The Console Wars, Begun They Have: Microsoft May Announce New Xbox At April Event

A number of solid reports, including a new domain name, XboxEvent.com registered to Microsoft, are pointing to an Xbox event in April. While most console reveals happen at E3, as evidenced by Sony's mystery-filled conference, Microsoft will probably announce specs and some launch titles and leave the money shot for Los Angeles in June.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/-xJfOSBSFtM/

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Little did we know about beetle diversity: Astonishing 138 new species in a single genus

Little did we know about beetle diversity: Astonishing 138 new species in a single genus

Thursday, February 21, 2013

The tropics are home to an extraordinary diversity of insect species. How great is it, exactly? We do not know, but today, researchers at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History published a study on tropical beetles that can help us progress towards an answer to this question. The paper was published in the open access, peer-reviewed journal Zookeys.

Entomologists Michael Caterino and Alexey Tishechkin have named 138 new species within the genus Operclipygus (the name refers to their clamshell-like rear end), thereby increasing the size of the genus over six times. The work is based on a study of over 4000 specimens amassed from natural history museums all over the World, as well as specimens from fieldwork collected throughout Central and South America by the authors.

The lead co-author of the paper, Dr. Caterino, comments of on the significance of such biodiversity: 'We all know that forests in the tropics are disappearing. But we only have the faintest idea of how much biodiversity is disappearing with them. Studies like this are critical to seeing where the greatest diversity is, and finding out the best ways to protect it',

These beetles all belong to a family known as histerids, or 'clown beetles'. All of the newly described species are similar in appearance to a poppy seed ? small, round and black. Because of their extreme abundance, however, they have an ecological importance disproportionate to their size. As voracious predators of other insects' larvae, these beetles help controlling pestiferous flies. As in some cases their menu includes fly larvae found in decomposing bodies, some researchers have been promoting their use in forensic investigations.

Since the days of Darwin, Wallace, and Bates, entomologists have both celebrated and bemoaned the overwhelming diversity of tropical insects. Modern-day scientists continue to grapple with the question of just what extent of insect biodiversity lives in the tropical parts of the World, with estimates ranging from 5 to 30 million species or more. This study is only one part of a larger revision of several related histerid genera, and it seems not to be an isolated case, with most groups revealing 5 to 6 times the species currently documented.

So while biologists have a long way to go in fully documenting the species diversity in rapidly-disappearing tropical forests, comprehensive taxonomic revisions of neglected insect groups can help to clarify the magnitude of what's at stake. This project was funded by the Advancing Revisionary Taxonomy and Systematics program of the U.S. National Science Foundation, and it clearly demonstrates what dedicated support for taxonomy can do for our understanding of global biodiversity.

Dr. Caterino closes: 'We're committed to doing our best to let people know what's out there before it's too late'.

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Caterino MS, Tishechkin AK (2013) A systematic revision of Operclipygus Marseul (Coleoptera, Histeridae, Exosternini). ZooKeys 271: 1?401. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.271.4062

Pensoft Publishers: http://www.pensoft.net

Thanks to Pensoft Publishers for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/126942/Little_did_we_know_about_beetle_diversity__Astonishing_____new_species_in_a_single_genus

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Caves point to thawing of Siberia

Friday, February 22, 2013

Evidence from Siberian caves suggests that a global temperature rise of 1.5 degrees Celsius could see permanently frozen ground thaw over a large area of Siberia, threatening release of carbon from soils, and damage to natural and human environments.

A thaw in Siberia's permafrost (ground frozen throughout the year) could release over 1000 giga-tonnes of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere, potentially enhancing global warming.

The data comes from an international team led by Oxford University scientists studying stalactites and stalagmites from caves located along the 'permafrost frontier', where ground begins to be permanently frozen in a layer tens to hundreds of metres thick. Because stalactites and stalagmites only grow when liquid rainwater and snow melt drips into the caves, these formations record 500,000 years of changing permafrost conditions, including warmer periods similar to the climate of today.

Records from a particularly warm period (Marine Isotopic Stage 11) that occurred around 400,000 years ago suggest that global warming of 1.5?C compared to the present is enough to cause substantial thawing of permafrost far north from its present-day southern limit.

A report of the research is published in this week's Science Express. The team included scientists from Britain, Russia, Mongolia and Switzerland.

'The stalactites and stalagmites from these caves are a way of looking back in time to see how warm periods similar to our modern climate affect how far permafrost extends across Siberia,' said Dr Anton Vaks of Oxford University's Department of Earth Sciences, who led the work. 'As permafrost covers 24% of the land surface of the Northern hemisphere significant thawing could affect vast areas and release giga-tonnes of carbon.

'This has huge implications for ecosystems in the region, and for aspects of the human environment. For instance, natural gas facilities in the region, as well as power lines, roads, railways and buildings are all built on permafrost and are vulnerable to thawing. Such a thaw could damage this infrastructure with obvious economic implications.'

