NEW YORK (March 19, 2013) -- Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), a key feature of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), aim to control health care costs, enhance quality in health care and improve population health. But what does "improving population health" really mean? This is the question asked in a new viewpoint article by Weill Cornell Medical College researchers published in the March 20 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). The authors argue a clear definition is crucial in order to formulate effective health care and social service policy. Section ...

VIDEO: On Dec. 17, 2012, NASA's twin GRAIL spacecraft were deliberately crashed into the lunar surface traveling at nearly 4,000 mph. Another NASA spacecraft, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, observed the impact using... Click here for more information. Many spacecraft just fade away, drifting silently through space after their mission is over, but not GRAIL. NASA's twin GRAIL (Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory) spacecraft went out in a blaze of glory Dec. 17, 2012, ...

VIDEO: Engineers at the Goddard Space Flight Center test the robotic-like fixture that will place the primary mirror segments of the Webb Telescope onto the telescopes back plane. Click here for more information. NASA engineers and scientists have been making practice runs to ensure the placement of primary mirror segments on the James Webb Space Telescope go perfectly when the flight equipment is ready. NASA issued a video and photos showing the practice run in the giant ...

PISCATAWAY, NJ – Some 2-year-olds whose moms used methamphetamine during pregnancy may have an abnormal response to stressful situations, according to a study in the May issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. Researchers saw the altered response in toddlers who were exposed to meth in the womb and who currently had signs of strife in their lives—such as a mom who drank heavily or had depression or other mental health symptoms. Specifically, the children's levels of the stress hormone cortisol did not rise as they should have during a tense situation (a ...

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Infants at 7 months of age who go on to develop autism are slower to reorient their gaze and attention from one object to another when compared to 7-month-olds who do not develop autism, and this behavioral pattern is in part explained by atypical brain circuits. Those are the findings of a new study led by University of North Carolina School of Medicine researchers and published online March 20 by the American Journal of Psychiatry. "These findings suggest that 7-month-olds who go on to develop autism show subtle, yet overt, behavioral differences ...

CHICAGO --- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants taken by a woman during pregnancy do not impact her infant's growth over the first year, reports a new study from a Northwestern Medicine scientist. There had been concern that antidepressant treatment during pregnancy reduced growth during the first year. Previous data suggested depression during pregnancy also could diminish infant growth. But the new study showed infants born to mothers who took SSRIs during pregnancy had a similar weight, length and head circumference over the first year ...

(CHICAGO) –Physician-researchers at the Rothman Institute at Jefferson have developed a new, clinically meaningful scale of severity for diagnosing patients with cervical spinal stenosis. Their goal was to create a more accurate scale than the current "mild, moderate or severe" designations used for patients with this condition, a narrowing of the spinal canal in the neck. Researchers sought to create a reproducible, clinically validated classification of central cervical stenosis. The group will present their results on Wednesday, March 20th, at 12:18 pm, McCormick ...

CHICAGO – Smoking has been linked to prolonged healing time and greater risk for complications in orthopaedic and other surgeries, according to a new study presented today at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). Researchers reviewed records of all total hip replacement (THR, or total hip arthroplasty) patients between 2007 and 2009 to identify patients who used tobacco products at the time of surgery, or who smoked regularly prior to surgery. There were 110 patients who regularly smoked, with a mean age of 55 and a mean follow ...

Ever since their discovery in 1984, the burgeoning area of research looking at quasiperiodic structures has revealed astonishing opportunities in a number of areas of fundamental and applied research, including applications in lasing and sensing. Quasiperiodic structures, or quasicrystals, because of their unique ordering of atoms and a lack of periodicity, possess remarkable crystallographic, physical and optical properties not present in regular crystals. In the article "Optics of photonic quasicrystals," in the March issue of Nature Photonics, Amit Agrawal, professor ...

Even as the Hispanic population continues to grow rapidly, the residential separation of most Hispanic groups has declined sharply in the last two decades, according to a new analysis of census data released by the US2010 Project at Brown University. The important exception – Mexicans, who are more than half ofthe nation's Hispanics. "This is a surprise, since previous studies dealing with all Hispanics as a single category have repeatedly found no change since 1990," said John R. Logan, co-author of the report and Professor of Sociology at Brown University. "It reminds ...

The cause of unexplained pain among metal-on-metal hip implant patients is more likely to be tissue damage than wear of the implant, Hospital for Special Surgery researchers have found. The study, performed by Dr. Danyal Nawabi, orthopedic surgery fellow, and research collaborators at HSS, will be reported at the upcoming annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, March 19-23, in Chicago. Researchers set out to determine causes of unexplained pain among patients with metal-on-metal hip implants (in which the ball and socket are both made of metal) ...

The power of a living will: The importance of planning for incapacity Article provided by Susana Lannik Visit us at http://www.lanniklaw.com/ The best defense is a good offense. This saying can apply to many situations throughout life, including planning for unforeseen medical emergencies. Medical emergencies can happen to anyone. A young adult could get into a horrific traffic accident and not be able to communicate their wishes; an elderly person could suffer from dementia. Whatever the cause, taking the time to complete this portion of estate planning by setting ...

Melting snows and spring rains bring mold to Colorado homes Article provided by The Nelson Law Firm, L.L.C. Visit us at http://www.nelsonlawfirm.net/ Mold can be good or bad. When it is adding flavor to cheese or being used to make medications like penicillin, it's fabulous. When it is in your home, not so much. To grow, mold needs a combination of warmth and moisture. This time of year, the perfect environment arises in countless homes around Colorado as snowmelt and spring rains lead to water creeping in through roofs and around windows. What damage canmoldcause? In ...

