People sit in the rain and listen as President Barack Obama delivers the President Barack Obama gestures as he delivers the Morehouse College 129th commencement speech at Morehouse College Sunday, May 19, 2013, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
People sit in the rain and listen as President Barack Obama delivers the President Barack Obama gestures as he delivers the Morehouse College 129th commencement speech at Morehouse College Sunday, May 19, 2013, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Rutgers University President Robert L. Barchi gestures to students in the rain at Rutgers University's football stadium in Piscataway, N.J., Sunday, May 19, 2013, during graduation ceremonies. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)
The Dalai Lama receives an honorary degree at Tulane University's 179th commencement ceremony at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans on Saturday, May 18, 2013. He also delivered the commencement address. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
University of Minnesota, Rochester chancellor Stephen Lehmkuhle, left, watches as the first-ever class of undergrads poses for a photo outside the Mayo Civic Center, Saturday, May 18, 2013, in Rochester, Minn., before the start of the graduation ceremony. (AP Photo/The Star Tribune, David Joles) MANDATORY CREDIT; ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS OUT; MAGS OUT; TWIN CITIES TV OUT.
Stephen Colbert delivers the 2013 Valedictory Address during the University of Virginia's 2013 Valedictory Exercises at John Paul Jones Arena, Saturday, May 18, 2013, in Charlottesville, Va. (AP Photo/The Daily Progress, Sabrina Schaeffer)
In a commencement address at Atlanta's historically black Morehouse College, President Obama said graduates should "find time to defend the powerless."
The president said his own success was due to "the special obligation I felt, as a black man like you, to help those who need it most, people who didn't have the opportunities that I had ? because there but for the grace of God, go I. I might have been in their shoes. I might have been in prison. I might have been unemployed."
In New Jersey, Rutgers University graduated the largest class in school history ? an estimated 14,302 students.
At New York's Hofstra University, students wore white ribbons at their graduation ceremony in honor of Andrea Rebello, one of their colleagues killed by a gunshot early Friday morning. A police officer accidentally killed 21-year-old Rebello as an armed intruder held her in a headlock.
Here are some images from college commencements across the nation:
This week, staff writer Patrice Wilding talks with Al Pierce about his upcoming display at Steamtown National Historic Site titled "Glory Road: An Exhibit of Railroad-Themed Posters and Photo Illustrations."
Residence: Waverly Twp.
Family: Wife, two children and one grandchild
Professional background: Career in motion picture post production in New York City; he also is a freelance graphic artist and photographer.
Q: Tell us about some of the pieces you created for the exhibit.
A: The exhibit will display images and text in the form of graphic designs/posters of the American railroad. It will include illustrations that showcase the Golden Age of rail travel and will contain terminology that has long been associated with the industry. Illustrations of historic steam engines, passenger cars and railroad workers are included in this exhibit.
Q: Describe the meaning behind the title "Glory Road."
A: The expression "Glory Road" was a sentimental term for early American railroads and was often used by both railroad workers and passengers. This exhibit title was selected because of my fondness of the images and visual observations of America's railroads of the past and how they appear today.
Q: What was your inspiration?
A: I have always had an affection for the railroads. As a young child, my family would travel each summer from New York City to Ohio on the railroads, and some of my earliest childhood memories were of these trips. What also excited me about this theme was the beauty of its tarnished industrial appearance and how its effect on American history is remembered from the remaining artifacts in the rail yards, parks and museums.
Q: How did you partner with Steamtown National Historic Site?
A: I originally approached Mark Brennan of the Steamtown National Historic Site with some of my railroad poster designs for him to look at. It was during that meeting that he offered me an exhibition of my work at Steamtown in the Changing Exhibits Gallery.
If you go
What: "Glory Road: An Exhibit of Railroad-Themed Posters and Photo Illustrations"
When: On display Monday, June 3, through Saturday, July 6; artist meet-and-greet on Sunday, June 9, 2 to 4 p.m.
