PASADENA, Calif.—Thanks to a new high-tech gadget, astronomers have observed four planets orbiting a star relatively close to the sun in unprecedented detail, revealing the roughly ten-Jupiter-mass planets to be among the most exotic ones known. The team, which includes several researchers from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), describes its findings in a paper accepted for publication by the Astrophysical Journal. The findings were made possible by a first-of-its-kind telescope imaging system that allowed the astronomers to pick out the planets amidst ...

(TORONTO, Canada – March 13, 2013) – A team of Canadian and international cancer researchers led by Dr. Brenda Gallie at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network (UHN), has discovered a new type of retinoblastoma, a rapidly developing eye cancer that affects very young babies– a finding that can immediately change clinical practice and optimize care for these children. The finding, published online today in Lancet Oncology, is a breakthrough in recognizing that a single cancer gene (an oncogene) drives an aggressive retinoblastoma that starts long ...

Philadelphia, PA, March 13, 2013 – Many Canadians are concerned about dietary sodium and welcome government intervention to reduce sodium intake through a variety of measures, including lowering sodium in food, and education and awareness, according to a national survey. The top barriers to limiting sodium intake are a lack of lower sodium packaged and processed foods and lower sodium restaurant menu options. "Canadians are supportive of government intervention to lower salt intake," says lead investigator Mary R. L'Abbe, PhD, Professor and Chair of the Department of ...

Philadelphia, PA, March 13, 2013 – Overweight and obese children in low-income households can meet or exceed the Expert Committee Recommendations Regarding the Prevention, Assessment, and Treatment of Childhood and Adolescent Overweight and Obesity when given access to a structured weight management program, according to a new study published in Academic Pediatrics. The epidemic of overweight and obesity in the United States affects children, particularly those in low-income families, where they are at higher risk due to unhealthy diets and consumption of higher calorie, ...

Research team of Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, South Korea, developed high-performance organic phototransistors (OPTs) based on single-crystalline n-channel organic nanowires. Phototransistors are a kind of transistors in which the incident light intensity can modulate the charge-carrier density in the channel. Compared with conventional photodiodes, phototransistors enable easier control of light-detection sensitivity without problems such as the noise increment. However, to date, the research has mostly focused on thin-film OPTs, ...

Social networking policies may violate employee rights, NLRB finds Article provided by Bryan E. Kuhn, Counselor at Law, P.C. Visit us at http://www.bryankuhnlaw.com In the Internet era, social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook have largely replaced the proverbial workplace water cooler. Unlike old-fashioned chatter between coworkers, however, an employee's gripes and grievances can easily become both public and permanent when aired online. To address this issue, many businesses have sought ways to safeguard their online reputations by creating policies ...

Texas Boy's Forearm Amputated After Washing Machine Accident Article provided by Portner & Bond, PLLC Visit us at http://www.portnerbond.com/ An eight-year-old Texas boy wanted his Spider-Man bed sheets, which were in the washing machine. He left his bedroom, went into the garage and opened up the washing machine to take them out; the agitator stopped spinning when he lifted the lid as it was supposed to. But when he reached inside, it started spinning again, according to the El Paso Times. As a result, he lost his forearm. Defective-Product Lawsuits Catastrophic ...

Which type of bankruptcy is right for you? Article provided by The Law Offices of Raymond J. Antonacci, LLC Visit us at http://www.rjalegal.com If you are considering bankruptcy, you typically have two different options to choose from: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. You may have questions about which option is right for you. The answer: it depends on your personal situation. In both types of bankruptcy, you eventually are granted a discharge, meaning that you no longer have to pay many of your outstanding debts. However, that is where the similarities end for the ...

Child custody and visitation in Michigan Article provided by Law Office of Michael A. Robbins, PLLC Visit us at http://www.michaelarobbins.com Michigan couples considering a divorce have a lot to think about. Thinking about divorce is even more complicated when children are involved. Michigan child custody laws are in place to protect children and help create a post-divorce setting that is best for them. Types of child custody in Michigan In Michigan there is both physical custody and legal custody. Physical custody refers to where the child will actually ...

Possible changes to DWI laws in North Carolina Article provided by Barnett & Falls Visit us at http://www.barnettfalls.com Several recent proposals under consideration at the North Carolina legislature would increase penalties for first time and repeat DWI offenders. The changes are part of a pattern to stiffen DWIpenalties in the state. The first bill changes the definition of habitual offender. Under current law, a DWI habitual offender is someone charged with four DWIs in a ten-year period. The habitual offender charge is a felony. Penalties for a Class ...

OMG! California proposes tougher distracted driving laws for teens Article provided by Law Office of Daniel J. O'Neill Visit us at http://www.danieljoneill.com Because of the danger that distracted drivers, particularly those in the teenage years cause, many states have passed laws banning activities ranging from texting or using hand-held cellphones while behind the wheel. In California, it is illegal for drivers younger than 18 to use a cellphone (hand-held or hands-free) while behind the wheel. Additionally, there is a statewide ban on texting while driving for ...

Statistics show traffic fatalities rising in the US Article provided by Schuster Jachetti LLP Visit us at http://www.mydelawarelawyer.com/ Every year since 2005, the number of fatalities caused by motor vehicle accidents has declined -- until 2012. According to data released by the National Safety Council, a non-profit organization, more people were killed in auto accidents in 2012 than the year prior. The NSC reported that approximately 36,200 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2012, representing a 5 percent increase from the year before. The NSC ...

