Men are much more prone to osteonecrosis ― a disease resulting from the loss of blood supply to the bones ― than women in South Korea, according to a study organized by the nation’s Health Insurance Service. According to the researchers, Korean men are 1.7 times more likely to develop the disease, which eventually causes the bone to break down, than Korean women. The number of patients with the illness has been on the rise in the country since 2007. While 22,354 were treated for the disease in 2

Osong is looking to solidify its position as the country’s mecca for biotechnology research with the upcoming Bio Industry Expo Osong Korea 2014.The event, slated to be held in the North Chungcheong Province city, will provide opportunities for corporations in and out of Korea to gather and share business propositions on medical facilities, medicine and aesthetic products. Some 230 leading companies in the field around the globe are expected to take part in the 17-day event from Sept. 26 to Oct.

Matthew Thomas’ first novel, “We Are Not Ourselves,” is an epic of small events. By that I don’t mean its story is insignificant but quotidian: the particular struggles of the day-to-day. A family saga, spanning three generations, the book is centered around Eileen Tumulty, a daughter of the Irish working-class in Queens, N.Y. Eileen’s existence is summed up in the first two syllables of that last name ― tumult ― or more accurately, in the drive to push past her limitations, which have been impo

The title suggests the folly of the endeavor: “Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! The Story of Pop Music from Bill Haley to Beyonce.” Really? The whole story? Yeah, that’s what Bob Stanley is going for here. Doo-wop, the Beatles, folk rock, Philadelphia soul, punk and post-punk, Prince and Madonna, grunge, hip-hop, Britpop and so many points in between. All woven together in a semilinear narrative.You can laugh if you want. Then you can try putting it down. Opinionated, digressive, quick to play favorites ― Stan

Merchants of Independence: International Trade on the Santa Fe Trail, 1827-1860By William Patrick O’Brien (Truman State University Press) Out in Independence, Missouri, the ornamental wagon wheel can still be seen in a few front yards.Whatever its currency as kitsch, its authenticity as a symbol of the community’s transportation-based past can’t be disputed.It was the overland transit of pioneer families (along the Oregon trail), prospectors (the California branch-off) as well as commercial frei

I Can See in the DarkBy Karin Fossum (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)Over the years, I’ve read lots of Scandinavian crime fiction, but nothing from Norwegian novelist Karin Fossum. In retrospect, that was a huge oversight.Her books have sold millions of copies worldwide, and a few years ago she was named one of the 50 greatest crime writers of all time by The Times of London.After reading “I Can See in the Dark,” I understand why.This is a taut, well-paced book written totally from the point of view

Lyndsay Luff, 6, of Pittsburgh, tosses a green pepper into the crate as she and her brother Brandon Luff, 12, pick vegetables at the Common Ground farm in Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania, on July 31. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/MCT)PITTSBURGH ― Lyndsay Luff, 7, held out two salsa peppers as long as her hand. She smiled coyly and didn’t say a word, her eyes cast down at the first chilies she had ever picked. They sat loosely on her palms like miniature rolling pins.A slim, bright-eyed woman stood besi

When Tiffany Threadgould moved into her Philadelphia apartment in 2012, the first thing she did was trash the place.For Threadgould, 40, that didn’t mean making a mess. On the contrary, it’s all about discovering beauty ― or at least function ― in objects that might otherwise be destined for the landfill. In her hands, CD jewel cases formed pendant lamps, paint cans became planters (and paint stirrers labels for a windowsill herb garden), and old sweaters made a cozy throw for her sofa.Has been

CHICAGO ― A roadside bomb in Afghanistan left Israel Del Toro Jr. with third-degree burns over 80 percent of his body. He underwent 130 surgeries to reconstruct his body and face. After the grueling rehabilitation, he made peace with the fact that there were many things he would never do again.But at a Chicago athletic competition for disabled veterans in 2011, a coach urged him to try powerlifting. Del Toro balked at first. The explosion had taken the fingers on his left hand, and most of the f

Quarterly Expat-Korean charity concert CLASH will open again Saturday, with proceeds going to the Korean Unwed Mothers Families’ Association.The show brings together hip-hop and rock acts from both the expat and Korean communities, with all proceeds going to a good cause.As this edition is in aid of a women’s organization, there is a strong female representation among the lineup. Four of the seven acts are women or predominately feature women, including expat band Baekma as well as headliner Jol

Game for a laugh? Comics from Korea and overseas will be testing their mettle this weekend.On Saturday, expat comedians from across Asia will compete for a small trophy decorated by a bobblehead figurine of Kim Jong-il in the Seoul International Comedy Competition.The competition is organized by Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province-based expat Dan Wiberg, who invited comedians from across Asia to enter and will also be hosting the event. After whittling the applicants down to 10 competitors, the