The coconut (the fruit of the palm Cocos nucifera) is the Swiss Army knife of the plant kingdom; in one neat package it provides a high-calorie food, potable water, fiber that can be spun into rope, and a hard shell that can be turned into charcoal. What's more, until it is needed for some other purpose it serves as a handy flotation device. No wonder people from ancient Austronesians to Captain Bligh pitched a few coconuts aboard before setting sail. (The mutiny of the Bounty is supposed to have been triggered by Bligh's harsh punishment of the theft of coconuts from ...

Much has been written in recent years about the positive impact apologies may have in civil litigation, from personal injury cases like car accidents to medical malpractice. One of the foremost advocates of this idea, Professor Jennifer Robbennold of the University of Illinois College of Law, has published the results of a variety of empirical studies showing that apologies effectively encourage settlement of civil disputes. But practical barriers to getting defense counsel to encourage clients to apologize exist. The biggest issue is the fact that such hearsay can be ...

Every winter, weather forecasters talk about the snow cover in the northern U.S. and into Canada as a factor in how deep the deep-freeze will be in the states. A new study by researchers at the University of Georgia indicates they may be looking, at least partially, in the wrong place. It turns out that snow piling up over a band of frozen tundra from Siberia to far-northern Europe may have as much effect on the climate of the U.S. as the much-better-known El Niño and La Niña. The new work, just published in the International Journal of Climatology, reports that to ...

When automobile accidents occur, drivers or their insurance companies, or both, are typically liable for any injury or property damage. However, when minor drivers are involved in car accidents, who is responsible for the resulting costs? In some states, like Colorado, the liability may fall on the parents, who may or may not have heard about a law known as the family car doctrine. Parents should know this law's main points and how to financially protect themselves if their children are involved in automobile accidents while driving. Family Car Doctrine About 20 ...

New Rochelle, NY, June 24, 2011—Basal insulin analogs have revolutionized diabetes care, and especially the treatment of type 2 diabetes, enabling patients to achieve better control of blood glucose levels while reducing hypoglycemic episodes. These revolutionary, long-acting basal insulin analogs, intended to replace the natural insulin missing in diabetes, and infusion pumps that provide subcutaneous, continuous delivery of insulin to mimic the function of a normal pancreas, are described in a special supplement to Diabetes Technology & Therapeutics, a peer-reviewed journal ...

PruHealth customers can now collect up to 200 Nectar points and 10 Vitality points each week when buying GBP20 worth of healthy foods* during the weekly shop at Sainsbury's, under PruHealth's new and exclusive partnership with Nectar, the largest loyalty programme in the UK. Enhancing PruHealth's existing partnership with Sainsbury's**, the innovative insurer that rewards healthy behaviour has become Nectar's exclusive healthcare partner within the programme. Policyholders with Nectar membership can now receive 10 Nectar points per GBP1 spent in Sainsbury's on over ...

They can be found everywhere—organized communities of bacteria sticking to surfaces both inside and outside the body. These biofilms are responsible for some of the most virulent, antibiotic-resistant infections in humans; however, scientific understanding of how these communities develop is lacking. A recent study led by a Syracuse University biologist sheds new light on the process. The scientists discovered that a complex cascade of enhancer binding proteins (EBPs) is responsible for turning on genes that initiate the formation of a biofilm. The study was published ...

PITTSBURGH, June 24 – The life expectancy of people diagnosed with type 1 diabetes dramatically increased during the course of a 30-year, long-term prospective study, according to a University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health study being presented at the 71st Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association. The life expectancy for participants diagnosed with type 1 diabetes between 1965 and 1980 was 68.8 years – a 15-year improvement, compared to those diagnosed between 1950 and 1964, according to the study. Meanwhile, the life expectancy of the ...

Molton Brown has announced it will be launching a limited edition mini shower gel set for summer 2011. The Mini Treats - Global Set is exclusive to Molton Brown, and will only be available for a limited time between the 20th June 2011 and the 13th July 2011. The shower gel set is made up of ten 50ml bottles of some of Molton Brown's most popular shower gels and bathing products, including items from the best-selling Black Pepper and Heavenly Gingerlily ranges. The smaller sized bottles are ideal for summer travel and include a variety of scents designed for different ...