Where: Changing Exhibits Gallery, Steamtown National Historic Site
Details: Admission to the exhibit is included in the park's daily entrance fee. For more information, call 340-5200 during regular business hours or visit www.nps.gov/stea.
First long-term study reveals link between childhood ADHD and obesityPublic release date: 20-May-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Allison Clair allison.clair@nyumc.org 212-404-3753 NYU Langone Medical Center / New York University School of Medicine
A new study conducted by researchers at the Child Study Center at NYU Langone Medical Center found men diagnosed as children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were twice as likely to be obese in a 33-year follow-up study compared to men who were not diagnosed with the condition. The study appears in the May 20 online edition of Pediatrics.
"Few studies have focused on long-term outcomes for patients diagnosed with ADHD in childhood. In this study, we wanted to assess the health outcomes of children diagnosed with ADHD, focusing on obesity rates and Body Mass Index," said lead author Francisco Xavier Castellanos, MD, Brooke and Daniel Neidich Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Child Study Center at NYU Langone. "Our results found that even when you control for other factors often associated with increased obesity rates such as socioeconomic status, men diagnosed with ADHD were at a significantly higher risk to suffer from high BMI and obesity as adults."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ADHD is one of the most common neurobehavioral disorders, often diagnosed in childhood and lasting into adulthood. People with ADHD typically have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviors and tend to be overly active. ADHD has an estimated worldwide prevalence of five percent, with men more likely to be diagnosed than women.
The prospective study included 207 white men diagnosed with ADHD at an average age of 8 and a comparison group of 178 men not diagnosed with childhood ADHD, who were matched for race, age, residence and social class. The average age at follow up was 41 years old. The study was designed to compare Body Mass Index (BMI) and obesity rates in grown men with and without childhood ADHD.
Results showed that, on average, men with childhood ADHD had significantly higher BMI (30.1 vs. 27.6) and obesity rates (41.1 percent vs. 21.6 percent) than men without childhood ADHD.
"The results of the study are concerning but not surprising to those who treat patients with ADHD. Lack of impulse control and poor planning skills are symptoms often associated with the condition and can lead to poor food choices and irregular eating habits," noted Dr. Castellanos. "This study emphasizes that children diagnosed with ADHD need to be monitored for long-term risk of obesity and taught healthy eating habits as they become teenagers and adults."
###
The research was supported by grants MH-18579 and T32 MH-067763 from the National Institute of Mental Health, grant DA-16979 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse and grant PIOF-253103 from the European Commission.
Co-authors of the study include Salvatore Mannuzza, PhD (retired); Samuele Cortese, MD, PhD, of the Phyllis Green and Randolph Cowen Institute for Pediatric Neuroscience and Verona University, Italy; Erika Proal, PhD, of the Phyllis Green and Randolph Cowen Institute for Pediatric Neuroscience and Neuroingenia, Mexico; Rachel G. Klein, PhD, and Maria A. Ramos Olazagasti, PhD, of the Child Study Center at NYU Langone Medical Center.
The Child Study Center at NYU Langone Medical Center is a recognized leader in the treatment of child psychiatric disorders through scientific practice, research and education. The CSC offers a wide range of mental health services for children, adolescents, young adults and families and our experts specialize in the fields of child, adolescent and adult psychiatry, clinical psychology, neuropsychology, social work, pediatric neurology and education and academic achievement. The center recently moved to its new location at One Park Ave. in Manhattan, and has facilities in New Jersey and on Long Island. For more information, please visit the Child Study Center website or call (212) 263-6622.
