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Science 2012-02-08

Post surgical phone support improves outcome following knee replacement

SAN FRANCISCO -- Poor emotional health and morbid obesity are associated with less functional gain following total knee replacement (TKR) surgery. In the new study, "Can Telephone Support During Post-TKR Rehabilitation Improve Post-op Function: A Randomized Controlled Trial," presented today at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), approximately 180 patients were categorized by gender, body mass index (BMI) and emotional health. Each patient randomly received either emotional telephone support by a trained behavioral specialist, ...
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Molecular path from internal clock to cells controlling rest and activity
Medicine 2012-02-08

Molecular path from internal clock to cells controlling rest and activity

PHILADELPHIA – The molecular pathway that carries time-of-day signals from the body's internal clock to ultimately guide daily behavior is like a black box, says Amita Sehgal, PhD, the John Herr Musser Professor of Neuroscience and Co-Director, Comprehensive Neuroscience Center, at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. Now, new research from the Sehgal lab is taking a peek inside, describing a molecular pathway and its inner parts that connect the well-known clock neurons to cells governing rhythms of rest and activity in fruit flies. Sehgal is ...
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Medicine 2012-02-08

How early breast tumors become deadly: A small group of molecules might hold the answer

Some early-stage breast cancers are potentially harmless, but others invade surrounding healthy tissue and become deadly. This study has identified a small pattern of molecules that highlights important differences between early-stage breast tumors and invasive, deadly ones. The findings might lead to a way to identify early tumors that will likely become invasive. COLUMBUS, Ohio – Researchers have discovered a restricted pattern of molecules that differentiate early-stage breast tumors from invasive, life-threatening cancer. They also found a similar molecular signature ...
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NASA satellite sees tropical storm Cyril a strong, compact storm
Space 2012-02-08

NASA satellite sees tropical storm Cyril a strong, compact storm

Tropical Storm Cyril was known as "11P" has been strengthening since February 6, and still appears very compact on infrared NASA satellite data. In the morning hours of February 7 (local time Vanuatu) Cyril was located south of the island of Vavau in the Kingdom of Tonga. All warnings for Niue and Tonga have now been cancelled. During the morning hours of February 7, Cyril picked up speed and is moving to the southeast at 28 knots (~32 mph/~52 kph). Cyril's maximum sustained winds were near 45 knots (~52 mph/~83 kph). Those tropical-storm-force winds only extended out ...
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Science 2012-02-08

44 percent of postmenopausal women with distal radius fracture have low levels of vitamin D

SAN FRANCISCO – Wrist fractures, also called distal radius fractures (DRF), are among the most common osteoporosis-related fractures occurring on average 15 years earlier than hip fractures. As vitamin D deficiency has recently been linked with muscle weakness, increased fall risks, and bone fractures, investigators sought to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among post menopausal women with DRF. The study, "Hypovitaminosis D in Postmenopausal Women with a Distal Radius Fracture," was presented today at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of ...
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NASA sees cyclone Jasmine's power and new eye
Space 2012-02-08

NASA sees cyclone Jasmine's power and new eye

Cyclone Jasmine continues to wind between New Caledonia and Vanuatu and bring cyclone-force winds, heavy rain and very rough surf. NASA's Aqua satellite passed overhead early on February 7 and noticed the strongest part of the cyclone was around the center and north and east of the center. Aqua data showed that an eye has developed. The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument on NASA's Aqua satellite captured an infrared image of Jasmine on February 7, 2012 at 03:17 UTC (2:17 p.m., Pacific/Noumea local time/Feb 6, 10:17 p.m. EST). Jasmine's strongest thunderstorms ...
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Social Science 2012-02-08

Nicaragua, Central America's Top Economy in 2011

The Central Bank of Nicaragua (BCN, for its acronym in Spanish), in a recently published report, stated that the country's gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 4.7 percent in 2011, the highest growth rate in the Central American region and well above the Latin America and the Caribbean average of 4.3 percent. Following Nicaragua's growth in 2011 were Costa Rica with a 3.8 percent GDP growth, Guatemala with 3.3 percent, Honduras with 3.2 percent and El Salvador with 1.4 percent. This is the second consecutive year in which Nicaragua leads the region in terms of ...
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Medicine 2012-02-08

Rothman at Jefferson researchers find epidural steroid injections do not benefit spine patients

(PHILADELPHIA) – Researchers at the Rothman Institute at Jefferson examined data on patients being treated for lumbar stenosis and the degenerative spine condition spondylolisthesis and found that patients who received epidural steroid injections (ESI) had a higher rate of crossover to surgery and fared worse in physical health and bodily pain versus those who did not receive ESI, dispelling their pre-study hypothesis. Data for this study was gathered from the database of the prospective, multicenter NIH-funded SPORT (Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trial) of surgical ...
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Salk scientists use an old theory to discover new targets in the fight against breast cancer
Medicine 2012-02-08

Salk scientists use an old theory to discover new targets in the fight against breast cancer

La Jolla, CA -- Reviving a theory first proposed in the late 1800s that the development of organs in the normal embryo and the development of cancers are related, scientists at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have studied organ development in mice to unravel how breast cancers, and perhaps other cancers, develop in people. Their findings provide new ways to predict and personalize the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. In a paper published February 3 in Cell Stem Cell, the scientists report striking similarities between genetic signatures found in certain types ...
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HostGator Partners with Website Builder BaseKit
Science 2012-02-08

HostGator Partners with Website Builder BaseKit

BaseKit, the online website builder, has been launched by HostGator; enabling their SMB's to build and manage their own website with the state of the art technology. The hosting giant, based in Houston, Texas, is offering BaseKit to both new and existing customers. As one of the fastest growing private companies in America, HostGator is always seeking innovative products and services to enrich its customers' experiences and surpass their expectations. BaseKit has received international acclaim as an all-in-one website builder that lets SMB's build a site that "looks ...
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NASA's TRMM satellite measures flooding rains from Australia monsoon
Environment 2012-02-08

NASA's TRMM satellite measures flooding rains from Australia monsoon

A monsoon trough continues to drench northeastern Australia and NASA's Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite measured and calculated the rainfall in the region. Low pressure centers associated with a summer monsoon trough have repeatedly drenched Australia from central Queensland to northern New South Wales. The clockwise rotation of these low pressure centers have continued to pump warm moist air from the Coral Sea over these areas resulting in severe flooding. Thousands of Australians have been displaced by this flooding. A Tropical cyclone called Jasmine ...
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Technology 2012-02-08

Latest Tracker I-9 Software Update Ensures Easier E-Verify Compliance, Adds Online Training, and Enhances Form I-9 Reporting Tools

Tracker Corp, http://trackercorp.com, the most innovative developer of Form I-9 & E-Verify compliance software and the immigration case management system trusted by more Fortune 500 employers than any other provider, released the latest round of enhancements to its Tracker I-9 software, version 7.4. Tracker I-9 software fully complies with all current functional changes to E-Verify (v23). These changes include enabling RIDE (Records and Images from DMV for E-Verify) validation of certain Drivers' Permits and State-Issued ID cards (currently Mississippi only), providing ...
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Medicine 2012-02-08

Aspirin may prevent DVT and PE in joint replacement patients

SAN FRANCISCO – Following a total joint replacement, anticoagulation (blood thinning) drugs can prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), a blood clot deep within the extremities, or a pulmonary embolism (PE), a complication that causes a blood clot to move to the lungs. However, prolonged use of these therapies may increase the risk of hemorrhage and infection. In the study, "Aspirin was Effective to Prevent Proximal DVT and PE in TKA and THA - Analysis of 1,500 Cases," presented today at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), investigators ...
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Science 2012-02-08

Risk of pulmonary embolism greatest during first week following total joint replacement

SAN FRANCISCO – The elevated risk of pulmonary embolism (PE) – a blood clot that travels from the leg to the lungs – following total joint replacement (TJR) surgery has been well established, yet little is known about the natural course and timing of this potentially fatal condition. In the study, "Pulmonary Embolism Following Total Joint Arthroplasty: When Do They Occur?", presented at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), researchers reviewed the records of 25,660 patients who received TJR between 2000 and 2010. All patients ...
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Social Science 2012-02-08

Economic factors impact orthopaedic trauma volume

SAN FRANCISCO – Previous studies have found that human behavior during a recession is remarkably different than that during a bullish economy. For example, people tend to spend more time focused on working and less time engaging in leisure and recreation activities, resulting in fewer motor vehicle and other accidents. According to a 10-year study at a Level 1 regional trauma center, presented today at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), economic trends do impact orthopedic trauma volume. Between 1999 and 2009, a local ...
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Science 2012-02-08

Raleigh DWI Lawyer Launches Online North Carolina DWI Case Review Service

Raleigh criminal lawyer Damon Chetson announced the launch of new online North Carolina DWI case evaluation tool designed to provide customized answers based on responses users provide. The tool, developed after countless of research, allows people who are concerned about North Carolina DWI charges to select various options based, and produces a case review based on those answers and based on current North Carolina law. "The tool is not meant to replace a Raleigh DWI lawyer," said Mr. Chetson, who practices DWI and criminal law in Wake County. "However, ...
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Medicine 2012-02-08

