NEW YORK (March 11, 2011) -- During a regular annual physical exam, blood is usually drawn to check the health of a person's heart, kidneys and liver. Now, researchers at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center say a blood test that detects the early development of emphysema -- well before symptoms occur -- may someday also be offered. In the March 14 online edition of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the researchers say that because most cases of emphysema are caused by smoking, the test they are developing can warn smokers ...

The development of a new measurement technology under a research project funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the National Science Foundation is probing the structure of composite and biological materials. "Our results have provided some of the first microscopic insights into a sixty year old puzzle about the way polymeric networks react to repeated shear strains," said Dr. Daniel Blair, Assistant Professor, and principal investigator of the Soft Matter Group in the Department of Physics at Georgetown University. Blair, Professor Andreas Bausch ...

Still worried about hyphens? Rearranging sentences to avoid the issue? It's all about clarity - that is the main point of grammar; if your sentence is ambiguous, then you've failed to communicate. Look at the headline below (courtesy of Edit, Edit, Edit): Policeman Helps Dog Bite Victim See how a hyphen would clear this up? Hyphens frequently provide clarity in a sentence that could otherwise be ambiguous. A "small-business owner" is not necessarily the same as a "small business owner". When dealing with compound adjectives, a good rule of thumb is to ...

Lanner, the simulation software specialist invites senior food and beverage executives to discover how simulation optimization can transform food and beverage industrial process improvement into a source of robust solutions, delivering new innovations and increasing business protection this March 29, 2011. Summary: Many of the world's most prominent food and beverage companies already rely on WITNESS software to help improve their profitability, including Mars, Diageo, Coors, Cadbury Trebor Bassett, Kraft, Campbell's and Coca Cola to name a few. Who For: Senior business ...

Plutopia Productions is excited to announce its line-up of "Plutopia 2011: The Future of Play" sponsors. In addition to returning sponsors like Edible Austin and Green Fern Events, LLC, this year's event features many new members joining the Plutopia sponsorship family. Two of these, Orbotix and XCHOX, continue the trend of new product launches and performance debuts occurring at Plutopia. Boulder, Colorado-based Orbotix will demo their latest prototype Sphero, an innovative robotic ball and new gaming concept that turns your smart phone into a robotic controller. XCHOX ...

PFGBEST announced a new partnership to relocate its Typhoon foreign exchange liquidity aggregation system to Equinix's New York International Business Exchange (NY4). With the announcement of this partnership, Equinix will become the host of the PFGBEST direct market access platform Typhoon. PFGBEST is a financial services technology firm with global outreach. With customers, offices, and affiliates in more than eighty countries, PFGBEST is one of the largest non-clearing U.S. Futures Commission Merchants. Explaining Typhoon, PFGBEST Chief Operating Officer Russ Wasendorf ...

Recent research released last month by the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine has indicated that viral infections are not an underlying cause of acute exacerbations of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). While some treatments with corticosteroids and cytotoxic drugs exist, there is no known cure for IPF. However, some breakthrough advancements with stem cell procedures have been showing promising signs for those patients afflicted with the disease. The Adult Adipose-derived Stem Cell Transplant program was launched last year by the International ...

Dr. Patty Ann Tublin, an internationally renowned relationship expert, has posted an article on her web site where she shares three tips couples can implement to renew and reinvigorate their relationship. The article, "March Forward for a New & Improved Relationship," is available at http://www.drpattyann.com/2010/goals/march-forward-to-a-new-improved-relationship/. Now that March is upon us and spring is just around the corner, Dr. Patty Ann suggests taking some time to do a relationship inventory. "Most of us take some kind of inventory during the month of March, ...

Merrill Brink International (www.merrillbrink.com), a leading global provider of language solutions for global companies and law firms, hosted a panel discussion in Washington, D.C. to share information around best practices for avoiding Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) investigations. FCPA laws govern the actions of entities that do business in other countries and are designed to prevent unfair trade activities such as bribery of foreign officials. The panel discussion at the March 1 event was conducted in conjunction with key international law firms and corporations ...

