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Emerging factor for heart-attack risk: highly demanding job and job stress linked to coronary heart disease and death

A team of researchers from several universities in Europe led by Prof. Mika Kivimäki, Ph.D., examined 13 studies that were conducted between 1986 and 2006.  Prof. Kivimäki is a professor at the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London.  Prof. Kivimäki and the research team found that job stress as one of the emerging factors for heart attack and death.

Researcher crunched data from 200,000 patients, while continued monitoring for a span of 7.5 years in the average.  Prof. Kivimäki and colleagues’ sample size was considered larger than previous studies.  Researchers believe that job stress was linked to a 23% higher chance of getting heart attacks and deaths. The study is being published by The Lancet, a medical journal. Researchers found job stress usually occurred in lower skilled workers.

Researchers warned that job stress causing heart attacks is considered lower than other factors such as smoking and not exercising.  In the study researchers found that by reducing job stress, it will contribute to lowering about 3.4% chance of getting heart attack and death.  Action of quitting smoking will reduce the chance of getting heart attack by about 36%.  Similarly, more exercises will reduce the chance of getting heart attack by 12%.

Let’s say goodbye to super-size sodas: NYC Health Department to ban large-sized soft drinks (maximum 16 ounces per cup) in fast-food restaurants, mobile food carts, local cafes, motion picture theaters, sports stadiums, and music halls

The largest city in America has become the first city to say goodbye to super-size sodas.  There is no love for sodas in New York City.  The NYC Health Department will now only allow stores and restaurants to sell sugared beverages at maximum 16 ounces per cup.  The new regulations will take effect in all places including fast-food restaurants, mobile food carts, local cafes, motion picture theaters, sports stadiums, amusements parks, and music halls.  The ban only applied to sugared sodas, but not on fruit juices, dairy-based drinks, and yogurt milkshakes.

According to bloomberg.com, a panel of several members has voted with results 8-0, and agreed with a plan drafted by NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg.  At the same time, several big corporations such as Coca-Cola Co. and PepsiCo Inc. have opposed to the NYC Mayor plan.

The new ordinance is needed to fight obesity in the city, to save many lives, and to reduce public health care costs.  The latest move by NYC will influence other cities to follow the way the largest city in America handling its residences and businesses. 

(Image: super-size sodas cups)

After placing a recall on one pound bag of Red Vines Black Licorice Twists on August 22, 2012, California Department of Public Health expanded recall on other candy products including Red Vines Black Licorice Twists, Family Mix, Mixed Bites and Snaps

California Department of Public Health (CDPH) placed a recall on one pound (16oz.) bags of Red Vines Black Licorice Twists on August 22, 2012.  The recall was due to high levels of lead on the candy after conducting labs tests. 

According to Red Vines blog post, the initial recall was only on the production of the one pound bag of Red Vines Black Licorice Twists labeled with “Best Before Date” of 020413.  The candy company has asked consumers not to eat this particular date of pre-packaged candy.  The candy maker which located in Union City near San Francisco also asked consumers to return the candy at the location where they had purchased as they will receive a full refund.

After further examination of other products, CDPH has placed another recall on other candy products this weekend.  According to sfgate.com, California regulators have asked Red Vines to stop selling Black Licorice Twists, Family Mix, Mixed Bites and Snaps.  The latest recall also due to high levels of lead which regulators believe has exceeded California’s standards.

(Image: Red Vines Black Licorice Twists)

Green tea contains chemical epigallocatechin-3 gallate (EGCG) which helps to maintain and grow brain cells and also improve the function of human brain

Consumption of green tea has been increasingly popular in the world, especially in Asia including China and Japan.  Researchers have found green tea to contain healthy antioxidants.  There are so many benefits of drinking green tea such as helping prevent cardiovascular diseases and now also may improve mechanisms in human brain. 

A team of researchers in China led by Professor Yun Bai of the Department of Medical Genetics, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, found the organic chemical epigallocatechin-3 gallate (EGCG) helps to grow the production of neural cells in human brain.  Several labs tests have proved with some encouraging results.

Researchers have long believed that drinking green tea is worthy for helping human brain to function on alert everyday.  Aside of helping to maintain good memory, researchers believe the chemical properties of EGCG could affect the production of brain cells which benefiting spatial learning.

