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Many wild southern sea otters in California are infected with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, yet the infection is fatal for only a fraction of sea otters, which has long puzzled the scientific community. A National Science Foundation-funded study identifies the parasite's specific strains that are killing southern sea otters, tracing them back to a bobcat and feral domestic cats from nearby watersheds. The study marks the first time a genetic link has been clearly established between the Toxoplasma strains in felid hosts and parasites causing fatal disease in marine wildlife. The study's results highlight how infectious agents like Toxoplasma can spread from cat feces on land to the sea, leading to detrimental impacts on marine wildlife.

Image credit: Trina Wood/UC Davis

Young adults ages 18-26 should be viewed as a separate subpopulation in policy and research, because they are in a critical period of development when successes or failures could strongly affect the trajectories of their lives, says a new report from the Institute of Medicine and National Research Council.

Today the science academies of the G7 countries and seven additional academies issued three joint statements to their respective governments to inform discussions during the G7 summit to be held in May in Japan, as well as ongoing policymaking.

Policymakers, employers, and educational institutions should take steps to strengthen the nation’s skilled technical workforce, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) should expand the requirement in its disability compensation process regarding who can diagnose traumatic brain injury (TBI) to include any health care professional with pertinent and ongoing brain injury training and experience, says a new congressionally mandated report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine finds K-12 teachers face new expectations and more demands from policymakers, parents, students, and schools, including addressing changes in curriculum standards, the emergence of more explicit teaching goals, and shifts in what it means to support all students in their development.

The status of soil can be represented by many properties. However, how well they represent soil status depends on the level of rainfall in the area. Researchers in Spain found that in wet regions soil status is strongly linked to biological factors, such as vegetation cover and biodiversity. In drier regions, status has a stronger link to the physical properties of the soil.

Security is not a game, but learning about it could be – here’s why adding the fun factor can help employees become more cyber-aware

The post How gamification can boost your cybersecurity training appeared first on WeLiveSecurity

My new book LOSERTHINK, available now on Amazon https://tinyurl.com/rqmjc2a Content: There WAS…a genuine coup attempt Governor Abbott’s Coronavirus strategy CNN promotes their choice for Biden’s VP Hoaxes, hoaxes and hoaxes Vitamin D and groups vulnerable to coronavirus If you would like to enjoy this same content plus bonus content from Scott Adams, including micro-lessons on […]

The post Episode 961 Scott Adams: Flynn, Freedom, Vitamin D, Biden’s Brain and More appeared first on Scott Adams' Blog.

Public authorities in EU Member States are encouraged to purchase more environmentally-friendly goods and services through Green Public Procurement (GPP). A recent survey of purchasing managers in Italy has identified some factors that influence their adoption of this strategy, and suggests that a broad knowledge of GPP is key to its implementation.

Although the causes of Alzheimer's disease are still unknown, it is clear that the disease commences with progressive amyloid deposition in the brains of affected persons between ten and fifteen years before the emergence of initial clinical symptoms such as memory loss. Researchers have now been able to show that Aducanumab, a human monoclonal antibody, selectively binds brain amyloid plaques, thus enabling microglial cells to remove the plaques. A one-year treatment with the antibody, as part of a phase Ib study, resulted in almost complete clearance of the brain amyloid plaques in the study group patients. The results, which were realized by researchers at UZH together with the biotech company "Biogen" and the UZH spin-off "Neurimmune," have been published in the renowned science journal "Nature."

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For the first time, abnormal brain development following a Zika infection during pregnancy has been documented experimentally in the offspring of a non-human primate.

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Biomass is increasingly used to make biofuels and generate electricity and is seen as a valuable source of renewable energy. A recent study has assessed the key factors relating to the sustainability of bioenergy production and suggests global biomass could potentially meet up to one third of the projected global energy demand in 2050.

Wildfires could release up to nine times more stored carbon from drained peatland at high latitudes than from untouched peatland in the same region, according to a recent study. As climate change is expected to both dry out peatland and increase the frequency of wildfires, the results have serious implications for the role of northern peatlands as carbon sinks or sources.

