Cancer patients' pain can be helped by psychosocial interventions, say researchers

Public release date: 30-Jan-2012
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Contact: Ferdie De Vega
Ferdinand.DeVega@moffitt.org
813-745-7858
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute

Up to one-third of cancer patients experience moderate to severe pain

TAMPA, Fla. -- Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center, who teamed with colleagues at five universities around the United States, analyzed past studies of cancer-related pain reduction and found that psychosocial interventions can have a beneficial effect on cancer patients' pain severity. They also found that certain psychosocial interventions provide better pain management and are effective in reducing the degree to which pain related to cancer and its treatment interferes with patients' lives.

Their analysis was published in a recent online issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

"Pain is one of the most common, burdensome and feared symptoms experienced by patients with cancer," said Paul B. Jacobsen, Ph.D., associate center director for Moffitt's Division of Population Science. "Our study looked at randomized, controlled studies of psychosocial interventions for pain published between 1966 and 2010 in which pain was measured as an outcome in adults with cancer, or in adults undergoing procedures to diagnose cancer."

According to the authors, cancer-related pain can arise for a variety of reasons, including direct tumor involvement, metastasis to bone or organs, treatment toxicity and diagnostic procedures. Moderate to severe pain suffered by up to one-third of cancer patients often interferes with sleep, daily activities, enjoyment of life, and work and social interactions.

In their analysis of past pain intervention studies, the researchers investigated separately data on pain severity and data on how pain may interfere with daily life. While there is a significant body of literature devoted to study of cancer pain intervention, the authors note that not all studies they surveyed measured pain as a primary outcome. Moreover, pain was measured inconsistently across the studies.

When 37 past studies were analyzed to assess the effects of psychosocial interventions on patient pain, the researchers found that the most successful psychosocial, non-pharmacological pain interventions were either skill-based interventions or educational. Skill-based interventions focused on changes in the ways in which patients interpret pain, while educational approaches provided instruction on how to better use medications or helped patients more effectively communicate with clinicians about their unrelieved pain.

"Skill-based interventions focus on changing a patient's dysfunctional beliefs about pain and promote the use of skills such as distraction and relaxation to manage it," explained Jacobsen.

The authors noted that their findings on the value of psychosocial interventions are consistent with the recommendations of both the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the American Pain Society. Both organizations recommend the use of psychosocial interventions as part of a "multimodal" approach to the treatment of cancer-related pain as well as the inclusion of experts in psychosocial care as members of the multidisciplinary care team.

The researchers concluded that psychosocial interventions worked equally well in reducing pain across patient demographic characteristics, such as sex and racial/ethnic subgroups. However, because the majority of the available patient data was on white females, the researchers recommend further study to determine if the same interventions could better manage pain across different subgroups of patients with cancer and in different treatment settings a strategy also suggested by the IOM.

"In short, we found that psychosocial interventions, including skills instruction and education can improve cancer pain management," concluded Jacobsen.

###

About Moffitt Cancer Center

Follow Moffitt on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MoffittCancerCenter

Follow Moffitt on Twitter: @MoffittNews

Follow Moffitt on YouTube: MoffittNews

Located in Tampa, Florida, Moffitt Cancer Center is an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center a designation that recognizes Moffitt's excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt currently has 14 affiliates in Florida, one in Georgia, one in Pennsylvania and two in Puerto Rico. Additionally, Moffitt is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country's leading cancer centers, and is listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of "America's Best Hospitals" for cancer.

Media release by Florida Science Communications

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 30-Jan-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Ferdie De Vega
Ferdinand.DeVega@moffitt.org
813-745-7858
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute

Up to one-third of cancer patients experience moderate to severe pain

TAMPA, Fla. -- Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center, who teamed with colleagues at five universities around the United States, analyzed past studies of cancer-related pain reduction and found that psychosocial interventions can have a beneficial effect on cancer patients' pain severity. They also found that certain psychosocial interventions provide better pain management and are effective in reducing the degree to which pain related to cancer and its treatment interferes with patients' lives.

Their analysis was published in a recent online issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

"Pain is one of the most common, burdensome and feared symptoms experienced by patients with cancer," said Paul B. Jacobsen, Ph.D., associate center director for Moffitt's Division of Population Science. "Our study looked at randomized, controlled studies of psychosocial interventions for pain published between 1966 and 2010 in which pain was measured as an outcome in adults with cancer, or in adults undergoing procedures to diagnose cancer."

According to the authors, cancer-related pain can arise for a variety of reasons, including direct tumor involvement, metastasis to bone or organs, treatment toxicity and diagnostic procedures. Moderate to severe pain suffered by up to one-third of cancer patients often interferes with sleep, daily activities, enjoyment of life, and work and social interactions.

In their analysis of past pain intervention studies, the researchers investigated separately data on pain severity and data on how pain may interfere with daily life. While there is a significant body of literature devoted to study of cancer pain intervention, the authors note that not all studies they surveyed measured pain as a primary outcome. Moreover, pain was measured inconsistently across the studies.

When 37 past studies were analyzed to assess the effects of psychosocial interventions on patient pain, the researchers found that the most successful psychosocial, non-pharmacological pain interventions were either skill-based interventions or educational. Skill-based interventions focused on changes in the ways in which patients interpret pain, while educational approaches provided instruction on how to better use medications or helped patients more effectively communicate with clinicians about their unrelieved pain.

"Skill-based interventions focus on changing a patient's dysfunctional beliefs about pain and promote the use of skills such as distraction and relaxation to manage it," explained Jacobsen.

The authors noted that their findings on the value of psychosocial interventions are consistent with the recommendations of both the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the American Pain Society. Both organizations recommend the use of psychosocial interventions as part of a "multimodal" approach to the treatment of cancer-related pain as well as the inclusion of experts in psychosocial care as members of the multidisciplinary care team.

The researchers concluded that psychosocial interventions worked equally well in reducing pain across patient demographic characteristics, such as sex and racial/ethnic subgroups. However, because the majority of the available patient data was on white females, the researchers recommend further study to determine if the same interventions could better manage pain across different subgroups of patients with cancer and in different treatment settings a strategy also suggested by the IOM.

"In short, we found that psychosocial interventions, including skills instruction and education can improve cancer pain management," concluded Jacobsen.

