Culture

ASH's 52nd Annual Meeting and Exposition showcases the latest advances in the field

(ORLANDO, November 30, 2010) – The American Society of Hematology (ASH) will host its 52nd annual meeting at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL, December 4-7. More than 20,000 attendees are expected for this event, which will highlight emerging research trends in the diagnosis, treatment, and understanding of blood disorders.

SRC-1 controls liver's 'sweet spot' for glucose production

HOUSTON - (Dec.

Social support is most effective when provided invisibly

New research by University of Minnesota psychologists shows how social support benefits are maximized when provided "invisibly"—that is without the support recipient being aware that they are receiving it.

The study, "Getting in Under the Radar: A Dyadic View of Invisible Support," is published in the December issue of the journal Psychological Science.

In the study, graduate student Maryhope Howland and professor Jeffry Simpson suggest there may be something unique about the emotional support behaviors that result in recipients being less aware of receiving support.

Legalizing child pornography is linked to lower rates of child sex abuse

Legalizing child pornography is linked to lower rates of child sex abuse

Could making child pornography legal lead to lower rates of child sex abuse? It could well do, according to a new study by Milton Diamond, from the University of Hawaii, and colleagues.

Vitamin D and calcium -- updated dietary reference intakes from IOM

Vitamin D and calcium have been the focus of much research since the Institute of Medicine set nutritional reference values for them in 1997. Known as Dietary Reference Intakes, the values for these and other nutrients serve as a guide for good nutrition and provide the scientific basis for the development of food guidelines in both the United States and Canada. Updated DRIs for these two nutrients are presented in a new IOM report, Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D, which will be released on Tuesday, Nov. 30.

Caffeinated alcoholic beverages -- a growing public health problem

San Diego, CA, November 30, 2010 – In the wake of multiple state bans on caffeinated alcoholic beverages (CABs) and an FDA warning to four companies to remove their products from the marketplace, an article published online today in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine delineates the scope of the public health problem and suggests areas of research that might help address it.

Rainforest collapse drove reptile evolution

Global warming devastated tropical rainforests 300 million years ago. Now scientists report the unexpected discovery that this event triggered an evolutionary burst among reptiles -- and inadvertently paved the way for the rise of dinosaurs, 100 million years later.

This event happened during the Carboniferous Period. At that time, Europe and North America lay on the equator and were covered by steamy tropical rainforests. But when the Earth's climate became hotter and drier, rainforests collapsed, triggering reptile evolution.

How to avoid employee depression in a recession

As employees become increasingly anxious about job security and financial worries during an economic recession, satisfaction with the job they have, commitment to their company and engagement with their work are all affected detrimentally. This trend could be self-fulfilling in that disengaged employees could have a negative impact on a company's products or services and lead to its decline which would inevitably see the company failing.

Male reproductive problems may add to falling fertility rates

Paris, 29 November 2010 – Reduced male fertility may be making it even harder for couples to conceive and be contributing to low birth rates in many countries, reveals a new European Science Foundation (ESF) report launching today.

More than 10% of couples worldwide are infertile, contributing to the growing demand for assisted reproduction techniques such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF) for which Robert G. Edwards won the Nobel Prize in Medicine last month.

Severe asthma more prevalent than thought, related to pronounced nasal symptoms

People with multi-symptom asthma more often have night-time awakenings due to asthma-symptoms, a sign of severe asthma. Researchers writing in BioMed Central's open access journal Respiratory Research have shown that asthma with multiple symptoms is more highly prevalent than previously suggested, comprising 20- 25% of all asthmatics.

Emergency departments see substantial increase in CT exams

OAK BROOK, Ill. – A new study reports that the use of computed tomography (CT) in the nation's emergency departments is growing exponentially. If the growth trend continues, by 2011, nearly 20 percent of all emergency department (ED) visits may involve a CT exam. The results of this study were presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) and published online and in the journal Radiology.

Diagnosis uncertainty increases anxiety in patients

CHICAGO – Have you ever felt uneasy sitting in a doctor's waiting room or climbed the walls waiting for your test results? That feeling of anxious uncertainty can be more stressful than knowing you have a serious illness, according to a study presented today at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA).

Bonn physicists create a 'super-photon'

Bonn physicists create a 'super-photon'

Erythromycin A produced in E. coli for first time

MEDFORD/SOMERVILLE, Mass. -- Researchers at Tufts University School of Engineering have reported the first successful production of the antibiotic erythromycin A, and two variations, using E. coli as the production host.

'Black Africans' in Britain: Integration or segregation?

The study, by Dr Lavinia Mitton and Mr Peter Aspinall of the University of Kent, finds that 'Black Africans' in the UK are a diverse group with a wide range of experience and needs depending on country of birth, religion and native language. Understanding these distinctions between different Black Africans is the first step to providing better support, improving their quality of life and helping integration into society.