About NYU Langone Medical Center
NYU Langone Medical Center, a world-class, patient-centered, integrated, academic medical center, is one of the nation's premier centers for excellence in clinical care, biomedical research and medical education. Located in the heart of Manhattan, NYU Langone is composed of four hospitals Tisch Hospital, its flagship acute care facility; the Hospital for Joint Diseases, one of only five hospitals in the nation dedicated to orthopaedics and rheumatology; Hassenfeld Pediatric Center, a comprehensive pediatric hospital supporting a full array of children's health services; and the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, the world's first university-affiliated facility devoted entirely to rehabilitation medicine plus NYU School of Medicine, which since 1841 has trained thousands of physicians and scientists who have helped to shape the course of medical history. The medical center's tri-fold mission to serve, teach and discover is achieved 365 days a year through the seamless integration of a culture devoted to excellence in patient care, education and research. For more information, go to http://www.NYULMC.org.
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
First long-term study reveals link between childhood ADHD and obesityPublic release date: 20-May-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Allison Clair allison.clair@nyumc.org 212-404-3753 NYU Langone Medical Center / New York University School of Medicine
A new study conducted by researchers at the Child Study Center at NYU Langone Medical Center found men diagnosed as children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were twice as likely to be obese in a 33-year follow-up study compared to men who were not diagnosed with the condition. The study appears in the May 20 online edition of Pediatrics.
"Few studies have focused on long-term outcomes for patients diagnosed with ADHD in childhood. In this study, we wanted to assess the health outcomes of children diagnosed with ADHD, focusing on obesity rates and Body Mass Index," said lead author Francisco Xavier Castellanos, MD, Brooke and Daniel Neidich Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Child Study Center at NYU Langone. "Our results found that even when you control for other factors often associated with increased obesity rates such as socioeconomic status, men diagnosed with ADHD were at a significantly higher risk to suffer from high BMI and obesity as adults."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ADHD is one of the most common neurobehavioral disorders, often diagnosed in childhood and lasting into adulthood. People with ADHD typically have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviors and tend to be overly active. ADHD has an estimated worldwide prevalence of five percent, with men more likely to be diagnosed than women.
The prospective study included 207 white men diagnosed with ADHD at an average age of 8 and a comparison group of 178 men not diagnosed with childhood ADHD, who were matched for race, age, residence and social class. The average age at follow up was 41 years old. The study was designed to compare Body Mass Index (BMI) and obesity rates in grown men with and without childhood ADHD.
Results showed that, on average, men with childhood ADHD had significantly higher BMI (30.1 vs. 27.6) and obesity rates (41.1 percent vs. 21.6 percent) than men without childhood ADHD.
"The results of the study are concerning but not surprising to those who treat patients with ADHD. Lack of impulse control and poor planning skills are symptoms often associated with the condition and can lead to poor food choices and irregular eating habits," noted Dr. Castellanos. "This study emphasizes that children diagnosed with ADHD need to be monitored for long-term risk of obesity and taught healthy eating habits as they become teenagers and adults."
###
The research was supported by grants MH-18579 and T32 MH-067763 from the National Institute of Mental Health, grant DA-16979 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse and grant PIOF-253103 from the European Commission.
Co-authors of the study include Salvatore Mannuzza, PhD (retired); Samuele Cortese, MD, PhD, of the Phyllis Green and Randolph Cowen Institute for Pediatric Neuroscience and Verona University, Italy; Erika Proal, PhD, of the Phyllis Green and Randolph Cowen Institute for Pediatric Neuroscience and Neuroingenia, Mexico; Rachel G. Klein, PhD, and Maria A. Ramos Olazagasti, PhD, of the Child Study Center at NYU Langone Medical Center.
The Child Study Center at NYU Langone Medical Center is a recognized leader in the treatment of child psychiatric disorders through scientific practice, research and education. The CSC offers a wide range of mental health services for children, adolescents, young adults and families and our experts specialize in the fields of child, adolescent and adult psychiatry, clinical psychology, neuropsychology, social work, pediatric neurology and education and academic achievement. The center recently moved to its new location at One Park Ave. in Manhattan, and has facilities in New Jersey and on Long Island. For more information, please visit the Child Study Center website or call (212) 263-6622.