###

About Moffitt Cancer Center

Follow Moffitt on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MoffittCancerCenter

Follow Moffitt on Twitter: @MoffittNews

Follow Moffitt on YouTube: MoffittNews

Located in Tampa, Florida, Moffitt Cancer Center is an NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center a designation that recognizes Moffitt's excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt currently has 14 affiliates in Florida, one in Georgia, one in Pennsylvania and two in Puerto Rico. Additionally, Moffitt is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country's leading cancer centers, and is listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of "America's Best Hospitals" for cancer.

Media release by Florida Science Communications

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/hlmc-cpp013012.php

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Brokaw, NBC Threaten Legal Action Against Romney Camp For ...

Former NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw is featured prominently in a new ad from the Romney campaign focusing on Newt Gingrich?s House ethics violation in the mid-1990s.? The ad, entitled ?History Lesson,? is a 30 second excerpt from NBC Nightly News the day Gingrich was found guilty by House Democrats and Republicans in an ethics investigation.

In an unprecedented move, lawyers for NBC News have demanded that the Romney camp remove the ad.? In a statement, Brokaw himself writes:

?I am extremely uncomfortable with the extended use of my personal image in this political ad. I do not want my role as a journalist compromised for political gain by any campaign.?

Really, Tom?? Big concerns over your ?role as a journalist compromised for political gain??? Take another look at that video and listen to the condescending, judgmental way the Gingrich story was framed by Brokaw back in 1997.? He and his teleprompter feeders went out of their way at the time to make Gingrich appear to be the biggest hypocrite and crook in American political history.? Check out the way the ethics committee?s wrist slap was framed:?

?Newt Gingrich, who came to power, after all, preaching a higher standard in American politics, a man who brought down another Speaker on ethics accusations, tonight he has on his own record the judgment of his peers, Democrat and Republican alike.?

If snark smelled like apple pie, you?d be sure you were at grandma?s house on Thanksgiving after watching this example of Brokaw?s ?role as a journalist.?

It?s the height of hypocrisy for NBC News and Brokaw to be concerned about Brokaw?s utterances being used for political purposes, considering his long history of biased reporting over his long career. ? Perhaps NBC?s lawyers should have shown concern over these statements made by Brokaw as compiled by our friends at Media Research Center:

? ?I thought from the outset that his supply-side theory was just a disaster. I knew of no one who felt it was going to work.? (Mother Jones interview, April 1983 issue)

? ?We wanted everything but the pain of paying for it?.In a decade [the] deficit more than tripled. How? Ronald Reagan ran for President promising Americans more while asking for less: the Reagan Revolution.? (October 5, 1990)

? ?Reagan, as commander-in-chief, was the military?s best friend. He gave the Pentagon almost everything it wanted. That spending, combined with a broad tax cut, contributed to a trillion-dollar deficit?.Social programs? They suffered under Reagan. But he refused to see the cause and effect.? (Over video of homeless people on December 27, 1989 NBC News special The Eighties)

? ?You?re opposed to abortion in any form. You also have opposed the E.R.A., and you?re opposed to increasing the minimum wage, which is important to a lot of women out there. Aren?t you going to have a hard time selling Dan Quayle to the women of this country?? (To Quayle, August 17, 1988 convention coverage)

? ?A lot of people said, ?Just too much red meat there [in the speech].? You gave the impression that if you?re not a white, heterosexual, Christian, anti-abortion, anti-environment, you?re somehow not welcome in the Republican Party.? (To Pat Buchanan, August 18, 1992 convention coverage)

? ?There are many people in the Republican Party who believe that the Republican National Convention in Houston, at which you were a prominent part, was simply too extreme, too strident in its positions, and they cite your speech and Pat Buchanan?s speech as well.? (To Pat Robertson on election night, November 4, 1992)

? ?Is the Republican Party held hostage, in your judgment, Christie Whitman, by its views on abortion? So that people like you, who believe that there ought to be some choice, can never be considered for Vice President?? (To Whitman during MSNBC?s convention coverage, August 2, 2000)

? ?Colin Powell, the most influential African-American in the Republican Party, will be talking to these delegates, reminding them that they have to think about minorities every day, not just every four years.? (Convention coverage July 31, 2000)

? ?Medicare, the health care program that has been a godsend to the elderly in this country, even with all its financial difficulties. Tonight, the President wants to dramatically expand its coverage to millions more.? (January 6, 1998)

? ?And when the public phase of those hearings ended today with the testimony of Secretary Weinberger, we were left with an astonishing record of deceit, ignorance, naivete, good or bad intentions, failed policies, and discredited public servants, and this story is not yet complete.? (On Iran-Contra hearings, August 3, 1987)

? ?Still ahead tonight. Investigating the President. A growing backlash against independent counsel Kenneth Starr. Is he out of bounds or just tone deaf?? (February 16, 1998)

? ?We begin tonight with U.S. Senator Bob Packwood of Oregon, a man who championed women?s rights on the floor of the Senate and sexually terrorized members of his own staff.? (September 7, 1995)

? ?Do you think the press has been too fascinated with other ancillary issues?like Whitewater and Paula Jones?? (To Tim Russert after a Clinton press conference, November 9, 1994)

? ?Beyond the tedium of the day to day campaigning, there?s another much more alarming development this year ? money. Huge amounts of money pouring into both parties, raising very serious questions about influence and conflict of interest.? (October 29, 1996)

? ?For all the rhetoric and the outrage about what happened in the ?96 campaign, a bill that would overhaul the system was all but killed off today in a partisan battle.? (October 7, 1997)

? ?The Republicans were outraged by the fundraising practices of the President and the Democratic National Committee ? but not so outraged that they felt the need for campaign finance reform.? (In a New York Times column, February 7, 1998)

The Romney campaign, to their credit, has responded to the NBC intimidation tactic? by maintaining that the footage in the advertisement falls under ?fair use? provisions in federal copyright laws and they will not be acquiescing to the network?s demand.

Source: http://bigjournalism.com/sright/2012/01/29/brokaw-nbc-threaten-legal-action-against-romney-camp-for-using-clip-in-ad/

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Va. Mosque Opening On Hold After Vandals Trash Windows

Patch:

Under the cover of darkness Sunday night, vandals downed alcohol, threw rocks and smashed the windows -- along with over a decade of hard work, financial sacrifices and prayers -- of a Chantilly mosque.

The Ahmadiyya Muslim community was reeling Monday after learning of the destruction at the construction site, which leaders estimated could cost up to $60,000 to repair. The vandals took out most of the glass windows and doors on the first floor, and even two windows high on the second floor.

