Human Ecology articles from November 2007

Human Ecology archives from November 2007

Human health and public policy.(Dean's Corner)
November 1, 2007... The College of Human Ecology takes a distinct approach to understanding and addressing some of the greatest challenges we face today. Our research, outreach, and academics are organized around solving problems in the real world....

Diet for a healthy planet includes dairy and a little meat.(how dieting afffects land use)
November 1, 2007... A low-fat vegetarian diet is very efficient in terms of how-much land is needed to support it. But adding some dairy products and a limited amount of meat may actually increase this efficiency, Cornell researchers suggest. This deduction...

Making medical research available to more New Yorkers.
November 1, 2007... In a major new effort to translate medical research into practical and accessible treatment, Weill Cornell Medical College (WCMC) will lead a new Clinical and Translational Science Center, creating a network for biomedical collaboration on...

Research for a new age: academic researchers bridge the gap in practice with older people suffering with chronic pain.
November 1, 2007... Between 50 and 80 million Americans--as much as 25 percent of the U.S. population--suffer from chronic pain, a condition associated with osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis that disproportionately afflicts the elderly. Beyond...

Doctor positive will see you now: Anthony Ong tries to find what's right with people.
November 1, 2007... Sometimes when Anthony Ong, a new faculty member in the Department of Human Development, is traveling, strangers will ask what he does for a living. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "I'm a psychologist," he replies. "So maybe you can tell...

Ergonomic expert keeps pace with computer challenges; A chair that undulates, a mouse that vibrates, a monitor that moves: Alan Hedge, international authority on office ergonomics, takes a serious look at the newfangled workstations designed to prevent repetitive motion injuries.
November 1, 2007... Alan Hedge gets requests from companies all the time. Common among them are ones like this: "What kind of chair can I buy for my people that costs about $300?" Such a question represents a false economy, the fool-hardiness of which Hedge,...

Advertisements, public policy, and public health: Human Ecology researchers have determined that exposure to ads for smoking-cessation products encourages smokers to quit--even if they don't buy the products. Now, the experts are looking at the policy implications.
November 1, 2007... Do advertisements for nicotine patches, chewing gums, inhalants, and other smoking-cessation products make people want to quit? "We were able to show that when people see advertisements for products to help them stop smoking, they are more...

Project archives magazine ads--turns to TV next.(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... For the past six years, the researchers and their student assistants have been examining 20 years of advertising, from 1985 to 2005, in 27 of the most-read American magazines. In the process, they created the Smoking-Cessation Advertisements...

Electrospinning form with function: fiber scientists are engineering clothing to protect farmworkers, first responders, and military personnel. They are even producing nanofibers that can detect and degrade indoor pollutants to safeguard us all.
November 1, 2007... A couple of decades ago, if someone complimented your clothing as "smart," you'd be considered fashionable. Today, "smart" and "tailored" take on entirely different meanings. Kay Obendorf, professor of fiber science & apparel design, is...

Fiber science then and now.(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Scientists in the College of Human Ecology have long contributed to the design and use of new materials to meet human needs. Research on textile performance blossomed after World War II, when polymer science was applied to the creation of new...

Ling Qi wants to break the link between obesity and type II diabetes.
November 1, 2007... Obesity and type II diabetes are inextricably linked. Biochemist and geneticist Ling Qi would like to break that connection. Finding just the right gene could do it. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION...

Designing space for dementia patients and visitors to enhance communication.(What's New)
November 1, 2007... Even if the remains of breakfast are still visible at assisted-living facilities when visitors come to call, questions like "So what are they feeding you here?" can frustrate residents who struggle with dementia and short-term memory loss. ...

Health care reform.(What's New)(pay or play)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... There is a national movement building at the state level for health care reform. Many proposals contain elements that would require employers to provide health insurance to workers or pay a fine that would compensate the state for medical costs...

Department is now Fiber Science & Apparel Design.(What's New)(Department of Textiles and Apparel has its new name)(Organization overview)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... The Department of Textiles and Apparel is now the Department of Fiber Science & Apparel Design. "Our new name is a more accurate reflection of what we do: outstanding instruction, research, and outreach in fiber science and apparel...