The latest study with a title “Green tea epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) promotes neural progenitor cell proliferation and sonic hedgehog pathway activation during adult hippocampal neurogenesis” was published by Molecular Nutrition & Food Research (Volume 56, Issue 8, pages 1292–1303, August 2012).

(Image: Bigelow Green Tea)

American boomers are facing dilemma in rural areas due to difficult time finding a family doctor while many rural doctors prefer not to accept Medicare patients

There are about 78 million people in American which considered as the Boomers generation or people who were born from 1946 to 1964.  A large number of people in the Boomers generation are now retiring from workforces and some have moved to rural areas to be closed to their children and family members.

One of the dilemma facing the Boomers are that they are getting harder to find a doctor in small towns.  There are several reasons for the problem.  Large cities offer metropolitan lifestyles, mix of cultural events, greater schools for kids, and variety of job opportunities for spouses and family members, therefore, top doctors prefer to live and work in large cities. Other reason as per washingtonpost.com includes that rural doctors receive less payment from Medicare for medical works than urban doctors due to lower operating costs in rural areas.

(Logo: Medicare)

The side effects of swallowing tiny batteries and an increasing risk for children including causing harm and death

Over 40,000 kids in America were admitted to emergency rooms between 1997 and 2010 due to swallowing tiny batteries.  According to a report published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 72% of these admitted to ERs were kids age 4 or younger.  CDS also found than there were 14 deaths due to tiny batteries.

Historical data from CDC showed that only about 1,900 children treated in hospital due to swallowing tiny batteries in 1998.  The number has increased to 4,800 in 2010, or an increase of over 150% for duration of twelve years.

World food prices increased an average of 10% in July 2012 as hot weather damaged harvest lands in America and Eastern Europe

World Bank has urged governments such as in Africa and the Middle East to add more programs to help its helpless populations as world food prices soared an average of 10% in July 2012.  According to World Bank, the prices of main food sources such as corn and wheat had increased by 25% from June to July 2012. While other top food sources including soybean has increased by 17% within the past two months.  Only the price of rice went down about 4% during the period.  Due to the high prices, World Bank urged the head of nations to draw the right policies to help its unfortunate citizens.   

World Bank worried that the recent price hikes could impact on poor families as many of those will not be able to afford to send their kids to schools.  Many kids will suffer from malnutrition as most of them will eat less food due to the high prices.

This year’s hot weather in America has damaged crops which impacted on farmers to produce less corns and soybeans.  While dry summer in Eastern Europe countries such as the Russian Federation, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan, has reduced wheat production.

(Logo: World Bank)

Men who ate a moderate amount of chocolate (dark chocolate) every week are less likely to suffer strokes

Using sample of 37,103 Swedish men, a team of researchers led by Susanna Larsson, Ph.D., of the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, found that men who ate the most chocolate every week are less likely to suffer strokes.  Researchers believe men who ate at least 63 grams of chocolate per week could reduce their chances of suffering a stroke by about 17%, compared to men who ate a very little or no chocolate at all on a weekly basis. The study is being published in the journal Neurology on September 18, 2012 issue. 

Researchers have followed men in the sample, age from 45 to 79 year old, for duration of about 10 years.  Men who consumed chocolate, especially dark chocolate, show health benefits on their cardiovascular which also reduce chance of getting heart attacks. 

Dark chocolate contains high amount of flavonoids.  This type of ingredients also found in many type of fruits, vegetables, and wine.  Eating dark chocolate could also help to lower blood pressure and increase blood flow and healthy blood vessels.  Health experts believe that dark chocolate seems to improve the good cholesterol level and reduce the bad cholesterol level.

(Image: Hershey’s dark chocolate)

New York's top lawyer is conducting investigation on energy drinks (caffeine-heavy and carbonated flavor beverages) including popular brands AMP’s Boost, Monster, and 5-hour Energy drink

The multibillion-dollar energy-drink industry is under attack from New York’s top lawyer.  According to WSJ, New York's attorney general Eric T. Schneiderman has filed a case to investigate PepsiCo Inc. that produces popular energy drink with brand AMP’s Boost.  The New York’s AG also filed a case to probe Monster Beverage Corporation (the maker of "Monster Energy" drink) and Living Essentials LLC (the maker of "5-hour Energy" drink).  The concerns are whether those beverage producers have misled consumers with their marketing tricks.  New York’s AG is very worried if producers have overstated their products’ ingredients and health benefit.  