The risk of drought in the Norrström drainage basin, Sweden, increased during the 20th century, a new study has found. As the frequency of the dry periods increased, less water was available in the landscape for agriculture and for the resupply of groundwater — despite an increase in precipitation in the area over the same period. The researchers reached this conclusion after screening soil moisture conditions in the basin over the course of the century.

The first study to investigate how dog brains process speech shows that our best friends in the animal kingdom care about both what we say and how we say it. Dogs, like people, use the left hemisphere to process words, a right hemisphere brain region to process intonation, and praising activates dog's reward center only when both words and intonation match, according to a study in Science.

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Automation failures have been the cause of such widely reported disasters as the crash of Air France Flight 447 in 2009, with most of the focus placed on deficiencies in the automated system. Although automation does help in avoiding human error in completing tasks, people are still needed to monitor how well the automated system is operating.

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Rippon, Gina, author

Using open-access software and power saving technologies, researchers have developed an easily deployed, low-cost network for monitoring large areas of the Amazon rainforest. This Peruvian study shows that environmental information, such as soil moisture and rates of photosynthesis, can be recorded and uploaded to the internet without having to make repeated visits to remote areas.

Collecting, or ‘harvesting’ rainwater may help society cope with a number of problems, such as water shortages, flooding and the degradation of urban streams. Urban roofs make up about half of the total sealed surface (‘unnatural’ surfaces, which cover over natural surfaces, such as soil) in cities and contribute the most to stormwater run-off, which could be harvested for other purposes. To maximise this potential, it is useful to know which type of roof can harvest the greatest amount of good quality water.

A recent study suggests that blocking ditches originally dug in peatlands to drain water is an effective restoration method, but is influenced by local conditions. Restoration efforts should therefore be monitored over long periods of time at the landscape level to fully evaluate their impacts.

A new study has looked at the potential of green infrastructure to compensate for the effects of soil sealing generated by urban development. It investigates how green roofs and permeable paving could contribute to flood mitigation in southern Italy. Using a hydraulic model technique, the researchers found that, in this particular urban case, green roofs were more effective than permeable paving. Policies to promote the adoption of sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) by the private sector could thus prove more effective under certain circumstances, and policymakers should look at ways to promote SUDS where suitable.

The role of wild birds in spreading potentially deadly strains of 'bird flu' is poorly understood. Recent research in Georgia examined an important crossover point of migratory routes, including routes into Europe, and found that only 1% of wild birds tested here carried avian influenza. None of these had the harmful, pathogenic strains.

Drainage tunnels running under roads can provide small animals with safe road crossings, mitigating habitat fragmentation, a new study has confirmed. The researchers suggest that the tunnel design can be further improved to aid animal movements, for example, by providing dry ledges to ensure the routes are still available in times of high rainfall.

Animal-train collisions are an important cause of animal mortality. This study tested the ability of a device that emits natural warning calls to reduce risk of animals being hit by trains in central Poland. Animals, including roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and brown hare (Lepus europaeus) escaped in most cases. The authors say the device is an effective means of risk reduction as it allows animals to escape train tracks earlier and more often.

Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) could be made better for biodiversity and local people with the help of two new evaluation methods presented by a recent study. The methods, which assess the value of SuDS sites for wildlife habitat, carbon sequestration, recreation and education, are described by the study’s authors as cost-effective, quick and reliable, and could help designers plan and retrofit SuDS that are wildlife-friendly and socially inclusive.

Agri-environment schemes (AES) are a means by which farmers can ensure greener agriculture, but their success is based on many factors, including the effectiveness of the scheme and participation by farmers. In an effort to understand how different factors affect uptake of AES, this study assessed the attitudes and values of decision-making for a sample of UK farmers involved with bird conservation. The results indicate that effectiveness and participation rates could be improved by informing farmers about the state of bird populations in their region and highlighting the impacts of different management practices on bird conservation.

