'Keep it simple' is a good rule of thumb when designing biocontrol programs to combat weeds and invasive plants, according to a meta-analysis of studies by UBC biodiversity experts. Biocontrol programs use an invasive plant's natural enemies (insects and pathogens) to reduce its population. Most biocontrol programs combine many different enemies – typically about three different species, but sometimes as many as 25 – with the hope that at least one will prove effective. But more isn't necessarily better. Some combinations of enemy species can actually end up competing ...

A new report on the potential effects of climate change on NOAA's Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary uses existing observations and science-based expectations to identify how climate change could affect habitats, plants and animals within the sanctuary and adjacent coastal areas. It also outlines new management recommendations for the sanctuary, and sanctuary officials called it the first step toward addressing them. They also said the report issued by the sanctuary, Climate Change and the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary: Interpreting Potential Futures, ...

A study just published in the Journal of Marine Biology sheds new light on the relatively rare but occasionally recorded presence of white sharks in waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands, and suggests a new method to help distinguish between white sharks and close relatives, such as mako sharks. The paper, titled "Occurrence of White Sharks in Hawaiian Waters", was written by Kevin Weng of the University of Hawai'i – Manoa's School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) and Randy Honebrink of the Hawai'i DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR). According ...

Numerous epidemiologic studies have shown that a diet high in salt is associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer. Now Timothy L. Cover and colleagues of Vanderbilt University show that high dietary salt combined with infection by the ulcer-causing bacterium Helicobacter pylori greatly increases the risk of cancer. The study was published ahead of print in the journal Infection and Immunity. In the study, the researchers infected Mongolian gerbils with H. pylori. One set of gerbils received a regular diet; the other, a high salt diet. At the end of the experiment ...

Fairfax, Va., April 18, 2013 – The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) has issued a new white paper, "Assuring Safety and Quality in Image Guided Delivery of Radiation Therapy," that recommends best practices to improve the safety and effectiveness of image guided radiation therapy (IGRT), according to the manuscript published as an article in press online in Practical Radiation Oncology (PRO), the official clinical practice journal of ASTRO. The executive summary and supplemental material are available online immediately as open-access articles (http://www.practicalradonc.org) ...

Boulder, Colo., USA – Geology postings on 4 and 16 April 2013 cover volcanoes, lithospheric phenomena, convergence between north and south China, a kill mechanism for a mass extinction, fossil soils, active faults, explosivity, marine sulfate levels, base metal ore deposits, garnets and diamonds, polar reversals, earthquakes, and archeology. Each article is highlighted below. Architecture of the subcontinental mantle beneath central Spain (the Calatrava volcanic field); A challenge to the widely accepted notion about how surface-derived fluids can penetrate to deep levels ...

The most common cause of lower respiratory tract infections in infants and young children, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), can be transferred during pregnancy to an unborn baby, according to Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital research published online this week in the journal PLOS ONE. In animal models, the study shows that RSV is able to spread across the placenta from the respiratory tract of the mother to the fetus, and is present in the lungs after birth, throughout development and into adulthood. RSV is considered the primary cause of infant pneumonia and has ...

Adding "chemical shift" techniques to MRI can help differentiate clear cell renal cell carcinoma from other types of renal cell cancer, a new study shows. That differentiation can help physicians better determine treatment for these patients. The study, conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, included 156 patients with proven renal cell cancer. Clear cell renal carcinoma contains microscopic areas of fat, which is not seen on conventional imaging, said Dr. Azadeh Elmi, lead author of the study. "Chemical shift MRI enables us to quantify even small amounts ...

2D plus 3D breast imaging increases cancer detection rates by 11%, and could be particularly useful in detecting cancer in women with dense breasts, a new study suggests. Researchers at Yale University Smilow Cancer Hospital in New Haven, CT, reviewed the screening mammograms of 14,684 patients. Forty-two cancers were found in 8,769 patients who had only 2D imaging (a cancer detection rate of 4.8 per 1,000), said Dr. Jaime Geisel, a lead author of the study. Thirty-two cancers were found in the group that had 2D plus 3D (tomosynthesis) imaging, for a cancer detection ...

One view 3D breast screening (tomosynthesis) means less radiation dose and about five seconds less compression, but a study from Yale University, New Haven, CT, found that obtaining both views is necessary to help ensure that a cancer won't be missed. There are practices in Europe that have reported performing only a single view, specifically the mediolateral oblique (MLO) view, said Dr. Noa Beck, the lead author of the study. Two views are standard in the U.S. for 3D breast screening; "we wanted to see if one view would be sufficient," she said. Seven breast imagers ...

One venous puncture, rather than two, is a safe and effective approach to intravascular ultrasound-guided inferior vena cava filter placement in critically-ill patients, a new study shows. Inferior vena cava filter placement is done to prevent or treat pulmonary emboli or deep venous thrombosis. "The majority of institutions use a dual venous puncture technique, while we use a single venous puncture technique," said Dr. Andrew Gunn, of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. "We were interested to know if the different approaches affected technical success, clinical ...

Boston – More than three years after the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended against routine mammogram screening for women between the ages of 40 and 49, a study from Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH) finds that mammogram rates in the United States have not declined in that age group, or any other. The study results are published in the April 19, 2013 online edition of the journal Cancer. "If the USPSTF recommendations had been widely adopted, we would have expected to see a significant decline in mammography rates among women in their ...

