Thirty-eight million years ago, tropical jungles thrived in what are now the cornfields of the American Midwest and furry marsupials wandered temperate forests in what is now the frozen Antarctic. The temperature differences of that era, known as the late Eocene, between the equator and Antarctica were half what they are today. A debate has been ongoing in the scientific community about what changes in our global climate system led to such a major shift from the more tropical, greenhouse climate of the Eocene to modern and much cooler climates. New research results ...

CORAL GABLES, FL (May 26, 2011) A new research study conducted by University of Miami Frost School of Music's Music Engineering Technology Group touches upon multi-touch surfaces as emerging valuable tools for collaboration, display, interaction, and musical expression. The study will be presented at the 2011 International Conference on New Instruments for Musical Expression in Oslo, Norway this month. A Low-Cost, Low-Latency Multi-Touch Table with Haptic Feedback for Musical Applications, authored by Matthew Montag GMuE '11 (Cedar Rapids, IA), Stefan Sullivan GMuE '12 ...

There are several cleaning products for flatscreen televisions and then there are anti-static screen cleaners. Now, even the retailers who sell you televisions will tell you that you would do best to buy an anti-static screen cleaner for flatscreen TVs because they are what will ensure long-term protection for your device. Here we shall see the benefits of using such a cleaning product over other cleaners. The anti-static technology was patented by Reckitt Benckiser. These are the people who had developed the very popular Brasso cleaning product, which has become almost ...

Conflicts and misunderstandings frequently arise between individuals from different cultures. But what makes cultures different; what makes one more restrictive and another less so? A new international study led by the University of Maryland and supported by the National Science Foundation's Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences offers insights that may help explain such cultural differences and bridge the gaps between them. Published in the May 27 issue of the journal Science, the study for the first time assesses the degree to which countries are restrictive ...

As predicted, Typhoon Songda intensified and was a super typhoon with wind speeds estimated at over 130 knots ( ~145 mph) when NASA's TRMM satellite passed directly over head on May 26, 2011 at 0806 UTC (4:06 a.m. EDT). The Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite captured the heavy rainfall rates within the super typhoon using TRMM's Visible and InfraRed Scanner (VIRS) instrument. The rainfall analysis from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) data showed that Songda had a circular eye with extremely heavy rainfall (as much as 2 inches/50 ...

The more advanced the electronics, the more power they use. The more power they use, the hotter they get. The hotter they get, the more likely they'll overheat. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand what typically happens next: The electronics fry. In the world of electronics, thermal control is always one of the limiting factors -- particularly in space where there is no air to help cool down electronic components. However, Jeffrey Didion, a thermal engineer at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., and Dr. Jamal Seyed-Yagoobi, a professor ...

On October 18, 2010, 1-800-GET-THIN announced that they had joined forces with the Lifetime Network throughout the month of October, teaming up in support of Breast Cancer Awareness. The ultimate goal of the Breast Cancer Awareness campaign is to emphasize the importance of self-examinations as well as professional breast examinations and encourage them to be proactive with their health care. It is also important for women to be educated and aware of the signs and symptoms that could indicate a health problem. When cancer is detected earlier, there may be a better chance ...

The results of this study, conducted in Germany, re-open the debate on whether it is ethical to conduct placebo-controlled studies where patients in the placebo-group are at a serious disadvantage compared to patients taking the new treatments. The study analysed current study designs, for new therapies such as abatacept (Orencia®), golimumab (Simponi®) or tocilizumab (Actemra®), and showed that patients in the placebo group experienced no change in medication, having to continue with their former, ineffective treatment plus placebo. "According to the Helsinki-Declaration ...

Only three percent (n=181) of patients in the study cohort receiving anti-tumour necrosis factor agents (anti-TNFs) for treatment of their arthritis developed a first cancer within nine years and overall risk was not dependent on the type of arthritis. The nine year follow-up study conducted at Gentofte University Hospital, Denmark demonstrated that relative risk ((RR)=1.03 (95%confidence interval 0.82-1.30)) was not increased in patients treated with anti-TNFs compared to patients who had never taken anti-TNFs during 23,965 person-years follow-up. Overall cancer risk ...

Results of a study, involving 98,454 patients demonstrated that at 30 days following their first heart attack, RA patients were approximately 20% less likely to be prescribed standard MI treatments, such as statins and betablockers, compared to healthy patients. These finding remained relatively unchanged at 180 days, further highlighting differences between the two groups, with a high number being prescribed the current standards of care within the 180 day period (statins 80%, betablockers 82%, clopidogrel 70%, aspirin 79%) in general. "Previous research has established ...

Results demonstrate that 91% of RCTs recording this kind of FCOI achieved a positive - outcome, compared to 66.7% of RCTs without specific FCOI (p=0.02) and adjusting for confounding factors did not change this finding. Results of this American study demonstrate that between the two periods 2002-3 and 2006-7 there was a significant increase in the number of RA RCTs listing lead authors as receiving consulting fees/honoraria (14.6% in the first time period compared to 40% in the second (p=0.004)). FCOIs including research grants, employment by sponsoring pharmaceutical ...

Scientists from the University of Warwick have discovered why a newly found form of cholesterol seems to be 'ultra-bad', leading to increased risk of heart disease. The discovery could lead to new treatments to prevent heart disease particularly in people with type 2 diabetes and the elderly. The research, funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF), found that 'ultrabad' cholesterol, called MGmin-low-density lipoprotein (LDL), which is more common in people with type 2 diabetes and the elderly, appears to be 'stickier' than normal LDL. This makes it more likely to attach ...

