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Public Release: 15-Jan-2009
High-tech solutions ease inaugural challenges
Transportation and security officials on Inauguration Day will have a centralized, consolidated stream of traffic information and other data displayed on a single screen using software developed by the University of Maryland. The Regional Integrated Transportation Information System gives officials a single real-time view far more comprehensive than previously available. The idea is to enhance officials' ability to monitor vehicular traffic, accidents, incidents, response plans, air space, weather conditions and more.
Contact: Lee Tune
ltune@umd.edu
301-405-4679
University of Maryland
Public Release: 15-Jan-2009
International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
Does universal health care affect attitude toward dementia?
In spite of their universal health care system which facilitates access to free dementia care, older adults in the United Kingdom are less willing to undergo dementia screening than their counterparts in the US because the Britons perceive greater societal stigma from diagnosis of the disease than do Americans according to researches from Indiana University and the Universities of Kent and London.
NIH/National Institute on Aging
Contact: Cindy Fox Aisen
caisen@iupui.edu
317-274-7722
Indiana University
Public Release: 15-Jan-2009
Addiction
Alcohol taxes have clear effect on drinking
A new study published online today finds that the more alcoholic beverages cost, the less likely people are to drink.
Contact: Molly Jarvis
molly@addictionjournal.org
44-020-784-80014
Wiley-Blackwell
Public Release: 15-Jan-2009
Current Biology
DREAM: 1 gene regulates pain, learning and memory
The DREAM-gene which is crucial in regulating pain perception seems to also influence learning and memory. This is the result of studies carried out by researchers in Seville, Spain, and Vienna, Austria. The new findings could help explain the mechanisms of Alzheimer's disease and yield a potential new therapeutic target.
Junta de Andalucia, Direccion General de Investigacion Ciencia y Tecnica, FPU fellowship program, Spanish Ministry of Education and Science, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Austrian Ministry of Science
Contact: Dr. Heidemarie Hurtl
hurtl@imp.ac.at
43-179-730-3625
Research Institute of Molecular Pathology
Public Release: 15-Jan-2009
Lancet
Countries undergoing economic change urged to limit social and health costs for populations
Countries seeking to make massive changes in the way their economies are run, for example by privatizing formerly state-run sectors, must take into account the potential impact of such changes on people's health, experts warn today.
Contact: Gemma Howe
gemma.howe@lshtm.ac.uk
020-792-72802
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine
Public Release: 15-Jan-2009
American Journal of Epidemiology
Moderate alcohol consumption may help seniors keep disabilities at bay
It is well known that moderate drinking can have positive health benefits. For instance, a couple of glasses of red wine a day can be good for the heart. But if you're a senior in good health, light to moderate consumption of alcohol may also help prevent the development of physical disability.
John A. Hartford Foundation, American Federation for Aging Research Medical Student Geriatrics Scholars Program, NIH/National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, et al
Contact: Enrique Rivero
erivero@mednet.ucla.edu
310-794-2273
University of California - Los Angeles
Public Release: 15-Jan-2009
BMC Public Health
The key to a healthy lifestyle is in the mind
The main factors influencing the amount of physical exercise people carry out are their self-perceived ability and the extent of their desire to exercise. A study of 5167 Canadians, reported in the open access journal BMC Public Health, has shown that psychological concerns are the most important barriers to an active lifestyle.
Contact: Graeme Baldwin
graeme.baldwin@biomedcentral.com
44-020-707-94804
BioMed Central
Public Release: 15-Jan-2009
PLoS Genetics
Scientists present the largest-to-date genetic snapshot of Iceland 1000 years ago
Scientists at deCODE genetics have completed the largest study of ancient DNA from a single population ever undertaken. Analyzing mitochondrial DNA, which is passed from mother to offspring, from 68 skeletal remains, the study provides a detailed look at how a contemporary population differs from that of its ancestors. The study is published Jan. 16 in the open-access journal PLoS Genetics.
