Ottawa, ON, March 19, 2014 — Scientists at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) Research Institute have discovered a cellular pathway that is responsible for keeping blood sugar levels low in obese or pre-diabetic people, and may prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes. The discovery published this month in a leading journal Nature Cell Biology. Following a meal, beta cells found in islets of the pancreas secrete insulin that helps to store food energy for future use. The inability of islet beta cells to produce enough insulin leads to diabetes. Unlike other ...

Older persons, in particular, tend to suffer from memory lapses and other types of cognitive impairment after undergoing surgical procedures (postoperative cognitive dysfunction, POCD). Surgery has been performed on older patients much more commonly in recent years than ever before, and their pre- and postoperative care has become an important matter. Ingrid Rundshagen, an anesthesiologist, has surveyed the available literature to find out what kinds of patients are more likely to have cognitive impairment after surgery, and how the clinical manifestations should best be ...

The global diversity of plants being cultivated by Britain's gardeners is playing a key role in the fight to save the nation's threatened bumblebees, new research has revealed. Ecologists at Plymouth University, in a study published this week, have shown the most common species of bumblebee are not fussy about a plant's origin when searching for nectar and pollen among the nation's urban gardens. But other species – and, in particular, long-tongued bees – do concentrate their feeding upon plants from the UK and Europe, for which they have developed a preference evolved ...

Major emitting countries may have to join the EU's effort much earlier to avoid a temporary overshoot of the 2 degree target, but even if they joined only in 2030, the overshoot would be limited to roughly 0.2 to 0.4 degrees Celsius. The initial unilateral leadership could be achieved at little extra costs for the EU. Late-comers would have the benefit of lower costs while they delay action but would face higher transient costs once their turn to decarbonize comes. "The crisis-stricken EU is asking itself whether it can still afford climate leadership" says lead-author ...

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Some doctors are too quick to prescribe antidepressants to parents who have suffered the death of a child either during pregnancy or within the first month of life, according to a study conducted by Florida State University researcher Jeffrey R. Lacasse. In a study of 235 bereaved parents participating in an online support community, Lacasse found that 88 — or 37.4 percent — of them were prescribed a psychiatric medication to help them cope. Some women received prescriptions with a week of losing their children. "This is simply too soon after the ...

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Stopping massive data breaches like the one that hit Target will require a more sophisticated, collaborative approach by law enforcement agencies around the world, a Michigan State University cyber security expert argues. In a new research report for the National Institute of Justice, Thomas Holt found many hackers and data thieves are operating in Russia or on websites where users communicate in Russian, making it easier to hide from U.S. and European authorities. All countries need to better work together to fight hacking and data theft campaigns, ...

A recently-developed mobile phone application could make monitoring conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, and urinary tract infections much clearer and easier for both patients and doctors, and could eventually be used to slow or limit the spread of pandemics in the developing world. The app, developed by researchers at the University of Cambridge, accurately measures colour-based, or colorimetric, tests for use in home, clinical or remote settings, and enables the transmission of medical data from patients directly to health professionals. Decentralisation ...

This news release is available in German. The common bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes is responsible not only for scarlet fever, a childhood disease presenting with characteristic skin rash, but also for many suppurative infections of the skin. The infection can be associated with serious consequences such as acute rheumatic fever and inflammation of the kidneys. In Germany, physicians usually prescribe penicillin, an antibiotic. In less-developed countries, penicillin is not always an option though. Firstly, penicillin is often not available and secondly, co-infections, ...

When individuals engage in risky business transactions with each other, they may end up being disappointed. This is why they'd rather leave the decision on how to divvy up jointly-owned monies to a computer than to their business partner. This subconscious strategy seems to help them avoid the negative emotions associated with any breaches of trust. This is the result of a study by scientists from the University of Bonn and US peers. They are presenting their findings in the scientific journal "Proceedings of the Royal Society B." Trust is an essential basis for business ...

Stink bugs have been consistently ranked among the most damaging insect pests of cotton in the southeastern United States for the past several years. Apart from the feeding damage, stink bugs are capable of transmitting cotton seed and boll-rotting bacteria such as Pantoea agglomerans. In order to find out whether cultural practices could be used to manage stink bugs -- such as adjusting the date of planting to mitigate peak pest pressure -- researchers from the University of Georgia compared cotton plots that were planted in May to other plots that were planted in June. The ...

One hundred years ago on the brink of WWI, American botanists changed the course of plant science with the founding of a national publication, the American Journal of Botany. The journal not only endured through the Great War, it also continued to evolve through the wars that followed, the Great Depression, and the ever-changing arena of plant research. Today, the AJB remains at the forefront of essential botanical research as the flagship journal of the Botanical Society of America. In celebration of its centennial anniversary, science historian Betty Smocovitis takes ...

Football fascinates millions of fans, almost all of them unaware that the game is subject to the laws of physics. Despite their seemingly arbitrary decisions, players obey certain rules, as they constantly adjust their positions in relation to their teammates, opponents, the ball and the goal. A team of Japanese scientists has now analysed the time-dependent fluctuation of both the ball and all players' positions throughout an entire match. They discovered that a simple rule governs the complex dynamics of the ball and the team's front-line. These findings, published in ...

A newly deciphered 1,800-year-old letter from an Egyptian solider serving in a Roman legion in Europe to his family back home shows striking similarities to what some soldiers may be feeling here and now. Rice Religious Studies graduate student Grant Adamson took up the task in 2011 when he was assigned the papyrus to work on during a summer institute hosted at Brigham Young University (BYU). The private letter sent home by Roman military recruit Aurelius Polion was originally discovered in 1899 by the expedition team of Grenfell and Hunt in the ancient Egyptian city ...

