Charles Glaze, 54, the man accused of causing a 7-vehicle deadly crash on the Grand Parkway in Houston that left a retired Marine dead wore an ankle monitor and was suspected of attempting to kidnap a woman at a cemetery near Tomball in 2017.
Reported by FOXNews.com 10 hours ago.
Man accused of causing horrific car crash that killed retired Marine already suspected of attempted kidnapping
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For these critically endangered marine turtles, climate change could be a knockout blow
Researchers suggest that projected increases in air temperatures, rainfall inundation and blistering solar radiation could significantly reduce hawksbill hatching success at a selection of major nesting beaches.
Reported by Science Daily 10 hours ago.
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Ship traffic, December 15
Ship traffic Due to arrive today SHIP FROM PORT Auriga Leader Portland RCH CAP Patton Long Beach OAK Capricornus Leader Port Hueneme, Ventura County BNC Dong-A Metis Mazatlan, Mexico RCH Ever Elite Los Angeles OAK Maersk Altair Los Angeles OAK MSC Clea Long Beach OAK MSC Maria Saveria Long Beach OAK Due to depart today SHIP TO PORT Bosporus Highway Portland SFO CAP Patton Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico OAK CSCL Bohai Sea Xingang, China OAK Dong-A Metis Xingang RCH Eminent Ace Port Unknown BNC MSC Clea Vancouver, B.C. OAK Source: S.F. Marine Exchange
Reported by SFGate 8 hours ago.
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Ship traffic, December 16
Ship traffic Due to arrive today SHIP FROM PORT Clipper Orion Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico SCK Ever Liven Los Angeles OAK Kobe Express Long Beach OAK NYK Constellation Los Angeles OAK One Competence Los Angeles OAK President Cleveland Los Angeles OAK YM Mobility Los Angeles OAK Due to depart today SHIP TO PORT Auriga Leader Port Hueneme, Ventura County RCH Ever Elite Port Unknown OAK MSC Maria Saveria Vostochnyy, Russian OAK NYK Adonis Hong Kong SFO Source: S.F. Marine Exchange
Reported by SFGate 8 hours ago.
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Ship traffic, December 17
Ship traffic Due to arrive today SHIP FROM PORT APL Esplanade Los Angeles OAK CSCL Winter Los Angeles OAK Kauai Seattle OAK Manoa Seattle OAK MSC Julie Long Beach OAK Seaspan Hamburg Papeete, Tahiti OAK Due to depart today SHIP TO PORT Capricornus Leader Port Unknown BNC Ever Liven Port Unknown OAK Kobe Express Seattle OAK Maersk Altair Vostochnyy, Russia OAK MSC Julie Seattle OAK NYK Constellation Tokyo OAK One Competence Tokyo OAK President Cleveland Yokohama, Japan OAK YM Mobility Keelung, Taiwan OAK Source: S.F. Marine Exchange
Reported by SFGate 8 hours ago.
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3 police, 1 marine killed in violent Mexico clashes
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico's federal police say three members of its force have been killed in an attack in the western state of Michoacan.Police said late Thursday that they mourned the deaths, but did not provide further details.Local...
Reported by New Zealand Herald 7 hours ago.
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Larson Electronics Releases 25000W Portable Explosion Proof Forced Fan Heater, 480V, 43’ Air Throw
KEMP, Texas, Dec. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Larson Electronics, a Texas-based company with over 40 years of experience spearheading the industrial lighting and industrial equipment sectors, announced the release of a 25,000-watt portable explosion proof hazardous location forced fan heater for cold-temperature work sites. This heater is compatible with 480V three phase and features an airflow rate of 2450 CFM, capable of throwing air up to 43 feet.The EPH-FH-CD-T3B-25KW-480V.3P explosion proof forced fan heater is capable of maintaining adequate temperatures in Class I, Divisions 1 and 2, Groups C and D; and Class II, Divisions 1 and 2, Groups E, F and G work sites. This 31.1-amp, T3B temperature rated unit features guard shields to protect internal moving parts and is constructed of 14-gauge steel and aluminum with stainless-steel/aluminum pressure relief valves.