The team used radiometric dating techniques to date the growth of cave formations (stalactites and stalagmites). Data from the Ledyanaya Lenskaya Cave ? near the town of Lensk latitude 60?N ? in the coldest region showed that the only period when stalactite growth took place occurred about 400,000 years ago, during a period with a global temperature 1.5?C higher than today. Periods when the world was 0.5-1?C warmer than today did not see any stalactite growth in this northernmost cave, suggesting that around 1.5?C is the 'tipping point' at which the coldest permafrost regions begin to thaw.

Dr Vaks said: 'Although it wasn't the main focus of our research our work also suggests that in a world 1.5?C warmer than today, warm enough to melt the coldest permafrost, adjoining regions would see significant changes with Mongolia's Gobi Desert becoming much wetter than it is today and, potentially, this extremely arid area coming to resemble the present-day Asian steppes.'

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University of Oxford: http://www.ox.ac.uk/

Thanks to University of Oxford for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

This press release has been viewed 43 time(s).

Source: http://www.labspaces.net/126980/Caves_point_to_thawing_of_Siberia

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A simple view of gravity does not fully explain the distribution of stars in crowded clusters

A simple view of gravity does not fully explain the distribution of stars in crowded clusters

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Gravity remains the dominant force on large astronomical scales, but when it comes to stars in young star clusters the dynamics in these crowded environments cannot be simply explained by the pull of gravity.

After analyzing Hubble Space Telescope images of star cluster NGC 1818 in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way, researchers at the Kavli Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics (KIAA) at Peking University in Beijing found more binary star systems toward the periphery of cluster than in the center ? the opposite of what they expected. The surprising distribution of binaries is thought to result from complex interactions among stars within young clusters.

The team's finding will be published in the March 1 print issue of the Astrophysical Journal, and is now online.

In the dynamic environment of a star cluster, high-mass stars are thought to gravitate toward the center of a cluster when they give a 'kick' to lower-mass stars and lose energy, explained KIAA Prof. Richard de Grijs, who led the study. This leads them to sink to the cluster center, while the lower-mass stars gain energy and might move to orbits at greater distances from the cluster core. Astronomers call this process "mass segregation."

However, when the Kavli researchers looked closely at binary star systems within NGC 1818, they found a much more complex picture.

Most stars in clusters actually form in pairs, called "binary stars," which initially are located so close to one another that they interact, resulting in the destruction of some binary systems. Other binaries, meanwhile, swap partners. Astronomers had expected that the same process that leads a cluster's most massive stars to gravitate toward the center would also apply to binaries. This is because together, the stars that make up binaries have more mass on average than a single star.

When the astronomers discovered that there were more binaries the farther from the core they observed, they were initially baffled by this unexpected result. They concluded that so-called "soft" binary systems, in which the two stars orbit each other at rather large distances, are destroyed due to close encounters with other stars near the cluster's center. Meanwhile, "hard" binaries, in which the two stars orbit one another at much shorter distances, survive close encounters with other stars much better, all throughout a cluster. This is why more binaries were seen farther out than close in.

Mapping the radial distribution of binary systems in dense star clusters had never been done before for clusters as young as NGC 1818, which is thought to be 15-30 million years old. This is difficult to do in any case, because there are no young clusters nearby in our own Milky Way galaxy. The new result provides new insights into theoretically predicted processes that govern the evolution of star clusters.

"The extremely dynamic interactions among stars in clusters complicates our understanding of gravity," team member Chengyuan Li said. "One needs to investigate the entire physical environment to fully understand what's happening in that environment. Things are usually more complex than they appear."

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The Kavli Foundation: http://www.kavlifoundation.org/

Thanks to The Kavli Foundation for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

This press release has been viewed 47 time(s).

Source: http://www.labspaces.net/126949/A_simple_view_of_gravity_does_not_fully_explain_the_distribution_of_stars_in_crowded_clusters

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BRIT Awards 2013: Taylor Swift, One Direction & Justin Timberlake ...

What else but awards season could get us through the dead of winter? Keeping us warm right now are all the stunning pictures from the 2013 BRIT Awards, which took over London?s O2 Arena on Wednesday night (February 20). Before we can hear the acceptance speeches, see the stellar performances (including Mr. 20/20 Experience?Justin Timberlake) and watch Taylor Swift, once again, enjoy her very own sing-along?? we first get to relish in the?pageantry?of the red carpet. Check out the handsome fellas of One Direction, JT in his suit and tie, Jessie J?s daring dress and Tay rocking a sexy?Elie Saab gown (after all, Harry Styles needs to see what he?s been missing.)

Which pop star was dressed the best at this year?s BRIT Awards? Tell us below!?

Source: http://idolator.com/7442447/brit-awards-2013-taylor-swift-one-direction-justin-timberlake

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Township buys golf course

The Township of Norwich finally has a place to put a new administration building.

CAO Michael Graves issued a press release Thursday morning, Feb. 21 announcing the township has purchased the 24-acre former Norwich Fountainview Golf Course.

The release did not include the purchase price, but Mike Legge, director of financial services/treasurer, said, ?I know we got an extremely good deal.?

