August 2012 story tips
2012-08-04
(Press-News.org) DATA -- Straight to the source . . .
Data archived at Oak Ridge National Laboratory can now be more effectively discovered, used and tracked through a new research resource from Thompson Reuters. The data citation index allows researchers to better gauge the impact of their data by readily tracking the number of times those data are used in papers. In addition, the new index will facilitate the sharing of researchers' results in the scientific community. Similar to traditional citation indices that credit papers in scientific journals, the new index will attribute the originally published datasets. ORNL's Distributed Active Archive Center, Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center and Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Data Archive will be part of the index, which is scheduled for release later this year. [Contact: Morgan McCorkle, (865) 574-7308; mccorkleml@ornl.gov]
RENEWABLES – Boost for biofuels . . .
U.S. dependence on foreign oil could be further reduced with the introduction of a patented technology that efficiently converts biomass-derived alcohols to fuels that can power gasoline, diesel and jet engines. "Our Z-CAT-B catalysts represent a disruptive technology," said Chaitanya Narula, a co-developer, "meaning that this has the potential to create a new market for biofuels." This allows current bioethanol from starch, sugar or biomass to be made into a "drop-in" fuel that utilizes existing fuel refinery and distribution infrastructure. This renewable fuel performed as well as gasoline in engine tests without modification to the engine or components. A techno-economic analysis suggests that the price of blend-stock produced from biomass-derived ethanol is cost-effective. [Contact: Ron Walli, (865) 576-0226; wallira@ornl.gov]
BIOSURVEILLANCE – Filling the gaps . . .
Experts from universities, labs, industry and first responders will gather in Washington, D.C., this month to share ideas and develop strategies to protect against biological attacks. Delivering the keynote address at the National Defense Industrial Association 2012 Biosurveillance Conference will be Pulitzer Prize winner Laurie Garrett. Richard Stouder of Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Global Security Directorate will serve as the moderator of the event, scheduled for Aug. 27-28 at the Washington Court Hotel on Capitol Hill. More information is available at http://www.ndia.org/meetings/2320/Pages/default.aspx. [Contact: Ron Walli, (865) 576-0226; wallira@ornl.gov]
SUPERCOMPUTING -- Ramping up realism . . .
A special report (see link below) shows speedups of 1.5- to 3-fold for most scientific application codes running on extreme-scale hybrid supercomputers using code accelerators largely developed for the video game industry. The addition of graphics processing units to today's fastest central processing units promises significant increases in supercomputing capacity. Scientists, engineers and computing experts presented the findings recently in Washington, D.C., at the Accelerating Computational Science Symposium 2012, which the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility co-hosted with the National Center for Supercomputing Applications, the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre, Cray Inc. and NVIDIA. Code acceleration promises increased realism of simulations and decreased time to results in such hybrid supercomputers as Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Titan, in which GPUs will be installed by year's end to deliver 20 petaflops of peak performance. Advances now possible with hybrid supercomputers include deeper understanding of phenomena from earthquakes to supernovas and faster innovations of materials and devices. The report is available at http://www.olcf.ornl.gov/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/ACSS_Final_v3.pdf.
[Contact: Dawn Levy, (865) 576-6448; levyd@ornl.gov]
INFORMATION: END
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2012-08-04
A recent National Science Foundation report found that research collaboration among multiple institutions is a growing trend.
The conclusion was drawn by noting increases in the amount of total expenditures for research and development that universities pass through to other institutions and receive from other institutions.
During fiscal years 2000-2009, the amount of R&D funding that passed through universities to others for collaborative projects grew more rapidly than overall academic R&D expenditures. After adjustment for inflation, total academic R&D expenditures ...
2012-08-04
Bilingual children outperform children who speak only one language in problem-solving skills and creative thinking, according to research led at the University of Strathclyde.
A study of primary school pupils who spoke English or Italian- half of whom also spoke Gaelic or Sardinian- found that the bilingual children were significantly more successful in the tasks set for them. The Gaelic-speaking children were, in turn, more successful than the Sardinian speakers.
