On September 20, 2011, seventeen people were injured when a building scaffold collapsed onto a city bus in Harlem. Fortunately, the injuries of the scaffolding accident were minor, because the people waiting at the bus stop got on the bus moments before the collapse. The Department of Building had issued a stop-work order and will be issuing violations to the demolition contractor. Not only can innocent bystanders be injured in scaffolding accidents, those who work in construction are also at risk. Construction is physically demanding and dangerous work. In 2009, 29 ...

Vampires on the True Blood television series are already enjoying the advantages of synthetic blood. While this may seem to be only the imagination on the big screen, the true benefits of blood manufactured from embryonic stem cells may be less than a decade away. It is unclear however whether society can develop an acceptance of cultured blood - or an appetite for synthetic meat produced by related technology. For this reason it is vital the public has every opportunity to get involved with the latest developments in stem cell research, say researchers from the Economic ...

Young adults who were born prematurely show multiple biological signs of risks to future health, research from Imperial College London has found. The scientists, reporting their findings tomorrow in the journal Pediatric Research, say that the research indicates that urgent work is now needed to monitor preterm babies into adulthood to improve the detection of early signs of disease. The study of 48 volunteers aged 18-27 found that those who were born at 33 weeks of gestation or less had higher blood pressure, more fat tissue despite having a normal Body Mass Index, and ...

A new study has shown that racehorses are extremely sensitive to changes in daily light and, contrary to humans, can adapt very quickly to sudden shifts in the 24-hour light-dark cycle, such as those resulting from a transmeridian flight, with unexpected benefits on their physical performance. The research led by academics in the University of Bristol's Faculty of Medical and Veterinary Sciences is published in the Journal of Neuroendocrinology. This is the first study of its kind to investigate the effects of jetlag on the physiology and performance of racehorses ...

Despite substantial reductions in the hospital death rates for heart attack patients across all age groups, there are still worrying inequalities in heart attack management for the elderly, a new study has shown. The research, carried out by the University of Leeds, UK and funded by the British Heart Foundation, showed that the risk of a heart patient dying in hospital almost halved across all age groups between 2003 and 2010. Specialist treatments – such as coronary angioplasty – to open blocked or narrowed arteries that supply blood to the heart are also much more widely ...

The research program AQUA Palawana has been exploring the unique freshwater biodiversity of the Philippine Island and biosphere reserve of Palawan for more than a decade. Scientists from the Senckenberg Museum of Zoology Dresden and the Bavarian State Collections of Zoology in Munich have now described larvae and a new species of the curious Spider Water Beetles (Ancyronyx) from this biodiversity hotspot. Their study was realized in cooperation with the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development and the De La Salle University Manila. The scientists conducting this study, ...

The relationship between personal injury law and workers' compensation law requires careful explanation. The New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division's decision in McDaniel v. Lee shows how the court applied the State's Workers' Compensation Act in a motor vehicle accident case to bar a third-party lawsuit against the plaintiff's co-worker. This is known as the fellow-servant rule, which provides an injured employee's co-workers with immunity from personal injury lawsuits. Although workers' compensation claims are handled differently than personal injury lawsuits, ...

As planktonic organisms the larvae of the marine annelid Platynereis swim freely in the open water. They move by activity of their cilia, thousands of tiny hair-like structures forming a band along the larval body and beating coordinately. With changing environmental conditions the larvae swim upward and downward to their appropriate water depth. Scientists of the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology in Tübingen, Germany have now identified some signalling substances in the larval nervous system regulating swimming depth of the larvae. These substances influence ...

DURHAM, N.H. – Persistent high poverty is most prevalent among children, with those living in rural America disproportionally impacted, according to researchers from the Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire. "Nearly 22 percent of America's children live in poverty, compared with 14 percent of the total population. Poverty is scattered and geographically concentrated, and it ebbs and flows with economic cycles. However, in some parts of the country, poverty has persisted for generations," the researchers said. Areas with persistent high child poverty are ...

When you are in debt and fail to make timely payments, creditors may take steps to collect money directly from your paycheck. Known as wage garnishment, this legal tool can take a substantial bite out of your earnings. The Wage Garnishment Process Before wage garnishment occurs, a court must authorize it. A creditor will ask for a court order to compel payment. If you have stopped repaying the debt, the court can issue a judgment against you. Next, the creditor will place the judgment and an accompanying garnishment order in the hands of your local sheriff's department. ...

Many Americans do not have access to a "medical home"—a physician practice that is able to manage ongoing care for patients and coordinate care among specialists and other health care facilities, according to a University of Michigan Health System-led study. The study revealed that nearly half (46%) of physician practices do not meet national standards to qualify as a medical home. "Our study findings are particularly worrisome because the medical home model of care is seen as providing higher quality, more cost-efficient care" said John Hollingsworth, M.D., M.S., the ...

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- The ability to see through walls is no longer the stuff of science fiction, thanks to new radar technology developed at MIT's Lincoln Laboratory. Much as humans and other animals see via waves of visible light that bounce off objects and then strike our eyes' retinas, radar "sees" by sending out radio waves that bounce off targets and return to the radar's receivers. But just as light can't pass through solid objects in quantities large enough for the eye to detect, it's hard to build radar that can penetrate walls well enough to show what's happening ...

The Supreme Court of California recently denied plaintiff Rebecca Howell full compensation for her medical expenses from Hamilton Meats & Provisions, the company whose truck struck Hamilton's vehicle while making an illegal u-turn. As a result of the accident, Howell suffered through two spinal surgeries, among other medical treatments. The initial bill for her medical expenses came to almost $190,000. Fortunately, Howell had the foresight to purchase health insurance to cover unforeseen medical costs like these, but doing so denied her almost $130,000. It turned ...