About NYU Langone Medical Center
NYU Langone Medical Center, a world-class, patient-centered, integrated, academic medical center, is one of the nation's premier centers for excellence in clinical care, biomedical research and medical education. Located in the heart of Manhattan, NYU Langone is composed of four hospitals Tisch Hospital, its flagship acute care facility; the Hospital for Joint Diseases, one of only five hospitals in the nation dedicated to orthopaedics and rheumatology; Hassenfeld Pediatric Center, a comprehensive pediatric hospital supporting a full array of children's health services; and the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, the world's first university-affiliated facility devoted entirely to rehabilitation medicine plus NYU School of Medicine, which since 1841 has trained thousands of physicians and scientists who have helped to shape the course of medical history. The medical center's tri-fold mission to serve, teach and discover is achieved 365 days a year through the seamless integration of a culture devoted to excellence in patient care, education and research. For more information, go to http://www.NYULMC.org.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Sudan, struggling with economic crisis and a budget deficit, plans to sell stakes in four state-owned sugar plants to attract partners, the official news agency SUNA said.
The African country has been trying to boost its sugar output to offset the loss of most oil production, the main export product, to South Sudan after partition in 2011. Oil used to be the biggest source of state income and foreign currency.
The state-owned Sudanese Sugar Co is looking for partners in its Guneid, Halfa, Sennar and Assalaya plants, its director Bakr Mahjub told SUNA on Saturday, adding that the state would not completely withdraw from the firm.
He gave no details and could not be immediately reached for comment. The sugar firm is owned by the central bank and finance ministry, according to its website.
The Guneid plant plans to increase its production to 115,000 tonnes annually from 60,000 tonnes under a 2010-2015 expansion plan, SUNA said. The Halfa factory would raise its output to 115,000 tonnes from 75,000 tonnes.
Sudan has been trying to improve the efficiency of the Sudanese Sugar Co, which is much smaller the country's main firm, the Kenana Sugar Company, which is owned by the governments of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Sudan.
Kenana plans to more double its sugar output to 1 million tonnes by 2015, it said last month.
We know that "where for are thou?" was in search of a different Shakespearean character, but if you had the same question for (Dell's) Ophelia, then the answer is July. The Android pendrive / USB computer we saw back at CES may be one of many, but distinctive thanks to its mainstream PC-maker origins. We're still lacking a lot of the specifics, other than that there's WiFi, Bluetooth, Wyse PocketCloud integration, plus, of course, HDMI and Android 4.something. There will likely be a few enterprise-friendly features too (administration tools, remote wiping) reports PC World. As usual, developers will get their hands on them first, with -- interestingly -- some cable and telecoms companies potentially stocking it too -- though no specifics at this time. So, the $100 Dell might not be the portable you'd love for this price, but maybe the USB PC finally crossing over?
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) ? Afghan President Hamid Karzai will seek increased military aid from India during a three-day visit starting Monday and will discuss recent cross-border clashes with Pakistan, India's archrival, an aide said.
The comments follow a weekend report by the Times of India that said Afghanistan's ambassador to India had said the country needs India's help with "equipment and weapons to fight." The Press Trust of India later quoted a spokesman for India's foreign ministry as saying the country is ready to meet any such request.
"Yes, we will ask for assistance for the strengthening of our security forces," Karzai spokesman Aimal Faizi said in a briefing Saturday ahead of the trip. He did not comment on the Indian reports.
Karzai's visit could irk Pakistan, especially if any arms deal materializes. Pakistan considers Afghanistan its own backyard and suspects rival India of seeking greater influence there as a strategy to hem in the country from both sides. Pakistan and India have fought three wars since they were divided into two countries when they gained independence from Britain in 1947.
Afghanistan and India signed a strategic partnership agreement in 2011 that has included Indian military training of Afghan security forces. Faizi indicated Saturday that Karzai would seek to expand that cooperation. "Whatever our Afghan security forces would need for assistance and help, India would help us," he said.
