While poverty and under-education continue to dampen contraception use in Nepal, exacerbating the country's efforts to reduce maternal and child mortality rates, researchers say another, more surprising factor may be more intractable: Deeply held cultural preferences for sons over daughters. Writing in the March 7, 2013 online International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, scientists from the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine found that geography (urban versus rural), age and levels of education, wealth and social status all predictably influenced ...

For deer mice living in the Nebraska Sandhills, color can literally be the difference between life and death. When they first colonized the region, the dark-coated mice stood out starkly against the light-colored, sandy soil, making them easy prey for predators. Over the next 8,000 years, however, the mice evolved a new system of camouflage – lighter coats, changes in the stripe on their tails and changes in the extent of pigment across their body – that allowed them to blend into their new habitat. Now Harvard researchers are using their example to answer one of ...

TORONTO, ON (date) – A team of international scientists including a Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory astrophysicist has made the most detailed examination yet of the atmosphere of a Jupiter-size like planet beyond our solar system. The finding provides astrophysicists with additional insight into how planets are formed. "This is the sharpest spectrum ever obtained of an extrasolar planet," said co-author Bruce Macintosh, an astronomer at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. "This shows the power of directly imaging a planetary system - the exquisite resolution ...

In the swirling canopy of Jupiter's atmosphere, cloudless patches are so exceptional that the big ones get the special name "hot spots." Exactly how these clearings form and why they're only found near the planet's equator have long been mysteries. Now, using images from NASA's Cassini spacecraft, scientists have found new evidence that hot spots in Jupiter's atmosphere are created by a Rossby wave, a pattern also seen in Earth's atmosphere and oceans. The team found the wave responsible for the hot spots glides up and down through layers of the atmosphere like a carousel ...

A new NASA-developed, laser-based space communication system will enable higher rates of satellite communications similar in capability to high-speed fiber optic networks on Earth. The space terminal for the Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration (LLCD), NASA's first high-data-rate laser communication system, was recently integrated onto the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) spacecraft at NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif. LLCD will demonstrate laser communications from lunar orbit to Earth at six times the rate of the best modern-day ...

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – New optical technologies using "metasurfaces" capable of the ultra-efficient control of light are nearing commercialization, with potential applications including advanced solar cells, computers, telecommunications, sensors and microscopes. The metasurfaces could make possible "planar photonics" devices and optical switches small enough to be integrated into computer chips for information processing and telecommunications, said Alexader Kildishev, associate research professor of electrical and computer engineering at Purdue University. "I think ...

Arnhem, 11 March 2013 - Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells cultivated on the surface of nanofibrous meshes could be a novel therapeutic strategy against post-prostatectomy erectile dysfunction (ED), conclude the authors of a study which is to be presented at the 28th Annual EAU Congress later this week. The study was conducted by a group of Korean scientists and will be awarded 3rd prize for best abstract in non-oncology research on the opening day of the congress. During their investigation, the group aimed to examine the differentiation of human mesenchymal ...

Arnhem, 11 March 2013- A recent study conducted by a group of German scientists revealed the presence of a previously unknown cell in the urethra of mice. These chemosensory cholinergic brush cells are in close contact to sensory neurons that express cholinergic receptors. The authors suggest that in analogy to brush cells of the respiratory tract, the urethral brush cells may also serve as sentinels being able to detecting hazardous substances and preventing their further retrograde ingression. The results of this investigation will be presented at the upcoming 28th ...

Arnhem, 11 March 2013 - Surgery offers better survival benefit for men with localised prostate cancer, according to a large observational study, conducted by a group of researchers in Sweden and the Netherlands. The study won the second prize for best abstract in oncology at the 28th Annual EAU Congress which will open in Milan this Friday, 15 March. "The current gold standard management of localised prostate cancer is radical therapy, either as surgery or radiation therapy. This study suggests that surgery is likely superior to radiation for the majority of men who ...

Arnhem, 11 March 2013 - A new study by British scientists reveals that motile Escherichia coli isolates demonstrated significant activation of NF-κB signaling suggesting that flagellin plays a key role in up-regulating the host innate defences against urinary tract infections (UTIs). UTIs are commonly caused by Escherichia coli. The host innate defences function to protect the uro-epithelium from microbial assault via a variety of mechanisms. These include NF-κB signalling pathways activated via cell-surface Toll-like-receptors responding to bacterial pathogen ...

Arnhem, 11 March 2013- Multi-peptide vaccination therapy combined with the low-dose steroid drug dexamethasone shows promise in treating chemotherapy-naive castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) patients. The study, which won the third prize for best abstract in oncology at the 28th European Association of Urology Congress held in Milan, Italy from 15 to 19 March, showed the promising benefit of this combination therapy in patients who are chemotherapy-naive or those not yet exposed to specific antigens. "Results of our randomized prospective study suggest that ...

Arnhem, 14 March 2013 - As part of an EU-supported IMI-PREDECT consortium (http://www.predect.eu), a Dutch study showed that anti-androgenic properties of the drug abiraterone may provide an additional mechanism of action in blocking tumour growth of castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). The study, which won the first prize for best abstract in oncology at the 28th European Association of Urology (EAU) Congress to be held in Milan from March 15 to 19, demonstrated that although the use of abiraterone can potentially lead to an accumulation of precursor hormones, ...

Many Americans have more credit card debt than savings, survey says Article provided by Jeffrey P. White and Associates, P.C. Visit us at http://www.whitelawoffices.com Financial experts often recommend that you keep almost three month's pay on hand in case it is needed in an emergency. This is sound advice, but nonetheless advice that many Americans are not heeding, according to a recent survey by Bankrate.com. For the survey, Bankrate.com asked participants what they have more of: credit card debt or emergency savings. The results were quite frightening. Only ...

