Doing good is good for you: Volunteer adolescents enjoy healthier hearts

Public release date: 25-Feb-2013
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Contact: Basil Waugh
basil.waugh@ubc.ca
604-822-2048
University of British Columbia

Giving back through volunteering is good for your heart, even at a young age, according to University of British Columbia researchers.

For their study, published today in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, researchers from UBC's Faculty of Education and Department of Psychology wanted to find out how volunteering might impact physical health among adolescents.

"It was encouraging to see how a social intervention to support members of the community also improved the health of adolescents," says Hannah Schreier, who conducted this research during her doctoral studies at UBC.

Researchers split 106 Grade 10 students from an urban, inner-city Vancouver high school into two groups a group that volunteered regularly for 10 weeks and a group that was wait-listed for volunteer activities. The researchers measured the students' body mass index (BMI), inflammation and cholesterol levels before and after the study. They also assessed the students' self-esteem, mental health, mood, and empathy.

The volunteer group of students spent one hour per week working with elementary school children in after-school programs in their neighborhood. After 10 weeks they had lower levels of inflammation and cholesterol and lower BMIs than the students who were wait-listed.

"The volunteers who reported the greatest increases in empathy, altruistic behaviour and mental health were the ones who also saw the greatest improvements in their cardiovascular health," says Schreier, now a postdoctoral fellow at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York.

Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of mortality in Canada and the United States. The first signs of the disease can begin to appear during adolescence. Previous studies show that psychosocial factors, such as stress, depression and wellbeing, play a role in the disease.

###

CONTACT

Hannah Schreier
Icahn School of Medicine
Email: hannah.schreier@mssm.edu

Basil Waugh
UBC Public Affairs
Cell: 604-219-8077

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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.

Public release date: 25-Feb-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Basil Waugh
basil.waugh@ubc.ca
604-822-2048
University of British Columbia

Giving back through volunteering is good for your heart, even at a young age, according to University of British Columbia researchers.

For their study, published today in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, researchers from UBC's Faculty of Education and Department of Psychology wanted to find out how volunteering might impact physical health among adolescents.

"It was encouraging to see how a social intervention to support members of the community also improved the health of adolescents," says Hannah Schreier, who conducted this research during her doctoral studies at UBC.

Researchers split 106 Grade 10 students from an urban, inner-city Vancouver high school into two groups a group that volunteered regularly for 10 weeks and a group that was wait-listed for volunteer activities. The researchers measured the students' body mass index (BMI), inflammation and cholesterol levels before and after the study. They also assessed the students' self-esteem, mental health, mood, and empathy.

The volunteer group of students spent one hour per week working with elementary school children in after-school programs in their neighborhood. After 10 weeks they had lower levels of inflammation and cholesterol and lower BMIs than the students who were wait-listed.

"The volunteers who reported the greatest increases in empathy, altruistic behaviour and mental health were the ones who also saw the greatest improvements in their cardiovascular health," says Schreier, now a postdoctoral fellow at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York.

Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of mortality in Canada and the United States. The first signs of the disease can begin to appear during adolescence. Previous studies show that psychosocial factors, such as stress, depression and wellbeing, play a role in the disease.

###

CONTACT

Hannah Schreier
Icahn School of Medicine
Email: hannah.schreier@mssm.edu

Basil Waugh
UBC Public Affairs
Cell: 604-219-8077

---

[ | 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.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-02/uobc-dgi022213.php

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Watch Live: President to talk 'sequester' at meeting with governors

President Barack Obama on Monday is expected to implore the nation's governors to put pressure on Congress to avoid the sequester as Obama speaks to the nation's governors at the White House.

Members of the Obama administration, heads of federal agencies and others have been issuing severe warnings to Congress regarding the sequester-- $85 billion in across-the-board spending cuts that will go into effect March 1 absent a budget. Warnings have been released threatening fewer responders to handle wildfires, reduced food safety inspection, less help for vulnerable Americans and on Friday, widespread flight delays and cancellations.

"Travelers should expect delays. Flights to major cities like New York, Chicago, San Francisco and others could experience delays up to 90 minutes during peak hours, because we have fewer controllers on staff. Delays in these major airports will ripple across the country," Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told reporters at Friday's White House press briefing after announcing that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans massive furloughs and closing air traffic control towers if the sequester goes into effect.

The White House on Sunday night released state-by-state reports detailing what they say would be "devastating" impacts on each state as a result of the sequester, but the topic of the sequester was notably absent from Obama's speech Sunday night to the governors, who are in town for the National Governors Association's (NGA) annual winter meeting.