"It's kind of devastating to see," said Usman Ghumman, the general secretary. "All the windows are smashed in, like in an insane way. Like somebody went systematically, door to door, to whatever's reachable."

Read the whole story: Patch

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/30/va-mosque-opening-on-hold_n_1243102.html

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Weaker banks, commodities drag Britain's FTSE lower (Reuters)

LONDON (Reuters) ? Weakness in banks and commodity stocks dragged Britain's leading share index lower on Monday as the protracted search for a Greek bond deal and concerns about economic growth kept investors nervous.

The FTSE 100 (.FTSE) index closed down 62.36 points, or 1.1 percent, at 5,671.09, extending Friday's falls and retreating further from Thursday's six-month closing high.

The FTSE volatility index (.VFTSE) was also active, up over 10 percent, its biggest daily percentage rise in a month and signaling an increase in risk aversion.

Banks (.FTNMX8350) were the biggest blue-chip casualties, hit by concerns that extra liquidity injections from central banks had not addressed the sector's fundamental problems.

Credit Suisse reduced its recommendation on the European Banking sector to "underweight" as it said the direct earnings impact of the European Central Bank's (ECB) late-December splurge of cheap, long-term cash for the banks appeared to be over-estimated.

Barclays (BARC.L) was the UK sector's biggest faller, down 4.2 percent, while Lloyds Banking Group (LLOY.L) shed 4.1 percent, and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS.L) fell 3.5 percent.

EU leaders met in Brussels on Monday, the first summit of 2012, to sign off a permanent rescue fund for the euro zone -- Britain's biggest trading partner -- though the meeting was overshadowed by the unresolved Greek debt problems.

To avoid a chaotic default, which could have grave ramifications for sentiment and financial systems across the globe, Greece must secure a deal with its private bond holders and persuade international lenders it is serious about reforms in order to secure much-needed cash.

Fresh tensions between Greece and the euro zone's biggest economy Germany over the weekend regarding the debt bail-out terms also knocked sentiment.

"This isn't the first time Greece has shown resistance to accepting certain EU bailout terms and conditions, and given their weak position they may need to concede again, otherwise risk defaulting on the debt repayments due in March," said Jordan Lambert, Trader at Spreadex.

U.S. blue chips (.DJI) were down 0.6 percent by London's close, also suffering on concerns over the Greek debt situation, and after further dull U.S. economic data.

U.S. consumer spending was flat in December as households took advantage of the largest rise in income in nine months to boost their savings, setting the tone for a slowdown in demand early in 2012.

COMMODITIES DIP

Weakness in commodity issues also weighed on blue chips in London, with a retreat in crude knocking the integrated oils (.FTNMX0530) as an expected Iranian vote to suspend crude exports to Europe was postponed, easing supply concerns.

Miners (.FTNMX1770) also moved lower in tandem with weaker metal prices, as softer-than-expected U.S. economic data fuelled concerns about demand levels.

Defensive stocks dominated on the short list of blue chip gainers, led by drugmakers, with AstraZeneca (AZN.L) and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK.L) up 0.6 percent and 0.5 percent.

AstraZeneca will post fourth-quarter results on Thursday.

Utilities were in demand, with energy generator International Power (IPR.L) up 0.6 percent, and power distributor National Grid (NG.L) ahead 0.5 percent. Both firms are due to issue trading updates later this week.

And chip designer ARM Holdings (ARM.L) gained 0.3 percent, with its fourth-quarter results due tomorrow.

(Reporting by Jon Hopkins; Editing by Will Waterman)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/business/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20120130/bs_nm/us_markets_britain_stocks

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Video: Facebook poised for IPO

>>> now to the news out of silicon valley that has a lot of people talking. reports that facebook is preparing for a major status update, a move that would vault the social networking giant into the ranks of the largest public companies in the world. john ford covers the tech industry for cnbc. he joins from us san jose to break down how big this deal could be. a lot of folks are going to want to get in on the ground floor of this. how big are we talking about?

>> massive amounts of money here, lester. we're talking about in the neighborhood of $75 billion to $100 billion, potentially, more than i've got in my bank account . let's compare it to something. when google went public, it was a massive ipo around $23 billion. this is three to four times bigger, about the size at $100 billion of one mcdonald's, or half of a walmart. this is for a company, sure, almost everybody uses. facebook , it's got 800 million active users, but few people know how they make money, through advertising and transactions. this takes facebook definitely to another level.

>> end of the day we're still talking about an investment. you said 800 million users, it leads me to question how much more potential does this company have to grow?

>> well, the interesting thing about facebook , yes, more than 800 million users at this point. some estimates have their reven revenue, their sales for last year, almost $4 billion. they're sort of just getting started. they've only start eed to really figure out ways to get those people paying for things. if they can do that, there's a huge amount of potential here. 800 million, about half the people on the internet right now.

>> amazing. john ford from san

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/46183827/

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David Arquette To Join Courteney Cox On 'Cougar Town' (omg!)

David Arquette is heading to "Cougar Town."

ABC confirmed to Access Hollywood on Friday that David will play a hotel concierge who assists Courteney Cox's character, Jules.

PLAY IT NOW: Josh Hopkins On Slapping Courteney Cox?s Butt On ?Cougar Town?: ?I Should Have Done It Harder!? (2011)

"Can't wait to work with you ladies!" David Tweeted on Friday to Courteney, and Christa Miller, who plays Ellie.

"I can't wait to work with you. You better not be late," Courteney - who just joined Twitter this week, wrote back.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: Courteney Cox & David Arquette Over The Years

David will appear in the show's Season 3 finale.

Courteney and David separated in 2010.

As previously reported on AccessHollywood.com , "Cougar Town" returns on February 14 at 8:30 PM on ABC.

VIEW THE PHOTOS: The Lovely Ladies Of Primetime Television

Copyright 2012 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/entertainment/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/omg_rss/rss_omg_en/news_david_arquette_join_courteney_cox_cougar_town230012614/44332657/*http%3A//omg.yahoo.com/news/david-arquette-join-courteney-cox-cougar-town-230012614.html

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Evan Dunham stops Nik Lentz at UFC on Fox 2

CHICAGO -- Evan Dunham finished off the preliminary card of UFC on Fox 2 with a pummeling of Nik Lentz. Dunham won after two rounds because of a doctor's stoppage.

