Scientists at the Smithsonian and their colleagues have discovered a new mechanism of animal mating plug production. In the giant wood spider Nephila pilipes, a highly sexually dimorphic and polygamous species, many small males compete with one other for access to a few huge females. During copulation these males are known to sever their own genitals in an attempt to plug the female, thereby gaining paternity advantage by preventing other males from mating with her. Until recently however, nothing has been known about the origin and function of additional and very solid ...

NASA's Terra satellite captured two tropical cyclones on visible imagery today, August 1 as they head for landfall. Typhoon Saola is approaching Taiwan and Typhoon Damrey approaching southern Japan, are both headed for landfall in China. Saola is forecast to landfall south of Shanghai on August 3, while Damrey is forecast to make landfall north of Shanghai on August 2. NASA satellites have been tracking the twin tropical troublemakers, providing forecasters at the Joint Typhoon Warning Center with visible, infrared and microwave imagery. The Moderate Resolution Imaging ...

A study by a University of Iowa economist finds that many car race fans do, indeed, watch NASCAR races because they want to see car wrecks, but more of them have been tuning in to see who actually wins the race since the circuit adopted its Chase for the Cup championship series in 2004. John Solow, a professor of economics in the Tippie College of Business, and co-author Peter Von Allmen of Skidmore College, looked at 135 NASCAR races between 2001 and 2009. They used a formula that measured the impact on each race's television ratings by incorporating a dozen statistics, ...

Image-processing software is a hot commodity: Just look at Instagram, a company built around image processing that Facebook is trying to buy for a billion dollars. Image processing is also going mobile, as more and more people are sending cellphone photos directly to the Web, without transferring them to a computer first. At the same time, digital-photo files are getting so big that, without a lot of clever software engineering, processing them would take a painfully long time on a desktop computer, let alone a cellphone. Unfortunately, the tricks that engineers use to ...

Cincinnati, OH, August 2, 2012 – In 2010, 59% of the U.S. population used internet searches for health information, and parents searching for information regarding their children were among the top users. In 2011, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published recommendations for infant sleep safety to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), suffocation, strangulation, and other accidental sleep-related deaths. However, according to a study scheduled for publication in The Journal of Pediatrics, Google internet searches related to infant sleep safety ...

Rochester, MN, August 2, 2012 – Many health care systems across the US have declined to participate in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMMS) Accountable Care Organization (ACO) program, developed under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), to improve efficiency and quality of health care delivery. In a groundbreaking collection of commentaries in the current issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, representatives of six leading health care organizations write about the challenges of reducing health care costs while improving health care quality. ...

Proteins do not need to be surrounded by water to carry out their vital biological functions, according to scientists from the Institut de Biologie Structurale (IBS) in Grenoble, the University of Bristol, the Australian National University, the Institut Laue Langevin and the Jülich Centre for Neutron Science. In a new paper, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, the team used a state-of-the-art neutron scattering technique to demonstrate that when myoglobin, an oxygen-binding protein found in the muscle tissue of vertebrates, is enclosed in a sheath ...

A chemical sensing system developed by engineers at the University of Connecticut is believed to be the first of its kind capable of detecting vapors from buried landmines and other explosive devices with the naked eye rather than advanced scientific instrumentation. The research was first reported in the May 11, 2012 online edition of Advanced Functional Materials. The key to the system is a fluorescent nanofiberous film that can detect ultra-trace levels of explosive vapors and buried explosives when applied to an area where explosives are suspected. A chemical reaction ...

LeadMaster Australia Pty Ltd ("LeadMaster") today announced its participation in the Outback Air Race 2012 in support of the Royal Flying Doctor Service ("RFDS", http://www.flyingdoctor.org.au). RFDS provides emergency aero-medical and primary healthcare across Australia. It operates a fleet of 61 aircraft from 21 bases across Australia and flies the equivalent of 25 round trips to the moon each year. The doctors and flight nurses are responsible for the care of nearly 270,000 patients every year. RFDS is a not for profit charitable organisation ...