Contact: Edward Farmer
edward.farmer@decode.is
354-570-2819
Public Library of Science
Public Release: 15-Jan-2009
American Journal of Psychiatry
Depressed adolescents not harmed by being part of placebo group in clinical trial, researchers find
In a national clinical trial, adolescents with moderate to severe depression first given a placebo treatment and then an antidepressant medication alone or in combination with therapy responded just as well over the long term as participants who received active treatment throughout the study, UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers report.
NIH/National Institute of Mental Health
Contact: LaKisha Ladson
lakisha.ladson@utsouthwestern.edu
214-648-3404
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Public Release: 15-Jan-2009
PLoS Genetics
Study of human tissue reveals potential colon cancer biomarker
University of Cincinnati scientists have identified a new biomarker that could help predict a person's risk of developing colon cancer and how aggressive it may become.
National Institutes of Health, US Army
Contact: Amanda J. Harper
amanda.harper@uc.edu
513-558-4657
University of Cincinnati
Public Release: 14-Jan-2009
Yale survey: Americans eager to reduce their energy use
Many Americans have already taken action to reduce their energy use and many others would do the same if they could afford to, according to a national survey conducted by Yale and George Mason universities.
Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy, Surdna Foundation, 11th Hour Project, Pacific Foundation
Contact: David DeFusco
david.defusco@yale.edu
203-436-4842
Yale University
Public Release: 14-Jan-2009
New report on science learning at museums, zoos, other informal settings
Each year, tens of millions of Americans, young and old, choose to learn about science in informal ways by visiting museums and aquariums, attending after-school programs, pursuing personal hobbies and watching TV documentaries, for example.
Contact: Sara Frueh
news@nas.edu
202-334-2138
National Academy of Sciences
Public Release: 14-Jan-2009
Violence and values in the Middle East: Lebanon survey
As fighting continues in Gaza, a University of Michigan survey of neighboring Lebanon illuminates some of the values underlying the use of violence in the Middle East.
Contact: Diane Swanbrow
swanbrow@umich.edu
734-647-9069
University of Michigan
Public Release: 14-Jan-2009
International Journal of Social Psychiatry
Physical activity, mood and serious mental illness
Indiana University researchers combined experience sampling during random signaling throughout the day with physical activity measures recorded on study participants' accelerometers. They found that even low levels of physical activity improved mood for people with serious mental illness, such as bipolar disorder, major depression and schizophrenia. A challenge, they say, is to find everyday activities to help this population, which typically has low levels of activity, become more active and engaged.
Indiana University Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Studies, Department of Kinesiology, Russian and East European Institute
Contact: Bryan McCormick
bmccormi@indiana.edu
812-855-3482
Indiana University
Public Release: 14-Jan-2009
Journal of Biological Chemistry
Researchers identify new protein that triggers breast cancer
Canadian researchers have identified a new protein in the progression of breast cancer. According to a recent study from the Universite de Montreal and the University of Alberta, published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, the protein ARF1 plays a critical role in cancer cell growth and the spread of tumors. Targeting this protein with drug therapy may provide hope to women with breast cancer.
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Contact: Sylvain-Jacques Desjardins
sylvain-jacques.desjardins@umontreal.ca
514-343-7593
University of Montreal
Public Release: 14-Jan-2009
Psychology & Marketing
Web site design affects how children process information
A new study in the journal Psychology & Marketing investigates the influence of Web site design on children's information processing. Results show that the type of interface used can significantly affect how children process and retain information; age strongly affected this relationship.
Contact: Amy Molnar
journalnews@bos.blackwellpublishing.net
201-748-8844
Wiley-Blackwell
Public Release: 14-Jan-2009
New England Journal of Medicine
Study examines live birth rates following in vitro fertilization
When deciding whether or not to pursue IVF treatment, the obvious question of most patients is, "What is the chance that this therapy will result in a baby?" They now have an answer.
