Marine biologists are beginning to understand the varied diving and foraging strategies of filter-feeding whales by analyzing data from multisensor tags attached to the animals with suction cups. Such tags, in combination with other techniques such as echolocation, are providing a wealth of fine detail about how the world's largest creatures find and trap their prey. Recent studies on the behavior of baleen whales—which filter small fish or invertebrate animals from seawater—are described in the February issue of BioScience. Jeremy A. Goldbogen of the Cascadia Research ...

New York (January 9, 2013) -- A new study by NYU School of Medicine researchers reveals that an especially virulent strain of the gut bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) isn't implicated in the overall death rate of the U.S. population, and may even protect against stroke and some cancers. The findings, based a nationwide health survey of nearly 10,000 individuals over a period of some 12 years, are published online, January 9, in the journal Gut. Those individuals carrying the most virulent strain of H. pylori, the study found, had a 55 percent reduced risk of ...

New law legalizes hands-free communication while driving It is no secret that Los Angeles residents spend a great deal of time on the highways. They may be happy to hear that a new law creates an exception to the ban on text-based communication. Under the exception, drivers may engage in hands-free texting and email if they are using voice-operated technology. Details of the new law California is the second state to legalize hands-free texting using voice-operated technology. Idaho was the first. Authors of the law, which takes effect on the first of January, say ...

Marijuana is legal in Washington, but driving under its influence is not In November 2012, Washington became one of only two states in the nation -- the other state is Colorado -- to legalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use. As of 12:01 a.m. on December 6, 2012, Washington ballot Initiative 502 (I-502) became law, and now anyone over 21 years old can legally possess up to one ounce of marijuana. How non-medicinal users of marijuana can legally obtain the substance, however, is still a gray area. While pro-legalization individuals celebrated ...

Maryland child custody basics Child custody decisions as a result of divorce can be complicated. Divorcing parents have leeway to make mutual decisions about child custody, but if they cannot agree, the court will step in to make the decision for them. Maryland child custody law There are two types of custody: physical and legal. Physical custody refers to the home where the child lives and making routine decisions about the child's day-to-day life. Legal custody is the right to make global, long-term decisions on behalf of the child, such as religious affiliation, ...

Tips for business owners to avoid tax audits Many people mistakenly believe that small businesses are less likely than larger companies to be audited by the Internal Revenue Service -- but this is not the case. In fact, the IRS often targets small companies for tax audits. Therefore, it is especially important for small business owners to take steps to protect themselves from the risk of an IRS audit. Declare all income As obvious as it may seem, one of the most common mistakes that result in tax audits for small business owners is failing to report their entire ...

The Push for Alimony Reform in New Jersey In June 2012, the New Jersey Assembly unanimously passed a bill to create a blue-ribbon commission to study the state's alimony laws and give recommendations to the legislature on how to update them. A companion bill is working its way through the New Jersey Senate. Supporters of the measure believe the time has come to modernize the state's alimony system to eliminate what many believe are injustices it causes. Activists are also pushing for more reform to the state's alimony laws. Commission Proposed to Study Alimony Laws The ...

Pennsylvania DOT Launches Safety Campaign to Curb Distracted Driving The act of driving is a more complicated task than many people realize. Driving requires the measurement of the distance of vehicles and objects in front, behind and to the side of the car, and it requires the simultaneous manipulation of the steering wheel and foot pedals to safely travel down the road. It is because driving is so complicated that distracted driving, such as reading a text or eating a burger while behind the wheel, poses such a hazard. According to the Pennsylvania Department of ...

Property owners must inspect for hazards Most Connecticut residents probably realize that being an owner or occupant of property carries certain responsibilities. A classic responsibility for homeowners is shoveling their sidewalks in winter so visitors don't slip. The responsibility an owner owes to most visitors to his or her property is called premises liability: the legal responsibility property occupants and owners have for injuries and accidents on their property. A recent incident in Bridgeport, Connecticut is illustrative of the issue of premises liability. ...

Dog Bite Liability in Connecticut: The Growing Focus on Pit Bulls Dog bite liability is a concern in Connecticut for more than the mail person. Anyone can be the victim of a dog bite and too often dog bite victims are small children. A dog bite can quickly result in a trip to the emergency room, and a serious dog bite can result in life-threatening injuries. In recent years certain dog breeds, such as pit bulls, have been identified as being more dangerous than other breeds, and the idea is now leading to more legal scrutiny regarding the owners of such breeds. The highest ...

A Brief Overview of Probate in Ohio When a loved one passes away, it can be hard to transition to addressing the affairs of the estate after remembrance. The administration of a deceased loved one's estate can involve the probate process, which determines how a person's assets are apportioned after death according to his or her will and state law. This article provides a brief overview of the Ohio probate process to help familiarize those who will go through the process. What is Probate? Probate is a legal proceeding that administers certain types of assets and ...

Out-of-state DUI effects on Las Vegas tourists When most tourists think about Las Vegas, they conjure up images of gambling, spectacular shows, and free food and alcohol. Yet, tourists would be wise to remember that rules don't go out the window once they land in Las Vegas, and that a DUI conviction has harsh penalties in the state of Nevada. Implications and penalties for an out-of-state DUI DUI charges occur in every state, regardless of whether the recipient is an in-state or out-of-state resident. Although the legal blood alcohol limit of .08 percent is the ...

