Wednesday, December 18

Month: July 2015

Internet Program May be the Future for Chronic Pain Patients
Business

Internet Program May be the Future for Chronic Pain Patients

More than 1.5 billion people suffer from chronic pain, according to a recent report. An Internet program may be the saving grace for those trying to manage their chronic pain. Researchers at Washington State discovered that the program, which teaches non-medical solutions for pain, can not only help manage pain but also may reduce dependence on medicine. It results in more positive thinking and emotional wellness. An assistant professor for the College of Nursing, Marian Wilson, did a study by tracking 43 people who had chronic pain. With an eight-week online course, they were taught about the psychological, social and health issues that surround their chronic pain. When that group was compared to the control group, Wilson found that the group who did the course reported adopting the prac...
Could Autism Be Diagnosed With a Simple Scent Test?
Lifestyle

Could Autism Be Diagnosed With a Simple Scent Test?

Currently, autism is diagnosed through a series of psychiatric screenings and evaluations that vary widely in their accuracy. Since many of the typical indicators of autism aren't always apparent during a child's behavioral development, correctly diagnosing this disorder can be a challenge. But what if there were a simpler, more accurate way to detect autism in young children? As researchers have recently discovered, diagnosing autism could simply be a matter of following your nose. According to a July 6 Inquisitr article, the study, conducted by the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, found that children with autism are more likely to inhale unpleasant scents than children without it. Typically, humans tend to inhale less air when we detect a foul odor -- or even hold our breath ...
Republicans Strike Down Amendment That Would Have FDA Review E-Cigarettes
Lifestyle

Republicans Strike Down Amendment That Would Have FDA Review E-Cigarettes

Congressional Republicans blocked an amendment to a bill that would subject electronic cigarettes (or "e-cigarettes") to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) review process. The Hill reports that GOP lawmakers struck down the amendment in Congress on Wednesday in a 26-23 vote. The bill in question would fund the FDA as well as the Department of Agriculture (DA). The amendment was proposed by New York Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D), who wanted to remove the exemption of e-cigarettes to the FDA pre-market review process found in the bill. Lowey was none-too-pleased with the decision, calling it "objectionable." "This bill would allow [e-cigarettes] to stay on the market...without an FDA pre-market review and open the door for similar products to avoid FDA review down the road," Lowey sa...
New Study Finds that Increased Financial Aid Availability May Actually Hurt Students
Business

New Study Finds that Increased Financial Aid Availability May Actually Hurt Students

It’s been an area of concern for quite a few years now, but there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight when it comes to rising college costs. A new study by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York shows that colleges are raising their prices -- in order to make money available for financial aid. Senators such as Lamar Alexander say that students can afford college; however, the reality is vastly different. The average cost, according to College Board, for public schools is $9,139 and that number jumps to $31,231 for private schools. That number only includes tuition and fees, as well -- not books, board, meals, or other necessities. With the average American household income at less than $52,000, lower-income families cannot even begin to think about college, because it just isn’t a viable opt...
Sorry, That Was Only a Bug That Gave You More Followers on Instagram
Business

Sorry, That Was Only a Bug That Gave You More Followers on Instagram

Sorry. That last picture of your cat wasn't so amazing that it earned you a few hundred new Instagram followers. It was just a bug. Instagram confirmed to TechCrunch on June 11 that a bug caused some users' follower counts to rise meteorically. The social network is working on fixing it. Users' follower counts will plummet back to normal levels when it is. The news is kind of a bummer to many, as Instagram is arguably the most popular photo sharing network around. In the 186 years since the first photo was ever taken, there have been more than 3.5 trillion pics snapped -- 16 billion of which had been uploaded to Instagram as of 2014. Considering the fact that another 40 million are uploaded each day, that number has likely almost doubled since. If your profile is suddenly going to retur...
Clemson Univ. Study Reveals Connection Between Impulsiveness and Extended Sleep Deprivation
Lifestyle

Clemson Univ. Study Reveals Connection Between Impulsiveness and Extended Sleep Deprivation

