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Viewpoints: Deep flaws in current health system often overlooked in Obamacare debate; 'Missouri bleeds jobs' while neighbors expand Medicaid; budget debate is best shot at stopping health law

Americans have had little understanding of the Affordable Care Act since it became law in 2010. With major provisions taking effect in January, half the country still does not know what the law does or what it means for them. While some of the confusion is no doubt due to the law's complexity and the highly charged political environment, a largely ignored but central factor is that people know little about the deeply flawed health insurance system that got us to this place (John Seffrin and Jim Guest, 9/17).

19 Sep 2013

University of Nebraska-Lincoln to offer Transdisciplinary Childhood Obesity Prevention graduate program

One-third of all children and adolescents in the United States are overweight or obese. In South Dakota, 32.5 percent of children ages 5 to 19 are overweight or obese. Among Native American children in the state, that number is 48.1 percent.

19 Sep 2013

Researchers explore challenges involved in urban agriculture

In many cities around the world, patrons of high-end restaurants want quality food that is flavorful and fresh. To satisfy their guests, chefs are looking closer and closer to home - to locally grown produce from neighboring farms or even from their own, restaurant-owned gardens.

18 Sep 2013

Scientists develop antibiotic whose activity can be controlled using light

Scientists at the University of Groningen have developed an antibiotic whose activity can be controlled using light. It is possible to 'switch on' the substance immediately before use, after which it will slowly lose its activity.

16 Sep 2013

Scientists reveal how organic mercury can interfere with vision

More than one billion people worldwide rely on fish as an important source of animal protein, states the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. And while fish provide slightly over 7 per cent of animal protein in North America, in Asia they represent about 23 per cent of consumption.

12 Sep 2013

Better ways to combat mosquitoes

In an advance toward providing mosquito-plagued people, pets and livestock with an invisibility cloak against these blood-sucking insects, scientists today described discovery of substances that occur naturally on human skin and block mosquitoes’ ability to smell and target their victims.

11 Sep 2013

Exposure to fumes released during firing of military small arms can lead to decline in lung function

Exposure to fumes released during the firing of military small arms can lead to a decline in lung function, according to a new study.

10 Sep 2013

Annual treated wastewater in North America roughly equals volume of Niagara Falls; less than 4% is reused

Amid growing competition for freshwater from industry and cities, coupled with a rising world shortage of potash, nitrogen and phosphorus, an international study predicts a rapid increase in the use of treated wastewater for farming and other purposes worldwide.

7 Sep 2013

Education: A key factor in reducing negative impact on women's health

Research into the rise in obesity associated with the burgeoning industrial and service sectors in low- and middle-income countries found that education is a key factor in reducing the negative impact on women's health.

6 Sep 2013

CSA programs: A feasible approach for providing fruits and vegetables to low-income families

Low-income communities have particular problems getting adequate fruits and vegetables because of limited access to supermarkets and farmers markets. A new study from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center shows that community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs may be a feasible approach for providing fresh fruits and vegetables to under-resourced communities.

4 Sep 2013

Leading researchers and health professionals to explore health benefits of mushrooms at summit

Leading researchers, scientists and government, industry and health professionals will gather in the nation's capital for a groundbreaking, two-day exploration of the research supporting the health benefits of mushrooms - one of the most popular items found in the produce aisle and often thought of as a vegetable though technically belonging to the unique Fungi kingdom.

30 Aug 2013

Researchers develop novel technique and device for rapid pasteurization of eggs

Researchers at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have developed a novel technique and device for rapidly pasteurizing eggs in the shell without damaging the delicate egg white. The process could lead to a sharp reduction in illnesses caused by egg-borne salmonella bacteria, a widespread public health concern.

30 Aug 2013

University of York reveals early ancestors had taste for spicy food

Our early ancestors had a taste for spicy food, new research led by the University of York has revealed.

26 Aug 2013

Scientists develop new way to detect threatening nanoparticles in food

Over the last few years, the use of nanomaterials for water treatment, food packaging, pesticides, cosmetics and other industries has increased. For example, farmers have used silver nanoparticles as a pesticide because of their capability to suppress the growth of harmful organisms. However, a growing concern is that these particles could pose a potential health risk to humans and the environment.

23 Aug 2013

Dunking in tub of ice water post-exercise decreases strength, soreness

Dunking in a tub of ice water after exercise - a surprisingly popular post-workout regimen used by athletes to reduce inflammation and speed recovery - is time consuming and bone-achingly painful. New research from the University of New Hampshire finds that it may not be effective, either.

20 Aug 2013

Evogene announces financial results for second quarter and half year 2013

Evogene Ltd., a leader in plant genomics underlying crop productivity for the food, feed and biofuel industries, today announced its financial results for the second quarter and half year ended June 30, 2013.

19 Aug 2013

Illumina announces availability of its newest reagent kits for MiSeq benchtop sequencer

Illumina, Inc. today announced the availability of its newest reagent kits for the MiSeq, the industry's most accurate and easiest-to-use benchtop sequencer. The improved chemistry doubles sequencing output to 15 gigabases (Gb) by increasing the number of sequencing reads (up to 25 million reads) and overall read length (up to 2x300 base pairs). These innovations enable researchers to perform new applications including exome sequencing on the MiSeq.

From Illumina, Inc. 19 Aug 2013