Certain chemicals that were once used as flame retardants are now banned in the EU, but can remain in the environment. A new study adds to our limited knowledge regarding the presence of the chemicals polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) in humans. The study suggests levels in Polish and Ukrainian men are lower than in those living in the US and Greenland.

Natural wetlands can provide effective long-term remediation of contamination from abandoned mines, new research suggests. The study examined a natural wetland receiving water from a copper mine in the UK, and showed that the water’s acidity and levels of toxic metals were significantly reduced once it had passed through the wetland.

Lithium production has increased dramatically during the past decade. A new study has found that exposure of rainbow trout to lithium results in fast accumulation in plasma and the brain, along with decreased concentrations of ions such as sodium.

Implementation of technology to clean the flue gases of coal-fired power plants has significantly reduced sulphur and fine particle emissions that cause environmental damage. However, recent research suggests that plants applying this technology would emit more ultrafine particles (1-10 nanometer (nm) diameter) that affect the formation of clouds, with the unintended consequence of changing the amount and intensity of rainfall downwind of fossil fuel power installations.

Elderly patients with Parkinson’s disease are at greater risk of emergency hospitalisation, as well as premature death, following short periods of increased air pollution by fine particles, finds a US study. The researchers believe that these findings support the theory that fine particles may affect the brain. They also found possible links between pollution and hospitalisation rates for diabetes patients.

Researchers have identified plant fungi in the Ecuadorian rainforest that can digest plastic. The discovery hints that there may be a wide range of effective waste-consuming microbes in existence, according to the study, which found that several different fungi, including one called Pestalotiopsis microspora, can break down the widely used plastic, polyurethane.

This time, Grey and Myke answer questions from listeners, while addressing topics like the utility of the iPad, notification badges, and whether you should have a web browser on your phone.

The post Growing optimism for Aussie grain farmers appeared first on The Lead SA.

Watford Ladies game against Hounslow in the FA Women's National League has been postponed due to constant heavy rain.

The post Aussie learning platform trains Indonesian miners appeared first on The Lead SA.

The post 3D-printed body parts set for surgical training ramp up appeared first on The Lead SA.

The post Trainers flock to Kangaroo Island races appeared first on The Lead SA.

Wednesday, May 13, 2020, 1 – 2pm

Online Event

If you want a career in healthcare, Pathways are a great place to start. Pathways are FREE 5-12 week training programs that will prepare you for specific occupations in the healthcare industry. Employer partnerships are a key part of the programs and will connect you with multiple job opportunities in the healthcare sector.
Current programs available include Nursing Assistant, Medical Administration, Pharmacy Tech, Medical Call Center and Medical Office Support.

Join us on May 13th from 1-2pm to learn about upcoming Pathways in the Twin Cities and how to apply!

Hosted by Minneapolis College in coordination with the City of Minneapolis Health Hire.

Event type: Job and Career Fairs
Filter by Location: Twin Cities Metro
Event Audience: For Job Seekers, For Veterans
Registration link: www.eventbrite.com…
Accommodation Request: 612-673-5187
CareerForce Sponsored Event: CareerForce sponsored event

MANTUA – Glenbrook Road between Little River Turnpike (Route 236) and Denise Lane will be closed to through traffic from 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 29 to 5...

 
 000
 TCCA23 KNHC 251546
 STDWCA
 SATELLITE TROPICAL DISTURBANCE RAINFALL ESTIMATES
 NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
 1545 UTC SAT APR 25 2020
  
 SYSTEM NAME                       DATE/TIME          LOCATION
 -----------                       ---------          --------
 INVEST [90E]                      25/1200 UTC          14N 116W 
 
 RAINFALL ESTIMATED BY SATELLITE VIA QMORPH...
 24-HR RAINFALL MAXIMUM FROM 12-12 UTC- 130MM AT 13N 119W
 6-HR RAINFALL MAXIMUM FROM 06-12 UTC- 30MM AT 13N 119W
 RAINFALL DISTRIBUTION IN MM OVER THE LAST 6 HOURS FROM 06-12 UTC...
  
