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New study shows compelling case for link between autism, antidepressant…
Dorothy L. Tengler Medical & Allied HealthcareAutism is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder. Although many causes have been proposed, the cause is still questionable and ultimately unknown. However, a recent study shows a potential link between autistic-like behavior in adult mice and exposure to a common antidepressant in the womb. One of the most commonly prescribed antidepressants is fluoxetine (Prozac), a serotonin reuptake inhibitor. The researchers investigated adult mice born to mothers treated with fluoxetine over a 15-day time period, which corresponds to the second trimester in humans, compared with those born to mothers given normal saline.
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Security cameras in classrooms: The debate continues
Brian Stack EducationMy suburban New Hampshire high school, home to some 800 students and staff, is not unlike many a high school from coast to coast that has received a variety of security upgrades, including the expansion of our video surveillance network. What once was a limited system with just 10 cameras pointed in the most high-traffic parts of the campus is now a system approaching 100 individual cameras that record and save footage for nearly two months. As expansive as our security camera network is, we have drawn a line in the sand in terms of what footage we record.
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Before you plan your next trip, take a look at Mobility-as-a-Service
Bambi Majumdar Transportation Technology & AutomotiveWe can't think of life without Netflix. What if there was a Netflix of transportation to change the way we travel? As fantastic as that may sound, it's already happening and we should get ready to sit back and enjoy the ride. A new McKinsey & Company report states that the future of U.S. urban transportation lies in Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS). Rapid population growth and expanding urban spaces are leading to increased pollution and road congestion. New-age mobility possibilities can provide some solutions to combat these issues by offering means of alternative transportation.
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Brain circuit implicated in cocaine relapse
Dorothy L. Tengler Mental HealthcareRepeated use of cocaine rewires the brain and changes the brain’s reward circuitry, which leads to dependence and addiction. An initial, short-term effect — a buildup of the neurochemical dopamine — leads to euphoria and a desire to take the drug again. Researchers are seeking to understand how cocaine’s many longer-term effects produce the persistent cravings and risk of relapse. Researcher Peter W. Kalivas, Ph.D., a university professor and chair of the Department of Neuroscience at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), and colleagues have identified a type of neuron that is critical for cocaine-seeking behaviors in rodents.
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New discovery could solve the world’s ocean plastics problem
Scott E. Rupp Waste Management & EnvironmentalA study recently published in Nature seems to suggest that there is "a significant increase in open ocean plastics in recent decades," going back nearly 60 years. The study was based off a 2015 investigation that estimated there were between 4.8 trillion and 12.7 trillion pieces of plastic entering the ocean every year. However, there’s been a potential breakthrough by scientists at Berkeley Lab that may change everything we know about plastic and plastic waste. Published in Nature Chemistry, the Berkeley Lab researchers found a new way to assemble plastic elements and reuse them "into new materials of any color, shape or form."
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The mechanism of caries and the anti-caries action of fluoride
Charles Jameson Oral & Dental HealthcareAt present, around two-thirds of U.S. households have fluoridated water in their houses. The CDC has made nationwide fluoridation of drinking water a top priority for the prevention of cavities. In 1945, Grand Rapids, Michigan, became the first U.S. city to implement community fluoridation of the water supply. Fluoride isn't just found in tap water, of course. It’s also found naturally and fortified in certain foods. Additionally, fluoride is a common ingredient in tooth varnish or gels, mouthwashes, prophy paste, and toothpaste, with an aim to reverse tooth decay.
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Travel2020: Finding your inner Buddha at 30,000 feet
Lark Gould Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementA 2013 survey by Carlson Wagonlit Travel said it all when it comes to measuring the toll that travel takes on today’s road warriors. CWT found that travelers can experience stress for as much as "6.9 hours per trip." Sadly, the intervening years have not been kind to business travelers, either. A global study released in March by IHG reported that business travelers lose some 58 minutes of sleep per night while away. While many of the factors that contribute to this particularly insidious strain of stress cannot be helped, there are a few tricks and tips one can apply to one’s travels and daily navigations that can make anyone’s journey through life a little more bearable.
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Exploring artificial intelligence in K-12 education
Bambi Majumdar EducationArtificial intelligence ranks among the top current trends in K-12 education tech. AI's evolving role in society is leading to an exploration of practical uses for it in every aspect of our lives. It has overwhelming potential in education, and schools can leverage it to impact learning that transcends traditional barriers. This means that students will be exposed to newer and better forms of learning. AI and machine learning education tools will rely on data to transform the way students are taught and learn concepts in K-12 education.
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New study suggests levetiracetam for epileptic seizures in children when…
Lynn Hetzler Medical & Allied HealthcareEmergency department (ED) clinicians typically treat status epilepticus with benzodiazepines, followed as necessary with phenytoin, but this approach often leads to intubation and ventilation. Now, the results of a study from researchers in New Zealand and Australia suggest there is a better way to treat severe epileptic seizures in children, and the results of the study will likely change how ED doctors around the world manage status epilepticus in pediatric patients.
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5 reasons why social media isn’t easy
Mark MacDonald Religious CommunityChurch is about fellowship, which by definition is social. And social media is simply a (mostly free) communication channel that has millions of potential followers on it. Because of this, it’s an excellent way to extend your ministry reach while being involved in the daily lives of your members. So why do many churches struggle with social media? Check out these five requirements that make social media management incredibly complex.
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