A new tool is available to select for soybean rust resistance in breeding populations, said Glen Hartman, University of Illinois professor of crop sciences and USDA-ARS scientist. Hartman and his team of researchers successfully used quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) assays to assess fungal DNA in soybean leaf tissue to quantify the level of resistance in individual plants with resistance to soybean rust. "This is not a new technique," Hartman said. "But it is a new tool for use in soybean rust resistance breeding, which has typically used phenotyping or ...

OAK BROOK, Ill. – A simple blood test may help prevent a serious complication associated with a contrast agent commonly used in MRI exams, according to a study published in the July issue of Radiology. Within the past five years, use of gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCA) has been linked to the development of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF), a rare disorder mainly affecting patients with severe kidney disease. But since 2008, restrictive GBCA administration guidelines implemented by Massachusetts General Hospital have proven effective in preventing NSF. "It ...

New research shows that polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for Borrelia burgdorferi DNA—the spirochetal bacteria transmitted by deer ticks—in joint fluid may confirm the diagnosis of Lyme arthritis, but is not a reliable indicator for active joint infection in patients whose arthritis persists after antibiotic therapy. Findings of this study are published in Arthritis & Rheumatism, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). Lyme disease is caused by the B. burgdorferi bacteria, which is transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected blacklegged tick, ...

Nitrogen pollution in our coastal ecosystems, the result of widespread use of synthetic agricultural fertilizers and of human sewage, leads to decreased water transparency, the loss of desirable fish species, and the emergence of toxic phytoplankton species—such as the algae behind the renowned "red tides" that kill fish. The effects are particularly pronounced in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. A study published in the journal Global Change Biology finds that while fertilizer has been the dominant source of nitrogen pollution in Caribbean coastal ecosystems for ...

From Friday 13 May, Santander, the 'Home of UK Mortgages' is launching a new three year fixed Homebuyer product at 85 per cent LTV, at 5.49 per cent with NO fee ''ideal for those homeowners looking to buy. The new product also comes with Santander's Homebuyer Solution which offers the added benefits of a free basic mortgage valuation and GBP250 cash-back on completion. In addition, Santander is also reducing rates on a selection of its two year fixed products: - Rate reduced by 0.10 per cent on two-year fix at 80 per cent LTV for homebuyers, now 4.19 per cent with ...

E-Book Systems, creator of the patented Digital Flip(R) e-publishing technology, announces Prevention First has adopted its 3-D page-flipping FlipViewer(R) Xpress viewer format for its Forum online magazines. Founded in 1980, Prevention First is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) dedicated to preventing teen alcohol and other drug use, and the many related issues that result from that abuse. They reach millions of teens, parents, educators and others in Illinois. "We were looking for a cost-effective way to produce our publications and eliminate high print and mail costs ...

During the 2011 edition of the Cannes Film Festival and Marche du Film at a karaoke bar "alternative dinner party", Petra Theman, CEO of FAVEX, i.e. Finnish Film & Audiovisual Export, is launching Filmland.fi (http://www.filmland.fi): "The Finnish audiovisual industry is blooming and new creative talent has given us everything from angry birds to space Nazis, rare Santa Clauses for export and lots of stories and characters in between. Also filming in Finland is easy and hassle free. Now Filmland.fi is bringing you all the info you need to be up-to-date, ...

ArtistScope launches the most secure web site protection system for copy protecting web pages, data and all embedded media without data leakage and other exploits enabled by modern web browsers. The ArtistScope Site Protection System, ASPS, provides the most secure copy protection for web pages and is the only solution recommended where the prevention of copy and unauthorized redistribution is mission critical. Protect images, html, source code, Flash, movies, PDF, database records and other web content without data leakage and other exploits enabled by modern web browsers. ...

