December 4, 2012 – About 60% of infectious diseases are caused by viruses, bacteria and other pathogens that make the jump to humans from other species. This includes some of the most devastating disease outbreaks of the past 30 years, including HIV/AIDS, Ebola, and SARS. Despite the huge and rising toll of such diseases, many gaps remain in our understanding of how these "zoonoses" evolve, develop, and spread—gaps that must be filled if we are to succeed in preventing or at least reducing the impact of a next pandemic. A new paper published in the Lancet by Stephen ...

Scientists using NASA satellite data and climate models have projected drier conditions likely will cause increased fire activity across the United States in coming decades. Other findings about U.S. wildfires, including their amount of carbon emissions and how the length and strength of fire seasons are expected to change under future climate conditions, were also presented Tuesday at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union in San Francisco. Doug Morton of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., presented the new analysis of future U.S. fire ...

The population of the United States is getting older, due not only to aging boomers but also to a four-year increase in life expectancy from 1990 to 2010. An aging population means increased diagnosis of prostate cancer. Statistically, the older the patient at time of diagnosis, the more aggressive the disease – and also the less well the patient is likely to tolerate traditional chemotherapies. In sum, we have more, aggressive prostate cancer that can't be targeted by traditional treatments. Members of the University of Colorado Cancer Center recently published a review ...

Buildings and statues constructed of limestone can be protected from pollution by applying a thin, single layer of a water-resistant coating. That's the word from a University of Iowa researcher and her colleagues from Cardiff University in a paper published in the journal Scientific Reports, from the publishers of Nature. In the study, the researchers report a new way to minimize chemical reactions that cause buildings to deteriorate, according to Vicki Grassian, F. Wendell Miller professor in the UI departments of chemistry and chemical and biochemical engineering. The ...

New Rochelle, NY, December 4, 2012—About 30 million women in the U.S. have osteoporosis, with low bone mass and deteriorating bone structure that increases their risk for fractures. Racial differences in the rates of detection and management of osteoporosis were explored in a study of African American and white women published in Journal of Women's Health, a peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free on the Journal of Women's Health website at http://www.liebertpub.com/jwh. The study, "Osteoporosis Health Care Disparities ...

No man is an island, entire of itself, said poet John Donne. And no atom neither. Even in the middle of intergalactic space, atoms feel the electromagnetic field---also known as the cosmic microwave background---left over by the Big Bang. The cosmos is filled with interactions that remind atoms they are not alone. Stray electric fields, say from a nearby electronic device, will also slightly adjust the internal energy levels of atoms, a process called the Stark effect. Even the universal vacuum, presumably empty of any energy or particles, can very briefly muster virtual ...

URBANA – A detailed annotation of the genome of T.J. Tabasco, a pig from the University of Illinois South Farms, is the outcome of over 10 years of work by an international consortium. It is expected to speed progress in both biomedical and agricultural research. U of I Vice President for Research Lawrence Schook said that the College of ACES played a crucial role in getting the work started. Funding that came through ACES allowed Schook and others to put together the Swine Genome Sequencing Consortium, an alliance of university, industry, and government laboratories ...

To grasp and move microscopic objects, such as bacteria and the components of living cells, scientists can harness the power of concentrated light to manipulate them without ever physically touching them. Now, doctoral student Amr Saleh and Assistant Professor Jennifer Dionne, researchers at the Stanford School of Engineering, have designed an innovative light aperture that allows them to optically trap smaller objects than ever before – potentially just a few atoms in size. The process of optical trapping – or optical tweezing, as it is often known – involves sculpting ...

Paolo Riva of the University of Milano-Bicocca and colleagues wanted to examine whether there might be a causal relationship between activity in the right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (rVLPFC) – known to be involved in the regulation of physical pain and negative expressions of emotion – and experiences of social pain. Their findings are published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. The researchers recruited 79 university students to take part in a "mental visualization exercise." They used a constant-current regulator ...

Philadelphia, Pa. (December 4, 2012) – Can treatment with modern anti-HIV drugs help fight hunger for HIV-infected patients in Africa? Starting antiretroviral therapy for HIV reduces "food insecurity" among patients in Uganda, suggests a study published online by the journal AIDS, official journal of the International AIDS Society. AIDS is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part ofWolters Kluwer Health.. Treatment including antiretroviral therapy (ART) may lead to a "positive feedback loop" whereby improved functioning and productivity lead to increased ability ...

Philadelphia, Pa. (December 4, 2012) – Road networks and geographic factors affecting "spatial accessibility" have a major impact on the spread of HIV across sub-Saharan Africa, according to a study published online by the journal AIDS, official journal of the International AIDS Society. AIDS is published by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, a part ofWolters Kluwer Health. Using sophisticated mapping techniques and detailed databases, Dr Andrew J. Tatem of the University of Florida and colleagues have found "coherent spatial patterns in HIV-1 subtype distributions" across ...

A new study published in BJS has demonstrated for the first time that a simple breath analysis could be used for colorectal cancer screening. The study is part of the "Improving Outcomes in Gastrointestinal Cancer" supplement. Cancer tissue has different metabolism compared to normal healthy cells and produces some substances which can be detected in the breath of these patients. Analysis of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) linked to cancer is a new frontier in cancer screening. Led by Donato F. Altomare, MD, of the Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation ...

