The banana variety Yangambi km5 produces toxic substances that kill the nematode Radopholus similis, a roundworm that infects the root tissue of banana plants – to the frustration of farmers worldwide. The finding bodes well for the Grande Naine, the export banana par excellence, which is very susceptible to the roundworms. The parasitic nematode Radopholus similis is the invisible nemesis of the banana plant, says Professor Dirk De Waele (Laboratory for Tropical Crop Improvement, KU Leuven), a co-author of the study: "This roundworm infects banana crops worldwide. The ...

A research project led by Oxford University is showing how patient experiences can be used to improve healthcare – not through targets and surveys, but by getting doctors, nurses and patients talking together about care on the ward. The new approach has been used in pilot projects at two UK hospital trusts – Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust in London and the Royal Berkshire in Reading. Videos of patients talking about care they received at various hospitals are used to trigger a discussion between NHS staff, managers, patients and family members about the ...

A program designed to move families out of high-poverty neighborhoods resulted in reduced rates of depression and conduct disorder among girls, but increased rates of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and conduct disorder among boys, according to a study published in the March 5 issue of JAMA. Prof. Jens Ludwig, one of the study's authors, said this was a follow-up long-term analysis of families participating in the Moving to Opportunity residential-mobility demonstration sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Ludwig is the ...

The spiral galaxy ESO 137-001 looks like a dandelion caught in a breeze in this new Hubble Space Telescope image. The galaxy is zooming toward the upper right of this image, in between other galaxies in the Norma cluster located over 200 million light-years away. The road is harsh: intergalactic gas in the Norma cluster is sparse, but so hot at 180 million degrees Fahrenheit that it glows in X-rays. The spiral plows through the seething intra-cluster gas so rapidly – at nearly 4.5 million miles per hour — that much of its own gas is caught and torn away. Astronomers ...

San Francisco, Calif. – March 5, 2014 – A new study from the University of Washington has found that performance on Lumosity games can distinguish between patients with cirrhosis of the liver, pre-cirrhotic patients, and healthy controls. The study used Lumosity games as psychometric tests to detect subtle cognitive impairments in patients with cirrhosis. The study is published in the March issue of the American Journal of Gastroenterology. Studies have found that an estimated 60-80 percent of cirrhosis patients experience cognitive dysfunction, which can range from ...

LOS ANGELES – (March 5, 2014) – Changing the hospital orders for women who have just delivered a child led to a 69% increase in the new mothers' pertussis vaccination rate, providing protection for themselves and their newborns against the disease, commonly known as whooping cough, according to a study in the March issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. Sylvia Yeh, MD, a Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute (LA BioMed) lead researcher and corresponding author of the study, said it is the first to compare immunization rates among two hospitals: ...

The new research, which was published in the journal Demographic Research, shows that increasing labor force participation by as little as 1 or 2 percentage points could allow pension ages to be reduced by one year without increasing the burden on the working population. "Coping with aging populations is a challenge for most developed countries," says IIASA population expert Sergei Scherbov, who co-led the study with Warren Sanderson, a researcher at IIASA and Stony Brook University. In Europe and many other areas of the developed world, birth rates have dropped while ...

You can hear the metallic buzz as the milling machine bores into the workpiece. Just a few last drill holes, and the camshaft is complete. The computer-guided machine performed the entire job – thanks to the digital manufacturing data that were uploaded onto its embedded computer beforehand. Everything runs without a hitch, only – the data are stolen. Manufacturing data determine the production process for a product, and are just as valuable today as the design plans. They contain distinctive, inimitable information about the product and its manufacture. Whoever possesses ...

The network of charging stations for electric vehicles is becoming more tightly meshed. In Germany, the ratio of electric cars to charging stations is currently two to one and utility companies are pushing forward expansion of charging opportunities, especially in cities and metropolitan areas. Over 2000 charging spots have already been installed nationwide and the country's largest charging infrastructure is at the Fraunhofer Institute Center Stuttgart IZS – where up to 30 electric vehicles (EVs) at a time can re- charge at AC charge spots in the Fraunhofer Campus parking ...

Though present in more than 6,000 living species of fish, the adipose fin, a small appendage that lies between the dorsal fin and tail, has no clear function and is thought to be vestigial. However, a new study analyzing their origins finds that these fins arose repeatedly and independently in multiple species. In addition, adipose fins appear to have repeatedly and independently evolved a skeleton, offering a glimpse into how new tissue types and structural complexity evolve in vertebrate appendages. Adipose fins therefore represent a unique example of convergent evolution ...

Following testing and preliminary acceptance in Europe in September 2013, MUSE was shipped to ESO's Paranal Observatory in Chile. It was reassembled at the base camp before being carefully transported to its new home at the VLT, where it is now installed on Unit Telescope 4. MUSE is the latest of the second generation instruments for the VLT (the first two were X-shooter and KMOS and the next, SPHERE, will follow shortly). The leader of the team and principal investigator for the instrument, Roland Bacon (Centre de Recherche Astrophysique de Lyon, France), expressed his ...

Alexandria, VA and Needham, MA – Due to rigorous disaster preparedness and the heroic actions of first responders and emergency and trauma personnel, not a single one of the nearly 200 people hospitalized after the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings died, despite many grave injuries. And, thanks to the orthopaedic surgeons and physical therapists who have helped those affected, survivors are now well on the road to recovery. The Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy (JOSPT) and The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery (JBJS) co-published a Special Report today entitled ...

The financial advantages of a legal separation compared with divorce Article provided by Magner, Hueneke, Smith & Borda, LLP Visit us at http://www.mhslaw.net Deciding to get divorced is a big and permanent decision. For couples in Milwaukee County, many opt to try being separated before they make the final decision to get divorced. While there are many factors that may play into a couple's decision to legally separate or divorce, this decision can be influenced by the financial advantages that come with a legal separation. What does it mean to legally separate? Couples ...

