what is feline hyperthyroidism? feline hyperthyroidism is a systemic disorder caused by excessive thyroid hormone. thyroid hormone regulates metabolism, and therefore, affects almost every system in the body. hyperthyroidism is the most common endocrine disorder diagnosed in cats over 8 years of age. the average age of onset is 12 to 13 years. what are the signs of feline hyperthyroidism? the signs of hyperthyroidism include weight loss, hyperactivity, increased appetite, increased thirst and urination, vomiting, diarrhea, heat intolerance, poor hair coat, increased heart rate, abnormal heart beat and / or heart murmur. advanced cases may show signs such as anorexia, depression and weakness. these are general signs and only raise the suspicion of a thyroid disorder. what causes feline hyperthyroidism? increased production of thyroid hormone results from an enlarged thyroid gland. in most cases the enlargement is due to a non - cancerous overgrowth ( hyperplasia ) of the thyroid gland. many times your veterinarian may even be able to feel the enlargement of the gland. the thyroid gland is difficult to feel in a normal cat. many clinically normal cats with an enlarged thyroid will eventually develop signs of hyperthyroidism. thyroid cancer is rare and only accounts for only 1 - 2 % of all cases. how is feline hyperthyroidism diagnosed? if after examining your cat the veterinarian finds the signs of hyperthyroidism a blood test to measure the level of thyroid hormone can be done. other blood tests may be performed to evaluate other body systems. there is a link between hyperthyroidism, liver, kidney and heart problems. therefore, careful monitoring of liver and kidney function is essential. frequent examinations by your veterinarian are the best way to detect changes in your pet especially any problems with the heart. if your cat is not treated, it will continue to exhibit the signs of hyperthyroidism and eventually become sick and suffer. the disease will not resolve on its own ; however, with the proper veterinary treatment your cat can resume a normal life. how do veterinarians treat feline hyperthyroidism? there are three treatment options for hyperthyroidism : medication - methimazole or tapazole is the most common treatment. there are few side effects from this drug and patients are usually controlled with one tablet two times a day. tapazole blocks the production of thyroid hormone but does not destroy


medication - methimazole or tapazole is the most common treatment. there are few side effects from this drug and patients are usually controlled with one tablet two times a day. tapazole blocks the production of thyroid hormone but does not destroy the abnormal thyroid tissue. if the medication is discontinued the signs of hyperthyroidism will recur within 24 to 72 hours. the first few months of treatment require repeated blood tests to assure the proper dosage of medication is being given. after the correct dosage is achieved, your veterinarian may recommend regular blood tests to monitor the condition. radioactive iodine - radioactive iodine provides a simple, effective and safe treatment for cats with hyperthyroidism. the radioactive iodine concentrates in the thyroid and destroys the abnormal tissue. this may not be the best treatment option if there is also heart or kidney disease. treatment involves an extended stay at the hospital. a single dose of the radioactive iodine usually restores normal thyroid hormone levels. occasionally after treatment, hypothyroidism develops and thyroid supplementation is needed. repeat blood testing is required after treatment. this treatment is only available at hospitals licensed to use radioactive medications. surgery - thyroidectomy or removal of the thyroid gland is an effective treatment for hyperthyroidism. there are potential complications such as nerve damage to the eye or voice box, low blood levels of calcium and damage to the parathyroid ( the gland that is next to the thyroid gland ). surgery may not be an option for those patients who have heart conditions or other illnesses that prevent them from undergoing anesthesia. after surgery, there is a possibility for recurrence of hyperthyroidism ; therefore, thyroid hormone levels should be monitored yearly after surgery. with the advent of radioactive iodine treatments, surgery is less likely to be recommended.


here we go again. on two occasions since 2007, the world economy has endured rapid and extreme increases in food prices that have inflicted great pain, especially on the poor. now, with drought in the midwestern u. s. burning through one of the most important food - producing regions in the world, get ready for a dizzying feeling of deja vu. corn and soybean prices recently reached record highs. wheat has also spiked. jim kim, president of the world bank, is already warning that rising food prices can cause families to eat cheaper, less healthy food or pull kids out of school, steps that “ can have catastrophic lifelong effects on the social, physical, and mental well - being of millions of young people. ” that is bad news for the global economy. we are already facing all sorts of hurdles in our so far futile efforts to climb out of the great recession. joblessness in the u. s. and europe remains high. the euro - zone debt crisis continues to boil. the world ’ s emerging markets are slowing down. rising food prices will just add to the gloom, since they can kill growth in two important ways. first, there is a consumption effect. when families are forced to allocate a larger share of their weekly income to milk, bread and other basics, they are unable to spend as much on clothes, toys and other stuff, dampening overall consumer spending. this could be a big issue in the advanced economies, where unemployment is already straining the finances of the average household. second, there is a policy effect. rising food prices often cause higher inflation, which could force central banks to react by hiking interest rates to control the upward pressure on prices, slowing down growth in the process. this could prove a big problem in the developing world. with economies in china, india, brazil and elsewhere cooling off, central banks have been encouraged to cut rates to stimulate growth. higher inflation, though, could stymie that effort by forcing central bankers to keep rates high to control inflation even if growth continues to sag. since emerging markets are playing a larger role in overall global growth, a continued slowdown in china, india and other big developing nations could dampen the entire global outlook. how likely is that? so far, economists are taking the position that higher food prices won ’ t stop central bankers in china and elsewhere from easing money to spur more growth. here ’ s capital economics on this, from a late july report on china : the recent surge in global agricultural commodity prices — if sustained —


that higher food prices won ’ t stop central bankers in china and elsewhere from easing money to spur more growth. here ’ s capital economics on this, from a late july report on china : the recent surge in global agricultural commodity prices — if sustained — will add to the downside risks to china ’ s economy but it is unlikely to be a decisive factor. overall inflationary pressures are weak and the authorities will not be deflected from loosening policy further … the people ’ s bank [ china ’ s central bank ] has raised interest rates and reserve requirements in the past when food price inflation has surged, but only when the chinese and global economies were strong. this emphatically is not the case today. if the chinese authorities want to alleviate food price inflation they are now more likely to do so via subsidies and stock releases, rather than tighter monetary policy. some economists feel similarly about the entire global economy. they are so far staying calm about the impact the recent surge of food prices could have on global growth. economists at bank of america merrill lynch, in a recent report, argued that slower growth and other factors could limit how elevated food prices would translate into increased inflation, and thus limit their impact on overall economic growth. despite the significant jump in crop futures prices, we see a host of factors helping to delay and / or mitigate the impact on inflation … on the policy front, our em [ emerging markets ] team expects local central banks to remain focused on growth … but even if higher food prices constrain central banks on the margin, the impact on global growth should be limited. economists, however, always like to leave themselves an escape route to change their outlook down the road, and they are doing so again. the impact of high food prices on global growth will depend on how high those prices go. that will depend on factors that are impossible to predict — the weather, for example. a bit more rain in the u. s. midwest might salvage some of the corn crop and bring prices down, for example. or continued drought in the u. s. combined with problems elsewhere in the world ( for example, a feeble indian monsoon ) could conspire to deal a harder blow to the global economy. personally, i ’ m more negative than the merrill gang about the effect of rising food prices. i think consumer sentiment, especially in the advanced economies, is so fragile right now that bigger bills at the supermarket, even only slightly bigger bills, could convince many families of the need to retrench. generally, though,


university of manchester and national university of singapore researchers have shown how building multi - layered heterostructures in a three - dimensional stack can produce an exciting physical phenomenon exploring new electronic devices. the breakthrough, published in science, could lead to electric energy that runs entire buildings generated by sunlight absorbed by its exposed walls ; the energy can be used at will to change the transparency and reflectivity of fixtures and windows depending on environmental conditions, such as temperature and brightness. collectively, such 2d crystals demonstrate a vast range of superlative properties : from conductive to insulating, from opaque to transparent. every new layer in these stacks adds exciting new functions, so the heterostructures are ideal for creating novel, multifunctional devices. the manchester and singapore researchers expanded the functionality of these heterostructures to optoelectronics and photonics. by combining graphene with monolayers of transition metal dichalcogenides ( tmdc ), the researchers were able to created extremely sensitive and efficient photovoltaic devices. such devices could potentially be used as ultrasensitive photodetectors or very efficient solar cells. in these devices, layers of tmdc were sandwiched between two layers of graphene, combining the exciting properties of both 2d crystals. tmdc layers act as very efficient light absorbers and graphene as a transparent conductive layer. this allows for further integration of such photovoltaic devices into more complex, more multifunctional heterostructures. a shattered windshield has a story to tell. the key to hearing it is counting the cracks. the number of cracks that emerge in a plate of glass or plexiglas relates to the speed of the object that broke it, researchers demonstrate in physical review letters. this simple relationship could prove useful for forensic scientists, archaeologists and even astronomers. over the past century, most research into cracks has focused on parameters that determine whether a material remains intact when struck. nicolas vandenberghe and his colleagues at aix - marseille university in france decided to try something different : they wanted to push glass and other materials past their breaking points and study the resulting fractures. they wondered if they could connect the patterns of cracks to the properties of the impact that created them, something no one had done before, vandenberghe says. so he and his team set up a shooting gallery. knowing that cracks emerge within a matter of microseconds of impact, vandenberghe employed a high - speed camera to capture the instant of collision. the


