Is colony collapse disorder just the visible part of a "global pollinator crisis"? The answer is surprisingly murky. To help answer the question, scientists have created an inexpensive, nationwide wild bee monitoring program
By Sarah Fecht
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May 8, 2012?|
Image: Graham Snodgrass
Bees are making headlines these days, and not in a positive way. Colony collapse disorder has cut through honeybee populations, with some beekeepers reportedly losing up to 90 percent of their stock in recent years. European bee populations are also declining, and so are some species of North American bumblebee. That data is often interpreted to mean that all of the world's 20,000 bee species are in danger, and that we may be in the midst of a "global pollinator crisis." But there's little data to back up those claims, scientists say.
"When you look at what's out there in the public press, the implication is that pollinators are all under threat, that there's some kind of mysterious decline across the board," says Sam Droege, a biologist at U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. "The problem is, there's really no data to show that either way."
View the Native Bee Slide Show.
A new paper, published in the Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society, offers a ray of hope for native bee species. In this research, Droege and his colleagues compiled a list of 770 species that are historically native to the eastern U.S. They sent this list to a network of bee experts, asking them to note which species they had found within the past 20 years. The survey revealed that 95 percent of the bee species that lived 150 years ago have not gone extinct. Thirty-seven species were nowhere to be found, but the researchers pointed out that those bees had been rare to begin with and were often subject to taxonomic confusion. The paper offers "a clarification to the 'all pollinators are going to hell' point of view," Droege says.
It is important to understand the health of our native pollinators, because "in the absence of pollination, whole communities could collapse," says USGS ecologist Ralph Grundel. "If plants can't reproduce, you lose the primary producers, and then the species that depend on them." It is also estimated that bees pollinate about a third of the food that we eat, at a value of about $15 billion per year.
Grundel, who was not involved in the research, said that the paper is a good starting point. "It's useful because they've put together this information on what was out there historically, and what still is out there. But the fact that they're not finding mass extinctions is not the equivalent of knowing whether species are declining or in jeopardy."
Droege, too, said that the conclusions are weaker than he'd like. "We'd love to make statements more detailed than, 'Yup, we found 'em!' But if we didn't do this paper, we basically wouldn't know anything at all," he says.
John Ascher, an invertebrate zoologist at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), agreed. He wrote in an e-mail that "we don't even know what native bees exist, as many remain undescribed or unidentifiable. Nor do we know where they live, as even state lists remain highly incomplete despite our best efforts?. As to how the bees are doing?we know even less."
In order to really understand the health of native bees, scientists need to document species' distribution and abundance as well as monitor how those numbers change over time. That's why Droege and several colleagues are working with the U.S. Forest Service to set up a nationwide bee-monitoring program. He recruited 11 experimental forest stations from places as far-flung as Maine, Colorado and Puerto Rico, and has created a standardized, almost foolproof collection strategy.
Planning a living will isnt a thing many people would welcome. Some even dread this process. Theres some thing uncomfortable in pondering of that day when one particular isnt any for a longer time able of deciding, or undertaking things for one self. That is why, a manual inside the kind of a living will kit is incredibly welcome. A residing will package alleviates the unpleasant sensation of struggling with the truth that at some point one is often as helpless for a newborn.
A dwelling will, generally known as an Advance Directive, can be a legal doc that states a persons decisions or selections relating to prolonged or very long time period clinical therapy with the time when he or she is no for a longer time ready to do so. Theres two varieties of living will- the general and statutory residing wills. A normal residing will states that which you would like, with out conforming to any regular. Conversely, a statutory residing will is usually an authorized kind living will that conforms on the necessities of your state law of living wills.
It really is wise to organize a living will when one continues to be nutritious and perfectly. There are numerous online websites that present dwelling will info. You are able to obtain a totally free residing will kind and apply ways to create a living will. Be sure to study and examine with overall health gurus the guidelines you propose to place in the living will.
Dont plan to wait until eventually reaching the center age since inside of a matter of seconds, it may be much too late.
