Alexandria, Va., USA – During the April 5 White House Press Briefing, President Barack Obama articulated that his administration is willing to work with leaders in Congress from both political parties in order to avoid a government shutdown later this week. The President stated that he has matched the initial House of Representatives' proposal to make $73 billion in cuts for FY11, with differences existing only in areas of priority. He expressed that neither side would have 100% of its budget objectives realized, due to the basic nature of the negotiation process, citing ...

Bloomberg / Businessweek reports that after more than 50 product recalls in last 15 months, Johnson & Johnson, one of America's once great brands, has suffered a catastrophe. Consumer protection attorneys like Michael Kelly of Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger are holding Johnson & Johnson to account for injuries to their clients. According to the article's authors, Johnson & Johnson has allowed its quality control to wane as profits have increased. As a result, J&J is facing a growing number of lawsuits for recalled products, including hips marketed by DePuy Orthopedics, ...

Attorney Richard M. Kenny was recently interviewed on "Help Me, Howard", a WPIX news program. This report featured one of the firm's clients who is having difficulty recovering compensation for his injuries. Attorney Kenny is representing John Meagher, 24, who was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident last October. Meagher was on the way to work when he was hit head-on by an oncoming vehicle. As a result of the crash, Meagher fractured the T-4 and T-5 vertebrae. This has left him paralyzed from the chest down. These injuries have left Meagher needing costly ...

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Every person has some level of alexithymia, as it is the personality trait which keeps people from sharing or even understanding their own emotions. Now, one University of Missouri researcher's latest study indicates that affectionate communication, such as hugging, could help those who have high levels of alexithymia lead more fulfilling lives. Colin Hesse, an assistant professor of communication in the MU College of Arts and Science, said previous studies estimate 8 to 10 percent of people suffer from high alexithymia. Those who have high alexithymia ...

New Rochelle, NY, April 6, 2011 – The successful use and evaluation of therapeutic hypothermia to improve survival and reduce the risk of neurological consequences following an out-of-hospital heart attack are explored in the premier issue of Therapeutic Hypothermia and Temperature Management, a new quarterly peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. This groundbreaking new publication covers all aspects of hypothermia and temperature considerations relevant to this exciting field, including its application in cardiac arrest, spinal cord and traumatic brain ...

In our current Social Security system, children and adults who have developed disabilities as a result of cardiovascular disease may have to wait months or longer before they receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. Recognizing the importance of expediting the process for these individuals, the Social Security Administration (SSA) recently held a Compassionate Allowances public outreach hearing to explore ways the agency can evaluate claims for SSDI and SSI benefits for those who have heart disease-related disabilities. SSA ...

The study, which has been published in the scientific journal Cell Metabolism, shows significant changes in the brain's hormone control centre, the hypothalamus. In a series of experiments on mice, which had the mutated Huntington's protein injected into this area of their brains, the animals soon demonstrated a reduced ability to regulate their metabolism. "With the selectively produced mutated protein, we saw immediate changes; the mice started to eat more and became very fat. We have now been able to prove that there is a causal relationship between this mutated protein ...

With the help of two sets of brothers with autism, Johns Hopkins scientists have identified a gene associated with autism that appears to be linked very specifically to the severity of social interaction deficits. The gene, GRIP1 (glutamate receptor interacting protein 1), is a blueprint for a traffic-directing protein at synapses — those specialized contact points between brain cells across which chemical signals flow. Identified more than a decade ago by Richard L. Huganir, Ph.D., professor and director of the Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience at the Johns ...

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Like any other newborn, the neonatal horse can be a challenging patient. Its immune system is still under construction, its blood chemistry can vary wildly, and – like most infants – it wants to stay close to mom. These factors are magnified in the critically ill foal, said Pamela Wilkins, a professor of equine internal medicine and emergency/critical care at the University of Illinois and the author of a new paper on equine neonatal intensive care. The paper, in Clinical Laboratory Medicine, offers guidance to the large-animal veterinarian and demonstrates ...

In spite of the fact that the number of new bankruptcy filings actually fell for several straight months in 2010, the year still resulted in a record number of filings -- nearly 30,000 in all -- in the Phoenix metro area. That is higher than financial industry experts initially forecast and shows that much of Arizona's economy is still in recession mode. The new record is nearly 5,000 filings more than the previous one set back in 2005 (as thousands tried to take advantage of lax bankruptcy rules before sweeping changes took effect in October of that year). The high ...

Battery technology hasn't kept pace with advancements in portable electronics, but the race is on to fix this. One revolutionary concept being pursued by a team of researchers in New Zealand involves creating "wearable energy harvesters" capable of converting movement from humans or found in nature into battery power. A class of variable capacitor generators known as "dielectric elastomer generators" (DEGs) shows great potential for wearable energy harvesting. In fact, researchers at the Auckland Bioengineering Institute's Biomimetics Lab believe DEGs may enable light, ...

Queen's researchers have discovered that nanoparticles, which are now present in everything from socks to salad dressing and suntan lotion, may have irreparably damaging effects on soil systems and the environment. "Millions of tonnes of nanoparticles are now manufactured every year, including silver nanoparticles which are popular as antibacterial agents," says Virginia Walker, a professor in the Department of Biology. "We started to wonder what the impact of all these nanoparticles might be on the environment, particularly on soil." The team acquired a sample of soil ...

There are many misunderstandings circulating about the best ways for motorcycle riders to avoid being involved in accidents with other cars. In some cases, these myths about motorcycle accidents can do more harm than good -- and put motorcyclists' lives at risk. Motorcycle riders are eight times more likely than those in passenger vehicles to be seriously injured in an accident and 35 times more likely to die in an accident. With these statistics in mind, it is important for motorcyclists to know the best ways to protect their safety - and what legal options they have ...

