ITHACA, N.Y. – Little is known about the effect of physical education (PE) on child weight, but a new study from Cornell University finds that increasing the amount of time that elementary schoolchildren spent in gym class reduces the probability of obesity. The study represents some of the first evidence of a causal effect of PE on youth obesity, and is forthcoming in the Journal of Health Economics. An early, online version of the study can be viewed at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167629613000556 The research offers support for the recommendations ...

VIDEO: This video shows how threads stitched into the fabric can absorb, channel and collect fluids. Click here for more information. Waterproof fabrics that whisk away sweat could be the latest application of microfluidic technology developed by bioengineers at the University of California, Davis. The new fabric works like human skin, forming excess sweat into droplets that drain away by themselves, said inventor Tingrui Pan, professor of biomedical engineering. One ...

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – May 20, 2013 – Nearly 20 percent of kidneys that are recovered from deceased donors in the U.S. are refused for transplant due to factors ranging from scarring in small blood vessels of the kidney's filtering units to the organ going too long without blood or oxygen. But, what if instead of being discarded, these organs could be "recycled" to help solve the critical shortage of donor organs? Researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and colleagues, reporting in the journal Biomaterials, found that human kidneys discarded for transplant can ...

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Intensity-modulated radiation therapy has become the most commonly used type of radiation in prostate cancer, but research from the University of North Carolina suggests that the therapy may not be more effective than older, less expensive forms of radiation therapy in patients who have had a prostatectomy. The comparative effectiveness study, published online May 20 by JAMA Internal Medicine, evaluated the long-term outcomes of prostate cancer patients who received radiation treatments following prostatectomies using conformal radiation therapy (CRT) ...

Amsterdam, NL, 20 May 2013 – While Huntington's disease (HD) is currently incurable, the HD research community anticipates that new disease-modifying therapies in development may slow or minimize disease progression. The success of HD research depends upon the identification of reliable and sensitive biomarkers to track disease and evaluate therapies, and these biomarkers may eventually be used as outcome measures in clinical trials. Biomarkers could be especially helpful to monitor changes during the time prior to diagnosis and appearance of overt symptomatology. Three ...

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Turns out, that old "practice makes perfect" adage may be overblown. New research led by Michigan State University's Zach Hambrick finds that a copious amount of practice is not enough to explain why people differ in level of skill in two widely studied activities, chess and music. In other words, it takes more than hard work to become an expert. Hambrick, writing in the research journal Intelligence, said natural talent and other factors likely play a role in mastering a complicated activity. "Practice is indeed important to reach an elite level ...

Herds of wooly mammoths once shook the earth beneath their feet, sending humans scurrying across the landscape of prehistoric Ohio. But then something much larger shook the Earth itself, and at that point these mega mammals' days were numbered. Something – global-scale combustion caused by a comet scraping our planet's atmosphere or a meteorite slamming into its surface – scorched the air, melted bedrock and altered the course of Earth's history. Exactly what it was is unclear, but this event jump-started what Kenneth Tankersley, an assistant professor of anthropology ...

In a new business, sometimes the better part of wisdom is knowing when to quit, a new study concludes. Even though persistence is a key to business success, entrepreneurs might be more successful if they not only knew when to start a business and take risks, but also knew when to abandon it and find something that provides a greater opportunity, researchers said. It may be human nature to want to make an idea work, but it can also be a poor business decision to stay wedded to an idea if the evidence suggests it's not working as well as another potential opportunity. "Entrepreneurs ...

Pulsars have a number of unusual qualities. Like zombies, they shine even though they're technically dead, and they rotate rapidly, emitting powerful and regular beams of radiation that are seen as flashes of light, blinking on and off at intervals from seconds to milliseconds. A NASA team has built a first-of-a-kind testbed that simulates these distinctive pulsations. The pulsar-on-a-table, known as the Goddard X-ray Navigation Laboratory Testbed, was built to test and validate a next-generation X-ray navigation technology to be demonstrated on a dual-use instrument ...

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL (MAY 20, 2013) – University of Minnesota Medical School researchers from the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, in partnership with the University's Brain Tumor Program, have developed a new mouse model of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) that allow them to discover new genes and gene pathways driving this type of cancer. The research was published this week in the journal Nature Genetics. Utilizing the Sleeping Beauty transposon method, researchers in the lab of David Largaespada, Ph.D., professor in the Medical School ...

Bacteria resistant to the antibiotic colistin are also commonly resistant to antimicrobial substances made by the human body, according to a study in mBio®, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology. Cross-resistance to colistin and host antimicrobials LL-37 and lysozyme, which help defend the body against bacterial attack, could mean that patients with life-threatening multi-drug resistant infections are also saddled with a crippled immune response. Colistin is a last-line drug for treating several kinds of drug-resistant infections, but colistin ...

This news release is available in German. It is the first time scientists have decoded the genome of a plant pathogen and its plant host from dried herbarium samples. This opens up a new area of research to understand how pathogens evolve and how human activity impacts the spread of plant disease. Phytophthora infestans changed the course of history. Even today, the Irish population has still not recovered to pre-famine levels. "We have finally discovered the identity of the exact strain that caused all this havoc", says Hernán Burbano from the Max Planck Institute ...

CINCINNATI—Early-life exposure to traffic-related air pollution was significantly associated with higher hyperactivity scores at age 7, according to new research from the University of Cincinnati (UC) and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. The research is detailed in a study being published Tuesday, May 21, in Environmental Health Perspectives, a peer-reviewed open access journal published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, an institute within the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The research was conducted by faculty members from ...

