ANN ARBOR—Hunger, thirst, stress and drugs can create a change in the brain that transforms a repulsive feeling into a strong positive "wanting," a new University of Michigan study indicates. The research used salt appetite to show how powerful natural mechanisms of brain desires can instantly transform a cue that always predicted a repulsive Dead Sea Salt solution into an eagerly wanted beacon or motivational magnet. Mike Robinson, a research fellow in the U-M Department of Psychology and the study's lead author, said the findings help explain how related brain activations ...

AUDIO: In the 1970s and early 1980s, some states lower their minimum legal drinking age below the age of 21. Those lower drinking ages have been linked to bad things, from... Click here for more information. People who grew up in states where it was legal to drink alcohol before age 21 are more likely to be binge drinkers later in life, according to a study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. The findings are available online in Alcoholism: ...

For more than 100 years radiography meant: don't move! In order to visualize nanostructures such as biological cells, the porous structure of cement or storage fields of magnetic disks, the experimentators had to avoid any kind of vibration of X-ray microscope and sample. In addition, only a small percentage fraction of the incoming X-ray radiation could be used. Using special filters, they had to select exactly the fraction with the right properties – for example, the right wavelength. Contributions of different wavelengths separated Pierre Thibault of the Technische ...

CHICAGO -- Feeding human breast milk to very-low-birth-weight infants greatly reduces risk for sepsis and significantly lowers associated neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) costs, according to a study by Rush University Medical Center researchers. The study, published Jan. 31 in the advance online version of the Journal of Perinatology, showed that every 10 milliliters of human milk per kilogram that a very low birth weight infant received during the first 28 days of life decreased the odds of sepsis by almost 20 percent. A daily dose of 25 to 49.99 milliliters of ...

WOODS HOLE, MASS. -- Among the animals that are appealing "cover models" for scientific journals, lancelets don't spring readily to mind. Slender, limbless, primitive blobs that look pretty much the same end to end, lancelets "are extremely boring. I wouldn't recommend them for a home aquarium," says Enrico Nasi, adjunct senior scientist at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL). Yet Nasi and his collaborators managed to land a lancelet on the cover of the Journal of Neuroscience last December. These simple chordates, they discovered, offer insight into our own biological ...

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — When a pathogen attacks a plant, infection usually follows after the plant's immune system is compromised. A team of researchers at the University of California, Riverside focused on Phytophthora, the pathogen that triggered the Irish Famine of the 19th century by infecting potato plants, and deciphered how it succeeded in crippling the plant's immune system. The genus Phytophthora contains many notorious pathogens of crops. Phytophthora pathogens cause worldwide losses of more than $6 billion each year on potato (Phytophthora infestans) and about ...

SALT LAKE CITY, Feb. 7, 2013 – A University of Utah seismologist analyzed seismic waves that bombarded Earth's core, and believes he got a look at the earliest roots of Earth's most cataclysmic kind of volcanic eruption. But don't worry. He says it won't happen for perhaps 200 million years. "What we may be detecting is the start of one of these large eruptive events that – if it ever happens – could cause very massive destruction on Earth," says seismologist Michael Thorne, the study's principal author and an assistant professor of geology and geophysics at the University ...

Cancer drugs of the new, molecular generation destroy malignant breast tumors in a targeted manner: They block characteristic molecules on tumor cells - receptors for the hormones estrogen or progesterone, or a co-receptor, called HER2, that binds to many growth factors. But about one in every six breast tumors has none of these receptors. Such cancers, called triple-negative, are particularly aggressive and notoriously difficult to treat. Some of these therapy-resistant cancers have a potential molecular target for cancer drugs, a growth-factor receptor called EGFR, ...

Scientists hope that one day in the distant future, miniature, medically-savvy computers will roam our bodies, detecting early-stage diseases and treating them on the spot by releasing a suitable drug, without any outside help. To make this vision a reality, computers must be sufficiently small to fit into body cells. Moreover, they must be able to "talk" to various cellular systems. These challenges can be best addressed by creating computers based on biological molecules such as DNA or proteins. The idea is far from outrageous; after all, biological organisms are capable ...

Caving in to social pressure — such as saying that you love a movie because friends do — makes for good vibes about being part of a group and can produce more of the same conduct, according to a Baylor University sociological study. The finding has implications for people ranging from philanthropists to gangs, researchers said. "The punch line is very simple: Conformity leads to positive feelings, attachments, solidarity — and these are what motivate people to continue their behavior," said Kyle Irwin, Ph.D., an assistant professor of sociology at Baylor and lead author. ...

Before they go all-out supernova, certain large stars undergo a sort of "mini-explosion," throwing a good-sized chunk of their material off into space. Though several models predict this behavior and evidence from supernovae points in this direction, actually observations of such pre-explosion outbursts have been rare. In new research led by Dr. Eran Ofek of the Weizmann Institute, scientists found such an outburst taking place a short time – just one month – before a massive star underwent a supernova explosion. The findings, which recently appeared in Nature, help ...

How to improve communication between parents and children after divorce Article provided by Law Office of Rebecca Garren Parker Visit us at http://www.rebeccaparkerlaw.com Most people understand that divorce takes a toll on the finances and emotions of a family. However, some may not realize the burden a divorce can place on communication between family members, including communication between former spouses and between parents and children. By following a few simple tips, everyone can improve communication and help redefine and heal relationships after a divorce. Communication ...

How parenting plans work in California Article provided by The Law Offices of Daniel S. Frank Visit us at http://www.danielfrankattorney.com A parenting plan, also called a custody and visitation agreement, is a written agreement that where and with whom the child of divorcing parents will and defines the times the child will spend with the non-custodial parent. The main purpose of creating a parenting plan is to agree on how to share time with the child and how the parents will make important decisions regarding the child's welfare, such as education and health. ...