NASA satellite imagery revealed that Haima has regained minimal tropical storm status with some powerful thunderstorms south of its center. Haima is moving west through the Gulf of Tonkin in the South China Sea between Hainan Island and Vietnam and is expected to bring heavy rains to Vietnam this weekend. On June 24. 2011 at 0600 UTC (2 a.m. EDT), Tropical Storm Haima's winds were back up to 35 knots (40 mph/65 kmh) making it a minimal tropical storm. Haima is headed west-southwest at 10 knots (11 mph/19 kmh). Its center was near 20.3 North and 107.0 East about 90 nautical ...

PruHealth, the insurer that rewards people for engaging in healthy behaviour, has adopted what it believes to be a more sustainable and transparent commission model which rewards long-term partnerships with brokers and aims to deliver lasting client value. From April 2011, all Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) new business has been written on a 10:10 commission* basis, with 10% initial commission and 10% at each renewal. Speaking at the Laing and Buisson conference, Dave Priestly, sales director at PruHealth, argued: "The current market focus on low new business ...

There are going to be two landfalling tropical cyclones in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean basin this weekend, Haima in Vietnam and Tropical Storm Meari in North Korea. NASA infrared satellite imagery today shows the Meari is stronger than Haima. Tropical Storm Haima has maximum sustained winds near 35 knots (40 mph/65 kmh) making it a minimal tropical storm tracking toward Vietnam. Tropical Storm Meari is a stronger storm, with maximum sustained winds near 55 knots (63 mph/101 kmh). At 1500 UTC (11 a.m. EDT) on June 24 Meari's center was about 250 nautical miles southwest ...

CORPUS CHRISTI – As billion-dollar agricultural losses continue to mount in the withering Texas heat, Texas AgriLife Research scientists in Corpus Christi are taking a closer look at why some cotton varieties do better than others in drought conditions. "We want to better understand those traits that control water use in plants so we can transfer that information to breeders and geneticists to more quickly develop drought-tolerant cultivars so badly needed here," said Dr. Carlos Fernandez, a plant physiologist at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Corpus ...

Leading gambling guide, Casino Online, has reviewed the new Sterling Silver 3D slot by the popular Microgaming software. The original 2D version of Sterling Silver is one of all time Microgaming's popular slots - however many experts believe that the latest 3D model will mark a new type of online slots and likely to be a massively popular area of online gaming. No doubt that the 5 reel and 25 payline slot machine catches the eye, with the reels, symbols and interface all embossed in pure silver. As you spin for matching symbols lining up across selected paylines if ...

Mortgage rates remained relatively unchanged this past week after moving lower for seven of the previous eight weeks according to ForTheBestRate.com, a popular consumer mortgage rate research website. The company reports that mortgage rates advertised in the rate tables displayed on the site are still at or below lows not seen since the end of 2010, with current posted 15 year mortgage rates as low as 3.250% (3.557% APR, Lender: Amerisave, as of 6/23/2011). Freddie Mac, a government sponsored enterprise that purchases residential mortgage loans in the secondary market, ...

A deviated septum is when the wall that divides your nostrils does not run straight down the middle, but turns slightly to one side or the other. This deviation can constrict one or both nostrils, and can lead to a number of chronic symptoms that can diminish your quality of life. It is estimated that perhaps 80% of all people have a deviated septum. Are you one of them? Some of the more common deviated septum symptoms include: - Nasal blockage - Nasal congestion - Facial pain and sinus headaches - Postnasal drip - Frequent nosebleeds - Frequent sinus infections - ...

The high energy spirits in stock markets found a sharp stop in March while initially unrest in the Middle East delivered the cost of oil leaping and therefore the earthquake in Japan generated much larger hesitation regarding leads to the global economic climate. The FTSE 100 reacted by shedding 7% in two weeks - from three March to 16 March. Atlantic International Partnership (AIP) offers a comprehensive service giving you, AIP investors and entrepreneurs access to Marketplaces in your region and around the World. AIP investors are uniquely dynamic individuals or ...

