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The European Medicines Agency met in December to discuss clinical trials, but the results were not favorable. They delivered a message that no one in the trials community wanted to hear: they are pushing back legislation on clinical medicine trials. Many hoped to see progress with new trial rules for Europe, but earlier confirmations showed that the regulations -- which were finalized in May 2014 and said to begin in May 2016 -- would be pushed back to 2017 at least. This latest announcement pushes them back even further, to a likely date of October 2018. Thousands of drugs are synthesized during the research and development stage, but just one in 5,000 will actually make it through clinical trials and the approval of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or other governing body. So ...

The Internet generates 6% of the U.S. economy and connects 92% of U.S. residents with the broader world, according to a new Internet Association study. "The results of this study are incredibly exciting for all of us who care about and advocate for the continued growth of the Internet economy, its companies and the users they serve," Michael Beckerman, president of the Internet Association, told U.S. News and World Report. The trade group, which represents companies like Google, Facebook, and Amazon, estimates that businesses directly involved with the Internet, such as eCommerce, social media, and web design companies, generated about $966 billion during 2014. Even more amazing, the value of the Internet-related businesses' contributions grew 110% between 2007 and 2012 -- faster tha...

As conditions continue to worsen in the French port city of Calais, steel shipping containers are being installed provide basic shelter and protection for migrants in the region. According to The Daily Mail, the shipping container camp is located next to the Jungle migrant camp that is currently housing more than 4,500 refugees fleeing war and poverty in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Most migrants in the Jungle have small tents that are not suited for harsh winter weather. The containers will allow them to brave cold temperatures as they bide their time before trying to cross the English Channel and start a new life. The new container buildings came as the result of a joint lawsuit filed by two French charities: Medecins du Monde and Secours Catholique. They demanded improvem...

Amazon has evolved by leaps and bounds since its humble beginnings as an online bookstore, and it is now helping small business owners who create handcrafted items to reach more customers. According to local Florida news affiliate WFLA, Amazon's Handmade, an online marketplace for crafts and trinkets, is helping many entrepreneurs to gain national brand exposure. Laura Glover of Tampa Bay, FL is the owner of Burlap and Boards, a shop that turns discarded wood pallets into masterpieces. She chose to list her shop on Handmade because of Amazon's built-in following and high domain authority. "You have the brand power of Amazon and also the great searchability," said Glover. "It's all about getting your name out there, I have neighbors that don't even know I do this in my driveway." ...

End-of-life care is a controversial issue that pits the hopeful wishes of patients against the realities put forth by doctors. While most see this care as a natural right for everyone, The Lund Report of Oregon states that researchers at Stanford University have found evidence indicating that the quality of end-of-life care can hinge on several factors. These include the patient's financial means, ability to communicate with health providers, and even family conflicts, as opposed to simply ethnic disparities, as the researchers had originally assumed. Their findings came as a result of a study of 300 white, Asian and African-American seniors throughout the San Francisco Bay area. The group included 38 African-Americans, 160 Asian-Americans and 117 Caucasians. The study’s lead auth...

As critics continue to scrutinize the NFL for their timid response to a growing concussion problem, a chiropractor has invented a protective collar that aims to prevent neck injuries and head trauma in players of all ages. According to Fox News, Patrick Kerr, a practicing chiropractor, recently introduced the Kerr Collar, a lightweight device placed inside a player's shoulder pads that drastically reduces the impact from devastating hits. The Kerr Collar shortens the gap between a player's pads and helmet, which means that the force from hits is more evenly distributed. Kerr noted that the emphasis being placed on helmet quality is not enough, and focusing on the neck's role in concussions is an important step in addressing this widespread problem. "I wanted to create a system where the...