that Congress would move past its partisan squabbling to address these incredibly important issues, it didn't happen, even among members of the bipartisan deficit "super committee," which failed to find a compromise solution to reduce the deficit. For nursing, it was all about whether the Institute of Medicine's Future of Nursing report would create change. Clinical news shows ...

The top nursing news story of 2011: the future of nursing.

The American Journal of Nursing — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

The top nursing news story of 2011: the future of nursing. Am J Nurs. 2012 Jan;112(1):15 Authors: Potera C, Pfeifer GM Abstract Editor's note: Each January AJN examines the major stories affecting nurses and health care during the previous year. This year's top stories aren't too different from those we highlighted last January: the continuing debate over the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and how to fix the floundering economy continue to top our list. And while we hoped that Congress would move past its partisan squabbling to address these incredibly important issues, it didn't happen, even among members of the bipartisan deficit "super committee," which failed to find a compromise solution to reduce the deficit. For nursing, it was all about whether the Insti...

The top health news story of 2011: health care reform and a system in flux.

The American Journal of Nursing — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

The top health news story of 2011: health care reform and a system in flux. Am J Nurs. 2012 Jan;112(1):14-5 Authors: Molyneux J, Pfeifer GM Abstract The Supreme Court's decisions on the ACA won't undo the realization that how we deliver and pay for care must change.Editor's note: Each January AJN examines the major stories affecting nurses and health care during the previous year. This year's top stories aren't too different from those we highlighted last January: the continuing debate over the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and how to fix the floundering economy continue to top our list. And while we hoped that Congress would move past its partisan squabbling to address these incredibly important issues, it didn't happen, even among members of the bipartisan de...

The rise of the regulatory state in health care: a comparative analysis of the Netherlands, England and Italy.

Health Economics, Policy, and Law — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Helderman JK, Bevan G, France G Abstract In a relatively short time, regulation has become a significant and distinct feature of how modern states wish to govern and steer their economy and society. Whereas the former 'dirigiste' state used to be closely related to public ownership (e.g. hospitals), planning (volume and capacity planning) and centralised administration (e.g. fixed prices and budgets), the new regulatory state relies mainly on the instrument of regulation to achieve its objectives. In this paper, we wish to relate the rise of the 'regulatory state' to the path-dependent trajectories and institutional legacies of discrete European health-care systems. For this purpose, we compared the Dutch corporatist social health insurance system, the strongly centralised...

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Health care quality, access, cost, workforce, and surgical education: the ultimate perfect storm

Journal of Pediatric Surgery — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Abstract: The discussions on health care reform over the past two years have focused on cost containment while trying to maintain quality of care. Focusing on just cost and quality unfortunately does not address other very important factors that impact on our health care delivery system. Availability of a well-trained workforce, maintaining the sophisticated medical/surgical education system, and ultimately access to quality care by the public are critical to maintaining and enhancing our health care delivery system. Unfortunately, all five of these components are under at risk. Thus, we have evolving the ultimate perfect storm affecting our health care delivery system. Although not ideal and given the uniqueness of our population and their expectations, our current delivery system is exce...

2011: the year in review

Guardian Unlimited Science — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 22:59:00 +0100

Police stood by as Britain rioted, popular protests changed the face of the Middle East, European governments fell apart – and so did Fleet Street's reputation. 2011 has been an extraordinary yearIt wasn't the sight of a double-decker bus ablaze on Tottenham High Road that stunned Britain as it awoke one morning in August. It wasn't even the historic building smouldering in ruins, or the trail of burnt-out police cars. What chilled the country turning on the news that summer Sunday was footage of a young woman calmly trying on trainers before looting them while police stood by helplessly and watched.As night fell, violence spread across the capital as mobs of masked youths hurled missiles at riot police and ransacked shops, making off with trolley-loads of TVs, clothes, jewellery, grocer...

