(Santa Barbara, Calif.) –– After taking a rented camper outfitted with special equipment to measure methane on a cross-continent drive, a UC Santa Barbara scientist has found that methane emissions across large parts of the U.S. are higher than currently known, confirming what other more local studies have found. Their research is published in the journal Atmospheric Environment. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas, stronger than carbon dioxide on a 20-year timescale, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, though on a century timescale, carbon dioxide ...

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Two research teams at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (MagLab) broke through a nearly 40-year barrier recently when they observed a never-before-seen energy pattern. The butterfly-shaped pattern was first theorized by physicist Douglas Hofstadter in 1976, but it took the tools and technology now available at the MagLab to prove its existence. "The observation of the 'Hofstadter butterfly' marks a real landmark in condensed matter physics and high magnetic field research," said Greg Boebinger, director of the MagLab. "It opens a new experimental ...

Scientists using images from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, or MRO, have estimated that the planet is bombarded by more than 200 small asteroids or bits of comets per year forming craters at least 12.8 feet (3.9 meters) across. Researchers have identified 248 new impact sites on parts of the Martian surface in the past decade, using images from the spacecraft to determine when the craters appeared. The 200-per-year planetwide estimate is a calculation based on the number found in a systematic survey of a portion of the planet. The University of Arizona's High Resolution ...

When the brain's primary "learning center" is damaged, complex new neural circuits arise to compensate for the lost function, say life scientists from UCLA and Australia who have pinpointed the regions of the brain involved in creating those alternate pathways — often far from the damaged site. The research, conducted by UCLA's Michael Fanselow and Moriel Zelikowsky in collaboration with Bryce Vissel, a group leader of the neuroscience research program at Sydney's Garvan Institute of Medical Research, appears this week in the early online edition of the journal Proceedings ...

Much like the inside of an operating room, in the clean room at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., engineers worked meticulously to implant part of the eyes of the James Webb Space Telescope. They scrubbed up and suited up to perform one of the most delicate performances of their lives. That part of the eyes, the MIRI, or Mid-Infrared Instrument, will glimpse the formation of galaxies and see deeper into the universe than ever before. It's high-stakes surgery that has taken years of preparation. This science instrument must fit precisely into the ISIM, ...

Detecting greenhouse gases in the atmosphere could soon become far easier with the help of an innovative technique* developed by a team at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), where scientists have overcome an issue preventing the effective use of lasers to rapidly scan samples. The team, which recently published its findings in the journal Nature Photonics, says the technique also could work for other jobs that require gas detection, including the search for hidden explosives and monitoring chemical processes in industry and the environment. Searching ...

Chances are you know how many miles your car logs for each gallon or tankful of gas, but you probably have only a foggy idea of how much energy your house consumes, even though home energy expenditures often account for a larger share of the household budget. This disparity in useful energy data is just one of several information gaps that must be bridged as the United States transitions towards residences that generate as much energy as they use over the course of a year—so-called net-zero houses. Gaps—and strategies to overcome them—are summarized in Strategies to ...

Academic researchers have found that breathing motor vehicle emissions triggers a change in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, altering its cardiovascular protective qualities so that it actually contributes to clogged arteries. In addition to changing HDL from "good" to "bad," the inhalation of emissions activates other components of oxidation, the early cell and tissue damage that causes inflammation, leading to hardening of the arteries, according to the research team, which included scientists from UCLA and other institutions. The findings of this ...

MINNEAPOLIS (May 15, 2013) —Death rates associated with patients with refractory angina, or chronic chest pain, are lower than previously considered; therefore, physicians should focus on relieving the chest pain symptoms and improving the quality of life in these patients according to an article published online this week in the European Heart Journal. Refractory angina patients endure ongoing chest pain despite optimal medical management and for them, standard revascularization techniques, such as surgery or stenting, is no longer an option. Traditionally, these are ...

PHILADELPHIA – In the largest clinical trial to date to examine the efficacy of PARP inhibitor therapy in BRCA 1/2 carriers with diseases other than breast and ovarian cancer, the oral drug olaparib was found to be effective against advanced pancreatic and prostate cancers. Results of the study, led by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer, Israel, will be presented during the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting in Chicago in early June (Abstract #11024). The multi-center ...

PHILADELPHIA – The majority of cancer doctors, patients, and members of the general public support cutting health care costs by refusing to pay for drugs that don't improve survival or quality of life, according to results of a new study that will be presented by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania during the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago in early June (Abstract #6518). The Penn Medicine team surveyed 326 adult cancer patients receiving treatment at Penn's Abramson Cancer Center, a ...

University of Illinois at Chicago researchers have developed a website that walks healthcare providers through the challenging transition from the current International Classification of Diseases -- ICD-9 -- to the new ICD-10. Doctors, hospitals and all other healthcare providers have until October 2014 to switch to the new coding system, used to classify every disease or condition and in every aspect of healthcare from ordering supplies to insurance reimbursement. The switch won't be easy -- the number of codes has grown from 14,000 to 68,000. The AMA estimates the ...

To reach Canada's goal of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 17 per cent below the 2005 level by the year 2020, federal and provincial governments, led by the Prime Minister and provincial premiers, must reach agreement on what portion of the total GHG reduction will be provided by each province say researchers from the University of Toronto's School of the Environment. Their report is being sent to all Canadian federal and provincial governments, opposition parties and other participants in the climate policy dialogue. "Canadian governments have always known ...

