Infrared satellite data from NASA is showing some strong thunderstorms over west-central Madagascar today as Tropical Storm Bingiza continues to hug the western coast of the island nation. The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument that flies aboard NASA's Aqua satellite captured an infrared image of Tropical Storm Bingiza today, Feb. 16 at 10:17 UTC (5:17 a.m. EST). The image revealed some strong convection over the west-central coast where thunderstorm cloudtops were high and dropping moderate to heavy rainfall. Infrared data can provide temperature information ...

NASA's Aqua satellite captured an infrared image today of tropical cyclones affecting Australia in the western and northern areas of the country. Newly formed Tropical Storm Carlos is bringing heavy rains and gusty winds to Darwin and the Northern Territory, while Tropical Storm Dianne is bringing rains and winds to Western Australia. NASA's Aqua satellite passed over Australia today, Feb. 16 at 05:17 UTC (12:17 a.m. EST/ 2:47 p.m. Australia/Darwin local time. The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) instrument captured an infrared image of both tropical storms and found ...

ESA's Herschel space observatory has discovered a population of dust-enshrouded galaxies that do not need as much dark matter as previously thought to collect gas and burst into star formation. The galaxies are far away and each boasts some 300 billion times the mass of the Sun. The size challenges current theory that predicts a galaxy has to be more than ten times larger, 5000 billion solar masses, to be able form large numbers of stars. The new result is published today in a paper by Alexandre Amblard, University of California, Irvine, and colleagues. Most of the ...

A recent multicenter clinical trial of atorvastatin, a type of cholesterol-lowering drug, found that although the drug did not inhibit plasma HIV RNA levels, it did inhibit expression of cellular markers of immune activation and inflammation in patients with HIV infection. Since immune activation and inflammation are associated with progression of HIV infection, the implication is that the statin may inhibit disease progression and help in the infection's management. The findings are in a study, available online, published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases. The investigators, ...

As a child grows, a short stature is not usually cause for concern, but it is often the only sign of a condition called Turner syndrome. Prevalent in girls, Turner syndrome is a genetic defect that short-circuits normal growth and leads to cardiac and renal problems. It is not commonly detected until age 10 or older when a youngster's unusually short height raises suspicions. This lag before diagnosis of the condition can delay the start of growth hormone therapy, which can help in achieving normal or near-normal adult stature. Yale School of Medicine researchers are ...

A readily available, inexpensive drug therapy showed a significant benefit in treating premature infants with the worst and historically most difficult-to-treat cases of retinopathy of prematurity. The results of a multicenter clinical trial led by researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) are published in the Feb. 17 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine. Retinopathy of prematurity is a leading cause of childhood blindness worldwide. In the immature retina of babies born before 30 weeks' gestational age, the disease results ...

A rare bleeding disorder that can lead to life-threatening bleeding episodes is misdiagnosed in 15 per cent of cases according to findings from a new international research project led by a Queen's professor. "Correct diagnosis is critical because it determines the treatment decision," says Maha Othman, a professor in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology who led the three-year research project on the rare platelet type of von Willebrand disease (VWD). Patients with VWD are commonly treated with drugs that help control their condition. However, these drugs aggravate ...

ANN ARBOR, Mich.---Rising carbon dioxide levels associated with global warming may affect interactions between plants and the insects that eat them, altering the course of plant evolution, research at the University of Michigan suggests. The research focused on the effects of elevated carbon dioxide on common milkweed, Asclepias syriaca. Milkweed is one of many plants that produce toxic or bitter chemical compounds to protect themselves from being eaten by insects. These chemical defenses are the result of a long history of interactions between the plants and insects ...

Children of working mothers are significantly more likely to experience health problems, including asthma and accidents, than children of mothers who don't work, according to new research from North Carolina State University. "I don't think anyone should make sweeping value judgments based on a mother's decision to work or not work," says Dr. Melinda Morrill, research assistant professor of economics at NC State and author of the study. "But, it is important that we are aware of the costs and benefits associated with a mother's decision to work." The study looked at ...

The caching of whitebark pine seeds by the Clark's nutcracker in late summer and early fall may not be enough to regenerate populations of the imperiled conifer in most of its range, scientists have found. Their research—which is featured in the February issue of Science Findings, a monthly publication of the U.S. Forest Service's Pacific Northwest Research Station—suggests, for the first time, that the success of whitebark pine restoration may be linked to the conservation of another tree species: ponderosa pine. "Whitebark pine is a keystone species in the high-mountain ...

Replacing both knees in one surgery, or simultaneous total knee replacement (TKR) was associated with significantly fewer prosthetic joint infections as well as other revision knee operations within one year after surgery, compared with total knee replacements performed in two separate procedures. However, simultaneous replacement was associated with a moderately higher risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes within 30 days, according to a study presented today at the 2011 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). This study included 11,445 ...

Baltimore, MD – Feb. 17, 2011. The explosion and fire on a BP-licensed oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico in April 2010 had huge environmental and economic effects, with millions of gallons of oil leaking into the water for more than five months. It also had significant psychological impact on people living in coastal communities, even in those areas that did not have direct oil exposure, according to researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine who worked in collaboration with the University of Florida, Gainesville. Study results will be published in the ...

Most patients who undergo total knee replacement (TKR) are age 60 to 80. More than 90 percent of these individuals experience a dramatic reduction in knee pain and a significant improvement in the ability to perform common activities. However questions have been raised about the decline in physical function over the long term despite the absence of implant-related problems. New research revealed today at the 2011 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) evaluates patient functionality 20 years after knee replacement. "It is a common concern ...