Fashion copywriter and publicist, Lauren C. Francis, has released her debut e-book, How To Start A PR Agency From Scratch, on her website (www.shecopywrites.com). The self-published digital book details the beginning stages of launching a successful public relations agency from the ground up. It contains a personal introduction and five chapters on topics ranging from setting up shop, where to find your first clients, how to pitch to the media, dealing with bad press, and hiring assistants and interns. If you're an aspiring PR professional that's searching for valuable ...

Sheena Allen Apps has announced the release of TwtBooth, a new Twitter mobile application for iPhone and iPad. TwtBooth is a simple and convenient way to view photos posted on Twitter, regardless if the photo was taken through Twitter, Instagram, Twitpic, Lockerz, yFrog, img.ly, or other photo sharing services. The app, available for free download and paid download ($0.99) in the Apple app store, is looking to make life easier for people who are constantly searching Twitter to find pictures that users have tweeted TwtBooth includes the following tabs: - New - be able ...

ARS, a leading brand of American Residential Services L.L.C, and one of the premier heating and air conditioning service companies nationwide, is now the local provider of a revolutionary hybrid air conditioning system in Orange County and the Inland Empire. AquaChill, engineered and manufactured by Sacramento-based Beutler Corporation, produces air colder than regular air conditioning systems when temperatures are at their peak. According to the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, AquaChill is designed to use up to 29 percent less energy than traditional systems. The ...

Graphite Design, maker of some of the most widely played premium golf shafts on the PGA TOUR, announced today that the winner of the LPGA Evian Masters at Evian-les-Bains, France, played Graphite Design Tour AD shafts. A total of 6 of the top 11 women who finished in the top 9 positions also played Graphite Design shafts. Graphite Design was also the number one wood shaft used at the Evian Masters. This win marks the 16th professional tour victory in 2012 by players who have used Graphite Design shafts. According to Tak Yamada, President, Graphite Design, "This ...

Rosa & Co. LLC, a drug development advisory firm with expertise in drug-disease modeling and simulation, today announced that it will present a mechanistic systems pharmacology workshop at ICSB-2012 - the 13th International Conference on Systems Biology in Toronto, Canada on August 19th, 2012. Dr. Christina Friedrich will be presenting the workshop entitled "Using Mechanistic Systems Pharmacology Modeling for Insight and Decision Support". The workshop is designed for professionals in drug discovery and development that want to gain a better understanding ...

In an effort to improve patient education and accessibility, Dr. Justin A. Ahoyt, Plainfield dentist, announces the launch of his re-designed dental practice website and new social media accounts. The new Ahoyt Family Dental website features an easy-to-navigate design, detailed descriptions of dental procedures, and a reviews page where patients are encouraged to leave their feedback. Additionally, Dr. Ahoyt hopes to reach Internet-savvy patients who are pressed for time with his new Facebook and Twitter accounts. The rising demand for online patient educational materials ...

Acqueon Technologies, a leader in software solutions for the customer collaboration space, has named David Sokoler as its new Vice President of Product Management. Mr. Sokoler brings with him over two decades of software engineering, product design and development experience with recent specialties in contact center and network traffic analysis. As Director of Engineering at Avaya, he managed global product teams in designing and delivering Avaya's Enterprise Contact Center portfolio of industry leading inbound and outbound contact center products. As Executive Director ...

Taking the alternative music scene by storm is fan-favorite Chelsea Sinking, a talented bunch of newcomers that proves their talent is worthy of recognition. Continuing to win over fans and critics from all over as they keep busy with playing shows and making new music, Chelsea Sinking celebrated the release of their new EP with fans with a concert on July 13th at the World Famous Beach Club Spinnaker. Chelsea Sinking stands apart from other alternative rock bands by maintaining a driving youthful energy and contagious passion while delivering relatable messages through ...