ITHACA, N.Y. - Clam fossils from the middle Devonian era – some 380 million years ago – now yield a better paleontological picture of the capacity of ecosystems to remain stable in the face of environmental change, according to research published today (May 15) in the online journal PLOS ONE. Trained to examine species abundance – the head counts of specimens – paleontologists test the stability of Earth's past ecosystems. The research shows that factors such as predation and organism body size from epochs-gone-by can now be considered in such detective work. Back 380 ...

Despite previous studies touting its benefit in moderating gout risk, new research reveals that vitamin C, also known ascorbic acid, does not reduce uric acid (urate) levels to a clinically significant degree in patients with established gout. Vitamin C supplementation, alone or in combination with allopurinol, appears to have a weak effect on lowering uric acid levels in gout patients according to the results published in the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) journal, Arthritis & Rheumatism. Gout is an inflammatory arthritis that causes excruciating pain and swelling ...

Naturally occurring "keystone" molecules that have powerful behavioral effects on diverse organisms often play large but unrecognized roles in structuring ecosystems, according to a theory proposed in the June issue of BioScience. The authors of the theory, Ryan P. Ferrer of Seattle Pacific University and Richard K. Zimmer of the University of California at Los Angeles, liken such molecules to keystone species, animals or plants that may be uncommon but exert a controlling influence, through predation or in other ways. Keystone molecules function in chemical communication ...

NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Trade and Investment, Andrew Stoner, today announced Vivid Sydney 2013 will feature a spectacular celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the legendary BBC television program, Doctor Who. Stoner said that June 1, the grand façade of Customs House at Circular Quay will showcase an amazing visual feast of 3D-mapped projections of Doctor Who as he travels through space and time, pursued by some of his greatest enemies. "This is a one-night only celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Doctor Who, and sees Australian creative innovators, ...

On Saturday, May 18 at 10 a.m., Brookfield Residential will grand open Seaside Ridge, an intimate community of 23 semi-custom residences in Encinitas. The community is located at 809 Dolphin Circle and will offer homes priced from the low $1 millions. During the grand opening, guests can tour Seaside Ridge's 2,883 square-foot model home and view floor plan and customization offerings. "Seaside Ridge's intimate location and limited number of homes make it unlike other new home communities throughout the county," said Rocky Tracy, VP of Sales for Brookfield ...

Marking their 11-year anniversary, Annodyne unveiled a new brand in early 2012, repositioning itself as a leader in "engagement marketing" — a revolutionary approach to marketing through which a target audience is nurtured in one-to-one fashion, through every phase of its lifecycle. In addition to a new logo, tagline and positioning, Annodyne's revamped identity included a new office space to accommodate a nearly doubled workforce and a redesigned website that reflects the new brand. On the client front, Annodyne put their expertise as a full-service marketing ...

Clients and their partner will gain relationship insights, tools and skills to assist them in this quest, and provide a process to teach them how to safely connect and be with each other. It provides a safe environment to learn why you and your partner are attracted, what is underneath some of the conflicts that might come up in your relationship and how to address them (stop the arguing!), get on the same page, foster and sustain connection, and start moving towards greater intimate, respectful and satisfying relating. It provides private time for you to practice skills ...

The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) welcomes 2012 Olympic silver medalist in cycling Dotsie Bausch as an official ambassador for the organization. Bausch has been racing for 15 years and is a seven-time U.S. National Champion, a two-time Pan American gold medal winner and a silver medalist at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. Prior to her success as an athlete, Bausch was pursuing a promising modeling career in New York City, during which time she battled severe, life-threating disordered eating. Thankfully, she sought help and was able to re-gain ...

West Michigan Symphony will feature guest pianist Alessio Bax for its season finale on May 31 and June 1. The weekend performance will feature: Dmitri Shostakovich's "Festive Overture" Op. 96 Richard Strauss' "Don Juan" Op. 20, a tone poem after Nikolaus Lenau Johannes Brahms' Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 38, in B flat major with pianist Alessio Bax More information, as well as expanded program notes with audio samples, is available online at the Symphony's website. Both concerts will be held in the majestic Frauenthal Center for Performing Arts ...

VivoPools, the leader in providing the ultimate backyard experience through quality pool care and maintenance, has officially opened its newest location in Bergen County, NJ. The swimming pool management franchise, known for supplying customers with an unparalleled level of service, is bringing its knowledge and efficiency to the Northeast for the first time in company history. The new VivoPools location is operated by franchisee, Saul Cohen, a seasoned professional who has years of experience in repairing and maintaining pools in the New Jersey area. Born and raised ...

Lucy's, creator of high-quality, gluten-free and allergen-friendly baked treats, will present their full line of cookies and brownies at this year's National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago. In addition to displaying their full assortment of flavors, Lucy's will provide bites of their Chocolate Chip, Chocolate, Maple Bliss, Ginger Snap, Cinnamon Thin cookies and their Brownie Cakes for all attendees to enjoy. The National Restaurant Association Show will take place amidst Celiac Awareness Month and Food Allergy Awareness Week, making it the perfect event to highlight ...

While, at first glance, fashion might seem to have little to do with the ancient culture of South Sudan cattle camps, The Obakki Foundation's Founder and Creative Director Treana Peake clearly sees a strong connection. In fact, her new Preserved in Time collection is inspired by the shades, colours and shadows of the very cattle camps she is working to save. Peake, an active philanthropist, mother and wife, heads up The Obakki Foundation, a unique non-profit based in Vancouver. At The Obakki Foundation, fashion is used as the main fundraising vehicle and Peake and her ...