Living Will Kits
Types to organize the dwelling will are readily available in lots of specified locations. For usefulness, a residing will kit supplies its buyer together with the entire set of sorts required with the method on how to refill or achieve them. The kit is additionally obtainable on the web and generally consists in the subsequent:
one. The necessary dwelling will kinds and paperwork. The types are prepared to use even so the person need to verify if they conform using the form needed from the state he or she is residing in. 2. The treatment how to make a residing will, from the preparation up to the signing with the living will. three. Recommendations on what to do with the achieved living will.
Living wills differ due to the fact its a personal document unique to its maker but you can find essential necessities to produce it authorized, as follows: 1. Authorized competence of its owner/maker to complete a residing will. The qualifications are stated in the kit. 2. Signatures on the maker/owner and two legitimate witnesses. A dwelling will operator thats not able to signal could consult a person else to take action on their behalf. The two witnesses really should be eighteen yrs previous and above and meet the necessities specified by legislation. The one who signed for that maker /owner could not be one of several two witnesses. 3. Date and notarization if needed because of the state. 4. Check in the event the guidelines during the residing will conform into the scenarios or cases that may be legally identified through the state. Commonly, the recommendations must use to conditions wherever the maker/owner with the will features a terminal sickness, has been unconscious for along time that it may be regarded as ?permanent? and any health care therapy would only serve to prolong or sustain the current issue.
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NEW YORK (Reuters) - Investors brushed off Europe's election results, as the S&P 500 rebounded from early losses to end nearly unchanged on Monday, despite the uncertainty surrounding the euro zone's ability to tackle its debt crisis.
U.S. financial stocks, normally highly sensitive to events that could unsettle the euro zone's fiscal stability, were not only the biggest gainers, but had the heaviest volume.
The S&P 500 financial sector index <.gspf> rose 0.7 percent. Bank of America shares shot up 2.8 percent to $7.96 and Goldman Sachs gained 1 percent to $110.04.
"One positive thing we are seeing out of the elections and we are hearing from the ECB chairman is a focus on growth and that austerity measures alone are not going to get them out of this crisis," said Sean Lynch, global investment strategist for Wells Fargo Private Bank in Omaha, Nebraska.
"So if there are more growth-oriented measures, that could help the banking system and could be a positive for the economy as well."
Analysts pointed to a potential government bailout for troubled Spanish bank Bankia as a boost for the sector.
The Dow Jones industrial average <.dji> slipped 29.74 points, or 0.23 percent, to 13,008.53 at the close. But the Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.spx> inched up just 0.48 of a point, or 0.04 percent, to 1,369.58. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.ixic> added 1.42 points, or 0.05 percent, to 2,957.76.
The election results from Europe initially roiled futures markets on Sunday night, but markets were able to rebound. Greeks voted to cast out ruling parties in elections on Sunday, dealing a blow to the fragile political consensus that has kept Europe's currency bloc intact through more than two years of crisis.
In France, Socialist Francois Hollande won the presidency over incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy, raising pressure on Germany to pursue a more growth-oriented approach to the regional crisis.
In the biotech sector, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc soared 55.4 percent to $58.12 after data from a mid-stage study showed the company's cystic fibrosis drug Kalydeco, when combined with its experimental treatment for the disease, led to significant improvement in lung function. The NYSEArca biotech index <.btk> climbed 3.4 percent.
In addition to the gains in the U.S. financial sector, homebuilders' shares also advanced in Monday's session. The Philadelphia Stock Exchange index of housing-related shares <.hgx> rose 0.9 percent.
As the earnings season draws to a close, 420 S&P 500 companies had reported results as of Monday morning, with 67.6 percent exceeding estimates, according to Thomson Reuters data. In contrast, more than 80 percent had beaten expectations at the start of the season.
Cognizant Technologies Solutions Corp slid 19.2 percent to $56.30 as the biggest drag on the S&P 500, after cutting its profit and revenue outlooks.