Young adults have consumed a lot of energy-drink in recent years.  As per WSJ, sales in America reached $8.9 billion in 2011, or an increase of 16% from the previous year.  In term of popular brands, Monster captured the number one sales spot in America, followed by Red Bull and Rockstar. 

Health experts and beverage researchers believe that energy drinks contain a lot of caffeine.  A can of energy drink could contain as much as three time of caffeine than a regular cup of coffee.

There are nothing new and surprise in the state of New York, as officials have been investigating several beverage-related issues.  Moreover, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently started a plan to ban the sale of 1 liter soda bottle in convince store, at restaurants and at movie theater.

(Image: left, Monster drink; right, 5-hour Energy drink)

Cartoon stickers, such as Elmo, Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob, may influence elementary school students’ food choices

Researchers at Cornell University and New Mexico State University found that elementary school students’ were more likely to take an apple or an orange for lunch when fruits were attached with a cartoon sticker, such as Elmo, Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob.  The study is being published in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine and was first released online on August 20, 2012.

The study with a title “Can Branding Improve School Lunches?“ was conducted by three researchers, including both Brian Wansink, PhD and David R. Just, PhD from the Department of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University, and Collin R. Payne, PhD from the Department of Marketing, New Mexico State University.

Using sample of 208 elementary school students, from 8 to 11 years, during a lunch time for one week period, researchers found over one-third of the youngsters picked up fruits that were attached with a cartoon sticker.  When there were no cartoon stickers, only about a quarter of the youngsters picked up fruits.

(Images: top left, Elmo sticker; top right, Apple)

The benefits of eating walnut include improving sperm quality and vitality, and helping men to stride into fatherhood

Using a sample of 117 men, a team of researchers at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) found eating walnuts everyday will improve human sperm quality and vitality.  The study was led by Wendie A. Robbins of UCLA Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, Fielding School of Public Health.  The study with a title “Walnuts Improve Semen Quality in Men Consuming a Western-style Diet: Randomized Control Dietary Intervention Trial” is being published in Biology of Reproduction on August 15, 2012.

Researchers divided the sample into two groups.  One group consisted of 59 men and consuming walnuts, as this group experienced improvement in sperm quality and vitality.  This group of men was given 75 grams of walnuts every day for duration of 12 weeks.

The second group consisted of 58 men and avoiding walnuts, as this group of men showed no improvements in their sperm quality and vitality.

(Image: Walnuts wikipedia.org)

States in America with the highest obesity rates and BMI percentages include Mississippi (34.9), Louisiana (33.4), West Virginia (32.4), Alabama (32.0), Michigan (31.3), and others

According to a survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are 12 states in America that have very high obesity rates among its residences.  The survey was based on telephone interviews of 400,000 people who live America in 2011.  There were two important data points to be collected during the interview include the respondent’s height and weight.

Some states in America continued to maintain their obesity rates, but some states also increased their BMI percentages.  There are 12 States that hit above 30 percent obesity rates, include:

• Mississippi (34.9 percent)
• Louisiana (33.4)
• West Virginia (32.4)
• Alabama (32.0)
• Michigan (31.3)
• Oklahoma (31.1)
• Arkansas (30.9)
• Indiana (tie) (30.8)
• South Carolina (30.8)
• Kentucky (tie) (30.4)
• Texas (30.4)

(Image: CDC)

The side effects of cholesterol-lowering drugs (incl. increasing the risk of diabetes in some people) is dwarfed by the benefits of the statins (incl. preventing cardiovascular deaths)

Using a sample of 17,603 men and women, a team of researchers led by Prof. Paul Ridker of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, found there are more benefits of taking cholesterol-lowering medications than risks.  In recent years health experts have identified their concerns regarding the side effects of statins (such as Lipitor, Crestor, and others), including increasing the risk of diabetes in some people.

Prof. Ridker and colleagues believe that patients who are taking statins experienced significant reductions in their chance of getting cardiovascular diseases, including heart attack and stroke.  The study was funded by AstraZeneca (the drug maker of Crestor) and is being published in The Lancet.

Researchers found that some people could increase their risk of diabetes while taking statins.  The study found people with higher chances to carry positive diabetes risk factors are people who are obesity and have high blood sugar levels.

(Image: Crestor)

America’s lawmakers urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to keep up-to-date its standards for radiation exposure from wireless phones

Members of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) have asked Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to update its guidelines regarding radiation exposure from wireless phones.  Lawmakers worried that America’s standards are far behind from the international standards.

