18 March 2013 – Goleta, CA., USA -- The first truly global telescope came a significant step closer to completion this month with the installation and first light on three new 1-meter telescopes at the South Africa Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) near Sutherland, South Africa. A team of five Las Cumbres engineers, technicians, and a postdoc, convened at Sutherland for three weeks during late February and early March to achieve this feat. "The South African Astronomical Observatory is pleased to collaborate with the Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope project, and ...

Some diseases are caused by single gene mutations. Current techniques for identifying the disease-causing gene in a patient produce hundreds of potential gene candidates, making it difficult for scientists to pinpoint the single causative gene. Now, a team of researchers led by Rockefeller University scientists have created a map of gene "shortcuts" to simplify the hunt for disease-causing genes. The investigation, spearheaded by Yuval Itan, a postdoctoral fellow in the St. Giles Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, has led to the creation of what he calls ...

Microbes from the human mouth are telling Oak Ridge National Laboratory scientists something about periodontitis and more after they cracked the genetic code of bacteria linked to the condition. The finding, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, profiles the SR1 bacteria, a group of microbes present in many environments, ranging from the mouth to deep within the Earth, that have never been cultivated in the laboratory. Human oral SR1 bacteria are elevated in periodontitis, a disease marked by inflammation and infection of the ligaments and bones ...

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — Large chunks of an ancient tectonic plate that slid under North America millions of years ago are still present under parts of central California and Mexico, according to new research led by Brown University geophysicists. Around 100 million years ago, the Farallon oceanic plate lay between the converging Pacific and North American plates, which eventually came together to form the San Andreas fault. As those plates converged, much of the Farallon was subducted underneath North America and eventually sank deep into the mantle. Off ...

Infrared satellite imagery tells the temperature of the cloud tops within a tropical cyclone as well as the sea surface temperatures around the storms. A recent infrared image from NASA's Aqua satellite showed very little strength in the remnants of ex-cyclone Tim offshore from southeastern Queensland. The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument aboard NASA's Aqua satellite captured an infrared image of Cyclone Tim on March 18 at 0355 UTC (March 17 at 11:55 p.m. EDT). The AIRS image showed that cloud top temperatures had warmed significantly since the previous ...

A study in the JAMA Neurology (formerly the Archives of Neurology) suggests that controlling or preventing risk factors such as hypertension earlier in life may limit or delay the brain changes associated with Alzheimer's disease and other age-related neurological deterioration. Dr. Karen Rodrigue, assistant professor in the UT Dallas Center for Vital Longevity (CVL), was lead author on a study that looked at whether people with both hypertension and a common gene associated with risk of Alzheimer's disease (the APOE-4 gene carried by about 20 percent of the population) ...

Stingrays living in one of the world's most famous and heavily visited ecotourism sites — Stingray City/Sandbar in the Cayman Islands — have profoundly changed their ways, raising questions about the impact of so-called "interactive ecotourism" on marine wildlife, reports a new study published March 18 in the journal PLOS ONE. Researchers from Nova Southeastern University's Guy Harvey Research Institute in Hollywood, Fla., and the University of Rhode Island studied the southern stingray population of Stingray City — a sandbar in the Cayman Islands that draws nearly a ...

Lowering the costs of healthy foods in supermarkets increases the amount of fruits, vegetables and whole grain foods that people eat, while also appearing to reduce consumption of nutritionally less-desirable foods, according to research from the RAND Corporation. Researchers examined a program available to members of South Africa's largest private health insurance company that provides a rebate of 10 percent or 25 percent on purchases of healthy foods. The program, started in 2009, now has about 800 participating supermarkets and enrolls more than 260,000 households. ...

CHICAGO — Many of today's running shoes feature a heavy cushioned heel. New research presented today at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) found that these shoes may alter an adolescent runner's biomechanics (the forces exerted by muscles and gravity on the skeletal structure) and diminish performance. Researchers recruited 12 adolescent competitive athletes from local track teams, and asked them to run on a treadmill in large heel trainers, track flats and without any shoes (barefoot) at four different speeds. Biomechanics ...

CHICAGO — Osteoarthritis of the hip or knee, affecting millions of Americans each year, is known to limit sexual activity. New research presented today at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) found that total hip (THR) or total knee replacement (TKR) surgery improves sexual function in 90 percent of patients. In the study, 147 patients under age 70, scheduled for primary THR or TKR, agreed to participate in a study requiring the completion of questionnaires prior to surgery, at six months post surgery, and at one year post surgery. ...

CHICAGO — New research presented today at the at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) found that overall, sports and recreation musculoskeletal injuries have declined 12.4 percent in the U.S. over the past 10 years for children ages 5 to 14 years. However, injuries sustained during football and soccer continues to rise. In 2000, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported the top eight sports and recreational activities responsible for injuries in children ages 5 to 14, and estimated their annual cost at more than $33 ...

CHICAGO – Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can detect a failing, or potentially failing, metal-on-metal hip implant (MoM) early on, according to a new study presented today at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). Early detection can result in timely revision surgery, decreasing the risk for further tissue damage and pain. Researchers reviewed the MRI images of 70 patients who ultimately underwent revision surgery for a failed MoM implant. The images were assessed for the presence of tissue damage, swelling and other characteristics. ...

CHICAGO – High-energy lower-extremity trauma (HELET) is common in modern warfare, often resulting in severe tissue damage, chronic pain, neurovascular injury and significant muscle loss, according to the new research presented today at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). The Return to Run (RTR) program is an integrated orthotic and rehabilitation initiative designed to return high-level function to wounded warriors. It includes use of the new Intrepid Dynamic Exoskeletal Orthosis (IDEO), a custom-fit device made from carbon ...

