PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — A key advance, newly reported by chemists from Brown and Yale Universities, could lead to a cheaper and more sustainable way to make acrylate, an important commodity chemical used to make materials from polyester fabrics to diapers. Chemical companies churn out billions of tons of acrylate each year, usually by heating propylene, a compound derived from crude oil. "What we're interested in is enhancing both the economics and the sustainability of how acrylate is made," said Wesley Bernskoetter, assistant professor of chemistry at ...

When babies are deprived of oxygen before birth, brain damage and disorders such as cerebral palsy can occur. Extended cooling can prevent brain injuries, but this treatment is not always available in developing nations where advanced medical care is scarce. To address this need, Johns Hopkins undergraduates have devised a low-tech $40 unit to provide protective cooling in the absence of modern hospital equipment that can cost $12,000. The device, called the Cooling Cure, aims to lower a newborn's temperature by about 6 degrees F for three days, a treatment that has been ...

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A new University of Florida study of nearly 5,000 Haiti bird fossils shows contrary to a commonly held theory, human arrival 6,000 years ago didn't cause the island's birds to die simultaneously. Although many birds perished or became displaced during a mass extinction event following the first arrival of humans to the Caribbean islands, fossil evidence shows some species were more resilient than others. The research provides range and dispersal patterns from A.D. 600 to 1600 that may be used to create conservation plans for tropical mountainous regions, ...

Scientists have confirmed that the pathogen that causes Lyme Disease—unlike any other known organism—can exist without iron, a metal that all other life needs to make proteins and enzymes. Instead of iron, the bacteria substitute manganese to make an essential enzyme, thus eluding immune system defenses that protect the body by starving pathogens of iron. To cause disease, Borrelia burgdorferi requires unusually high levels of manganese, scientists at Johns Hopkins University (JHU), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), and the University of Texas reported. Their ...

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has issued a new white paper, "Enhancing the role of case-oriented peer review to improve quality and safety in radiation oncology: Executive Summary," that recommends increased peer review within the radiation therapy treatment process and among members of the radiation oncology team in order to increase quality assurance and safety, according to the manuscript published as an article in press online in Practical Radiation Oncology (PRO), the official clinical practice journal of ASTRO. The executive summary and supplemental ...

Martin Gartzman sat in his dentist's waiting room last fall when he read a study in Education Next that nearly brought him to tears. A decade ago, in his former position as chief math and science officer for Chicago Public Schools, Gartzman spearheaded an attempt to decrease ninth-grade algebra failure rates, an issue he calls "an incredibly vexing problem." His idea was to provide extra time for struggling students by having them take two consecutive periods of algebra. Gartzman had been under the impression that the double-dose algebra program he had instituted had ...

Though we all desire relief -- from stress, work, or pain -- little is known about the specific emotions underlying relief. New research from the Association for Psychological Science explores the psychological mechanisms associated with relief that occurs after the removal of pain, also known as pain offset relief. This new research shows that healthy individuals and individuals with a history of self-harm display similar levels of relief when pain is removed, which suggests that pain offset relief may be a natural mechanism that helps us to regulate our emotions. Feeling ...

Turning on new satellite instruments is like opening new eyes. This week, the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) released its first images of Earth, collected at 1:40 p.m. EDT on March 18. The first image shows the meeting of the Great Plains with the Front Ranges of the Rocky Mountains in Wyoming and Colorado. The natural-color image shows the green coniferous forest of the mountains coming down to the dormant brown plains. The cities of Cheyenne, Fort Collins, Loveland, Longmont, Boulder and Denver string out from north to south. Popcorn clouds dot the plains while ...

Teaching bystander Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) strategically to the general public offers the greatest potential to make the biggest overall impact on survival in out of hospital cardiac arrests in Europe, reported a main session on Resuscitation Science at the European Society of Cardiology's EuroHeart Care Congress, which took place in Glasgow, 22 to 23 March, 2013. "The reality is that four out of five cardiac arrests happen at home, and unless the public are trained in resuscitation many people die before emergency services get to them," said Mary Hannon. ...

Yoga and acupressure could both play an important role in helping patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Two abstracts presented at the at the European Society of Cardiology's EuroHeart Care Congress, which takes place in Glasgow, 22 to 23 March, 2013, show the potential for medical yoga¹ and acupressure², in addition to pharmacological therapies, to reduce blood pressure and heart rates in patients with AF. In a third abstract³, a survey found that complementary and alternative therapies (CATs), were widely used by patients attending cardiology clinics, raising concerns ...

Deprivation represents the "elephant in the room" with regard to cardiovascular disease (CVD), and health care professionals have an important role to play in tackling the problem, delegates heard at a special plenary session opening the EuroHeart Care Congress in Glasgow, Scotland, 22 March to 23 March 2013. The session heard how Scotland, a country considered to have the highest rates of heart disease in Western Europe, has recently taken action to address the CVD health inequalities that exist between affluent and deprived communities. Mr Michael Matheson, the Public ...

CHICAGO – In a new study presented today at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), researchers reviewed existing literature on smoking and the healing of fractures involving long bones (bones that are longer than they are wide). The analysis of data from 20 studies found an overall 2.3 times higher risk of nonunion (bones that do not heal properly) in smokers. Similarly, for all fractures, the average time to fracture healing was longer for smokers (32 weeks) than nonsmokers (25.1 weeks). The review illustrates the effects ...

CHICAGO — In addition to improving life quality and diminishing pain, total hip replacement (THR) is associated with reduced mortality, heart failure, depression and diabetes rates in Medicare patients with osteoarthritis, according to a new study presented today at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). The procedure also is cost effective with the 7-year costs of THR only $6,366 higher than the cost of treating an osteoarthritis patient for hip pain without THR. "The study has demonstrated that THR confers a potential long-term ...

