HOUSTON – (March 28, 2013) – Graphene, the single-atom-thick form of carbon, has become famous for its extraordinary strength. But less-than-perfect sheets of the material show unexpected weakness, according to researchers at Rice University in Houston and Tsinghua University in Beijing. The kryptonite to this Superman of materials is in the form of a seven-atom ring that inevitably occurs at the junctions of grain boundaries in graphene, where the regular array of hexagonal units is interrupted. At these points, under tension, polycrystalline graphene has about half ...

LA JOLLA, CA – March 28, 2013 – A team led by scientists from The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) and the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) has unveiled a new technique for vaccine design that could be particularly useful against HIV and other fast-changing viruses. The report, which appears March 28, 2013, in Science Express, the early online edition of the journal Science, offers a step toward solving what has been one of the central problems of modern vaccine design: how to stimulate the immune system to produce the right kind of antibody response to ...

Virginia Tech College of Engineering researchers have unveiled a life-like, autonomous robotic jellyfish the size and weight of a grown man, 5 foot 7 inches in length and weighing 170 pounds. The prototype robot, nicknamed Cyro, is a larger model of a robotic jellyfish the same team – headed by Shashank Priya of Blacksburg, Va., and professor of mechanical engineering at Virginia Tech – unveiled in 2012. The earlier robot, dubbed RoboJelly, is roughly the size of a man's hand, and typical of jellyfish found along beaches. "A larger vehicle will allow for more payload, ...

One of the leading causes of death in the United States is sudden cardiac arrest, which claims the lives of more than 325,000 people each year. In a study published in the April issue of the journal Resuscitation, Beaumont doctors found that cardiac arrests in K-12 schools are extremely rare, less than 0.2 percent, but out of 47 people who experienced cardiac arrest over a six-year period at K-12 schools, only 15 survived. Survival rate was three times greater, however, when bystanders used a device called an automated external defibrillator, or AED, that helps the heart ...

Sometimes, little things can add up to a lot. In short, that's the message of a research study on small dams, streams and pollution by Steve Powers, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Notre Dame's Environmental Change Initiative (ECI). "Small dams, reservoirs and ponds trap water pollution, which provides an important benefit to water resources," Powers said. "This is especially relevant in agricultural lands of the Midwest U.S., where there are lots of small, but aging dams." Although small individually, the sum total of the small reservoirs and ponds ...

A new research paper by a team of researchers from the University of Notre Dame's Environmental Change Initiative (ECI) demonstrates how two cutting-edge technologies can provide a sensitive and real-time solution to screening real-world water samples for invasive species before they get into our country or before they cause significant damage. "Aquatic invasive species cause ecological and economic damage worldwide, including the loss of native biodiversity and damage to the world's great fisheries," Scott Egan, a research assistant professor with Notre Dame's Advanced ...

Images told the story: lower Manhattan in darkness, coastal communities washed away, cars floating in muck. Superstorm Sandy, a harbinger of future extreme weather intensified by climate change, caught the country off guard in October. Unprepared for the flooding and high winds that ensued, the East Coast suffered more than $70 billion in property damage and more than 100 deaths. Will Americans prepare and invest now to minimize the impact of disasters such as Sandy, or deal with storms and rising sea levels after they occur? A new survey commissioned by the Stanford ...

HOUSTON -- (March 28, 2013) -- In some of the first results from a federally funded initiative to find new ways of capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from coal-fired power plants, Rice University scientists have found that CO2 can be removed more economically using "waste" heat -- low-grade steam that cannot be used to produce electricity. The find is significant because capturing CO2 with conventional technology is an energy-intensive process that can consume as much as one-quarter of the high-pressure steam that plants use to produce electricity. "This is just the first ...

Cincinnati, OH, March 29, 2013 -- Although scientific evidence suggests that vaccines do not cause autism, approximately one-third of parents continue to express concern that they do; nearly 1 in 10 parents refuse or delay vaccinations because they believe it is safer than following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) schedule. A primary concern is the number of vaccines administered, both on a single day and cumulatively over the first 2 years of life. In a new study scheduled for publication in The Journal of Pediatrics, researchers concluded that ...

Realtor Stacey Schwartz has joined the Venice Avenue office of RE/MAX Alliance Group. An area resident for 10 years, she has eight years of real estate experience. Certified in Short Sales and Foreclosures (SFR), Schwartz has received the Five Star Real Estate Agent Award (2009-present) and Prudential President's Circle Award (2009-2010), and was a member of the Prudential Honor Society (2010-2012). Prior to her career in real estate, she was an IBM Strategic Partner Manager and recently owned a local children's fitness center. She earned her bachelor's degree in ...

Recognizing the economic power of privately held businesses, DiversityBusiness.com, the nation's leading business-to-business internet site, recently named Environmental Intelligence, LLC (EI), as one of the top 500 emerging U.S. businesses in 2013. This is the 13th annual listing of top businesses by DiversityBusiness.com. Companies listed as a Top Emerging Business reinforce the critical role small businesses play in driving economic growth and job creation. Winners are highly coveted by major corporations and government agencies wishing to increase spending with small ...

The Orlando video production company is one of the vendors for the London based company for their Corporate video Production needs. The annual Pex week Orlando will organize leaders from various parts of the process community such as end users, analysts, commentators and solution providers. It is the ultimate place for the process leaders from diverse communities to recognize the cutting edge processes for excellent business purpose. Pex week Orlando comprises of discussions sessions which will focus on some key topics such as process management and improvement, the customers, ...

