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Communication often fumbled during patient hand-offs in hospital

2010-03-11 18:11:17

As shifts change in a hospital, outgoing physicians must "hand off" important information to their replacements in a brief meeting. But a new study of this hand-off process finds that the most important information is not fully conveyed in a majority of cases, even as physicians rate their communication as successful.

Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog's site fidelity may lead to further decline

2010-03-11 18:11:17

USDA Forest Service researchers found that site fidelity, the tendency to return to previously occupied habitats, is strong in the Sierra Nevada yellow-legged frog. Research showed how the cumulative effects of a changing climate and introduced non-native trout are negatively impacting the habitat of a species already gone from 90 percent of its historic localities, and will further stress frogs with strong site fidelity.

Can we detect quantum behaviour in viruses?

2010-03-11 18:11:17

(PhysOrg.com) -- The weird world of quantum mechanics describes the strange, often contradictory, behaviour of small inanimate objects such as atoms. Researchers have now started looking for ways to detect quantum properties in more complex and larger entities, possibly even living organisms.

Weight-bearing exercise does not prevent increased bone turnover during weight loss

2010-03-11 18:11:17

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. As a result, bone density is reduced, causing increased fragility. In a new study, University of Missouri researchers found that weight-bearing exercise, in this case, fast walking or jogging, did not prevent the increased bone turnover caused by weight loss.

Mother's flu during pregnancy may increase baby's risk of schizophrenia

2010-03-11 18:11:17

Rhesus monkey babies born to mothers who had the flu while pregnant had smaller brains and showed other brain changes similar to those observed in human patients with schizophrenia, a study at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in collaboration with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has found.

Survey shows lack of confidence in national hurricane response planning

2010-03-11 18:11:17

According to a study recently completed by an LSU group charged with conducting studies on improving hurricane crisis communication in coastal communities, many families have a well-developed hurricane response plan of their own but have little faith in the preparation developed at higher government levels.

New alterations found in young adults with type 2 diabetes

2010-03-11 18:11:17

Diet and aerobic exercise are highly effective for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, but not for obese subjects that have developed the disease when very young.

A new beat in heart research

2010-03-11 18:11:17

Sudden Cardiac Arrest syndrome (SCA) is poorly understood, but it's a real danger for the otherwise young and healthy. For no apparent reason, the heart suddenly stops beating, and without treatment death may follow within minutes. It's why some athletes drop dead on the track and why a young man, without any warning, suddenly dies while sitting at his desk. SCA accounts for approximately 300,000 deaths per year in the U.S.

Robot Technology Helping Humans in Daily Activities (w/ Video)

2010-03-11 18:11:17

(PhysOrg.com) -- A French company called, Robosoft has developed a robot called Kompai that is specifically designed to help the elderly and disabled people. Kompai can navigate autonomously, talk and understand speech. Speech is the primary means of communication; however a touch screen with simple icons can also be used for input commands.

Google's stated list of competitors grows from two to 10

2010-03-11 18:11:17

Google sees an Internet far more crowded with competitors than just a year ago. At least, that's what the company is telling government regulators.

Mind-reading experiment uses brain scans to eavesdrop on thoughts

2010-03-11 17:59:55

Why the Chile Earthquake Aftershock Was So Big (LiveScience.com)

2010-03-11 17:56:11

LiveScience.com - The whopping 7.2-magnitude aftershock that rattled Chile again today is nothing unusual following such a large original earthquake, scientists say.

U.S. judge rules for Chevron in Ecuador case (Reuters)

2010-03-11 17:47:19

Reuters - Chevron Corp may pursue an international arbitration claim over environmental pollution allegations in Ecuador that could expose the second-largest U.S. oil company to $27 billion in liability, a U.S. judge ruled on Thursday.

Pardon, Your Thoughts Are Showing

2010-03-11 17:40:47

Brain imaging and computer algorithms can detect specific memories in action [Read more]

Cop: Driver in NY Prius crash was headed to dealer (AP)

2010-03-11 17:23:35

AP - Police say a New York woman who claimed her Toyota Prius accelerated on its own was on her way to have its gas pedal checked at the time of the accident.

Shocking recipe for making killer electrons (w/ Video)

2010-03-11 17:06:09

Take a bunch of fast-moving electrons, place them in orbit and then hit them with the shock waves from a solar storm. What do you get? Killer electrons. That's the shocking recipe revealed by ESA's Cluster mission.

PEGylated dendrimers: a novel mechanism of drug delivery

2010-03-11 17:06:09

Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Science (MIPS) researchers, in collaboration with the biotechnology company Starpharma Holdings Ltd have developed a new method to deliver medications that may benefit thousands of patients with particular types of cancer, HIV and lymphatic conditions world-wide.

Tin-sulfur-lithium-ion battery as alternative to conventional lithium batteries

2010-03-11 17:06:09

(PhysOrg.com) -- A common problem with notebook computers is that the battery delivers power for far too short a time, which only gets shorter as it gets older. If you don`t take great care with your rechargeable battery at all times, its life drains away quite fast. Improved batteries that deliver significantly more energy, last longer, and are safer are thus the subject of current research. Bruno Scrosati and Jusef Hassoun at the University of Rome have now developed a highly promising approach to a new variety of lithium-ion battery, which, as the researchers report in the journal Angewandte Chemie, may fulfill these criteria.

Carbon Nanotube Speakers Could Be Powered by Lasers, Transform Noisy Spaces into Peaceful Sanctums

2010-03-11 17:06:09

(PhysOrg.com) -- A UT Dallas team's study published in the Journal of Applied Physics expands the extraordinary capabilities of nanotechnology to include laser-powered acoustic speakers made from assemblies of carbon nanotubes.

New phish twist directs Craigslist users to fake eBay site

2010-03-11 17:06:09

A new phishing scam is using the classified advertising Web site Craigslist to lure potential buyers to a fake version of the online auction site eBay.