Hound Comics, Inc. CEO William 'Brimstone' Kucmierowski announced that Barnes & Noble Bookstores increased the distribution of the flagship brand Brimstone and the Borderhounds. Headlining their regular distribution, Brimstone and the Borderhounds will be featured in over seven hundred Barnes & Noble retail locations across the nation. As of this coming July, the enlargement of the distribution will be coupled with special promotional placement at all Barnes & Noble stores. Brimstone announced that with this massive increase of distribution comes a major ...

On the Hawaiian island of Kauai the daytime skies are sunny and bright and the nights are filled with stars. ResorTime.com is offering some of their best bargains of the season in this tropical paradise. ResorTime.com (www.resortime.com), among the leaders in luxury timeshare nightly rentals in the country, has open accommodations in Princeville and Lihue, Kauai, two of Hawaii's most popular spots. "Anytime of the year, a trip is Hawaii is an exciting prospect," according to Sherri Weeks, General Manager of ResorTime.com. "Right now, a getaway to Kauai ...

BikeaPack.com has invented a folding bicycle. Unlike any other bicycle, the bicycle WHEELS actually fold! Bicycles are great for riders and for the planet, but there are problems if you want to travel with your bicycle. Storing or public transport prevent you from easily using the bike. The size and weight makes public transport especially difficult. All folding bikes are too tiny or too big. The main problem is that large wheels prevent storage in a small package. The only solution is to fold the wheels. Jay Lashlee, the inventor at BikeaPack.com solved the problem ...

iPiccy.com today announced a free public beta of the completely Web-based photo editing and sharing application to give users everywhere the ability to quickly and easily edit, enhance, share and print all of their photos from any Internet browser. iPiccy's innovative, Web-based approach lets consumers avoid the problems associated with traditional, retail photo-editing software. Now consumers can avoid the expensive price, thick manuals, upgrade hassles, platform compatibility issues, and lack of Web integration that comes with a boxed product. iPiccy provides new, ...

Authors can protect popular file types to ensure that documents are only viewable on licensed computers. With basic computer skills, anyone can use DocProtect on HTML projects, image collections, video and audio files, PDFs and Excel spreadsheets. DocProtect works independently or together with the QuickLicense protection and licensing system. DocProtect 2.0 can apply a computer unique password to generate a Protected Document with a few button clicks. The vendor can provide each customer computer with a unique password upon first launch to ensure that only licensed ...

Lissa Lauria, New York born, LA based recording artist has released her new music video created from her single "Famous." In only one week of the launch, the video has exploded on YouTube with tens of thousands of views in only a few short days. Lissa was intent on providing a new sound while showcasing her abilities not just in singing but also in her unique style of dancing and tapping. When asked why this project was so important to her, Lissa states, "This video is important because I want people to see who I am as an artist. Everything I do is different: ...

Stuffed Bell Peppers website and site owner Sharon Hunter are pleased to announce the launch of a web page devoted to the enjoyment and preparation of stuffed peppers. Bell peppers are found in the cuisine of most of the world's peoples. They can be part of a gourmet meal or a quick yet hearty family snack. According to Hunter, "Looking up brand new recipes and trying out new things will actually bring everyone in the kitchen together and will allow them to enjoy cooking and food a whole lot more." He continues, "When I first began the task of assembling ...

Graphic Images, a CT tattoo studio, has just completed the launch of ConnecticutTattoosPiercing.com. The new site will act as a portfolio website where visitors can see examples of piercings and tattoos. Graphic Images, which offers tattoos and piercings, was formed in 2008 by David Hennessy. Hennessy hired a group of renowned artists that have worked worldwide in order to produce outstanding tattoos. The studio specializes in all forms of tattoo art--from bold colors, portraits and realistic pieces. Graphic Images allows customers to pick from a wide range of pre-rendered ...

On April 28, 2011, Attorney John L. Calcagni, III was granted admission to the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, and the United States Army Court of Criminal Appeal. Attorney Calcagni was a former Special Assistant US Attorney with the US Department of Justice, and served in the US Military JAG Corps for four years before going into private practice as a criminal defense attorney. When asked to comment on his admission to the courts, Attorney Calcagni said, "I am honored for the opportunity to serve the men and women in our armed forces in this ...

