NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has found the building blocks for Earth-sized planets in an unlikely place-- the atmospheres of a pair of burned-out stars called white dwarfs. These dead stars are located 150 light-years from Earth in a relatively young star cluster, Hyades, in the constellation Taurus. The star cluster is only 625 million years old. The white dwarfs are being polluted by asteroid-like debris falling onto them. Hubble's Cosmic Origins Spectrograph observed silicon and only low levels of carbon in the white dwarfs' atmospheres. Silicon is a major ingredient ...

The large-scale expansion of agriculture in the Amazon through deforestation will be a no-win scenario, according to a new study. Published today, 10 May, in IOP Publishing's journal Environmental Research Letters, it shows that deforestation will not only reduce the capacity of the Amazon's natural carbon sink, but will also inflict climate feedbacks that will decrease the productivity of pasture and soybeans. The researchers used model simulations to assess how the agricultural yield of the Amazon would be affected under two different land-use scenarios: a business-as-usual ...

WASHINGTON — Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center have used tiny doses of a leukemia drug to halt accumulation of toxic proteins linked to Parkinson's disease in the brains of mice. This finding provides the basis to plan a clinical trial in humans to study the effects. They say their study, published online May 10 in Human Molecular Genetics, offers a unique and exciting strategy to treat neurodegenerative diseases that feature abnormal buildup of proteins in Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia, ...

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who also have allergic disease have higher levels of respiratory symptoms and are at higher risk for COPD exacerbations, according to a new study from researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. "Although allergic sensitization and allergen exposure are known to be associated with impairments in lung function, the effects of allergic disease on respiratory symptoms in COPD patients has only recently been studied," said researcher Nadia N. Hansel, MD, MPH, associate professor of medicine at the Johns ...

Having trouble falling or staying asleep? According to a new study led by a team of researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, insomnia may be an important indicator of future hospitalization among middle-aged and older adults. They examined the association between insomnia and use of home healthcare services, nursing homes and hospitalization and found that insomnia symptoms experienced by middle-aged and older adults were associated with greater future use of costly health services. The results are featured online in the Journal of Gerontology: ...

LA JOLLA, Calif., May 10, 2013 – Children born with rare, inherited conditions known as Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation, or CDG, have mutations in one of the many enzymes the body uses to decorate its proteins and cells with sugars. Properly diagnosing a child with CDG and pinpointing the exact sugar gene that's mutated can be a huge relief for parents—they better understand what they're dealing with and doctors can sometimes use that information to develop a therapeutic approach. Whole-exome sequencing, an abbreviated form of whole-genome sequencing, is increasingly ...

New law makes prison mandatory in child pornography cases Article provided by KOHN & SMITH LLP Visit us at http://www.kohnandsmith.com When an individual is accused of a sex crime, it will often become a very high-profile case. Media may cover the matter extensively, making it difficult to find an impartial jury. Suspects will often need to clear their name with the public before going into the courtroom. Besides prison time and fines, there are other severe consequences that may result from being convicted of a sex crime. In most cases, a conviction means ...

Modifications of child custody and support in Texas Article provided by Fullenweider Wilhite Visit us at http://www.fullenweider.com For divorcing parents, determining child custody ("conservatorship"), visitation and child support may be the most important aspects of the divorce process, since no parent wants to be without his or her child. Sometimes there is concern that a child custody order or child support order is set in stone. In Texas, courts have the ability to modify those orders dependent on certain circumstances. Modification of child custody ...

Disability application process involves lengthy wait times Article provided by Law Offices of Judith S. Leland, APLC Visit us at http://www.disabilitylawfirm.com California residents unable to work due to a disability are usually eligible for Social Security disability benefits. These benefits provide financial stability for elderly or retired individuals as well as those who can no longer work because of an injury. However, a complete understanding of the application process is necessary before applying. More than one million people file for disability benefits ...

How to help your teen adjust after divorce Article provided by Maisie A. Barringer, Partner at Jenkins & Kamin, L.L.P. Visit us at http://www.barringerfamilylaw.com Divorce is a major transition for any family. However, it is particularly difficult for families who have children living at home. Children often have a hard time understanding why their parents are divorcing, and they may struggle to adapt to a new post-divorce lifestyle. This is especially true for teenagers. The teenage years are difficult enough, with teens working to establish a sense of ...

The cost of construction accidents for Massachusetts workers Article provided by Ellis Law Offices LLP Visit us at http://www.ellislawoffices.com In February WPRI reported that a construction worker in Swansea needed emergency assistance after a dock collapsed on top of him. The man, who was taken to a nearby hospital, was apparently in the process of building the structure and the cause of the accident, as well as his overall condition, was unknown. When an on-the-job accident like this occurs a construction worker can be seriously injured, creating a domino ...

Children in NY can be responsible for their parents' nursing home costs Article provided by Felicia Pasculli Visit us at http://www.pascullilaw.com/ Long-term care is expensive. Recent estimates put the costs of nursing home care at over $400 per day. People who need long-term care generally pay for it using one or all of the below ways: -Personal savings (the AARP estimates one-third of nursing home residence pay for all their care) -Long-term care insurance -Medicaid coverage for those who qualify In order to obtain Medicaid coverage, a nursing home resident ...

Houston pedestrian accidents highlight safety issues Article provided by The Weaver Law Firm Visit us at http://www.weaverlawyers.com A series of recent pedestrian accidents in the Houston area has called attention to the issue of pedestrian safety in the city. In one of the most recent incidents, a 25-year old man was struck by a motorcycle and killed on Highway 59 in the early morning hours of April 27, 2013. Earlier the same month, two more pedestrians were struck on Houston roads in the space of two days. On April 13, a man was hospitalized after being clipped ...