St. Madeleine Sophie's Center is participating in the East County Leadership program for the 17th year. The program, a 9-month course that transforms participants into an active part of their community, offers participants direction to flourish in the community. Those involved learn leadership skills while gaining courage to be an active citizen. Participants are individuals seeking to enhance their leadership skills, involvement, and knowledge of their community. "We are excited to be participating in the Leadership East County program again this year," said ...

Alopecia Areata is a common autoimmune skin disease that, according to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF), affects over five million people in the United States alone and results in the unpredictable loss of hair in patches on the scalp (and sometimes eyebrows, lashes, and the whole body). In honor of International Alopecia Day, taking place on August 4, and September's Alopecia Awareness Month, Follea Inc., the leading designer and manufacturer of natural, European wigs and hairpieces, including the renowned Gripper Alopecia Wig, will give away 10,000 free ...

NAFA Fleet Management Association has long provided valuable benchmarking data for its Members, but the Association is now able to offer more comprehensive data for fleet managers than ever before. The first offering is Municipal Benchmark Study: PPV Marked Squad Sedan, a data analysis report from Utilimarc(R) consulting group provided at no cost to NAFA Members as a benefit of NAFA membership. Benchmarking data, especially that which is often complex in its very nature, is extremely important for fleet managers. Earlier this year, NAFA announced its endorsement of Utilimarc(R) ...

Tear drop tomatoes, fresh mint and citrus are just a few ingredients that say Indian Summer and Zov Karamardian, owner of 5 OC restaurants bearing her name, is embracing the warm months with a new seasonal menu focusing on overall lighter fare. Available at her Tustin, Newport Beach and Irvine locations only through Labor Day, the menu includes Housemade Cheese Tortellini with fresh peas, asparagus, garlic, pine nuts, roma tomato and goat cheese for $15.95; Shrimp and Watermelon Salad with cucumber, arugula, feta, fresh mint and lime juice for $16.95; Grilled Skirt ...

Richmond.com will host the Shockoe Shuffle - a night out in Downtown Richmond - on August 9th, 2012 from 5-9 PM. The event has partnered with several local bars for drink specials and free appetizers throughout the evening, including Cha Cha's, Lucky Buddah, Kai and The Tobacco Company Restaurant. All proceeds from the Shockoe Shuffle will benefit the Central Virginia Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. The event begins at Major Willy's, located at 115 S. 15th Street. As the night progresses, guests will "shuffle" up the Slip (armed with their complimentary ...

Award-winning author, Lisa Manzione will launch the first six books in her educational children's travel series, The Adventures of Bella and Harry, on the Reading Rainbow App late this fall. Similar to the beloved PBS children's television series, featuring actor LeVar Burton, the Reading Rainbow app encourages children to read and connect to the world they live in. The app offers a trusted library of books with recommendations customized to a child's age, interests and reading habits. In addition, children can watch new and classic video field trips, enjoy activities ...

D&J Sports is pleased to announce they carry the popular Arena Carbon Pro competitive swimsuit in a variety of colors that add a splash of color to an otherwise dark competitive pool atmosphere. Many of the suits available for competitive swimming come only in dark colors, such as black or navy blue. However, some swimmers prefer to make more of a splash in the pool with bright colors. The Carbon Pro line can provide that extra splash of color. D&J Sports carries the Arena Carbon Pro swimsuit in four different colors that can provide a swimmer with the opportunity ...

Tutors International today announced a dramatic rise in the number of adult private tuition enquiries, either as part of a tutoring schedule for their children, or for live-in tutors to help adults learn a new skill or brush up on an old one. Until now, families have been looking for live-in private tutors to teach their children full time. But Tutors International have now seen a rise in the number of parents who would like to take advantage of the breadth of the tutor's skills with a few hours of individual tuition for themselves. Adam Caller, who founded private ...