vandenberghe says. so he and his team set up a shooting gallery. knowing that cracks emerge within a matter of microseconds of impact, vandenberghe employed a high - speed camera to capture the instant of collision. the photographic evidence revealed a clear connection : after taking into account the type of material and its thickness, the number of cracks doubled for every fourfold increase in the ball ’ s speed. for example, a 70 - kph pellet caused an average of four cracks in 1 - millimeter - thick plexiglas plates, while a 280 - kph one made eight. though they be but little, they are fierce. the most powerful batteries on the planet are only a few millimeters in size, yet they pack such a punch that a driver could use a cellphone powered by these batteries to jump - start a dead car battery — and then recharge the phone in the blink of an eye. developed by researchers at the university of illinois at urbana - champaign, the new microbatteries out - power even the best supercapacitors and could drive new applications in radio communications and compact electronics. “ this is a whole new way to think about batteries, ” says william p. king, a bliss professor of mechanical science and engineering. “ a battery can deliver far more power than anybody ever thought. in recent decades, electronics have gotten small. the thinking parts of computers have gotten small. and the battery has lagged far behind. this is a microtechnology that could change all of that. now the power source is as high - performance as the rest of it. ” with currently available power sources, users have had to choose between power and energy. for applications that need a lot of power, like broadcasting a radio signal over a long distance, capacitors can release energy very quickly but can only store a small amount. for applications that need a lot of energy, like playing a radio for a long time, fuel cells and batteries can hold a lot of energy but release it or recharge slowly. professor jeremy kilburn ( vice - principal for science and engineering ) and professor martin dove ( director ) launched the new materials research institute at queen mary, university of london, on april 15, 2013. the afternoon consisted of talks from queen mary academics and internationally - acclaimed experts, who presented recent developments in the area of materials research. the talks were followed by a reception held in the queens ’ building senior common room, and provided an opportunity for informal discussion and networking.


of talks from queen mary academics and internationally - acclaimed experts, who presented recent developments in the area of materials research. the talks were followed by a reception held in the queens ’ building senior common room, and provided an opportunity for informal discussion and networking. the launch was a success, which received excellent feedback from visitors and colleagues. in kanpur, india, defense materials and stores research and development ( dmsrde ), a unit of defense research and development organization ( drdo ), has been working in frontier area of non - matellic materials. to celebrate drdo technology day, dmsrde organised an open house for the students to show their products and technologies abilities. around 500 students, along with their teachers from different schools, came to dmsrde on this occasion to see the exhibition. the students therein saw different defense - related product, such as bullet proof jackets, coils used in the bofors gun, camouflage and stealth materials etc. dmsrde is working in very important area of material development for high temperature structural applications. it has developed capabilities to produce the polycorbosilane precursor materials which are used in production of silicon carbide based strategic products. this material in turn can also be converted to high heat resistance silicon carbide fibers for composite development which have enormous applications in defence, atomic energy, and aerospace industries. it can withstand temperature between 1, 500 – 2, 000°c. these materials were displayed in the exhibition. the possible future restrictions to the supply of critical materials have been the subject of debate for several years. in response to these an international consortium has been brought together to develop new solutions to the european requirement for rare earth metals. remanence is an ambitious program designed to dramatically increase the amount of rare earth materials recovered and remanufactured from existing waste streams. the project brings together european industry and academia across the supply chain to develop the innovative technologies, business models and market information required to exploit this valuable resource reducing dependence on primary sources. the partners will develop new and innovative processes for the recovery and recycling of neodymium iron boron magnets ( ndfeb ) from a range of waste electronic and electrical equipment ( weee ). advanced sensing and mechanical separation techniques will be developed in combination with innovative processes to recover the rare earth magnets in the weee. remanence brings together europe ’ s leading experts in sensing, disassembly, recycling technology and materials processing in a multi - disciplinary project able to deliver significant technical advances. c - tech


the rare earth magnets in the weee. remanence brings together europe ’ s leading experts in sensing, disassembly, recycling technology and materials processing in a multi - disciplinary project able to deliver significant technical advances. c - tech innovation ltd will lead a consortium including university of birmingham, stena technoworld ab, acreo swedish ict ab, leitat technological centre, optisort ab, chalmers industriteknik, magneti ljubljana and kolektor magnet technology gmbh. ( mit technology review ) a new generation of engines being developed by the world ’ s largest jet engine maker, cfm ( a partnership between ge and snecma of france ), will allow aircraft to use about 15 percent less fuel - enough to save about $ 1 million per year per airplane and significantly reduce carbon emissions. the first of these new engine, called leap, will feature a technology that has never been used in a large - scale production jet engines before : ceramic composite materials that weigh far less than the metal alloys they ’ ll replace and can endure far higher temperatures. the engine will also make use of parts produced through 3d printing, a new kind of manufacturing that can produce complex shapes that would be difficult or impossible to make with conventional manufacturing techniques. these technologies could eventually be used to make more parts of the engine, leading to further advances in efficiency, says gareth richards, leap program manager for ge aviation. recent innovations in leds have improved the energy efficiency of streetlights, but, until now, their glow still wastefully radiated beyond the intended area. a team of researchers from taiwan and mexico has developed a new lighting system design that harnesses high - efficiency leds and ensures they shine only where they ’ re needed, sparing surrounding homes and the evening sky from unwanted illumination. the team reported their findings in the open - access journal optics express. the proposed lamp is based on a novel three - part lighting fixture. the first part contains a cluster of leds, each of which is fitted with a special lens, called a total internal reflection lens, that focuses the light so the rays are parallel to one another instead of intersecting. these lens - covered leds are mounted inside a reflecting cavity, which “ recycles ” the light and ensures that as much of it as possible is used to illuminate the target. finally, as the light leaves the lamp it passes through a diffuser or filter that cuts down on unwanted glare. the combination of collimation and filtering also allows researchers to control the beam ’ s


possible is used to illuminate the target. finally, as the light leaves the lamp it passes through a diffuser or filter that cuts down on unwanted glare. the combination of collimation and filtering also allows researchers to control the beam ’ s shape : the present design yields a rectangular light pattern ideally suited for street lighting, the researchers say. in addition to cutting light pollution and glare, the new model could also save energy. a general led street light could reduce power consumption by 40 to 60 percent. the increased efficiency of the proposed design would likely save an additional 10 to 50 percent. furthermore, the module would be simple to fabricate, since it comprises just four parts, including a type of led bulb commonly used in the lighting industry. the union of theory and practice makes broadband, low - loss optical devices practical, which is why two groups of penn state engineers collaborated to design optical metamaterials that have custom applications that are easily manufactured. in the past, to control the optics of metamaterials, researchers used complicated structures including 3 - dimensional rings and spirals that are difficult if not impossible to manufacture in large numbers and small sizes at optical wavelengths. from a practical perspective, simple and manufacturable nanostructures are necessary for creating high - performance devices. ” we must design nanostructures that can be fabricated, ” says theresa s. mayer, distinguished professor of electrical engineering and co - director of penn state ’ s nanofabrication laboratory. designing materials that can allow a range of wavelengths to pass through while blocking other wavelengths is far more difficult than simply creating something that will transmit a single frequency. minimizing the time domain distortion of the signal over a range of wavelengths is necessary, and the material also must be low loss. the design team looked at existing fishnet structured metamaterials and applied nature - inspired optimization techniques based on genetic algorithms. they optimized the dimensions of features such as the size of the fishnet and the thicknesses of the materials. one of the transformative innovations made by the researchers was the inclusion of nanonotches in the corners of the fishnet holes, creating a pattern that could be tuned to shape the dispersion over large bandwidths. university of nebraska - lincoln materials engineers have developed a structural nanofiber that is both strong and tough, a discovery that could transform everything from airplanes and bridges to body armor and bicycles. their findings are featured on the cover of the american chemical society ’ s journal, acs nano. “ our


a structural nanofiber that is both strong and tough, a discovery that could transform everything from airplanes and bridges to body armor and bicycles. their findings are featured on the cover of the american chemical society ’ s journal, acs nano. “ our discovery adds a new material class to the very select current family of materials with demonstrated simultaneously high strength and toughness, ” says the team ’ s leader, yuris dzenis, mcbroom professor of mechanical and materials engineering and a member of unl ’ s nebraska center for materials and nanoscience. dzenis and colleagues developed an exceptionally thin polyacrilonitrile nanofiber, a type of synthetic polymer related to acrylic, using electrospinning. dzenis suggests that toughness comes from the nanofibers ’ low crystallinity. in other words, it has many areas that are structurally unorganized. these amorphous regions allow the molecular chains to slip around more, giving them the ability to absorb more energy. resistive memory cells ( reram ) are regarded as a promising solution for future generations of computer memories. they will dramatically reduce the energy consumption of modern it systems while significantly increasing their performance. unlike the building blocks of conventional hard disk drives and memories, these novel memory cells are not purely passive components but must be regarded as tiny batteries. this has been demonstrated by researchers of julich aachen research alliance. the new finding radically revises the current theory and opens up possibilities for further applications. the research group has already filed a patent application for their first idea on how to improve data readout with the aid of battery voltage. in complex experiments, the scientists from forschungszentrum julich and rwth aachen university determined the battery voltage of typical representatives of reram cells and compared them with theoretical values. this comparison revealed other properties ( such as ionic resistance ) that were previously neither known nor accessible. ” the demonstrated internal battery voltage of reram elements clearly violates the mathematical construct of the memristor theory. this theory must be expanded to a whole new theory – to properly describe the reram elements, ” says eike linn, a specialist for circuit concepts. ( berkeley national lab / youtube ) a worldwide race is on for scientists to develop ever more powerful x - ray microscopes. with ultra - high resolution x - ray optics at ultra - bright synchrotrons — such as the 120 - meter - long hard x - ray nanoprobe ( hxn ) being developed for the national