Contact: Bonnie Prescott
bprescot@bidmc.harvard.edu
617-667-7306
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Public Release: 14-Jan-2009
Neurology
Most support Alzheimer's research based on family consent
By the time they have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, many patients' decision-making ability is so impaired that they cannot give informed consent to participate in research studies. A new study led by the University of Michigan Health System suggests that older Americans would support having their family members enroll them in research in case of future incapacity.
NIH/National Institute on Aging
Contact: Katie Vloet or Margarita Bauza
kgazella@umich.edu
734-764-2220
University of Michigan Health System
Public Release: 14-Jan-2009
Archaeological Institute of America
University of Leicester archaeologist uncovers evidence of ancient chemical warfare
A researcher from the University of Leicester has identified what looks to be the oldest archaeological evidence for chemical warfare -- from Roman times.
Contact: Dr. Simon James
stj3@le.ac.uk
01-162-522-535
University of Leicester
Public Release: 14-Jan-2009
Journal of Clinical Nursing
Telephone support after traffic accidents reduces problems and improves quality of life
People involved in road accidents were 35 percent less likely to complain of pain and discomfort if they received a follow-up phone call from a nurse three weeks after the incident. Women were more likely to ask for advice when contacted and more likely to report physical and emotional problems. Car occupants derived the greatest benefit from the service. 510 people aged from 18 to 70 completed the six month study, with half receiving a follow-up phonecall.
Contact: Annette Whibley
wizard.media@virgin.net
Wiley-Blackwell
Public Release: 14-Jan-2009
Behavioral and Brain Functions
Alcohol exposure in the womb affects 'teenage' booze behavior
Rats whose mothers were fed alcohol during pregnancy are more attracted to the smell of liquor during puberty. Researchers writing in BioMed Central's open access journal Behavioral and Brain Functions have shown that rats exposed during gestation find the smell of alcohol on another rat's breath during adolescence more attractive than animals with no prior fetal exposure.
Contact: Graeme Baldwin
graeme.baldwin@biomedcentral.com
44-020-707-94804
BioMed Central
Public Release: 14-Jan-2009
JAMA: Journal of the American Medical Association
Exercise improves walking in peripheral arterial disease patients
Some 8 million people in the US have debilitating peripheral arterial disease, which impairs their ability to walk and robs them of life's simple pleasures. New research is the first to show treadmill walking improves walking endurance and quality of life for people with PAD who have the classic symptoms of leg pain as well as for those without the symptoms.
NIH/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
Contact: Marla Paul
Marla-Paul@northwestern.edu
312-503-8928
Northwestern University
Public Release: 14-Jan-2009
Neuron
Brain mechanisms of social conformity
New research reveals the brain activity that underlies our tendency to "follow the crowd." The study, published by Cell Press in the Jan. 15 issue of the journal Neuron, provides intriguing insight into how human behavior can be guided by the perceived behavior of other individuals.
Contact: Cathleen Genova
cgenova@cell.com
617-397-2802
Cell Press
Public Release: 14-Jan-2009
Biodiversity passes the taste test and is healthier too
Cattle and sheep grazed on natural grasslands help maintain biodiversity and produce tastier, healthier meat, according to a study funded by the Economic and Social Research Council. The research, part of the Rural Economy and Land Use program which draws together the social and natural science, concluded that pasture-based farming is good for the environment, the consumer and the producer but needs stronger support from British policy makers if it is to realize its full potential.
Economic and Social Research Council
Contact: Kelly Barnett
kelly.barnett@esrc.ac.uk
44-017-934-13032
Economic & Social Research Council
Public Release: 13-Jan-2009
Chest
Misuse of Vicks VapoRub may harm infants and toddlers
New research appearing in the January issue of CHEST, the peer-reviewed journal of the American College of Chest Physicians, shows that Vicks VapoRub may stimulate mucus production and airway inflammation, which can have severe effects on breathing in an infant or toddler.
Contact: Jennifer Stawarz
jstawarz@chestnet.org
847-498-8306
American College of Chest Physicians
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