January 30, 2007, 6:40 PM CT

Blood-cell-sized Memory Device

Researchers have created an ultra-dense memory device the size of a white blood cell that has enough capacity to store the Declaration of Independence and still have space left over. The accomplishment represents an important step toward the creation of molecular computers that are much smaller and could be more powerful than today's silicon-based computers.

"Using molecular components for memory or computation or to replace other electronic components holds tremendous promise," said J. Fraser Stoddart, who is the Fred Kavli Chair in Nanosystems Science at UCLA and director of the California NanoSystems Institute.

The 160,000 memory bits are arranged like a large tic-tac-toe board: 400 silicon wires crossed by 400 titanium wires, each 16 nanometers wide, with a layer of dumbbell-shaped molecular switches sandwiched between the crossing wires.

"This research is one of the only examples of building large molecular memory in a chip at an extremely high density, testing it, and working in an architecture that is practical, where it is obvious how information can be written and read," Stoddart said.

Stoddart, his collaborator James R. Heath, the Elizabeth W. Gilloon Professor of Chemistry at the California Institute of Technology, and their research teams report the work in the January 25 issue of the journal Nature.........

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January 30, 2007, 5:02 AM CT

Why There Are So Many Presidential Candidates So Soon

With this weekend's announcements that Sens. Hillary Clinton and Sam Brownbeck and former Gov. Bill Richardson have taken major steps toward becoming presidential candidates for 2008, the upcoming election is already approaching one of the largest fields of contenders ever.

John Aldrich, a Duke University political science professor and co-author of the soon-to-be-released book "Change and Continuity in the 2004 and 2006 Elections," says one reason why so a number of hats are being tossed into the ring so early is this is a rare occasion when no incumbent president or vice president is running.

"If the president is up for re-nomination, his party will either have an entirely uncontested nomination (George W. Bush in 2004; Bill Clinton in 1996) or a very restricted field (Gerald Ford challenged by Ronald Reagan in 1976; Jimmy Carter challenged by Edward Kennedy and Jerry Brown in 1980)," Aldrich says. "When the incumbent vice president runs, he is the dominant figure, commonly winning the nomination, often early in the contest (Al Gore in 2000; Bush the elder in 1988).

"As a result, fewer challenge such a strong contender. In all other cases, there will certainly be candidates seen as relatively strong, as Sens. Clinton and (John) McCain are seen for 2008, but they will not be seen as strong as an incumbent president or even vice president".........

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January 29, 2007, 5:18 AM CT

Top Hospitals Have 28 Percent Lower Mortality Rate

Patients treated at top-rated hospitals nationwide have nearly a one-third better chance of surviving, on average, than those admitted to all other hospitals, according to a study released recently by HealthGrades, the leading independent healthcare ratings company. Patients who undergo surgery at these high-performing hospitals also have an average five percent lower risk of complications during their stay, researchers found.

The annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality and Clinical Excellence study, now in its fifth year, identifies hospitals in the top five percent nationally in terms of mortality and complication rates for 26 procedures and diagnoses, from bypass surgery to stroke. Hospitals achieving this level of care quality are designated Distinguished Hospitals for Clinical Excellence by HealthGrades and are identified on the organization's consumer Web site, HealthGrades.com.

Disparities in the level of care patients receive, based simply on where they choose to seek treatment, highlight a troubling phenomenon in the U.S. healthcare system: a preventable, but growing gap between high-quality hospitals and the rest of the field.

The 2007 study found that 158,264 lives may have been saved and 12,409 major complications avoided, had the quality of care at all hospitals matched the level of those in the top five percent.........

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January 29, 2007, 5:10 AM CT

Major Link In Brain-obesity Puzzle

A single protein in brain cells may act as a linchpin in the body's weight-regulating system, playing a key role in the flurry of signals that govern fat storage, sugar use, energy balance and weight, University of Michigan Medical School researchers report.

And although it's far too early to say how this protein could be useful in new strategies to fight the world's epidemic of obesity, the finding gives scientists an important system to target in future research and the development of anti-obesity medications.