He said the price couldn't be released yet because the deal hasn't officially closed and it hasn't been presented in open council as yet. He wasn't sure if the item would be on the next council agenda March 12.

The press release states the township's intention is to use the majority of the lands for economic development purposes and a portion of the property for the new administration building. Selling the excess land for economic development will help reduce the overall cost.

?By selling the remaining lands, that money can be utilized to offset the construction costs, providing us with additional monies to be used to pursue the other goals on the township?s strategic plan including a new Burgessville fire hall and a new centralized public works building,? said Graves in the release.

Locating the new administration building on the site will place it within the village limits, central to the entire municipality and on full services; all of which were key goals of council throughout this process.

The township has spent years looking for a site for the new administration building and has done due diligence on numerous properties over that time, said Graves in the release.

?We are trying to ensure we get the biggest bang for our buck and this site meets a lot of the criteria because it has a financial benefit that other sites do not,? said Mayor Don Doan.

The township has had other properties in its sights, but to date, has been unable to reach an agreement that meets its financial criteria, which includes ensuring taxpayers the township pays an appropriate amount for the property.

?We need to proceed on the administration building,? said Doan. ?It is the number one goal on our strategic plan and the rest of our goals are awaiting our progress on this goal.?

The next step is to proceed with a Request For Proposal (RFP) process for an architect or engineer to assist in designing a building and start touring other facilities to look at features to include. This will help to determine features to enhance customer service and workflow.

The township had originally hoped someone would purchase the remaining nine holes and operate it as a golf course, Graves said, but it became more evident that the golf course in Norwich was never going to return to that use.

Another possibility is to utilize some of the lands for recreation purposes, possibly soccer fields. A recreational use could provide a needed buffer between a new administration building and the remainder of the lands used for industrial purposes.

Source: http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2013/02/21/township-buys-golf-course

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Tampa Chapter of MOAA Announces Help for Active Duty Military Patients & Families Through Operation Helping Hand

The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) Tampa Chapter provides compassionate assistance to active duty service members injured in Iraq and Afghanistan. Operation Helping Hand (Op HH) helps to make things a little easier for patients being cared for at James A. Haley Hospital in Tampa, Fla.

Alexandria, VA (PRWEB) February 21, 2013

The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) Tampa Chapter has been provides compassionate assistance to active duty service members injured in Iraq and Afghanistan. Through an organization called Operation Helping Hand (Op HH), their focus is to make things a little easier for patients being cared for at James A. Haley Hospital in Tampa, Fla., by reducing stress for them and their families.

Op HH was started by its current Chairman, retired Navy Captain and MOAA Board member Robert J. Silah. This special project of the MOAA Chapter is operated by retired military officers and volunteers who gladly donate their time without any compensation.

?Operation Helping Hand recognizes the most important part of rehabilitation is having the love and support of family,? Silah said. ?That?s why our assistance ranges from roundtrip commercial air travel for immediate family members to visit and be with their injured loved ones to paying for rental cars, prepaid cell phones, comfort items and countless other helpful gestures.?

For almost nine years, Op HH has helped close to 1,000 of our active duty wounded and more than 1,300 of their family members. More than $1 million in checks and cash has gone to the patients and families along with such in-kind support as monthly gift bags, food and restaurant coupons, welcome kits, various gift cards and a range of other materials and services. For those who can, Op HH conducts outings to area sporting events like the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team and to see the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team play.

This mission has remained steady over the years and is growing. Since the start of the War on Terror, there has been a steady flow of wounded combat military getting treatment at Haley for their injuries. Many arrive in Tampa with debilitating wounds, including blindness, amputations, blast injuries, burns, and brain or spinal cord damage or a combination of these injuries referred to as Polytrauma.

Op HH holds monthly dinners at the Spinal Cord Injury Center honoring the active duty injured and wounded. It is a chance for the community to render the thanks of a grateful nation. Approximately 300 people attend these dinners to salute and applaud the warriors. There is great support from the Tampa community with many willing sponsors to underwrite the cost of the dinners.

Paying for all the assistance and support is not always easy.

?Thankfully, through modest fund-raising efforts Op HH has been and continues to be blessed with the generous contributions of individuals, corporations and associations,? Silah said. ?Many service organizations have stepped forward and presented checks to Op HH based on their own fund-raising campaigns. The many heartfelt thank you letters received from grateful patients and their families is the fuel that keeps Op HH going.?

For more information about Op HH, please visit http://www.operationhelpinghandtampa.com.

# # #

About MOAA:

Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) is the nation?s largest officers association with more than 380,000 members from every branch of service, including active duty, retired, National Guard, Reserve, and former officers and their families and survivors. MOAA is a nonprofit and politically nonpartisan organization and an influential force in promoting a strong national defense. MOAA represents the interests of service members and their families in every stage of their lives and careers, and for those who are not eligible to join MOAA, Voices for America?s Troops is a nonprofit MOAA affiliate that supports a strong national defense. For more information, visit http://www.moaa.org.

PR
Military Officers Association of America
703-838-0546
Email Information

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/tampa-chapter-moaa-announces-help-active-duty-military-151825572.html

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