CHICAGO – In a study, presented today at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), researchers obtained and compared the hospital purchasing records from 45 academic medical centers on the unit costs and volume of spinal products – pedicle screws (PS), anterior cervical plates (ACP) and posterior interbody cages – purchased from a total of seven vendors. Among the results: PS had a mean cost of $878, with a range of $400 to $1,843 per patient; ACP had a mean cost of $1,068, with a range of $540 to $2,388; and, cages, $2,975, ...

WASHINGTON, D.C.--Pit latrines are one of the most common human excreta disposal systems globally, and their use is on the rise as countries aim to meet the sanitation-related target of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Strong evidence supports the use of these basic toilets as a way to improve human health. However, improperly designed pit latrines can actually allow disease-causing microbes or other contaminants to leach into the groundwater. The contaminated water puts people, and especially children, at risk of developing potentially life-threatening diarrheal ...

A study by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) challenges a widely held belief that long nerve grafts do poorly in adults with an axillary nerve injury. Investigators found that the outcomes of long nerve grafts were comparable to those of modern nerve transfers. Both procedures restored function. The axillary nerve supplies the deltoid muscle of the shoulder and an important rotator cuff muscle. It's part of the brachial plexus, a network of nerves that runs down from the neck and across the shoulder. "Conventional wisdom is that grafts longer than seven ...

Massachusetts judges get tough on deadbeat parents Article provided by Grindle Robinson Goodhue & Frolin LLP Visit us at http://www.grindlerobinson.com Getting a child support award is certainly not the end for single parents who need assistance from former spouses to care for their children. Long after a child support award is obtained in court, single parents may find themselves fighting to actually enforce the award, while those who are unable to pay -- as well as those deadbeat parents that refuse to pay -- fail to make good on the award. The result impacts ...

FDA proposes codes for medical devices to more efficiently catch defects Article provided by The Cifarelli Law Firm, LLP Visit us at http://www.cifarellilaw.com/ The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, is responsible for regulating manufactures of medical devices sold in the United States. The FDA has a broad list of requirements that medical devices must meet prior to being sold within the U.S., including: -Registration with the FDA -Providing the FDA with a list of all devices sold within the U.S. -In some cases, authorization from the FDA In an ...

How to make co-parenting work after divorce Article provided by Jonathan D. Katz, Attorney at Law Visit us at http://www.jonathankatzlaw.com/ Although emotions may cloud people's judgment when they go through a divorce, they must put all of that aside when making decisions for their children. And because it is imperative for children to spend time with both parents -- which can make them feel more secure as they deal with the transition of seeing their mother and father apart -- ex-spouses should always think of the best interests of their children when co-parenting, ...

Michigan drunk driving laws: All about ignition interlocks Article provided by Willis Law Visit us at http://www.yourcriminaldefenselawfirm.com In Michigan, there are hefty consequences for those convicted of drunk driving. In addition to fees and jail time, offenders are often presented with driving limitations, which are intended to help serve as deterrent for future criminal actions. An ignition interlock device (IID) is an alcohol breath-evaluating instrument, which is installed in a car and prevents it from starting if a driver's blood-alcohol concentration ...

U.S. immigration policy leaves many immigrants at risk for deportation Article provided by Thomas E. Moseley Visit us at http://www.criminalimmigrationdefense.com The U.S. deportation policy is of interest to many immigrants concerned about the threat of deportation. There are several ways in which legal and undocumented immigrants may face deportation from the United States. If a non-citizen is convicted of certain charges, he or she is automatically deported from the United States. This includes proven charges of misdemeanors and felonies. It does not matter ...

Pennsylvania State Police replace breathalyzers with blood tests Article provided by Shaffer & Engle Law Offices, LLC Visit us at http://www.pennfamilylawyers.com Pennsylvania residents may recall hearing about a recent ruling by a Dauphin County judge, where a DUI charge was thrown out because of concerns about the reliability and accuracy of breathalyzers during DUI stops. As a result of the ruling, the Pennsylvania State Police are temporarily substituting blood tests for breathalyzers when stopping drivers on suspicion of a DUI. Blood tests could mean ...

New York mortgage foreclosures: Are we out of the woods yet? Article provided by The Law Offices of Allison B. Crain & Associates Visit us at http://www.crainlaw.com The United States Secretary for Housing and Urban Development is optimistic about the economy and attributes the improvement to a rebound with the nation's housing market. He cites a deal made with five of the largest mortgage companies in the nation as the reason for the economic recovery. About a year ago, the federal government, 49 state attorney generals and the mortgage companies reached ...

Tips to hasten credit repair after filing for bankruptcy relief Article provided by Costello & Costello, P.C. Visit us at http://www.costellolaw.com According to the Federal Judiciary, over one million Americans filed for bankruptcy relief in 2012 alone. Bankruptcy petitions were designed by Congress to offer petitioners who qualify for protection with the ability to discharge debts and begin on a fresh financially. Those who seek protections from creditors through bankruptcy relief can also rest assured knowing their credit scores will recover. Although ...

The feds are cracking down on NY organized crime families Article provided by Hanlon, Dunn & Robertson Visit us at http://www.hdsuperlawyers.com Organized crime groups are alive and well in several New York and New Jersey counties, using extortion and violence to keep raking in the profits in the waste-management industry. In January 2013, federal prosecutors sought to cut into the profits of the Genovese, Gambino and Lucchese crime families by indicting several of their members and associates on a litany of criminal charges. The U.S. Attorney's Office in ...