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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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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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Life Elsewhere in Solar System Could Be Different from Life as We Know It

The search for life elsewhere in the solar system and beyond should include efforts to detect what scientists sometimes refer to as weird life -- that is, life with an alternative biochemistry to that of life on Earth -- says a new report from the National Research Council.




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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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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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Ten Questions Shaping 21st-Century Earth Science Identified

Ten questions driving the geological and planetary sciences were identified today in a new report by 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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Report Examines Hidden Costs of Energy Production and Use

A new report from the National Research Council examines and, when possible, estimates hidden costs of energy production and use.




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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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72 New Members Chosen By Academy

The National Academy of Sciences today announced the election of 72 new members and 18 foreign associates from 14 countries in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.




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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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Report Offers New Framework to Guide K-12 Science Education, Calls for Shift in the Way Science Is Taught in U.S.

A report released today by the National Research Council presents a new framework for K-12 science education that identifies the key scientific ideas and practices all students should learn by the end of high school.




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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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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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Current Research Not Sufficient to Assess Deterrent Effect of the Death Penalty

Research to date on the effect of capital punishment on homicide rates is not useful in determining whether the death penalty increases, decreases, or has no effect on these rates, says a new report from the National Research Council.




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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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Hydraulic Fracturing Poses Low Risk for Causing Earthquakes, But Risks Higher for Wastewater Injection Wells

Hydraulic fracturing has a low risk for inducing earthquakes that can be felt by people, but underground injection of wastewater produced by hydraulic fracturing and other energy technologies has a higher risk of causing such earthquakes, says a new report from the National Research Council.




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Transferable Knowledge and Skills Key to Success in Education and Work - Report Calls for Efforts to Incorporate Deeper Learning Into Curriculum

Educational and business leaders want todays students both to master school subjects and to excel in areas such as problem solving, critical thinking, and communication




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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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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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IOM Report Details Strategy for Monitoring Safety of Childhood Immunization Schedule

A review of the available evidence underscores the safety of the federal childhood immunization schedule, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine.




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President Obama Stresses Importance of Science and Technology to the Nations Future in Address at 150th Annual Meeting of the National Academy of Sciences

President Barack Obama reiterated his strong support for science and technology today in a speech to members of the National Academy of Sciences at its 150th annual meeting.




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U.S. Tax Code Has Minimal Effect on Carbon Dioxide and Other Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Report Says

Current federal tax provisions have minimal net effect on greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new report from the National Research Council.




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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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National Academy of Engineering Elects 67 Members and 11 Foreign Associates

The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) has elected 67 new members and 11 foreign associates, announced NAE President C.D. (Dan) Mote Jr. today. This brings the total U.S. membership to 2,250 and the number of foreign associates to 214.




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U.S. National Academy of Sciences, U.K. Royal Society Release Joint Publication on Climate Change

The U.S. National Academy of Sciences and the Royal Society, the national science academy of the U.K., released a joint publication today in Washington, D.C., that explains the clear evidence that humans are causing the climate to change, and that addresses a variety of other key questions commonly asked about climate change science.




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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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Styrene Reasonably Anticipated to Be a Human Carcinogen, New Report Confirms

A new report from the National Research Council has upheld the listing of styrene as “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen” in the National Toxicology Program’s 12th Report on Carcinogens (RoC).




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Formaldehyde Confirmed as Known Human Carcinogen

A new report from the National Research Council has upheld the listing of formaldehyde as “known to be a human carcinogen” in the National Toxicology Program 12th Report on Carcinogens (RoC).




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Report Urges Caution in Handling and Relying Upon Eyewitness Identifications in Criminal Cases, Recommends Best Practices for Law Enforcement and Courts

A new report from the National Research Council recommends best practices that law enforcement agencies and courts should follow to improve the likelihood that eyewitness identifications used in criminal cases will be accurate.




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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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Analysis Used by Federal Agencies to Set Fuel Economy and Greenhouse Gas Standards for U.S. Cars Was Generally of High Quality - Some Technologies and Issues Should Be Re-examined

The analysis used by federal agencies to set standards for fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions for new U.S. light-duty vehicles -- passenger cars and light trucks -- from 2017 to 2025 was thorough and of high caliber overall, says a new report from the National Research Council.




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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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New Report Examines Implications of Growing Gap in Life Span by Income for Entitlement Programs

As the gap in life expectancy between the highest and lowest earners in the U.S. has widened over time, high earners have disproportionately received larger lifetime benefits from government programs such as Social Security and Medicare, says a new congressionally mandated report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.