Both fighters were light on their feet and throwing several punches early in the round. Lentz tried for takedowns, but Dunham was able to spring back to his feet. Dunham got a big takedown late in the round.

Again in the second round, Dunham got the takedown. When they returned to their feet, they traded leather, smiling as they threw abuse at each other's bloody face. Dunham broke from their punchfest to get another takedown. He tried for a guillotine, but when he couldn't choke Lentz out, Dunham punished him with elbows. They returned to their feet in the final thirty seconds, with Lentz's face showing the damage he sustained in the round. Because of the damage, the bout was stopped before the third round began.

Dunham is now 13-2, while Lentz falls to 21-5-2.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/evan-dunham-stops-nik-lentz-ufc-fox-2-004514000.html

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Haiti president now says no pardon for Duvalier (AP)

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti ? Haitian President Michel Martelly on Friday backed off a suggestion from an interview a day earlier that he might be open to a pardon for former dictator Jean-Claude Duvalier. He said he meant only that he wanted an end to the internal conflict that has long afflicted his country.

Martelly, speaking in a radio interview in Dublin, said that "I never proposed to pardon" the dictator known as "Baby Doc," who is under a judicial investigation for crimes committed during his brutal 15-year rule in the 1970s and 1980s. The judge is expected to rule soon on whether Duvalier will face trial on corruption and human rights charges.

A day earlier, The Associated Press interviewed Martelly on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and asked about the former dictator and the pending decision. The president suggested he had little appetite for a trial, saying reconciliation for his nation is more important than punishing Duvalier.

"My way of thinking is to create a situation where we rally everyone together and create peace and pardon people, to not forget about the past ? because we need to learn from it ? but to mainly think about the future," he said.

Martelly added that any decision on a possible pardon would come only with "a consensus among all leaders, all political parties."

In the Friday interview with Ireland's Newstalk FM, Martelly was asked by the host why he would pardon Duvalier. The president said he was misunderstood by the AP.

"When I mentioned reconciliation it has nothing to do with Duvalier," he said. "Duvalier is a case where only the justice (system) can decide on it."

He said that years of often violent struggle among the various factions in Haitian society have left the country in shambles and that the conflict has to end for there to be any progress in Haiti.

"The problem is the Haitian people fighting among themselves. So I mentioned my will to reconcile the Haitian people, not pardon Duvalier," he said.

After the AP interview was broadcast and published, Martelly presidential adviser Damian Merlo faulted its tone but not the content, saying in an email that he "just wish you would have focused on the positive aspects of the interview and not make such a big deal about Duvalier."

Asked about the issue Friday, Merlo responded: "A Duvalier pardon is not part of the agenda."

Duvalier has posed a challenge to Haiti since his surprise return home in 2011 after 25 years in exile.

The country has a weak judicial system, with little history of successfully prosecuting even simple crimes, and the government is preoccupied with reconstruction from the devastating January 2010 earthquake. A majority of Haitians are now too young to have lived under Duvalier but many still remember his government's nightmarish prisons and violent special militia, known as the Tonton Macoute, which killed and tortured political opponents with impunity.

Human rights groups have faulted the Haitian government for appearing to delay a decision in the Duvalier case and many older Haitians and Martelly opponents have expressed alarm that his government includes several people who worked in the administration of the former dictator.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/latam/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120127/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/cb_haiti_duvalier_pardon

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Early cystic fibrosis lung disease detected by bronchoalveolar lavage and lung clearance index

Public release date: 27-Jan-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Nathaniel Dunford
ndunford@thoracic.org
212-315-8620
American Thoracic Society

The lung clearance index (LCI) is a sensitive non-invasive marker of early lung disease in young children with cystic fibrosis (CF), according to a new study from Australian researchers.

"We found that LCI is elevated early in children with CF, especially in the presence of airway inflammation and Pseudomonas aeruginosa," said Yvonne Belessis, MBBS, MPH, PhD, respiratory staff specialist at the Sydney Children's Hospital. "LCI may not only be a marker of early CF lung disease, but may be useful as an objective outcome measure in future studies of young children with CF."

The findings were published online ahead of print publication in the American Thoracic Society's American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

LCI was determined after multiple breath washout (MBW) testing in 47 presymptomatic/minimally symptomatic infants and young children with CF (mean age 1.55 years) and 25 healthy control children (mean age 1.26 years). Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was also performed in the children with CF.

Mean (SD) LCI in children with CF was 7.21 (0.81), compared with 6.45 (0.49) in control children (P<.001 the="" upper="" limit="" of="" normal="" for="" lci="" was="" among="" children="" with="" cf="" had="" an="" elevated="" lci.="" measurements="" were="" repeatable="" and="" reproducible.="" readability="26">

Airway infection (?105 cfu/mL BAL fluid) was detected in 17 (36%) children with CF, including 7 (15%) children who had Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. LCI in children with Pseudomonas was 7.92 (1.16), compared with 7.02 (0.56) in children without Pseudomonas (P=.038). LCI was significantly correlated with the BAL inflammatory markers interleukin-8 and neutrophil count.

There were some limitations to the study, including the lack of a robust measure of structural lung disease and a higher diagnostic threshold for airway infection than has been used in other BAL studies.

"We obtained reproducible measurements of LCI at the bedside of sedated infants and young children using a portable MBW system," said Dr. Belessis. "Compared with healthy controls, LCI was elevated in well infants and young children with CF, and abnormal LCI was associated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection and airway inflammation.

"Our results show that the LCI is a feasible, sensitive and repeatable non-invasive marker of early lung disease in well infants and young children with CF. Longitudinal assessment of the LCI taking into consideration changes in inflammation and airway infection over time are needed to confirm these findings."

###

About the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine:

With an impact factor of 10.191, the AJRRCM is a peer-reviewed journal published by the American Thoracic Society. It aims to publish the most innovative science and the highest quality reviews, practice guidelines and statements in the pulmonary, critical care and sleep-related fields.

Founded in 1905, the American Thoracic Society is the world's leading medical association dedicated to advancing pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine. The Society's 15,000 members prevent and fight respiratory disease around the globe through research, education, patient care and advocacy.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 27-Jan-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Nathaniel Dunford
ndunford@thoracic.org
212-315-8620
American Thoracic Society

The lung clearance index (LCI) is a sensitive non-invasive marker of early lung disease in young children with cystic fibrosis (CF), according to a new study from Australian researchers.

