Two heads are better than one, as the saying goes – and a new study by a duo at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) demonstrates how having two attending surgeons in the operating room during spinal surgeries can benefit patients in multiple ways. Most spinal surgeries in the United States are performed by teams led by a single attending surgeon – one top-level doctor who has completed medical school, residency and other specialized training. In 2007, two spinal surgeons in the Departments of Neurological Surgery and Orthopedic Surgery joined forces and ...

Longer, warmer growing seasons associated with a changing climate are altering growing conditions in temperate rain forests, but not all plant species will be negatively affected, according to research conducted by the U.S. Forest Service's Pacific Northwest Research Station. Research featured in the January 2013 issue of Science Findings—a monthly publication of the station—reveals a complex range of forest plant responses to a warming climate. "Although the overall potential for growth increases as the climate warms, we found that plant species differ in their ability ...

VIDEO: Last year, a team of University of Pennsylvania physicists showed how to undo the "coffee-ring effect, " a commonplace occurrence when drops of liquid with suspended particles dry, leaving a ring-shaped... Click here for more information. PHILADELPHIA — Last year, a team of University of Pennsylvania physicists showed how to undo the "coffee-ring effect," a commonplace occurrence when drops of liquid with suspended particles dry, leaving a ring-shaped stain ...

Humans do it, chimpanzees do it, cuckoos do it – cheating to score a free ride is a well-documented behavior by many animals, even plants. But microscopically small, single-celled algae? Yes, they do it too, biologists with the University of Arizona's department of ecology and evolutionary biology have discovered. "There are cheaters out there that we didn't know of," said William Driscoll, lead author of a research report on the topic who studied an environmentally devastating toxic alga that is invading U.S. waters as part of his doctoral research in the lab of Jeremiah ...

PHILADELPHIA — With a new insight into a model of Parkinson's disease, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine have identified a novel target for mitigating some of the disease's toll on the brain. Narayan G. Avadhani, Harriet Ellison Woodward Professor of Biochemistry and chair of the Department of Animal Biology at Penn Vet, was the senior author on the research. Other department members contributing to the work included Prachi Bajpai, Michelle C. Sangar, Shilpee Singh, Weigang Tang, Seema Bansal and Ji-Kang Fang. Co-authors from ...

NASA's next Small Explorer (SMEX) mission to study the little-understood lower levels of the sun's atmosphere has been fully integrated and final testing is underway. Scheduled to launch in April 2013, the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) will make use of high-resolution images, data and advanced computer models to unravel how matter, light, and energy move from the sun's 6,000 K (10,240 F / 5,727 C) surface to its million K (1.8 million F / 999,700 C) outer atmosphere, the corona. Such movement ultimately heats the sun's atmosphere to temperatures much hotter ...

A new view of a 20,000-year old supernova remnant demonstrates the upgraded imaging power of the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) and provides more clues to the history of this giant cloud that resembles a beloved endangered species, the Florida Manatee. W50 is one of the largest supernova remnants ever viewed by the VLA. At nearly 700 light years across, it covers two degrees on the sky – that's the span of four full Moons! Turbulent History The enormous W50 cloud formed when a giant star, 18,000 light years away in the constellation ...

Employee versus independent contractor Most small business owners want to expand their businesses. With expansion comes the need for additional help. Before doing so, however, business owners need to understand the difference between an employee and independent contractor. There can be significant legal consequences for misclassifying workers as independent contractors when they are really employees. What is an independent contractor? Independent contractors, sometimes referred to as a freelancers or consultants, are self-employed. They are hired by a business ...

Women sue National Basketball Association over gender discrimination In the fall of 2012, three women filed suit against the National Basketball Association, or NBA, and its subsidiaries NBA Entertainment and NBA Properties for gender discrimination. The women claim that the NBA changed their work schedules to make it impossible for them to continue to work with the company due to child care concerns. Lawsuit claims NBA forced working mothers to resign The women worked for a print group in a creative division of the NBA. In their lawsuit, the plaintiffs claim that ...

Discharging tax debts through bankruptcy In many cases, people who are overwhelmed by unmanageable income tax debts are able find relief by filing for bankruptcy. However, not all tax debt can be discharged in bankruptcy. It is important to understand the basic requirements when weighing the options for dealing with tax debts. Other debt relief solutions may be available for those whose tax debts do not qualify for discharge in bankruptcy. When can tax debt be discharged in bankruptcy? Even if a person has other debts that qualify for discharge during bankruptcy, ...

Sex crime detection software and your privacy When people log onto the popular social networking site Facebook, they expect that their conversations are only read by those given permission through their privacy settings. However, an anonymous, automated presence constantly trolls Facebook accounts, hunting for inappropriate language and the sharing of personal contact information. This presence is Facebook's sophisticated software created to identify and block people who appear to be soliciting sex online. Some believe its implementation goes too far and violates ...

Pennsylvania enhancing enforcement of DUI-Ds Pennsylvania police officers are targeting drivers who are driving under the influence of drugs and substances other than alcohol. Driving under the influence of drugs does not just include illegal drugs; instead, prescription drugs and certain medicines obtained over the counter can also cause driver impairment and thereby fall under the DUI statute. Many Pennsylvania DUIs involve more than just alcohol According to a Moon Township police officer, the department believes that about half of the drivers charged with DUIs ...