Instead, the president at the White House dinner struck an appreciative tone, commending the governors for steering their states through tough times.

Democratic Gov. Jack Markell of Delaware, chair of the NGA, followed Obama's address Sunday night by emphasizing the absence of politics from the night's celebration. "On this one night it?s a relief -- politics doesn?t drive the conversation. We don?t speak of partisan issues or presidential aspirations," Markell said.

But Markell did note the sequester.

"One thing for sure is certain -- you don?t let issues fester. You get to deal with education and health care, and even the sequester," Markell said to laughter and applause from the audience.

Republicans such as Speaker John Boehner have publicly stated their opposition to the sequester, though others have threatened they are willing to let it go into effect.

Some Republicans over the weekend continued to accuse the administration of exaggerating the sequester's impact.

"They have plenty of flexibility in terms of discretion on how they spend money. There are easy ways to cut this money that the American people will never feel," Republican Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma said on Fox News Sunday.

The president is slated to address the governors at 11:05 a.m. ET from the White House State Dining Room. Vice President Joe Biden, First Lady Michelle Obama and Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden are also scheduled to speak.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/obama-expected-address-sequester-monday-meeting-governors-143539950--politics.html

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THE RESET: Obama counts down to gov't budget cuts

President Barack Obama addresses the National Governors Association, Monday, Feb. 25, 2013, in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

President Barack Obama addresses the National Governors Association, Monday, Feb. 25, 2013, in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

President Barack Obama addresses the National Governors Association in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

First lady Michelle Obama, appearing on screen from Washington, and actor Jack Nicholson present the award for best picture during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday Feb. 24, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie joins other governors of the National Governors Association at the 2013 Governors? Dinner at the White House in Washington, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Four days and counting. But who's counting? President Barack Obama for one.

That's how long before government-wide budget cuts begin to hit home that will slash spending by roughly $85 billion over the next seven months.

And more are on the way if Congress and the president can't figure out how to replace Friday's indiscriminate autopilot cuts ? called a "sequester" in government jargon ? with more targeted measures.

Obama told the nation's governors on Monday, "Unfortunately, in just four days Congress is poised to allow serious and arbitrary automatic budget cuts to kick in that will slow our economy, eliminate good jobs and leave a lot of folks who are already pretty thinly stretched scrambling to figure out what to do."

The two parties remain far apart. Obama insists on both spending cuts and higher tax revenue through trimming deductions and loopholes used mostly by the wealthy. Republicans see that as a tax increase and are balking.

So Democrats and Republicans are hurling accusations at each other as Congress returns from a nine-day recess and members begin to focus on the next manufactured fiscal deadline ? March 27, by which time lawmakers must pass legislation to keep the entire government operating.

Obama is painting as gloomy a picture as possible of the impending cuts, even though they represent a relatively small percentage of the government's $3.5 trillion budget.

Over the weekend, the White House put out lists of how the cuts would affect individual states.

Everybody hates the sequester ? former Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Alan Blinder jokes "that's Latin for 'cutting federal spending stupidly'" ? but nobody's yet figured how to make it go away.

And, actually, the cuts ? together with other deficit-reducing steps by Obama and Congress over the past year and a slowly recovering economy ? are contributing to an improvement in the government's budget picture.

For the first time in four years, the budget deficit is on course to sink below $1 trillion.

___

Follow Tom Raum on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/tomraum

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-02-25-US-The-Reset/id-bfe41756b526460b9860fa7188b389ea

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CSN: Sandoval lost weight to avoid benching

MESA, Ariz. ? Pablo Sandoval?s bat looked crisp as he collected three hits in his first four exhibition at-bats. But those weren?t the numbers that Giants manager Bruce Bochy wanted to see in the first weekend of games here.

Late last week, Bochy told Sandoval he would bench him if the Panda didn?t tip the scales at a certain weight by Saturday?s Cactus League opener.

?To his credit, he did,? Bochy said. ?Although to be honest, I?m not sure how.?

Maybe Sandoval locked himself in a sauna and cranked up the coals. However he did it, it came as a surprise to Bochy, who originally did not list Sandoval among his scheduled regulars on Saturday.

Instead, Sandoval is the only position player to start both of the Giants? exhibition games in the field.

?I talked to him (on Saturday) and he wants to play,? Bochy said. ?He comes in and does his early work. To play five innings, it helps with his conditioning.?

Sandoval just got done playing in the Venezuelan league playoffs three weeks ago, so he?s in better ?baseball shape? than most of his teammates. He also wants to make sure he?s ready when he leaves for the World Baseball Classic next week.

