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Suicide barrier fails to stop overall suicide rates: Researchers

Suicide barriers on bridges might not reduce overall suicide rates by jumping from heights, as people may change location for their suicide attempt, according to a new study published on bmj.com today.

7 Jul 2010

New study may lead to in-car warning system that may provide enough time for drivers to react

It is well-documented that when negotiating winding roads, drivers tend to look at a specific, well-defined point on the lane marking - referred to as the tangent point. New research finds that the further drivers can look ahead, generally in left-hand curves, wide curves and when leaving a curve, the less they have to look at the tangent point.

7 Jul 2010

Experts develop HVI method for assessing hunger

World hunger is often seen as the result of overpopulation, bad geography or natural or human-made disasters. But a new book, "The Atlas of World Hunger," reveals that the contours and causes of hunger are more complex - and in some ways more easily addressed - than those old assumptions suggest.

7 Jul 2010

Debate over the ill effects of wind turbines on health

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) studied the purported ill effects of the wind turbines on health before reporting that there was no evidence that the turbines' low frequency noise or shadow flicker made people ill.

6 Jul 2010

CARNA notifies public about person impersonating a registered nurse

In the interest of protecting the public, the College and Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CARNA) is notifying potential employers and the public that Brigitte Cleroux Marier has been charged for impersonating a registered nurse. Marier is known to have obtained employment as a registered nurse under false pretences in both Alberta and Ontario.

6 Jul 2010

MabCent finds extraordinary life forms in the Arctic

During its short existence the Centre on Marine Bioactives and Drug Discovery (MabCent) in Tromsø has analysed some 70,000 fractions of Arctic marine organisms. Patents on two molecules have been applied for and applications for another 20 will soon follow.

3 Jul 2010

House passes nearly $60B FY10 supplemental

The House passed a nearly "$60 billion bill Thursday to pay for wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and fund a variety of other programs," including relief and rebuilding initiatives in Haiti following the January earthquake, Fox News' "The Speaker's Lobby" blog reports

3 Jul 2010

Institute of Food Research unveils new emulsifier technique

New work from the Institute of Food Research has shown how sugar beet pectin acts as an efficient emulsifier, using a technique that could be used to unravel in the finest detail how such important food ingredients work.

2 Jul 2010

Haitian President rejects U.S. Senate's recommendations for upcoming elections

A day after Haitian President Rene Preval signed a decree authorizing a date for November elections, he rebuffed other recommendations issued by the U.S. Senate, which include "holding an election for his successor, brushing off criticism that the current process will leave the shattered country without a credible leader," the Associated Press reports.

2 Jul 2010

Creativity can be enhanced by experiencing different cultures

Creativity can be enhanced by experiencing cultures different from one's own, according to a study in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin (published by SAGE).

2 Jul 2010

Patel verdict “grossly inadequate”

Many including Queensland MP Rob Messenger, feel that the seven year sentence awarded to Dr. Jayant Patel by the Brisbane's Supreme Court yesterday is “grossly inadequate.” Patel was being tried for three cases of manslaughter and one case of grievous bodily injury during his tenure as Director of Surgery at Bundaberg Base hospital between 2003 and 2005.

1 Jul 2010

Bisphenol A (BPA) containing baby bottles to be phased out

Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Health Mark Butler has announced that following public concern and a safety review ordered by US health regulators, the phase out will begin from today. He also revealed that according to Food Standards Australia New Zealand intake levels are very low and do not pose a risk to babies' health.

1 Jul 2010

Patel sentence today

Dr. Jayant Patel, 60, a Bundaberg Base hospital surgeon has been found criminally negligent in his patient care. He was brought before the court on three accounts of manslaughter and causing grievous harm to another person. The incidents occurred during his tenure at the hospital as Director of Surgery between 2003 and 2005.

1 Jul 2010

Genomatica achieves two key commercialization milestones

Genomatica announced today that it has achieved two key commercialization milestones ahead of schedule. First, the company achieved pilot-scale validation, at 3,000 liters, of the manufacturability and commercial viability of a 'green' version of 1,4-butanediol (BDO), its first commercial product. And second, the company confirmed the accelerated development time and reduced development and production costs made possible through use of its technology platform, from concept to commercialization.

30 Jun 2010

Smoking bans in two Minnesota cities not associated with significant economic impact

The passage of smoking bans in two large Minnesota cities was not associated with job losses at bars and may in fact have contributed to higher employment in restaurants, according to new research.

30 Jun 2010

New policy monograph recommends necessary actions to control tobacco use

"While tobacco use has decreased drastically over the last few decades, we still have a long way to go," American College of Physicians (ACP) President, J. Fred Ralston, Jr., MD, FACP, said as a new ACP policy monograph was released today.

30 Jun 2010

Ford may pay health debts with stock — a sign of possible weakness

The automaker Ford may pay part of the $859 million it owes a union health care fund using company stock, a move analysts say would show weakness, Bloomberg Businessweek reports.

30 Jun 2010

Daily Nation reports on USAID's 2-year, $11.5M market linkages initiative to improve food security in East Africa

USAID will contribute $11.5 million for the Market Linkages Initiative (MLI), a two-year program aimed at promoting trade in "staple foods" in East Africa, the Daily Nation reports.

30 Jun 2010

Teenage girls more likely to perceive potential benefits of drug and alcohol use

Survey data released today by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America® and MetLife Foundation found that teenage girls are more likely than teenage boys to perceive potential benefits from drug use and drinking, making teen girls more vulnerable to drug and alcohol abuse.

29 Jun 2010

Health researchers initiate new study to reduce tobacco use

A team of health researchers from The University of Nottingham are spearheading a new project to reduce tobacco use in an area which has one of the highest rates of smoking in the country.

29 Jun 2010