Matthew Taylor has been in the service of himself and God, and he uses his gift of music to better himself and the rest of the world. For Matthew, music is not just about making songs, singing and performing them - it's also the message that you share to others. If he sticks to this, he's doing something noble and creative both at the same time. It all began when Matthew was a wee baby. Like Schroeder from the comic strip 'Peanuts', he received his first toy grand piano at three. When he was four, he had his first toy guitar and amp as birthday presents, and from there, ...

Trying to choose the best out of the select few is easy but when faced with a wide variety of choices for Boston movers, it becomes a daunting task to select the best one. You could be lucky enough to have found one for yourself but for all those who are fairly new to the place they are relocating to or relocating from, need help and guidance of an expert. Boston expert movers, hence, delve in information that could prove to be very useful when it comes to finding the most compatible and reliable movers for your relocating needs. Following are the top tips that experts ...

Celebrity TV chef Mafiz Ali is introducing a new daily Tandoori Barbecue at Ayr Spice Indian Restaurant in Minishant, South Ayrshire, Scotland. It will be available 7 days a week during Ayr Spice opening hours of 12noon - 10.30pm. And of course the popular all-the-year-round Ayr Spice menu will also continue to be available at all times. Mafiz Ali commented: "We have a spacious outdoor deck area with a pleasant view over the surrounding South Ayrshire countryside, and the possibility to eat indoors in inclement weather. There is also a tree-house for the children. ...

The Napa Valley Wine Train has just launched a new wine appreciation class that explores food, wine and Napa winery history. The course entitled "Eat, See, Learn," encourages guests to relish every moment and deeply explore each bite and sip while traveling through and learning about one of the most beautiful places in the world. "Eat, See, Learn" is hosted by well-known Napa local, Richard Miami, who is a Wine Educator at Robert Mondavi Winery. Miami was born and raised in St. Helena, California, and has worked for Domaine Chandon, COPIA, and as ...

Charleston-based business Franchise Clique welcomes its second hire this year in preparations for continued growth. Lauren Melton joins the staff of Franchise Clique as an Executive Assistant, effective immediately. "We're very excited to have Lauren with us," says Dave Schwartz, chief executive officer of Franchise Clique. "We're preparing to grow significantly over the coming months. We need someone with her background to streamline our operations and infrastructure." Melton, a College of Charleston graduate, will put to use her bachelor's ...

Do you trust the people who make your food? America's major conglomerates want to produce more product and spend less money, and that's bad news for what's on your fork. Even worse, food corporations are not held accountable for the content on their nutrition labels. They add some vitamins and call it "enriched" or they report it's a "good source of fiber" even when your body cannot dissolve the amount added. Ultimately, most of what we buy in supermarkets is all the same—artificial. That's where Honest Label Foods comes in. Today's food choices could ...

Publicis Touchpoint Solutions' Rhonda Levinson, Director of Client Services, was honored as a 2011 Rising Star by the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association (HBA) during its 2011 Women of the Year award luncheon on May 8. Ms. Levinson, who joined Publicis Touchpoint Solutions in 2009, leads client services teams for many of the company's largest corporate partners. "Rhonda is known for her superb customer service and brings genuine passion to everything she does," stated Rick Keefer, President and CEO. "Her insightful approach, integrity, and ambition ...

Nexgrid, a leading provider of advanced metering and smart grid infrastructure based on open standards, today announced that it has entered into a contract with McMinnville Electric Systems (MES) to provide smart grid infrastructure to its commercial and industrial customers. MES has conducted a pilot with Nexgrid over the last six months and decided to begin rolling the solution to its entire commercial/industrial customer base beginning this summer. The rollout will provide a web-based portal to customers to better manage, monitor, and control their power usage and ...