Workplace injuries on the rise for temporary employees Article provided by Mark A. Skibiel, Attorney at Law Visit us at http://www.skibiellaw.com Numerous advocacy and news organizations have reported increased numbers of reported on-the-job injuries suffered by temporary or seasonal workers, particularly those in blue-collar workplaces like factories, non-union construction projects and warehouses. Since the so-called "Great Recession" began in 2007-2008, the numbers of temporary workers has steadily risen, and there are now nearly three million temps ...

Obesity and disability Article provided by The Law Office of Sheryl Gandel Mazur Visit us at http://www.mazurdisabilitylaw.com Obesity is a problem in this country--and a problem growing more serious. According to the results of a recent study, 29 percent of adults were identified as obese and almost 4 percent were found to be extremely obese. As a general rule, obesity has been defined as weighing more than 20 percent above the weight medical experts consider to be the ideal weight considering gender, age, and height. The same recent study, published in the ...

After killing four in an accident, Texas teen gets 10 years probation Article provided by The Bates Law Firm Visit us at http://www.harrybateslaw.com According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, car accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers in the U.S. Not only are teens less likely to drive safely overall, but they are more likely to crash when there is alcohol in their bloodstream than older drivers. The CDC states that in a national survey conducted in 2011, eight percent of the teen participants admitted that they had consumed alcohol ...

Truck accident fatalities increase for third year in a row Article provided by Keith E. Abbott, Attorney at Law Visit us at http://www.abbottaccidentlawyer.com If you have ever been involved in a car accident, you know that it can result in minor or serious injuries and property damage. However, when a large vehicle like a truck is involved, the stakes are much higher, as the likelihood of serious injury increases significantly. Additionally, it is much more probable that the accident results in a fatality. Unfortunately, truck accidents are now killing more ...

The jury is still out on whether HOS changes have been effective Article provided by The Law Office of Gordon Ring Visit us at http://www.gordonring.com One of the many recurring safety issues facing truck drivers is driver fatigue. Due to the demands of the job, where transporting goods thousands of miles on tight deadlines is business as usual, drivers put in long hours to ensure that their cargo is delivered timely. Since fatigued truck drivers are a major cause of serious and fatal car accidents, the amount of sleep that truck drivers must get before performing ...

China increases family planning enforcement: the meaning for asylum Article provided by Godoy Olivieri, Ltd. Visit us at http://www.godoyolivieri.com Immigration law is rather unusual, in that foreign countries' actions or laws can have an impact on U.S. proceedings. This is especially true for someone seeking asylum, as asylum is usually based on conditions in the asylum-seeker's home country and/or actions taken by that country's government. One prime example is China, whose government has undertaken strict measures to control future population, the core of ...

Environmental concerns for new businesses in Oklahoma Article provided by Mahaffey & Gore, P.C. Visit us at http://www.mahaffeygorelaw.com/ Oklahoma is gaining a reputation as a big energy state with large stakes in the oil, natural gas and, more recently, the wind generation industries. According to the Oklahoma Public Media Exchange, approximately a fourth of all jobs in the state are tied to energy companies, either directly or indirectly. During the most recent recession, Oklahoma residents were spared from the worst effects due to low unemployment rates ...

So you are an independent contractor -maybe? Article provided by Orshansky & Yeremian LLP Visit us at http://www.yeremianwagelaw.com/ So the church budget is tight--when is it not--but the days of volunteers keeping the church facilities clean is obviously over. Time to hire someone to keep the place clean. For some churches, an obvious choice may be to hire someone as an independent contractor. No withholding for federal or state income taxes, no withholding for FICA, no fringe benefits, and less paperwork and recordkeeping. Or perhaps a small business experiences ...

Considerations in a Connecticut child relocation proceeding Article provided by Lawrence & Jurkiewicz, LLC Visit us at http://www.ljct-lawyers.com If one parent must move away, it is possible to modify custody to reflect changing circumstances.Life is full of curveballs, and nowhere is that more apparent than in family law proceedings. Divorce is often unexpected and usually difficult. Deciding custody matters and visitation can take hard work and compromise. Once established, it is best for everyone involved for the custody and visitation schedule to be as ...

Sex crime conviction reversed, where no evidence corroborated the confession Article provided by Hart Taylor Visit us at http://www.hartdefense.com/Criminal-Defense/ In order to convict an individual of a crime, the prosecution must show the individual committed the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Under Virginia law, part of that proof includes proving the "corpus delicti" of the crime--that is, proving enough facts that show the crime charged was actually perpetrated. This is especially important in the area of sex crimes, where the mere accusation ...

Falls replace car accidents as main cause of spinal cord injuries Article provided by Nix Law Group, PLLC Visit us at http://www.oklahomainjurylaw.com/ Serious spinal cord injuries are on the rise throughout the United States, recent data shows, but the primary cause of these injuries has shifted. According to a study released recently by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, falls are now the leading cause of serious spinal cord injuries in the United States. Previously, motor vehicle accidents were the single biggest cause of injuries to the spinal cord. By ...

Calif. shopkeeper's privilege to stop suspected shoplifters is limited Article provided by Heller LaChapelle, APC Visit us at http://www.seriousinjury.org Everyone has heard horror stories about innocent people detained by store security personnel on suspicion of shoplifting, sometimes receiving personal injurywhen roughed up in the process. In California, however, the traditional "shopkeeper's privilege" or "merchant's privilege" to do so is carefully spelled out by state statute and shoppers whose rights are violated by security guards going ...