PepsiCo climbed 1.1 percent to $66.62 after Morgan Stanley upgraded its view on the U.S. beverage industry to "attractive" and raised PepsiCo Inc to "overweight" from "equal weight.
Volume was 6.28 billion shares on the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq and the NYSE Amex, below the daily average of around 6.76 billion.
On the New York Stock Exchange, advancers outnumbered decliners by a ratio of about 8 to 7. On the Nasdaq, nearly 14 stocks rose for every 11 that fell.
(Reporting by Angela Moon; Editing by Jan Paschal)
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Browse > Home / Around Town / See Your Career Soar at the Runway To Business Networking Fair
Some of the positions that may be discussed at the Runway To Business Opportunity Networking Fair include construction, and advertising and car rentals.
Are you looking for the next big career fair or networking event in the Humble ? Houston metro area? ?Have you ever thought about working in the airline industry?
The Annual?Runway To Business Opportunity Networking Fair?(RTBONF) is returning to the Humble Civic Center on Thursday, May 10th for another great event full of fun, flight, and fraternity. Now in it?s 6th consecutive year, the?RTBONF continues the tradition set out by the Houston Airports System?of helping everyone get an equal shot at achieving their career goals.
Possible Houston Airport System positions that may be discussed at the RTBONF this year include?construction, facility maintenance, advertising and car rentals, airport concessions, to name a few.
Its worth noting that even if you?re not looking for a job, this is still a Networking Fair,?and is a great opportunity for you to expand your professional network throughout the Houston metro area.
Suffice to say, dress professionally and bring several up-to-date copies of your resume.
This is a FREE event, but you will need to register online for it.
The Humble Civic Center is?within easy walking distance from your Humble apartments.
WSU researches patterns of heavy alcohol use and life commitments in at-risk young adultsPublic release date: 8-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Julie O'Connor julie.oconnor@wayne.edu 313-577-8845 Wayne State University - Office of the Vice President for Research
DETROIT A Wayne State University researcher believes a better understanding of risk factors for excessive alcohol use may one day help at-risk adolescents transition more quickly to healthier and more productive behavior patterns in young adulthood.
To further that understanding, Tim Bogg, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology in WSU's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, has received a three-year, $731,000 grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, part of the National Institutes of Health. Through "A Longitudinal Study of Alcohol Dependence in Late Adolescence" he will investigate the influences of conscientiousness-related personality traits, cognitive ability and social investment on patterns of excessive alcohol use over time. He also will examine how specific brain regions might play a role in reward-seeking behaviors.
Recent decades have given rise to what Bogg calls "extended adolescence," an increasingly longer time span when many young people begin making personal and social investments in their education, careers and personal relationships. Such commitments can be affected by excessive alcohol use and related problems, such as drug use, conduct or antisocial personality problems. Research has shown that people with such problems tend to display reduced self-control, responsibility, intelligence, short-term memory, and ability to successfully shift attention.
The social investment hypothesis Bogg will test holds that individual differences in development during late adolescence and young adulthood are influenced by participating in and committing to normative social roles. Meeting expectations of roles such as college student, employee or romantic partner leads to positive reinforcements that reward more controlled, plan-oriented and reliable behaviors and tendencies.
His current study extends his work at Indiana University, where he earned his doctoral degree in 2006, which also investigated such associations.
"Here we're looking at whether commitment to school, work or a romantic relationship predicts, decreases or even buffers against problems for people who, through personality or reduced cognitive capacity, might be at risk for excessive alcohol consumption," Bogg said.
Over two and a half years, researchers will examine patterns of change associated with social investment. The study also will track the interaction of brain activity and personality traits over time something very few researchers have tried, Bogg said.
A subset of subjects representing a full spectrum of alcohol consumption will complete a computerized balloon inflation task to examine reward-seeking cognitive control. The task requires subjects to decide whether to continue inflating a balloon based on an increasing wager amount. As in real life, the balloon can be overinflated and explode, resulting in a lost wager.