"We found that LCI is elevated early in children with CF, especially in the presence of airway inflammation and Pseudomonas aeruginosa," said Yvonne Belessis, MBBS, MPH, PhD, respiratory staff specialist at the Sydney Children's Hospital. "LCI may not only be a marker of early CF lung disease, but may be useful as an objective outcome measure in future studies of young children with CF."

The findings were published online ahead of print publication in the American Thoracic Society's American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

LCI was determined after multiple breath washout (MBW) testing in 47 presymptomatic/minimally symptomatic infants and young children with CF (mean age 1.55 years) and 25 healthy control children (mean age 1.26 years). Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was also performed in the children with CF.

Mean (SD) LCI in children with CF was 7.21 (0.81), compared with 6.45 (0.49) in control children (P<.001 the="" upper="" limit="" of="" normal="" for="" lci="" was="" among="" children="" with="" cf="" had="" an="" elevated="" lci.="" measurements="" were="" repeatable="" and="" reproducible.="" readability="26">

Airway infection (?105 cfu/mL BAL fluid) was detected in 17 (36%) children with CF, including 7 (15%) children who had Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. LCI in children with Pseudomonas was 7.92 (1.16), compared with 7.02 (0.56) in children without Pseudomonas (P=.038). LCI was significantly correlated with the BAL inflammatory markers interleukin-8 and neutrophil count.

There were some limitations to the study, including the lack of a robust measure of structural lung disease and a higher diagnostic threshold for airway infection than has been used in other BAL studies.

"We obtained reproducible measurements of LCI at the bedside of sedated infants and young children using a portable MBW system," said Dr. Belessis. "Compared with healthy controls, LCI was elevated in well infants and young children with CF, and abnormal LCI was associated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection and airway inflammation.

"Our results show that the LCI is a feasible, sensitive and repeatable non-invasive marker of early lung disease in well infants and young children with CF. Longitudinal assessment of the LCI taking into consideration changes in inflammation and airway infection over time are needed to confirm these findings."

###

About the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine:

With an impact factor of 10.191, the AJRRCM is a peer-reviewed journal published by the American Thoracic Society. It aims to publish the most innovative science and the highest quality reviews, practice guidelines and statements in the pulmonary, critical care and sleep-related fields.

Founded in 1905, the American Thoracic Society is the world's leading medical association dedicated to advancing pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine. The Society's 15,000 members prevent and fight respiratory disease around the globe through research, education, patient care and advocacy.

---

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/ats-ecf012512.php

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Panetta: Military cuts to hit 'all 50 states'

Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, left, accompanied by Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, outlines the main areas of proposed spending cuts during a news conference at the Pentagon on Thursday.

By NBC News and news services

The Pentagon proposed budget cuts on Thursday that would slash the size of the U.S. military by eliminating thousands of jobs, mothballing ships and trimming air squadrons in an effort to shift strategic direction and reduce spending by $487 billion over a decade.

The funding request, which includes painful cuts for many states, sets the stage for a new struggle between President Barack Obama's administration and Congress over how much the Pentagon should spend on national security as the country tries to curb trillion-dollar budget deficits.

US Army chief 'comfortable' with smaller force as Pentagon prepares cuts

---

"Make no mistake, the savings we are proposing will impact all 50 states and many districts across America," Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told a news conference at the Pentagon. "This will be a test of whether reducing the deficit is about talk or action."

Obama will also ask Congress to approve a new round of domestic base closures, although the timing of this was left vague and there is little chance that lawmakers would agree to this in a presidential election year.

Panetta, previewing plans that will be formally announced next month, said he would ask for a $525 billion base budget for the 2013 fiscal year, the first time since Sept. 11, 2001, that the Pentagon has asked for less than the previous year.

Panetta said he would seek $88.4 billion to support combat operations in Afghanistan, down from $115 billion in 2012 largely due to the end of the war in Iraq and the withdrawal of U.S. forces there at the end of last year.

Congress requires that the Pentagon cut $487 billion from the defense budget over the next 10 years -- $259 billion will be cut in the first five years (2013 to 2018).

"We believe this is a balanced and complete package," Panetta said, with Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at his side.

Some lawmakers were quick to dispute him.

"Taking us back to a pre-9/11 military force structure places our country in grave danger," said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee that will hold hearings on the Pentagon budget plan.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said the Panetta plan "ignores the lessons of history." He said it provides for a military that is "too small to respond effectively to events that may unfold over the next few years."

Dempsey, however, said the military is united in its support for the new approach.

"This budget is a first step ? it's a down payment ? as we transition from an emphasis on today's wars to preparing for future challenges," he said, adding, "This budget does not lead to a military in decline."

While the timelines for each of these cuts vary, NBC News reports where the biggest cuts are coming from for now:

Benefits
Members of the military will receive full pay raises in 2013 and 2014, but their raises will be "limited" beginning in 2015. Health care fees for retirees will increase, including co-pays and deductibles.

Army
Active duty force will decrease by about 75,000 soldiers to 490,000. (For perspective, there are about 565,000 soldiers on active duty today and there were about 480,000 soldiers on active duty on 9/11/01.)

Marine Corps
Active duty force will decrease by about 20,000 Marines to 182,000 total. (For perspective, there are about 202,000 Marines on active duty today, and there were about 173,000 on 9/11/01.)

Air Force
Eliminate?six of the 60 Air Force tactical air squadrons, as well as one training squadron.

The Pentagon will eliminate: ?27 aging C-5As (leaving behind 52 C-5Ms and 222 C-17s); 65 oldest C-130s (leaving behind 318 C-130s) and they will divest 38 C-27s.

Navy
Retire?seven cruisers that have not been updated with ballistic missile defense capabilities or that are in need of significant maintenance. Some fleet support ships will also be retired, and the building of several ships (1 large deck, 1 sub, 2 littoral combat ships, and 8 joint high speed vessels) will all delayed by one year or more.

The defense spending plan is scheduled to be submitted to Congress as part of the administration's full 2013 budget on Feb. 13.

Prominent in the Obama plan is a renewed focus on Asia, where China's rapid military modernization has raised worry in Washington and rattled U.S. allies.

NBC News' Jim Miklaszewski and Courtney Kube?as well as?Reuters?and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

More content from msnbc.com and NBC News

Source: http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/26/10244240-panetta-military-cuts-to-hit-all-50-states

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Fed unlikely to raise rates until at least 2014 (AP)

WASHINGTON ? The Federal Reserve went further than ever Wednesday to assure consumers and businesses that they'll be able to borrow cheaply well into the future.

