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Researchers develop new analytical method to process large amounts of information faster

Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a new analytical method that opens the door to faster processing of large amounts of information, with applications in fields as diverse as the military, medical diagnostics and homeland security.

17 Mar 2010

Low-impact, weight-bearing exercise does not affect bone density during weight loss

While there are many benefits of losing weight, weight reduction also might negatively affect bones in the body. During weight loss, bones are being remodeled - breaking down old bone and forming new bone - at an accelerated rate.

17 Mar 2010

Electronic cigarettes revolutionize the face of tobacco smoking

The new face of tobacco smoking has now become vaping due to the increasing popularity of the electronic cigarette. This product was so revolutionary that even pharmaceutical industry reports stated that "e-cigarettes will revolutionize the face of tobacco smoking and could pose a threat to the smoking cessation market."

17 Mar 2010

Haiti rebuilding effort could cost $11.5B over 3 years, assessment says

A "thorough analysis prepared by the Haiti government, together with the United Nations and other international organizations" estimates it will take $11.5 billion over the next three years to repair damage to Haiti after a major earthquake struck in January, the Wall Street Journal reports.

17 Mar 2010

Intergovernmental Committee meeting focuses on E. Africa food security

Experts meeting at the 14th Intergovernmental Committee meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, which kicked off on Sunday, are focusing on food security in East Africa, where FAO says 20 million people are vulnerable, the New Times/allAfrica.com reports. The U.N. Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) sub-regional office, East Africa, also says the region is the most affected by food insecurity on the continent, according to the publication.

17 Mar 2010

School environment plays a big role in girls' weight-control behaviors

Their schoolmates' weight determines whether teenage high school girls will try to lose pounds, new research finds, and the school environment plays a big role in the decision.

17 Mar 2010

New research initiative launched to accelerate development of improved crops

A new research initiative has been launched to accelerate the development of improved crops with higher yields and consistent, high quality products. The £6M Crop Improvement Research Club is led by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the UK's largest public funder of agri-food research and includes the Scottish Government and 13 companies representing plant breeders, farmers and food processors.

16 Mar 2010

New advertising campaign encourages teenagers to start smoking

The 1998 Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) prohibits tobacco industry advertising practices that encourage underage teenagers to smoke, yet new research out of the Moores Cancer Center at the University of California, San Diego has found that a 2007 marketing campaign for Camel brand cigarettes was effective in encouraging young girls to start smoking.

16 Mar 2010

WHO/UNICEF JMP report: World is on track to meet drinking-water target of MDGs

With 87% of the world's population or approximately 5.9 billion people using safe drinking-water sources, the world is on track to meet or even exceed the drinking-water target of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), according to the new WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme report Progress on Sanitation and Drinking-Water -2010 Update Report, released today.

16 Mar 2010

Unlicensed software usage: iCan Benefit pays BSA $61,500 to settle claims

The Business Software Alliance (BSA), the voice of the world's commercial software industry, today announced a settlement with iCan Benefit Group of Boca Raton, FL. iCan Benefit paid $61,500 to BSA to settle claims that it had unlicensed copies of Adobe, Microsoft and Symantec software installed on its computers. As part of the settlement agreement, the company agreed to delete all unlicensed copies of software from its computers, acquire any licenses necessary to become compliant, and commit to implementing stronger software asset management (SAM) practices.

15 Mar 2010

WWF, TRAFFIC welcome WFCMS statement on banning use of tiger bones for medicinal benefits

WWF and TRAFFIC welcome a World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies statement urging its members not to use tiger bone or any other parts from endangered wildlife.

15 Mar 2010

African leaders, donors endorse 'ambitious' agriculture development plan

At a meeting this week in Nigeria to address African agriculture production, "African leaders and donor agencies have endorsed an ambitious plan to generate employment, income and food security in Africa by developing agribusiness and agro-industries," Punch reports.

15 Mar 2010

U.N. not fully funded to meet needs in Haiti, says humanitarian chief; Media examines care for country's elderly

After announcing a revised appeal of $1.4 billion in February to finance emergency relief as well as recovery and reconstruction, the U.N. "is struggling to provide support for equake-ravaged Haiti," according to humanitarian chief John Holmes, Reuters reports.

15 Mar 2010

Specialists convene to address future climatic trends

Specialists from various Earth system science disciplines recently gathered to address a major question: what will our environment look like in the future?

15 Mar 2010

AAPHP urges FDA to reclassify electronic cigarette as tobacco product

The American Association of Public Health Physicians submitted a petition to the US Food and Drug Administration on February 23rd in response to their official stance concerning electronic cigarettes.

15 Mar 2010

Life insurance industry is for faster pace of change in the use of technology

The long-term outlook for the life insurance industry is for a faster pace of change, particularly in the use of technology. That was the conclusion of a survey of top industry executives by LOMA.

12 Mar 2010

More U.S. investment in diplomacy, development needed, say former military leaders

A group of former U.S. military leaders have joined "recent calls by Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael Mullen to expand U.S. civilian capacities to reduce dependence on the military," Politico's Laura Rozen reports on her blog.

12 Mar 2010

High-intensity workout as effective as traditional types of exercise: study

The usual excuse of "lack of time" for not doing enough exercise is blown away by new research published in The Journal of Physiology.

12 Mar 2010

Obama renews promise to assist with Haiti's earthquake recovery during Preval's visit to the White House

"President Barack Obama on Wednesday renewed America's commitment to the recovery and reconstruction of earthquake-devastated Haiti, telling visiting President Rene Preval he knows the crisis has not passed," the Associated Press/TIME reports (Feller, 3/10).

12 Mar 2010

Highly anticipated Academic Reputation Survey launched

Thomson Reuters today announced it has launched the highly anticipated Academic Reputation Survey, which will help inform the Times Higher Education's influential World University Rankings. The survey reflects a new approach to data gathering and analytics to provide a one-of-a-kind resource to the global scholarly community.

11 Mar 2010