Antidepressant use in England soars

Guardian Unlimited Science — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:06:20 +0100

• Prescriptions rise by more than a quarter in three years • Depression costing economy nearly £11bn a year• Financial uncertainty thought to be factorThe use of antidepressants has risen by more than a quarter in England in just three years, amid fears that more people are suffering from depression due to the economic crisis.The number of prescriptions for antidepressants increased by 28% from 34m in 2007-08 to 43.4m in 2010-11, according to the NHS information centre.Depression is also costing the economy nearly £11bn a year in lost earnings, NHS care and drug prescriptions.Research by the House of Commons found the cost to the NHS of treating the illness is more than £520m a year.People who are unable to work due to depression lose £8.97bn of potential earnings a year, while t...

Crayfish invasion of England's waterways tracked by radio

Guardian Unlimited Science — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 00:01:06 +0100

North American predators move upstream at 500m a month, spreading disease to native species, Environment Agency findsMembers of an aggressive species of crayfish which have been invading England's waterways are being tracked with radio transmitters in an attempt to better understand them.The Environment Agency said virile crayfish (Orconectes virilis), which are non-native, prey on native wildlife and spread crayfish plague, a disease deadly to native white clawed crayfish. The north American predators have recently been seen in waterways in east London after first being found on the river Lea near Enfield in 2004.They have since colonised more than 10 miles of the river and linked waterways, spreading into Hertfordshire.The agency has fitted small radio transmitters on the backs of the un...

Corporate monopolies 'may dominate green economy'

SciDev.Net — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:30:01 +0100

The new model of sustainable development ― the 'green economy' ― could benefit large firms at the expense of the poor, warns a report. (Source: SciDev.Net)

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Lesotho: Economy Catches Flu - From Big Brother's Sneeze

AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 11:00:00 +0100

For decades the tiny landlocked mountain kingdom of Lesotho has relied heavily on its giant neighbour, South Africa, to advance - until now. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)

Multivariate analysis of sexual size dimorphism in local turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) in Nigeria

Tropical Animal Health and Production — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 06:42:36 +0100

Abstract Sexual size dimorphism is a key evolutionary feature that can lead to important biological insights. To improve methods of sexing live birds in the field, we assessed sexual size dimorphism in Nigerian local turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) using multivariate techniques. Measurements were taken on 125 twenty-week-old birds reared under the intensive management system. The body parameters measured were body weight, body length, breast girth, thigh length, shank length, keel length, wing length and wing span. Univariate analysis revealed that toms (males) had significantly (P < 0.05) higher mean values than hens (females) in all the measured traits. Positive phenotypic correlations between body weight and body measurements ranged from 0.445 to 0.821 in toms and 0....

Research!America Chair John Edward Porter says health research and prevention fared well in 2011

EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

(Research!America) Research!America Chair John Edward Porter today called on elected officials to make a stronger investment in medical research in the new year to improve the health of Americans, maintain the nation's global competitiveness and boost the economy. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)

Crushing or Splitting Medications: Unrecognized Hazards.

Journal of Gerontological Nursing — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Gill D, Spain M, Edlund BJ Abstract Given the high use and the cost of medications in the current economy, one way older adults may save money on prescription costs is to split some of their medications in half. However, not all oral medications can be split. Splitting inappropriate medications such as extended-release tablets can be harmful and in some instances very dangerous. In addition to splitting medications, older adults who have difficulty swallowing pills may resort to crushing the medication for ease of administration. This option is also problematic and potentially harmful if the medication is not intended to be crushed. Clinicians managing the care of older adults need to discuss medication administration, clarify the dosing schedule, and clearly indicate the ...