Georgia's implied consent law: what it means for you If you are pulled over for driving under the influence (DUI) in Georgia, you may be asked to submit to a blood, breath or urine test. You may wonder if you have to submit to the test or if you can refuse. The answer to these questions lies in Georgia's implied consent law. Requirements of the law Under Georgia's implied consent law, in exchange for the privilege of operating a motor vehicle on the state's roadways, the driver is legally deemed to have consented to take a chemical test of his or her blood, breath, ...

A city official's resignation and the gravity of a DUI in Colorado Recently, a Larimer County deputy clerk was pulled over on suspected drinking and driving. The deputy clerk -- a former Fort Collins city councilman -- has not yet pled to the charge in court but has already given the city notice of his resignation. When asked about the incident, he simply stated, "Stuff happens," but otherwise remained quiet about the situation. The city official's nearly-immediate resignation, however, demonstrates the gravity of a driving under the influence offense. A ...

Study connects bedsores to increased patient mortality, hospitalization According to a recent study by the UCLA School of Nursing, there is a direct correlation between pressure ulcers (commonly called bedsores) and patient deaths or increases in the length of hospitalization. During the study, researchers tracked approximately 51,000 hospitalized Medicare beneficiaries across the nation who were randomly selected. The study found that about 4.5 per cent of the patients developed a bedsore during their stay in the hospital. Most of the bedsores developed on the sacrum ...

Missouri drivers not immune from problem of distracted driving Twenty years ago, the idea that everyone would have a cellphone would seem like a stretch. However, the age of ubiquitous mobile devices is upon us. For all of the convenience and good that mobile technology has brought us, it has also brought a new danger that plagues roadways both in Missouri and nationwide--distracted driving. When you have driven down the road, you may have noticed drivers performing odd tasks while behind the wheel such as text messaging, talking on the phone or putting on makeup--all ...

Helping children in Texas through divorce Divorcing Texas parents must help their children adjust to a new life. Experts have suggestions for supporting children during and beyond what is likely to be a major upheaval in their lives. Talking with children Regardless of the child's age, some basic principles always apply: tell the truth, keep it simple and avoid bad-mouthing or blaming the other parent. Children want to know what is going on and why, but they don't need a lengthy, involved explanation. The simplest statements are the best. When explaining why ...

Financial issues related to divorce Article provided by Collier, House and Brown, PLLC Visit us at http://www.joydaviscollier.com Tennessee couples going through divorce are experiencing changes on many levels, not the least of which is financial. Managing finances during and beyond divorce is a challenging enterprise, and the pitfalls can be devastating for those who do not become informed and take appropriate action. Here are just a few financial concerns to watch out for. Joint obligations One major mistaken belief is that when one spouse has been ordered by ...

Antitrust concerns with Accountable Care Organizations The new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that was passed by Congress and President Obama provides for the creation of Accountable Care Organizations, or ACOs. An ACO is a group of medical professionals, including doctors and hospitals, who voluntarily come together to give high quality health care to Medicare patients. The goal of the ACO is to provide high quality patient care at a lower cost. Experts in the health care industry have raised concerns about the antitrust implications of ACOs; specifically, ...

New Jersey Supreme Court rules on surrogate parent law Couples struggling with infertility have several possible options; recently, surrogacy has become more a prevalent choice. In 2010, 1,488 children in the United States were born to surrogates--that is almost double the rate in 2004. With the increased use of surrogacy, many states are concerned about their laws regarding parental rights and surrogacy. The New Jersey Supreme Court recently upheld New Jersey's current and controversial surrogate parentage law. Controversy over New Jersey's surrogacy laws In ...

New Jersey is ready to update employee privacy rights The New Jersey Senate has approved a bill that protects the social media privacy rights of employees, job applicants and college students in the state. The bill is one measure to keep privacy rights up-to-date with new technology that is increasingly integrating work and personal lives. New Jersey may enact new worker privacy laws This past October, the New Jersey Senate unanimously passed two New Jersey Assembly bills that protect the privacy rights of job applicants, employees and college students. Violating ...

Despite myth, Nevada does not give child custody preference to mothers A common misconception about divorce cases in Nevada is that the law gives preference to mothers when deciding child custody matters. This is not true. If the parents cannot agree on custody matters themselves during the divorce process with which the judge approves, then the judge must decide custody based on the best interests of the child regardless of the gender of the parent given custody. However, though there is no law granting preference, many people do perceive a gender bias in the system. ...

What is carpal tunnel syndrome? Carpal tunnel syndrome is a kind of repetitive stress injury that occurs when the median nerve in the hand, which runs from the palm of a hand through the carpal tunnel in the wrist and connects the forearm to the palm, is compressed by any of the nine long flexor tendons that also pass through the carpel tunnel either swell or start to degenerate. This can be extremely painful, with patients who suffer from this condition experiencing tingling, burning and itching in the hand and fingers for extended periods of time. Workers who ...

Financial tips for divorce when children are involved Getting a divorce is challenging on multiple levels, and it can be especially difficult financially. The divorce process necessitates making determinations about how assets will be divided, and, if there are children involved, how to pay for their needs while managing two separate households. Maintaining a standard of living for children Often, parents hope to maintain the standard of living their children were accustomed to before the divorce. While doing so may be helpful for the children, it can be difficult ...

Study finds fewer medication errors when pharmacists in emergency room Most patients who are admitted into the emergency room do not come to the hospital with a detailed list of the medications they are taking at the time. For obvious reasons, it can be challenging to obtain accurate information regarding medications from people who are in need of emergency medical care. Nevertheless, accurate medication information is typically critical for physicians to provide the best possible care for the patient. In many cases, if a doctor fails to obtain enough information regarding ...