It would hardly have been a stretch for Amy Kaler to write a cogent social analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a sociologist, Kaler has a background in population health and the sociology of infectious diseases. As the pandemic advanced relentlessly in the early days of 2020, she received enough requests for media commentary that…
Early diagnosis can lead to better treatment A University of Alberta engineering professor has designed a portable ultrasound system that can detect scoliosis in adolescents without the risks associated with frequent X-rays. Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is a deformity of the spine that occurs in two to four per cent of those between the ages of…
More family time can foster resilience in children affected by the disruptions The survey results were considered a loud and clear “cry for help” from high school students suffering from the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, more than a third reported poor mental health, and about 44…
Overburdened emergency physicians tend to order more tests for less-severe patients
It’s no secret that emergency health care in Canada is in crisis. Staff shortages have caused some emergency departments to close temporarily as already stretched resources are pushed to the breaking point by the COVID-19 pandemic. But the crisis has been brewing across the developed world for decades, says University of Alberta business professor Mohamad…
The underlying principle when it comes to assigning homework is balance
As students return to the classroom full-time and workloads ramp up, you might wonder: What’s the right amount of homework? How much is too much? Those might be the wrong questions, say educators. What matters more is whether homework serves a clearly defined purpose, is properly scheduled and encourages students to think independently. “Some teachers…
Monkeypox conspiracy videos were viewed 1.5 million times within 30 hours of posting
Conspiracy theories about monkeypox are spreading as fast as the virus itself, mirroring the proliferation of misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new study from the University of Alberta. Social media is the biggest driver of the monkeypox “infodemic,” with TikTok at the top of the list, according to Timothy Caulfield and Marco…
More awareness, education needed to help prevent women with severe symptoms from suffering needlessly, say experts
World Menopause Day is held every year on Oct. 18th. The day raises awareness of menopause and supports options to improve health and well-being for women in mid-life and beyond. Most women in their late 40s and 50s will immediately recognize the symptoms of menopause. While up to 80 per cent of menopausal women will experience some…
Product website gatekeepers might be better off allowing some profanity on their platforms
Profanity in online reviews can pack a powerful punch, says a University of Alberta business researcher. According to Katherine Lafreniere, an expletive or two in a review can enhance an evaluation of a service or product, especially when qualifying descriptions of a given attribute. That means a dishwasher described as “damn quiet,” for example, is…
Instead of asking which single attribute fosters leadership, we should be asking which patterns of human qualities create the best outcomes
Look up any list of bestselling books and chances are at least one title deals with leadership. People have pondered the topic for millennia but are still chasing a clear answer to the question: what makes a good leader? That may be because we’re asking the wrong question, says business professor Ian Gellatly. Human beings…
RNA technology used to target gene defects in blood cells that lead to diseases like leukemia
A University of Alberta researcher is hot on the trail of a new drug to combat blood cancers. Based on RNA technology — best known for the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines — the drug targets specific gene defects in blood cells responsible for cancers such as leukemia. “With conventional cancer drugs, there is a…