Fuel-saving designs improve efficiency of hydraulic systems

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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Researchers at Purdue University have shown how to reduce fuel consumption and dramatically improve the efficiency of hydraulic pumps and motors in heavy construction equipment.

The new designs incorporate two innovations: They eliminate valves now needed to direct the flow of hydraulic fluid in heavy equipment, and they also might incorporate textured "microstructured" surfaces inside pumps to improve performance.

Titanium work surfaces could cut food poisoning cases say scientists

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Food factory work surfaces coated in titanium could cut the number of food poisoning cases every year, scientists heard today (Wednesday 10 September 2008) at the Society for General Microbiology's Autumn meeting being held this week at Trinity College, Dublin.

Oil seed rape grown for biofuel can help clean up toxic soils

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Oil seed rape grown for biofuel in Ireland could help clean up contaminated soils, scientists heard today (Wednesday 10 September 2008) at the Society for General Microbiology's Autumn meeting being held this week at Trinity College, Dublin.

Mayo Clinic chest surgeons propose measures for indicating quality of lung surgery

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ROCHESTER, Minn. - Even though 30,000 patients in the United States undergo lung surgery each year, no standard criteria exist to measure the quality of their care. In the current issue of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Mayo Clinic surgeons have proposed a system of lung surgery quality indicators for surgeons and the public as a method to demonstrate best practices for obtaining positive patient outcomes.

Eating fish while pregnant, longer breastfeeding, lead to better infant development

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BOSTON, Mass. (Sept. 9, 2008) — Both higher fish consumption and longer breastfeeding are linked to better physical and cognitive development in infants, according to a study of mothers and infants from Denmark. Maternal fish consumption and longer breastfeeding were independently beneficial.

Calcium during pregnancy reduces harmful blood lead levels

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ANN ARBOR, Mich.---Pregnant women who take high levels of daily calcium supplements show a marked reduction in lead levels in their blood, suggesting calcium could play a critical role in reducing fetal and infant exposure.

A new study at the University of Michigan shows that women who take 1,200 milligrams of calcium daily have up to a 31 percent reduction in lead levels.

Evaluation of quality measure for colon cancer care suggests considerable improvements needed

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Pathology examination of 12 or more lymph nodes is associated with improved staging and survival in colon cancer patients, yet just 38 percent of U.S. hospitals were compliant with this guideline in 2004-2005, according to a study published in the September 9 online issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Breast cancer screening may lower mortality and disease burden in India

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Regular screening of women between the ages of 40 and 59 could substantially reduce breast cancer mortality in India, according to a study in the September 9 online issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

US hospitals 'flunk' colon cancer

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CHICAGO -- School has barely begun, but many U.S. hospitals have already received their report card in colon cancer. They flunked.

A new study from Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine and the American College of Surgeons finds the majority of hospitals don't check enough lymph nodes after a patient's colon cancer surgery to determine if the disease has spread.

Checking more lymph nodes is linked to improved survival of colon cancer because it allows doctors to accurately diagnose the stage of disease and prescribe the most effective treatment.

5- and 10-year survival continues to improve for US children with hematologic malignancies

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5- and 10-year survival rates continue to improve for children under the age of 15 who are diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia, or non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in the United States, researchers report in the September 9 online issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.