Meeting the Grand Challenge for Industrial Biotechnology: Policies to Create a Biobased Economy

Industrial Biotechnology — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 04:08:30 +0100

Industrial Biotechnology , Vol. 0, No. 0. (Source: Industrial Biotechnology)

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Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up

Red Cross Chat — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 23:07:53 +0100

This Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up is courtesy of Scott Waggoner, from Cross Blog: Award-winning Red Cross news and views from Oregon and beyond Welcome to the Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up, in which we consolidate the international Red Cross and Red Crescent news into one list of bite-sized links for you. It’s a non-comprehensive sampling of the larger and/or more intriguing aspects of our global work… PHILIPPINES: Relief continues to pour in for Typhoon Washi, that killed well over 1,000 people and devastated the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. Teams of Red Cross volunteers are supporting doctors in treating survivors that received wounds nearly a week ago. In addition to typical first aid, the Red Cross is using psychological first aid for the extensive suffering many...

Layoffs Rock Arkansas Manufacturing, But Economy Picks Up Late in Year

Arkansas Business - Health Care — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:39:54 +0100

Arkansas workers endured layoffs across a number of industries in 2011 but the state economy also had its bright spots late in the year. (Source: Arkansas Business - Health Care)

UK switch to low-carbon energy will cost £5,000 per person a year

Guardian Unlimited Science — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 12:34:48 +0100

Prediction using unique calculator challenges view that sustainable energy means higher costsEvery person in Britain will need to pay about £5,000 a year between now and 2050 on rebuilding and using the nation's entire energy system, according to government figures. But the cost of developing clean and sustainable electricity, heating and transport will be very similar to replacing today's ageing and polluting power stations, the analysis finds.The forecasts come from a unique open-source analysis package, called the 2050 pathways calculator, which was created by Professor David MacKay, chief scientific adviser to the Department of Energy and Climate Change.The predictions challenge suggestions that the costs of embracing low-carbon energy and meeting the UK's legally binding commitments ...

Braving a faceless new world? Conceptualizing trust in the pharmaceutical industry and its products

Health: — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

This article begins to address this deficiency by mapping out a conceptual framework which may form a useful basis for future research into this important topic. The often negative portrayal of the pharmaceutical industry in the public sphere belies a state of apparent confidence in its products. The role of prescribing professionals as ‘mediators of trust’ amid a faceless system of production and, alongside regulators, as bases of assurance in the quality of drugs goes some way towards explaining this contradiction. Recent policy moves towards fostering increased patient ‘expertise’ and responsibility for illness management, a widening of over-the-counter medication availability and a growing market of products (mainstream and illicit) via the Internet suggest this...

Science charities face funding cuts

Guardian Unlimited Science — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 00:01:00 +0100

'Back door' cuts could harm economy, says LabourThe government has been warned that it is in danger of hindering Britain's economic growth after figures revealed that severe spending cuts are being imposed on science charities.David Cameron is accused of introducing cuts through the back door after giving an assurance earlier this year that the science budget would not face any cuts.The main cuts, announced in parliamentary written answers shortly before the House of Commons broke up for Christmas, show that:• A charity which promotes opportunities for women in science is losing 80% of its funding from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). Funding to the UK Resource Centre (UKRC) for women in science, engineering and technology is being cut from £2.4m last year to £...

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Spain cuts science ministry in government changeover

Physics Today News Picks — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Nature: Spain’s Ministry of Science has been cut by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, a member of the People’s Party. Rajoy had pledged to reduce the number of government ministries from 15 to 12. Responsibility for science and research will now be the purview of Luis de Guindos, the minister of economy and competition. The Ministry of Science was created in 2000, under a People’s Party government, but fell under a joint ministry with education from 2004 to 2008, then again became a dedicated ministry from 2008 to 2011. (Source: Physics Today News Picks)

The Good, the Bad and the Profitable (Editorial)

Arkansas Business - Health Care — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 06:00:00 +0100

Though the economy remains sluggish, and unemployment is too high, this soon-expiring year was not so bad for business interests here. (Source: Arkansas Business - Health Care)

Letters: We must rebalance the economy now

Guardian Unlimited Science — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 21:00:05 +0100

