Washington, D.C. (April 5, 2011) -- A very simple bench-top technique that uses the force of acoustical waves to create a variety of 3D structures will benefit the rapidly expanding field of metamaterials and their myriad applications—including "invisibility cloaks." Metamaterials are artificial materials that are engineered to have properties not found in nature. These materials usually gain their unusual properties—such as negative refraction that enables subwavelength focusing, negative bulk modulus, and band gaps—from structure rather than composition. By creating ...

The Link Between Water & Utility Costs A foodservice location uses a significant amount of water, which can directly result in increased utility costs. Water bills and electricity bills are actually linked expenses. Water quality, specifically high levels of hardness and TDS, can cause inefficiencies in equipment that either heats or cools water. This image shows the heating element inside a boiler-based steam oven. As little as a 1/4" of scale buildup can decrease energy efficiency by nearly 40%. Imagine a typical combi oven that costs $1500 a year in electricity: ...

Washington, D.C. (April 5, 2011) -- Sealants, like weather stripping, are what separates the inside from the outside of a building, byproviding a barrier that prevents water from seeping in, for example, or heat from leaking out. The challenge, says research chemist Christopher White of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, Maryland, is predicting when they will fail. Current methods test sealants statically, by placing them outdoors for long periods of time, to measure their resistance to the elements. The problem, says White, is ...

The following highlights summarize research papers that have been recently published or accepted for publication in Geophysical Research Letters (GRL) and Paleoceanography (PA). In this release: New study says 2 degrees Celsius warming may be unavoidable by 2100 Icelandic volcano exonerated for harsh winter of 1783-1784 Droughts and floods becoming more common in northern Australia Improved model reproduces deadly European heat wave Tree ring record chronicles major pre-Hispanic droughts in Mesoamerica Antarctic and Greenland ice sheet melting accelerating Anyone ...

Scientists are working to develop a new drug that will regenerate a critical enzyme in the human body that "ages" after a person is exposed to deadly chemical warfare agents. Christopher Hadad, Ph.D., professor of chemistry at The Ohio State University (OSU), is leveraging Ohio Supercomputer Center (OSC) resources to help develop a more effective antidote to lethal chemicals called organophosphorus (OP) nerve agents. "This project is a combination of synthetic and computational organic chemistry conducted through OSC at Ohio State, and biochemical studies conducted ...

CORVALLIS, Ore. – The long-standing conflicts over nuclear power and the risks of radiation exposure are nothing new – in fact, the debate over the damaged Fukushima Dai-Ichi plant in Japan are similar to arguments happening between scientists, governmental agencies and the public since 1945, according to an Oregon State University expert on the history of science. Historian Jacob Hamblin is the author of the 2008 book, "Poison in the Well: Radioactive Waste in the Oceans at the Dawn of the Nuclear Age." He specializes in the history of the Cold War era, with a particular ...

Faced with the prospect of costly in vitro fertilization (IVF) but with no help from insurance coverage, some infertile couples feel pressure to transfer multiple embryos in an attempt to ensure that the IVF is a success. This can lead to higher rates of twin and triplet births and prematurity. But having insurance coverage could curtail the costs associated with these multiple births, according to a new study by researchers at Yale School of Medicine. Published in the current issue of Fertility and Sterility, the study found that the 15 states, including Connecticut, ...

Centage Corporation, a leading provider of integrated budgeting software, forecasting, consolidation and financial reporting solutions for small to mid-sized companies (SMB) today announced a new product in the Maestro line of financial reporting software: Analytics Maestro. Analytics Maestro extends the current Planning Maestro and Budget Maestro budgeting software reporting capabilities by bringing the power and flexibility of enterprise-class OLAP (online analytical processing) multi-dimensional reporting to the smaller organization. Centage's Maestro line of financial ...

(Boston) - Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM), including Yu Li, PhD, and other colleagues, have demonstrated that a nutrient sensing pathway is involved in the disruption of cellular lipid homeostasis in obese and insulin resistant mice fed a diet high in fat and sucrose. This nutrient sensing pathway, which is described in the current on-line issue of Cell Metabolism, may also have implications for the health benefits of polyphenols containing foods against fatty liver, hyperlipidemia, and atherosclerosis associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes. Although ...

An editorial in the April 6 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association cautions against estrogen-only hormone therapy in women who have had a hysterectomy because of longstanding evidence that it raises the risk of breast cancer. The editorial is a response to a study in the same issue of the journal that found that estrogen-only therapy, currently used in women with menopausal symptoms who have had a hysterectomy, may decrease breast cancer risk if it is used for fewer than five years. The study found this benefit persisted even after the hormone therapy ...

The Cook's Book of Intense Flavors, by Robert and Molly Krauce, has received FIVE STAR reviews from Amazon. A stimulus for the adventurous cook, this cookbook takes your taste buds where they've never been before. "Even the not so adventurous will probably be invigorated by the cook's uncommon spirit of bold culinary fun," states R. G. Webb on Amazon. The Cook's Book of Intense Flavors contains 101 extraordinary combinations and accompanying recipes that show you how to get the most flavor out of any ingredient, whether you are looking for an innovative twist or a classic ...

MADISON, WI MARCH 31, 2011 – Recycling manure is an important practice, especially for large livestock producers. Manure can be used as fertilizer to aid in crop production, aiding livestock producers that grow their own feed crops. While manure does provide a rich nutrient source for crops, it also can contribute to nutrient leaching and runoff. This can contaminate the surrounding ecosystem and lead to eutrophication of waterways. The desire for farmers to be able to recycle manure in an environmentally safe manner while providing a sufficient supply of nutrients to their ...