 LATITUDE............................LONGITUDE......................
 .......119W-118W 118W-117W 117W-116W 116W-115W 115W-114W 114W-113W
 16N-17N   0- 10     0- 10     0-  0     0-  0     0-  0     0-  0
 15N-16N   0-  0     0- 10     0-  0     0-  0     0-  0     0-  0
 14N-15N   0-  0     0-  0     0-  0     0-  0     0-  0     0-  0
 13N-14N   0- 20     0- 20     0-  0     0-  0     0-  0     0-  0
 12N-13N  10- 30     0- 10     0- 10     0- 20     0- 30     0-  0
 11N-12N   0- 20     0- 10     0- 10     0- 20     0- 20     0- 10
 ...................................................................
 
 RAINFALL ESTIMATED BY SATELLITE VIA NRL-BLEND...
 24-HR RAINFALL MAXIMUM FROM 12-12 UTC- 0MM AT 0N 0W
 6-HR RAINFALL MAXIMUM FROM 06-12 UTC- 0MM AT 0N 0W
 RAINFALL DISTRIBUTION IN MM OVER THE LAST 6 HOURS FROM 06-12 UTC...
  
 LATITUDE............................LONGITUDE......................
 .......119W-118W 118W-117W 117W-116W 116W-115W 115W-114W 114W-113W
 16N-17N 999-999   999-999   999-999   999-999   999-999   999-999
 15N-16N 999-999   999-999   999-999   999-999   999-999   999-999
 14N-15N 999-999   999-999   999-999   999-999   999-999   999-999
 13N-14N 999-999   999-999   999-999   999-999   999-999   999-999
 12N-13N 999-999   999-999   999-999   999-999   999-999   999-999
 11N-12N 999-999   999-999   999-999   999-999   999-999   999-999
 ...................................................................
 
 RAINFALL ESTIMATED FROM 06 UTC 25 APR GFS MODEL RUN...
 24-HR RAINFALL MAXIMUM FROM 12-12 UTC- 260MM AT 13N 116W
 6-HR RAINFALL MAXIMUM FROM 06-12 UTC- 50MM AT 13N 116W
 RAINFALL DISTRIBUTION IN MM OVER THE LAST 6 HOURS FROM 06-12 UTC...
  
 LATITUDE............................LONGITUDE......................
 .......119W-118W 118W-117W 117W-116W 116W-115W 115W-114W 114W-113W
 16N-17N   0-  0     0-  0     0-  0     0-  0     0-  0     0-  0
 15N-16N   0-  0     0-  0     0-  0     0- 10     0-  0     0-  0
 14N-15N   0-  0     0-  0     0- 10     0- 10     0- 10     0- 10
 13N-14N   0-  0     0-  0     0- 50     0- 30     0-  0     0- 10
 12N-13N   0-  0     0-  0     0- 10     0- 10     0-  0    10- 10
 11N-12N   0-  0     0-  0     0-  0     0-  0     0- 10     0- 10
 ...................................................................
 
 
 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE SATELLITE AND MODEL-DERIVED RAINFALL
 ESTIMATES INDICATE UNCERTAINTY IN THE AMOUNT OF RAIN RECEIVED
 
 RAINFALL MAY BE UNDERESTIMATED ON THE WINDWARD SIDE OF TERRAIN
 
 PLEASE SEE THE LATEST TROPICAL CYCLONE PUBLIC ADVISORY FOR THE
 OFFICIAL RAINFALL FORECAST FOR TROPICAL CYCLONES
 
 FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT
 HTTP://WWW.HURRICANES.GOV/MARINE/RAINFALL
 
 FORECASTER TAFB
 
 $$
  
  
  
 NNNN
 

 
 000
 TCCA21 KNHC 191546
 STDECA
 SATELLITE TROPICAL DISTURBANCE RAINFALL ESTIMATES
 NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
 1545 UTC TUE NOV 19 2019
  
