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ARRA stimulus funds fuel research projects across America

The Association of American Universities (AAU), the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), and The Science Coalition (TSC) today released highlighted examples of the important scientific work happening across the country as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The brief report summarizes just a handful of the thousands of projects benefiting from stimulus dollars.

30 Sep 2009

Disaster preparedness program on UCTV

Earthquakes, fires, floods, pandemics. The public relies on health professionals, emergency responders and trained volunteers to react appropriately to a range of disasters, big or small. But does everyone understand the systems that are in place to respond to these dreaded events?

30 Sep 2009

Sexual satisfaction and general well-being linked: Study

Pre- and post-menopausal women who self-rated themselves as being sexually satisfied had a higher overall psychological well-being score and scores for "positive well-being" and "vitality," compared with sexually dissatisfied women in a study of 295 women sexually active more than twice a month. The study, published today in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, also uncovered a positive association between age and well-being, but a negative association for general health.

30 Sep 2009

FEMA grant for designing next generation firefighter gloves

What is one of the biggest complaints firefighters have about their job? It's their gloves. While the current gloves are designed to provide protection against extreme temperatures, they are often bulky and inflexible. Through a recent Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant, researchers at North Carolina State University will attempt to redesign the traditional firefighter glove to provide fire protection with less bulk and greater hand dexterity.

30 Sep 2009

Opinion: 'Microland' to fight poverty; ensuring quality, timely drugs for Africa

In a Forbes column, Elisabeth Eaves, deputy editor at Forbes, examines the concept of "'microland:' securing rights to small plots of land for the world's poorest."

30 Sep 2009

Also in global health news: Drought in East Africa; improving food processing in Africa; Hajj pilgrims must take polio vaccine; fighting insecticide-resistant mosquitoes

"A severe and persistent five-year drought" is pushing "[m]ore than 23 million people ... towards severe hunger and destitution across East Africa, international aid agency Oxfam has warned as it launches a £9.5 million [about $15 million] emergency appeal," the U.K. Press Association reports (9/29). According to Reuters/New York Times, "Malnutrition is now above emergency levels in some areas and hundreds of thousands of valuable cattle are dying" (Wallis, 9/29).

30 Sep 2009

Study finds that bosses use threats and intimidation on employees during financial crisis

Employees report their bosses use threats and intimidation during the financial crisis, according to a national study of leadership funded by the University of Phoenix. “Questions get you written up and/or fired,” one worker said. The study’s results also showed employees increasing distrust what their bosses say.

30 Sep 2009

Drug addiction recovery center breaks city ordinances

One of the community's most brightly colored buildings also represents a bright future for Detroiters struggling against addiction.

30 Sep 2009

Prevalence and emotional impact of hair pulling

1.5% of males and 3.4% of females in a college sample reported significant hair pulling resulting in bald patches at some point in their lives.

30 Sep 2009

CIHR experts discuss the impact of poverty on health

At least 80% of humanity lives on less than $10 a day and 25,000 children die each day due to poverty, according to the World Bank and UNICEF.

30 Sep 2009

CLF award for Baltimore City Public Schools

The Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future (CLF) today recognized the Baltimore City Public Schools with the Center's 2009 Award for Visionary Leadership in Local Food Procurement and Food Education.

30 Sep 2009

Survey reveals that majority of Americans are happy with their life

Now that the G-20 summit in Pittsburgh is over and the UN completed its one-day global warming summit, many are saying that measuring economic vitality should have more to do with people's overall happiness. Based on that, BIGresearch asked 6,976 Americans in their September American Pulse™ Survey to rate how happy they are with their life, their job and their health.

30 Sep 2009

Non-domestic air pollution is a major concern, says report

Plumes of harmful air pollutants can be transported across oceans and continents -- from Asia to the United States and from the United States to Europe -- and have a negative impact on air quality far from their original sources, says a new report by the National Research Council.

30 Sep 2009

Africa's agricultural sector grew in '08, 'concerted' policy action needed for growth to continue, FAO paper says

The growth of sub-Saharan Africa's agricultural sector in 2008 is a "a break with the past," but "concerted and purposeful policy action" is required for developments to continue, according to a new U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) paper, VOA News reports (De Capua, 9/28).

29 Sep 2009

1-800-DENTIST launches nationwide smile makeover contest

As an advocate of regular dental care, 1-800-DENTIST® understands that many people can't afford the dentistry they need. That's why the nation's leading free resource for consumers in search of a dentist has launched a nationwide $30,000 smile makeover contest called "My Smile Bites." To enter, contestants must upload a personal video showing what's wrong with their smile, explaining how these problems affect their lives. Video submissions will be accepted through November 10, 2009 noon PST.

29 Sep 2009

Research study on the U.S. life expectancy

The Great Depression had a silver lining: During that hard time, U.S. life expectancy actually increased by 6.2 years, according to a University of Michigan study published in the current issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

29 Sep 2009

CIHR and CMAJ honour eight Canadian Health Researchers

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) today honoured eight outstanding Canadian individuals and teams with the first ever CIHR-CMAJ Top Canadian Achievements in Health Research Awards, which recognize and celebrate Canadian health research and innovation excellence.

29 Sep 2009

Ban, Clinton call for increased food security efforts

At a meeting on Saturday of "leaders, ministers, experts and non-governmental organizations from nearly 100 countries," U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for greater urgency in the fight against hunger, Agence France-Presse reports. According to Ban, 2009 has seen an increase in malnutrition rates around the world (9/26).

29 Sep 2009

G20 Addresses Food Aid, Advocates React To Commitments

The G20 said the World Bank trust fund for agricultural investment in poor countries that they called for on Friday "should be designed so that money will be disbursed quickly and countries can decide for themselves where they want it spent," Reuters reports.

28 Sep 2009

IOF awards the Linda Edwards Memorial Award to AFI

The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) has awarded its prestigious 'IOF Linda Edwards Memorial Award' to the Arthritis Foundation of India Trust (AFI), one of 193 IOF member societies around the world. The award was presented today at the IOF Worldwide Osteoporosis Patient Society Conference, being held from September 22-25, 2009 in Beijing, China.

28 Sep 2009