powerful x - ray microscopes. with ultra - high resolution x - ray optics at ultra - bright synchrotrons — such as the 120 - meter - long hard x - ray nanoprobe ( hxn ) being developed for the national synchrotron light source ii ( nsls - ii ) at brookhaven lab — researchers will see structure and chemistry deep inside natural and engineered materials as they address some of the biggest questions in materials science, physics, chemistry, environmental sciences, and biology. unprecedented capabilities, however, bring critical technical challenges, but scientists at brookhaven lab are on the job. in this video of the 486th brookhaven lecture, yong chu illustrates unique challenges and innovative approaches for x - ray microscopy at the nanoscale. he also discusses measurement capabilities for the first science experiments at nsls - ii. chu joined the photon sciences directorate at brookhaven lab as group leader for the hxn beamline at nsls - ii in 2009. the innovative research of a montana state university student, neerja zambare, a senior from pune, india, majoring in both chemical engineering and biological engineering, was selected as one of the country ’ s undergraduate researchers for her poster about a bio - cement that effectively plugs cracks near wells and drilling sites. zambare exhibited her research poster, “ biofilm induced biomineralization in a radial flow reactor, ” at the council on undergraduate research ’ s posters on the hill exhibition april 23 - 24 in washington, d. c., one of the country ’ s most prestigious undergraduate research fairs. zambare was accompanied by robin gerlach, msu professor of chemical and biological engineering and zambare ’ s research mentor. gerlach said zambare convinced him that she would be the right person to join his lab group in the center for biofilm engineering. the group trained her and then asked her to join a project that the lab had been working on for some time — a bacterium that makes calcium carbonate and has potential applications in sealing ponds, plugging cracks emitting carbon dioxide near carbon sequestration wells as well as abandoned wells. ( arxiv ) two modifications have been made to a miniature ceramic anvil high pressure cell ( mcac ) designed for magnetic measurements at pressures up to 12. 6 gpa in a commercial superconducting quantum interference ( squid ) magnetometer. replacing the cu - be piston in the former mcac with a composite piston composed of the cu - be and ceramic cylinders reduces the background


pressures up to 12. 6 gpa in a commercial superconducting quantum interference ( squid ) magnetometer. replacing the cu - be piston in the former mcac with a composite piston composed of the cu - be and ceramic cylinders reduces the background magnetization significantly smaller at low temperatures, enabling more precise magnetic measurements at low temperatures. a second modification to the mcac is the utilization of a ceramic anvil with a hollow in the center of the culet surface. high pressures up to 5 gpa were generated with the “ cupped ceramic anvil ” with the culet size of 1. 0 mm. ( gigaom ) it ’ s all very well talking about the evolution of wearable computing and the internet of things, but something has to power these thin and / or tiny devices. for that reason, it ’ s a good thing that so many ideas are popping up in the field of energy harvesting and storage. some of these ideas were on display this week at the printed electronics europe 2013 event in berlin, which took in a variety of sub - events including the energy harvesting & storage europe show. the concepts ranged from the practical to the experimental, so let ’ s start with the practical. finding a way to exponentially double the hydrogen atoms to create a sustainable amount of hydrogen regeneration so that a new form of energy can be harvested is the ultimate goal of researchers at the south dakota school of mines & technology. rajesh shende, phd, and jan puszynski, phd, of the department of chemical and biological engineering, have been awarded a $ 299, 975 nsf three - year grant to test high - temperature water splitting in multiple thermochemical cycles. using thermally - stabilized redox materials, particularly ferrites, already the team has documented reliable multiple - cycle results, sparking hope that sustainable hydrogen energy through the use of thermal hydro - splitting will one day be feasible, says shende. just two other us. locations, and possibly a third, are conducting similar research, according to shende. one of the aspects that makes the mines experiments unique is that the group has successfully split water molecules during multiple cycles at significantly lower temperatures than other documented research efforts. while others have demonstrated thermochemical splitting at 800 - 1, 500°c, the school of mines has documented multiple cycles at 700 - 1, 100°c, which could potentially lead to a more affordable large - scale effort. ( youtube ) scientists at johannes gutenberg university mainz and the max planck institute for polymer


to produce. ( mit technology review ) buyers considering an electric car must bear in mind that using battery - powered heating and air conditioning can decrease the car ’ s range by a third or more. but, a heating and cooling system being developed by researchers at mit almost eliminates the drain on the battery. the researchers are working with ford on a system that they hope to test in ford ’ s focus ev within the next two years. the work is being funded with a $ 2. 7 million grant from the arpa - e. the researchers describe their new device as a thermal battery. it uses materials that can store large amounts of coolant in a small volume. as the coolant moves through the system, it can be used for either heating or cooling. in the system, water is pumped into a low - pressure container, evaporating and absorbing heat in the process. the water vapor is then exposed to an adsorbant — a material with microscopic pores that have an affinity for water molecules. this material pulls the vapor out of the container, keeping the pressure low so more water can be pumped in and evaporated. this evaporative cooling process can be used to cool off the passenger compartment. as the material adsorbs water molecules, heat is released ; it can be run through a radiator and dissipated into the atmosphere when the system is used for cooling, or it can be used to warm up the passenger compartment. the system requires very little electricity - just enough to run a small pump and fans to blow cool or warm air. eventually the adsorbant can ’ t take in any more water, but the system can be “ recharged ” by heating the adsorbant above 200°c. this causes it to release the water, which is condensed and returned to a reservoir. in honor of doe secretary chu ’ s last day at the department, here ’ s a look back at his time overseeing important investments in science, innovation, and clean energy technologies that are making america more competitive and helping us win the race for a clean energy future. for more than four years, he has provided remarkable leadership in pursuing both president obama ’ s nuclear security agenda as well as an all - of - the - above approach to energy that invests in clean energy, reduces our dependence on foreign oil, addresses the global climate crisis, and supports the clean energy jobs of the future. the same material that formed the first primitive transistors more than 60 years ago can be modified in a new way to advance future electronics


reduces our dependence on foreign oil, addresses the global climate crisis, and supports the clean energy jobs of the future. the same material that formed the first primitive transistors more than 60 years ago can be modified in a new way to advance future electronics, according to a new study. chemists at ohio state university have developed the technology for making a one - atom - thick sheet of germanium, and found that it conducts electrons more than ten times faster than silicon and five times faster than conventional germanium. the material ’ s structure is closely related to that of graphene — a much - touted two - dimensional material comprised of single layers of carbon atoms. as such, graphene shows unique properties compared to its more common multilayered counterpart, graphite. graphene has yet to be used commercially, but experts have suggested that it could one day form faster computer chips, and maybe even function as a superconductor, so many labs are working to develop it. joshua goldberger, assistant professor of chemistry at ohio state, decided to take a different direction and focus on more traditional materials. in a paper published online in acs nano, he and his colleagues describe how they were able to create a stable, single layer of germanium atoms. in this form, the crystalline material is called germanane. researchers have tried to create germanane before. this is the first time anyone has succeeded at growing sufficient quantities of it to measure the material ’ s properties in detail, and demonstrate that it is stable when exposed to air and water. here is what we are hearing : morgan technical ceramics, a market leader in the design and manufacture of high - quality ceramic solutions, is extending its material portfolio with the launch of a new piezoelectric material. pzt5k1 is suitable for applications in the fields of scientific instrumentation, maritime, medical, energy harvesting. and general industry. pzt5k1 is just one of a range of pzt materials supplied by the company. the new material ’ s high density and low porosity mean the material can be used for machining 1 - 3 composite structures in highly sensitive sonar and medical ultrasonic transducers, as well as high - performance actuators, specialist sensors, and energy harvesting devices. using an innovative new core process, morgan manufactures the material to offer optimised voltage charge coefficients. its high d33 rating improves the electrical charge generated in energy harvesting applications, while its high d31 coefficient enhances the levels of displacement in actuators.