Credit Can Be Restored After Bankruptcy Article provided by Mitchell & Malone Visit us at http://www.mitchellmir.com In a tough economy, Texas families may find themselves with more debt than they can handle. Filing for bankruptcy is a workable solution for many Texans, but along with the relief that comes with managing debt may come worries about the long-term financial effects of bankruptcy. Some of those worries are not well founded. In particular, a bankruptcy filing need not permanently ruin a filer's credit, even though the bankruptcy will remain in a ...

California employers gain more control over workplace injury care Article provided by Atcheson & Kepler Visit us at http://www.workinjury-sandiego.com Residents of San Diego and other areas in California might be aware that a change in state policy makes a new form of treatment option available to employers in the event of an injury connected to a workers' compensation claim. It may be helpful for employees to be aware of these changes and the implications that they have in terms of medical care provided to injured employees. What is a medical provider network? Several ...

Two California News Anchors Fired, Allege Age Discrimination Article provided by Stratton & Green, ALC Visit us at http://www.sglawcorp.com William Schechner and John Lobertini, popular news reporters for KPIX in San Francisco, California, were laid off after CBS required its affiliates to reduce their budgets by 10 percent. The two reporters allege that although they were experienced and performed their jobs well, they were fired based solely on the fact that they were older than most other reporters. If these allegations are true, KPIX would be in violation ...

Can an LLC Offer Tax Benefits to Texas Business Owners? Small business owners know that one of the most important decisions they have to make when starting their businesses is under which business entity to operate. Many people in Texas know that a limited liability company can protect the business owner from being personally liable for the company's debts, meaning that the business owner will not lose his or her personal property should the business amass debts it cannot pay. However, people may not be aware that LLCs can provide business owners with significant tax ...

Getting a mortgage after bankruptcy is possible in most cases Article provided by Pearman Law Firm, P.C. Visit us at http://www.debtfreedenver.com/ Because of the recession, many Americans have filed bankruptcy in recent years. However, once the bankruptcy process has been completed, many people are unsure of how to begin the process of rebuilding credit. This is understandable. Bankruptcies remain on credit reports for up to 10 years, which can cause your credit score to be low. As lenders rely on your credit score to determine your eligibility for a loan or a ...

Supreme Court to Issue Decision in DUI Case Article provided by Bird & Van Dyke, Inc. - A Professional Law Corporation Visit us at http://www.centralvalleycriminallaw.com The United States Supreme Court recently heard arguments in a case that may have serious implications for drivers' Fourth Amendment rights. The specific issue in contention in Missouri v. McNeely is whether law enforcement can order a blood alcohol test without first obtaining a warrant. The Facts ofMcNeely On October 3, 2010, a Missouri highway patrolman stopped Tyler McNeely for speeding ...

Tennessee can compel blood sampling for DUI suspects Article provided by Law Office of Edward E. DeWerff Visit us at http://www.dewerfflaw.com Tennessee has implemented a new law governing blood sampling from people suspected of drunk driving. Under the previous implied consent law, drivers stopped by a law enforcement officer could refuse to give a blood sample for a blood alcohol contest test, but could lose their driver's licenses as a result of the refusal. Tennessee's "No Refusal" law takes effect The current law, known as a "no refusal" ...

Debt settlement companies promise big, deliver little Article provided by Marlatt Law Office Visit us at http://www.marlattbankruptcylaw.com With a full recovery from the recession still elusive, many Americans find themselves behind on their bills. It is no coincidence that debt settlement companies have recent sprung up, almost overnight it seems. Such companies claim to help people with their financial problems, but in reality operate in an unregulated environment, putting them in a prime position to take advantage of people. You may have seen the commercials ...

NJ and federal law may not sufficiently protect working pregnant women Article provided by Piro, Zinna, Cifelli, Paris & Genitempo, P.C. Visit us at http://www.pirozinnalaw.com Over the past 50 years, the composition of the American workforce has changed dramatically. As the years have gone by, an increasing number of women have joined the labor force. Despite the length of time that has passed since women began working in larger numbers, many feel laws protecting women in the workforce have not kept pace. While some safeguards exist at the federal and state ...

Organizations use of non-compete agreements are on the rise Article provided by The Roberts Law Firm, P.C. Visit us at http://www.mobusinesslawyers.com A non-compete agreement is often drafted by organizations in an effort to protect their business interests. Non-compete agreements prohibit employees from starting a competing business, or working for a competitor, within a certain period of time after their employment has ended. But in order to be valid, the agreement must also be fair. Timing is everything An employer cannot keep a former employee from pursuing ...

Study: Workers' compensation does not cover majority cost of injuries The workers' compensation system in California, like all workers' compensation systems, is designed to ensure that employees who suffer injury on the job or suffer a work-related illness receive fixed compensation without having to sue their employer for the injury. In this sense, filing a workers' compensation claim is similar to filing an insurance claim and is considered a substitute for a lawsuit against an employer. The benefits a worker receives comes from a state workers' compensation fund. ...

Worker's Compensation wage loss benefits Article provided by Vellner Law Visit us at http://www.vellnerlaw.com Most Pennsylvania workers who become injured or ill on the job are fortunately covered under the Pennsylvania Workers' Compensation Act. The Act requires every employer to have worker's compensation insurance for every employee, even those who work only part-time or seasonally. Even when an employer fails to have worker's compensation insurance, an injured Pennsylvania worker might still be able to obtain benefits through the Uninsured Employer Guaranty ...