Fiscal-cliff law settles federal estate tax for now Article provided by The Haley Law Group, LLC Visit us at http://www.haleylawgroup.com Estate and tax planning have been complicated in the past decade or so by the fluctuating and uncertain federal estate tax. Thanks to last-minute action by Congress and President Obama, the top federal estate tax rate is set at 40 percent going forward on estates over $5 million. Adjusted for inflation, the first $5.25 million in estate assets will be exempt from federal estate tax for those dying in 2013. Estate taxes An ...

Does Michigan need stricter distracted driving laws? Article provided by MATZ & PIETSCH PC Visit us at http://www.matzandpietsch.com In the age of cellphone addiction, distracted drivers have become a common phenomenon on our roadways -- often leading to serious motor vehicle accidents. In 2011, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that 3,331 people lost their lives in distracted driving accidents across the country. In addition, approximately 387,000 people sustained personal injuries in such crashes that year. To prevent these dangerous ...

Resolving workers' compensation disputes through a formal claim petition Article provided by Kaplan & Kaplan Counselors at Law Visit us at http://www.workerscompensationlawyersnj.com People who are injured on the job or who acquire an illness or disease through their work do not have to prove fault by their employers to receive compensation for their medical care and related expenses. Certain requirements still apply, though, and workers must demonstrate that the injury or illness was caused or aggravated by a work act, exposure or accident that occurred in ...

Barking up the wrong tree: Florida drug-sniffing dogs given free rein Article provided by The Law Office of Gustavo E. Frances, P.A. Visit us at http://www.lauderdaledefense.com The Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable searches and seizures took a big hit recently when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a decision issued by Florida's highest state court. The U.S. court ruled that any court in the nation can presume that a search is valid if law enforcement officials state it was based on an alert by a drug detection dog. The underlying case stems from ...

Medical errors can lead to cerebral palsy Article provided by Joseph Chaiken & Associates Visit us at http://www.jchaikenlaw.com According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 out of 303 children in America are born with cerebral palsy. Additionally, according to the United Cerebral Palsy Association, more than 500,000 Americans have the disorder. Although there are many causes, medical errors made before or during birth cause a significant number of cases. What is cerebral palsy? Cerebral palsy is a group of neurological disorders ...

Damage caused by TBI can linger for years Article provided by The Hirsch Law Firm, PLLC Visit us at http://www.jonhirschlaw.com Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are a common problem across the nation. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1.7 million Americans suffer a TBI each year. The medical community has long known about the short-term brain damage that TBIs can cause. However, a recent study suggests that the brain injury caused by TBIs can last much longer than previously thought. Researchers at the University of South Florida ...

Proposal may affect Nebraska child custody determinations Article provided by Vacanti Shattuck Visit us at http://www.cvhslaw.com In February, a Nebraska lawmaker introduced two bills to the Judicial Committee that could change how courts award child custody. The proposed changes are meant to equalize the amount of time that separated parents spend with their children. In a divorce, child custody is one of the most contentious issues. Often one parent receives a greater share of the time with the child or sole physical custody. This parent's home is usually where ...

Financial pitfalls faced by women post-divorce Article provided by The Law Office of Thomas V. Sassone, P.C. Visit us at http://www.tvslawpc.com Statistically, women have the harder time financially after a divorce than men. A study conducted by the National Marriage Project at Rutgers University has found that on average, a man will see an approximate 10 percent increase in his standard of living post-divorce, but a woman will experience a 27 percent decrease. Experts attribute the disparity to the possibility that many women are not involved with finances during ...

Iowa Legislature mulls tougher distracted driver law Article provided by Shanks Law Firm Visit us at http://www.shankslaw.net The dangers that distracted drivers pose to other motorists on our nation's roadways has received a lot of attention in the press lately, and for good reason. After all, common sense tells us that taking our eyes off the road is a dangerous behavior that dramatically increases the risk of a car accident. Unfortunately, Iowa drivers are not immune to such behavior. As a result, the Iowa legislature has proposed toughening its laws against ...

2013 tax changes may spell confusion for small business owners Article provided by The Gartzman Law Firm, P.C. Visit us at http://www.gartzmantaxlaw.com After a no small amount of last-minute scrambling to avert the so-called fiscal cliff, Congress recently passed a number of changes to the federal tax code. Some of these changes, both good and bad, could have a significant impact on small business owners. While the potential for increased tax liability under the new plan is a major concern for many small business owners, some say the real challenge will be keeping ...

Tax payment plan vs. tax settlement: What's the difference? Article provided by The Gartzman Law Firm, P.C. Visit us at http://www.gartzmantaxlaw.com Many serious tax problems stem from a simple and relatively common situation: being unable to pay the amount due to the IRS. What many people who find themselves in this situation do not realize, however, is that being unable to afford a tax payment is not necessarily what lands a person in hot water with the IRS. Instead, it is how these individuals choose to deal with the situation -- or not deal with it -- that ...

Personal bankruptcy options: liquidation vs. reorganization Article provided by Purrazzella & Purrazzella, P.A. Visit us at http://www.purrlaw.com When financial difficulties turn from bad to worse and people fear they may never be able to catch up on their overdue bills, many turn to bankruptcy as a way to make a fresh financial start. While most people have heard of bankruptcy, many are unaware of how the process works and how it can benefit people who are struggling with unmanageable debt. What is bankruptcy? Bankruptcy is a legal procedure that helps ...

New technologies lead to new dangers on our nation's highways Article provided by Noel M. Ferris Visit us at http://www.noelmferris.net Over the past decade, cell phones have become an essential tool for people in nearly every walk of life. While these devices definitely have their benefits, they are also responsible for the emergence of a significant threat on our nation's highways: distracted driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3,092 people were killed and an additional 419,000 people were injured in motor vehicle accidents ...