innovative new core process, morgan manufactures the material to offer optimised voltage charge coefficients. its high d33 rating improves the electrical charge generated in energy harvesting applications, while its high d31 coefficient enhances the levels of displacement in actuators. bimorph components are available in a variety of sizes and shapes, as squares, rectangles and discs. sizes range from 6 - 74mm in length and 1 - 43mm in width. discs and components up to 254mm in diameter can be manufactured in an extensive range of thicknesses, between 3 - 35mm. components are typically supplied with fired - on silver electrodes although options include thin nickel electrodes. the conference will be held in conjunction with the exhibition and will provide a platform for the hollow and container glass manufacturing industries to meet in an intimate, relaxed environment and do business with decision makers involved in all aspects of design, process and production. the program will discuss market trends and analysis, technology developments, case studies and innovation. speakers include : stolzle glass, feve, glass global, british glass, polish institute of ceramics and building materials, tses glass, tu freiberg ( freiberg university ), arc international, agms, glass service, pneumofore, forehearth services, xpar vision, heye international, ilis gmbh, msc & sgcc, jli vision, athena, and vertech osram is illuminating the tenth cruise ship of the aida fleet with 9, 000 lamps and more than 1 kilometer of led strips. the “ swimming city ” has a total length of 253. 33 metres and a width of 32. 20 metres, and offers space for around 2, 500 passengers. “ cruise ships with their complex range of demands are in reality lighthouses for lighting applications, ” commented martin nuboldt, the manager responsible for the project at osram. the ship was inaugurated with the name of aidastella in warnemunde, germany, on march 16, 2013. diverse areas were equipped with 9, 000 osram halogen eco lamps and 1, 200 metres of flexible led modules ensure both white and coloured light. panalytical, the world ’ s leading supplier of analytical x - ray equipment and software, is set to launch its new software for x - ray fluorescence ( xrf ) systems. panalytical developed stratos, a brand new software package, for both the epsilon 3 and axios spectrometer ranges. the company will also be releasing an upgrade of


new software for x - ray fluorescence ( xrf ) systems. panalytical developed stratos, a brand new software package, for both the epsilon 3 and axios spectrometer ranges. the company will also be releasing an upgrade of the fingerprint software for the epsilon 3 range. stratos features built - in intelligence and can quickly and accurately analyze the thickness and composition of coatings, surface layers and layered structures. multi - layer samples can be analyzed with bulk standards, without the need for in - type standards that are sometimes hard to source. another significant advantage of the software is its flexibility and the ease of use provided by the ‘ virtual analyst ’. this unique tool is a consultant for advanced method development and provides optimum measurement settings for analysis, which can be time - consuming for complex stack structures. stratos is able to analyze more than 16 layers, depending on their thickness and composition. it is also easily combined with panalytical ’ s omnian semi - quantitative software. morgan thermal ceramics announced the availability of cerox fired refractory shapes, offered in a range of material compositions, including many specifically used for the manufacture of rotating and non - rotating airplane components and automotive turbochargers. dense, hard, and chemically stable, cerox fired refractory shapes offer resistance to chemical attack from acids, slags, and gases to produce the cleaner, contaminant - free metal desired by end users in aerospace and automotive steel foundries. fired shapes manufactured from sillimanite cerox 200 are composed of 74 percent alumina and fired mullite, which are prized for their chemical attack resistance, good thermal shock, and excellent non - wetting characteristics at temperatures as high as 2, 850°f. other materials available include cerox 700 which has a high alumina content as well as versatile shape capability, making it ideal for products with complex shapes, including crucibles, tundishes, and launder systems. for complex shapes, cerox 720 which also features a high alumina content, is particularly adapted to developing shapes with thin walls, due to its fine grain and high strength. to provide clean and green energy alternatives at an affordable cost, mayur renergy solution ( a pune - & boston - based corporation ) has signed a contract with the fraunhofer institute for ceramic technologies and systems ( ikts ), germany, to develop solid oxide fuel cell products for the markets in developing countries. the main goal is the


pune - & boston - based corporation ) has signed a contract with the fraunhofer institute for ceramic technologies and systems ( ikts ), germany, to develop solid oxide fuel cell products for the markets in developing countries. the main goal is the development of a fuel cell product at local prices that will help to solve the electricity situation in india and other developing countries. envisioned is a micro power plant which will be installed in every house. as part of this promising project fraunhofer ikts will develop prototypes based on the established eneramic fuel cell system, which will be extended for higher power classes. mayur ’ s vision is to combine solar, wind, biogas and fuel cell technologies to provide energy independence to rural india and thus bringing prosperity and stability to the rural economy. fraunhofer ikts will develop first prototypes until 2014 and transfer the know how to mayur, who in turn will work on commercializing the technology. h. c. starck, one of the leading manufacturers of customer - specific powders and components made from technology metals and advanced ceramics, has sustained its position in 2012 despite a more difficult market environment. the company achieved 862. 9 million euros in sales, after 883. 2 million euros in the extraordinary strong growth year 2011. as of december 31, 2012, the company had 2, 926 employees ( 2011 : 2, 816 ). “ h. c. starck was able expand its market position in all major industries, maintain its sales at the level of the previous year despite falling metal prices, and achieve the second best result in the last ten years, ” says andreas meier, chairman. the company was able to strengthen its powder business by gaining market share for high capacity tantalum powders and expanding its niobium business significantly. in the business segment of fabricated products and components, h. c. starck has successfully responded to strong demand from the semiconductor industry and the chemical processing industry. also, the company successfully expanded into the rapidly growing market of high temperature furnaces with the production of highly complex heat shields and crucibles made of molybdenum and tungsten for sapphire furnaces used in led production. the company invested a double - digit million euro sum in the expansion of its asia business and in the targeted expansion of production capacities at its german sites. research and development activities of h. c. starck focused on a new generation of high - capacity tantalum powders. the company also will continue to drive future technologies. since


and in the targeted expansion of production capacities at its german sites. research and development activities of h. c. starck focused on a new generation of high - capacity tantalum powders. the company also will continue to drive future technologies. since mid - 2012, h. c. starck operates a joint venture with japan new chisso corp. for cathode material for high - performance lithium ion batteries. part of h. c. starck ’ s long - term strategy is the recycling of raw materials. in the procurement of primary raw materials, the company continues to rely exclusively on conflict - free raw materials in accordance with the guidelines of the electronic industry citizenship coalition. vector strategy ’ s 2013 us military body armor procurement analysis is available for immediate purchase and delivery effective. this report provides an analysis of 2000 to 2013 us military body armor procurement and three scenarios for 2014 to 2020 procurement. each scenario is based on a different set of assumptions about procurement of next generation body armor systems, sustainment of legacy body armor systems, and industrial base sustainment policies or outcomes. we have outlined tradeoffs that the dod will need to make as they develop future funding requirements for the army ’ s soldier protection system and the usmc ’ s modular scalable protection system. the report also provides an in depth analysis of 2008 to 2013 us military sustainment awards and questions dod ’ s strategy regarding the sustainment of their body armor inventory. this report is essential for organizations who need to understand future us military body armor procurement and the tradeoffs made when optimizing modernization, sustainment, and the industrial base in an era of severe dod fiscal constraint. here is what we are hearing : lynas corp. is pleased to confirm that the lynas advanced material plant in malaysia ( lamp ) has produced its first rare earths products for customers. lynas announced on jan. 7, 2013, the successful commissioning of the cracking and leaching rare earth extraction units at the lamp. the recovery rates from the cracking units continue to be high, in excess of 90 percent of the contained rare earth oxides ( reo ). following commissioning of the cracking and leaching circuits, the company has been working through early stage production issues that are typical for any start up of a new plant. our focus is on increasing throughput and optimizing use of equipment. these issues have not materially impacted on the overall production ramp - up schedule. the company ’ s target for the phase 1 nameplate production capacity of 11, 000 tons per annum of re


on increasing throughput and optimizing use of equipment. these issues have not materially impacted on the overall production ramp - up schedule. the company ’ s target for the phase 1 nameplate production capacity of 11, 000 tons per annum of reo remains q2 2013. a report from companiesandmarkets. com says that the north american market for technical and advanced structural ceramics was $ 3. 2 billion in 2010 and $ 3. 4 billion in 2011. the report predicts this value will increase to $ 4. 4 billion in 2016, a compound annual growth rate of 5. 1 percent between 2011 and 2016. bioceramics, the largest segment constituting 64 percent of the 2011 total technical and advanced ceramics market, should continue to hold that much of the market over the next five years. the advanced armor and military market is expected to show slower growth than in the recent past due to the gradual us disengagement from iraq and afghanistan. the qualitative and quantitative judgments in this report represent a valuable contribution to the knowledge of leading companies in advanced and structural ceramic materials, components, processing techniques, applications and markets. though emphasis is on company expertise and their market niche, direction is given in each structural ceramic application category and their respective properties, processing technologies, and properties. the increasing global nature of the advanced and structural ceramic market is evidenced through the companies discussed and their subsidiaries. the european ceramic industry further strengthens its representation in brussels. newly appointed construction and sustainability manager nuno pargana encountered his first kiln early as a child of a portuguese ceramic decorator. after having worked for reuters in poland and finishing his dissertation on the lca of thermal insulation materials, nuno now augments cerame - unie ’ s technical expertise and handles everything concerning construction policy and sustainability for the ceramic industry. among the eight sectors represented by cerame - unie, nuno will be responsible for the clay pipe and the sanitaryware markets. to increase the industry ’ s visibility, the austrian benjamin wilhelm got promoted to communications manager, who until recently coordinated the genesis of the remark - able ceramic roadmap to 2050. the team will be further strengthened by the arrival of anne - sophie gerst, detached by the french association fftb. anne - sophie explored the cement industry in parallel to her studies. specialized in european affairs and energy issues, she will now work particularly on ets and environment with directors adolfo aiello and astrid volckaert. director general renaud batier is certain “ the