PISCATAWAY, NJ – People who like to smoke when they drink may be at greater risk of suffering a hangover the next morning, according to a study in the January 2013 issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. For anyone who has ever had too much to drink, that day-after combination of headache, nausea and fatigue may be a familiar feeling. But some drinkers appear hangover-resistant: about one-quarter of people who drink enough to spur a hangover in most of us don't actually develop one. No one is sure why that is. But the new study suggests that smoking could ...

Rates of reported neonaticide have more than halved following the implementation of a unique 'anonymous delivery' law in Austria, finds a new study published today (05 December) in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Researchers, from the Medical University of Vienna, looked at the rates of reported neonaticide (where a child is killed within the first 24 hours of birth) in Austria prior to and after the implementation of the 'anonymous delivery' law which was introduced in 2001. The law allows women access to antenatal care and to give birth ...

New York, NY, December 5, 2012—Consumers saw nearly $1.5 billion in insurer rebates and overhead cost savings in 2011, due to the Affordable Care Act's medical loss ratio provision requiring health insurers to spend at least 80 percent of premium dollars on health care or quality improvement activities or pay a rebate to their customers, according to a new Commonwealth Fund report. Consumers with individual policies saw substantially reduced premiums when insurers reduced both administrative costs and profits to meet the new standards. While insurers in the small- and large-group ...

WASHINGTON (Dec. 5, 2012)-- The National Geographic Society today announced the next phase of its Genographic Project — the multiyear global research initiative that uses DNA to map the history of human migration. Building on seven years of global data collection, Genographic shines new light on humanity's collective past, yielding tantalizing clues about humankind's journey across the planet over the past 60,000 years. "Our first phase drew participation from more than 500,000 participants from over 130 countries," said Project Director Spencer Wells, a population geneticist ...

Recently the Mediterranean diet has achieved lots of distinctions, from the inclusion by the UNESCO in the Olympus of the World heritage list to a long series of dedicated congresses and meetings held everywhere in the globe with the aim of promoting its healthy properties against the most threatening diseases such as cardiovascular disease and tumors. So the Mediterranean diet is an international star acclaimed by the scientific community as the best dietary paradigm. And yet this eating model seems to creak under the burden of the economic crisis scaring the food trolley ...

Does Fourth Amendment protect against warrantless DUI blood tests? The United States Supreme Court recently accepted a case that could affect the rights of those who are accused of driving under the influence. The issue at stake is can a police officer force a suspect to take a blood test against his or her will without a warrant? Specifically, the decision will decide whether the natural dissipation of alcohol in the bloodstream is a sufficient cause under the Fourth Amendment to draw blood without a warrant. The events in the case, Missouri v. McNeely, began when ...

Truck accidents: GPS and cellphones add to accident risk Many Connecticut motorists have come to rely on their smartphones and GPS systems to help find their way to unfamiliar destinations. But although these navigation tools have become nearly indispensable for a growing number of drivers, when used improperly they can also contribute to one of the greatest threats on Connecticut roads today: distracted driving. What is distracted driving? Distracted driving is a factor in roughly 20 percent of all traffic accidents nationwide, according to the National Highway ...

Study shows significant rise in gray divorces Arizona is a popular retirement destination and is known for its high number of retirees. Unfortunately, many of these retirees are part of the latest divorce trend, known as gray divorce. Gray divorces involve individuals over the age of 50. Divorce is a difficult process. One individual who recently went through a gray divorce stated that it was a trying process. Since divorce can be a challenging journey, it's important to have experienced counsel at your side. Study shows increasing gray divorce rates A recent ...

Maryland marijuana reform lowers penalties, but risks remain As many states throughout the U.S. have done recently, Maryland implemented a law this year that reduces the penalties for possession of small quantities of marijuana. Lawmakers hope the new policy will reduce strain on the court system and allow police to focus more of their resources on addressing violent crime and other serious offenses. Maryland's new marijuana possession law went into effect on October 1, 2012. Under the new law, the maximum penalty for possession of less than 10 grams of marijuana ...

Getting Mississippi Teens to Engage in Safe Driving Habits There is no question that young drivers are at a greater risk of car accidents because of their lack of experience. Throw in a cellphone while behind the wheel and the risk of accident, injury or death is magnified. Despite understanding the danger of distracted driving, though, a significant number of teenage drivers continue to use their phones while driving. According to a survey conducted by Consumer Reports magazine, the majority of young drivers ages 16 to 21 know texting while driving is dangerous. ...

DUI Penalties for Underage Drivers in Connecticut According to data from the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles, teen deaths related to drunk driving have decreased in recent years, and tough teen driving laws dating to 2008 are cited as a major factor behind the decrease. Drivers under age 18 are subject to several restrictions when obtaining a driver's license in Connecticut, and the penalties for violating the rules start with an initial 48-hour license suspension and often include mandatory driver training classes. For teen drivers convicted of driving under ...

Burglary charges on college campuses in Western Michigan Colleges in western Michigan -- including Kalamazoo College and Western Michigan University -- and across the country are now back in full swing. With the influx of students, the number of reported crimes has started to rise. Due to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Police and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Higher Education Opportunity Act, these schools are required to collect data regarding reported crimes on campus. According to the report compiled by Kalamazoo College in 2011, burglary ...

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