The Fed pushed back the date for any likely increase in its benchmark interest rate by at least a year and a half, until late 2014 at the earliest.

Its new timetable showed the Fed is concerned that the economy's recovery remains stubbornly slow. But it also thinks inflation will stay tame enough for rates to remain at record lows without igniting price increases.

Chairman Ben Bernanke cautioned that the Fed's late-2014 horizon for any rate increase is merely its "best guess." It has the flexibility to shift its timetable if the economic picture changes. But speaking at a news conference later, Bernanke said:

"Unless there is a substantial strengthening of the economy in the near term, it's a pretty good guess we will be keeping rates low for some time."

The Fed's tepid outlook also suggests it's prepared to do more to help the economy. One possibility is a third bond-buying program. The idea would be to further drive down rates on mortgages and other loans to embolden consumers and businesses to borrow and spend more.

In a statement after a two-day policy meeting, the Fed held out the possibility of taking such action later. It said it's ready to adjust its "holdings as appropriate to promote a stronger economic recovery in the context of price stability."

Treasury yields fell after the Fed made its announcement around 12:30 p.m. EST. But yields stopped falling after the Fed later issued forecasts for the economy and interest rates. They showed that while some members foresee super-low rates beyond 2014, six of the 17 members forecast a rate increase as early as this year or next.

It was the first time the Fed had released interest-rate forecasts from its committee members. It will now do so four times a year, when it also updates its economic outlook.

The rate forecasts are an effort to provide more explicit clues about the Fed's plans. They also coincide with a broader Fed effort to make its communications with the public more open.

Lower yields on bonds tend to encourage investors to shift money into stocks, which can boost wealth and spur more spending.

Stocks, which had traded lower before the Fed's announcement, quickly recovered their losses. The Dow Jones industrial average, down about 60 points before the announcement, closed up 83 points.

Though Bernanke stressed the Fed's ability to adjust rates as its outlook shifts, some analysts expressed concern.

Dana Saporta, an economist at Credit Suisse, said the now-much-longer timetable for a likely rate increase could compromise the Fed's credibility if it must raise rates before late 2014. Unexpectedly strong growth and inflation could force such an increase.

"It's striking that the Fed would make an implicit commitment for almost three years," Saporta said. "It seems like an awfully long time to make such a statement. Given that no one knows what will happen ... the (Fed) may eventually regret this."

The Fed slightly reduced its outlook for growth this year. It thinks the economy will grow up to 2.7 percent this year. That's down from its November's forecast of up to 2.9 percent.

But it sees unemployment falling as low as 8.2 percent this year, better than its earlier forecast of 8.5 percent. December's unemployment rate was 8.5 percent.

For the first time, the Fed provided an official target for inflation ? 2 percent ? in a statement of its long-term policy goals. It didn't set a target for unemployment. But it said unemployment between of 5.2 percent and 6 percent would be consistent with a healthy economy.

In his news conference, Bernanke noted that the Fed expects the economy's growth to remain only moderate over the next year. He pointed to the persistently depressed housing market and continued tight credit for many consumers and companies.

Julie Coronado, an economist at BNP Paribas, said she thought the Fed is signaling it will boost its purchases of bonds and other assets if the economy's growth fails to accelerate, even if it doesn't slow.

That is a "very low bar indeed," she wrote in a note to clients.

The Fed described inflation as "subdued." That was a more encouraging description than it offered last month. A more positive outlook on prices gives the Fed more room to keep rates low.

"This is a fairly clear-cut signal that inflation is not on their radar at this point," Tom Porcelli, an economist at RBC Capital Markets, wrote in a research note.

The Fed's statement was approved on a 9-1 vote. Jeffrey Lacker, president of the Richmond regional Fed bank, dissented. He objected to the new time frame for a rate increase.

The extended time frame is a shift from the Fed's previous plan to keep the rate low at least until mid-2013. Some economists said the new late-2014 target could lead to further Fed action to try to invigorate the economy.

The central bank has kept its key rate at a record low near zero for about three years. Its new time frame suggests the rate will stay there for roughly an additional three years.

Beyond the adjusted outlook for interest rates, Wednesday's statement closely tracked the Fed's previous comments about economic conditions. It used the same language as before in describing Europe's debt problems and the impact on the world economy.

The economy is looking a little better, according to recent private and government data. Companies are hiring more, the stock market is rising, factories are busy and more people are buying cars. Even the home market is showing slight gains after three dismal years

Still, the threat of a recession in Europe is likely to drag on the global economy. And another year of weak wage gains in the United States could force consumers to pull back on spending, which would slow growth.

The Fed has taken previous steps to strengthen the economy, including purchases of $2 trillion in government bonds and mortgage-backed securities to try to cut long-term rates and ease borrowing costs.

Some Fed officials have resisted further bond buying for fear it would raise the risk of high inflation later. And many doubt it would help much since Treasury yields are already near historic lows.

The Fed said Wednesday that it would keep its holdings of Treasury securities and mortgage-backed bonds at record levels and continue a program to further drive long-term rates lower by selling shorter-term securities and buying longer-term bonds.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/economy/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20120125/ap_on_bi_ge/us_federal_reserve

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Joe Jonas, Jennifer Love Hewitt Cozy Up In 'Cleveland'

On the JoBro's latest episode of 'Hot in Cleveland,' premiering Wednesday night on TV Land, his and Hewitt's characters get engaged.
By Kara Warner

Joe Jonas
Photo: MTV News

Jet-setting actor/musician Joe Jonas has once again made time in his busy schedule for a little stop through Cleveland — "Hot in Cleveland," that is, the popular show on TV Land starring Valerie Bertinelli, Betty White, Wendie Malick and Jane Leeves.

Jonas has a guest-starring role on the sitcom as the wayward son of Bertinelli's character. MTV News was lucky enough to visit the set of "Cleveland" on the day Jonas filmed his second guest spot, which premieres Wednesday night (January 25) at 10 p.m. ET. When we caught up with him for a few minutes between scenes, he shared some details about his return to the show.

"Being back on the show, [my character Will is] engaged, and I have to be engaged to Jennifer Love Hewitt, which is really nice," he said. "We're both sons and daughters of characters on the show, and we show up and surprise everybody. They don't expect us to be engaged."