the cement industry in parallel to her studies. specialized in european affairs and energy issues, she will now work particularly on ets and environment with directors adolfo aiello and astrid volckaert. director general renaud batier is certain “ the ceramic industry ’ s voice will be heard loud and clear in 2013. ” bryan a. shinn, president and chief executive officer of u. s. silica holdings inc., says “ 2012 was truly exceptional for u. s. silica, starting with our successful initial public offering at the beginning of the year and concluding with record financial results for the full twelve months. our success is due largely to the power of our business model, our strong customer relationships and the drive and determination of our talented group of employees. ” shinn continues, “ looking ahead, we have strategically positioned ourselves well in all of our major markets to provide a strong platform for sustained growth and increased profitability in 2013. ” revenue totaled $ 441. 9 million compared with $ 295. 6 million in 2011, driven primarily by strength in the oil and gas proppants segment. overall sales volumes increased to 7. 2 million tons or 14 % above the prior year sales volume of 6. 3 million tons. contribution margin totaled $ 193. 7 million compared with $ 120. 6 million in 2011. adjusted ebitda was $ 150. 6 million or 34. 0 % of revenue compared with $ 93. 6 million or 31. 7 % of revenue in 2011. net income was $ 79. 2 million or $ 1. 50 per basic and diluted share compared with $ 30. 3 million or $ 0. 61 per basic and diluted share for the full year 2011. sri ventures vp norman winarsky sits down with techcrunch ’ s anthony ha to discuss sri ’ s spin out philosophy and process, our current and future projects, and the contemporary ecosystem of innovation from incubators to research institutes. from the creation of the first computer mouse to the development of siri, sri international has been propelling tech innovation for over half a century. the nonprofit research institute is responsible for advancements across any number of fields, from media to medicine, education to economics, arpanet to modern ai. sri has created and launched more than 40 ventures, with a total market capitalization exceeding $ 20 billion, and hundreds of high value licenses for their ip. behind this effort is a process of research, development, deployment and commercialization for ventures and licenses that brings to bear its own innovative practices. in


with a total market capitalization exceeding $ 20 billion, and hundreds of high value licenses for their ip. behind this effort is a process of research, development, deployment and commercialization for ventures and licenses that brings to bear its own innovative practices. in this conversation, techcrunch ’ s anthony ha sits down with winarsky to discuss sri ’ s spin out philosophy and process, their current and future projects, and the contemporary ecosystem of innovation from incubators to research institutes. schott north america inc. is sponsoring a wood stove design challenge to promote clean - burning wood stoves. in addition to its sponsorship, the company will offer expertise in glass - ceramics to the challenge ’ s finalists in hopes of finding new innovations in home heating as well as raising awareness about clean - burning wood stoves wood stoves have been heating homes for hundreds of years, but not the way today ’ s high - tech, clean - burning stoves do. modern woodstoves have seen major upgrades that have made them efficient, cost - effective, and environmentally friendly, and new innovations are uncovered every day to make them more sustainable. that ’ s why schott, supplier of robax, a glass - ceramic for environmentally friendly woodstoves and fireplaces, is partnering with and sponsoring the design challenge, which seeks out next - generation stove designs and draws attention to clean - burning wood stoves. as part of its sponsorship, schott will make available its expertise in glass - ceramic materials to the 14 challenge finalists, whose stoves will be tested and judged on the national mall in washington, d. c., in nov. 2013. the wood stove design challenge seeks to promote next - generation stove designs, build a community of innovators, and showcase stove innovation to the public. few consumers, homebuilders, and politicians are aware of the technological advancements in wood stoves that have turned such units into highly efficient heating units. refractron technologies corp. is proud to announce that it will be exhibiting at interwire 2013 at booth 870, from april 23 - 25 in atlanta, georgia. as the largest and longest - running wire and cable marketplace in the americas, the international trade event draws speakers, attendees, and exhibiting companies from over 50 different countries and spans dozens of industries. wire association international, the organizer of the event, is a worldwide society for wire and cable industry professionals. this year, refractron will be promoting its izory tetragonally toughened zirconia drawing cones


" gaaaar! i ' m gonna hold you down and eat you alive! while flapping! " photo by dominique pipet, via flickr. what did deinonychus really do with its feet? john ostrom initially painted the picture of a fleet - footed predator, chasing down prey animals and slashing at them with the enlarged claw on its second toe. to take it from crichton, they were slitting bellies and dancing in spilled viscera. a few years ago, phil manning of the university of manchester suggested they were more likely " climbing crampons, " allowing them to cling to the panicky tenontosaurs they were attacking. in a new plos one paper, denver fowler, with elizabeth freedman, john scannella, and robert kambic, puts forward another option : they were grasping tools for holding down smaller prey ( or, in typically colorful science - speak, prey of " subequal body size " ). to come to this conclusion, fowler and team compared the feet of deinonychus to other animals : a diverse group of extinct theropod genera as well as living birds. when compared to dinosaurs, the proportions of their feet differed strikingly from ornithomimids and alvarezsaurs, both groups whose leg proportions strongly suggest a cursorial lifestyle. they were runners. as matt martyniuk recently wrote in an excellent dinogoss post, the sticky assumption that dromaeosaurs were particularly quick animals, chasing down prey, isn ' t really supported by the evidence. noting that ostrom ' s first ideas changed once he took full stock of the proportions of deinonychus ' s metatarsus length to its tibia length, matt writes, " not only was deinonychus not particularly fast, it probably could not have been nearly as fast as most other small theropods, including modern flightless birds, let alone cheetahs. " to test his hypothesis that deinonychus was instead using its feet to hold onto prey as it killed it, fowler compared its foot proportions to living birds who use their feet in diverse ways, including accipiters, owls, falcons, passerines, vultures, osprey, woodpeckers, and pheasants. accipiters, aka hawks and eagles, are adept at holding down prey, using second toes which have larger claws than the others. this second claw was the closest analog to the dromaeosaur " sick


and pheasants. accipiters, aka hawks and eagles, are adept at holding down prey, using second toes which have larger claws than the others. this second claw was the closest analog to the dromaeosaur " sickle - claw " yet found. the metatarsal bones were short and stocky like those of owls, suggesting that they were just as good at grasping small prey, if not built to constrict around prey and squeeze the life out of it the way accipiters can. also assisting deinonychus in subduing and keeping a grip on its prey, fowler suggests, is that feathered forelimbs could have been used the way accipiters use their wings, flapping to maintain stability on top of a struggling prey animal. he writes, even if deinonychosauria were not capable of a full avian - like flapping ability, they may have been able to perform a rudimentary flight stroke during stability flapping. similarly, long feathered tails are conspicuous in accipiters and aid in maneuverability and balance during stability flapping. basal paraves and deinonychosauria possessed long bony tails which are shown to have been well feathered... and would have assisted balance during predation and stability flapping. this suggests another use for flapping, feathered forelimbs other than flight. the dromaeosaur would ambush its prey, hold it down by plunging its enlarged second claw into it, holding it down by its own weight, flapping to keep its balance and maintain its grip. those long forearm feathers and fiercely clawed hands would have also been useful to " mantle " their meal, protecting it from rivals and further preventing escape. fowler writes, an important part of our interpretation is that ground - based predation need not necessarily be conducted at high speed. it is commonplace for extant terrestrial predators to employ surprise ambush techniques ; goshawks and other forest raptor species commonly hunt on the ground, employing ambush and maneuverability as strategies, rather than outright pursuittroodontids also figure into this, as fowler notes their common presence in ecosystems alongside dromaeosaurs. comparitively, the feet of troodontids were better suited for chasing down their prey. as dromaeosaurs went for larger prey, troodontids may have been specialized for hunting small mammals, for example, perhaps in darkness as suggested by their famously large eyes. noting that extant avian therop


chasing down their prey. as dromaeosaurs went for larger prey, troodontids may have been specialized for hunting small mammals, for example, perhaps in darkness as suggested by their famously large eyes. noting that extant avian theropods such as golden eagles aren ' t afraid to go after much larger prey, fowler writes that his research here doesn ' t necessarily preclude the long - inferred habit of dromaeosaurs to pick on animals their own size or larger. had they worked up the gumption to have tenontosaur for supper, the " climbing crampon " quality of the second toe claw noted by phil manning would certainly come in handy for prey riding. in a sort of cretaceous rodeo, the dromaeosaur would have leaped onto the back of a passing tenontosaur, holding on for dear life as it thrashed about until blood loss and exhaustion finally brought it down. this research is rich with possibilities for future studies, and it will be fun to see what comes of it. there are the biomechanical implications of stability flapping to look at, as well as plenty of argument over how this hypothesis impacts the early evolution of flight. lots of meat on this bone. also published in plos one yesterday : scannella and jack horner continue to strike genera from the books, this time adding nedoceratops to the list of ontogenetic phases of triceratops. another deals with how reproductive strategies affect body size in a variety of animals, including dinosaurs.