Vince Cable writes (Comment, 20 December) that we need to put the whingeing of the City aside and "concentrate on [...] rebalancing the economy". We could hardly agree more – but Cable needs to back his words with action. Investment in science and engineering is crucial if we're to achieve this rebalancing. The sectors Cable name-checks for growth, "advanced manufacturing, creative industries, higher education and professional services", are all linked to, and underpinned by, advances in publicly funded science and engineering, and often staffed by highly skilled science and engineering graduates from our higher education system.Unfortunately, as inflation further erodes a science budget already suffering from cash cuts, it's hard to see how the UK's science and engineering sectors can d...

Supersized Market Economy, Supersized Belly: Wealthier Nations Have More Fast Food And More Obesity

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 08:00:00 +0100

New research from the University of Michigan suggests obesity can be seen as one of the unintended side effects of free market policies. A study of 26 wealthy nations shows that countries with a higher density of fast food restaurants per capita had much higher obesity rates compared to countries with a lower density of fast food restaurants per capita... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Hierarchical control of motor units in voluntary contractions

Journal of Neurophysiology — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

For the past five decades there has been wide acceptance of a relationship between the firing rate of motor units and the afterhyperpolarization of motoneurons. It has been promulgated that the higher-threshold, larger-soma, motoneurons fire faster than the lower-threshold, smaller-soma, motor units. This relationship was based on studies on anesthetized cats with electrically stimulated motoneurons. We questioned its applicability to motor unit control during voluntary contractions in humans. We found that during linearly force-increasing contractions, firing rates increased as exponential functions. At any time and force level, including at recruitment, the firing rate values were inversely related to the recruitment threshold of the motor unit. The time constants of the exponential func...

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Toward the realization of a better aged society: Messages from gerontology and geriatrics

Geriatrics and Gerontology International — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 09:53:57 +0100

1. Background: Recent medical advancements, and improvements in hygiene and food supply have led to Japan having the longest life expectancy in the world. Over the past 50 years, the percentage of the elderly population has increased fourfold from 5.7% in 1960 to 23.1% in 2010. This change has occurred at the fastest rate in the world. Compared with France, where the percentage of the elderly population has increased just twofold in the past 100 years, Japanese society is aging at an unprecedented rate. In addition, the percentage of the very elderly (aged 75 years and over), comprising more frail people, exceeded 10% of the nation's population in 2008. In such a situation, many elderly Japanese wish to spend their later years healthy, and wish to achieve great accomplishments i...

Tackling the data gaps that could scupper the green economy

SciDev.Net — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 13:50:30 +0100

Yojana Sharma analyses the work of a four-day meeting on access to data and information that will feed into next year’s Rio+20 conference on sustainable development. (Source: SciDev.Net)

Supersized market economy, supersized belly: Wealthier nations have more fast food and more obesity

EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

(University of Michigan) New research from the University of Michigan suggests obesity can be seen as one of the unintended side effects of free market policies. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)

Networks: Control of the super-corporations

Nature — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Nature 480, 7378 (2011). doi:10.1038/480417e Highly read on plosone.org 15 Nov–15 DecThe global economy is dominated by a small, tight-knit group of companies, according to a network analysis of 43,060 transnational corporations.Stefano Battiston and his colleagues at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, studied the linkages (Source: Nature)

"Live high-train low" using normobaric hypoxia: a double-blinded, placebo-controlled study

Journal of Applied Physiology — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

In conclusion, 4 wk of LHTL, using 16 h/day of normobaric hypoxia, did not improve endurance performance or any of the measured, associated physiological variables. (Source: Journal of Applied Physiology)

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Drug-induced immune thrombocytopaenia: results from the Berlin Case–Control Surveillance Study

European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:46:52 +0100

Conclusions Our study confirms known ITP risks for glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor antagonists and sulphonamides and generates signals for several other drugs and vaccines. New onset of ITP should not only direct attention to drugs as possible aetiological agents, but also to vaccines that are known to cause autoimmune phenomena. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Pharmacoepidemiology and PrescriptionPages 1-12DOI 10.1007/s00228-011-1184-3Authors Edeltraut Garbe, Centre of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, GermanyFrank Andersohn, Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Economy, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, GermanyElisabeth Bronder, Centre of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, C...