Jonas said that while it was fun to work with Hewitt, their characters' engagement doesn't exactly last for long. "Both of our characters are really different. I think I'm a little bit blinded by the fact that she may not be the perfect person for me. I think we last probably less than Kim Kardashian in this," he joked.

Long engagements or no, Jonas said he loves his time on the show and would be happy to come back any time.

"I would love to be able to return again. The first episode when I left, people were like, 'Are you going to be back soon?' and I said, 'I think so.' I don't think my character passed away, so I think we're good. I don't die in this episode either," he added. "So I'm still around, so I could definitely come back if they'd like me to. I have a fun time being on the set and I love the cast; it's kind of like a family."

Are you excited to see Joe in "Cleveland" again? Let us know in the comments!

Related Artists

• Joe Jonas

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1677893/joe-jonas-hot-in-cleveland-jennifer-love-hewitt.jhtml

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Driving America: Henry Ford Museum Redefines Automotive History

Dearborn Patch:

One year and $8 million worth of renovations will finally be revealed to the public Sunday, Jan. 29, at the Henry Ford Museum with the opening of Driving America.

Making up the majority of the museum's main floor, the collection of cars, artifacts, interactive displays and personal accounts is the historic location's most comprehensive redesign in more than 25 years.

Read the whole story: Dearborn Patch

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/24/driving-america-henry-for_n_1227427.html

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World-class scientists chosen for HHMI's first International Early Career award

Public release date: 24-Jan-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Andrea Widener
widenera@hhmi.org
301-215-8805
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Top biomedical scientists from 12 countries will receive an important boost at a critical time in their careers from HHMI's inaugural International Early Career Scientist (IECS) awards.

The 28 recipients, chosen from 760 applicants, represent a wide range of disciplines, from neuroscience to virology to plant science. All the awardees trained in the United States as a graduate student or a postdoctoral fellow and have published important research. "These are the people who, 10 years from now, we expect will be the scientific leaders in their countries," HHMI President Robert Tjian says.

The countries with the most IECS awardees are China (7), Portugal (5), and Spain (5), but recipients are also based in nine other countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Hungary, India, Italy, Poland, South Africa, and South Korea. Nine of the 28 (32 percent) are women.

"We want their association with HHMI to have a significant impact on their careers," says Jack E. Dixon, HHMI's vice president and chief scientific officer. "It is important to have highly educated, effective scholars around the world, and we want to help those people build successful labs."

These researcherswho have all run their own labs for less than seven yearswill be integrated into HHMI's scientific community, attending meetings and giving talks to HHMI's investigators and early career scientists. HHMI funds 327 HHMI investigators and 48 early career scientists who direct laboratories at universities and research organizations throughout the United States. Among them are 13 Nobel Prize winners and 147 members of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences.

"This program is about building connections internationally," says Edwin W. McCleskey, a scientific officer at HHMI who helps run the IECS program. "We have chosen talented people who we feel can build connections with our scientists."

International programs are an important focus of the Institute, and Tjian was especially interested in strengthening ties to international labs given the worldwide connections of HHMI's scientists. A June 2010 survey by HHMI of its investigators and early career scientists showed that 73 percent of those who responded collaborate internationally, and 62 percent have international postdoctoral students in their laboratories.

"Some young scientists really want to succeed in the scientific arena but see no opportunity to do that in their own countries," Tjian says. "We hope this program will help change that."

The 28 IECS awardees will each receive $650,000: $100,000 a year for five years plus $150,000 the first year for major equipment purchases and other investments (an additional supplement will go to their university or research institution). This represents a total commitment by HHMI of more than $20 million. The funding will start in February 2012.

The IECS program is the latest incarnation of HHMI's international grants to individual researchers. Since 1991, HHMI has spent more than $145 million to fund international scientists working in specific geographic areasincluding Canada, Latin America, and Eastern Europeor in a specific field of research, such as parasitology and infectious disease.

When it came time to rethink those grants, Tjian and Dixon decided to design a program that provided support for early career scientists who would benefit most from a financial boost and the connection with HHMI's scientific community. The research arena for early career scientists can be challenging internationally. For example, funding to help new scientists start up their labs can be quite variable, and often much less is available than in the United States. Tjian and Dixon also decided to home in on countries where HHMI's funding or connections could make the most difference. They thought HHMI support wouldn't make much difference in countries where research funds are already plentiful, but they realized that not all countries make science a priority. "We chose countries that had the economic and educational infrastructure to support the level of science that we're talking about, which is very expensive," Tjian says.

Scientists from 18 countries were eligible to apply, and HHMI received 760 applications. A rigorous peer-review process narrowed the field to 55 semifinalists from 14 countries. For the first time, HHMI invited the semifinalists to give a 15-minute scientific presentation as part of the selection process. They delivered their talks to an international panel of scientific reviewers at a symposium in early November 2011 at HHMI's Janelia Farm Research Campus in Ashburn, Virginia.

"The major criterion was really scientific excellence: what have they accomplished in their young careers; what kind of potential did they have; could they explain their science in a clear way," Dixon says.

###

The IECS program is just one part of HHMI's current international efforts. In 2009, HHMI committed $60 million to build a new research institute in Durban, South Africa, the KwaZulu-Natal Research Institute for Tuberculosis and HIV (K-RITH), dedicated to studying the deadly co-epidemics of HIV and tuberculosis. The Institute also funds International Student Research Fellowships to support international graduate students doing research at U.S. universities.

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute plays a powerful role in advancing scientific research and education. Its scientists, located across the country and around the world, have made important discoveries that advance both human health and our fundamental understanding of biology. The Institute also aims to transform science education into a creative, interdisciplinary endeavor that reflects the excitement of real research. HHMI is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland. For more information, visit www.hhmi.org/about/.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 24-Jan-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Andrea Widener
widenera@hhmi.org
301-215-8805
Howard Hughes Medical Institute

Top biomedical scientists from 12 countries will receive an important boost at a critical time in their careers from HHMI's inaugural International Early Career Scientist (IECS) awards.

The 28 recipients, chosen from 760 applicants, represent a wide range of disciplines, from neuroscience to virology to plant science. All the awardees trained in the United States as a graduate student or a postdoctoral fellow and have published important research. "These are the people who, 10 years from now, we expect will be the scientific leaders in their countries," HHMI President Robert Tjian says.