rediscovery of " extinct " species on mauritius spurs joint action to secure its future 21 june 2001 | news story gland, switzerland ( iucn ) 21. 06. 01. the rediscovery of a mauritian plant last seen in the wild in 1863 has spurred collaborative efforts on the island to help save the species. trochetia parviflora, a small, attractive tree found only on mauritius, was recently rediscovered by vincent florens and his colleague jean - claude sevathian during their third expedition to find the species. vincent is a member of the indian ocean island plant specialist group, of iucn ' s species survival commission. the pair found one plant clinging to a rocky slope in the corps de garde mountain nature reserve, some 6km from the nearest area in which it was previously known. " we could not believe we had found the species, it seemed too good to be true ", said vincent. " we both knew the plant very well from old herbarium samples and knew what it was immediately. the plant is exquisite with its curvy trunk, dense branches, small pointed leaves and pale green fruits, and has survived for centuries in the harsh conditions of the cliff edge. " since the initial rediscovery, vincent and jean - claude have intensified their search on the mountain and have now found 63 plants. although thrilled by the find, vincent is concerned for the continued survival of the species. " all the plants are in a precarious situation, within a 500m stretch of mountain slope which is vulnerable to landslides and fire that could destroy the population ", he said. the genus trochetia is well known in mauritius as trochetia boutoniana is the country ' s national flower, known locally as boucle d ' oreille ( french for ear - ring ). the flora of mauritius is one of the most endangered in the world with nearly 300 threatened species - approximately 28 % of the island ' s estimated 1, 100 native species. the main threat is invasive introduced plant species that have taken over almost all the island ' s natural habitats, and are choking the small area inhabited by t. parviflora. introduced rats and monkeys eat the tree ' s fruit, and the plants are attacked by termites. vincent and jean - claude have taken cuttings from the trees and collected seeds to try to propagate the species to help boost the wild population. efforts to secure the species have been boosted by a $ 2, 500 grant from the chicago zoological society applied for


jean - claude have taken cuttings from the trees and collected seeds to try to propagate the species to help boost the wild population. efforts to secure the species have been boosted by a $ 2, 500 grant from the chicago zoological society applied for by the indian ocean island plant specialist group. work to protect the wild population and propagate new plants will involve the mauritius herbarium arboretum, part of the mauritius sugar industry research institute, forestry service nurseries, and other nurseries of the national parks and conservation service. surveys by vincent, his sister danielle florens, who is also a member of the specialist group, and jean - claude have increased the known number of native species on corps de garde by 20 %. all three work for the mauritius herbarium. vincent and jean - claude have dedicated the rediscovery to their friend, adrien wiehe, a local priest who has a keen interest in mauritian botany. now in his 70s, it has been his lifetime dream to rediscover this plant, and only four days before the event, he was looking for rare plants on the same mountain. " now that this almost mythical species has been rediscovered maybe we can hope that one day, people could find other ' extinct ' species clinging to life in other remote areas ", vincent added. for more information contact : vincent florens tel : + 230 454 1061 or + 230 686 2357 firstname. lastname @ example. org jean - claude sevathian tel : + 230 454 1061 or + 230 466 7780 anna knee tel : + 41 22 9990153 email @ example. com


forests, people and climate change : the redd solution 01 october 2009 | news story major reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions are necessary if we are to avoid disastrous climate change. given that deforestation and forest degradation account for up to 17 % of man - made global greenhouse gas emissions, conservation and sustainable management of forests is a good place to start. the relatively new approach of reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation ( redd ) can help achieve this goal if it is based on good social and environmental principles and fully integrated into broader strategies aimed at achieving deep cuts in carbon emissions from fossil fuels. with the impacts of climate change more serious than previously thought, redd can offer a ‘ bridging strategy, ’ reducing short - term emissions and buying time while the world adapts to a low carbon path. to maximize its effectiveness, redd needs to be broadened to include the restoration of degraded forests and enhancement of carbon stocks, alongside conservation and sustainable forest management. this is known as ‘ redd - plus ’ and offers multiple environmental and social benefits. in the build - up to the un framework convention on climate change conference in copenhagen in december, we ’ re starting a three - month climate change focus, beginning by highlighting some of the issues involved in redd. we also profile people from around the world who are working hard to make redd a reality for their country.


establishment of the pacific resource and environmental economics network ( preen ) 29 january 2010 | news story the use of resource and environmental economic analytical information to support and or underpin economic development and environmental conservation decisions is relatively new in the pacific. resource management has conventionally either not involved consideration of economic factors at all or has involved it only inadequately. similarly environmental conservation decisions often did not include livelihood or opportunity cost considerations. the failure of some environmental or natural resource management initiatives has consequently been attributed to the poor policy or project design arising from that economics gap. part of the reason for inadequate consideration of economic issues in natural resource management is the lack of capacity in natural resource economics in the pacific. many pacific island country governments do not have the resources to employ dedicated natural resource economists in their administration. in any event, there are few trained resource and environmental economist around to employ ; most economics graduates find employment in the financial, macroeconomic or general planning sector while others may move overseas or not use their economics training at all. for those few natural resource economists that do operate in the pacific, progress in conducting economic analysis can be hampered by isolation ; there are few resource economists around with whom to share ideas, develop initiatives or share work. building on loose network of resource and environmental economists and those interested in the use of economics to inform resource and environmental management in the pacific, the iucn oceania regional office with the support of the pacific islands applied geoscience commission ( sopac ) and the south pacific community, formally established the pacific resource and environmental economics network ( preen ). the main goal of preen is to foster improved cooperation and communication between practicing economists and other stakeholders to help mainstream the use of economic analysis in resource and environmental management in the pacific. the network was kick - started with a two day workshop held in late september to facilitate discussions on current research, issues and experiences between the members. abstracts of these papers have been published in the first preen newsletter which is downloadable from preen ' s newly created homepage. read more about this and visit the website : the peer - reviewed papers presented at this workshop will be made available in the workshop proceedings in early 2010.


once upon a time two explorers came upon a clearing in the jungle. in the clearing were growing many flowers and many weeds. one explorer says, " some gardener must tend this plot. " the other disagrees, " there is no gardener. " so they pitch their tents and set a watch. no gardener is ever seen. " but perhaps he is an invisible gardener. " so they set up a barbed - wire fence. they electrify it. they patrol with bloodhounds. ( for they remember how h. g. well ' s the invisible man could be both smelt and touched though he could not be seen. ) but no shrieks ever suggest that some intruder has received a shock. no movements of the wire ever betray an invisible climber. the bloodhounds never give cry. yet still the believer is not convinced. " but there is a gardener, invisible, intangible, insensible, to electric shocks, a gardener who has no scent and makes no sound, a gardener who comes secretly to look after the garden which he loves. " at last the sceptic despairs, " but what remains of your original assertion? just how does what you call an invisible, intangible, eternally elusive gardener differ from an imaginary gardener or even from no gardener at all? " darwin and the evolutionists see a gardener, and to these motivated believers evolution is true despite even glaring question marks and failed expectations that have other observers wondering how evolutionists can be so sure their idea is a fact. and as in flew ' s parable, sometimes evolutionists have creative explanations for why the evidence does not seem to reveal their gardener. consider prestin, a protein important in mammalian hearing. prestin, a transmembrane protein in the outer hair cells of the cochlea, is a frequency - selective amplifier in a sound system that works something like this. as sound enters the ear, it deflects the outer hair causing tiny amounts of stretching or compression in the outer hair cells. there are channel proteins that sit in the membrane of these cells which are sensitive to such mechanical strain. these proteins provide a tunnel ( or channel ) across the membrane so that ions can easily cross, and the mechanical strain can cause the channels to open. these channels are precisely designed to allow only certain types of ions to cross. for example, some channels allow the positively charged potassium ion to cross but not the positively charged sodium ion, and vice - versa. when a channel opens, ions usually tend to


these channels are precisely designed to allow only certain types of ions to cross. for example, some channels allow the positively charged potassium ion to cross but not the positively charged sodium ion, and vice - versa. when a channel opens, ions usually tend to cross through the membrane ( either into the cell or out of the cell ) because the ion concentration is not uniform, and because there is a voltage, across the membrane. such differences in concentrations across the membrane, and the voltage, are actively maintained by the cell. they serve as a sort of battery whose energy can be tapped at any time by opening membrane channels. when the incoming sound causes certain channels to open, the ions that cross cause a change in the membrane voltage. in the outer hair cells, this voltage change encourages negatively charged chlorine ions to exit the cell. they interact with the prestin protein, in the membrane, to cause a mechanical deformation resulting in the elongation of the cell. in other words, the incoming sound, that caused the hair to move, ends up causing yet more hair movement, and this serves precisely to amplify the incoming sound. this amplification is greater at low sound levels, as it should be. one of the interesting features of this system is the speed at which it operates. obviously in order to amplify sound you need to respond as fast as the changes in sound occur. protein motors often use chemical energy ( such as the splitting of the atp molecule ) but that would be too slow for the ear ' s sound system. instead, prestin uses the membrane ' s voltage. this electrical energy can be used much faster and prestin operates at microsecond rates. here is how one paper summarized the system : the exquisitely high sensitivity and frequency selectivity of the mammalian hearing organ originates from a mechanical amplification mechanism that resides in the organ of corti, the sense organ of hearing in mammals. the gain provided by this amplification can reach as high as a thousandfold ; it is highest at low sound levels and progressively diminishes with increasing sound energy. of course evolution has no explanation for the origin of this system beyond unfounded speculation, but that is no surprise. new research is, however, adding a twist to the story. we now know that prestin proteins in certain bat and whale species ( used in their biosonar systems ) are more similar than evolution would expect. the massive prestin protein has too many amino acids that match up between these species.