A physically active lifestyle and occasional drinking is associated with a reduced risk of developing visual impairment, according to a study published online this month in Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Visual impairment – sight loss often caused by eye disease, trauma, or a congenital or degenerative condition that cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses – is associated with a poorer quality of life and, when severe, loss of independence. In 2020, the number of people in the United States with visual impairment is projected ...

Overdiagnosing cancer may lead to unnecessary, dangerous procedures Article provided by Miracle Pruzan & Pruzan Visit us at http://www.miraclelaw.com When you go to the doctor, the last thing you want to hear is that your physician has found a lump. The threat of cancer is unnerving and generally leaves the patient hoping to eradicate the problem as quickly as possible. Nevertheless, a new study has revealed that aggressive treatment may not always be the optimal solution for those diagnosed with cancer. According to a recent study -- published in the journal ...

Collaborative divorce touted as cheaper alternative to standard divorce Article provided by Law Office of Lori Watson Visit us at http://www.olivarezlaw.com/ The collaborative divorce option has gained popularity in Texas and across the United States in recent years, partly because of the claim that it costs less than a conventional divorce. While there is a lack of data to prove that assertion, lawyers and others familiar with the process agree that collaborative divorces normally result in financial savings. Texas billionaire oilman T. Boone Pickens agrees ...

Utah adoption matter highlights the differences among state laws Article provided by Brown Law LLC Visit us at http://www.utdivorceattorney.com This legislative session, there are a number of bills before the Utah Legislature, which could potentially amend the state's adoption statute to address issues raised in several different types of matters. For example, one bill would provide an unwed father more time to respond after he is given notice that an adoption concerning his child is pending in the state. In general, most of the proposed laws get to the issue ...

Recovering economy leading to rising divorce rate in US Article provided by Law Offices of Victoria S. Linder Visit us at http://www.sacramentoattorneys.net According to recent research, the burgeoning economy may have more positive effects than those clearly visible to most Americans. Many people are likely appreciating increased job security and potentially even higher raises than they were accustomed to during the recession. These financial benefits are affecting people in their personal lives, as well, based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau. As people ...

New report shows 9 people killed by distracted drivers daily in US Article provided by Wills & Adams, LLP Visit us at http://www.willsadams.com For many Colorado drivers, multitasking while behind the wheel is likely a common occurrence. Motorists may answer a call while on the way to work or attempt to respond to a text message while out running errands. These widespread habits are risky, however, and can lead to serious auto collisions. Recent statistics released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention may now give Colorado motorists pause before ...

Unlawful and unfair pregnancy discrimination is alive and well in Ohio Article provided by Dinn, Hochman & Potter, L.L.C. Visit us at http://www.dhplaw.com Federal and Ohio state laws prohibit discrimination in employment based on pregnancy, as a type of sex or gender discrimination. Employees who are pregnant, facing childbirth or suffering from related medical conditions must be treated equally to similar employees who are not pregnant. Most, but not all, Ohio employers are subject to the prohibitions against pregnancy discrimination. Discrimination can ...

Divorce rate appears to be on the rise Article provided by Adelman & Seide, LLP V isit us at http://www.adelman-seide.com For the past few decades, researchers have believed that the U.S. divorce rate is on the decline. U.S. Census data seemed to show that the divorce rate reached its highest point in the mid-1970s and has been steadily declining ever since. A new study shows, however, that this long-held belief appears to be incorrect. Researchers at the University of Minnesota's Minnesota Population Center recently published a study in the journal Demography ...

Oklahoma divorce ruling finds company stock is separate property Article provided by The Pilkington Law Firm, PLLC Visit us at http://www.pilkingtonlawfirm.com The division of business assets in a divorce can have a dramatic effect on the future course and survival of a company. Control of an Oklahoma City-based oil company called Continental Resources Inc. has been in question since the divorce proceedings of Harold and Sue Ann Hamm became public. In a recent ruling, an Oklahoma judge held that 122 million shares of Continental are pre-marital or separate property, ...

As attitudes about marijuana change, concern grows over DUI charges Article provided by John E. DeVito ESQ. of DeVito and Visconti, P.A. Visit us at http://www.johnedevito.com In recent years, attitudes about marijuana have shifted rapidly across the U.S. With Washington and Colorado legalizing the recreational use of the drug last year and other jurisdictions, including Washington, D.C., currently considering decriminalization measures, it is clear that even more changes are on the way. Nevertheless, even staunch advocates of marijuana legalization have recognized ...

What happens if you are charged with DUI in New Jersey? Article provided by Chamlin Rosen Uliano & Witherington Visit us at http://www.chamlin-rosen.com/Criminal-Defense/ When a motorist has been stopped by police, the officer may notice signs that the driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This may give the officer enough evidence to begin an investigation to determine whether or not the individual is impaired. The driver may be asked to perform field sobriety tests, and if the motorist performs poorly, he or she may be arrested. Those drivers ...

Deciding whether Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 is for you Article provided by Schlueter Ecklund Visit us at http://www.rockriverlaw.net/ If you have fallen behind on your bills, you may be considering bankruptcy, but are not sure which type would be right for you. As an individual, you have a choice between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Although both types of bankruptcy can stop harassing phone calls from your creditors and discharge most of your debt, they have different approaches. It is therefore important to have a basic understanding of how each type differs ...