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Low Levels of Ionizing Radiation May Cause Harm

A preponderance of scientific evidence shows that even low doses of ionizing radiation, such as gamma rays and X-rays, are likely to pose some risk of adverse health effects, says a new report from the National Academies National Research Council.




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EPA Standard for Fluoride in Drinking Water Is Not Protective - Tooth Enamel Loss, Bone Fractures of Concern at High Levels

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys standard for the maximum amount of fluoride allowed in drinking water -- 4 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water -- does not protect against adverse health effects.




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Preterm Births Cost U.S. $26 Billion a Year - Multidisciplinary Research Effort Needed to Prevent Early Births

The high rate of premature births in the United States constitutes a public health concern that costs society at least $26 billion a year, according to a new report from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies.




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Medication Errors Injure 1.5 Million People and Cost Billions of Dollars Annually - Report Offers Comprehensive Strategies for Reducing Drug-Related Mistakes

Medication errors are among the most common medical errors, harming at least 1.5 million people every year, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies.




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Some Pollinator Populations Declining - Improved Monitoring and More Biological Knowledge Needed to Better Assess Their Status

Long-term population trends for some North American pollinators -- bees, birds, bats, and other animals and insects that spread pollen so plant fertilization can occur -- are demonstrably downward, says a new report from the National Research Council.




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Studies Suggest a Possible Link Between Military Service and ALS

A limited body of evidence suggests an association between military service and later development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a rare but fatal neurodegenerative disorder, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine.




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Data Suggest a Possible Association Between Agent Orange Exposure and Hypertension, But the Evidence Is Limited

A new report from the Institute of Medicine finds suggestive but limited evidence that exposure to Agent Orange and other herbicides used during the Vietnam War is associated with an increased chance of developing high blood pressure in some veterans.




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Most Social Security Representative Payees Perform Duties Well But Changes Needed to Better Prevent and Detect Misuse of Funds

Although most people who receive and manage Social Security benefits on behalf of other individuals perform their duties well.




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Scientific Evidence Supporting Evolution Continues To Grow - Nonscientific Approaches Do Not Belong In Science Classrooms

The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and Institute of Medicine (IOM) today released SCIENCE, EVOLUTION, AND CREATIONISM, a book designed to give the public a comprehensive and up-to-date picture of the current scientific understanding of evolution and its importance in the science classroom.




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21 Centurys Grand Engineering Challenges Unveiled

The U.S. National Academy of Engineering (NAE) today announced the grand challenges for engineering in the 21st century. A diverse committee of experts from around the world, convened at the request of the U.S. National Science Foundation, revealed 14 challenges that, if met, would improve how we live.




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Climate Change Will Have A Significant Impact On Transportation Infrastructure And Operations

While every mode of transportation in the U.S. will be affected as the climate changes, potentially the greatest impact on transportation systems will be flooding of roads, railways, transit systems, and airport runways in coastal areas because of rising sea levels and surges brought on by more intense storms, says a new report from the National Research Council.




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Opening Statement by Alice P. Gast for Review of the Scientific Approaches Used During the FBIs Investigation of the 2001 Anthrax Letters Public Briefing

Good morning. I am Dr. Alice Gast and I am here today with Dr. David Relman as the chair and vice chair of the Committee on the Review of the Scientific Approaches Used During the FBI’s Investigation of the 2001 Bacillus anthracis Mailings.




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Badly Fragmented Forensic Science System Needs Overhaul - Evidence to Support Reliability of Many Techniques is Lacking

A congressionally mandated report from the National Research Council finds serious deficiencies in the nations forensic science system and calls for major reforms and new research.




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Report Updates Guidelines On How Much Weight Women Should Gain During Pregnancy - Calls On Health Care Providers To Help Women Achieve A Healthy Weight Before And During Pregnancy

A growing amount of scientific evidence indicates that how much weight women gain during pregnancy and their starting weight at conception can affect their health and that of their babies, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine and the National Research Council.




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Scientific Evidence Of Health Problems From Past Contamination Of Drinking Water At Camp Lejeune Is Limited And Unlikely To Be Resolved With Further Study

Evidence exists that people who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune Marine Base in North Carolina between the 1950s and 1985 were exposed to the industrial solvents tricholorethylene (TCE) or perchloroethylene (PCE) in their water supply, but strong scientific evidence is not available to determine whether health problems among those exposed are due to the contaminants, says a new report from the National Research Council.




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Limited Data Suggest Possible Association Between Agent Orange Exposure And Ischemic Heart Disease And Parkinsons Disease In Vietnam Veterans

A new report from the Institute of Medicine finds suggestive but limited evidence that exposure to Agent Orange and other herbicides used during the Vietnam War is associated with an increased chance of developing ischemic heart disease and Parkinsons disease for Vietnam veterans.




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Eleven Questions for the Next Decade of Geographical Sciences Identified

Eleven questions that should shape the next decade of geographical sciences research were identified today in a new report by the National Research Council.