In the recent issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, U-M researcher Liangyou Rui, Ph.D. and his team report their findings on a protein called SH2B1, and specifically on its activity in brain cells.

Using a variety of genetic, diet and hormone techniques, they were able to show that the action of SH2B1 regulates body weight, the action of the metabolic signaling molecules leptin and insulin, and the use of energy from food. It even moderated the impact of a high-fat diet on body weight.

The experiments were performed in mice, including two types of mice that the team altered genetically so that they only expressed a unique form of the SH2B1 protein in their brain cells. The protein occurs elsewhere in the body, but the researchers were able to zero in on its activity in the hypothalamus: the area of the brain that coordinates signals from the brain and body relating to food, hunger, and the balance of energy and nutrients in the body.........

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January 26, 2007, 4:45 AM CT

Changing Commuting Trends

Commuting trends are changing as baby boomers near retirement age at the same time that a large immigrant population has joined the U.S. labor force, according to Commuting in America III, the latest decadal review of the nation's commuting patterns authored by transportation consultant Alan Pisarski and published by the Transportation Research Board. While the personal vehicle is still the most common way to go to work, transit and carpooling are increasing in many areas, and more commuters are traveling from suburb to suburb rather than from suburbs to central cities, the report says.

"One of the most significant changes will probably come from newly arrived immigrants," said Pisarski. "Unlike most native-born Americans or immigrants who have been in the U.S. for more than five years, many new immigrants either carpool, bike, walk, or use public transportation for their daily commute".

During the coming decades, many baby boomers -- who will start turning 65 in 2010 -- will leave the workplace and stop commuting. At the same time, the latest projections from the Census Bureau show that the number of younger people entering the work force will increase; but these new workers will not outnumber those who will retire. Almost 20 million people ages 18 to 65 are expected to enter the work force during the years 2000 to 2010, followed by only about 12 million over the two following decades. But such projections may underestimate the actual number of Americans who will start working, because it is difficult to project how many immigrants will arrive and enter the work force and how many baby boomers will keep working after age 65, the report says.........

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January 17, 2007, 8:08 PM CT

Fast-Food Business Lessons

What really happens after you place an order for a Big Mac or a Whopper with Cheese?

Jerry M. Newman, Ph.D., SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor in the University at Buffalo School of Management, knows because he worked undercover in seven fast food restaurants across the country, observing operations from the top down -- from the biggest management whoppers to the smallest fries at the fry station.

Newman has chronicled his experiences in a new book, "My Secret Life on the McJob: Lessons from Behind the Counter Guaranteed to Supersize Any Management Style" (January 2007, McGraw-Hill).

Unlike the cultural overview of Eric Schlosser's "Fast Food Nation," or the dietary condemnation of Morgan Spurlock's "SuperSize Me," Newman's book reveals what molds employees working for the country's fast food producers. In spite of the high turnover and repetitive tasks, the workers consistently produce, aren't afraid of hard work and thrive under pressure. And the super-sized mega-burger companies boast steady profits in return. How do fast-food managers tease success out of employees to boost the bottom line?

"My Secret Life on the McJob" takes readers behind the scenes at Burger King, Wendy's, Arby's, Krystal and McDonald's -- and serves up, with keen insights into management techniques, wise lessons that can be applied to companies with 6,000 locations, or just six employees.........

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January 15, 2007, 9:00 PM CT

Rca Small Wonder Digital Camcorder

One of my favorite toys at CES this year is the RCA Small Wonder, a digital camcorder which is "EZ," to quote the packaging. With this "point-and-shoot" MPEG-4 digital camcorder, there are no tapes or discs to buy, and the device runs on standard AA batteries, meaning that you won't be trying to shoot a family milestone and realize you forgot to charge the battery. At 60 minutes of standard-quality recording time (30 minutes of high-quality video), you're not going to run out of time, either.

The lovely "booth babe" (though they prefer to be called model spokespersons, thanks very much) let me record her demo-ing the product and then plug it into the computer through the built -in USB port arm and instantly e-mail to my editor, Hoyun, who probably wondered what the hell she was watching.

