The mechanisms that govern visual perception are only partly understood by scientists, and in fact much of what we know about how the human visual system works stems from investigations into our susceptibility to visual illusions. While scientists have used knowledge of illusions to further our understanding of the mind, magicians have learned to master the art of deception for entertainment purposes.
Researchers at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station used RNAi to reduce the toxic compound gossypol from cottonseed to a level that is considered safe for consumption, but left the compound in the rest of the plant to ward off insects and disease. Once commercialized, seed from these plants could provide a new, high-protein food available to 500 million people a year.
On 16 November 2006 the Department of Health contacted Strategic Health Authorities in England to remind them of their obligation to provide the disease modifying drugs for MS to people who meet the prescription criteria.
Hearty feasts and couch-potato marathons are holiday traditions, but UT Southwestern Medical Center experts warn that packing on pounds and not exercising could be deadly for the 6 million Americans who have diabetes and don’t even know it.
Children who are successfully treated for brain tumors or leukemia are more likely to have strokes later in life, according to new research from UT Southwestern Medical Center.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has partnered with the state’s Health and Wellness Trust Fund (HWTF) Commission to create the Task Force for a Healthier North Carolina. The task force is charged with examining barriers that limit access to health insurance and offering policy recommendations to overcome the barriers.
Ca-ching! Before the Thanksgiving turkey carcass hits the trashcan, consumers will be flocking to start?or if they are very organized and lucky, finish?their Christmas shopping.
Males experience more traumatic events on average than do females, yet females are more likely to meet diagnostic criteria for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), according to a review of 25 years of research reported in the November issue of Psychological Bulletin, published by the American Psychological Association (APA).
A structured exercise program can boost the physical well-being of sedentary seniors who show early signs of losing independent function. The results hold promise that many older adults can lower their risk of major walking disability, according to researchers from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and colleagues.
Protection for patients and the public is at the heart of the Mental Health Bill, which was published by Health Minister Rosie Winterton and Home Office minister Gerry Sutcliffe. The Bill will introduce supervised treatment in the community to ensure that patients comply with treatment when they are discharged from hospital and enable action to be taken to prevent relapse. This will benefit patients and improve public safety.