NEW YORK (April 5, 2011) -- Thanks to the zebrafish, there is new hope for people with melanoma, an aggressive skin cancer that is responsible for approximately 8,700 deaths each year in the United States. In a study that was published in the March 24th issue of the journal Nature, and featured on the cover, researchers identified SETDB1 as a new gene that promotes the growth of melanoma and may play a role in up to 70 percent of malignant melanomas. "We hope our discovery will ultimately lead to better therapeutic strategies for patients with melanoma," says study ...

Watson Land Company, one of Southern California's largest industrial real estate developers, has leased a 148,725 square foot industrial property to OHL. Watson Land Company successfully completed more than 800,000 square feet in leases during the fourth quarter of 2010 as inbound container volume continued to increase, according to the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The Port of Long Beach reported a 10.4 percent year-over-year increase in inbound loaded containers, while the Port of Los Angeles witnessed an increase of 5.6 percent during 2010. This trend ...

Sussex, UK—April 5, 2011— Psychological research has consistently shown that women feel unhappy with their body after looking at images of thin, idealized models, which are typically represented in the media. However, today's consumer culture and media promote not only the ideal of perfect beauty, but also that of the material affluent lifestyle, both of which are commonly depicted together, and highlight the benefits of beauty and of owning material goods to one's personal success and fame. A new study from the British Journal of Social Psychology is the first to examine ...

A device designed to treat people with resistant hypertension helped lower blood pressure by 33 points, a substantial drop that would otherwise require patients to take an additional three or four drugs, on top of this subgroup's usual regimen of up to five drugs, to control their difficult-to-treat condition. The device, called the Rheos® System, was tested in a pivotal Phase III study presented today as a late-breaking clinical trial at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Sessions. It is the first device to be tested in a large-scale clinical trial ...

Timothy's World Coffee today announced expansion efforts into the U.S., with the opening of a cafe at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. The decision comes at a time of significant growth for Vermont-based Bruegger's Enterprises Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary Threecaf Brands, which operates Timothy's cafes. "Bruegger's existing operating infrastructure allows us to bring this famous Canadian brand to the U.S.," said Jim Greco, CEO of Bruegger's Enterprises, Inc. "We are confident that the American consumer will appreciate the quality and variety of coffee ...

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - A Purdue University biochemist has demonstrated a process using nanotechnology to better assess whether cancer drugs hit their targets, which may help reduce drug side effects. W. Andy Tao, an associate professor of biochemistry analytical chemistry, developed a nanopolymer that can be coated with drugs, enter cells and then removed to determine which proteins in the cells the drug has entered. Since they're water-soluble, Tao believes the nanopolymers also may be a better delivery system for drugs that do not dissolve in water effectively. "Many ...

This release is available in German. For the first time – as presented in Nature Communications - the quantum behaviour of molecules consisting of more than 400 atoms was demonstrated by quantum physicists based at the University of Vienna in collaboration with chemists from Basel and Delaware. The international and interdisciplinary team of scientists thus sets a new record in the verification of the quantum properties of nanoparticles. In addition, an important aspect of the famous thought experiment known as 'Schroedinger's cat' is probed. However, due to the particular ...

What is the difference between e-learning, online learning and distance learning? University of Missouri researchers have found that even educators can't agree on what different forms of learning environments entail and, without some common definitions, it is difficult to study the best methods and provide students with accurate previews of courses. Joi Moore, associate professor in the School of Information Science and Learning Technologies in the MU College of Education, along with doctoral students Camille Dickson-Deane and Krista Galyen, found several definitions ...

Santa Monica cosmetic dentist, Dr. Sanaz Khoubnazar, is offering a new special for patients that seek high quality dental care. The standard price of $185 for a dental exam and x-ray is reduced to $49. This provides a low-cost way for new patients to experience the excellent treatments and dental care provided by Dr. Khoubnazar. Routine dental care is needed to clean the teeth and gum line professionally. Daily brushing and flossing help to reduce the buildup of bacteria and plaque, but professional dental cleanings can clean areas on the teeth and gum line that cannot ...

The persistence and recurrence of H5N1 avian influenza in endemic regions can largely be blamed on movement and infection by migratory birds. Trade in poultry, poultry products and caged birds, and movement of wild birds also account for H5N1 prevalence in these areas. Several recent outbreaks of avian influenza have suggested strong evidence of migratory birds playing a role in transmitting the virus over long distances. In a paper published last week in the SIAM Journal on Applied Mathematics, authors Lydia Bourouiba, Stephen A. Gourley, Rongsong Liu, and Jianhong ...

Certain cases of major depression are associated with premature aging of immune cells, which may make people more susceptible to other serious illness, according to findings from a new UCSF-led study. The findings indicate that accelerated cell aging does not occur in all depressed individuals, but is dependent upon how long someone is depressed, particularly if that depression goes untreated. The study was published online in March 2011 by the journal PLoS One and is available here. "There's a lot more to depression than feeling blue," said first author Owen Wolkowitz, ...

After 12 months in development, Films For Action has launched its new website - a head-to-toe redesign that lays the foundation for a vibrant community-powered news site dedicated to inspiring positive social change. At the heart of the new site is a constantly growing learning library of over 200 documentaries and 500 short films that can be watched free online, daily independent news, and a practical "Take Action" section to help users find ways to make a positive impact. "It's probably the most comprehensive collection of films dedicated to social change online," ...

MILITARY -- H2O from diesel Capillary action and graphite foam are being enlisted by researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to solve a logistical nightmare for the military and U.S. troops deployed around the world. While soldiers require nearly seven gallons of water a day, just getting that water to them increases troop vulnerability and limits their tactical use. Using an ORNL proprietary system, however, this problem could be greatly reduced. The system uses the pores of inorganic membranes to condense water present in a diesel's exhaust stream to produce about ...