Cyber war, long considered by many experts within the defence establishment to be a significant threat, if not an ongoing one, may never take place according to Dr Thomas Rid of King's College London. In a paper published in The Journal of Strategic Studies, Dr Thomas Rid, from the Department of War Studies, argues that cyber warfare has never taken place, nor is it currently doing so and it is unlikely to take place in the future. Dr Rid said: 'The threat intuitively makes sense: almost everybody has an iPhone, an email address and a Facebook account. We feel vulnerable ...

Geneticists at Emory University School of Medicine have demonstrated a method that enables the routine amplification of all the genes on the X chromosome. The technology allows the rapid and highly accurate sequencing and identification of novel genetic variants affecting X chromosome genes. The method, developed in cooperation with RainDance Technologies (www.RainDanceTech.com), is described in the Oct. 2011 issue of Genomics. Senior author Michael Zwick, PhD, assistant professor of human genetics at Emory University School of Medicine, is using the method to identify ...

A well-known collection of historical texts, the Cairo Genizah is one of the most valuable sources of primary documents for medieval historians and religious scholars. The 350,000 fragments found in the Genizah include not only religious texts, but also social and commercial documents, dating from the 9th to 19th century. But the collection is scattered among 70 institutions worldwide, including libraries in Cambridge, Jerusalem, and New York City, and scholars are hampered by both the wide dispersal of the collection as well as their fragmentary condition. Now researchers ...

Homeowners continue to feel the effects of the recession as banks drag their feet to foreclose on properties that have long been abandoned. While this does not normally cause an additional financial impact to homeowners -- especially those who have already filed bankruptcy -- some borrowers who previously paid homeowners association (HOA) fees will still be liable for these charges until the foreclosure is complete and the bank takes ownership of a property. Homeowners who experience this should consult a foreclosure and bankruptcy attorney. Why Are Homeowners Liable ...

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) leads to persistent inflammation of the airways and is typically managed with corticosteroids, a class of anti-inflammatory medication. However, corticosteroids do not improve survival nor alter the progression of COPD and may reduce lung symptoms as little as 20 percent. A new study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, found why corticosteroids do not work well for COPD patients and how additional treatment with sulforaphane—an ingredient of broccoli and other vegetables—can improve the ...

The law regarding same-sex couples and marital status is beginning to change rapidly in many parts of the country. New Jersey has been no exception. In 2004, the New Jersey Legislature passed a domestic partnership law. In 2007, it enacted a law allowing civil unions. New Jersey also recognizes same-sex marriages performed out-of-state. Gay and lesbian couples in New Jersey today can choose whether to register their domestic partnership to receive some of the rights and obligations of marriage or apply for a civil union license to receive substantially all the rights ...

Microscopic animals that live in soils are as diverse in the tropical forests of Costa Rica as they are in the arid grasslands of Kenya, or the tundra and boreal forests of Alaska and Sweden. That conclusion is found in research results published today in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Scientists have generally accepted that a wider range of species can be found above ground at the equator than at the Earth's poles. But this study proves for the first time that the same rules don't apply to the nematodes, mites and springtails living ...

The Hilton Garden Inn Hotel in Columbia SC (Northeast) offers convenient lodging to architects attending the AIASC 2011 Fall Conference. The event will take place October 20-22 at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. The conference is open to members of the American Institute of Architects - South Carolina Chapter. The group is comprised of over 900 people including licensed architects, emerging professionals and allied partners who are committed to excellence in design and livability for South Carolina's buildings and communities. The AIASC Conference workshop ...

A new study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy and Columbia University finds alcohol-related fatal motor vehicle crashes in the U.S. are much lower among drivers with Canadian licenses than drivers with U.S. or Mexican licenses. The prevalence of alcohol involvement in fatal crashes was 27 percent for both U.S. and Mexican drivers, and 11 percent for Canadian drivers. Similarly, alcohol impairment was found in 23 percent of U.S. and Mexican drivers and 8 percent of Canadian drivers involved in a fatal crash. Research from other countries ...

The Hampton Inn & Suites Atlanta Airport Hotel (North I-85) is offering special savings rates for government and military employees to enjoy. Guests with a valid Government ID are eligible to receive great rates. As always, hotel guests will enjoy: - Complimentary hot breakfast - Free high-speed Internet access - Clean & fresh Hampton bed The capital of Georgia, Atlanta is home to many state government organizations, various international embassies and consulates, and the Federal Reverse Bank of Atlanta. In addition, Atlanta is located approximately 90 miles ...

Although portions of the visible world come in through one eye only, the brain instantaneously takes all that information and creates a coherent image. As far as we know, we "see" with both eyes at once. Now a new study suggests that the brain may know which eye is receiving information—and can turn around and tell that eye to work even harder. "We have demonstrated for the first time that you can pay attention through one eye, even when you have no idea where the image is coming from," says Peng Zhang, who conducted the study with University of Minnesota colleagues Yi ...

It's time for forgetting to get some respect, says Ben Storm, author of a new article on memory in Current Directions in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science. "We need to rethink how we're talking about forgetting and realize that under some conditions it actually does play an important role in the function of memory," says Storm, who is a professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. "Memory is difficult. Thinking is difficult," Storm says. Memories and associations accumulate rapidly. "These things could completely overrun ...