First published results from the Large Hadron Collider
Dr. Andreas Warburton of the Department of Physics made leading contributions to the analysis of data from the ATLAS experiments at the Large Hadron Collider, and his findings, the first to come from the experiments, were published in the journal Physical Review Letters on Oct. 11. Warburton and 3171 colleagues from around the world are using the data collected to look for exotic new particles whose existence is suggested by theoretical calculations.
“Understanding whether new kinds of matter exist or not is interesting because it holds clues to knowledge about how the universe works fundamentally,” Warburton said.
Teenage obesity
A single fitness consultation can help obese teenagers combat their condition, according to a recent study led by Dr. Melanie Henderson of the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health. An educational session, focused on strengthening the child’s motivation and developing realistic goals and strategies to promote physical activity, had a real effect on the patient’s health, Henderson and her colleagues at the CHU Sainte-Justine, Université de Montréal, Concordia, and the University of Toronto found. The average participant took an extra 18 minutes of light exercise per day after participating, and decreases in the individual’s body mass index score were recorded.
Caesarean sections
Is the decision to give birth by Caeserean section influenced by social factors? In some circumstances, the answer is “Yes.” Dr. Alice Benjamin, Associate Professor and Director of Obstetrics Division at the Royal Victoria Hospital, and colleagues at the Jewish General discovered that women with higher education levels are more likely to undergo elective repeat Caesarean sections.
“Whether this is due to patient differences or physician bias, physicians should be aware of this disparity and should attempt to provide unbiased informed consent for all women regardless of their level of education,” the doctors noted in their article, which was published in this month’s Journal of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada.