What makes soccer star Christiano Ronaldo's "knuckleball" shot so unpredictable and difficult to stop? At the American Physical Society's (APS) Division of Fluid Dynamics (DFD) meeting, November 18 – 20, 2012, in San Diego, Calif., a team of researchers investigating this phenomenon will reveal their findings. A "knuckleball" in soccer refers to a ball kicked at very low spin, which results in a zigzag trajectory. Along its straight path, the ball deviates laterally by roughly the diameter of a ball (0.2 m). The deviation direction appears to be unpredictable, which is ...

Plants lack muscles, yet in only a tenth of a second, the meat-eating Venus fly trap hydrodynamically snaps its leaves shut to trap an insect meal. This astonishingly rapid display of botanical movement has long fascinated biologists. Commercially, understanding the mechanism of the Venus fly trap's leaf snapping may one day help improve products such as release-on-command coatings and adhesives, electronic circuits, optical lenses, and drug delivery. Now a team of French physicists from the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) and Aix-Marseille University in ...

EUGENE, Ore. — (Nov. 16, 2012) — Contrary to popular thought, regular exercise before and during pregnancy could have beneficial effects for women that develop high blood pressure during gestation, human physiology professor Jeff Gilbert said, summarizing a new study by his research team that appears in the December issue of Hypertension, a journal of the American Heart Association. Gilbert's team observed that placental ischemia-induced hypertension in rats was alleviated by exercise and was accompanied by a restoration of several circulating factors that have recently ...

The adverse side effects of certain hepatitis C medications can now be replicated and observed in Petri dishes and test tubes, thanks to a research team led by Craig Cameron, the Paul Berg Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Penn State University. "The new method not only will help us to understand the recent failures of hepatitis C antiviral drugs in some patients in clinical trials," said Cameron. "It also could help to identify medications that eliminate all adverse effects." The team's findings, published in the current issue of the journal PLOS Pathogens ...

HOUSTON – (Nov. 16, 2012) – A device that looks like a tiny washboard may clean the clocks of current commercial products used to manipulate infrared light. New research by the Rice University lab of Qianfan Xu has produced a micron-scale spatial light modulator (SLM) like those used in sensing and imaging devices, but with the potential to run orders of magnitude faster. Unlike other devices in two-dimensional semiconducting chips, the Rice chips work in three-dimensional "free space." Xu and his Rice colleagues detailed their antenna-on-a-chip for light modulation ...

TEMPE, Ariz. – What started out as a project to teach undergraduate students about network analysis, turned into an in-depth study of whether it was possible to analyze a National Basketball Association (NBA) basketball team's strategic interactions as a network. Arizona State University researchers discovered it is possible to quantify both a team's cohesion and communication structure. The researchers' findings appear in an online November issue of PLOS ONE. Jennifer Fewell, a professor in ASU's School of Life Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, ...

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Online role-playing game developers can get ahead of the competition by giving gamers more opportunities to get social, collaborate and take control of their online personas, according to a study from the University at Buffalo School of Management. The study, forthcoming in the International Journal of Electronic Commerce, considers why some massive multiplayer online role-playing games, or MMORPGs, like "World of Warcraft" or "Star Wars Galaxies," command legions of loyal players while others struggle to gain a following. The question is important to ...

New Rochelle, NY, November 15, 2012—Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the cause of infectious mononucleosis and a risk for serious disease in liver transplant recipients. Molecular tests that can identify early protein markers produced by EBV may have value for diagnosing active infection. The benefits of this diagnostic approach in patients with mononucleosis and in EBV-infected transplant patients are evaluated in an article published in BioResearch Open Access, a bimonthly peer-reviewed open access journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free ...

Athens, Ga. – Psychological factors can have as much—or more—impact on pediatric chest pain as physical ones, a University of Georgia study found recently. UGA psychologists discovered pediatric patients diagnosed with noncardiac chest pain have higher levels of anxiety and depression than patients diagnosed with innocent heart murmurs–the noise of normal turbulent blood flow in a structurally normal heart. The UGA research was done in collaboration with Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University. "The fact that these psychological symptoms are higher in ...

SALT LAKE CITY—A new discovery from researchers at Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University of Utah concerning a fundamental understanding about how DNA works will produce a "180-degree change in focus" for researchers who study how gene packaging regulates gene activity, including genes that cause cancer and other diseases. The discovery, by Bradley R. Cairns, PhD, Senior Director of Basic Science at HCI and a professor in the Department of Oncological Sciences, is reported in this week's online issue of the journal Nature. Cairns's research focuses on chromatin ...

San Diego, Calif., Nov. 16 – Penguins that face the bitter cold and icy winds of Antarctica often huddle together in large groups for warmth during storms. Mathematicians at the University of California, Merced created a model of penguin huddles that assumes each penguin aims solely to minimize its own heat loss. Surprisingly, the model reveals that such self-centered behavior results in an equitable sharing of heat. The results are published in the online journal PLOS ONE and the researchers will discuss their findings at the annual meeting of the American Physical Society's ...

Scientific studies have suggested that a wandering mind indicates unhappiness, whereas a mind that is present in the moment indicates well-being. Now, a preliminary UCSF study suggests a possible link between mind wandering and aging, by looking at a biological measure of longevity. In the study, telomere length, an emerging biomarker for cellular and general bodily aging, was assessed in association with the tendency to be present in the moment versus the tendency to mind wander, in research on 239 healthy, midlife women ranging in age from 50 to 65 years. Being present ...

David Jones is excited to announce - for the first time ever! - it will partner with the ARIA Awards topresent a fusion of fashion, music and glamour on the exclusive ARIA Awards 2012 David Jones Red Carpet to be held at the Sydney Entertainment Centre on Thursday 29th November. As the exclusive presenting partner of the ARIA Awards 2012 Red Carpet, David Jones will collaborate with artists, designers and its ambassadors to create an exciting precinct that brings the very best of Australian fashion and music to a national - and international - audience via a 30-minute ...

Announcing that Bartsoft Inc., a Canadian based company, has released the biggest update yet for both the iPhone and iPad versions of eCard Express and eCard Express HD. The update includes new features, new Thanksgiving cards and two new in-app purchases - Anniversary Cards and Stickers and Text Templates. eCard Express now offers a total of more then 300 greeting cards and frames in 19 categories. All cards can be shared via Email, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Evernote and Flickr at no extra cost! eCard Express application enables users to create and customize greeting ...

Triton Timeshare Software, a Sarasota-based technology solutions provider, has engaged the services of Locher & Associates to broaden its marketing and business development efforts. Locher will focus on timeshare industry relations and marketing strategies for the 15 year old software company which has recently integrated its systems with OombagaSM, a middleware mobile application allowing timeshare owners to pay maintenance fees, make reservations and carry out transactions with their resort in real time. John Locher, RRP, is founder of Locher & Associates, ...

TonerGreen, an environment-conscious printer supply store, is offering an early sale to celebrate this year's Thanksgiving holiday. So stack up on the printer supplies with TonerGreen's remanufactured toner cartridges and remanufactured ink cartridges today and save up to 15% off when one purchased order reach the amount of $100 or more. To avail TonerGreen's Thanksgiving Sale, customers just need to type in or paste coupon code "15THANKS" at the designated box located at the checkout page to get the 15% off discount. This promo, however, is not valid on OEM ...

The Naples Bankruptcy Law Firm of A. Hernandez P.A. has teamed up with Vertical Marketing LLC, (http://VerticalMarketing.Co) to refresh and update the firm's website, (http://naplesbankruptcyattorney.info) The law office of Alberto H. Hernandez is dedicated to providing clients throughout Lee and Collier Counties in Naples Florida with cost-effective, aggressive, compassionate and high quality bankruptcy and foreclosure legal services. Alberto H. Hernandez P.A. was admitted to the Florida Bar Association in 1991 and is a member of The National Association of Consumer ...