CreativeFeed is generating buzz and building brand awareness for Sweet Bordeaux among young American wine drinkers. Their goal is to change traditional perceptions of Sweet Bordeaux wine by engaging a younger, more cosmopolitan audience of wine enthusiasts, with social media being the primary vehicle for effecting this change. "Sweet Bordeaux are traditionally known as 'dessert wine', and they are usually served at the end of a meal. Through a social media strategy, we want to introduce our wines to a younger audience open to a new 'sweet' wine experience," explained ...

While the world is at the middle of global catastrophe, people might reconsider the whole cycle of disposing and reusing. This is the reason why it seems that people travel back to the old times, and revives the lifestyle before, that is more self-sufficient, generating woodworking project ideas and trying to build personal furniture. Previously, woodworking is usually considered as a task or job that needs to be completed, but now it has evolved to its superb depiction. Woodworking has become a form of relaxation and a great resource of income to many people who find ...

Rhode Island Criminal Defense and Family Law Attorney Rui P. Alves has been selected by RI Super Lawyers Top Attorneys in RI and Rising Stars for the second year in a row. Attorney Alves was honored with this distinction in 2009 as well as 2010. The selection process employed by Super Lawyers, Law & Politics, is extensive and encompasses every aspect of character, skills, peer opinions, and history of the candidates selected. The selections are made annually, state-by-state, and evaluate 12 categories. The resource created by the selection process is made available to ...

The Long Beach Bar Association is launching an open forum series to connect the community with local government officials. The inaugural forum will take place on Thursday, March 17 at Hotel Maya. "We hope to make the law and local government more accessible to our friends and neighbors," said David R. Haberbush, Esq., president of the Long Beach Bar Association. "Quite simply, knowledge is power. We at the Long Beach Bar Association feel that in this economy, now more than ever, it's important that our community be empowered so we can all make educated decisions for ...

New York lived up to its name as the city that never sleeps Tuesday evening as it played host to the infamous Hound Comics' release party for its flagship brand, Brimstone and The Borderhounds issue number two. The title turned heads in the months prior as the only independently owned and operated comic book company distributed in Barnes & Noble, the largest book retailer in the world! Dual CEOs William 'Brimstone' Kucmierowski and Marcello Carnevali welcomed everyone to join them in celebrating the rapid growth of the corporation. Guests were pampered with gourmet finger ...

Isabella's Cookie Company announces a St. Patrick's Day Sugar Rush cookie that is sure to shamrock the food world. Home to the most daring and delicious cookies in the world, Isabella's Cookie Company specializes in 28 unique flavor combinations that are as rare and desirable as the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. Isabella's festive St. Patrick's Day cookies will be available for purchase online and at specialty retailers now thru March 18, 2011. Isabella's Cookie Company was founded on the notion that simple ingredients used in adventurous ways make for ultimate ...

Two authors, inspired by the confusion in the publishing industry, have launched Lucky Bat Books, a new kind of press for a new world of publishing, proving again that what is chaos to some is inspiration to others. Lucky Bat Books launched with authors already queued up and eager to get their novels, short stories and non-fiction on the market. Some were new authors; some were well-published and stepping into e-publishworks whose rights had reverted to them. All submitted their works to Lucky Bat Books in hopes of reaching their readership on the Web. And reaching them ...

Wag N' Tails Dog Activity Center, located in Shelby Township is the areas premier location for training, pampering and caring for dogs of all ages. The center's exclusive play and train programs and acting school have been featured on Channel 4 and are the highest rated by veterinarians and dog-owners alike. In March, Wag N' Tails will join with Serenity Animal Hospital in Sterling Heights to offer Puppy Pre-School, Bark to the Basics training and Private Lessons on-site at the hospital. These classes will be the perfect opportunity for those interested in being introduced ...