Although Bochy wouldn?t divulge any specific numbers, it?s believed that Sandoval is heavier than at any time since the end of the 2010 season, when his weight problem contributed to losing his job in the postseason. It was a wakeup call that compelled him to reshape his body that winter.

Sandoval might not be in the same condition he was when he reported in 2011, but Bochy didn?t describe him as if he?s in need of another wakeup call.

?He?s doing what I asked,? Bochy said.

--

Even though Matt Cain threw a lot of pitches in the first inning, Bochy said he would have sent his opening-day starter back out there if not for the line drive off the side of his right knee.

[BAGGARLY: Cain gets a scare with line drive off knee]

?We were a little concerned the knee might start swelling,? Bochy said. ?We?re being a little cautious with him. It?s a long spring.?

--

Everyone knows what kind of an arm Nate Schierholtz has in right field. Well, outfield prospect Francisco Peguero?s arm is even better, by reputation.

Peguero showed off that arm during infield drills. And like any quick-draw artist, he showed he?s not afraid of the next gun.

When Peguero hit a looping drive down the right field line in Sunday?s 4-3 loss to the Cubs, he didn?t hesitate while rounding first base. Peguero was able to hustle a double out of it.

Not even Schierholtz, the right fielder, could throw him out.

--

A cold wind chapped everyone?s skin all day, and it was no coincidence that the Giants and Cubs both decided to conduct pop-up drills for the first time this spring. The wind is known to blow at AT&T Park and Wrigley Field, after all.

When the game began, outfield prospect Gary Brown made two especially impressive catches. He stayed with the gusting wind and covered a lot of ground while making one catch in right-center. Then he sprinted straight back and didn?t get turned around while hauling in another deep drive.

?He?s a gifted outfielder with good speed and he gets good reads on the ball,? Bochy said. ?It?s impressive. He?s a young guy who doesn?t know this outfield, the wind and the sun here, and he made all the plays.?

Actually, Brown played at HoHoKam Park plenty of times in the Arizona Fall League and he knew ?that Mesa is the absolute worst with the wind and sun breaking through the clouds.?

Told of Bochy?s comment, Brown?s eyes got wide.

?Maybe it?d be better if you forget what I just told you,? he said, smiling.

--

Angel Villalona got his first start in a Giants uniform and collected his first hit, a single to left field off Kyuji Fujikawa. Villalona likely will be among the first rounds of cuts, and while you have to wonder whether the Giants are giving him a serious look, he?s still just 22 years old. He?s a prospect.

--

Bob Brenly?s kid, Michael, is in Cubs camp and played in Sunday?s game. He?s got some size on the old man.

--

Dan Runzler continues to look very good. I also like what I see from Kensuke Tanaka thus far, but I think it?ll be hard for him to make the team over Wilson Valdez or Tony Abreu if he can?t play shortstop.

--

The ol? Twitter stream filled up with NASCAR references as the Daytona 500 reached its conclusion, and as I watched the Giants and Cubs, a thought occurred to me: The goal of NASCAR and baseball is the same ? make as many left turns as you can, as quickly as possible.

The talented Billy Byler, beat reporter who covers the Giants? A-ball affiliate in Augusta, added one more thought: ?And draft to your advantage.?

Source: http://www.csnbayarea.com/blog/andrew-baggarly/extra-baggs-sandoval-avoids-weight-related-benching-etc

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Feb 25 - The Chinese Program, Huron University College

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12:00pm - 1:30pm Political Behaviour Research Group, PBRG, presents Jeffrey Mondak, University of Illinois

4:00pm - 5:00pm Department of Physiology and Pharmacology Special Seminar Dr. Penny MacDonald

12:00pm - 1:00pm

2:00pm Education's Faculty Seminar Series - Dr. Alan Edmunds presents "Behaviour and Classroom Management Resurrected: The Behaviour Management Network"

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Source: http://events.uwo.ca/cgi-bin/events.pl?CalendarName=WesternEvents&EventID=5915&Date=2013/2/25

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Red Wing's mayor resigns in face of pressure over his frac sand industry role (Star Tribune)

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Ex-Kent-Meridian teacher, coach receives five-day jail sentence for sex crime

By STEVE HUNTER
Kent Reporter Courts, government reporter
February 22, 2013 ? Updated 5:32 PM?

A former Kent-Meridian High School teacher and track coach received a five-day jail sentence Friday in King County Superior Court for communication with a minor for immoral purposes.