SSA expands Compassionate Allowances list Article provided by Alan J. Nuta, Attorney at Law Visit us at http://www.ssbenefitslawyer.com If you have ever filed for disability benefits, you know that the process is often long and arduous. In order to qualify for benefits in most cases, the Social Security Administration (SSA) requires you to prove that you have a disabling condition that prevents you from working for at least a year (or result in your death). As this can be difficult to prove, many initial applications are denied, requiring the applicant to file and ...

Agency says new commercial bus seat belt requirement is coming soon Article provided by Greenstein & Milbauer, LLP Visit us at http://www.nyclawfirm.com/ After years of debate, regulations that will require all new commercial buses to have safety belts installed are likely to come "very soon," said David Strickland, National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator, at the North American International Auto Show. The use of seat belts on buses is a key factor in reducing the risk of serious injury in an accident, and some bus companies are already buying ...

Grandparent visitation rights in Pennsylvania Article provided by Prince Law Offices, P.C. Visit us at http://www.princelaw.com During a separation and subsequent divorce, grandparents may find that they do not get to see their grandkids as often. In a tragic event when an adult child dies, grandparents might also have fewer opportunities to see their grandchildren. Pennsylvania law has strict criteria for grandparents seeking more time with their grandchildren. Because of the requirements, it is a good idea to consult a grandparents' rights attorney when relationships ...

What happens when parents cannot come to a child custody agreement? Article provided by Law Offices of Jonathan W. Fein Visit us at http://www.feinlaw.com When a couple decides that they can no longer make their marriage or relationship work, they begin taking the necessary steps toward ending their relationship. This can be an extremely emotional time, leaving both parties to wonder what went wrong. When a couple has children, they will need to determine a child custody arrangement that will meet the needs of both parents, as well as the child. This can become ...

How is child custody handled in Colorado? Article provided by Frost & Beck, LLP Visit us at http://www.frostbecklaw.com When a married couple with children decides to divorce, typically the most pressing and difficult questions involve how decision-making responsibilities and the children's time will be divided. In Colorado, the courts consider a number of factors before making these decisions. Physical custody is referred to as "parenting time" in Colorado. Parents are also responsible for making decisions on behalf of their children regarding ...

NHTSA to ask automakers to crank up the volume on hybrids Article provided by Law Offices of Aleixo and Murray, P.C. Visit us at http://www.aleixoandmurray.com Whether it is because of the rising cost of gas or the desire to leave a smaller carbon footprint, hybrid vehicles have exploded in popularity in recent years. Although the vehicles deliver on their promise to be "greener" than gas or diesel engines, they come with a dark side: they operate at such a low volume at slow speeds that bicyclists and pedestrians often cannot hear them, putting them at ...

Beware of asset concealment when divorcing a small-business owner Article provided by The Law Firm of Hauer & Snover Visit us at http://www.hauersnover.com/ In Michigan, the law provides that divorcing couples must divide their property according to the principle of equitable distribution. This means that their property must be divided equitably, or fairly, but not necessarily equally. The rule of equitable distribution applies to a couple's marital property, which typically includes all assets acquired by either spouse during the marriage, such as bank accounts, ...

Widespread consequences likely in Massachusetts drug lab scandal Article provided by Carleen & Caramanica, P.C. Visit us at http://www.massfelonydefense.com A chemist formerly employed by a Massachusetts drug lab was accused in September 2012 of tampering with tens of thousands of drug samples over a period of nine years, allegedly falsifying the results used in a multitude of criminal cases. 34,000 criminal cases may have been affected Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has ordered a "file-by-file" review of every case handled by the chemist over ...

Massachusetts court: Nervousness does not justify police vehicle search Article provided by Carleen & Caramanica, P.C. Visit us at http://www.massfelonydefense.com Many drivers become understandably nervous when stopped by the police, even if they know they have done nothing wrong. Unfortunately for these individuals, the telltale signs of ordinary nervousness -- stammering, shakiness, sweating -- can easily be misinterpreted by police as an indication that a driver has something to hide. In a recent decision that may help put anxious drivers at ease, the Massachusetts ...

What you need to know about family-based immigrant visas Article provided by Law Offices of Garcia, Ramirez, and Pina Visit us at http://www.southtexasimmigration.com Foreign nationals can obtain a visa in the United States on the basis of a family relationship with a U.S. citizen. Specifically, foreign nationals can take advantage of Immediate Relative Immigrant Visas or Family Preference Immigrant Visas, depending upon the specifics of the relationship. Immediate Relative Immigrant Visas In order to obtain an Immediate Relative Immigrant Visa, also known ...

Court backlogs threaten efficiency of the immigration system Article provided by Law Offices of Garcia, Ramirez, and Pina Visit us at http://www.southtexasimmigration.com Recent news about the U.S. immigration courts may be cause for concern, both from a taxpayer standpoint and from the perspective of foreign nationals awaiting their day in court. According to a report issued by the Justice Department's inspector general, cases handled by U.S. immigration courts relating to deportation of undocumented immigrants are deeply flawed. Judges are finding it difficult ...

Why an attorney should be at the side of any disability applicant Article provided by Reyes & Reyes Law Firm, PLLC Visit us at http://www.reyesandreyesaustin.com No matter if you are seeking benefits through a state agency or from the federal Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs, the application process can be tedious, time-consuming and confusing. There are miles of proverbial red tape to wade through, myriad medical records that need to be compiled, exacting diagnosis criteria that must be proven and numerous ...