Mechanism of calming hyperactivity by psychostimulant drugs identified

It has long been known that psychostimulant drugs have the paradoxical effect of reducing hyperactivity. [Psychostimulant drugs include methylphenidate – known by the trade names Ritalin, Concerta, and Methylin – and methamphetamine]. Since the mid-1950s, millions of children and adults have been prescribed stimulant medications to control attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). But for more than seven decades, since the first experiment that gave an amphetamine drug to children diagnosed with behavioral problems, scientists have not known how stimulants work to ...
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Science 2012-02-08

Study examines role of bilingualism in children's development

A new study on children who are raised bilingual examined the effects on children's development of growing up speaking two languages. The study found that different factors were responsible for the language- and non-language-related outcomes of bilingualism found in previous research. The research was carried out at York University in Toronto and published in the journal Child Development. Bilingual children show differences in how they develop language and cognitive skills through the early school years. Children who grow up speaking two languages have slower language ...
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Science 2012-02-08

High-quality child care found good for children -- and their mothers

High-quality early child care isn't important just for children, but for their mothers, too. That's the conclusion of a new study by researchers at the University of Texas at Austin; the study appears in the journal Child Development. The study analyzed data from more than 1,300 children in the longitudinal Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development, which was sponsored by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). As part of the study, children's care settings were evaluated at multiple points when the children ...
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Science 2012-02-08

Everything Matters Publishing Launches New Website

Everything Matters Publishing is thrilled to announce the launch of their new website, www.HCGDietBooks.com. This carefully crafted HCG Diet Book site is bright and informative as well as easy to maneuver and currently welcomes HCG Diet plan customers and soon will also handle wholesale HCG practitioners. The HCG Diet community will encounter exceptional HCG Diet books, and receive friendly, timely customer service with prompt shipping when ordering HCG Diet books from this new site. HCG Diet customers can glean information on each HCG book, download the original HCG ...
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Social Science 2012-02-08

In Northern Ireland, political violence harms youths through families

War, the aftermath of war, and political violence are harmful to children's and teens' mental health and well-being. But few studies have looked at how this happens. A new longitudinal study of neighborhoods in Belfast, Northern Ireland, has found that political violence affects children by upsetting the ways their families function, resulting in behavior problems and mental health symptoms among the youths over extended periods of time. "Our findings suggest that working with families in communities affected by political violence may have long-term benefits for children ...
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Social Science 2012-02-08

Playing school sports affects youths' smoking

Young people's choices about using drugs and alcohol are influenced by peers—not only close friends, but also sports teammates. A new study of middle schoolers and their social networks has found that teammates' smoking plays a big role in youths' decisions about smoking, but adolescents who take part in a lot of sports smoke less. The study was conducted at the University of Southern California (USC) and appears in the journal Child Development. Researchers looked at 1,260 ethnically diverse, urban, middle-class sixth through eighth graders. They asked the students ...
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Science 2012-02-08

Depression forecasts difficulties with peers in middle childhood

Children who have difficult relationships with their peers can experience more psychological dysfunction, such as depression. But does the depression lead to youths' relationship problems, or do difficulties in the relationships provoke the depression? A new study of children in the middle years of childhood has found that depression forecasts problems in peer relationships, including being victimized by peers and problems being accepted by peers. The study appears in the journal Child Development; it was conducted by researchers at Arizona State University and the University ...
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Medicine 2012-02-08

Rothman at Jefferson research suggests abandon convention in diagnosing periprosthetic joint infection

PHILADELPHIA -- In their search for new, better ways to diagnose periprosthetic joint infection, Rothman Institute at Jefferson researchers have discovered that measurement of C-reactive protein in the synovial fluid is extremely accurate, while measuring a patients’ serum white blood cell count (WBC) and the percentage of neutrophils (PMN%), the conventional method for diagnosis, has a minimal role in the determination of PJI. The synovial fluid is the viscous liquid that lubricates the joints and feeds the cartilage. "This research indicates that we may need to ...
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Engineering 2012-02-08

Archive of failed joint replacements provides tips to building a better hip replacement

A study by Hospital for Special Surgery researchers has provided the first comprehensive look at just how metal-on-metal total hip replacements are failing in patients around the country. Made possible by what is thought to be the largest archive of failed joint replacements, the research should help doctors develop a better hip replacement for future patients. The study will be reported at the upcoming annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Feb. 7-11. "This paper is the first step in what is a path to try to understand what the problems are with ...
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