The cross-Channel operator, which whisks customers and their cars from Folkestone to Calais in just 35 minutes, is official travel partner for The EuroChampsChallenge, which is a celebration of every team that's ever won European football's leading club tournament, The Champions League, and its predecessor, The European Cup. The team behind the challenge set off by car on Sunday 15 May from Celtic FC in Glasgow and is travelling to the ground of every past winner - covering 7,000 miles, visiting 21 football clubs in 16 countries in just 14 days. The team is travelling ...

For over seven years Aperio Training has been a leader in offering online training and education in the Internet marketing, SEO, and web design/development arena is now going to be offering their most popular WordPress classes on weekends to help working individuals receive the opportunity to enroll and take their constantly booked WordPress Training. The new schedule for these upcoming weekend WordPress Training classes will be posted on the company's interactive training calendar hosted on their website for students to select which class will fit their schedule best. ...

Dr. Natalia Stadler of All Smiles Dental, a leading Pompano Beach dentist, invites patients to visit the practice's information rich website to view the online smile gallery of before-and-after photos. The smile gallery contains photos of previous cosmetic and restorative procedures performed by experienced Pompano Beach dentist, Dr. Natalia Stadler. With the addition of a smile gallery, patients are able to gain confidence they may need, knowing the outcome of the procedures can be as rewarding as the ones showcased in the gallery. The gallery represents such improvements ...

Whether searching for personal stationary, invitations, and checks or corporate brochures, catalogs and letterhead, DiPuma's online presence will demonstrate that this Houston printing company is able to meet all printing needs. With the release of the new website, DiPuma enables their Houston printing clients to upload their art file directly to their office using an FTP server. By following detailed directions online for both Mac and PC users, clients may submit their requirements to allow this Houston printing company to start on the project immediately. The integration ...

FLS designed and installed an overhead FlexRail and Single Point Anchor Fall Protection Systems in the maintenance hangar. To eliminate the risks of taglines being caught on the aircraft while positioning in the hangar, FLS designed a remote powered tagline system. The powered tagline system features a remote controlled winch that raises and lowers the Self Retracting Lifeline to the user. The customer commented that all expectations and requirements were met and would recommend FLS for future Fall Protection Solutions requirements. Sales Director of Flexible Lifeline ...

Low-carb, no-carb, grapefruit, macrobiotic -- when diet after diet has failed, many people who remain significantly overweight are turning to bariatric surgery. According to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS), in 2008, approximately 220,000 people in the United States had bariatric surgery. Bariatric surgery is a last resort for people hoping to minimize or eliminate the physical and emotional tolls of morbid obesity. It is important, however, to temper optimism with careful consideration of the many risks and complications associated with ...

In response to the steep rise in bankruptcy filings in 2005, changes were made to the bankruptcy code that reversed the trend, at least temporarily. But, pounded by five years of high unemployment and low real estate prices, the number of Americans seeking protection in bankruptcy courts has again reached uncomfortable heights. Although the economy may be recovering, many Americans are still facing the challenges of heaping debt. Some 1.53 million Americans filed cases in bankruptcy court last year. Bankruptcies increased 9 percent in 2010, even surpassing their 2005 ...

For the most part, the government doesn't make rules, regulations or laws just to feel useful. They usually have specific reasons for doing so. One such reason is safety: safety of workers, safety of the general public, etc. The commercial driving industry abides by rules and regulations, many of which are safety-related. For instance, truck and bus drivers may be limited in the number of hours they can drive, how much weight or the number of passengers they can carry per load, and, like all drivers, how fast they can drive. While these rules and regulations may seem ...

When outstanding debts become unmanageable, bankruptcy can offer a fresh financial start. Depending on the type of bankruptcy selected and your particular circumstances, you can clear away past debts completely or you can eliminate some debts and create a manageable repayment plan for others. However, bankruptcy is just the first step in the process of building a strong financial future. After bankruptcy, it is important to take appropriate steps to help ensure you can move on from this stage of your life. - Set a Budget: Planning ahead is one of the most effective ...

The most vulnerable of human beings are sometimes the most mistreated. Such is the case with premature infants. In 2007, doctors at State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn discovered that hospital staff repeatedly over-radiated premature babies during X-rays and CT scans. For example, when chest x-rays were ordered for one newborn, he underwent 10 full body X-rays without being covered by a protective shield. The Lack of Standardized Regulation It is the responsibility of each state to set its own regulatory standards for radiological workers. ...

On May 17, Senate Bill 408 - a controversial overhaul of Florida's property insurance system - became law with Governor Rick Scott's signature. Although Governor Scott promises the bill will result in a more stable, more competitive private insurance market in Florida, critics of the law argue that it may lead to big problems for Florida homeowners. Sinkhole Coverage a Particular Concern One of the more controversial elements of the initial version of the bill was related to mandatory sinkhole coverage. The insurance industry claimed that fraudulent sinkhole claims ...

Campaigns against distracted driving have become widespread throughout the U.S. and, due to a lack of national legislation, many states and municipalities have passed laws banning the use of phones and texting while driving. The Texas House of Representatives passed House Bill 243 on April 8, 2011, which would ban sending a text, email or IM while driving in Texas. Those in violation of the ban would face fines up to $200. House Bill 243 HB 243 was passed in a 124 to 16 vote and was sent to the Senate on April 11. The bill was sponsored by Representative Tom Craddick, ...

A recent tour bus accident in New York has renewed calls for tougher federal safety regulations over motor coaches, including setting basic driver qualification and training standards and requiring buses to come equipped with seatbelts. This past March, a motor coach transporting gamblers back to New York City from a casino in Connecticut crashed, killing 15 people. The bus driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel. Witnesses reported seeing the bus swerve off of I-95 several times before it went through a guardrail and smashed into the support pillars of an overpass ...