After the sentencing at the Norm Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent, King County corrections officers handcuffed Ernie Ammons, 37, of Black Diamond, and escorted him out of the courtroom and to the county jail. Ammons had been free on bail since his arrest in December 2011.

Judge Lori K. Smith also sentenced Ammons to 40 hours of community service and 24 months of probation as well as ordered that he have no contact with the victim, that he must pay restitution to the victim and that he have no contact with minors except under supervision of an adult with knowledge of his registered sex offender status and with the approval of a sex offender treatment provider.

Ammons pleaded guilty to the charge Feb. 1 in exchange for a lighter sentence. He could have been sentenced up to one year in jail and fined $5,000. He must register as a sex offender.

"It's been a very trying year for me and my family," Ammons said in a brief statement to the judge. "I take responsibility for my actions. I will move forward from this. I apologize to everybody I respect, especially my family and the victim."

Prosecutors said Ammons sent sexually explicit text messages to a 16-year-old Kent-Meridian girl from June 27, 2011 to Nov. 6, 2011. Ammons taught health and physical education at the school. He also coached boys and girls track and cross country for the Royals.

The Kent School District placed Ammons on paid administrative leave in November 2011 when the allegations first came to the district's attention. He resigned from the district in January 2012. He initially pleaded not guilty to the charge in December 2011.

"Mr. Ammons lost a lot here," defense attorney Brad Meryhew said to the judge. "In the process he never made any excuses, never tried to blame anybody else - always taking responsibility."

Ammons met with a psychologist last fall to figure out a treatment plan and will participate in a sex offender treatment program with a mental health counselor in Pierce County.

"I think the next phase for him is to find a way to reach out and get support - and group (meetings) is a great way to do that - you meet a lot of other people to get that kind of support," Meryhew said. "I'm confident that Ernie will recover from this and live a good life."

Smith said she received several letters in support of Ammons.

"The court is going to follow the agreed recommendation, given all of the circumstances it seems appropriate," Smith said. "The court is hopeful that the treatment will continue and recommendations will be followed."

Smith ordered a sentence of 12 months of supervised probation and 12 months unsupervised if Ammons meets the sex offender treatment plan.

Ammons signed the following guilty statement on Feb. 1:

"On or about a time between June 27, 2011 and Nov. 6, 2011 in King County, I did communicate with (the 16-year-old girl), a person I believed to be a minor, for immoral purposes of a sexual nature," Ammons wrote in a court statement.

Ammons led the Kent-Meridian boys track team to its first state track title in spring 2011 when the Royals captured the Class 4A meet. He coached track and field at Kent-Meridian for eight years. He led the boys track team to a second-place trophy at state in 2009.

Ammons taught health and physical education at Kent-Meridian. His classes in 2011 included health and weight training. The district hired Ammons in 2004.

During a series of text messages with the girl, Ammons asked the girl to meet him for sex in the school's weight room before school.

The case came to the attention of school officials in early November 2011 when a student at another school who knew the 16-year-old girl contacted Kent-Meridian Principal Wade Barringer about inappropriate conversations between a health teacher at the school and a student. The teacher was later identified as Ammons.

Barringer talked to Ammons about the allegations, according to court documents. Ammons told Barringer the phone contacts with the student started on Facebook and the contact continued via text messaging.

Ammons told Barringer that he had exchanged text messages with the girl and they talked about exchanging money for sex. Ammons said he never intended to act on the suggestion, but he was afraid to stop texting the girl out of fear that she would expose him.

School officials contacted Kent Police Nov. 8, 2011 about the allegations and the police investigation started. Detectives gathered cellphone records and emails that showed Ammons had contacted the girl. Detectives found as many as 46 calls between the girl's phone and Ammons' phone from June 27 to Oct. 24. Several more text exchanges occurred after Oct. 24.

Ammons has volunteered as an assistant Green River Community College men's and women's cross country and track coach in Auburn since 2009.

Ammons was the second South Puget Sound League coach charged with a sex crime by county prosecutors in November 2011.

A jury found Daniel Gregory Lum-Lung, who coached girls volleyball at Mount Rainier High School in Des Moines, guilty of third-degree attempted rape of a child and communication with a minor for immoral purposes in connection with a 15-year-old girl he met in October 2011 at Kent's Lake Meridian Park. He is scheduled to be sentenced Friday, March 1 before King County Superior Court Judge Andrea Darvas.

Contact Kent Reporter Courts, government reporter Steve Hunter at shunter@kentreporter.com or 253-872-6600, ext. 5052.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/kennews/~3/jIoq1bRZFZA/192609981.html

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