Keeping the younger market , ie children, they've made it as easy as turning on the power button and pressing the red "record" button. You can play back clips on the camcorder's 1.5-inch LCD screen, and unwanted clips can be deleted with the touch of the "delete" button. The EZ105 connects directly to a TV set for immediate viewing, for example when you've got the grandparents visiting. Best yet, there's no software to install (software is built into the camera itself.) At $129, they are going to sell a lot of these.........

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January 11, 2007, 8:07 PM CT

Winter Skin Guidelines and Tips

Dr. Kaplan is THE dermatologist to the stars, who happens to have his own, pretty pricey, skincare line. While it might be a bit of a stretch to spend $50 on his eye cream, you can use his tips for getting rid of the ash and keeping skin glowing and gorgeous in winter months.

1. Use a humidifier. Air inside your home becomes very dry in winter, particularly if your windows are closed and the heat is on. A humidifier will replace moisture in the air. If you do not have a humidifier, using a few open pans throughout the house, particularly near any radiators, will also work. Keep indoor air moisture levels at 40 to 50 percent. A good rule to remember is if your turn up the heat, turn on the humidifier.

2. Switch your moisturizer from lotions to thicker creams or ointments and use them often. Moisturizers protect your skin from the elements. Think of moisturizers as a daily barrier between your skin and the air. Ointments form a better protective layer on the skin, and seal in moisture. Avoid ointments in areas where you tend to break out. Even if you have oily skin, you still may need a moisturizer in the winter. Use mild soaps, and avoid deodorant, fragranced, antibacterial or abrasive soaps, as these are more drying for your skin.

3. Remember to use Sun Protection. Even though it is cold, your skin is still vulnerable to damage from the suns UV rays.........

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January 11, 2007, 6:44 PM CT

An Astronaut's Endless Endeavor

An astronaut's work, it seems, is never done.

Eileen Collins retired in May, but by October she still hadn't found time to finish cleaning out her office.

"I'm still answering mail from 2005," she said. "I haven't wound down yet. I've been extremely busy".

Of course, that statement could also apply to the past three decades of Collins' life. In 1976, when Collins was a college sophomore, the Air Force announced it would begin training women as pilots. NASA followed suit in 1978 and began accepting women into the shuttle program - just about the time Collins was deciding what to do with her life.

"Those were important years for me," she said. "When the astronaut program opened up to women, that was a huge motivation for me to get my career on the course where I could become a shuttle astronaut someday. And because I was so interested in flying, I wanted to be a shuttle pilot".

Not that it necessarily would have stopped her if the agencies hadn't started accepting women. Collins started planning to become an astronaut long before she would technically have been allowed to. In fourth grade she read a Junior Scholastic Magazine article on the pros and cons of spending money on the space program. Even at the tender age of 8, she couldn't imagine how anyone could think there were cons.........

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January 11, 2007, 6:29 PM CT

How to Swallow A Thermometer

From the football turf to high above the Earth, heat exhaustion can be life-threatening. Now the same type of "thermometer pill" that astronaut John Glenn swallowed as part of space shuttle medical experiments is also helping athletes to beat the heat.

Just as an engine overheats on a hot day, heat exhaustion -- or hyperthermia -- occurs when the body retains too much heat due to extreme environmental conditions or increased internal heat production. This is especially dangerous among football players. Athletes may train when the heat index is above 100 degree F, all while wearing heavy pads that not only retain heat, but also increase their body weight.

Heat exhaustion can turn to heatstroke, causing the body's heat-regulating mechanisms to falter and fail. Ultimately this can lead to brain damage, organ damage, and eventually death. Heatstroke is the third leading cause of death among athletes in the United States.

Astronauts working in space face a similar threat. During activities such as spacewalks, astronauts may perform strenuous activity that causes a rapid rise in body temperature. A space suit is insulated against external temperature extremes because the side facing the sun can heat to 250 degree F, and the side facing deep space can plunge to -250 degree F. The danger of overheating comes from within as astronauts release body heat and humidity inside the suits, potentially causing heat illnesses.........

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