 SYSTEM NAME                       DATE/TIME          LOCATION
 -----------                       ---------          --------
 INVEST [90L]                      19/1200 UTC          20N 59W 
 
 RAINFALL ESTIMATED BY SATELLITE VIA QMORPH...
 24-HR RAINFALL MAXIMUM FROM 12-12 UTC- 40MM AT 22N 56W
 6-HR RAINFALL MAXIMUM FROM 06-12 UTC- 10MM AT 22N 56W
 RAINFALL DISTRIBUTION IN MM OVER THE LAST 6 HOURS FROM 06-12 UTC...
  
 LATITUDE............................LONGITUDE......................
 ....... 62W- 61W  61W- 60W  60W- 59W  59W- 58W  58W- 57W  57W- 56W
 22N-23N   0-  0     0-  0     0-  0     0-  0     0-  0     0- 10
 21N-22N   0-  0     0-  0     0-  0     0-  0     0-  0     0- 10
 20N-21N   0-  0     0-  0     0-  0     0-  0     0-  0     0-  0
 19N-20N   0-  0     0-  0     0-  0     0-  0     0-  0     0-  0
 18N-19N   0-  0     0-  0     0-  0     0-  0     0-  0     0-  0
 17N-18N   0-  0     0-  0     0-  0     0-  0     0-  0     0-  0
 ...................................................................
 
 RAINFALL ESTIMATED BY SATELLITE VIA NRL-BLEND...
 24-HR RAINFALL MAXIMUM FROM 12-12 UTC- 0MM AT 0N 0W
 6-HR RAINFALL MAXIMUM FROM 06-12 UTC- 0MM AT 0N 0W
 RAINFALL DISTRIBUTION IN MM OVER THE LAST 6 HOURS FROM 06-12 UTC...
  
 LATITUDE............................LONGITUDE......................
 ....... 62W- 61W  61W- 60W  60W- 59W  59W- 58W  58W- 57W  57W- 56W
 22N-23N 999-999   999-999   999-999   999-999   999-999   999-999
 21N-22N 999-999   999-999   999-999   999-999   999-999   999-999
 20N-21N 999-999   999-999   999-999   999-999   999-999   999-999
 19N-20N 999-999   999-999   999-999   999-999   999-999   999-999
 18N-19N 999-999   999-999   999-999   999-999   999-999   999-999
 17N-18N 999-999   999-999   999-999   999-999   999-999   999-999
 ...................................................................
 
 RAINFALL ESTIMATED FROM 06 UTC 19 NOV GFS MODEL RUN...
 24-HR RAINFALL MAXIMUM FROM 12-12 UTC- 180MM AT 20N 57W
 6-HR RAINFALL MAXIMUM FROM 06-12 UTC- 30MM AT 20N 57W
 RAINFALL DISTRIBUTION IN MM OVER THE LAST 6 HOURS FROM 06-12 UTC...
  
 LATITUDE............................LONGITUDE......................
 ....... 62W- 61W  61W- 60W  60W- 59W  59W- 58W  58W- 57W  57W- 56W
 22N-23N   0-  0     0-  0     0- 10     0- 10     0- 10     0- 10
 21N-22N   0-  0     0-  0     0- 10     0- 10     0- 10     0- 10
 20N-21N   0-  0     0-  0     0-  0     0- 10     0- 20     0- 20
 19N-20N   0-  0     0- 10     0- 10    10- 10    10- 30    10- 30
 18N-19N   0-  0     0- 10     0- 10    10- 10    10- 10     0- 10
 17N-18N   0-  0     0-  0     0- 10     0- 10     0- 10    10- 10
 ...................................................................
 