Insurance and retirement considerations play important role in divorce planning Article provided by Bartle, McGrane, Duffy & Jones, LLP Visit us at http://www.bmdjlaw.com Divorce involves much more than just the end of an emotional relationship. When married couple breaks up, there are a number of financial issues that need to be resolved. Chief among these are concerns over insurance and retirement planning. During the course of a marriage, most people don't pay a lot of attention to things like health insurance, life insurance or Social Security benefits. ...

What's the most damaging weather in Texas? The answer may surprise you Article provided by Pennebaker Law Firm A Professional Corporation Visit us at http://www.texasbadfaithinsurancelawyer.com With one hurricane after another threatening the Gulf Coast, Texas has gotten a great deal of press for its extreme weather in recent years; the massive storms are of such concern that Governor Rick Perry's official website even includes a designated Hurricane Storm Center, complete with emergency preparedness tips and evacuation maps. But, at least from a financial standpoint, ...

Types and advantages of workers' compensation benefits in Texas Article provided by Charles L. Scruggs, Attorney at Law Visit us at http://www.workerscompelpaso.com/ Many workplaces are pressure cookers, with demanding productivity measures and revenue drivers. Others are inherently dangerous. Some are both stressful and dangerous. And workers in certain industries such as construction, oil and trucking are especially at risk for injuries. But no matter where you work, if you get injured on the job, you may face financial, physical and emotional stresses. Workers' ...

Eligibility for workers' compensation coverage under Texas law Article provided by Charles L. Scruggs, Attorney at Law Visit us at http://www.workerscompelpaso.com/ A work-related injury can be life changing. That is why it is so important to understand who is covered by workers' compensation insurance, what types of injuries are covered and any applicable time limits based on type of injury. Not all employees are covered under Texas law Texas does not require all employers to provide workers' compensation benefits. A 1996 study by the Texas Research and Oversight ...

Raising awareness to fight distracted driving in Wisconsin Article provided by The Law Offices of John V. O'Connor, LLC Visit us at http://www.jvoconnor.com/ April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and law enforcement agencies in Wisconsin and throughout the nation will be partnering with the U.S. Department of Transportation to promote safer driving practices. Three types of distracted driving Dangerous distractions may come in many different forms when driving. The most obvious types of distractions are activities that occupy a driver's eyes, ...

Court considering warrantless blood draws for DUI Article provided by KOHN & SMITH LLP Visit us at http://www.kohnandsmith.com Each year, legislators across the country enact tougher penalties for DUI convictions. Wisconsin is no exception to this practice. Besides potential jail time and high fines, motorists convicted of DUI will see increased insurance costs as well as a potential revocation of their drivers' licenses. When police make a DUI stop, there are certain procedures that they follow. If these procedures are not followed, this could mean that ...

Starting a business in Texas? Article provided by Manfred Sternberg & Associates, PC Visit us at http://www.msternberg.com/ When the economy starts struggling, many people in otherwise stable employment positions may find themselves out of a job. Finding a new place to work can be difficult, especially when many employers are looking to cut costs. This leaves potential applicants considering other options that may be available. Some decide to return to school to advance their education, while others may consider starting their own businesses. Once a person ...

More individuals struggling with credit card debt Article provided by Golden Law, PC Visit us at http://www.goldenlaw.biz The holiday season is often a time when many people use credit cards to buy gifts for family and friends. When money is tight, many will make purchases using the cards, thinking that they will repay these balances after the holidays are over. Then, unexpected events arise, making it impossible to pay back what they owe. A recent report by TransUnion, a credit reporting agency, stated that late credit card payments increased nearly 9 percent ...

Things to consider when contemplating do-it-yourself divorces in Texas Article provided by Jane-Ashley McMillan, Attorney at Law Visit us at http://www.mcmillanlawfirm.com The Supreme Court of Texas recently came forward with a decision to allow do-it-yourself forms for individuals seeking a divorce. The forms are meant for low-income couples who would like to obtain a divorce without incurring the expenses of hiring a lawyer. Couples are cautioned, however, that these forms may not provide all of the answers and solutions to their problems. The forms in Texas The ...

Medical licensing defense important for doctors, nurses and pharmacists facing allegations of wrongdoing Article provided by The Law Offices of Alejandro Mora, PLLC Visit us at http://www.morahealthcarelaw.com Doctors, nurses and pharmacists see a wide range of injuries and illnesses each time they report to work. While many of these conditions can be treated successfully, not every person will respond the same way. Those who find themselves unable to recover after receiving care may wonder why their conditions did not improve. In some of these cases, patients ...

Detecting and preventing financial fraud during divorce Article provided by Nitti & Nitti Attorneys at Law Visit us at http://www.nittilaw.com No one likes to think that their spouse would try to hide money from them, even during the most bitter divorce. Unfortunately, however, asset concealment during divorce occurs far more often than many people would like to believe. Therefore, to protect your long-term financial wellbeing, it is important to be aware of some common warning signs of marital financial fraud when going through a divorce. If you suspect your ...

What is a living trust? Article provided by Criss & Kraft LLP Visit us at http://www.crisskraft.com/ Making decisions about your estate should not be taken lightly. When planning how to divide your assets, you may decide to have a will drafted, or, in some cases, it may be best to create a living trust. Although living trust and wills do share some similarities, experts say that living trusts can offer a certain amount of freedom that you may not have when drafting a will. The benefits of a living trust There are a number of benefits for having a living ...