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Issue 107

November 2009

If you report a story, we ask that you credit Elsevier’s journal as the source.

Welcome to the 107th edition of Flash, our bi-weekly alert for science, health and medical journalists. Flash is a courtesy service with access to ScienceDirect, Elsevier’s online platform, providing full text access to some 2,000 scientific, technical and medical journals.

Please use your Flash login and password to access each article’s full text on ScienceDirect. For a new password, forgotten passwords or if you have any feedback, please contact Anna Hogrebe at newsroom@elsevier.com or at +31 20 485 3269.

ARTICLES

1. BLURRING THE LOVE LINES: THE LEGAL IMPLICATIONS OF INTIMACY WITH MACHINES

No longer are robots the visions of sci-fi movies and the distant future. Machines have evolved dramatically and cyborgs (a.k.a. human-like robots) are here today.

In Elsevier’s latest Computer Law & Security Review, author Anna C.B. Russell explores the emerging science of androids and attempts to start a dialogue about the possible future legal implications of fully conscious robots referred to as humanoids. Since the world already has millions of robots doing industrial, commercial and household tasks, Russell considers the potential challenges of human sexual interaction with future humanoids.

From a legal standpoint, when a law must balance between a human interest and a non-human interest – like the environment, animals or humanoids – the human interest is going to provide more weight for humans. Still, humans engaging in sexual interactions with humanoids could be the final straw that forces the larger community to attend to the humanoid creature and their rights. Therefore, when humans have sexual relationships with humanoids, the legal community should be prepared for the ramifications.

At some point, Russell says the engineered humanoid will advance to such a degree in intelligence and consciousness that humans will perceive an indistinguishable familiarity, prompting a justifiable question of legal human rights. The legal system must start thinking about what rights would apply to humanoids, how the humanoid should be categorized in the legal system, and how state regulations should be handled in regards to sexual human-humanoid interactions since sex is typically a private matter. Finally, Russell concludes the legal profession should begin developing legal arguments before a test case occurs in order to avoid the illogic and danger of arguments that stem from species basis. Humanoid technology is still emerging, but it is coming, so the love lines will be blurred sooner rather than later.

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2. INJURIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF RIDING LAWN MOWERS

You set out to do some gardening, mow your lawn, trim your hedges and before you know it you find yourself in the emergency room. Surprisingly, lawn mowers constitute a significant injury threat to both children and adults.

Taking a closer look at riding mowers in particular, Elsevier’s Journal of Safety Research examines injuries among patients treated in an emergency department related to the use of a riding lawn mower in the United States between 2002 and 2007. During the six-year time period, an estimated 66,341 emergency department visits were made for injuries related to the use of a riding lawn mower in the U.S.

The most common injuries involved contusions, sprains/strains, fractures and lacerations. Circumstances precipitating the injury mainly pertained to falling off the mower or having the mower rollover while in use. Additionally, the findings indicated that riding mowers present injury patterns and circumstances that are different than those reported for push mowers. Circumstances related to injuries and age groups affected were varied, making prevention of riding mower injuries challenging. These findings support the need to increase awareness and/or change the design of riding mowers with respect to risk rollover injuries.

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3. THE HISTORY OF CHOCOLATE – FROM DECADENT TREAT TO MEDICINAL CURE

Through the ages, chocolate has earned the reputation as an aphrodisiac, a medicine, a guilty pleasure and a decadent dessert. In Elsevier’s latest Nutrition, author Donatella Lippi explores the history of chocolate dating back from the days of Columbus’ voyages to present day.

Examining how different civilisations have used chocolate, Lippi details how it has been used to treat liver disease, angina, constipation, dental problems, dysentery, gout and many other ailments. She also explores the opinions and sentiments associated with chocolate, as well as how the composition and preparation of it has changed.

Recent research suggests that chocolate has a positive effect on many health problems, and has regained its primary reputation as a medicine. Today, she concludes, the question being debated is whether to consider chocolate a food or medicine. It is certainly a functional foodstuff, but when used in moderation it can also promote good health. She suggests it could earn the label as ‘medifood’, asserting both its nutritious functions and therapeutic powers.

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4. WHY IS CORRUPTION LESS HARMFUL IN SOME COUNTRIES THAN IN OTHERS?

Empirical evidence shows that not all countries with high levels of corruption have suffered poor growth performance. It is true that many countries have suffered, and continue to suffer, as a result of widespread misgovernance. Yet it is also true that other countries have coped well (in some cases, exceedingly well) with high levels of corruption. The question is why?

In Elsevier’s Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, researchers explore this question, creating a theoretical model in which growth occurs endogenously through the invention of new goods based on research and development activity. For such activity to be undertaken, firms must acquire complementary licenses from public officials who are able to exploit their monopoly power by demanding bribes in exchange for these permits.

Based on this model, the authors show that the effects of corruption depend on the extent to which bureaucrats coordinate their rent-seeking behaviour. Specifically, their analysis predicts that countries with organised corruption networks are likely to display lower levels of bribes, higher levels of research activity and higher rates of growth than countries with disorganised corruption arrangements. The paper concludes with a discussion of the strengths and weaknesses of alternative strategies to fight corruption, including paying civil servants more to make bribes less of an incentive and making corruption more risky and costly.

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5. SHIFT WORK AND ARTERIOSCLEROSIS RISK IN PROFESSIONAL BUS DRIVERS

Professional bus drivers are at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, but the underlying causes remain unclear. To investigate this link further, Elsevier’s Annals of Epidemiology examines the association between shift work and early manifestations of cardiovascular disease in 184 bus drivers.

Participants completed a questionnaire asking details surrounding their demographics, lifestyle and occupational history. Additionally, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was measured using a volume-plethysmographic apparatus. Body mass index, waist circumference, biochemical variables and blood pressure were also measured.

Results revealed arteriosclerotic risk factors differed in part among different groups of drivers. Long-term shift drivers had higher baPWV compared to regular drivers and short-term shift drivers. Additionally, age and diastolic blood pressure were positively associated with baPWV in professional drivers. Differences in eating habits and socioeconomic status between shift workers and regular workers may explain part of the observed association.

This study suggests long-term shift work could increase the risk of arteriosclerosis in professional bus drivers. Larger studies would be needed to provide further evidence.

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The Scirus tool bar makes it easier than ever to find scientific, technical and medical information on the Web and is quick and easy to install. After installing, the Scirus toolbar conveniently appears below your Internet Explorer address bar, meaning you have scientific searches at your fingertips, wherever you are on the Web. Link to Scirus: http://www.scirus.com/srsapp/toolbar/ If your browser does not support HTML, you may need to copy the links below and paste them into your browser to access the articles:
1. doi:10.1016/j.clsr.2009.07.003
2. dio:10.1016/j.jsr.2009.07.005
3. doi:10.1016/j.nut.2009.08.002
4. doi:10.1016/j.jebo.2009.08.009
5 doi:10.1016/j.annepidem.2009.07.093