Randomised, Double Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Echinacea Supplementation in Air Travellers

EURASIP Journal on Bioinformatics and Systems Biology — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 15:07:57 +0100

Conclusions. Supplementation with standardised Echinacea tablets, if taken before and during travel, may have preventive effects against the development of respiratory symptoms during travel involving long-haul flights. (Source: EURASIP Journal on Bioinformatics and Systems Biology)

Socioeconomic status and children’s mental health: results from the Bergen Child Study

Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:54:37 +0100

Conclusion In this Norwegian sample of children, family economy was a significant predictor of mental health problems as measured across a wide range of symptom dimensions and poor economy predicted a high probability of a psychiatric disorder. Longitudinal studies of the impact of low family income as well as other SES factors on externalizing and internalizing symptom dimensions and disorders are called for. Content Type Journal ArticleCategory Original PaperPages 1-10DOI 10.1007/s00127-011-0462-9Authors Tormod Bøe, Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Uni Health, Uni Research, PO Box 7800, 5020 Bergen, NorwaySimon Øverland, Department of Health Promotion and Development, Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen, Bergen, NorwayAstri J. Lundervold, ...

What can the animal kingdom tell us about North Korea?

Scientific American - Official RSS Feed — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:16:00 +0100

It’s difficult to come up with a snappy intro to a story like this: Kim Jong-il is dead of a heart attack at age 69. It’s also hard to deny that he was fascinating to watch, somewhat like a train-wreck writ large. But as interesting as Kim himself was as a world leader, it is the society that surrounded him that has always captured my attention. As a nation, it is reclusive, oppressive, and nearly self-supporting, with information only dribbling in and out; Kim’s North Korean society, described as a “ cult of personality ” around the Supreme Leader, was (and is) characterized by a totalitarian leadership, a Communist economy, and restrictive social structures like the censored state-run media. Now, at the news of Kim’s death the question that has always ...

The Economic Impact of Social Security

News stories via the Rural Assistance Center — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 06:00:00 +0100

Daily Yonder article discusses how the economic impact of Social Security is huge: $1.2 trillion in economic output and 8.4 million jobs, but social Security plays an even larger role in the economy of rural America. (Source: News stories via the Rural Assistance Center)

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Brain function - A new way to measure the burden of aging across nations

EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

(International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis) Cognitive function may be a better indicator of the impact of aging on an economy than age-distribution, with chronological age imposing less of a social and economic burden if the population is "functionally" younger, according to a study published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. (Source: EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science)

Comparison of Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Capacity of Commercially Available Blueberry and Blackberry Wines in Illinois

Journal of Food Science — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Abstract: Moderate wine consumption may reduce the incidence of certain age‐related chronic diseases such as heart disease, hypertension, metabolic disease, and neurodegenerative disease. Blueberry and blackberry wines commercially available in Illinois were evaluated for chemical and quality components relevant to consumers in order to study their potential health benefits. Total polyphenolic content was measured by the Folin–Ciocalteu method, total anthocyanin content by the pH differential test, and in vitro antioxidant capacity (AC) by the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) method. Color was measured using Hunter colorimetry and quality parameters including pH, °Brix, acid content, glucose–fructose, and percent alcohol were measured using Fourier transform infrared spe...

India targets hunger with huge food subsidy plan

Modern Medicine — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's cabinet agreed on Sunday to tackle widespread malnutrition with food subsidies for two-thirds of the country's 1.2 billion population, a move that may shore up support for the government but carries risks for the faltering economy. (Source: Modern Medicine)