Nevada drug court celebrates 20th anniversary The Nevada court system recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of the establishment of its drug courts. The celebration highlighted the enormous gains made by both the participants in drug court and the state. 20 years of drug court in Nevada The ceremony was held in October at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas. It featured a keynote speech by the Nevada Supreme Court Chief Justice, who stated, that compared to other court programs, the Nevada drug courts boast the highest impact on the criminal justice system, ...

Foreclosure prevention law takes effect in Massachusetts Last August, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick signed a bill that contains certain requirements to give more protection to struggling homeowners. For example, if a loan is considered risky, the lender must offer modifications to the borrower before foreclosure. Also, home mortgage lenders are banned from pursuing foreclosure if they do not have the correct documentation. The major provision that will help many homeowners requires the lender to determine whether the net value of modifying the loan exceeds ...

Does homeowners insurance cover fire damage? This fall, wildfires in the Wenatchee National Forest to the northeast of Kings County, Washington, caused thousands of acres to burn and threatened hundreds of homes. Unfortunately, some of these succumbed to the blaze, leading to lots of clean-up and rebuilding for homeowners. Some homeowners may think they must go it alone with covering costs of fire damage. However, most homeowners' insurance policies cover fire and smoke damage and even total destruction from fires. Filing a claim can be complicated, so it is important ...

A living will: an important but often overlooked estate planning document When most people think of estate planning, they think of preparing a document like a will or perhaps a trust. However, when considering their estate plan, many people fail to plan for the possibility that they may be unable to communicate with their doctors about the care that they wish to receive. It is therefore important that Pennsylvania residents consider including an advance health care declaration among their estate planning documents. What is an advance health care declaration? An ...

Some public benefits impact SSDI amounts Being disabled and unable to earn a living wage can be discouraging. New Jersey residents who are receiving payments from Social Security Disability Insurance rely on these benefits for the necessities of day-to-day life. Anything that might reduce the amount of SSDI benefits is a matter for concern. Benefits may be affected by other payments Recipients of SSDI need to be aware that the amount of SSDI benefits they receive could be diminished if they are receiving benefits from another source. People who are receiving Supplemental ...

Appealing a claim for disability People in New Jersey who live with disabilities may be eligible for financial assistance from the federal Social Security Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income programs. Receiving assistance is not automatic, and for some people it can be a long road. What to do when a claim is denied The first step in obtaining help from SSDI or SSI is to file a claim. The Social Security Administration will decide whether or not to grant benefits and will inform the claimant by mail. The letter will explain reasons for denying a ...

Credit scores and getting out of debt Millions of people use credit cards every day for a variety of purchases such as groceries, clothing and entertainment, and many of them are struggling with credit card debt. That debt can greatly affect people's credit scores to an extent that they may not be aware. Surprising behaviors thataffect credit scores Credit scores fluctuate more than one would think. VantageScore Solutions reports that about 70 percent of credit scores can change, up or down, by about 20 points during a 90-day time span. In fact, consumers may be ...

The division of property in a divorce Many people going through a divorce have questions about how property will be divided between spouses. How property is divided during a person's divorce depends on a number of factors that are unique to each person's situation. Although going through a divorce is an emotionally difficult time, knowing what to expect in terms of property division can help ease some of the anxiety. In some cases, people who are getting a divorce are able to do so amicably, and issues of property division can be decided between the spouses. In other ...

Wisconsin man killed in motorcycle accident Recently, a man from Milwaukee was killed when a car hit his motorcycle in Washington County. The man was only 27 years old. He died in the hospital. The driver that hit him left the crash uninjured. There were 4,502 motorcyclists killed in 2010, and 82,000 more were injured in accidents. There are many things motorcyclists can do to stay safe on the road, but drivers need to do their part as well to make sure they are looking out for motorcyclists and sharing the road. Motorcyclists travel fewest miles but have high ...

Milwaukee County installing LED signs on highways Wisconsin residents in Milwaukee County saw an average of 33 occurrences of wrong-way driving per year from 2006 to 2012. Accidents resulting from these events are needless and unnecessary. They are also very dangerous because cars are heading straight at each other head-on at high speeds. The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office, along with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, is trying to prevent these types of accidents by adding LED warnings signs and real-time notification alerts to the county's roadways. Blinking ...

The Impact of a Medical Safety Device System The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently developed a safety system that will eventually place a label with a unique identification number on every medical device coming into the market. This procedure holds promise to revamp the current system and create a much more efficient process for both patients and health care providers should those medical devices malfunction or otherwise harm patients. New Medical Device Identification System In addition to the product's batch and serial number, the new label will also ...

Planning for nursing home and long-term care According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, anyone aged 65 or older will have a 40 percent chance of needing nursing home care. Medicare estimates that over 12 million Americans will need some form of long-term care by 2020. The baby boomer generation is approaching the time when many A Metlife survey found that the average daily rate nationwide is an astounding $248 for a single bed. A semi-private room is not significantly lower at $222 per month. Assisted living facilities are also expensive, costing ...

What Colorado drivers should know about DUI Colorado motorists who consume alcohol before driving may find themselves under the scrutiny of law enforcement. Once apprehended, persons suspected of DUI face administrative and criminal penalties if they are found guilty. What police look for Colorado State Patrol officers are trained to watch for signs that a driver may be legally impaired by alcohol or drugs. Officers are likely to pull a vehicle over if they observe any of these maneuvers: -drifting across lanes or crowding the center line -swerving or weaving ...