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Study links air pollution to heightened risk of Type 2 diabetes in overweight and obese Latino children

Green Car Congress

Latino children who live in areas with higher levels of air pollution have a heightened risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) and published in the journal Diabetes. Our study shows air pollution also contributes to Type 2 diabetes risk.

Pollution 150
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Univ of Utah studies find up to 27 seconds of mental distraction for drivers after using new hands-free technologies

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Potentially unsafe mental distractions for drivers can persist for as long as 27 seconds after dialing, changing music or sending a text using voice commands, according to a pair of new studies for the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety by University of Utah researchers. It’s better not to use them when you are driving.

Utah 150
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PM2.5 pollution linked to higher glaucoma risk

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Living in a more polluted area is associated with a greater likelihood of having glaucoma, a debilitating eye condition that can cause blindness, according to a new UCL-led study in the UK. It most commonly results from a build-up of pressure from fluid in the eye, causing damage to the optic nerve that connects the eye to the brain.

Pollution 252
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California Energy Commission awards $750K to Electricore to study standardization of plug-in vehicle batteries

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The system will be connected to the state’s electricity grid and will be capable of operating either independently or in conjunction with the grid, resulting in greater levels of energy security using renewable energy. The energy storage system will be deployed and operated within a microgrid context.

Standards 244
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Worldwatch Institute study expects number of countries running high-speed rail nearly to double by 2014

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The increase in HSR is due largely to its reliability and ability to cover large distances in a short time; to investments aimed at connecting once-isolated regions; and to the diminishing appeal of air travel, which is becoming more cumbersome because of security concerns.

2014 225
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National Academies report finds US interstate highways need major overhaul; calls for 20-year blueprint for action

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The highways serve as both urban commuter and inter-urban travel corridors, integrate the country’s freight system by connecting to major ports and rail hubs, and are critical to the logistics of national defense. The study was sponsored by the US Department of Transportation.

Congress 246
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NYU-BMW i report explores future urban mobility; sustainability and resilience

Green Car Congress

A new study released by BMW i and New York University (NYU) finds that, in the coming years and decades, fundamental changes in the demographic makeup of cities will profoundly alter the way people travel. The NYU-BMW i study also reports that demand for parking is going to intensify in major cities.

BMW 366