This unit features a NEMA 7 rated enclosure and comes with standard components, including a disconnect switch, pilot light, thermostat and male/female plug. This heater is mounted on a skid/cart with anti-static wheels and features forklift pockets for easy lifting and transportation. Suitable applications include manufacturing plants, cold-temperature facilities and processing plants, and farming and agricultural operations.
“This fan forced heater is explosion proof, great for heating cold-location worksites and indoor locations where hazardous materials and environments exist,” said Rob Bresnahan, CEO of Larson Electronics LLC. “Wheels and forklift pockets allow operators to move the unit where needed without much effort.”
*About Larson Electronics LLC: *Larson Electronics LLC is a manufacturer of industrial lighting equipment and accessories. The company offers an extensive catalog of industry-grade lighting and power distribution products for the following sectors: manufacturing, construction, food processing, oil and gas, military, marine and automobile. Customers can benefit from the company’s hands-on, customized approach to lighting solutions. Larson Electronics provides expedited service for quotes, customer support and shipments.
*For further information, please contact:
*Rob Bresnahan, President and CEO
Toll-free: 1-888-351-2363
Int’l: 214-616-6180
Fax: 903-498-3364
E-mail: sales@larsonelectronics.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6da95a1a-15ad-4b07-a3c3-53605473dfaa Reported by GlobeNewswire 7 hours ago.
This unit features a NEMA 7 rated enclosure and comes with standard components, including a disconnect switch, pilot light, thermostat and male/female plug. This heater is mounted on a skid/cart with anti-static wheels and features forklift pockets for easy lifting and transportation. Suitable applications include manufacturing plants, cold-temperature facilities and processing plants, and farming and agricultural operations.
“This fan forced heater is explosion proof, great for heating cold-location worksites and indoor locations where hazardous materials and environments exist,” said Rob Bresnahan, CEO of Larson Electronics LLC. “Wheels and forklift pockets allow operators to move the unit where needed without much effort.”
*About Larson Electronics LLC: *Larson Electronics LLC is a manufacturer of industrial lighting equipment and accessories. The company offers an extensive catalog of industry-grade lighting and power distribution products for the following sectors: manufacturing, construction, food processing, oil and gas, military, marine and automobile. Customers can benefit from the company’s hands-on, customized approach to lighting solutions. Larson Electronics provides expedited service for quotes, customer support and shipments.
*For further information, please contact:
*Rob Bresnahan, President and CEO
Toll-free: 1-888-351-2363
Int’l: 214-616-6180
Fax: 903-498-3364
E-mail: sales@larsonelectronics.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6da95a1a-15ad-4b07-a3c3-53605473dfaa Reported by GlobeNewswire 7 hours ago.
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SHAREHOLDER ALERT: Pomerantz Law Firm Reminds Shareholders with Losses on their Investment in Bank OZK of Class Action Lawsuit and Upcoming Deadline – OZK
NEW YORK, Dec. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Bank OZK (“Bank OZK” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: OZK) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, Southern District of New York, and indexed under 18-cv-10800, is on behalf of a class consisting of all persons and entities, other than Defendants and their affiliates, who purchased or otherwise, acquired Bank OZK securities between February 19, 2016 through October 18, 2018, both dates inclusive (the “Class Period”), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants’ violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials.If you are a shareholder who purchased Bank OZK securities between February 19, 2016, and October 18, 2018, both dates inclusive, you have until December 26, 2018, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 9980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased.
*[Click here to join this class action]*
Bank OZK was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Company was formerly known as Bank of the Ozarks and changed its name to Bank OZK in July 2018. As of December 31, 2017, the Company operated through 253 offices in Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Texas, Alabama, South Carolina, California, New York, and Mississippi.
Bank OZK provides a range of retail and commercial banking services to businesses, individuals, and non-profit and governmental entities. In addition to traditional savings and checking accounts, the Company offers various loan products, including real estate loans, such as loans secured by residential 1-4 family, non-farm/non-residential, agricultural, construction/land development, multifamily residential properties, and other land loans; small business and consumer loans; indirect consumer marine and RV loans; and government guaranteed loans comprising SBA and FSA guaranteed loans.
Throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company’s business, operational and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) the Company lacked adequate internal controls to assess credit risk; (ii) as a result, certain of the Company’s loans posed an increased risk of loss; (iii) certain substandard loans were reasonably likely to lead to charge-offs; and (iv) as a result, the Company’s public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
On October 18, 2018, the Company reported that it had “incurred combined charge-offs of $45.5 million on two Real Estate Specialties Group credits” that had previously been classified as substandard.
On this news, the Company’s share price fell $9.33 per share, more than 26%, to close at $25.52 per share on October 19, 2018, on unusually heavy trading volume.
The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com
*CONTACT:
*Robert S. Willoughby
Pomerantz LLP
rswilloughby@pomlaw.com
888-476-6529 ext. 9980 Reported by GlobeNewswire 6 hours ago.
*[Click here to join this class action]*
Bank OZK was founded in 1981 and is headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas. The Company was formerly known as Bank of the Ozarks and changed its name to Bank OZK in July 2018. As of December 31, 2017, the Company operated through 253 offices in Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Texas, Alabama, South Carolina, California, New York, and Mississippi.
Bank OZK provides a range of retail and commercial banking services to businesses, individuals, and non-profit and governmental entities. In addition to traditional savings and checking accounts, the Company offers various loan products, including real estate loans, such as loans secured by residential 1-4 family, non-farm/non-residential, agricultural, construction/land development, multifamily residential properties, and other land loans; small business and consumer loans; indirect consumer marine and RV loans; and government guaranteed loans comprising SBA and FSA guaranteed loans.
Throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company’s business, operational and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) the Company lacked adequate internal controls to assess credit risk; (ii) as a result, certain of the Company’s loans posed an increased risk of loss; (iii) certain substandard loans were reasonably likely to lead to charge-offs; and (iv) as a result, the Company’s public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times.
On October 18, 2018, the Company reported that it had “incurred combined charge-offs of $45.5 million on two Real Estate Specialties Group credits” that had previously been classified as substandard.
On this news, the Company’s share price fell $9.33 per share, more than 26%, to close at $25.52 per share on October 19, 2018, on unusually heavy trading volume.
The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com
*CONTACT:
*Robert S. Willoughby
Pomerantz LLP
rswilloughby@pomlaw.com
888-476-6529 ext. 9980 Reported by GlobeNewswire 6 hours ago.
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Desert Autoplex Offers a New and Used Boat Inventory for Customers to Explore in Mesa
Customers searching for a new or pre-owned boat in Mesa can investigate the new and used boat inventory available at Desert Autoplex
MESA, Ariz. (PRWEB) December 14, 2018
Desert Autoplex in Mesa is well-known in the greater Phoenix area for offering a large inventory of RVs and campers. However, the dealership is also home to an excellent inventory of new and used boats as well. The new and used boat inventory at Desert Autoplex features a variety of boats, including pontoon boats, tritoon boats and bowrider boats.
The new and used boat inventory at Desert Autoplex currently features twelve boats for customers to explore. Eleven of these twelve boats are brand new and range between the 2017 and 2019 model years. The lone used boat in the inventory is a 2008 Brig Eagle 645 Inflatable Boat featuring a Yamaha 150 4-Stroke engine. This pre-owned boat is currently listed for $42,995.
The new boats in the inventory feature a listed price as low as $38,997 and as high as $112,437. Additionally, a few of the boats in the inventory are discounted between $11,234 and $40,049 off the MSRP. The new boat inventory includes a 2017 Forest River Marine Trifecta 23RF ARCH SS 3.0 Tritoon Boat, a 2018 Forest River Marine South Bay 523RS 2.75 Pontoon Boat and a 2019 Monterey 258 Super Sport Bowrider Boat, among several others.
Mesa area customers can contact the staff at Desert Autoplex to find more information on the new and used boats available in the inventory. Desert Autoplex can be reached online at http://www.desertautoplex.com or by phone at 480-964-2277. Customers are also able to visit the dealership in person at 2260 E Main Street in Mesa, Arizona. Reported by PRWeb 5 hours ago.