Due to health concerns such as causing brain tumors, GAO members have asked FCC to conduct more tests on radio-frequency energy from wireless phones and also asked FCC to upgrade the testing requirements for mobile phones.  FCC guidelines were created in 1996 while wireless technology (such as Apple iPhone, Google Android) has been growing in faster pace than other technology in recent years.  In many studies, health experts have been trying to connect their findings on radiation exposure from wireless phones to cancer, headaches, memory loss or other health concerns.

With the support of GAO, FCC may be considered to altering its mobile phone testing measures.  The future guidelines could be toughens the current standards, especially for mobile devices that are being used by kids.

Cigarette smoking continues to decline but cigar use up in America: cigarette use dropped about 2.6% while tobacco products use increased 17% between 2010 and 2011

Cigarette use dropped slightly between 2010 and 2011, as Americans cut costs as the average price of a pack of cigarettes reached about $6. Cigarette use dropped about 2.6% in recent years. 

On the other hand, tobacco products use jumped significantly between 2010 and 2011, as people in America took advantages of loopholes in the tax system.  Cigarette-like cigars use increased about 17% in the last few years. 

The findings were published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on August 3, 2012, with a report title as “Consumption of Cigarettes and Combustible Tobacco, United States, 2000–2011.”

Air travel and spreading of a pandemic: International airports in America, including New York, Los Angeles and Honolulu, have a significant impact for spreading disease

A team of researchers at one of the top universities in America, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), found several International airports in America have a significant impact for spreading disease.  The research work was conducted at MIT’s Civil and Environmental Engineering department and crunched data from 40 largest airports in America.  

MIT’s researchers have created a very complex network system to study the contagion patterns such as using the geographic locations of airports.   By applying several mathematical models, researchers were able to look into the first few days of an epidemic and later show the worldwide spread of disease.  The study will help health experts to determine a way to distribute vaccines in the first few days of contagion and will help to treat people better and faster.

New York City JFK International Airport is ranked first among several major airports that could spread a disease very fast in the event of an outbreak.  Los Angeles grabbed the number two spot.  At third spot was Hawaii’s Honolulu airport.  Other airports that were on the list include San Francisco, Newark, Chicago (O'Hare), Washington (Dulles), Atlanta and Boston's Logan.

(Image: New York JFK International Airport)

America’s Food and Drug Administration approved Afinitor, a new generation drug to treat women with advanced breast cancer marketed by Novartis

On Friday July 20, 2012, America’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new type of drug to treat women with advanced breast cancer marketed by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.  The new drug is known as Afinitor.  Previously, some of the ingredients of the drug had received approval to treat various tumors including pancreas, kidney and brain.  According to FDA, the drug combination of Afinitor is being used to treat postmenopausal patients.

Before getting a stamp of approval from FDA, the East Hanover, New Jersey-based company conducted a study of 724 patients. Samples were divided into two groups.  The first group received drug combination of Afinitor and the breast cancer drug Aromasin.  The second group received a combo of a placebo pill and Aromasin.  The results showed that women who received combo of two-drug, Afinitor and Aromasin, increased their life span for about 4.6 months and the breast cancer disease has stopped to progress.

(Image: Afinitor 5mg tablet)

Human health and place: men and women who live near the sea and the coast may be healthier than people who live in other geographic locations

A team of researchers led by Benedict W. Wheeler of Peninsula College of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Exeter, England, found that men and women who live near the sea and the coast (such as Santa Monica Beach or Malibu Beach) may be healthier than other geographic locations (such as Los Angeles Downtown). 

The study with a title “Does living by the coast improve health and wellbeing?” analyzed data from over 48 million people in England.  The results showed that the closest people lived to the sea and the coast, the higher chances of those people testified good health within the span of the past one year.  The study is being published in the journal Health & Place.

The British researchers believe that people have better health due to reduce stress in the seaside location.  People had visited the coast could have better relaxing and feelings of calmness than people who had visited cityscapes.

The side effects of too much TV on kids: affecting his or her athletic development and setting them on a path toward obesity

A team of researchers led by Caroline Fitzpatrick from New York University and partnered with researchers at the University of Montreal, found kids who watch too much TV might affect his or her athletic development in later life.  Parents who are thinking of raising the next Kobe Bryant could be facing potential problem.  Aside too much TV may be harmful to a child's school grades; too much screen time will also be affecting a child’s leg strength.  The study is being published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (volume, 2012, 9:87).