VIDEO: In a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, University of Miami researcher Sean Bignami, along with NOAA scientists Ian Enochs, Derek Manzello, and... Click here for more information. MIAMI – April 18, 2013 – Ocean acidification, which occurs as CO2 is absorbed by the world's oceans, is known to negatively impact a wide variety of marine animals ranging from massive corals to microscopic plankton. However, there is much less ...

Hundreds of Texas pedestrians killed, injured, each year by motorists Article provided by Jerry D. Andrews Visit us at http://www.dfwinjurylawyer.com Earlier this month, a woman was hit by a car and killed in Austin, Texas when she attempted to cross a road during early morning traffic, bringing attention to the increasing number of pedestrians that are killed or injured by cars each year. A constant problem The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that in 2010, a fatal pedestrian accident took place every other hour in the U.S. The year ...

New York divorce rates rising, possibly due to no-fault law Article provided by Brooke & Brady L.L.P. Visit us at http://www.brookelawcenter.com Divorce rates in some parts of New York State have been on the rise recently, according to a report by YNN. Some experts believe the uptick may be related to New York's new no-fault divorce law, which was enacted in October 2010. The new law has streamlined the divorce process for New Yorkers who wish to part ways without formally assigning blame for the breakdown of the marriage. Streamlined divorce process Until ...

Business creation for budding New Jersey tycoons Article provided by Donnelly Ritigstein LLC Law Offices Visit us at http://www.donnellyllc.com Although being a business owner is considered the American dream, the process of starting a business is often exhausting. In addition to the high cost associated with starting a business, there are also substantial legal hurdles that a business owner must overcome before being able to receive any benefits. It's all in the name Often, individuals do not know where to start when trying to create a new business. The very ...

New hours of service regulations face a court challenge Article provided by Ayerbe & Cowart, LLC Visit us at http://www.acinjurylaw.com/ Truck driving is not a nine-to-five job. It entails working into the very late or very early hours of the day on the road away from home. To help protect truckers from being overworked (and to increase the safety of other motorists) the government regulates how frequently truck drivers must stop and rest. These regulations are called hours of service (HOS) rules. They are implemented to help ensure that truck drivers are ...

Initial SSD claims often rejected Article provided by Martin Banks Visit us at http://www.ssdisabilityfirm.com Although it is natural to feel defeated when a claim for SSD has been denied, the process is nowhere near over. In fact, the majority of individuals who apply for SSD are rejected on their initial application. So long as it is filed within 60 days of the initial decision, an individual can appeal the decision made by the Social Security Administration. In order to be successful on appeal, the individual must meet certain general requirements. For instance, ...

How the SSDI application, Compassionate Allowance and appeal fit together Article provided by West Coast Disability Law Group, LLP Visit us at http://www.westcoastdisability.com People with disabilities that interfere with work may be eligible to receive Social Security Disability Benefits from the federal government, and some with certain, severe health conditions may receive Compassionate Allowances, which shorten the application process. Some of the qualifying diseases for Compassionate Allowance include early onset Alzheimer's disease and esophageal cancer. How ...

Essential information about SSDI benefits in California Article provided by West Coast Disability Law Group, LLP Visit us at http://www.westcoastdisability.com California residents suffering from a severe physical or mental impairment that prevents them from working may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. However, determining eligibility requirements and the application process can be complex and confusing. SSDI benefits help millions of people. Approximately 8 million people under the age of 65 currently receive SSDI benefits. SSDI benefits ...

When insurers fail to pay, legal action may be worth considering Article provided by The Stevenson Law Firm, PC Visit us at http://www.texashealthlawattorney.com Suing an insurance company for nonpayment can seem like a daunting proposition, but in some cases it can be more effective than many Texas health care providers may expect. As opposed to haggling with internal administrators at the insurance company, taking an insurer to court can often be a faster -- and fairer -- way to secure payment for treatments provided. The key to success when suing an insurer over ...

The basics of New York prenuptial agreements Article provided by Quinlan and Fields Attorneys and Counselors at Law Visit us at http://www.quinlanandfields.com "Unromantic." "Lifesaving." "Dooming a marriage." "Preserving a retirement." "A 'slap in the face' to your loving fiance." "An honest discussion of financial matters necessary to start a marriage on level ground." As you can see, opinions of prenuptial agreements are all across the board, encompassing nearly every perspective imaginable. Some ...

Study finds truckers who drink caffeine are less likely to have crashes Article provided by Curran & Whittington, PLLC Visit us at http://www.curranwhittington.com/ Americans consume millions of pounds of caffeine every year. This energizing substance can be ingested in the form of coffee, soda, energy drinks, energy shots and even chewing gum. The caffeine industry is extremely successful. In fact, the coffee segment alone is an estimated $30 billion dollar industry. Clearly, the caffeine industry is booming and, according to a new study, this boom may be ...

Study finds diet soda may lead to higher levels of intoxication Article provided by Traffic Ticket Pros Visit us at http://www.trafficticketpros.com Those attempting to watch their caloric intake may be at an increased risk of driving under the influence, according to a recent study. The study, conducted by researchers affiliated with Northern Kentucky University, found those who consumed alcoholic drinks mixed with diet soda instead of regular soda had an 18 percent increase in their breath alcohol concentrations. As a result, it appears the choice of mixer ...

Trust-fund progressives: a new breed of young, wealthy inheritors Article provided by Lannik Law, LLC Visit us at http://www.lanniklaw.com Some people may think they are crazy but there is a new breed of wealthy heirs out there, those who give away their inheritances. Most people pay off debts, buy a few nice things and sock away money for their future when they come into an inheritance. Others, however, struggle with the responsibility that comes with a large inheritance and, disgruntled with the financial inequities they see in society, give away most or all of ...