One-day horticultural workshops run by the BonsaiTreeArt.com and OrchidSociety.com: Bonsai Tree Care Workshop The workshop covers the essentials of the bonsai tree care, display and marketing. Basic bonsai care varies considerably depending on source species. This one day workshop will examine specifics of growing Chinese Elm, Japanese Juniper and Pine. The workshop also covers the history of bonsai, along with advice on pruning, potting, training, creating, and displaying them. This workshop program targets bonsai tree enthusiasts looking for additional source of income ...

Ruggero Leoncavallo's Pagliacci has been adapted by Daniele Finzi Pasca and will be staged at Naples's Teatro di San Carlo in July. Using the original libretto and music by the 19th century Italian composer, Finzi Pasca has created a completely separate spectacle that utilises dreamlike atmosphere and elements of clown acting. The director is well-known for such imaginative concepts, having worked on projects with the Cirque du Soleil and Cirque Eloize. Kristin Lewis, Carl Tanner, Dario Solari, Francesco Marsiglia and Simone Piazzola will be the on-stage talent, ...

London's Piccadilly Theatre is hosting Ghost The Musical, a stage adaptation of the popular 1990s movie. The original film by Jerry Zucker saw Patrick Swayze's supernatural form communicate with his partner, played by Demi Moore, via Whoopi Goldberg's psychic. Richard Fleeshman and Caissie Levy will take on Swayze and Moore's parts in the musical version of the story, while Sharon D Clarke will fill Goldberg's shoes. As young lovers Sam and Molly, the pair are completely happy together until Sam is murdered. In a statement, the organisers remarked: "Ghost ...

The Musee d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris (MaM) is offering travellers the chance to get to know a stunning artistic talent by the name of Marc Desgrandchamps. It will be on show until September 4th 2011 and includes a range of work by the Frenchman, from some of his early images in the 1980s to his most recent creations. Desgrandchamps's paintings often have explicit references to cinema, giving them a wider appeal and achieving a peculiar drama within each scene. There is an alluring combination of fantasy and reality in his paintings, which has become even ...

The seventh edition of Nocturama is to be held at Seville's Centro Andaluz de Arte Contemporaneo (CAAC) this summer. From June 30th to September 1st there is a packed programme of musical entertainment scheduled every Wednesday and Thursday. The 2011 theme involves looking at music and songs as a form of social transformation. Kicking off proceedings on the first day of the festival will be Basia Bulat, a Canadian folk singer who often performs with an autoharp. Binary Audio Misfits, Pelle Carlberg, Lonely Drifter Karen and Nudozurdo are among the bands who ...

TV's greatest talent search is back and the national prime time debut is marked by the appearance of one of America's best young magicians, Michael Turco. Turco has made quite a name for himself in the NJ/NY area and has taken that fame to the casino's of Atlantic City where he has headlined shows at both Bally's,The Hilton and for Caesar's Entertainment. With the talent search open to acts of all ages, America's Got Talent has brought the variety format back to the forefront of American culture by showcasing performers from across the country.With hundreds of thousands ...

Heralding a new era in day spas, The Institute (www.thestevensinstitute.com) at Plastic Surgery Associates, a well-known skin care center in Los Angeles, opened its doors as the world's first medi-spa 15 years ago. Serving as a model for medical day spas nationally, The Institute was the first of its kind to provide a variety of health and beauty services never before offered in a combined beauty/plastic surgery environment. Dubbed the 'oasis for medical makeovers' by Ms. Charlie Sheridan, the Institute's director, has expanded and grown into a first-class, full service, ...

Sun Protection Zone, the leading provider of comprehensive sun protection products, is enthusiastic to make a donation to Concern Foundation's silent auction for the 37th Annual Block Party Fundraiser, Dancing in the Streets. This important event will take place on July 9, 2011 in the back lot of Paramount Studios in Hollywood. The Block Party will honor numerous cancer survivors with the goal to raise awareness and funds for this imperative cause. Concern organizers estimate the event will raise over 2 million dollars to support cancer research. "Sun Protection ...