MESA, Ariz. (PRWEB) December 14, 2018
Desert Autoplex in Mesa is well-known in the greater Phoenix area for offering a large inventory of RVs and campers. However, the dealership is also home to an excellent inventory of new and used boats as well. The new and used boat inventory at Desert Autoplex features a variety of boats, including pontoon boats, tritoon boats and bowrider boats.
The new and used boat inventory at Desert Autoplex currently features twelve boats for customers to explore. Eleven of these twelve boats are brand new and range between the 2017 and 2019 model years. The lone used boat in the inventory is a 2008 Brig Eagle 645 Inflatable Boat featuring a Yamaha 150 4-Stroke engine. This pre-owned boat is currently listed for $42,995.
The new boats in the inventory feature a listed price as low as $38,997 and as high as $112,437. Additionally, a few of the boats in the inventory are discounted between $11,234 and $40,049 off the MSRP. The new boat inventory includes a 2017 Forest River Marine Trifecta 23RF ARCH SS 3.0 Tritoon Boat, a 2018 Forest River Marine South Bay 523RS 2.75 Pontoon Boat and a 2019 Monterey 258 Super Sport Bowrider Boat, among several others.
Mesa area customers can contact the staff at Desert Autoplex to find more information on the new and used boats available in the inventory. Desert Autoplex can be reached online at http://www.desertautoplex.com or by phone at 480-964-2277. Customers are also able to visit the dealership in person at 2260 E Main Street in Mesa, Arizona. Reported by PRWeb 5 hours ago.
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In France, school lessons ask: Which tweets should you trust?
VAULX-EN-VELIN, France — A group of teenagers recently swarmed into a room at Collège Henri Barbusse near Lyon, France, for a class typically dedicated to learning Spanish. But on that Wednesday, an unusual lesson awaited them. Five posts from Twitter were up on the board. The assignment: Decipher whether they were trustworthy or suspect. The ninth-graders quickly focused on a post by far-right politician Marine Le Pen, related to a headline-grabbing incident in France when a teenager had threatened a teacher. One student said Le Pen’s post could be trusted because her account had been verified by Twitter. But Samia Houbiri, 15, piped up that Le Pen simply wanted attention.
Reported by SFGate 5 hours ago.
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Trump says budget director Mick Mulvaney to take over as acting chief of staff
Mick Mulvaney will take over from John Kelly, a retired Marine Corps general, who will step down from the top job in the West Wing in early January
Reported by Haaretz 4 hours ago.
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'New rules for marine fuel sulfur limits to impact global oil prices'
International regulations limiting sulfur in fuels for ocean-going vessels will increase uncertainty for crude oil and petroleum product price formation in both the short and long term, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) said.
Reported by Sify 21 hours ago.
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Larson Electronics Releases 3-Phase, 3-Wire Configuration Variable Frequency Drive, 400V AC, 300HP
KEMP, Texas, Dec. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Larson Electronics, a Texas-based company with over 40 years of experience spearheading the industrial lighting and power equipment sectors, announced the release of a 3-phase, 3-wire configuration variable frequency drive designed to improve AC motor performance in industrial facilities. This unit is fan cooled and features a 3-phase 400V AC input/output voltage comparability (within the range of 360-440V).The VFD-3P-400-300HP-426A-DCM 3-phase variable frequency drive is a 220kw unit that provides an output current of 426 amps and an operating frequency range of 0 to 3000 Hz. This unit can support seven on/off programmable digital inputs, one high-speed pulse input and two programmable analog outputs. The drive’s four operating modes include Keypad Control, Terminal Control, Serial Communication Control and a Frequency Setting Mode that allows digital setting, analog setting, pulse frequency setting, serial communication setting, multi-step speed setting and simple PLC, PID setting and more.
Larson Electronics’ variable frequency drive is made for indoor or outdoor settings with an operating temperature range of -10˚C to 40˚C. This device measures 56.69” x 23.6” x 15.7” and weighs roughly 397 lbs. Suitable applications for this device include controlling the speed of AC motors, industrial machines and large compressors to name a few.
