The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released the second-round draft version of its updated security standard for identity credentials in the Personal Identity Verification cards (PIV cards) that all federal employees and contractors must use. NIST is requesting comments from the public on the document, which is intended to be the last draft before the final version is published. The document is the next step toward updating Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 201, which was published in February 2005. Among its requirements are that ...

BALTIMORE, MD – As interest in concussion rates and prevention strategies at all levels continues to grow, one population that appears to have increasing head injury rates is collegiate football players. Research presented today at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's (AOSSM) Annual Meeting in Baltimore highlights that the concussion rate in three college football programs has doubled in recent years. "We monitored concussions at three service academies in the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 football seasons, and saw the combined number of reports increased ...

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Scientists have discovered two viruses that appear to infect the single-celled microalgae that reside in corals and are important for coral growth and health, and they say the viruses could play a role in the serious decline of coral ecosystems around the world. These viruses, including an RNA virus never before isolated from a coral, have been shown for the first time to clearly be associated with these microalgae called Symbiodinium. If it's proven that they are infecting those algae and causing disease, it will be another step toward understanding ...

BALTIMORE, MD – Surgically repairing a painful shoulder injury in baseball players known as a SLAP tear (superior labral) varies widely and often doesn't allow for return to play at the same level as before the injury. However, researchers presenting their findings at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland suggest that nonsurgical treatment may be more beneficial. "Our research showed that nonsurgical treatment of SLAP tears was more often successful than surgery, and in position players more frequently than for ...

The paintings of American artist Arnold Gonzales are steeped in a rich sense of family, culture and heritage. Varying in style and theme, Gonzales' works are timeless, speaking to a diversity of traditions through smooth, lyrical, painterly forms. Despite his abundant thematic scope, the artist always approaches his canvases in the same manner, imbuing his subjects with a desire to connect and thus relate to his viewers. Smooth yet palpable textures compose calmly bucolic landscapes, while poetically hewn figures compose intimate portraits. No matter his subject or style, ...

Charming Walls, a new ecommerce website, announces its official launch today. The site, http://www.charmingwalls.com, features a collection of home decor items exclusively for walls. Product categories include wall clocks, mirrors, picture frames, candleholders, hooks, shelves, signs and tapestries. A large variety of wall art is also available ranging from contemporary canvas art to framed prints. "We've created Charming Walls as a single source for everything 'wall decor' which is a unique approach," explains Founder and President Kimberly Brandt. "We're ...

The non-profit VisionServe Alliance, whose executive members directly represent every aspect of services to people who are blind or visually impaired, has received the 2012 "Chairman's Award" from Chicago-based First Nonprofit Insurance Company for 25 years of accomplishments and service. Roxann Mayros, president and CEO of VisionServe Alliance, said, "We are honored to receive the 2012 'Chairman's Award' from First Nonprofit Insurance Company for our work in representing the interests of organizations that serve people who are blind or visually impaired, ...

As part of an ongoing commitment to giving back to the community, Sydney's boutique graphic design agency Attractivo has launched Pro Bono Initiative 2012. Dedicated to utilising the design agency's creative skills to helping others, Attractivo's goal with this program is to support 30 not-for-profit organisations and charities by the year 2015. Exclusively for Australian NPOs and charities, part of the Attractivo Pro Bono Intiative program is the Pro Bono Annual Report Design Service. With this initiative, Attractivo is offering pro bono service for the design of ...

1% Realty San Antonio is proud to announce that a couple whose remodeled home brought Alamo Heights into the national spotlight will see their latest work showcased again, as part of Jefferson Bank's Tour of Homes. Award-winning architect Ryan Jones, AIA, and his wife Jennifer were featured on a 2008 episode of HGTV's "My House Is Worth What?" for the work they had done on their former home. Their latest project, also located in the heart of Alamo Heights, will be spotlighted in the Tour of Homes, an event allowing brokers and agents an opportunity to preview ...

Iroff and Son Jewelers, a leading diamond engagement ring jeweler located in the Atlanta suburb of Alpharetta, GA, today announced that they are hosting a bridal and engagement ring show and sale on July 28th and 29th, 2012. The show is being sponsored by Artcarved rings. "We are very excited to have this show hosted at our location," said Brian Iroff, owner of Iroff and Son. "Artcarved has an excellent brand, with an amazing selection of beautiful diamond rings to choose from. They will be bringing over 1000 different styles and combinations to the show, ...

Founder/CEO Mario Ricciardelli today announced the launch of HipHost (http://www.hiphost.com), a peer-to-peer marketplace for customized tours hosted by locals. Aimed at helping travelers connect with a friend in every city, HipHost's growing community consists of nearly 1,000 local hosts in more than 100 cities worldwide. Travelers can browse and select from hundreds of existing options, or post requests for tours and receive customized offers from local hosts, resulting in one-of-a-kind, local experiences for both tourists and guides. From a NYC Wine and Cupcake tour ...

Don't press that neuralyzer just yet until you see the extraordinary technology solutions for trade shows and events that will be exhibited. On July 25-26, Imagine Xhibits INC., is hosting the #TSTS'12, Trade Show Technology Summit, at the Richardson Civic Center, located at 411 West Arapaho Road Richardson, TX 75080. #TSTS'12 is the premier showcase for technology used in events and tradeshows that happens only once every year. The Future of trade shows is unveiled by industry leaders gathered under one roof for this two day event. Imagine being able to control and manage ...