During the task, a magnetic resonance imaging scanner will be used to look at the medial prefrontal cortex of subjects' brains, an area thought to be involved in risk and reward appraisal, as well as performance monitoring, which involves updating future responses based on past outcomes.
"The idea is to see whether there are differences in brain activity depending on alcohol consumption and related levels of conscientiousness, social investment and cognitive ability," Bogg said. "We're also trying to see if we can predict change. The real question is, how do these things influence each other over time?"
The amount of engagement or involvement in normative roles might act as a buffer against alcohol abuse or dependence, he said. Many Wayne State students tend to have more outside commitments than participants in his previous study, and Bogg expects that to be reflected in the results.
The current study also aims to use the data to develop interventions that can help foster maturation by increasing normative social investment. Such interventions could last eight to 10 weeks and include a social cognitive psychology principle called "implementation intentions."
For example, Bogg said, when a student is tempted to go out on a Thursday night before an exam on Friday, that student can be taught to develop their own concrete and specific alternatives, such as planning and committing to study with a friend at a library or cafe.
Interventions also could involve inducements for social investment by clarifying individuals' goals and providing accountability for those goals.
"Some students come in with a good understanding of what it takes to succeed; others with no tools at all," Bogg said, noting that drinking can interfere with poorly formed goals.
"Bringing those goals to the fore can have two benefits," he said. "One is curtailing excessive alcohol consumption; the other is helping the person achieve those personal goals that relate to educational development and career aspirations."
Emerging adulthood is a relatively new life stage in the developed world, Bogg said. It can be a time of personal exploration and trying different roles without many serious consequences. However, as economic conditions stagnate and the job market becomes more competitive, he believes shortening that period could prove useful for some people.
"If maturing out of excessive alcohol use is a developmental process, then providing a little inducement and training to help people further commit to a role in which they're already engaged might help push them toward healthier drinking patterns and increased psychological maturity."
###
Wayne State University is one of the nation's pre-eminent public research universities in an urban setting. Through its multidisciplinary approach to research and education, and its ongoing collaboration with government, industry and other institutions, the university seeks to enhance economic growth and improve the quality of life in the city of Detroit, state of Michigan and throughout the world. For more information about research at Wayne State University, visit http://www.research.wayne.edu.
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
WSU researches patterns of heavy alcohol use and life commitments in at-risk young adultsPublic release date: 8-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Julie O'Connor julie.oconnor@wayne.edu 313-577-8845 Wayne State University - Office of the Vice President for Research
DETROIT A Wayne State University researcher believes a better understanding of risk factors for excessive alcohol use may one day help at-risk adolescents transition more quickly to healthier and more productive behavior patterns in young adulthood.
To further that understanding, Tim Bogg, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology in WSU's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, has received a three-year, $731,000 grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, part of the National Institutes of Health. Through "A Longitudinal Study of Alcohol Dependence in Late Adolescence" he will investigate the influences of conscientiousness-related personality traits, cognitive ability and social investment on patterns of excessive alcohol use over time. He also will examine how specific brain regions might play a role in reward-seeking behaviors.
Recent decades have given rise to what Bogg calls "extended adolescence," an increasingly longer time span when many young people begin making personal and social investments in their education, careers and personal relationships. Such commitments can be affected by excessive alcohol use and related problems, such as drug use, conduct or antisocial personality problems. Research has shown that people with such problems tend to display reduced self-control, responsibility, intelligence, short-term memory, and ability to successfully shift attention.
The social investment hypothesis Bogg will test holds that individual differences in development during late adolescence and young adulthood are influenced by participating in and committing to normative social roles. Meeting expectations of roles such as college student, employee or romantic partner leads to positive reinforcements that reward more controlled, plan-oriented and reliable behaviors and tendencies.
His current study extends his work at Indiana University, where he earned his doctoral degree in 2006, which also investigated such associations.
"Here we're looking at whether commitment to school, work or a romantic relationship predicts, decreases or even buffers against problems for people who, through personality or reduced cognitive capacity, might be at risk for excessive alcohol consumption," Bogg said.