“This variable frequency device greatly enhances AC motor function in industrial operations,” said Rob Bresnahan, CEO of Larson Electronics LLC. “This unit is small, but it provides ample voltage and includes automatic voltage regulation to ensure it continues to function efficiently and safely.”
*About Larson Electronics LLC: *Larson Electronics LLC is a manufacturer of industrial lighting equipment and accessories. The company offers an extensive catalog of industry-grade lighting and power distribution products for the following sectors: manufacturing, construction, food processing, oil and gas, military, marine and automobile. Customers can benefit from the company’s hands-on, customized approach to lighting solutions. Larson Electronics provides expedited service for quotes, customer support and shipments.
*For further information, please contact:
*Rob Bresnahan, President and CEO
Toll-free: 1-888-351-2363
Int’l: 214-616-6180
Fax: 903-498-3364
E-mail: sales@larsonelectronics.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2cb96280-9d88-42e2-bf33-cc6d274c0e91 Reported by GlobeNewswire 12 hours ago.
Larson Electronics’ variable frequency drive is made for indoor or outdoor settings with an operating temperature range of -10˚C to 40˚C. This device measures 56.69” x 23.6” x 15.7” and weighs roughly 397 lbs. Suitable applications for this device include controlling the speed of AC motors, industrial machines and large compressors to name a few.
“This variable frequency device greatly enhances AC motor function in industrial operations,” said Rob Bresnahan, CEO of Larson Electronics LLC. “This unit is small, but it provides ample voltage and includes automatic voltage regulation to ensure it continues to function efficiently and safely.”
*About Larson Electronics LLC: *Larson Electronics LLC is a manufacturer of industrial lighting equipment and accessories. The company offers an extensive catalog of industry-grade lighting and power distribution products for the following sectors: manufacturing, construction, food processing, oil and gas, military, marine and automobile. Customers can benefit from the company’s hands-on, customized approach to lighting solutions. Larson Electronics provides expedited service for quotes, customer support and shipments.
*For further information, please contact:
*Rob Bresnahan, President and CEO
Toll-free: 1-888-351-2363
Int’l: 214-616-6180
Fax: 903-498-3364
E-mail: sales@larsonelectronics.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2cb96280-9d88-42e2-bf33-cc6d274c0e91 Reported by GlobeNewswire 12 hours ago.
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Larson Electronics Releases Power Distribution Substation, 480V 3-Phase to 208Y/120V AC 3-Phase
KEMP, Texas, Dec. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Larson Electronics, a Texas-based company with over 40 years of experience spearheading the industrial lighting and power equipment sectors, announced the release of a power distribution substation that converts 480V AC three-phase electrical current to three-phase 208Y/120V AC. This unit gives operators the ability to safely tap into and distribute 480V AC power from direct grid power and generators through three remote panels.The TX-480V.3P-150KVA.TP1-208Y.120V.3PH-3X225A durable power distribution substation allows operators to distribute 120V 60 Hz and 208V 60 Hz from a single system. Operators can connect 480V 60 Hz line-in power through an eight-foot 1/0-4C Type-W cord encased in liquid-tight sheathing on the primary side. On the secondary side, operators have three 208Y/120V three-phase 225A main breaker remote panels to transfer 120V and 208Y to their equipment.
This device has Active Surge Monitor, which protects the 150 KVA K20 TP1 copper double-shielded isolation transformer and provides suppression of lightening/surge and transient voltage surge, protecting the primary side of the transformer. This device features audible and LED alarms and Modbus RS-485 remote output for remote monitoring. This unit is NEMA 1 rated and suitable for non-linear loads and is convection bottom-to-top cooled.
After converting 480V three-phase power to 208Y/120V three-phase, the current is passed to the three 42-circuit remote secondary panels on the secondary side, which feeds three NEMA 1 225-amp, 208Y/120V three-phase main breaker panels. Each breaker panel features 225A sub-breakers. This unit is mounted on a 2” x 2” x 1/8” square carbon steel tubing frame mounting platform with removable leveling jacks and casters. This substation is grounded to the frame with the grounding lug provided.