. we now know that prestin proteins in certain bat and whale species ( used in their biosonar systems ) are more similar than evolution would expect. the massive prestin protein has too many amino acids that match up between these species. if one were to construct an evolutionary tree on the basis of prestin comparisons alone, then the bat and whale would be grouped together, and that cannot be correct. this fact alone need not be a problem for evolutionists. they simply say that prestin is under the influence of strong selection. in other words, there are strong functional constraints on prestin that require more similarity, even between distant species, than we typically find in proteins. in particular, researchers identified nine amino acids in prestin that seem to be responsible for the overly - consistent whale - bat matchup. those nine amino acids must be under very strong selection. if one of them mutated then the biosonar system would not work well. the bat or whale would not survive, and that is why we don ' t observe such changes. that is how natural selection works. but if all nine amino acids are required, how did evolution stumble onto the design in the first place? it would be highly unlikely for the right nine amino acids to arise via blind mutations, at the same time. of course this conundrum is not confined to the prestin protein. biology is packed with incredible designs that appear to be finely - tuned. and dozens of finely - tuned design parameters do not appear to be the result of evolution. the typical evolutionary explanation for biology ' s wonders is that those design parameters evolved one at a time. it was a gradual process as each setting independently contributed to increased fitness. in other words, a long series of lesser designs preceded today ' s marvels. but if a lesser design was good enough before, then why is it not good enough today? why are those nine amino acids maintained today in prestin if before only a few were required for success? the evolutionary answer is that there was an arms race. yes, lesser designs did the job before, but that was then and this is now. the competition has improved and so what worked before no longer does the job. but like flew ' s gardener, these other worlds are forever up for speculation. the competition may or may not have had this or that capability at this or that particular time. the precise timings and interactions can always be tweaked to fit the evolutionary narrative. and if it turns out that pre


unit title : integrating website activities in math for elementary teachers unit goal : to integrate web - based activities with text and hands - on manipulatives in the teaching of mathematics content to pre - service teachers unit summary : the four modules contained in this unit represent templates for the inclusion of content based, interactive websites throughout a semester long mathematics course for pre - service teachers. the modules ’ sequence is based on chapters 2 - 5 of mathematics for elementary school teachers ( houghton mifflin, 2nd ed ) by tom bassarear. this text is supplemented by the text author ’ s mathematics for elementary school teachers : explorations and a start with manipulatives kit from eta / cuisenaire. in each module, students are asked to explore and reflect on a given content based website prior to classroom instruction. ( a recommended site is given for each module ) following content instruction ( which include additional web - based activities and hands - on manipulatives, investigations and lecture ) students are required, in teams, to research other web sites which provide additional opportunities for content enhancement. their findings are then reported back to the class at the close of the semester. grade level ( k - 16 ) : 13 - 15 general subject area ( s ) : math for elementary school teachers minimum time required for the unit : 1 semester concepts learned across all unit modules : - accessing and evaluating interactive web sites - communicating student understanding of different pedagogical styles via journal writing - demonstrating competencies in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division with respect to the given numeration system - recognizing patterns and properties of the fundamental operations - demonstrating competencies in whole, integer, rational and real number operations standards addressed by unit modules : mathematics curriculum, instruction, and assessment teaching strategies and activities that will aid in the development, delivery, and evaluation of the following : conceptual knowledge and procedural knowledge - curriculum components – for example, scope and sequence of skills and materials ; appropriate materials and technology ; learner objectives - use of manipulatives and developmentally appropriate materials ; variety and reliability - pre - number and number concepts – for example, counting objects, comparing objects ; classifying objects ; exploring sets ; ordering sets ; number patterns - problem solving – for example, investigate and understand content ; formulate problems from everyday situations ; develop strategies applicable to a wide range of problems ; verify and interpret results ; build student confidence ; identify and solve problems that are developmentally appropriate - content specific pedagogy – for example, theories necessary for implementing a sound instructional program


everyday situations ; develop strategies applicable to a wide range of problems ; verify and interpret results ; build student confidence ; identify and solve problems that are developmentally appropriate - content specific pedagogy – for example, theories necessary for implementing a sound instructional program such as accessing prior knowledge, constructing knowledge, modeling, informal reasoning, graphic organizers - addition and subtraction of whole numbers – for example, computational procedures ; relationships between addition and subtraction ; relationship between subtraction and division ; regrouping ; modeling the operations ; story problems - multiplication and division – for example, modeling the operations, interpretations for the operations ; computational procedures ; skill development ; story problems - concepts related to number theory – for example, factors, multiples, primes and composites, remainders, odd and even - rational numbers – for example, fraction and decimal equivalence ; computation ; modeling demonstrate number sense and operation sense, that is, an understanding of the foundational ideas of numbers, number properties, and operations defined on numbers. formal mathematical reasoning - order : demonstrate an understanding of order among whole numbers, fractions, and decimals - equivalence : demonstrate an understanding that a number can be represented in more than one way - numeration and place value : demonstrate an understanding of how numbers are named, place value, and order of magnitude of numbers - number properties : demonstrate an understanding of the properties of whole numbers without necessarily knowing the names of the properties - computation : perform computations ; adjust the result of a computation to fit the context of a problem ; identify numbers or information or operations needed to solve a problem - equations : solve simple equations and inequalities ; predict the outcome of changing some number or condition in a problem - estimation : estimate the result of a calculation ; determine the reasonableness of an estimate - algorithmic thinking : demonstrate an understanding of the algorithmic point of view — that is, follow a given procedure ; recognize various ways to solve a problem ; identify, complete, or analyze a procedure ; discover patterns in a procedure demonstrate an ability to use the basics of logic in a quantitative context. - logical connectives and quantifiers : interpret statements that use logical connectives ( and, or, if – then ) as well as quantifiers ( some, all, none ) - validity of arguments : use deductive reasoning to determine whether an argument ( a series of statements leading to a conclusion ) is valid or invalid - generalization : identify an appropriate generalization, an example that disproves an inappropriate generalization


) - validity of arguments : use deductive reasoning to determine whether an argument ( a series of statements leading to a conclusion ) is valid or invalid - generalization : identify an appropriate generalization, an example that disproves an inappropriate generalization, or a hidden assumption demonstrate the ability to : - use technology tools and information resources to increase productivity, promote creativity, and facilitate academic learning. - use content - specific tools ( e. g., software, simulation, environmental robes, graphing calculators, exploratory environments, web tools ) to support learning and research. - use technology resources to facilitate higher order and complex thinking skills, including problem solving, critical thinking, informed decision making, knowledge construction, and creativity. - use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources. - observe and experience the use of technology in their major field of study. technology needed in unit modules : - computer with internet access - computer with power point software - projection device for computer technology - enhanced instructional strategies employed : - technology - enriched problem - based learning - computer - based simulations / games / role - playing - web - based learning - electronic portfolio development - technology - enhanced demonstrations title of each module : # 1 – fundamental concepts # 2 – four fundamental operations # 3 – number theory # 4 – extending the number system unit culminating activity : student groups ( four person ) will present their website research results for the four chapters. these presentations will include : demonstrations of the web sites, evaluation of the websites, a comparison of website activity to text ’ s and hands - on manipulatives ’ approaches ( as applicable ) to the content area, and a written commentary. the commentary is to include : a summary of the individual chapter reflections, a personal reflection of their individual process in the acquisition of their chosen websites, a comparison of website activity to text ’ s and hands - on manipulatives ’ approaches ( as applicable ) to the content area and a description of the content skill ( s ) could be enhanced by a student using the web - based activities. view the culminating activity rubric unit authors : john august


| an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event ; an exceptional example or instance. | | a gadget ; dingus ; thingumbob. | | 1. | | meat from the back and sides of a pig, dried, salted, and usually smoked | | 2. | | informal bring home the bacon | | a. to achieve success | | b. to provide material support | | 3. | | informal ( brit ) save someone ' s bacon to help someone to escape from danger | | [ c12 : from old french bacon, from old high german bahho ; related to old saxon baco ; see | | 1. | | francis, baron verulam, viscount st albans. 1561 - - 1626, english philosopher, statesman, and essayist ; described the inductive method of reasoning : his works include essays ( 1625 ), the advancement of learning ( 1605 ), and novum organum ( 1620 ) | | 2. | | francis. 1909 - - 92, british painter, born in dublin, noted for his distorted, richly coloured human figures, dogs, and carcasses | | 3. | | roger.? 1214 - - 92, english franciscan monk, scholar, and scientist : stressed the importance of experiment, demonstrated that air is required for combustion, and first used lenses to correct vision. his opus majus ( 1266 ) is a compendium of all the sciences of his age | | bacon ( ba ' kən ) pronunciation key english scientist and philosopher who is noted for the wide range of his knowledge and writing on scientific topics. bacon pioneered the idea that mathematics is fundamental to science and that experimentation is essential to test scientific theories. our living language : roger bacon was something of a renaissance man before there was a renaissance. over the course of his long life, his energetic research would lead him to study everything from languages to mathematics to optics. he is most remembered for his insistence on the importance of pursuing fruitful lines of scientific research through experimentation. his writings describe countless experiments ; while the majority were probably never performed by him, the profusion alone of experimental ideas is nothing short of astounding. his own laboratory work dealt primarily with alchemy, optics, and mechanics. he was among the first to apply geometric and mathematical principles to problems in optics and the behavior of light, allowing him to make important observations on reflection and refraction. his interest in mechanics led him to describe flying machines and other devices that had not yet been invented.