The differences were linked to the mental alertness required to switch between languages, which could develop ...
2012-08-04
Is it possible for a health care system to redesign its services to better educate patients to deal with their immediate health issues and also become more savvy consumers of medicine in the long run?
The answer is yes, according to a study led by scientists at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center (SFGH) that was recently reported by the Institute of Medicine (IOM).
The team's paper describes ten attributes that health care organizations should utilize to make it easier for people to better navigate ...
2012-08-04
The fifth Atlantic Ocean tropical depression strengthened into Tropical Storm Ernesto on Thursday, August 2 at 5 p.m. EDT and tracked over St. Lucia early on August 3. NASA's Terra satellite captured an image of Ernesto from space as it approached the island.
On August 2, 2012 at 1420 UTC (10:20 a.m. EDT) the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)instrument onboard NASA's Terra satellite captured a stunning visible image of Tropical Storm Ernesto as it was approaching the Lesser Antilles. The image showed the highest, strongest thunderstorms from the northern ...
2012-08-04
NASA's Aqua satellite captured an image of a very busy northwestern Pacific Ocean where three tropical cyclones are active. Tropical Storms Damrey and Saola are dissipating in China, while Tropical depression Haikui developed on August 3, 2012.
NASA's Aqua satellite passed over the northwestern Pacific Ocean on August 3 at 0453 UTC (12:53 a.m. EDT) and the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument captured all three tropical cyclones in one image. AIRS observes in infrared light, which basically provides temperature information. In respect to tropical cyclones, the ...
2012-08-04
Abstraction and stylization algorithms are designed to deal with digital image water colorization, oil painting, cartoon style generation, and so on. Dr Li Ping and his group from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, together with researchers from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the Beijing Institute of Technology once dreamt of solving this problem. After four years of creative media research, they have devised a structure-aware image stylization method to generate the effects of artistic drawing and painting using ...
2012-08-04
US-based startup Gorillized Corporation introduces Outline+, a new iPad app that enables editing and syncing Microsoft OneNote files between PC and iPad. With the great distribution of OneNote in enterprises and colleges, its users demand full support for their OneNote files on iPad. Outline+ provides a powerful and familiar iPad replacement for OneNote users in the field or class room.
According to the developer, main benefits of Outline+ are:
1. Great user interface worked through to the tiniest detail. User interaction with text and notes structure is re-thought ...
2012-08-04
The South Florida National Basketball Players Association (NRBPA) has partnered with the Police Athletic League (PAL) of North Miami to host its First Annual Back To School Event titled "Transitioning PAL "on Wednesday August 15,2012 at the Christ Fellowship Church in Downtown Miami. Former players, who understand the challenge of transitioning from on the court to off the court will participate in workshops designed to educate and inspire parents and youth ages 10-18.
Former Los Angeles Laker, Irving Thomas, now the South Florida NBA Legend's Chapter President ...
2012-08-04
Aurorae Yoga has expanded its Synergy Yoga Mat-Towel Combination line from one to five colors due to the high demand of the product. Synergy is Aurorae's unique slip-free mat-towel combination that bonds Aurorae's eco-friendly, 5mm PER yoga mat with a lush, ultra-absorbent slip-free microfiber towel. Synergy was designed for those who practice hot yoga or who perspire while they practice.
Synergy is now available in the following colors: Lapis (royal blue), Sapphire (navy blue), Crown (purple), Wildness (green), and Energy (red.) This 5mm thick, 72" long yoga mat-towel ...
2012-08-04
Sydney's boutique graphic design agency Attractivo has been nominated in the City of Sydney Business Awards 2012.
A vibrant energetic agency situated in South Sydney's newest creative hub Alexandria, Attractivo has received positive media attention in the industry for its creative designs and initiatives. The recently launched Pro Bono Initiative has been well received, a program that offers up to 3 non-for-profit organisations and charities the full pro bono design of their 2011-12 annual report.
"We're delighted and honoured to be nominated for the Sydney Business ...
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[Press-News.org] August 2012 story tips