Suitable applications include indoor or outdoor locations such as construction sites, and plant maintenance and turnarounds operations.
*About Larson Electronics LLC: *Larson Electronics LLC is a manufacturer of industrial lighting equipment and accessories. The company offers an extensive catalog of industry-grade lighting and power distribution products for the following sectors: manufacturing, construction, food processing, oil and gas, military, marine and automobile. Customers can benefit from the company’s hands-on, customized approach to lighting solutions. Larson Electronics provides expedited service for quotes, customer support and shipments.
*For further information, please contact:
*Rob Bresnahan, President and CEO
Toll-free: 1-888-351-2363
Int’l: 214-616-6180
Fax: 903-498-3364
E-mail: sales@larsonelectronics.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f192e4ab-d43a-41e1-abfc-235f3fa1f6a4 Reported by GlobeNewswire 7 hours ago.
This device has Active Surge Monitor, which protects the 150 KVA K20 TP1 copper double-shielded isolation transformer and provides suppression of lightening/surge and transient voltage surge, protecting the primary side of the transformer. This device features audible and LED alarms and Modbus RS-485 remote output for remote monitoring. This unit is NEMA 1 rated and suitable for non-linear loads and is convection bottom-to-top cooled.
After converting 480V three-phase power to 208Y/120V three-phase, the current is passed to the three 42-circuit remote secondary panels on the secondary side, which feeds three NEMA 1 225-amp, 208Y/120V three-phase main breaker panels. Each breaker panel features 225A sub-breakers. This unit is mounted on a 2” x 2” x 1/8” square carbon steel tubing frame mounting platform with removable leveling jacks and casters. This substation is grounded to the frame with the grounding lug provided.
Suitable applications include indoor or outdoor locations such as construction sites, and plant maintenance and turnarounds operations.
*About Larson Electronics LLC: *Larson Electronics LLC is a manufacturer of industrial lighting equipment and accessories. The company offers an extensive catalog of industry-grade lighting and power distribution products for the following sectors: manufacturing, construction, food processing, oil and gas, military, marine and automobile. Customers can benefit from the company’s hands-on, customized approach to lighting solutions. Larson Electronics provides expedited service for quotes, customer support and shipments.
*For further information, please contact:
*Rob Bresnahan, President and CEO
Toll-free: 1-888-351-2363
Int’l: 214-616-6180
Fax: 903-498-3364
E-mail: sales@larsonelectronics.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f192e4ab-d43a-41e1-abfc-235f3fa1f6a4 Reported by GlobeNewswire 7 hours ago.
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Trump’s Legal Peril Increases, As Does Combined Weight Of Investigations – Analysis
By Seema Sirohi
US President Donald Trump is entering perhaps the most difficult phase of his presidency as his legal and political difficulties mount and his denials wear thin.
His former strategist Steve Bannon has stressed the need for a “war room” with disciplined aides giving a consistent message to tackle what’s coming but so far there is no sign of a strategy.
Trump remains his own defence strategist, issuing a barrage of tweets at every new legal development.
The Republican Party’s anxiety levels are rising in direct proportion to the new revelations, convictions and confessions related to at least six investigations into the Trump campaign and business dealings.
Republican leaders are beginning to worry if the party can withstand the hailstorm as they enter 2019. With the House of Representatives under Democratic control, there will be more pressure and more public hearings about Trump’s conduct.
The biggest question is whether Trump can stand the pressure. Is winging it as he goes along enough of a strategy in the face of increasing legal challenges?
The latest blow was Trump’s personal lawyer Michael Cohen’s guilty plea, which essentially implicates the president for potentially violating campaign finance laws. Cohen admitted he paid hush money in 2016 to two women with whom Trump allegedly had affairs to protect his chances in the elections.
Two major strands of investigations are coming close to being completed – Special prosecutor Robert Mueller’s probe into Russian interference and Trump campaign’s alleged collaboration with Russian entities to influence the 2016 elections and New York state prosecutors’ investigation into payments to porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal to keep quiet about their alleged affairs with Trump.