Afghan analyst Wadir Safi, a political science professor at Kabul University, says the timing of Karzai's India trip is likely related to recent border skirmishes with Pakistan. Each side has been accusing the other of firing across the mountainous border region for months, including a skirmish earlier this month that killed an Afghan border policeman. Both countries have also accused each other of providing shelter for insurgents fighting on the other side of the border.
Afghan accusations that Pakistan is allegedly trying to torpedo efforts to start peace talks with the Taliban have also contributed to deteriorating relations. Pakistan is considered crucial to nudging Taliban leaders, many of which are in hiding in Pakistan, to the table ? a key goal of the United States and its allies ahead of the final pullout of foreign combat forces by the end of next year.
Karzai has long been deeply suspicious of the motives of Pakistan's government and military, which backed the Taliban regime before it was toppled in the 2001 U.S.-led intervention and has since seemed unable or unwilling to go after militant leaders taking refuge inside its borders. The killing of al-Qaida chief, Osama bin Laden, in Pakistan only strengthened Afghan wariness of his neighbor.
"Maybe at this moment, Karzai wants to show to the neighbor (Pakistan) that if they don't take part in bringing peace in Afghanistan, then he can increase relations with other countries with whom Pakistan has longtime disagreements," Safi said.
Safi warned, however, that any increased military cooperation with India would likely only contribute to tensions. "Of course, it will anger Pakistan," he said.
Aside from regional strategic rivalries, Karzai is expected to discuss economic issues and will visit an engineering university where he will receive an honorary degree, Faizi said.
India has invested more than $2 billion in Afghan infrastructure, including highways and hospitals and rural electricity projects. New Delhi is hoping to gain some influence in the country after 2014, when Afghan forces become responsible for the entire country's security.
Karzai, who earned his college degree in India, has visited New Delhi more than a half dozen times in the past few years, most recently in November 2012.
The field for Saturday's 138th running of the Preakness Stakes is set to take aim at Kentucky Derby winner Orb, as he attempts to become the first thoroughbred in 35 years to capture the Triple Crown, consisting of victories in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes.
Nine horses will go to the post at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore shortly after 6 p.m. Eastern time for the mile and 3/16 race. Orb will have the No. 1 post position along the track's inside rail as trainer Shug McGaughey attempts to win his first Preakness, though he wouldn't have selected that spot to start from.
"Obviously, if I was going to pick it out, I wouldn?t have picked the ?1.? But with only nine horses in there to run a mile and three-sixteenths, with a rider like Joel (Rosario), he?s going to figure out what to do. He?ll have him in the right spot," McGaughey told reporters after Wednesday's post position draw.
RECOMMENDED: Triple Crown quiz: Test your knowledge of thoroughbred horse racing's 'Big Three'
Veteran trainer and five-time Preakness winner D. Wayne Lukas will have three horses in the race. Oxbow, who finished sixth in the Derby, and Will Take Charge, who finished eighth, will start from the sixth and seventh post positions, respectively. Lukas's third horse is Titletown Five, who will run out of the No. 3 post position. Titletown is owned in part by NFL Hall of Famers Paul Hornung and Willie Davis.
?I was satisfied all the way around with my three horses, especially Oxbow. It?s a small field with a good run to the turn. I don?t think it?s very significant, except maybe for Orb. Oxbow for a change got a decent post position, so that?s going to help there. I like what happened there very much," Lukas commented after the post position draw.
Another five-time winner, trainer Bob Baffert is in the field with Governor Charlie, who will start from the eighth spot. Governor Charlie was in the mix to run in the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago, but suffered an injury and was not entered in the race.
Baffert says his horse is healthy now and ready to compete over the mile and three-sixteenths distance.
"It?s a different group of horses he?s running with and it?s a classic, but he?s bred to run that far," Baffert told the New York Daily News.
Other Kentucky Derby horses that are in the Preakness include Mylute and Goldencents. Saturday's Preakness Stakes will be broadcast by NBC.
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Public release date: 20-May-2013
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