Newswise

Center Aims to Cut Obesity in Black, Latino New Yorkers

A $6 million grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has funded the creation of ORBIT: Obesity Related Behavioral Intervention Trials to focus on reducing obesity and obesity-related deaths in New York City’s African-American and Latino communities.

Home SpermCheck Test Helps Couples Hoping to Conceive Better Understand Infertility Issues

A new home test kit based on a protein in sperm discovered by a University of Virginia Health System cell biologist can assist couples in determining if a man's sperm count is normal, low, or very low.

'Examined Life' Explores Writing, Medicine April 28-30

The University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine will host a three-day conference April 28-30 on the science of medicine and the art of writing. Presenters and panelists include members of the Iowa Writers' Workshop, as well as scientists and physicians from around the country. Registration deadline is April 23.

Conservationists Urge Treaty Panel to Reject Ivory Sale by Tanzania, Zambia

A team of conservationists writing in Science says relaxing a current moratorium on ivory sales to allow one-time sales by Zambia and Tanzania could lead to increased slaughter of elephants throughout Africa.

Speakers to Focus on Translating Regenerative Medicine Science

What regenerative medicine therapies are being applied to patients today? What hurdles stand between stem cell therapies and real treatments in the clinic? Keynote speakers at the upcoming inaugural Translational Regenerative Medicine Forum will discuss these topics as well as provide an update on various national and regional stem cell initiatives. The forum, set for April 6-8 in Winston-Salem, is an annual event to focus on fulfilling the promise of regenerative medicine, including best practices and business models.

PartTec to Market SNS-Developed Neutron Detector System

PartTec, an Indiana-based manufacturer of radiation detection equipment, has signed an agreement to manufacture and market an advanced neutron detector system developed at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Expert Available on the Three Strong Earthquakes That Struck Chile in Quick Succession

Three strong earthquakes rocked Chile this morning, just as the country was swearing in a new president. Expert Andrew Hynes of McGill University is available for interviews.

ARS Sends Third Seed Shipment to Norway Seed Vault

A shipment of seed sent by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) earlier this month to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway included a wild Russian strawberry that an expeditionary team braved bears and volcanoes to collect.