London – In response to a complaint by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), the European Ombudsman has launched an inquiry into the actions of the European Union (EU) agency responsible for the administration of the REACH chemical-testing program, which is expected to consume millions of animals in toxicity tests. PETA's complaint, submitted in July 2012, alleges that the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is not properly investigating cases in which animal testing could be avoided under the rules of REACH. PETA maintains that evidence derived from public documents ...

Hydrogen has tremendous potential as an eco-friendly fuel, but it is expensive to produce. Now researchers at Princeton University and Rutgers University have moved a step closer to harnessing nature to produce hydrogen for us. The team, led by Princeton chemistry professor Annabella Selloni, takes inspiration from bacteria that make hydrogen from water using enzymes called di-iron hydrogenases. Selloni's team uses computer models to figure out how to incorporate the magic of these enzymes into the design of practical synthetic catalysts that humans can use to produce ...

[EMBARGOED FOR JAN. 31, 2013] A new study suggests that patients with influenza can emit small virus-containing particles into the surrounding air during routine patient care, potentially exposing health care providers to influenza. Published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases, the findings raise the possibility that current influenza infection control recommendations may not always be adequate to protect providers from influenza during routine patient care in hospitals. Werner E. Bischoff, MD, PhD, and colleagues from the Wake Forest School of Medicine in North Carolina ...

ANN ARBOR--- Young adults in Generation X are as likely to connect with friends, family and co-workers online as they are in person, according to a University of Michigan study. In a typical month, adults in their late 30s report that they engaged in about 75 face-to-face contacts or conversations, compared to about 74 electronic contracts through personal emails or social media. "Given the speed of emerging technologies, it is likely that electronic contacts will continue to grow in the years ahead, eventually exceeding face-to-face interactions," says Jon D. Miller, ...

Debts that remain after a bankruptcy If you have had to file bankruptcy recently due to the sluggish economy, you're not alone. Bankruptcy has many benefits, but the main reason to file is to receive a discharge of your debts. Normally, once you receive a discharge, you are under no further legal obligation to pay the debt. Although the bankruptcy discharge is a powerful tool against many types of debt, such a medical bills and credit card debt, there are certain types of debt that cannot be discharged in a bankruptcy. Nondischargeable debts To a certain extent, ...

Should California grant driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants? Whatever your position on the issue, there is no denying that undocumented immigrants make up a significant portion of California's population. Like other Californians, many of these immigrants need to drive in order to run errands, take their children to school or go to work. However, because they are residing in the United States illegally, they are not eligible to get driver's licenses. Increasingly, many legislators and safety advocates in California are becoming concerned that these unlicensed ...

Study reveals thousands of preventable surgical errors occur annually Placing your well-being in the care of a medical professional is always somewhat unnerving, requiring a degree of trust in another's abilities not often needed in our daily lives. Consequently, when a physician's actions are negligent and result in entirely preventable harm, we understandably seek avenues to recover. Unfortunately, a recent study conducted by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine has disclosed the frequency with which surgeons are guilty of making preventable errors while ...

How to protect a business from the fallout of divorce Marriage and business often go hand-in-hand. Frequently in this economy, one spouse or both spouses may own their own business or both spouses may even own a business together. The creation of a successful business requires a lot time and hard work and is likely to be the most important financial asset in a marriage. Unfortunately, more than half of first marriages in the United States end in divorce as do the majority of second and third marriages. Therefore, divorce and business also go hand-in-hand, and business ...

Understanding the divorce process in Florida Each state has its own rules for divorce, and as a result there are a lot of myths about the requirements of filing a divorce. The state of Florida no longer requires fault as a ground for divorce, and therefore the only requirement for a Florida resident to dissolve his or her marriage is to prove the marriage is "irretrievably broken." In Florida the official term for divorce is "dissolution of marriage," and either spouse may file for dissolution. While Florida is a no-fault state for the purposes ...

If you need disability benefits, you may be in for a long wait The stress of living with a disability can be overwhelming, but the added stress of dealing with the system to collect Social Security Disability payments can make it even worse. A backlog of cases has significantly increased the amount of time that applicants have to wait to get their benefits approved. Recent reports indicate that applications for Social Security retirement and disability benefits have skyrocketed in recent years. This is likely due to the growing number of baby boomers who are reaching ...

The division of a military pension in a divorce A married couple with one or both spouses serving in the military can experience special challenges. There are often children involved, and one spouse may have to postpone or forgo education or employment to care for the children full-time while the other spouse is deployed. In addition, frequent moves and the stress of serving in the military can strain even the strongest relationships. In fact, statistics from the Department of Defense show there were almost 30,000 military divorces in 2011, which is the highest rate ...

Federal regulators target debt collection companies with aggressive tactics Harassing phone calls and threats of arrest are practices currently being used by aggressive debt collectors. Many of these tactics are not only rude, but illegal. In an effort to refresh current laws and remind debt collection agencies that creditor harassment will not be tolerated, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or CFPB, is launching a new set of rules to ensure debt collectors are not violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. The regulations are aimed at holding these ...

Recent report finds older Americans facing increased risk of foreclosure A new report by the AARP shows that older Americans are facing increased risks of foreclosure. The report, titled Nightmare on Main Street: Older Americans and the Mortgage Market Crisis, was the first of its kind to focus on how the recent difficulties of the housing market is impacting people over the age of 50. The report found that over 600,000 loans for people in this age group were in the process of foreclosure as of December 2011. In addition, over 1.5 million seniors lost their homes ...