Are surgical errors a new revenue stream for hospitals? Article provided by Davis & Davis Visit us at http://www.davis-davislaw.com A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reveals a shocking trend: hospitals have greater profit margins when surgical patients suffer complications. The study, led by doctors at Harvard's medical school, the Boston Consulting Group (a renowned management consulting agency) and Texas Health Resources (a nonprofit hospital system running hospitals throughout Texas), showed increased "contribution ...

A delayed cancer diagnosis may prompt a medical malpractice claim Article provided by Cynthia Chihak & Associates Visit us at http://www.chihaklaw.com Misdiagnosis that delays the start of cancer treatment may be fatal. A local cyclist is organizing a race, the Dana Point Grand Prix, to bring more awareness to mesothelioma and treatment of the cancer. The cyclist lost his father at the beginning of last year after his father was initially misdiagnosed. A cancer misdiagnosis also changed the life of a North Carolina woman. She suffered from severe fatigue ...

Florida proposal to limit alimony defeated, but may reemerge next session Article provided by Leininger Law Firm, P.A. Visit us at http://www.leiningerlawfirmpa.com A recent attempt to end permanent alimony in Florida was defeated by a last minute veto. Yet many expect the topic will return for discussion in the next legislative session. The legislation not only affected alimony awards, but also how the courts decide child custody disputes. Senate Bill 718 would have made it harder for spouses in short-term marriages to obtain support. Those in long-term marriages ...

New regs bring focus to California pregnancy discrimination Article provided by Hadsell, Stormer, Keeny, Richardson & Renick LLP Visit us at http://www.hskrr.com Many employees may worry about how to tell their boss that they are pregnant. What will be the reaction and will it affect your career? For someone in the midst of a job search there may be worries that once noticeable the pregnancy will hurt her chances. However, pregnancy discrimination in the form of hiring decisions or adverse employment actions is unlawful. California has broader protections ...

Texas taking steps toward domestic violence registry Article provided by John M. Petruzzi, Attorney at Law Visit us at http://www.johnmpetruzziattorney.com/ When an incident of domestic violence occurs, the officers that respond to the call will generally make an arrest. This may be done to help prevent a situation from escalating, or because there may be evidence that an offense was committed. When further reviewing these allegations of family violence, there may be more to the story than it first appeared. Sometimes the participants are involved in a bitter ...

Portland, Oregon: Laws designed to keep bicyclists safe from car accidents Article provided by Phelan Law Office Visit us at http://www.phelanlawoffice.com Bikers love Portland, Oregon. In fact, Bicycling.com recently ranked it among the top biker friendly cities in the nation due to its innovative programs "from designated bike-only areas at traffic signals to free bike lights." Bicycling is a popular alternative to driving, providing an efficient form of transportation that not only helps commuters avoid getting stuck in traffic congestion but also ...

Drugged driving on the rise in Illinois Article provided by Albert L. Wysocki, A Professional Corporation Visit us at http://www.albertwysocki.com/ People throughout the country are well aware of what will happen to them if they are arrested for drunk driving. Many know someone who has been convicted of driving under the influence, and are familiar with all the challenges that can arise when a person is without a driver's license. Most of these DUI arrests concern motorists who have had too much to drink before driving. However, drivers may also be charged with ...

"The Central Park Five" highlights the danger of false confessions Article provided by Adler & Karliner Visit us at http://www.adlerandkarliner.com The case of five teenagers who falsely confessed to and were wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for the savage beating and sexual assault of a jogger in New York City's Central Park first made national headlines twenty-three years ago. A new documentary about the case from famed-filmmaker Ken Burns has it making headlines once again. In "The Central Park Five," Burns explores the circumstances ...

Using Chapter 13 bankruptcy to stop foreclosure in Ohio Article provided by Debra Booher & Associates Co., LPA Visit us at http://www.bankruptcyinfo.com Given the number of people who are unemployed in Ohio and throughout the United States, it is not surprising that many individuals have been unable to keep up with their mortgage payments. Contrary to what some people think, the banks and mortgage lenders typically want to avoid foreclosing on a property, particularly given the cost and the amount of time that goes along with the foreclosure process. Still, ...

Child custody challenges in Texas Article provided by Scott M. Brown, P.C. Visit us at http://www.sbrownlawyer.com/ Once a couple decides to have a child, they start to realize some of the big changes that will be coming to their lives. For many parents, this means that their focus will now turn toward ensuring that their child is allowed every opportunity to be successful, and living in a stable, nurturing environment. Some parents may decide to end their relationship or marriage, and this change could have a major impact upon the child. After the relationship ...

Preparing for the changes that stem from divorce Article provided by Gillespie, Shields & Durrant Visit us at http://www.phoenixfamilylawfirm.com The first steps toward filing for divorce can be extremely emotional for any person. Often, this decision is made only after the couple tries many different things in an effort to get the relationship to work. The couple may not be aware that their marriage is broken, and this can lead to both sides being unprepared for the changes that will come in the future. Once the divorceis filed, even couples with a high ...

L.A. Lakers star Steve Nash fighting child support payments Article provided by Law Office of Victor Mordey Visit us at http://www.thechulavistalawyer.com Raising children is not an easy task. Aside from the basic tasks of providing food, housing and keeping young ones safe from harm, parents are also expected to implement parenting methods to better increase their children's odds of a successful future. There are various parenting methods pushed by professionals, each with a loyal following. From the strict "tiger mom" style to more relaxed parenting ...