If you want a preschooler to get the point, point. That's a lesson that can be drawn from a new study in Psychological Science, a journal published by the Association for Psychological Science. As part of their investigation of how small children know what other people know, the authors, Carolyn Palmquist and Vikram K. Jaswal of the University of Virginia, found they were able to mislead preschoolers with the simple introduction of a pointing gesture. "Children were willing to attribute knowledge to a person solely based on the gesture they used to convey the information," ...

URBANA – Adding prebiotic ingredients to infant formula helps colonize the newborn's gut with a stable population of beneficial bacteria, and probiotics enhance immunity in formula-fed infants, two University of Illinois studies report. "The beneficial bacteria that live in a baby's intestine are all-important to an infant's health, growth, and ability to fight off infections," said Kelly Tappenden, a U of I professor of nutrition and gastrointestinal physiology. "Breast-fed babies acquire this protection naturally. Formula-fed infants get sick more easily because the ...

Infectious diseases can spread very rapidly, so quickly identifying them can be crucial to stopping an epidemic. However, current testing for such diseases can take hours and days. But not for much longer. Jayne Wu, associate professor of computer science and electrical engineering at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and Shigetoshi Eda, associate professor of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries at the UT Institute of Agriculture Center for Wildlife Health, have developed a portable device that can be used onsite to detect infectious diseases, pathogens as well as ...

The pecan weevil, Curculio caryae (Horn), is a major pest of pecans throughout the southeastern United States, as well as portions of Texas and Oklahoma. In "Biology and Management of the Pecan Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)," (http://bit.ly/xrqS3d) a new article appearing in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management, scientists from Oklahoma State University and Texas A&M University describe the biology, life stages, crop injury, monitoring approaches, and primary control strategies currently used for pecan weevil in pecan. Aimed at pecan growers extension personnel ...

According to a study by the United States Secret Service and Department of Education that evaluated 41 school shooters, 71% felt persecuted, bullied, threatened, attacked, or injured by others. In several cases, they had experienced school bullying and harassment that was "long-standing and severe." The study also found that most shooters planned their attack in advance and told other students of their intentions. In the Chardon High School case, reports indicate the shooter tweeted he was going to bring a gun to school. Students often know what is happening ...

In contemplation of presidential, congressional, gubernatorial and state elections in November 2012, Robert Weidenfeld's book proposes a viable alternative to the systems of governments that grossly abused and contravened the principles of true democracy ever since 1789, when George Washington became the first President of the original 13 united colonies. The book reviews major historical events during the last 5,000 years, including the most significant systems of laws governing various societies during this lengthy period of time. Evidence from primary sources reveals ...

VIDEO: The most visible change in the Arctic region in recent years has been the rapid decline of the perennial ice cover. The perennial ice is the portion of the sea... Click here for more information. GREENBELT, Md. -- A new NASA study revealed that the oldest and thickest Arctic sea ice is disappearing at a faster rate than the younger and thinner ice at the edges of the Arctic Ocean's floating ice cap. The thicker ice, known as multi-year ice, survives through the cyclical ...

Visible and Infrared satellite imagery together provide a clearer picture of what a tropical cyclone is doing. NASA's Aqua satellite passed over newly strengthened Cyclone Irene and captured both types of images, which showed the extent and power of the storm. The low pressure area called System 92S that tracked across northern Madagascar this week and brought flooding rains has moved into the Mozambique Channel, strengthen and has been renamed Irina. NASA satellites captured a visible image of Irina as it filled up the northern half of the Mozambique Channel. System ...

Jackson Grills, a leading specialty grill manufacturer, is announcing a new ownership structure and website to support their corporate mandate of offering "Premium Quality." "We believe that the Jackson Grills product lineup fills a unique niche in the barbeque market - one that masterfully balances value with style and performance," says Ken Friesen, Owner of Jackson Grills. Initiated by the new ownership, Jackson Grills has undergone a complete brand makeover, featuring a new refined logo, tagline, website and social media initiatives. "All ...

New Rochelle, NY, February 29, 2012—Although industrial parks are often considered major economic engines for the communities in which they reside, they can also consume environmental resources and produce significant pollution that can negatively affect human health and quality of life. A case study published in Environmental Engineering Science (http://www.liebertpub.com/ees), a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. (http://www.liebertpub.com), describes a systems-based approach to assess and reduce the negative societal and economic impact of industrial parks. ...

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Many leading causes of death are linked to unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, including inadequate physical activity. Adults in minority populations have lower levels of physical activity and higher rates of preventable deaths, according to the Department of Health & Human Services. In a new study, University of Missouri researchers found that minority adults who received exercise interventions increased their physical activity levels. However, these interventions are not culturally tailored to best assist minority populations in improving overall health. Conn ...

New research shows an increased risk of ischemic stroke in postmenopausal women who consume higher amounts of trans fatty acids, commonly found in baked goods, fried foods, and packaged products. Study findings now available in Annals of Neurology, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American Neurological Association and Child Neurology Society, suggest aspirin use may moderate the stroke risk caused by a diet high in trans fats. Ischemic stroke is a result of a blockage in an artery leading to the brain. According to the American Heart Association ...

DARIEN, IL – Aging does not appear to be a factor in poor sleep, a new survey of more than 150,000 Americans shows. In fact, subjective sleep quality seems to improve over a lifetime, with the fewest complaints coming from people in their 80s. "This flies in the face of popular belief," said Michael Grandner, PhD, lead author of the study. "These results force us to re-think what we know about sleep in older people – men and women." The study, appearing in the March edition of the journal Sleep, examined rates of sleep disturbance and daytime fatigue reported by 155,877 ...