Researchers applied data collected from a sample of 1,314 children from the Québec Longitudinal Study of Child Development.  Researchers compiled data from parents and matched number of hours of television viewing.  Later researchers reexamined kids’ physical data and compared those data for kids who had watched TV between 29 months to 53 months.  

To standardize all tests, researchers measured kids’ muscular fitness by asking them to perform a test called standing long jump (SLJ) and measured their waist lines.  Researchers found too much TV linked with weaker kids.  The study found that kids who watch too much TV at younger age will likely to have wider waist measurements.  This also indicated that lack of activity could have side effects for long run and setting kids on a path toward obesity. 

Americans' confidence in religion dropped significantly since the 1970s era as it hit the lowest level at 44% in 2012 due to abuse scandal and economy crisis

People in America continue to see less importance of religion in their lives.   Scandals among leaders, televangelist preachers, and pastors have eroded the degree of confidence. Since early 2000s, Catholics pastors and children sex abuse have affected tremendously in Americans lives.  While in the late 1980s and early 1990s scandals which involved televangelist preachers also played a big role in recent drop of confidence level in religion. 

According to Gallup, since economy crisis hampered America starting in 2007, the confidence level increased slightly to 52% in 2009, but it dropped to 44% in 2012.  Previously the confidence level dropped significantly to 45% in 2002, one year after the terrorists attacked America land.  Then, it increased few points after the 9/11 disaster, but it dropped again to 46% in 2007 as Americans facing the world economy crisis and layoffs.  Overall, the latest trend shows that Americans are now facing a long-term drop in confidence in religion since the 1970s era.

(Chart: Gallup)

America’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves home use HIV test kit which is the first over-the-counter and self-administered HIV test kit to check virus causing acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)

America’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which is under the management of Department of Health and Human Services, has approved OraQuick In-Home HIV Test, a home use HIV test kit.  The kit is the first over-the-counter and self-administered HIV test kit that is being sold in a pharmacy.  It will be used to check virus causing acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).  The test kit can be used to check two types of antibodies related to AIDS, virus type 1 (HIV-1) and type 2 (HIV-2). Citing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, FDA reported that about 1.2 million people in America are living with some type of HIV viruses.

The OraQuick In-Home HIV Test is used to gather oral fluid sample inside of the testers’ mouths.  Testers can use the kit to swab the upper and lower gums.  After getting the oral fluid, tester must put it into a vial and wait for test results for about 20 to 40 minutes.  If the tester found a positive result, they must go to a clinic or a medical center to obtain better test results.

(Image: FDA, OraQuick In-Home HIV Test)

Java drinkers: the benefit of drinking coffee included helping to prevent heart failure and other medical conditions

A team of researchers analyzed five independent studies dated from January 1966 through December 2011, and using samples of more than 140,220 men and women, found that the benefit of coffee consumption and heart risk.  The early four studies were conducted in Sweden while another one was conducted in Finland.  Researchers found that participants who drank coffee at least two cups of 8-ounce per day may gain 11 percent chances of protective benefits against heart failure. 

The study led by Elizabeth Mostofsky and is being published in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation Heart Failure. The lead author is associated with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA.

Previous studies have reported that the benefit of drinking coffee could also reduce the risk of other sickness, including stroke, depression, dementia and some type of cancers.

Coffee beans contain many great composites to lower the risk of developing heart failure.  Those compounds include antioxidants which also helping to lower the risk of type 2 diabetes and other medical conditions.

(Image: Starbucks coffee)

Stress levels increased in America since 1983, an increase of 30% during the past 30 years

A team of researchers led by Sheldon Cohen at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh found that stress levels in America jumped at least 30% in 30 years span from 1983 to 2009.  The study was based on analyzing over 6,300 people across America, using three surveys that were conducted in 1983, 2006, and 2009.  Cohen is a director of Laboratory for the Study of Stress, Immunity and Disease at Carnegie Mellon University.  The study is being published via the Journal of Applied Social Psychology.

The recent economic crisis and high unemployment rates in America have impacted the stress levels, as unemployed Americans have higher levels of stress than retired Americans as the retired group of citizens reported to have low levels of stress. 

Researchers found stress levels for women increased 18% from 1983 to 2009.  While for men, it increased 24% during the same span.