One of the largest names in the fashion industry, Elite World, is proud to present their first fashion academy in Los Angeles, Elite Fashion Academy LA. They will be hosting their very first semi-annual industry night, which will be held on Thursday, March 17, 2011. Elite Fashion Academy LA was developed specifically as a launch pad for modeling, fashion, beauty, and photography for an industry which has often been perceived as glamorous, but highly inaccessible. Their courses introduce students to all the facets of the fashion and modeling industry, such as: makeup, ...

As demand for My mini Golf line continues to grow, Starting Time has signed on its first authorized dealer, Adventure Golf Services (AGS) to expand the product's availability in family entertainment centers and facilities. Starting Time and AGS first connected earlier this year at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando and immediately recognized the synergy that could be created through a strategic alliance. "AGS has exactly what we are looking for in a partner," explained Hugh Penton, president, Starting Time. "They have the infrastructure in place to build on the momentum ...

MaternitySelection announces a new online maternity and nursing clothing boutique. They carry only high-quality, chic, cute and stylish maternity clothes for you who are expecting to be a mom, during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Some of the brands of maternity clothes they carry are Annee Matthew, Breast is Best, QT Intimates and many more stylish brands. MaternitySelection was created when owners, Shirin & Shahriar, was expecting their first baby within 4 months. As a mother herself, Shirin knows how frustrating it is when your pre-pregnancy clothes no longer fit and ...

South Shore Skin Center and Spa one of the most progressive dermatology practices in Massachusetts with offices in Cohasset and Plymouth is pleased to announce Barry M. Austin, M.D., a Board Certified Dermatologist and Dermatopathologist, has recently joined the practice. Dr. Austin is specialty-trained as a Dermatopathologist to study skin biopsies and the pathogenesis of skin diseases. He will treat medical and surgical dermatology patients at both locations. Previous to South Shore Skin Center and Spa, Dr. Austin ran his own dermatology practice in Rutland, VT ...

Foreclosures Down in Hardest Hit Areas, Up in Others In January, RealtyTrac released its 2010 Year-End Metropolitan Foreclosure Market Report. The study found that foreclosure activity decreased in six of the top ten hardest hit areas in 2010. Unfortunately, the numbers also indicate that in 72 percent of the nation's 200 top metropolitan areas, foreclosures are on the rise. The areas hardest hit in 2009 remained on top in 2010, with the same four states, California, Nevada, Florida and Arizona, making up a bulk of the top 20 foreclosure areas. As for cities, Las ...

Blanket America, a textile manufacturer that donates a blanket to the needy for every product purchased, has taken its charitable initiative to a new level with store-wide student discounts. The company is offering its entire inventory of blankets, sheet sets and more to students at a 20% discount on http://www.BlanketAmerica.com. The discount will not affect the value of the donated items, only the balances in student shoppers' bank accounts. "A lot of high school and college students are interested in helping the less fortunate, but between the costs of boarding, tuition ...

Accurate Always, Inc., a leading provider of communications recording and monitoring solutions, announced today that it has opened an office in the Huntsville, Alabama area to serve their rapidly expanding customer base and respond to the growing demand for comprehensive recording solutions for defense, security and emergency services. The Alabama office expands Accurate Always' offering of governmental solutions while providing local sales and support for its customers in the South Eastern region of the US. "Homeland security and increased requirements for mission-critical ...

Roni Deutch has some advice for celebrities who just cannot stay out of trouble with their taxes. "Britney Spears's ex-husband, Kevin Federline, is just the latest in a string of celebrities to be hit with a back tax bill," explains Deutch. "Nicolas Cage, Chris Tucker, Wesley Snipes, and too many others were subject to mass amounts of negative publicity because of unpaid taxes. There are ways for even the rich and famous to avoid the embarrassment that comes with IRS troubles." "Avoiding a back tax bill really is not that complicated, especially when you are rich ...