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Get mobile, get promoted

Research challenges traditional views on homeworker isolation, finding that mobile connection can facilitate career progression and networking. Four interviewees expressed a desire for promotion and remained connected outside working hours.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Mobile Communications·DateApr 18, 2008

Sweet nanotech batteries

Researchers at Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science developed a new material using carbon nanotubes to prevent lithium batteries from losing charge capacity over time. The new material achieved a discharge capacity of 727 milliamp hours per gram after twenty cycles, outperforming traditional sugar-coated silicon particles.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Nanomanufacturing·DateApr 10, 2008

Workplace depression screening and enhanced treatment improves productivity, lowers employer costs

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that workplace depression screening and enhanced treatment can significantly improve employee health and productivity. Employees who received intervention were 40% more likely to have recovered from their depression and worked an average of two more hours per week.

SourceNIH/National Institute of Mental Health·JournalJournal of the American Medical Association·DateSep 25, 2007

SMS your ECG to ER

A wearable cardiac telemedicine system allows post-cardiac patients renewed mobility by recording periodic ECGs and transmitting them via SMS. This device can give patients a greater chance of receiving life-saving treatment within the golden hour period.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Electronic Healthcare·DateJul 17, 2007

Creating corn for cars

Researchers at Michigan State University have developed a new corn variety that can break down cellulose in leaves and stalks into simple sugars for ethanol production. This innovation allows for more cost-effective and efficient production of ethanol, enabling the sale of waste products as an economically viable commodity.

Neural bottleneck found that thwarts multi-tasking

Researchers have identified a neural bottleneck in the brain that prevents simultaneous processing of multiple tasks, such as driving and talking on a cell phone. The lateral frontal and prefrontal cortex regions were found to be responsible for this limitation, which causes a delay in neural activity when performing two demanding tasks.

SourceVanderbilt University·JournalNeuron·DateJan 18, 2007

Drivers ignore the risk of mobile phone use

A study conducted by The George Institute found that 60% of drivers in NSW and WA use their mobile phones while driving, leading to a significant increase in crashes and near-misses. Younger drivers, men, and metropolitan residents are the worst offenders, with over 30% writing text messages while driving.

SourceResearch Australia·JournalThe Medical Journal of Australia·DateDec 11, 2006

Blame our evolutionary risk of cancer on body mass

Scientists discovered that higher body mass, not lifespan, increases the risk of cancer due to telomerase expression. Rodents from various species showed a correlation between body size and telomerase activity, while human's don't express it in somatic cells, suggesting evolution prioritized cancer prevention over healing.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalAging Cell·DateDec 6, 2006

Another form to fill in

A study by CQU's International Program for Psycho-Social Health Research (IPP-SHR) revealed that standardised questionnaires in hospice practice negatively impacted upon patients' and carers' experiences and wellbeing. Informal conversation was seen as a flexible, sensitive, and consumer-focused alternative to questionnaire use.

SourceResearch Australia·JournalSupportive Care in Cancer·DateOct 25, 2006

Drivers on cell phones are as bad as drunks

A recent study published by University of Utah psychologists found that drivers using handheld or hands-free cellular phones are as impaired as drunken drivers. The study's lead author, David Strayer, suggests that legislators should consider outlawing cell phone use while driving to address driver distraction.

Cell phone emissions excite the brain cortex

Researchers in Italy found that exposure to cell phone EMFs can cause changes in the motor cortex of the brain. The effects were transient and reversible, but further studies are needed to understand the potential risks and benefits. The study has significant implications for individuals with conditions involving cortical excitability.

SourceWiley·JournalAnnals of Neurology·DateJun 26, 2006

Telephone counseling improves lung transplant quality of life

A study by Duke University Medical Center found that telephone counseling can improve the quality of life for patients waiting for a lung transplant, reducing emotional distress and anxiety. The researchers believe this approach could be useful for patients with chronic diseases who cannot access face-to-face counseling due to distance...

SourceDuke University Medical Center·JournalJournal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology·DateJun 5, 2006

'Can you hear me now?'

A randomized controlled trial found that telephone support from bilingual prevention care managers significantly increased cancer screening rates among low-income and minority women. The intervention resulted in a 12% increase in mammography screenings, a 7% increase in Papanicolaou tests, and a 13% increase in colorectal screenings.

SourceThe Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth·JournalAnnals of Internal Medicine·DateApr 17, 2006

Telephone counseling and care may help smokers quit

A telephone quitline network can significantly help smokers quit compared to standard care, with higher rates of abstinence and usage of additional smoking cessation techniques. The study supports the recommendation for a national network of quitlines to make these services available to all tobacco users.

SourceJAMA Network·JournalArchives of Internal Medicine·DateMar 13, 2006