Simple Moves is a psychological drama from director and actor Pau Masó. This title deals with a young man who is drawn into the dark, sexual underbelly of New York City's gay night club scene. Aleksandr (Pau Masó) is also a man alone, after the tragic death of his mother. He turns to drugs and prostitution to deal with his loss. Aleksandr finds himself torn apart with a new personality making its way to the surface. This exciting drama is currently in post-production. And, Simple Moves' second trailer is available for fans. The clip shows Aleksandr's life spinning ever ...

Taylor Morrison is pleased to announce a rare opportunity for homebuyers in north Austin - the chance to purchase a new luxurious condo with stunning golf course views and just steps away from brand-new recreational facilities from the University of Texas. Known as The Casitas, this enclave of beautiful condominium homes is located inside the master-planned community of Steiner Ranch. Taylor Morrison will build 10 upscale condo buildings here, each with an upstairs and downstairs unit for a total of only 20 homes. The Casitas is remarkable for its scale and variety ...

SecurAlarm Systems, the premier security integrator in the West Michigan market, is pleased to announce that they have been named one of "West Michigan's 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For" for the second year in a row. It takes clear commitment to quality human resources initiatives to be named "West Michigan's 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For," which is a designation that hundreds of companies vie for each year. As an organization, SecurAlarm Systems has continually strived to be both innovative and "best in class" ...

Specialising in stylish, bespoke kitchens and quality furniture making, Stoneham Plc. will join over 200 Royal Warrant holders at a unique four-day festival, held in The Gardens at Buckingham Palace between the 11th and 14th of July 2013. The Coronation Festival, in celebration of the 60th anniversary of The Queen's Coronation, is a one-off event, bringing together companies and individuals who hold Royal Warrants of Appointment, a mark of recognition for supplying goods or services to the Households of The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales for more ...

GoMacro, the certified organic manufacturer of macrobiotic, vegan, energy and protein bars, is announcing its national sponsorship as the Official Nutrition Bar of the American Diabetes Association's Tour de Cure 2013. GoMacro officially signed the contract on February 15th, 2013. GoMacro will be acknowledged as the Official Nutrition Bar Sponsor of the American Diabetes Association at all 90 Tour de Cure fundraising cycling events, through verbal recognition in pre-ride announcements and on stage during the actual event. GoMacro will provide more than 105,000 MacroBar ...

A two-year construction project comes to a close as Bryan University in Topeka makes preparations to move its Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology (HVAC) program to a new 6,500 square foot facility. The new addition offers an opportunity to both students and area employers, according to Chief Executive Officer and President Brian Stewart. He said, "This will allow the University to provide employers in the Northwest Kansas area with new employees who are trained in HVAC technology." He went on to say that this is the first time ...

On March 25, Governor Bob McDonnell signed HB 1406, requiring all public schools in the Commonwealth of Virginia to annually provide parents of students in grades five-12 with educational information on eating disorders. Effective July 1, 2013, Virginia will be the first state to require distribution of this vital information to parents of children in this highly susceptible age range. Commented Lynn Grefe, president and CEO of the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), "NEDA's Advocacy Program and our families led the way for this victory. It is a win-win ...

The Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Public and Indian Housing and Office of Multifamily Housing make available $5 million for planning grants in connection with HUD's Choice Neighborhoods program, according to a report in Federal and Foundation Assistance Monitor and Community Development Digest.. Community partnerships, including public housing authorities, nonprofits, local governments and for-profits, are encouraged to apply for awards of up to $500,000 each. The deadline for applications is May 28. These grants are intended to help communities ...

Sonorous Entertainment Inc. is introducing an all new weekly radio program titled, "Christian Minstrel Pioneers". The program will spotlight some of the greatest artists from the legendary House of Beauty music catalogue. Each week Bill Bulbeck will host the one hour show that will include, not only the re-mastered original tracks of these gospel greats from Sonorous Entertainment's Platinum Gospel Series, but the stories and historical events behind the music. Christian Minstrel Pioneers will take an in depth look into each of these groups and artists who have ...

Irion Books, LLC is pleased to announce that Murder on Vinson Massif, a Summit Murder Mystery, the sixth in the series, is now available via audio book. Already available via audio are the titles, Murder on Everest, Murder on Elbrus, Murder on Mt. McKinley, Murder on Puncak Jaya and Murder on Aconcagua. Author Charles G. Irion says, "As promised, we are well on our way to making all the books in the Summit Murder Mystery series available to our readers in audio format. Our readers asked and we are delivering! I'm pleased to offer these adventurous climbing thrillers ...

Master Artist/Photographer Harvey Lloyd, known as the Indiana Jones of adventure and aerial photography, unveils his latest cutting edge collection of digital camera paintings. The show entitled, "Las Vegas Deconstructed" opens at Artistic Lifestyles Art Gallery in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 13, 2013 through May 4, 2013. Harvey Lloyd's new work takes still film sight and awareness from the 200-year history of photographic "realism" and propels it to a quantum level in his digital camera. Lloyd has invented a complex single exposure process using quantum ...

Aternity Inc., the industry's leader in providing ubiquitous end user experience monitoring solutions, announced that one year after delivering Aternity for Mobile, its groundbreaking End User Experience management solution for mobile applications, the company has been repeatedly recognized for its award-winning innovation. In 2013, Aternity for Mobile will be extended with next-generation mobile application performance management capabilities focused on addressing enterprise mobility and BYOD challenges. Aternity for Mobile already provides the industry's fastest instrumentation ...

As the leading provider of online scheduling software for academic advisors at universities and colleges nationwide and in countries throughout the world, Appointment-Plus is committed to helping advising professionals become more efficient and successful in their careers. As a service to them, the company is sharing five ways they can increase student retention. Increasing Student Retention A thought on every academic advisor's mind is, "How do I increase student retention?" According to John McDonald, adjunct instructor at Fox Valley Technical College ...