health research — 2013 — The 21st Century Matriarch

The items below were ‘the cream’ of the articles and websites I found this past week. Click on the light green text to look at the article.

Patent Overlay Mapping: Visualizing Technological Distance - Powerpoint of graphics depicting how patents cite each other in the 2000-2006 time period. The first series is by companies (Samsung, DuPont, IBM, and Philips) and the second is by research topic: nano biosensors, dye-sensitized solar cells, and graphene). The whole paper is available here.

Is being overweight OK after all? - A look at the analysis of weight and mortality (not quality of life). The studies were adjusted for age, gender and smoking but not for fitness or chronic disease indicators.

Massive Stick Sculptures Resemble Castles, Nests and Cocoons - I like the size and shapes of these structures. It looks like the artist is creating about one per month (upcoming installations listed on his web site here). I’d like to see one. The closest to me would be the University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA) in October… or maybe I should plan a return trip to Cheekwood Botanical Garden (Nashville, TN) next March.

Our Cultural Addiction to Phones, In One Disconcerting Video - How often have you seen scenes similar to this video? The impact this cultural addiction is having on relationships is still developing. I am glad that the people I am around most of the time are more focused on the people they are with than their phones.

Half of the U.S. lives in these 146 counties - is yours one of them? - The answer for me is ‘no’ but several of the counties that boarder where I live are on the list.

NASA Moonshot Will Test Laser Communications - A precursor to commercial internet satellite services using optical connections instead of today’s radio links.

Going Solar: Options For Homeowners Infograph - Solar panels are not the only option

New Effective Treatment for High Blood Pressure? Removing Tiny Organ - Interesting finding…but is there a side effect of removing the carotid body connection to the brain? Isn’t it still potentially treating the symptom rather than the cause…and whatever is causing the high blood pressure may still be shortening life?

Out of Sync - Your body has multiple clocks…what happens when they are out of sync? Why eating when you normally are sleeping is a bad idea.

2013 International Bedroom Poll - Comparing sleep times, attitudes, habits, and bedtime routines of 25-55 year old people from around the world. (PDF)

The items below were ‘the cream’ of the articles and websites I found this past week. Click on the light green text to look at the article.

Another 'Grand Canyon' Discovered Beneath Greenland's Ice - Right now it is covered by lots of ice….but the data from the increasingly sophisticated instruments monitoring the ice sheet has revealed lots of detail about the topography of what is under the ice. How many of us will live to see this canyon without ice?

Peter Huttenlocher has left the building - An article summarizing the contribution of the child neurologist: synaptic pruning. A simple graph shows it all.

Sonia Pressman Fuentes on Rights of US Women - A summary of the legislation relative to protection of women’s rights over the past 50 or so years. I knew at least vaguely about all of them because I lived through those years - but it was good to see it all in one place and to think about the problems working women still face. The comments are worth looking at too.

Giant solar plane could stay airborne for 5 years, replace some satellites - It would fly above the clouds and weather but still within the atmosphere….And reduce the expense for such things a crop or fire monitoring, providing internet access to remote regions and disaster rapid response.

Changing River Chemistry Affects Eastern US Water Supplies - Rivers are becoming more alkaline….because acid rain causes more rapid leaching of limestone, other carbonate rocks and even sidewalks….and so life in the river is changing. Natural systems have ways to reach a new balance eventual but the path to balance is often very complex.

apple-picking time: our top-pick apple treats - From King Arthur flour. Lots of goodies - at least half look way too high-calorie for my current weight loss diet! But maybe I’ll make one to celebrate when I finally reach my goal (less than 2 pounds to go!)

Thyroid Cancer Biopsy Guidelines Should Be Simplified, Researchers Say - My favorite quote from the article: “…start doing diagnostic tests and procedures more selectively and prudently, as there rare harms to doing unnecessary tests and procedures.” But do we trust doctors to make the best recommendations to us when it is in their financial best interest to do a many diagnostic tests and procedures as possible?

Fantastic Shots of Japan's Summertime Fireworks Festivals - Lots of events in July and August….and these images capture some of the excitement

Brown-bag lunch strategies - Eating well away from home. The strategies in this article are skewed toward the gourmet variety of brown bag lunch - but good to review when get bored with whatever you have been packing. The key is planning (as with most things).

Visualizing the Psychology of Attraction - Infographic