Reston, VA -- A medical school in Ireland has successfully implemented a radiation protection program, improving knowledge of radiation protection among medical undergraduates, according to a study in the March issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology. Although the increased use of diagnostic imaging has resulted in faster, more accurate diagnosis, better assessment of therapy response, and early detection of complications, there has been a great deal of scrutiny of its increasing use. As a result, there is a growing need for medical professionals to ...

Reston, VA -- Residency training requirements in competencies related to radiology business practice and health care policy have been in place for more than a decade. However, a recent study, published in the March issue of the Journal of the American College of Radiology, suggests curricula addressing these items still seem to be in a stage of acceptance and development. "The United States has been experiencing a period of rapid changes in health care delivery and financing. Institutions and individuals have been repeatedly challenged to successfully adapt to the accelerating ...

Non-fouling materials that resist cell adhesion are very important in fundamental research on cell–biomaterial interactions and for practical applications. Thus, they have been extensively investigated during the last decade. Natural biomacromolecules such as bovine serum albumin (BSA) have conventionally been used to block cell adhesion. Zhao and Ding (Fudan University, Shanghai, China) recently reported that the purple membrane (PM) containing a natural photoresponsive protein, bacteriorhodopsin (BR), can serve as a new basic substance that resists adhesion of mammalian ...

Although the Titanic disaster is widely known, the authentic story of the lovers, tennis star Karl H. Behr and Helen Newsom, is little known...until now. This new, definitive biography, Starboard at Midnight, written by their granddaughter, brings to light the long-buried secrets of these two survivors, breathing new life into legend. Based on Karl Behr's unpublished autobiography (now in the Tennis Hall of Fame, Newport, RI) along with family scrapbooks and more than ten years of research into the historical background of this period, the full story of this epic romance ...

Although a recent study suggests that women with normal results on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans at ages 67 and older may wait up to 15 years for a second test, a Viewpoint article published today in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research (JBMR) cautions that such a lengthy interval is inappropriate for many adults. Viewpoints allow experts to provide a new perspective on research. In their article, osteoporosis experts Drs. E. Michael Lewiecki, Andrew Laster, Paul Miller and John Bilezikian write that monitoring bone mineral density by DXA should be ...

Older women whose diets include a substantial amount of trans fats are more likely than their counterparts to suffer an ischemic stroke, a new study shows. However, the risk of stroke associated with trans fat intake was lower among women taking aspirin, according to the findings from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill researchers. The study, "Trans Fat Intake, Aspirin and Ischemic Stroke Among Postmenopausal Women," was published Thursday (March 1, 2012) online in the journal Annals of Neurology. The study of 87,025 generally healthy postmenopausal women ...

DALLAS – March 1, 2012 – Working in the emerging field of systems biology, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers mathematically predicted how bacteria that cause food poisoning hijack a cell's sense of direction and then confirmed those predictions in living cells. The study proposed a new model to explain how mammalian cells establish the sense of direction necessary to move, as well as the mechanism that a disease-causing form of E. coli bacteria employ to hijack that ability. Cells need to orient themselves for several basic processes, such as keeping biochemical ...

The Newport Festivals Foundation continues to celebrate the festival's historic past by featuring emerging young artists alongside some of folk music's most venerable names. This year's festival features: My Morning Jacket, Jackson Browne, Conor Oberst, Iron & Wine, Patty Griffin, Guthrie Family Reunion, Dawes, The Head & The Heart, Deer Tick, Punch Brothers, City & Colour, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, The Tallest Man on Earth, tUnE-yArDs, Tom Morello, Trampled by Turtles, Gary Clark, Jr., Alabama Shakes, Blind Pilot, Of Monsters and Men, original music from: ...

The e cigarette is under fire again by special interest and misguided politicians using now debunked FDA testing as their reasoning for a ban of the electronic cigarette in public places. According to science, it is the combusted plant material that is inhaled deep into the lungs that cause over 99% of the harm generated by tobacco. Electronic cigarettes have the same or lesser amounts of these nicotine based chemicals than pharmaceutical smoking cessation drugs that are approved by the FDA for the general population in over the counter gums, patches and other NRT ...

Planning a bachelorette party in 2012 is far different than the centuries old tradition of a dinner party given by the bridegroom. Recently, the film Bridesmaids brought to light the stereotypical zaniness that can occur during, what is termed, "The Last Night Out." It is believed this night grew out of the 60s sexual revolution, where bachelorettes could be as sassy as the groomsmen, including a night out with exotic dancers, crazy themes, and the ever popular drinking and dancing on bars. Today's bachelorettes throw a wide variety of parties that involve ...

iCharts, Inc., a cloud-based interactive charting platform, today announced the closing of a Series A private equity financing of $3.1M. Regehr Capital Management Group, a German group of super-angels, led the financing. Additional investors include Saeed Amidi, Founder and CEO of Plug N Play and Lorenz Graef, Founder and former CEO of Globalpark, an accredited expert in the market research industry. "We have filled an industry gap by creating a platform that radically simplifies sharing charts on websites and social media, " says CEO and co-founder Seymour ...

SecurityMetrics was presented with a Bronze Stevie Award in the Call Center of the Year category in the sixth annual Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service last night. The Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service are the world's top sales awards, contact center awards, and customer service awards. The Stevie Awards organizes several of the world's leading business awards shows including the prestigious American Business AwardsSM and International Business AwardsSM. SecurityMetrics was recognized for its premium level of customer service, which it applies ...