Property division during divorce People getting a divorce often have concerns about property division. Many couples are able to reach a property division settlement outside of court, and the divorcing spouses sign a settlement agreement that is generally approved by a judge. However, if the parties cannot come to an agreement, a family court judge will decide how to divide the couple's property based on Massachusetts law and will order a property award. Equitable distribution Massachusetts is an equitable distribution state, as distinguished from community property ...

How Are Florida Parenting Plans Determined? One of the most difficult issues when a relationship breaks down is deciding where a child or the children will live. In the process of working out a parenting plan, each parent will generally have less time with the children. This can be a difficult adjustment. Developing a parenting plan and time-sharing (formerly known as child custody and visitation) agreement needs to account for the children's best interests. The court uses the "best interests of the child" standard when reviewing any agreements or deciding ...

Driving without a license is no joke in North Carolina In late 2012, 11-year-old Steven Dixon was hit by an unlicensed driver while walking to his bus stop in Forsyth County, North Carolina. "I was walking and I heard something go boom... [the car], it hit me and ran over my legs," said Steven. Both of his legs are now in casts. Unfortunately, unlicensed drivers are not uncommon in North Carolina. State Trooper Robert Reavis says he pulls over about one unlicensed driver a day, which is not far from estimates for the entire state. A recent AAA study revealed ...

A comparison of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies With such a terrible economy, it is no surprise that many people are struggling financially. Unexpected events such as a job loss or sudden illness can cause even the most responsible people to fall behind on their bills. Many people struggling with mounting debt consider the possibility of filing bankruptcy. Whether bankruptcy is right for you will depend on your specific situation. Chapter 7 bankruptcy The most common types of bankruptcy filed by individuals are Chapter 7 bankruptcy and Chapter 13 bankruptcy. ...

In an effort to promote pet responsibility at an early age, the Pet Care Trust, with the assistance of the World Pet Association and other pet-related businesses, raised over $8,000 for the Pets in the Classroom Grant Program during America's Family Pet Expo, held November 3-4 in Puyallup, Washington. The money raised will go directly to helping approximately 50 teachers enhance their classrooms and curriculum through the aid of classroom pets, impacting nearly 2,500 students. The World Pet Association, host of America's Family Pet Expo, donated booth space to the Pet ...

As a Realtor, Mary Ellen Wood of Louisville's Homestead Real Estate, LLC, routinely hosts clients toshowings of available properties on the market. What's different about Wood's service is that she adeptly recommends dog-friendly properties for those who consider the family pet in a home purchase. Wood, owner of a Golden Retriever named Tonka, said that those on the market for a new home have to consider whether the new space will be right for the whole family, including canines. Many condos and townhomes have dog height and weight limitations, which takes some developments ...

Starlight Children's Foundation Canada is pleased to announce Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us Canada are returning as Diamond Sponsors for their 18th annual Fundraising Gala on April 6, 2013 at The Fairmont Royal York. Since 1998, Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us have supported Starlight through annual in-store sales of Starlight Stars and the annual Starlight Gala. "We are pleased and proud to be the lead sponsor for Starlight Children's Gala" said Kevin Macnab, President, Toys"R"Us Canada "Children have always been ...

Three years ago, Chef Bill Beck brought 'Nawlins favorites to Philadelphia with Beck's Cajun Cafe at the Reading Terminal Market. In July last year, he opened a second Cajun eatery at Amtrak's 30th Street Station. Starting on February 3, Super Bowl Sunday, Beck's will have a new option for those craving the hearty, spicy flavors of southern Louisiana and the Gulf - lunchtime delivery! Diners can enjoy Train Wrecks, po'boys, jambalaya, muffaletta, bread pudding and more in their homes, offices and classrooms by calling Beck's Cajun at 215-382-2800 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. ...

World Water Day Concert - Slated For March 22, 2013 Evening of Breathtaking Music, Multi-Media Relatedness, Art & Celebrating Water On Friday, March 22, 2013, the world will celebrate World Water Day. And in the Big Apple, there will be a World Water Day Concert just blocks from the United Nations, which created World Water Day in 1992. A portion of the evening's proceeds will benefit 501(c)3 charity Water.org, one of the world's most effective water organizations, founded by the famed actor and philanthropist Matt Damon, and the world-renowned water authority ...

SoleraTec LLC, a provider of innovative video lifecycle management and storage products, is announcing the integration of its Phoenix RSM surveillance video management software onto the WD Sentinel DX4000 small office storage servers. Installing the Phoenix RSM software into the WD Sentinel NAS unit creates a feature-rich video surveillance appliance with sophisticated video management capabilities. This appliance can support up to 10 IP-cameras on a single WD Sentinel DX4000 storage solution. Coupled with SoleraTec's intuitive video management capabilities and dynamic ...

Presenting a witty, light-hearted, yet informative "voice", VoiceNation's highly sophisticated new website "speaks" to visitors through easy-to-understand solution-based content and entertaining visuals. Visitors can quickly glean information about the company's innovative solutions, plans and pricing and activate an account online in just minutes. The easily navigable site effectively communicates VoiceNation's culture, values and purpose while generating a feeling of trust - a key element of the buying decision. Educational videos appear on almost ...

Jamaica intends to become a powerful competitor in the realm of manufacturing within the next decade. In order to do so, the country's leaders have needed to address their century-old energy solution. According to the country's Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Anthony Hylton, who recently announced the island's intention to become recognized as the fourth global logistics hub, along with Singapore, Rotterdam and Dubai. He also emphasized that Jamaica's transformation required coordinated action to upgrade the country's own logistics capabilities to realize ...