Throughout her career Diane Lauridsen and her staff at Lauridsen Ballet Centre in Torrance have trained thousands of young people in ballet discipline. She has come to believe that the mentoring of young talent is central to both the continued growth of dance as an art form and her mission as an artistic director and teacher. In 2006 this philosophy gave birth to Lauridsen's performing company's [South Bay Ballet] mentoring program. Unlike many other art forms, ballet is an oral tradition. Its survival depends on one generation passing knowledge onto the next. South ...

Total Wine & More, America's largest independent retailer of fine wine, spirits and beer, has announced that it is expanding its presence in the Greater Sacramento area with a new location in Folsom, Calif., which is expected to open on November 29. "Our newest investment in the Sacramento community will benefit our customers, as well as the overall community," says David Trone, who co-owns Total Wine & More with his brother Robert Trone. "Our expansion into Folsom will bring an estimated 50 jobs to the community, while also creating a thriving ...

Just because Veteran's Day is over, doesn't mean our support for the troops ends. Pine River Ranch, along with hundreds of inns and BnB's throughout the U.S. and Canada are honoring active and retired veterans with lodging discounts. Many BnB's joined the campaign called B&Bs for Vets, where they opened their doors with complimentary stays for vets on November 11, 2012 so they can have a great night's sleep and the pampering they deserve; but Pine River Ranch didn't end the support there. They are extending a discount to our military men and women for 25% off their ...

VarTech Systems has improved its entire line of 12.1" daylight viewable monitors by now offering them with a standard XGA 1024 x 768 resolution. This satisfies many industry needs by providing smaller sunlight readable displays at higher resolutions. These new high resolution monitors are available in all mounting configurations including panel mount, VESA wall mount and chassis console mount. Additionally, the sunlight viewable 12.1" panel mount configuration is available in either NEMA 4 (IP65) or NEMA 4X (IP66) front bezel construction. The daylight viewable ...

WebShark360 announced new attorney marketing specials today that focus on providing attorneys and legal service providers affordable and effective legal marketing. Attorneys seeking to get noticed, get web traffic, and get more clients are encouraged to call WebShark360 today. WebShark360's newest legal marketing options focus on merging outbound and inbound marketing techniques to provide the quality leads that a law firm needs. WebShark360 offers custom packages which include web design, pay per click advertising campaigns, content marketing, public relations, social ...

As part of a grant from a Tennessee based company, Green Education Foundation (GEF) is able to offer its paid for online courses and curriculum to K-12 schools in Tennessee at no cost. Schools, classrooms and youth groups in Tennessee, and nationwide, are also encouraged to join GEF's free National Green Week program, the largest K-12 sustainability education campaign in history. Resources available to Tennessee at no cost include GEF Institute's online Sustainability Specialist Certificate in K-12 Sustainability Education Strategies, valued at $400. This specialty ...

OJCommerce.com, started with the vision of providing a winning shopping experience along with delivering exceptional value, quality, and outstanding customer service. When you shop at OJCommerce.com, you can be confident that you are getting the highest quality products at the best value with a strong customer service team to support your purchases. OJCommerce.com takes pride in offering and supporting all of the best in class brand name sports and recreation equipment, durable field maintenance products, physical education "must haves" and much more. Their ...

Boot Camp Digital (www.bootcampdigital.com) is excited to announce that Krista Neher (www.kristaneher.com), professional social media speaker and Boot Camp Digital's CEO, will be speaking at the all-day Midwest Social Media Summit on November 28th. The conference is presented by Blue Technologies and is sponsored by Smart Business and other successful companies in the region. The ultimate goal and focus of the conference is to teach marketers and business professionals how to engage with their fans and consumers in social media - because being "active" and ...