The countries with the most IECS awardees are China (7), Portugal (5), and Spain (5), but recipients are also based in nine other countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Hungary, India, Italy, Poland, South Africa, and South Korea. Nine of the 28 (32 percent) are women.

"We want their association with HHMI to have a significant impact on their careers," says Jack E. Dixon, HHMI's vice president and chief scientific officer. "It is important to have highly educated, effective scholars around the world, and we want to help those people build successful labs."

These researcherswho have all run their own labs for less than seven yearswill be integrated into HHMI's scientific community, attending meetings and giving talks to HHMI's investigators and early career scientists. HHMI funds 327 HHMI investigators and 48 early career scientists who direct laboratories at universities and research organizations throughout the United States. Among them are 13 Nobel Prize winners and 147 members of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences.

"This program is about building connections internationally," says Edwin W. McCleskey, a scientific officer at HHMI who helps run the IECS program. "We have chosen talented people who we feel can build connections with our scientists."

International programs are an important focus of the Institute, and Tjian was especially interested in strengthening ties to international labs given the worldwide connections of HHMI's scientists. A June 2010 survey by HHMI of its investigators and early career scientists showed that 73 percent of those who responded collaborate internationally, and 62 percent have international postdoctoral students in their laboratories.

"Some young scientists really want to succeed in the scientific arena but see no opportunity to do that in their own countries," Tjian says. "We hope this program will help change that."

The 28 IECS awardees will each receive $650,000: $100,000 a year for five years plus $150,000 the first year for major equipment purchases and other investments (an additional supplement will go to their university or research institution). This represents a total commitment by HHMI of more than $20 million. The funding will start in February 2012.

The IECS program is the latest incarnation of HHMI's international grants to individual researchers. Since 1991, HHMI has spent more than $145 million to fund international scientists working in specific geographic areasincluding Canada, Latin America, and Eastern Europeor in a specific field of research, such as parasitology and infectious disease.

When it came time to rethink those grants, Tjian and Dixon decided to design a program that provided support for early career scientists who would benefit most from a financial boost and the connection with HHMI's scientific community. The research arena for early career scientists can be challenging internationally. For example, funding to help new scientists start up their labs can be quite variable, and often much less is available than in the United States. Tjian and Dixon also decided to home in on countries where HHMI's funding or connections could make the most difference. They thought HHMI support wouldn't make much difference in countries where research funds are already plentiful, but they realized that not all countries make science a priority. "We chose countries that had the economic and educational infrastructure to support the level of science that we're talking about, which is very expensive," Tjian says.

Scientists from 18 countries were eligible to apply, and HHMI received 760 applications. A rigorous peer-review process narrowed the field to 55 semifinalists from 14 countries. For the first time, HHMI invited the semifinalists to give a 15-minute scientific presentation as part of the selection process. They delivered their talks to an international panel of scientific reviewers at a symposium in early November 2011 at HHMI's Janelia Farm Research Campus in Ashburn, Virginia.

"The major criterion was really scientific excellence: what have they accomplished in their young careers; what kind of potential did they have; could they explain their science in a clear way," Dixon says.

###

The IECS program is just one part of HHMI's current international efforts. In 2009, HHMI committed $60 million to build a new research institute in Durban, South Africa, the KwaZulu-Natal Research Institute for Tuberculosis and HIV (K-RITH), dedicated to studying the deadly co-epidemics of HIV and tuberculosis. The Institute also funds International Student Research Fellowships to support international graduate students doing research at U.S. universities.

The Howard Hughes Medical Institute plays a powerful role in advancing scientific research and education. Its scientists, located across the country and around the world, have made important discoveries that advance both human health and our fundamental understanding of biology. The Institute also aims to transform science education into a creative, interdisciplinary endeavor that reflects the excitement of real research. HHMI is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland. For more information, visit www.hhmi.org/about/.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-01/hhmi-wsc011712.php

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Crystallizing the future of oxide materials

ScienceDaily (Jan. 24, 2012) ? A University of Arkansas physicist and his colleagues have examined the challenges facing scientists building the next generation of materials and innovative electronic devices and identified opportunities for taking the rational material design in new directions.

Jak Chakhalian of the University of Arkansas, A.J. Millis of Columbia University and J. Rondinelli of Drexel University present their ideas in the current issue of Nature. "Where you see issues, there are opportunities," Chakhalian said.

The researchers focus on complex oxide interfaces with strongly correlated electrons, which are artificially created structures involving materials called transition metal oxides. Oxide interfaces have the potential to revolutionize materials and devices based on them the way that semiconductors once did, but researchers find themselves hampered by several obstacles.

First, no one has developed a comprehensive theory of why oxide interfaces behave as they do, which means that scientists cannot predict or often even explain the materials' properties. Second, scientists face challenges in synthesizing these complex materials with atomic precision. Synthesizing involves taking several chemical elements balanced very precisely and combining them into intricate geometrical arrangements. On top of this, to create interfaces, scientists must grow these very dissimilar materials together.

While these challenges may seem intimidating, Chakhalian and his colleagues see two opportunities. The first is to grow materials in unusual directions. Chakhalian has already demonstrated that an oxide interface grown along the diagonal of a cube will crystalize into triangular and hexagonal atomic patterns, while the same material grown on a conventional "horizontal" surface will have a common cubic pattern.

"When grown along the diagonal, from the mechanical, electronic and magnetic properties point of view it becomes a new, exotic material," he said. By forcing materials to grow in directions that they would usually resist in nature, Chakhalian suggests a way to find these novel exotic materials.

The second opportunity involves creating interfaces between oxide materials and materials where oxygen is replaced by another element, which leads to entirely new materials with novel electronic properties. For instance, nickel oxide is an insulator but nickel sulfide is metallic. By alternating an oxide-based layer with a non-oxide based layer, scientists propose creating interfaces with important properties for, among other things, energy savings and water purification.

"If you want to talk about the next nanoelectronics revolution or real solutions to the energy problem, these are some of the groundbreaking directions we propose to take," Chakhalian said.

Chakhalian is the Charles and Clydene Scharlau Professor of Physics in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, via Newswise.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

---

Journal Reference:

1. J. Chakhalian, A. J. Millis, J. Rondinelli. Whither the oxide interface. Nature Materials, 2012; 11 (2): 92 DOI: 10.1038/nmat3225

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/0WWZAN5ACgk/120124183752.htm

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