breaking boards and barriers you ’ ve seen it on the big screen : martial - arts greats kicking and punching themselves out of harm ’ s way. but is it possible from a wheelchair? when you think about what you ’ ve seen in the media or contemplate what you ’ ve heard about the training or competitions that often accompany martial arts, you might not see yourself being a martial artist. but, why not? whether learning the forms required for belt rank progression, getting “ in the ring ” and sparring with an opponent, becoming proficient at various weaponry tactics, using skills for self - defense or just having fun with a new passion, martial arts can be for everyone. in fact, the skills of the various martial arts can be therapeutic in many ways, as the training can benefit your mind, body and spirit. people have naturally been fighters and hunters and engaged in war since the beginning of time. and from nearly every corner of the earth, combat techniques developed into various styles of martial arts. the term “ martial arts ” comes from the latin, as it was considered the “ arts of mars, ” derived from the roman god of war. today ’ s martial arts have history in nearly every continent and continue to grow in number as additional off - shoots of the traditional arts are developed. although many of the most recognized martial arts come from asian countries, especially china, japan and korea, the list is nearly endless. something for everyone bill and patty auvenshine run auvenshine ’ s school of tae kwon do, based in illinois. students, young and old, with or without disability, can learn the martial arts. the martial arts encompass a wide array of techniques including full - contact combat sport, military - based styles, arts focused on fitness, self - defense tactics, meditative arts, weapons - based styles and martial arts that emphasize punches, kicks, grappling or throws. and even if an art involves kicks and you do not have use of your legs, there ’ s no reason you can ’ t train in it. martial arts are for everyone. in fact, they are one of the greatest resources for increasing core and body strength, self - confidence and overall health. if someone like the now infamous aaron fotheringham, born with spina bifida, can do a back flip from his wheelchair at a skate park, there are no limits for those with disabilities in any sport, including the martial arts. finding a school that has a committed instructor and flexible program is key. if you


bifida, can do a back flip from his wheelchair at a skate park, there are no limits for those with disabilities in any sport, including the martial arts. finding a school that has a committed instructor and flexible program is key. if you focus on hard work, dedication and advancement, you will quickly find yourself healthier, mentally and physically, regardless of where you were when you entered your first class. your specific disability may fit better with some arts than others, but you shouldn ’ t feel limited to what traditional definitions or popular portrayals prescribe. regardless of your physical needs or challenges, nearly every move can be adapted, such as doing a wheelie or punch in place of a kick or a spin in place of a roundhouse maneuver. you can punch with one hand instead of another or position your body differently to accomplish other movements. if you are a chair user or end up on the ground, you ’ re in a great position for self - defense techniques, as the groin is often a key target and you ’ ll likely be in direct striking range. martial arts training can be an incredible asset to rehabilitation and regaining skills such as balance, coordination and mental focus. students with single or multiple limb amputations can use prostheses to replicate nearly every move. those with visual impairments often practice the martial arts with very minor adaptations, as people who are not disabled often practice their forms or spar blindfolded to gain increased skill and use their “ sixth sense, ” something those with variations of blindness often already possess. but replicating the actual movements is not the essence of martial arts : it ’ s the heart and effort you put into learning your selected art that ’ s truly important.


" if something bad can happen to even one child it shouldn ’ t be done " – paraphrased comment from meeting of a variety of decs and aeu ( australian education union ) representatives, al upton, and his principal in order to protect their beloved daughter, the king and queen in " sleeping beauty " took the extraordinary step of banning spindles from their kingdom. never having seen or handled such a tool, the young woman had no idea of either its utility or danger. " the years went by, the little princess grew and became the most beautiful girl in the whole kingdom. her mother was always very careful to keep her away from spindles, but the princess, on her sixteenth birthday, as she wandered through the castle, came into a room where an old servant was spinning. " what are you doing? " she asked the servant. " i ' m spinning. haven ' t you seen a spindle before? " " no. let me see it! " the servant handed the girl the spindle... and she pricked herself with it and. with a sigh, dropped to the floor. " - charles perault, la belle au bois dormant ( the sleeping beauty in the wood ) sleep, ignorance, inexperience are no substitute for vigilance, knowledge, guided practice. graham wegner wonders about the nature of risks : if one child could slip and possibly fall with injurious consequences, then there is risk. but the benefits of the playground far outweigh the negatives - the learning, the gaining of skills, the creation of games and the friendship of playing with your mates. and we are careful with the playground environment - no sharp edges, designs that cater for a variety of skill levels, soft fall on the ground, rules for safe play, teacher supervision - so that the risks are managed and lead to beneficial learning of physical skills. why would we treat the risks regarding, say, the use of blogs in the classroom any differently? why do risks associated with technology seem to be so threatening that shutting down and banning is seen as the appropriate way to deal with it? and are those responsible for recommending or enforcing these methods really in touch with real or perceived risks? although both al upton and his australian colleague, sue waters, stress that " they [ upton and his principal ] are after constructive helpful comments and thoughts ; and a balanced discussion of the issues, " comments from the meeting seem to indicate that the minilegends blog would have to be stripped of all


east asian landscape cultures since the mid - 1990s, dumbarton oaks has developed research on east asian landscape cultures through library collections, public lectures, scholarly meetings, and publications as part of its commitment to situate garden and landscape studies in a broader domain of cultural and visual studies. on the one hand, time - honored east asian landscape traditions, originating in garden making, rock art, mountain - and - water paintings and poems, and natural philosophy and aesthetics, have fascinated scholars since the age of enlightenment ; on the other hand, this tradition is undergoing dramatic changes as a result of rapid modernization and globalization in china, japan, and korea. by considering the subject through the perspective of living landscape cultures, this research helps to break eurocentric patterns and link the historical past to contemporary issues such as cultural heritage, environment, urbanism, and tourism. chinese garden texts translation group in october 1999, dumbarton oaks initiated a roundtable on " an anthology of chinese garden texts in english, " which was attended by a group of 16 sinologists from america, europe, and australia. during this meeting, they agreed to create an anthology containing a selection of writings on chinese gardens from the han to qing dynasties. the english translations will be accompanied by original chinese texts, annotations, and short introductory essays as well as a glossary of terms. the anthology will avoid imposing a definition of what a chinese garden is, and instead will show how discourse on gardens appears to have aggregated gardens, sites, parks, agricultural lands, and how this aggregation changed and developed over the centuries. by including a great diversity of materials from different periods and literary genres, the aim is to counter the reductive tendencies in contemporary discussions of the history of chinese gardens. from 2000 – 2004, dumbarton oaks sponsored this group, together with several branches of asia studies at harvard university ( the asia center, the fairbank center for east asian research, and the department of east asian language and civilization ). the translation group met three times to pursue this ambitious collaboration. the first two meetings were hosted by dumbarton oaks, while the third meeting took place at harvard university. at present, the translated texts are under preparation for a proposed two - volume publication, the dumbarton oaks readings on chinese gardens, edited by stanislaus fung ( the university of new south wales, au ) and introduced by michel conan ( former director of garden and landscape studies, dumbarton oaks ) and peter bol ( harvard university ). other scholars participating in this project include : duncan


##islaus fung ( the university of new south wales, au ) and introduced by michel conan ( former director of garden and landscape studies, dumbarton oaks ) and peter bol ( harvard university ). other scholars participating in this project include : duncan m. campbell ( new zealand ), sophie campistron ( france ), bing chiu che ( france ), antoine gournay ( france ), kenneth j. hammond ( united states ), philip hu ( united states ), alison hardie ( united kingdom ), james hargett ( united states ), david knechtges ( united states ), georges metailie ( france ), martin powers ( united states ), david sensabaugh ( united states ), richard e. strassberg ( united states ), jan stuart ( united kingdom ), stephen h. west ( united states ), yinong xu ( australia ), xiaoshan yang ( united states ), hui zou ( united states ). china - america working group in march 2005, dumbarton oaks organized a three - day working group on chinese garden and landscape culture. the group was consisted of three american scholars and three chinese scholars : peter bol ( philosophy, harvard university ), martin powers ( art history, university of michigan ), stephen h. west ( literature, uc berkeley ), chen wangheng ( aesthetics, wuhan university ), wang yi 王 ( philosophy & literature, chinese academy of social sciences ) and yang hongxun ( archeology, chinese academy of social sciences ). the late architecture historian zhou weiquan ( tsinghua university ) was invited, but could not attend for health reasons. after intense discussion, the group agreed upon future cooperation on the topic of " garden and city life " in the hope of addressing the endangered landscape in the context of contemporary chinese urban sprawl, and to highlight the function of gardens in fostering a beneficial city culture. this led to a dumbarton oaks - wuhan university joint conference in china in october 2006, and the publication of an anthology in 2008 : gardens, city life and culture : a world tour ( its chinese edition with slight variation was published under the title, 城 林 ： 林 城 生 文 的 = city and garden : contribution of gardens to city life and culture, by wuhan university press in 2006 ). the study of east asian landscape cultures at dumbarton oaks has received


- copy data to or from a kernel image or running system cc [ flag … ] file … - lkvm [ library … ] # include < kvm. h > ssize _ t kvm _ read ( kvm _ t * kd, uintptr _ t addr, void * buf, size _ t nbytes ) ; ssize _ t kvm _ write ( kvm _ t * kd, uintptr _ t addr, void * buf, size _ t nbytes ) ; the kvm _ read ( ) function transfers data from the kernel image specified by kd ( see kvm _ open ( 3kvm ) ) to the address space of the process. nbytes bytes of data are copied from the kernel virtual address given by addr to the buffer pointed to by buf. the kvm _ write ( ) function is like kvm _ read ( ), except that the direction of data transfer is reversed. to use this function, the kvm _ open ( 3kvm ) call that returned kd must have specified write access. if a user virtual address is given, it is resolved in the address space of the process specified in the most recent kvm _ getu ( 3kvm ) call. the kvm _ read ( ) and kvm _ write ( ) functions are obsolete and might be removed in a future release. the functions described on the kvm _ kread ( 3kvm ) manual page should be used instead. on success, these functions return the number of bytes actually transferred. on failure, they return - 1. see attributes ( 5 ) for descriptions of the following attributes :