If you’ve been making a lot of bad decisions lately, your sleep habits could be to blame. According to a new study recently published from Clemson University, there is a connection between having poor sleep habits and developing negative tendencies, such as increased impulsiveness and an inability to concentrate. As Medical Daily puts it, “When you go days of getting only four or five hours of sleep a night, you begin to feel and look like a zombie: Bags seem to appear under your eyes overnight...Your hair is somehow more disheveled than normal. Walking up the stairs is so much more exhausting than usual and your productivity at work or school plummets.” Although the physical effects of sleep deprivation are notable and serious, this last part -- your productivity at work or school -- i...
Burlington Company Creates Device That Could Revolutionize Sleep Apnea Treatments
Business

Burlington Company Creates Device That Could Revolutionize Sleep Apnea Treatments

Sleep apnea, a potentially fatal condition if left untreated, is prevalent in as many as many as 18 million Americans, however men are more likely to suffer from it. Nearly 15% of men living in the U.S. suffer from sleep apnea, compared to a mere 5% of women. Apneas are commonly referred to as periods when sleep apnea sufferers stop breathing -- and therefore stop receiving oxygen -- due to a blockage in the back of the throat. This often causes the sufferer to choke or gasp for air throughout the time they're asleep. Over time, the health consequences of untreated sleep apnea can be as severe as heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, and depression. Often, sufferers are completely unaware they have it. Kristen Balderston's family told her she snored for several years. "I ...
Kate Hudson Celebrates 4th of July by Singing in Her Pajamas
Fashion

Kate Hudson Celebrates 4th of July by Singing in Her Pajamas

Actress Kate Hudson was "feeling seriously patriotic" on Saturday when she posted a video of herself belting out the national anthem to Instagram. The Almost Famous actress, who will be seen singing in the upcoming rock'n'roll comedy Rock the Casbah, sang the ending of the "Star Spangled Banner" as another person, heard off-screen, recorded her. Since the star was at home, she stayed comfortable in a "Talk to the Hamsa" t-shirt and a pair of floral pajama pants while rocking a set of red-framed sunglasses. The Hamsa on her shirt is a Middle Eastern and North African symbol in the shape of a hand, known for warding the wearer from the evil eye. Hudson captioned the short 15-second Instagram video with "7:30am and I'm feeling seriously patriotic! Happy 4th of July!" adding the hashtags, "#Ge...
The Internet of Things Is Poised to Become Massive, and It’s Freaking the Government Out
Business

The Internet of Things Is Poised to Become Massive, and It’s Freaking the Government Out

The Internet of Things could be worth up to $11.1 trillion by 2025, and it's freaking Washington D.C. out. According to a new report from the McKinsey Global Institute, creating the Internet of Things -- connecting analog machines, like industrial equipment, to the web -- could potentially have a value of between $3.9 trillion and $11.1 trillion by 2025. The research suggests that connecting more equipment to the Internet could potentially increase corporate revenue, create new businesses, and improve the decision making abilities of companies. "I think people are starting to understand all of the incredible impacts the Internet has had on business, their personal lives and the ways we can interact with government," said Michael Chui, the partner at the McKinsey Global Institute who co-...
Airbus and Boeing Come Out on Top During Paris Air Show
World

Airbus and Boeing Come Out on Top During Paris Air Show

After watching some of the world's most advanced aircraft take to the Paris skies, two major aircraft manufacturers come out on top by making $100 billion in orders. The National reports that Airbus and Boeing's sales jumped sky-high (no pun intended) during the biennial Paris Air Show. From June 15th to the 21st, aircraft manufacturers from all over the world congregated in the City of Lights to show off their latest models but it was Airbus and Boeing that reaped the most attention, garnering $107 billion over the course of the week. The two companies earned almost as much from their participation in the Farnborough Air Show last year in England. In all, Airbus managed to beat Boeing in terms of sheer numbers. By the 21st, Airbus secured contracts for 421 airplanes worth $57 billion t...