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Genetically Engineered Crops Benefit Many Farmers, but the Technology Needs Proper Management to Remain Effective

Many U.S. farmers who grow genetically engineered (GE) crops are realizing substantial economic and environmental benefits -- such as lower production costs, fewer pest problems, reduced use of pesticides, and better yields -- compared with conventional crops, says a new report from the National Research Council.




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Events Preceding Deepwater Horizon Explosion and Oil Spill Point to Failure to Account for Safety Risks and Potential Dangers

The numerous technical and operational breakdowns that contributed to the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion and spill from the Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexico suggest the lack of a suitable approach for managing the inherent risks.




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IOM Report Sets New Dietary Intake Levels for Calcium and Vitamin D To Maintain Health and Avoid Risks Associated With Excess

Most Americans and Canadians up to age 70 need no more than 600 international units (IUs) of vitamin D per day to maintain health, and those 71 and older may need as much as 800 IUs, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine.




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Current Test-Based Incentive Programs Have Not Consistently Raised Student Achievement in U.S. - Improved Approaches Should Be Developed and Evaluated

Despite being used for several decades, test-based incentives have not consistently generated positive effects on student achievement, says a new report from the National Research Council.




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The National Academies Press Makes All PDF Books Free to Download - More Than 4000 Titles Now Available Free to All Readers

As of today all PDF versions of books published by the National Academies Press will be downloadable to anyone free of charge. This includes a current catalog of more than 4,000 books plus future reports produced by the Press.




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IOM Report Calls for Cultural Transformation of Attitudes Toward Pain and Its Prevention and Management

Every year, approximately 100 million* adult Americans experience chronic pain, a condition that costs the nation between $560 billion and $635 billion annually, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine.




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IOM Report Recommends Eight Additional Preventive Health Services to Promote Womens Health

A new report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends that eight preventive health services for women be added to the services that health plans will cover at no cost to patients under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (ACA).




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Few Health Problems Are Caused By Vaccines, Iom Report Finds

An analysis of more than 1,000 research articles concluded that few health problems are caused by or clearly associated with vaccines.




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Evidence Inconclusive About Long-Term Health Effects of Exposure to Military Burn Pits

Insufficient data on service members exposures to emissions from open-air burn pits for trash on military bases in Iraq and Afghanistan is one of the reasons why it is not possible to say whether these emissions could cause long-term health effects, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine.




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Report Calls for Creation of a Biomedical Research and Patient Data Network For More Accurate Classification of Diseases, Move Toward Precision Medicine

A new data network that integrates emerging research on the molecular makeup of diseases with clinical data on individual patients could drive the development of a more accurate classification of disease and ultimately enhance diagnosis and treatment, says a new report from the National Research Council.




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Raising Minimum Age to Buy Cigarettes to at Least 21 Will Reduce Smoking Prevalence and Save Lives, Says IOM

Increasing the minimum age of legal access (MLA) to tobacco products will prevent or delay initiation of tobacco use by adolescents and young adults, particularly those ages 15 to 17, and improve the health of Americans across the lifespan, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine.




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IOM Report Identifies Key Obesity-Prevention Strategies to Scale Back Weight of the Nation

Americas progress in arresting its obesity epidemic has been too slow, and the condition continues to erode productivity and cause millions to suffer from potentially debilitating and deadly chronic illnesses.




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Transformation of Health System Needed to Improve Care and Reduce Costs

Americas health care system has become too complex and costly to continue business as usual, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine




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Daniel Kahnemans Thinking, Fast and Slow Wins Best Book Award From Academies - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Slate Magazine, and WGBH/NOVA Also Take Top Prizes in Awards 10th Year

Recipients of the 10th annual Communication Awards were announced today by the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine.




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Population Aging Will Have Long-Term Implications for Economy - Major Policy Changes Needed

The aging of the U.S. population will have broad economic consequences for the country, particularly for federal programs that support the elderly, and its long-term effects on all generations will be mediated by how -- and how quickly -- the nation responds, says a new congressionally mandated report from the National Research Council.




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Donald Berwick, Champion of Health Care Quality Improvement, Receives Institute of Medicines 2012 Lienhard Award

The Institute of Medicine today presented the 2012 Gustav O. Lienhard Award to Donald M. Berwick, a physician whose work has catalyzed a national movement to improve health care quality and safety.




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Juvenile Justice Reforms Should Incorporate Science of Adolescent Development

Legal responses to juvenile offending should be grounded in scientific knowledge about adolescent development and tailored to an individual offenders needs and social environment, says a new report from the National Research Council.




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Electric Power Grid Inherently Vulnerable to Terrorist Attacks - Report Delayed in Classification Review, Will Be Updated

The U.S. electric power delivery system is vulnerable to terrorist attacks that could cause much more damage to the system than natural disasters such as Hurricane Sandy, blacking out large regions of the country for weeks or months and costing many billions of dollars, says a newly released report by the National Research Council.