Data from the study suggest that age plays critical roles in stress levels.  30-something groups have less stressed than 20-something groups.  Similarly, 40-something groups have less stressed than the 30-something groups.  Other factors that play critical roles in stress levels include lower socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, and education levels such as college versus high school.

Three most popular features from Apple iOS 6 operation system, as the announcement was held at WWDC Conference in San Francisco (June 11-15, 2012), iOS 6 will be available for general public in October

On Monday morning June 11, 2012, the largest conference for Apple application developers called Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) was officially opened.  The event is held in San Francisco from June 11 until June 15.  The main speaker at this morning’s session was Apple CEO Tim Cook.  At the session, the giant mobile device company announced a new operating system called iOS 6 which will be available for release in the fall (October 2012). Users can upgrade for free via wireless.  For Apple fans, iOS 6 only compatible with iPhone 3G, 4, 4S, iPod Touch 4th generation, iPad 2, and the New iPad.  There will be no upgrade for iPad 1.

Apple iOS 6 top three features include the following:

1. Siri: this feature was made popular in iPhone 4S (“S” means “Siri”).  Siri capabilities will expand to understand human conversation from different cultures.  The upgraded Siri is being developed to understand multi languages.  With Siri, Apple users can visit or work abroad.  For tablet, Siri is only available for the New iPad.  New features will be added including providing more information on daily activities.  Those activities include get sports info and match results, find restaurant reviews and reserve seats at a restaurant, find movie show times at local movie theaters, and create a list of flight schedules. User may also ask Siri to send a short message to social networks such as Twitter and Facebook.
2. Facebook: Apple is keeping an eye on the growth of Google Android operating system, so Tim Cook’s company is now joining force with Mark Zuckerberg’s company to fight the giant Google.  iOS 6 will be integrated with Facebook with additional new features to help users to use the social network without leaving other applications. The new features will let users to share photos easily by taking pictures directly from the device’s camera.  Users do not need to type a message as users will be able to ask Siri to send a message using voice or update their wall’s status easily.  Other cool features include a very neat integration between Facebook’s calendar and the gadget’s calendar to handle list of events, birthday dates, and others. The new feature will also let users to automatically update their friends’ information between Facebook and mobile phones and tablets.
3. Maps: Apple dumped Google Maps and created their own mapping system with the help of a third party provider.  The new Maps will provide detailed information in text form and better graphic form. It will provide directions on the road, provide navigation services, and provide real-time update on the state of traffic flow. The new Maps will also provide features similar to a bird’s eye view of a city and its surrounding areas with high resolution images.

(Screenshot: Apple iOS 6 website)

Online trends in America: over 20 million senior citizens always access Internet and their knowledge of technology beyond what was originally thought

Forrester Research just published a study with a title "Digital Seniors" regarding the activities of senior citizens online.  Researchers were surprised to see senior citizens go online very often and their knowledge of technology beyond what was originally thought.  Senior citizens love to use technology to share information with their friends and family.

The study found that 60% of senior citizens prefer to access Internet which representing 21 million senior citizens in America. The remaining 40% of this age group do not care about the Internet.

Forrester researchers found that senior citizens have very different online activities than adults on daily basis.  Senior citizen activities include using email, which representing 91% of seniors activities on daily basis.  They also like to go shopping online, where 59% of this age group had bought something online in the last three months.   Seniors also like to connect to friends and family members as 49% of this age group have a Facebook account.  Sharing and sending photos via e-mail is part of seniors activities which representing 46% of their online activities.   Seniors also love to play video game which representing 44% of their time using the Internet.   Getting discount coupons is also one of those online activities which representing 24% of their online activities.

(Image: Forrester Research)

Men's offices in large cities such as New York, San Francisco and Tucson (Arizona) contain more bacteria than women's offices

Using sample of 90 offices New York, San Francisco and Tucson (Arizona), a team of researchers led by Scott Kelley, a microbiologist at San Diego State University, found that objects (incl. phones and chairs ) in men's offices are covered in more bacteria than those in women's offices.  Men are good candidates to spread bacteria around, as their offices contain 10% to 20% more bacteria than their women’s offices.  The study is being published on the journal PLoS One.

Researchers found office equipment such as computer desktops, keyboards, and mice contain fewer bacteria than phones and chairs.   Researchers found most of office equipment and furniture contain typical bacteria including bacteria which usually found on skin, noses, and mouths.  Even worse, researchers also found some bacteria were from waste product including from human and animal's digestive tract.  Other type of bacteria from shoes and clothes were also found in offices.