Joint replacement patients who improve their lifestyle and maintain a positive mindset prior to surgery are more likely to have better functional outcomes than those who do not, according to research presented today at the 2011 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). Multiple studies found that patients who smoke, misuse alcohol, fail to control blood sugar levels or simply have a poor attitude prior to undergoing total hip or knee replacement (THR/TKR) surgery can, in some cases, double their odds of post-operative complications. Data were ...

The simple way to a permanently flat stomach and ideal body weight is given in a new book by Elizabeth Hartley, The Flat Stomach Diet: Get Rid Of Stomach Bloating Quickly, Easily And Permanently (ISBN-10: 145387304X; publisher Create Space). Frustrated dieters will rejoice when they learn how easy it is to reshape their diet so they can continue to eat the foods they enjoy and still obtain a flat stomach and ideal body weight. Hartley has provided a simple, easy way for anyone to obtain visible results in just three to seven days. "There are no foods banned from your ...

iFunia, a professional developer of Mac multimedia software today is pleased to announce the flagship product iFunia Video Converter Pro (http://www.ifunia.com/video-converter-mac.html) is currently available on Mac App Store. iFunia Video Converter Pro is a premier tool for Mac users that effortlessly converts video(including HD) into numerous video/audio formats for use on personal computers or popular portable players such as iPad, iPhone, iPod, Apple TV, PSP, BlackBerry, PS3,etc. "We'e excited to bring iFunia Video Converter Pro to the Mac App Store," remarked Amy ...

We are bombarded with countless ads every day, but very few penetrate our minds. As consumers, we became less receptive to brand communication, and this is due to ad saturation and malpractice. Consumer attention become scarcer as the modern lifestyle gets busier. This attention-deficit challenges the old beliefs and practices of marketers and advertisers. Brands are at the losing end of this situation. The way consumers perceive and process advertisements changed, and ignoring this fact can lead to costly mistakes. Marketers must adopt consistently as consumers do ...

John Stanaland, Southern California's top Laguna Beach real estate specialist ( http://johnstanaland.com/ ) launched a brand new state-of-the-art, easy-to-use website last week. Designed to help home-buyers improve their ability to research and find homes in record time, this website features the latest in IDX MLS technology. This innovative online technology sets The Stanaland Group apart as they seek to improve and enhance the home buying experience for each and every client. "At JohnStanaland.com we want our customers to be successful and satisfied with their home ...

Seattle Chiropractor offices are a great place to begin to feel much better physically on a weekly or sometimes bi weekly basis. There are many people who are doubtful of this method of curing aches and pains. It does, however, truly help in a lot of cases. Seatle Chiropractic can help to adjust any deviation of the spinal column to release pressure from both soft tissue discs and the nerves that are the main part of the body. Seattle Chiropractors ( http://www.theseattlechiropractor.com ) have gone through intensive schooling and practiced their techniques to become ...

Beta Analytic, Inc., invites participants of the 2nd Annual Next Generation Bio-Based Chemicals Summit to visit its booth during the four-day event to be held at the Hilton San Diego Resort & Spa in San Diego, California. The summit starts on February 14, 2011. Beta Analytic Business Development Manager Mauricio Larenas will be available at the exhibit hall to answer questions about the ASTM D6866 method and its relevance to various ecolabels. More than 120 speakers are scheduled to present at the event. This year's summit will occur in a simultaneous dual track format. ...

Global Business Intelligence (BI) software vendor, Yellowfin, has released a new white paper that defines and establishes the need for Agile BI, outlining its key components and benefits. The white paper - Agile Business Intelligence - is available for free download from the Yellowfin website. The paper discuses the ability of an Agile BI rollout to respond to changing data analysis and reporting needs, and provide vital insights into an organizations' operational environment in shorter timeframes, with less complexity. "Demand for Agile BI is growing quickly," ...

Music's biggest night was held on February 13, 2011, at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. "Excited about producing the first benefit concert for Sara Rae, I knew GRAMMY week was the right time to introduce SaraRae(dot)org, after all Music is what feelings sound like," says California Queen founder Lisa Bingham. "Introducing talent to new companies with gifts to share at our Grammy Social an evening on the Sunset Strip the night before the Grammy's was exactly the way to do it." Invited guest will be gifted in style by Elemi Organics, using 100% pure, therapeutic grade essential ...

The Tacfit Commando program is one of the more popular fitness programs on the market. Therefore, many people obviously want to know if it really works or not. Here are 9 frequently asked questions about Tacfit Commando review to help you find out. 1) What kind of workouts are included? It uses body weight only exercises. This is because it was developed to mimic exercise regimes that Israeli army units utilize, as well as undercover agents, among others. Since the program was initially designed with soldiers in mind, it had to be body weight only, since soldiers do ...

Merrill Brink International, in cooperation with AES Corporation, Baker & McKenzie, KPMG and McGuireWoods, presents an engaging discussion around Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) liability. The panel discussion will focus on risks stemming from the actions of third party intermediaries such as agents, consultants, distributors, joint venture partners, etc. In this event you will learn how to manage these relationships to avoid exposure to FCPA sanctions. A complimentary gourmet lunch will be provided to all attendees. Attendance will be limited to 100, so please ...

Tripura State Co-Operative Bank Limited (TSCB) launched its RBI guidelines based Banking Correspondent (BC) Model today. The program was inaugurated by Hon'ble Minister for Rural Development, State of Tripura, Sh. Jitendra Choudhury, at Kalachara Gram Panchayat. The program, which was successfully piloted for over a year at the Dharmanagar Branch of TSCB in North Tripura, is being scaled throughout the State through the disbursement of Biometric enabled smart cards to MGNREGA beneficiaries, starting with Kalachara and Manubazar branches in Satchand block. Indepay ...