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Statement Regarding New NAS Program on Human Health and Environmental Protection in the Gulf of Mexico

As part of the $4 billion settlement announced today between the federal government and BP concerning the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster, the National Academy of Sciences has been asked to establish a new $350 million, 30-year program on human health and environmental protection in the Gulf of Mexico.




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Americans Have Worse Health Than People in Other High-Income Countries - Health Disadvantage Is Pervasive Across Age and Socio-Economic Groups

On average, Americans die sooner and experience higher rates of disease and injury than people in other high-income countries, says a new report from the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine.




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New Report Identifies Research Priorities for Most Pressing Gun Violence Problems in U.S.

A new report from the Institute of Medicine and National Research Council proposes priorities for a research agenda to improve understanding of the public health aspects of gun-related violence, including its causes, health burden, and possible interventions.




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Rates of Physical and Sexual Child Abuse Appear to Have Declined Over the Last 20 Years - Rates of Child Neglect Show No Decline, Constitute 75 Percent of Reported Cases, Says New IOM Report

Rates of physical and sexual abuse of children have declined over the last 20 years, but for reasons not fully understood, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine. Yet, reports of psychological and emotional child abuse have risen in the same period, and data vary significantly as to whether child neglect is increasing, decreasing, or remaining constant.




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Extensive Study on Concussions in Youth Sports Finds Culture of Resistance for Self-Reporting Injury - Not Enough Evidence to Support Claim That Helmets Reduce Concussion Risk

Young athletes in the U.S. face a culture of resistance to reporting when they might have a concussion and to complying with treatment plans.




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National Crime Victimization Survey Is Likely Undercounting Rape and Sexual Assault - Justice Department Should Create New, Separate Survey

One of the nation’s largest surveys of crime victims is likely undercounting incidences of rape and sexual assault, making it difficult to ensure that adequate law enforcement resources and support services are available for victims, says a new report by the National Research Council.




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U.S. Should Significantly Reduce Rate of Incarceration - Unprecedented Rise in Prison Population ‘Not Serving the Country Well,’ Says New Report

Given the minimal impact of long prison sentences on crime prevention and the negative social consequences and burdensome financial costs of U.S. incarceration rates, which have more than quadrupled in the last four decades, the nation should revise current criminal justice policies to significantly reduce imprisonment rates, says a new report from the National Research Council.




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Linda Aiken, Whose Research Revealed the Importance of Nursing in Patient Outcomes, Receives Institute of Medicine’s 2014 Lienhard Award

The Institute of Medicine today presented the Gustav O. Lienhard Award to Linda Aiken, Claire M. Fagin Leadership Professor of Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, for her rigorous research demonstrating the importance of nursing care and work environments in achieving safe, effective, patient-centered, and affordable health care.




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Young Adults Ages 18 to 26 Should Be Viewed as Separate Subpopulation - In ‘Critical Development Period,’ They Face Economic and Social Challenges While Brain Is Still Maturing, Says New Report

Young adults ages 18-26 should be viewed as a separate subpopulation in policy and research, because they are in a critical period of development when successes or failures could strongly affect the trajectories of their lives, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine and National Research Council.




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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Is a Legitimate Disease That Needs Proper Diagnosis and Treatment, Says IOM Report Identifies Five Symptoms to Diagnose Disease

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome -- commonly referred to as ME/CFS -- is a legitimate, serious, and complex systemic disease that frequently and dramatically limits the activities of affected individuals, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine.




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Climate Intervention Is Not a Replacement for Reducing Carbon Emissions - Proposed Intervention Techniques Not Ready for Wide-Scale Deployment

There is no substitute for dramatic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate the negative consequences of climate change, a National Research Council committee concluded in a two-volume evaluation of proposed climate-intervention techniques.




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Neil deGrasse Tyson to Receive Public Welfare Medal – Academys Most Prestigious Award

The National Academy of Sciences is presenting its 2015 Public Welfare Medal to astrophysicist, cosmologist, author, and science communicator Neil deGrasse Tyson




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National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Medicine Announce Initiative on Human Gene Editing

The National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine are launching a major initiative to guide decision making about controversial new research involving human gene editing.




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Cardiac Survival Rates Around 6 Percent for Those Occurring Outside of a Hospital, Says IOM Report

Cardiac arrest strikes almost 600,000 people each year, killing the vast majority of those individuals, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine. Every year in the U.S., approximately 395,000 cases of cardiac arrest occur outside of a hospital setting, in which less than 6 percent survive.




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Report Finds Immigrants Come to Resemble Native-Born Americans Over Time, But Integration Not Always Linked to Greater Well-Being for Immigrants

As immigrants and their descendants become integrated into U.S. society, many aspects of their lives improve, including measurable outcomes such as educational attainment, occupational distribution, income, and language ability, but their well-being declines in the areas of health, crime, and family patterns, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.