Google Plus Local will let users to grab content from Zagat guide for free including reviews for local businesses such as food, decor, service and cost

In its effort to boost local search, integrate with social signals from trusted source, and get recommendations from people in Google+ social network, Google will let Google+ users to grab content from Zagat.com.  Google acquired the review company after the Labor Day holiday in 2011 for over $100 million.  The deal was announced by Marissa Mayer, VP of Local, Maps and Location Services.  On the other hand, Microsoft’s search engine Bing relies on Facebook’s friends and family member to get advices. 

The free access includes 35,000 Zagat scores and recommendations of local businesses.  Zagat guide is available in over 60 languages around the world.   Compared to other reviews which use standard five-star scale, Zagat uses 30-point scoring system which includes food, decor, service and cost.  With the announcement, Zagat reviews are now combined with all Google’s services, such as Search, Maps and Mobile (now for Android only, iOS will be available soon).  As content on Zagat.com will be free for all Google+ users, Google will keep running business as usual on the printed review books (pocket guides).

(Screenshot: Google)

The risk of Cesarean section and preschool child obesity: Cesarean section mothers and their toddlers weigh more than those children born vaginally

Using sample of 1,255 pairs of mother and children in eastern Massachusetts from 1999 to 2002, a team of researchers led by Dr. Susanna Huh of Children's Hospital in Boston, found that mothers and children who delivered by Cesarean section could be linked to risk of obesity.   The sample was divided into two parts, 284 were delivered by caesarean section representing 22.6% of total, while 77.4% were delivered vaginally.  The study is being published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood. 

The study found mothers who delivered by Cesarean section tended to be over weigh.  In the same time their toddlers will also weight more than those delivering naturally.  Researchers also warned that Cesarean section mothers will not be able to breastfed their babies for a longer span than those delivering vaginally.

Researchers found that by the time children reached age 3 year old, 15.7% of children delivered by caesarean section were obese. While for children born vaginally, only 7.5% were obese.

Procter & Gamble, the maker of Tide Pods will add a double-latch closure lid to the containers of laundry detergent packets as re-designed products will be in stores starting in July

The one-time use package of laundry detergent, Tide Pods, is one of the most popular products in 2012.  But, due to several reports of children ingesting laundry detergent packets in recent months, Procter & Gamble, the maker of Tide Pods, have decided to change the packaging design.  Procter & Gamble will add a double-latch closure lid to the containers of pods as re-designed products will be available in stores starting in July.

For a toddler or small child, brightly colored Tide Pods look like candy.  Over 250 cases of sickness from the packs have been reported to poison control centers around America.   Some parents have called poison control centers about the packets as the laundry detergent packets can rupture easily and contain concentrated detergent. 

In its website, Procter & Gamble also warned parents to keep cleaning products from the reach of their young kids.  Also, to reduce injuries to kids, the company is partnering with American Cleaning Institute to inform users regarding the way to handle all laundry detergents and how to place those cleaning products as a safeguard.

(Image: Procter & Gamble)

After San Jose, San Francisco, Long Beach, now it's your turn: Los Angeles to ban use of plastic bags at supermarkets

In order to reduce trash jamming the county’s waterways and polluting the beautiful ocean, Los Angeles’s council members have decided to approve a law to ban use of plastic bags at supermarkets and stores.  Other large cities in California including San Jose, San Francisco and Long Beach have long started to ban use of plastic bags at supermarkets.  However, it’s not too late for Los Angeles, as one of top two largest cities in America, the decision to ban plastic bags could further influence other cities and regions to consider a similar law.  The biggest winners are clean-water advocates including some celebrities and environmental activists.

According to latimes.com, Los Angeles City Council voted 13 to 1 to agree on a new law to ban plastic bags over the next 12 months.  The new law will be affecting about 7,500 stores.   Larger establishments will have six months period to ban the plastic bags, while smaller stores will have at least 12-month to get rid of the plastic bags. Several plastic bag manufacturers in the city may have to lay off their employees soon. 

After the historical votes, LA’s council members also decided to delay the ban use of paper grocery bags, while the council will ask more studies regarding the issue.  The new law will also require stores to charge 10 cents per paper bag after twelve months banning the use of plastic bag.