 
 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE SATELLITE AND MODEL-DERIVED RAINFALL
 ESTIMATES INDICATE UNCERTAINTY IN THE AMOUNT OF RAIN RECEIVED
 
 RAINFALL MAY BE UNDERESTIMATED ON THE WINDWARD SIDE OF TERRAIN
 
 PLEASE SEE THE LATEST TROPICAL CYCLONE PUBLIC ADVISORY FOR THE
 OFFICIAL RAINFALL FORECAST FOR TROPICAL CYCLONES
 
 FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT
 HTTP://WWW.HURRICANES.GOV/MARINE/RAINFALL
 
 FORECASTER TAFB
 
 $$
  
  
  
 NNNN
 

Fifth-year students at the NTU Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine have started on SimConsult - a simulated clinical training - after postings to hospitals were suspended due to the Covid-19 outbreak....

 
 000
 TCCA22 KNHC 220036
 STDCCA
 
 SATELLITE TROPICAL DISTURBANCE RAINFALL ESTIMATES
 NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
 0015 UTC WED JUL 22 2009
  
  
 SYSTEM NAME/IDENTIFIER...CARIBBEAN DIST
  
                                              MAX RAINFALL
   DATE/TIME      LOCATION       MOTION      MEAN      LAST
  -----------   ------------     ------     -------   -------
  22/0015 UTC   17.2N  69.0W     280/22      2.5 IN    5.0 IN
  
  
 LAST RAINFALL DISTRIBUTION...
  
      DISTANCE          LEFT OF CENTER      RIGHT OF CENTER
    -------------      ---------------      ---------------
    0 TO 1 DEGREE       0.4 TO  2.1 IN       0.5 TO  2.2 IN
    1 TO 2 DEGREE       0.0 TO  0.6 IN       0.4 TO  1.7 IN
    2 TO 3 DEGREE       0.0 TO  0.1 IN       0.6 TO  2.0 IN
    3 TO 4 DEGREE       0.0 TO  0.1 IN       2.1 TO  5.0 IN
  
  
                         ...LEGEND...
  
 SYSTEM NAME/IDENTIFIER...NAME OR NUMBER ASSIGNED TO SYSTEM
                          (E.G. TROPICAL STORM ALPHA, TROPICAL
                          DISTURBANCE 01, SURFACE TROUGH)
  
 DATE/TIME...             DAY OF MONTH AND TIME IN UNIVERSAL TIME
                          COORDINATES (UTC) IN A DY/HRMN FORMAT
  
 LOCATION...              ESTIMATED CENTER OF SYSTEM OR ADVISORY
                          POSITION FOR TROPICAL CYCLONE IN TENTHS
                          OF DEGREES OF LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE
  
 MOTION...                ESTIMATED DIRECTION AND SPEED OF SYSTEM
                          IN DEGREES AND KNOTS
  
 MEAN MAXIMUM RAINFALL... THE 24-HOUR MEAN MAXIMUM ACCUMULATION OF
                          RAINFALL FOR THE SYSTEM IN INCHES BASED
                          ON FOUR SATELLITE IMAGES SIX HOURS APART
  
 LAST MAXIMUM RAINFALL... THE MAXIMUM ACCUMULATION OF RAINFALL FOR
                          THE SYSTEM IN INCHES BASED ON THE MOST
                          RECENT SATELLITE IMAGE
  
 RAINFALL DISTRIBUTION... THE DISTRIBUTION OF RAINFALL WITHIN FOUR
                          DEGREES (240 NM) LEFT AND RIGHT OF THE
                          SYSTEM CENTER IN ONE DEGREE (60NM)
                          INCREMENTS...LOOKING DOWNSTREAM
                          (1 IN = 25.4 MM)
  
 NELSON 
  
 NNNN
 
 
 
 
 

A new study has found structural brain differences that may account for callous-unemotional traits in boys.

Men now outnumber women in some Scandinavian countries, and scientists are reeling to explain why.

As the Arctic warms, meltwater lakes on the Greenland ice sheet are draining to sea more frequently — potentially lubricating the slide of the ice sheet into

You can get all the brain-boosting benefits from these nootropic foods instead of taking supplements, which aren't regulated.