CHICAGO – Smoking is a known risk factor for back pain and disc disease. In a new study presented today at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), researchers reviewed smoking cessation rates and related pain in 6,779 patients undergoing treatment for spinal disorders with severe axial (spine) or radicular (leg) pain. Information on each patient's age, gender, weight, smoking history, assessment of pain, treatment type and co-morbid depression also were assessed. Overall, 8.9 percent of patients over the age of 55 smoked compared ...

CHICAGO – While it is well known that a majority of hip fracture patients of all ages and both sexes have insufficient or deficient levels of vitamin D, a new study presented today at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) looks at whether or not living in a warm, sunny climate improves patient vitamin D levels. Researchers retrospectively reviewed the vitamin D levels of 1,539 patients, including 448 acute hip fracture patients and 1,091 total hip (THR) or total knee replacement (TKR) patients, from December 2010 to December 2011 ...

Brigham and Women's Hospital(BWH) is a 793-bed nonprofit teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School and a founding member of Partners HealthCare. BWH has more than 3.5 million annual patient visits, is the largest birthing center in New England and employs more than 15,000 people. The Brigham's medical preeminence dates back to 1832, and today that rich history in clinical care is coupled with its national leadership in patient care, quality improvement and patient safety initiatives, and its dedication to research, innovation, community engagementand educating and training ...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a report released today, the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues concluded that the federal government would have to take multiple steps before anthrax vaccine trials with children could be ethically considered. The Bioethics Commission was responding to a request from Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius who last year asked the members to study the question of anthrax vaccine trials with children after receiving a recommendation from another federal committee that such research be initiated, pending ethical ...

Nevada uses ignition interlocks as a method to deter drunk driving Article provided by Benjamin Durham Law Firm Visit us at http://www.benjamindurham.com While Nevada is most notoriously known as the host of "Sin City," the state must nonetheless address crimes that compromise public safety. In an effort to deter dangerous behavior, the Nevada legislature has enacted unique laws regarding drunk driving. One piece of Nevada's plan is to reduce drunk drivingincidents with the use of ignition interlock devices (IID). The hope is that these instruments will ...

Facing foreclosure? Chapter 13 bankruptcy can save your home Article provided by Thomas F. Williams & Associates, P.C. Visit us at http://www.lawofficetwilliams.com/ Even with the economy showing signs of improvement, many consumers are still struggling financially in the wake of the Great Recession. If you're one of them, and you've fallen behind on your mortgage payments, you may be wondering what is going to become of your home. It can be incredibly stressful when your lender begins to threaten foreclosure. But, if you want to save your home from foreclosure, ...

In effort to change the internet marketing industry, Cybertisement, a Dallas internet marketing firm, has introduced two new unique marketing services that were tested to deliver affordable results and drive relevant traffic. Article Marketing & Social Bookmarking services have been around for years, Cybertisement has added their own edge offering completely unique services purchasable directly through their website http://www.cybertisement.com. Article Marketing Article Marketing is a form of online marketing in which articles are written and submitted to thousands ...

Parry's Pizzeria & Bar will be throwing open the doors of its newest location in Greenwood Village, CO. This is the fourth location of Parry's Pizzeria & Bar with others existing in Parker, Castle Rock and Highlands Ranch. New York style pizza is the cornerstone of Parry's but calzones, wings, pasta, hot sandwiches, salads and desserts also grace the menu. Continuing in the vein of the Parry's in Highlands Ranch, this location will also have 50 craft beers on draft with daily keg rotations. A spacious patio in front of the restaurant will make for some very nice ...

Capital Safety, home of the DBI-SALA and PROTECTA brands of fall protection equipment has announced the launch of their upgraded Training & Consulting Services. As the global leader in the manufacture of fall protection equipment Capital Safety provides training in Australia through its Registered Training Organisation (RTO), with content specific to Height Safety, Confined Space and Industrial Rescue. Capital Safety's RTO continues to evolve with the upgrade of their training centre and the appointment of Ashley Campbell as their National Manager. Ashley comes ...

As the checkered flag waved upon the one-and-a-half mile tri-oval at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway NASCAR race, it signified the finish of the Kobalt Tools 400 Sprint Cup race. The celebration of Joe Gibbs Racing's Matt Kenseth was just beginning. It started with a wave and a burnout to the 150,000 fans in attendance. It ended with a drive into Victory Lane. A noticeable change to those in attendance and those watching on the Fox and SPEED channel broadcasts was Victory Lane's distinct ground presentation - Swisstrax flooring. Interlaced with a large silver and black ...

Certified Environmental Hygienists Hank and Merley Taylor premiere new, high-tech equipment and procedures for toxic mold inspection and testing inside walls, ceilings, floors, and air conditioning equipment and ducts for hidden toxic mold growth in Hong Kong, Macau, and China residences and commercial buildings. By drilling or cutting small holes into suspect interior surfaces, the Environmental Hygienists can insert a fiber optics inspection cable with video monitor to look for mold growth therein. Through the same holes, the Hygienists can also insert a tube connected ...

The inaugural Women in Sales Awards will showcase the accomplishments and sales generating talents of the best saleswomen across Europe. In order to be eligible for the Women in Sales award, a candidate must hold a revenue generating position and be nominated by her company. Sales is one of the driving forces of business success, but it is an area of business traditionally been dominated by men. Diversity and inclusion are cornerstones of continued business growth and the Women in Sales Awards will highlight the positive impact women make in the sales arena. According ...