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Up to one in six older people living at home face malnutrition risk

As many as one in six people who took part in a study of older people who live at home were under-nourished and at risk of malnutrition, according to the May issue of the Journal of Clinical Nursing.

Researchers at Linkoping University, Sweden, found an overall malnutrition risk of 14.5 per cent when they studied 579 older people aged 75 and 80 as part of an ongoing study. Fifty-two per cent of the people who took part in the study were male.

They found that women faced a higher overall risk and that men were more likely to be at risk if they were depressed.

Consumers more likely to identify healthy food using traffic light nutrition labels

Amsterdam, the Netherlands: Consumers are five times more likely to identify healthy food when they see colour-coded traffic light nutrition labels than when labels present the information numerically by showing what percentage of the recommended daily nutrient intake each portion provides, new research finds.

Focused, happier kids grow up to be healthier adults, study finds

WASHINGTON – Children who can stay focused and don't sweat the small stuff have a better shot at good health in adulthood -- and this is especially true for girls, according to a new study.

"Certain characteristics already evident early in life are likely to spark positive or negative emotions, and also influence biological and behavioral responses to stress," said lead author Laura D. Kubzansky, PhD, of the Harvard School of Public Health. "Some traits may contribute to developing healthier behaviors and better social relationships, and ultimately more resilience in mid-life.

Why policy changes during Obama presidency will be more significant than during Clinton, Reagan eras

Washington, DC—Unlike the post-election disappointment that has followed many election outcomes, the Obama presidency will likely break through a structural bias in American politics favoring the status quo and bring about significant changes in policy. This prediction is made by a new study grounded in a scientific theory of politics and conducted by political scientist Jonathan Woon (University of Pittsburgh).

Program reduces hospital and emergency department use among homeless adults with chronic illnesses

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An intervention that provided housing and case management to homeless adults with chronic medical illnesses reduced hospitalizations and emergency department visits, according to a study in the May 6 issue of JAMA.

MedImmune presents new data showing burden of RSV disease

BALTIMORE, MD, May 5, 2009 – MedImmune today announced results from a recent study it sponsored, performed by the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, CA, assessing risk factors for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection requiring medical treatment in infants born at 33 weeks gestational age [GA] or later.

Current level of oyster farming unlikely to have substantial impact on Drakes Estero ecosystem

WASHINGTON -- A new report from the National Research Council finds a lack of strong scientific evidence that the present level of oyster farming operations by Drakes Bay Oyster Co. (DBOC) has major adverse effects on the ecosystem of Drakes Estero, a body of water north of San Francisco within Point Reyes National Seashore, which is owned by the National Park Service. The report adds that the adverse or beneficial effects of oyster farming cannot be fully understood given the existing data and analyses.

Experts forecast future of technology innovation in China

A distinguished panel of experts hosted by the Office of Naval Research shared their perspectives on the cultural and political factors influencing technological innovations in China, Friday.

Lessons from Jan Hendrik Schön -- the worst physics fraudster?

How did a 31-year-old physicist working at Bell Labs in New Jersey, US, get away with possibly the worst case of physics research fraud known? From claims to have made the world's first organic electrical laser to the fictional construction of the smallest ever transistor, the repercussions of Jan Hendrik Schön's fraud are still felt today, seven years after he was found guilty of scientific misconduct and fired by his employer.

K-State researcher: Poverty is rooted in US education system

Inequalities are rooted in many areas of the U.S. education system, and the current system's relationship with poverty has not improved, according to a Kansas State University researcher.

Kay Ann Taylor, associate professor of secondary education at K-State, has studied the historical and modern aspects of poverty, including its relationship with education. Her research, which is published in the winter 2009 Journal of Educational Controversy, shows that a more in-depth understanding of poverty is needed for social transformation.

New Antarctic seabed sonar images reveal clues to sea-level rise

Motorway-sized troughs and channels carved into Antarctica's continental shelves by glaciers thousands of years ago could help scientists to predict future sea-level rise according to a report in the journal Geology this month (May).

Why parents miss their children's immunization visits

BALTIMORE — According to a new study led by researchers at Columbia University Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, there are several factors that contribute to children missing immunization visits.

The findings will be reported in a platform presentation at 8:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday, May 5, 2009, at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting here.

eBay - modern day black market for historical antiquities or cultural bellweather?

Having worked for 25 years at fragile archaeological sites in Peru, UCLA archaeologist Charles "Chip" Stanish held his breath when the online auction house eBay launched more than a decade ago.

"My greatest fear was that the Internet would democratize antiquities trafficking, which previously had been a wealthy person's vice, and lead to widespread looting," said the UCLA professor of anthropology, who directs the UCLA Cotsen Institute of Archaeology.

Little animals big problems at small airports

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - It's a bird. It's a plane. It's a potentially deadly combination.

A Purdue University study of 10 small Indiana airports found that animals can gain easy access to runways and infield areas, increasing the likelihood of planes striking those animals.

Animal strikes received national attention in January. Commercial pilot and Purdue alumnus Charles "Sully" Sullenberger was forced to land in the Hudson River after his plane hit a flock of Canada geese.

Vaccination coverage improves among low-income children, but disparities persist

CHICAGO – More children in low-income households are receiving childhood vaccinations on schedule than in previous years, but disparities based on economic status remain, according to a report in the May issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, a theme issue on vaccines.