Nutrition and Traumatic Brain Injury

A recent report by the Institute of Medicine is encouraging the Department of Defense to strictly evaluate the nutritional needs of service members wounded with traumatic brain injury.  The report focuses on the importance of proteins in the service member’s diet immediately after injury. 

An infusion of calories high in a particular choline, creatine, n-3 fatty acids, and zinc is offering promise in the recovery for treating the brain injury.  In addition to treating traumatic brain injury, the study panel has urged the military to investigate prevention of traumatic brain injury through diet. 

These ideas are actively being investigated in hopes of applying a potential prevention and treatment to these traumatic injuries. 

Interested in teaching your class about the benefits of nutrition and the science behind it?  Be on the lookout for SCIENCE SCREEN REPORT Vol 41, this coming school year. 

http://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20110420/nutrition-may-help-treat-traumatic-brain-injury

The Fulfilling the Potential of Women in Academic Science and Engineering Act of 2011

On March 2, 2011, Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson introduced a bill that would promote women in science.  The Fulfilling the Potential of Women in Academic Science and Engineering Act of 2011 seeks to reduce or eliminate gender bias in grant funding from the Office of Science and Technology (OSTP) by conducting a series of workshops conducted at least once every two years.  The Act would also require the National Science Foundation to provide demographic data of grant awardees to include: gender, race, age, and tenure/rank. 

If you support this bill, reach out to your congressional representative: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml.   

Sustainable Tilapia Fish Farming

In 2010, Americans consumed 475 million pounds of tilapia; this is four times the amount than the year previous.  Experts within the growing field of tilapia fish farming tout the versatile fish’s neutral taste and inexpensive operating costs. 

Concerns related to tilapia fish farms are that the food provided to the fish is often corn or soy.  Also, the fish within the farms often find their way out and then become an invasive species which is incredibly difficult to eradicate. 

The need for fish farming, to keep up with the ever demanding market for tilapia, is apparent.  Fish farms in Honduras and Indonesia are working with organizations such as the World Wildlife Federation (WWF) to ensure sustainable farming is accomplished.  The product from these farms will have the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) logo on the packaging for consumer assurance. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/02/science/earth/02tilapia.html?_r=1&pagewanted=1&pagewante

http://www.ssrvideo.com/vol39.html#1