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Infant sleep positioners cause death: US health officials

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Some things we mean for good causes something bad - and it is with best intentions sometimes...! ----- Posted: 22 November 2012 CHICAGO: Bolsters used to keep sleeping babies on their backs pose a suffocation hazard, health officials warned Wednesday after a recent death raised the 'sleep positioners' toll to at least 13 US infants . Health officials first warned parents not to use the devices in 2010 and cracked down on manufacturers who claimed they could prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome , which claims more than 2,000 infants a year in the United States . But the 'sleep positioners' - which typically feature bolsters attached to each side of a thin mat and sometimes a wedge to elevate the baby's head - remain on the market. Most of the babies - all four months of age or younger - suffocated after rolling from their side to their stomach. Some were found trapped between the bolster and the side of the crib. In addition to the 13 reported deaths since 19...

Vitamin D in pregnancy may prevent multiple sclerosis

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This is surely for mothers who are keen to have the best baby, even before it is born... ----- Posted: 15 November 2012 PARIS: Researchers said Thursday they have found evidence that Vitamin D supplements for pregnant women in the world's colder, darker countries may stave off multiple sclerosis (MS) in their offspring. The finding adds to a growing body of work showing a link between low Vitamin D levels and the debilitating disease, which sees the immune system attacking the body's own nerve fibres. Data on more than 150,000 MS patients born in places north of 52 degrees, revealed a heightened risk for those born in April - a month preceded by a long period without sunlight, said a paper in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry . Of the total, 13,300 were born in April compared to 11,600 in November - a lower-risk month after summer in the northern hemisphere, British researchers wrote. "Month of birth has a significant effect on subsequent MS ri...

Locals and Foreigners Alike

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Minneapolis protest against Arizona immigrant law SB 1070 (Photo credit: Fibonacci Blue ) Note: This is just my view, but I believe I am right even just to voice out my opinion. No harm intended at all... ----- 17-Jan-2013 It is almost always notable that anybody can be a migrant, and that is the reason why I title my post as such – one day you are a local, and when you travel out of your country, your native land , you become a foreigner . And with this premise, I hereby present my (hopefully) honest and valid assessment of a nation’s state, where I currently reside, starting from 1999 – and hope that my length of stay gives credence to my truthful revelation, as if what I’m going to say isn’t known at all, because while it is, saying anything or doing anything that doesn’t please those in command will get you into trouble. I should say that that is just the norm anywhere you are, so I hope I will say this in plain text and without any ill will or hidden motives. I my...

Public feedback sought on brain research issues

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Animal,Porkey Pig, Lobund-Wistar (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) I would not allow my kids to be lab rats, but that is my decision as a father. What would yours be? ----- Advances in study, powerful tools have led to questions about impact on humans, society By Neo Chai Chin Jan 10, 2013 SINGAPORE - Should children be included in research on "smart drugs", or drugs that could improve their cognitive abilities? Should people lacking mental capacity be allowed to take part in genomic research? Does neuroscience research require more ethical safeguards than other types of biomedical research ? These are questions that the public is invited to mull over and provide feedback on, with the launch of a public consultation on Ethical , Legal and Social Issues in Neuroscience Research yesterday by the Bioethics Advisory Committee. Rapid advances in the study of the brain and the rest of the nervous system, as well as development of more powerful tools to explore and...

In Search of a better Water Heater

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English: Two Rannai brand, tankless water heaters in a commercial setting. Each unit is rated 199,000 BTU and the two work in parallel, heating water to 185 degrees Fahrenheit. Located on a dairy farm and provide hot water for cleaning milking equipment. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Tankless Water Heater   For decades, tankless water heaters have been used in Europe and other parts of the world where energy prices are steep. Most consumers in North America , however, were not aware of tankless water heaters until recently.   The happy surprise is that, compared with conventional water heaters, these on-demand water heaters can save energy and money and deliver an endless flow of hot water. In fact, installing a qualifying tankless water heater can save you money on your taxes through a $300 credit.   The familiar tank -style water heater is basically a large container with a heater. It stores a lot of water (typically 40 to 80 gallons), heats the water...