ELECTRONICS.CA PUBLICATIONS, the electronics industry market research and knowledge network, announces the availability of a new report entitled "Energy Harvesting and Related Energy Storage Devices: Worldwide Forecasts". Although Energy Harvesting is still an emerging industry, it is already providing opportunities for a number of industries and applications. In this 88-page quantitative report over 50 illustrations are presented depicting a variety of growth rates, market shares, technology comparisons and other relevant information. The focus of this comprehensive ...

One of the ways the U.S. rewards its service members for their efforts is by offering various pension benefits to veterans and providing extra help to those who are disabled. One form of veterans' pension benefits is Aid & Attendance benefits. Veterans and military members should be aware of these benefits so they can incorporate them into their overall position for disability and estate planning. Aid & Attendance Benefits The Veterans' Administration offers Aid & Attendance benefits as part of its "Improved Pension plan." Aid & Attendance ...

Something that many small business owners worry about it how their businesses will survive after the original owners die. Business owners often want to have their businesses pass down through generations of the family so that all of the hard work and dedication that it took to make the business thrive can live on. However, the changes that may come to estate taxes at the end of 2012 might make it more difficult for small business owners to protect assets from taxes and keep their businesses going through the generations. Current Estate Tax The I.R.S. defines the estate ...

When the Arizona court enters a child support award, the judge determines the amount of child support based on the economic circumstances of the parents at the time of the order. However, as the saying goes, the only constant in life is change. As time passes many parents need the court to review the amount of child support they pay or receive and adjust it because their circumstances have changed since the initial order. Child Support Modification A child support modification is a formal request to the court to alter the amount of money that a parent pays or receives ...

A man from Hickory, North Carolina, was released from prison recently after serving more than 24 years for a crime he has always maintained he did not commit. Now 65 years old, Willie Grimes was convicted and sentenced to life in prison in 1988 for the rape of a 69-year-old woman. In April 2012, however, the North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission decided unanimously that there is enough credible evidence of his innocence to warrant a review of his conviction by a three-judge panel later this year. If all three judges agree that Grimes is innocent, his conviction ...

Until recently, the California state Medi-Cal insurance program covered home health care services to disabled children. The program paid for home nurses to administer medications, handle feedings and provide other treatment for children whose disabilities require skilled care, allowing them to remain at home. In July 2011, the Gold Coast Health Plan took over the administration of the Medi-Cal plan in Ventura County, and was charged with containing costs. Families feared there could be changes in coverage. Gold Coast has begun the process of determining which patients ...

Aurovine - the music platform offering the best artist payouts on the web, today launched their first official public version of their website. In Beta since May 22nd, Aurovine have been listening to artist requests and making improvements to the site on a daily basis. The site offers a unique and rewarding way for bands and fans to interact instantly and enables artists to sell music directly to the fans with every transaction immediately paid out into their paypal accounts. "We bring the bands directly to the fans with no need for complicated aggregators, middle ...

According to home staging expert Debra Gould, people entering the home staging industry often end up wasting thousands of dollars on low-quality training programs. On the Home Staging Business Report blog, Gould warns home stagers what to watch out for. "Many companies claiming to offer home staging credentials are led by people who have never earned a living as home stagers," says Gould. "If you don't think that matters, consider how likely they are to teach you things that work in the real world." According to Gould, home stagers often choose ...

With growing public awareness that child sexual abuse is far more prevalent than previously believed, many parents are wondering how to protect their kids from sexual predators. As many as one in three girls and one in seven boys will be sexually abused at some point in their childhood, according to "Stop It Now!," an organization that aims to prevent sexual abuse of children by "mobilizing adults, families and communities to take actions that protect children before they are harmed." "Parents must be aware of the fact that most sexual abuse ...

MaxiAids Products for Independent Living, http://www.MaxiAids.com, leading distributor of items for the blind and visually impaired, deaf and hearing impaired and seniors, will be exhibiting at the AER (Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired) International Conference, July 18-20 in Bellevue, Washington. The AER conference brings low vision rehabilitation therapists, counselors and other vision professionals together in a forum where they can exchange ideas and learn from each other, as well as attend scheduled sessions. The ultimate ...

NextLot's online bidding software has been monumental in transforming heavy equipment and farm equipment auctions in Canada. As the industry grows, the popularity of online bidding is on the rise. The secret to the success of these auctions has been the convenience of a bidder being able to bid in real-time on equipment from their homes or offices. NextLot has partnered with multiple auctioneers in Canada to provide a bidder-friendly system to bidders around the world. In the first half of 2012, NextLot noticed a steady growth in online participation throughout Canada. ...

For the first time the whitening cream for intimate zones Intilight has appeared in Russia. An official distributor of the product is Wiam Ltd. (Intilight.ru). It gives many women and men an opportunity to make their body even more beautiful and to take advantage of the innovative product for intimate and skin sensitive zone whitening. The detailed information about the product and its applying, producer and effect is given on site Intilight.ru which is the product official site in RuNet. Cream Intilight is a new level of the intimate hygiene. Today, the body beauty ...

The Candy Cottage, a ready-to-decorate, no bake, reusable gingerbread house, has officially launched The Candy Cottage Party Pack. Appealing to a broader market with the same concept in mind, the new Party Pack comes as a set of four, snap together, ready-to-decorate mini gingerbread houses. The new Party Pack is available just in time for the 2012 holiday season. Aimed at helping families make memories as sweet as their decorated creations, The Candy Cottage - created by two North Carolina moms - has introduced a new way for families and friends to celebrate and spend ...