A novel test aircraft of the TU Muenchen successfully completed its maiden flight yesterday at the airfield of the MFC Red Baron near Heimstetten. The micro aircraft christened "IMPULLS" (Innovative Modular Payload UAV – TUM LLS) will facilitate testing aviation sensors and systems. It was jointly developed by postgraduate students at the Institute of Aircraft Design and the Institute of Flight System Dynamics in Garching. Propelled by a compact electric motor, the aircraft flies quietly and free of emissions. A particularly important feature of the novel design is its ...

Witnesses to a recent fatal bus crash in the Bronx told law enforcement that the bus was veering erratically before flipping onto one side and striking a sign post. The post sliced through the passenger compartment almost to the rear of the vehicle, creating horrific carnage in the passenger area and nearly removing the roof. The bus was returning from a Connecticut casino to Chinatown in Manhattan when the accident occurred early on a Saturday morning, just after the bus entered the Bronx from Westchester County. A host of reports soon after indicated that the driver, ...

College Park, Md. (April 6, 2011) -- Most people experience X-ray computed tomography (CT) scanners when they are evaluated for a suspected tumor or blood clot. But in the lab of Dr. Quin Liu, PhD., in Wuhan China, rice plants were the patients in a novel use of CT scanners as part of an agriculture study to increase rice yield. Into the CT scanner on a conveyor belt went little potted rice plants in an automated facility that could process 4,320 rice plants a day. The non-invasive CT energy analyzed tissues and matched their traits against a computer program to aid ...

When it comes to arguing and proving medical malpractice claims at trial, providing strong expert testimony to support these cases is crucial. The Supreme Court of Connecticut recently decided a case, Klein v. Norwalk, which highlights this important tactic, as well as the standard for disclosing what points an expert will make during testimony. Although this case had a long and difficult journey through multiple Connecticut courts, and continues to make waves, the Connecticut Supreme Court made Klein v. Norwalk a noteworthy opinion. Klein's Claim According to the ...

CORAL GABLES, FL (April 6, 2011)—Learning how babies communicate can teach us a lot about the development of human social interactions. Psychologist Daniel Messinger, from the University of Miami (UM), studies infants' interactions and has found that babies are not simply living in the moment. Instead, infants seem to have particular interests that create historical footprints reflected in the infants' visual engagement over time. The findings were published today, in a study titled, 'Are You Interested, Baby?' Young Infants Exhibit Stable Patterns of Attention during Interaction." ...

College Park, Md. (April 6, 2011) -- A new drug delivery device designed and constructed by Jie Chen, Thomas Cesario and Peter Rentzepis promises to unlock the potential of photosensitive chemicals to kill drug-resistant infections and perhaps cancer tumors as well. Photosensitive chemicals are molecules that release single oxygen atoms and chemical radicals when illuminated. These radicals are very active chemically, and can rip apart and destroy bacteria, said Peter Rentzepis, a professor of chemistry at University of California, Irvine. Yet photosensitive chemicals ...

Watching your parents age is an emotional and often challenging experience. For members of the "sandwich" generation, the need to consider care for aging parents comes while parenting duties for their own children continue. The double-duty can be difficult, especially serious health and financial issues are involved. The Child Becomes the Caregiver For example, many adult children must make sudden decisions when mom or dad falls and breaks a hip or is diagnosed with the first signs of Alzheimer's disease. Once this happens, the tables have turned, and the child ...

BEER-SHEVA, ISRAEL - April 7, 2011 – A large cohort study following 37,000 teenagers for 17 years found that an elevated, yet normal range Body Mass Index (BMI) constitutes a substantial risk factor for obesity-related disorders in young adults (age 30-40). The study showed that elevated BMI in adolescence has distinctive relationships with type 2 diabetes and coronary heart disease in young adulthood. Researchers showed that diabetes is influenced mainly by recent BMI and weight gain. However, for coronary heart disease, both elevated BMI in adolescence and recent ...

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Youths identified as American Indian or Alaska Native (AI/AN) have the greatest lifetime smoking rate of all racial groups, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Nearly half of the 1.2 million AI/AN youths in the U.S. smoke cigarettes. A University of Missouri study found that public health strategies to combat smoking should teach refusal skills to help youths combat smoking influences, including family members and peers. "Smoking and quitting behaviors are heavily influenced by factors in the immediate environment, including family, ...

For almost a quarter of a century, the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control has distributed alcohol permits to bar and restaurant owners based on a formulaic population quota system rooted in state law. But this system of liquor license rationing has proven a major headache for enterprising Utah restaurant moguls looking to take advantage of one of the fastest growing markets for eateries in the nation. Census reports show slower than expected population growth in Utah (so the number of issued liquor licenses actually exceeds the amount technically allowed ...

A recent news story talks about the tension between driving safely and the proliferation of electronic devices one can use in a car. Many of them can now be used "hands free" with the hope that it will prevent drivers from fumbling around, trying to type in a number or a text as they drive down the highway. Not everyone is convinced that merely making cell phones, GPSs, iPods and every other electronic device people use in cars, hands free will really help people drive safely. Studies by the National Transportation Safety Board have pointed out that texting while ...

COLUMBIA, Mo. - More than 40 percent of Americans have at least one step relative, according to a recent Pew Center study. Relationships between stepchildren and stepparents can be complicated, especially for children. University of Missouri experts have found that stepchildren relate with stepparents based on the stepparents' treatment of them and their evaluations, or judgments, of the stepparents' behaviors. "It takes both parties – children and adults – to build positive relationships in stepfamilies," said Larry Ganong, professor in the Department of Human Development ...