New Oregon law mandates college workers to report child abuse Article provided by Hubert G. Duvall, Jr. Visit us at http://www.oregoncriminalattorney.com/ A new law recently took effect in Oregon that mandates college and university employees to report suspected child abuse if they know about it, see it or suspect it. This recent mandate bolsters laws already requiring health care workers, lawyers, clergy and teachers to tell the police or the state's Department of Human Services if they believe child abuse is occurring. According to data compiled by the DHS, nearly ...

More motorists accessing the Internet and social media sites while driving Article provided by The Law Offices of John C. Manoog III Visit us at http://www.manooglaw.com As cellphones have become more advanced -- effectively replacing computers, in many cases -- the frequency with which they are used has rapidly increased. While cellphones were originally used solely for making and receiving phone calls, their capabilities now include sending text messages, playing games, updating social media websites and surfing the Internet. These many uses have led to these ...

The State of New Jersey paid millions in harassment claims in 2012 Article provided by Mark Law Firm, LLC Visit us at http://www.jmarklaw.com/ Information about the harm and illegality of sexual harassment in the workplace has never been clearer to employers and employees. Recent strides in employee training and awareness has made it known that sexual harassment in the workplace is not appropriate. Still, businesses across the state -- and state agencies themselves -- continue to pay out millions to settle harassment claims yearly. For example, the New Jersey ...

Industrial fatalities alarm the citizens of Los Angeles Article provided by Biren Katzman Trial Lawyers Visit us at http://www.ca-wrongfuldeathlawyers.com If recent industrial injuries and fatalities in workplaces around Los Angeles are any indication, punching in on the job is one of the riskiest activities imaginable. While workplace hazards are by no means a new phenomenon, the possibility of being seriously injured or even die on the job remains a 21st century reality in spite of state and federal regulation designed to mitigate the dangers of industrial work. Worker ...

Southern California bus accident shines light on lacking regulation Article provided by Day, Day & Brown Visit us at http://www.daydayandbrown.com/ Questions still linger after a commercial tour bus hit two vehicles and then crashed in Southern California in February. The bus was bringing its passengers home after a ski trip when that the brakes of the bus allegedly failed causing the driver to lose control and crash head on into an approaching truck. As a result, eight people died and many more suffered serious injury. According to USA Today, the tour bus ...

New car manufacturing guidelines take aim at distracted driving Article provided by Connell & Foresta Visit us at http://www.connellforestalaw.com/ Federal regulators have introduced a new set of voluntary guidelines for automakers, with the aim of minimizing the time drivers spend looking away from the road. The guidelines are hoped to help reduce car accidentscaused by distracted driving. In 2011, distracted driving contributed to approximately 3,000 fatalities and 387,000 injuries nationwide, according to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. Many such ...

Muslims and those perceived to be Muslims face discrimination Article provided by Hadsell, Stormer, Keeny, Richardson & Renick LLP Visit us at http://www.hskrr.com No one should ever have to feel the horrible sting of discrimination. Unfortunately, in a country that upholds equal rights for everyone, many still suffer from prejudice and racism. Today, statistics show that the rate of discrimination against Muslims and people perceived to be Muslims is higher than it was immediately following the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001. From ...

Employment law evolves as more workers use social media Article provided by Cross Law Firm, S.C. Visit us at http://www.crosslawfirm.com/ The law continues to evolve with regard to what speech is a legally fireable offense and what speech is protected by law. This is especially the case when it comes to speech about work-related matters on social media websites like Twitter and Facebook. Indeed, this shifting legal gray area has even enabled some companies to fire employees for speaking negatively about their jobs online. Employment law related to speech is more ...

Oregon court narrows protections of LLCs in workers' compensation claim Article provided by Hansen Malagon Visit us at http://www.peterohansenlawyer.com In 2012, an Oregon appellate court addressed the issue of whether workers' compensation benefits were the exclusive remedy for an employee of a Limited Liability Company injured while working. Exclusive remedy provision Under Oregon law, workers' compensation offers the exclusive remedy for workers injured on the job. This means that a worker may not sue an employer for negligence if the employee is injured ...

Increased access to insurance may not prevent medical bankruptcy filings Article provided by Eveland & Associates PLLC Visit us at http://www.evelandlawfirm.com The increase in medical costs has outstripped increases in wages for many years. Recently, the Obama administration released data on hospital prices that showed huge differences in prices that hospitals charge. For example, the uninsured official price for a procedure often far exceeds what an insurance company actually pays for the same care. With medical costs growing so quickly, medical bills have ...

Brandon Moser, aka the Office Politics Ninja, guides people and companies on effective and positive politicking, and recently launched Ninja Pod Radio, a weekly podcast series as another avenue to guide individuals and organizations through the political minefield. Since the first podcast, "The Politics of Email Warfare," posted on April 29, 2013, iTunes has deemed Office Politics Ninja as "New and Noteworthy" on their Management and Marketing page. Ninja Pod Radio is designed to provide valuable insight to "good" and "bad" office ...

Featuring more than 1200 questions and answers, organized by topic, and arranged in a workbook / worksheet format for ease of use in both the classroom and at home, the Ultimate Regents Physics Question and Answer Book is an excellent resource for struggling high school students taking the NY Regents Physics Exam this spring. By taking nearly every question from the last 17 published exams, students can readily observe and understand the types and patterns of questions asked on each exam, and text themselves topic-by-topic as they build both their problem-solving skills ...