Over two and a half years, researchers will examine patterns of change associated with social investment. The study also will track the interaction of brain activity and personality traits over time something very few researchers have tried, Bogg said.
A subset of subjects representing a full spectrum of alcohol consumption will complete a computerized balloon inflation task to examine reward-seeking cognitive control. The task requires subjects to decide whether to continue inflating a balloon based on an increasing wager amount. As in real life, the balloon can be overinflated and explode, resulting in a lost wager.
During the task, a magnetic resonance imaging scanner will be used to look at the medial prefrontal cortex of subjects' brains, an area thought to be involved in risk and reward appraisal, as well as performance monitoring, which involves updating future responses based on past outcomes.
"The idea is to see whether there are differences in brain activity depending on alcohol consumption and related levels of conscientiousness, social investment and cognitive ability," Bogg said. "We're also trying to see if we can predict change. The real question is, how do these things influence each other over time?"
The amount of engagement or involvement in normative roles might act as a buffer against alcohol abuse or dependence, he said. Many Wayne State students tend to have more outside commitments than participants in his previous study, and Bogg expects that to be reflected in the results.
The current study also aims to use the data to develop interventions that can help foster maturation by increasing normative social investment. Such interventions could last eight to 10 weeks and include a social cognitive psychology principle called "implementation intentions."
For example, Bogg said, when a student is tempted to go out on a Thursday night before an exam on Friday, that student can be taught to develop their own concrete and specific alternatives, such as planning and committing to study with a friend at a library or cafe.
Interventions also could involve inducements for social investment by clarifying individuals' goals and providing accountability for those goals.
"Some students come in with a good understanding of what it takes to succeed; others with no tools at all," Bogg said, noting that drinking can interfere with poorly formed goals.
"Bringing those goals to the fore can have two benefits," he said. "One is curtailing excessive alcohol consumption; the other is helping the person achieve those personal goals that relate to educational development and career aspirations."
Emerging adulthood is a relatively new life stage in the developed world, Bogg said. It can be a time of personal exploration and trying different roles without many serious consequences. However, as economic conditions stagnate and the job market becomes more competitive, he believes shortening that period could prove useful for some people.
"If maturing out of excessive alcohol use is a developmental process, then providing a little inducement and training to help people further commit to a role in which they're already engaged might help push them toward healthier drinking patterns and increased psychological maturity."
###
Wayne State University is one of the nation's pre-eminent public research universities in an urban setting. Through its multidisciplinary approach to research and education, and its ongoing collaboration with government, industry and other institutions, the university seeks to enhance economic growth and improve the quality of life in the city of Detroit, state of Michigan and throughout the world. For more information about research at Wayne State University, visit http://www.research.wayne.edu.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Say goodbye to swapping out the litany of chargers at your desk or nightstand. It's time to streamline, and the crew at Scosche have a rather nice solution. The company is taking the wraps off of its Revolt H4 USB charger, which offers four 10W (2.1A) USB ports that'll properly (and quickly) reinvigorate up to four smartphones or tablets simultaneously. Sure, it's nothing like the 16 port behemoth of the PowerPad, but this is for home use, and we can't deny -- it's quite the temptress. Consumers may choose between the base model or the Revolt H4 Pro, which offers a micro-USB cable along with an adapter for Apple's dock connector. As another product of interest, Scosche is similarly introducing its 2.1 amp Recoil II car charger, which allows users to cut down on the clutter with its retractable cable while also quickly juicing up a single iOS device -- just hop the break for a peek. Pricing isn't yet available for either, but keep your eye on Scosche's website for the official word. For other charging solutions, you'll find the full PR after the break.
Update: Scosche just got in touch to say the four-port version won't be ready in time for CTIA Wireless, but the two-port Revolt H2 definitely will be, priced at $39.99. We've switched out the PR to reflect this.
Image: Graham Snodgrass
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Public release date: 8-May-2012
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