There are four other investigations and lawsuits in progress, the latest by federal prosecutors in New York looking into whether his presidential inaugural committee misspent $107 million it had raised in donations.
As of now, Trump’s former campaign manager Paul Manafort has been convicted, six associates, including Cohen have pleaded guilty, 26 mainly Russian officials have been charged, and more than 20 White House and government officials have been interviewed by prosecutors.
Kelly, a former marine general, failed to impose discipline in the chaotic White House while running afoul of the family.
A spreadsheet is necessary but not sufficient to keep track of the investigations, personnel changes, loss through attrition and the many administration jobs that remain unfilled.
It took almost two years for the White House to nominate an assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia – Robert Williams, a former intelligence officer, was nominated for the job on Dec. 12.
As Trump prepares to enter the third year of his presidency, he may find supporters on Capitol Hill diminishing in number, especially if Mueller’s investigation proves collusion between Trump’s campaign and Russian operatives. The jury is out whether he can find a smoking gun.
Even though Trump’s base will believe him and not Mueller, the Republicans on Capitol Hill are likely to protect themselves first — siding with Trump would essentially mean siding with Russia, which could also mean political suicide given the intense anti-Russia sentiment in Washington.
Signs that Republicans are distancing themselves are already beginning to appear. This past Thursday, the Republican-controlled Senate voted unanimously to condemn Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the brutal killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and a US resident.
Trump has publicly sided with the Saudi leader against the assessment of his own intelligence community that the crown prince masterminded the attack inside the Saudi Consulate in Turkey.
The White House will expect the hard right to come to its rescue. There are a few key members in the House and Senate who will defend Trump on Fox News but most Republicans do not want to get caught up in the Trump-Mueller war because they see no good or useful outcome.
Trump has constantly accused the special prosecutor of conducting a “witch hunt” against him and largely managed to lull Republicans to a place where they simply ignored the details of the many court filings and various legal developments from Mueller.
But they are going to wake up in 2019 because the Democrats will weaponise the Mueller report when it comes out. And that wake up call may not be pleasant. Reported by Eurasia Review 3 hours ago.
US President Donald Trump is entering perhaps the most difficult phase of his presidency as his legal and political difficulties mount and his denials wear thin.
His former strategist Steve Bannon has stressed the need for a “war room” with disciplined aides giving a consistent message to tackle what’s coming but so far there is no sign of a strategy.
Trump remains his own defence strategist, issuing a barrage of tweets at every new legal development.
The Republican Party’s anxiety levels are rising in direct proportion to the new revelations, convictions and confessions related to at least six investigations into the Trump campaign and business dealings.
Republican leaders are beginning to worry if the party can withstand the hailstorm as they enter 2019. With the House of Representatives under Democratic control, there will be more pressure and more public hearings about Trump’s conduct.
The biggest question is whether Trump can stand the pressure. Is winging it as he goes along enough of a strategy in the face of increasing legal challenges?
The latest blow was Trump’s personal lawyer Michael Cohen’s guilty plea, which essentially implicates the president for potentially violating campaign finance laws. Cohen admitted he paid hush money in 2016 to two women with whom Trump allegedly had affairs to protect his chances in the elections.
Two major strands of investigations are coming close to being completed – Special prosecutor Robert Mueller’s probe into Russian interference and Trump campaign’s alleged collaboration with Russian entities to influence the 2016 elections and New York state prosecutors’ investigation into payments to porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal to keep quiet about their alleged affairs with Trump.
There are four other investigations and lawsuits in progress, the latest by federal prosecutors in New York looking into whether his presidential inaugural committee misspent $107 million it had raised in donations.
As of now, Trump’s former campaign manager Paul Manafort has been convicted, six associates, including Cohen have pleaded guilty, 26 mainly Russian officials have been charged, and more than 20 White House and government officials have been interviewed by prosecutors.
Kelly, a former marine general, failed to impose discipline in the chaotic White House while running afoul of the family.
A spreadsheet is necessary but not sufficient to keep track of the investigations, personnel changes, loss through attrition and the many administration jobs that remain unfilled.
It took almost two years for the White House to nominate an assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia – Robert Williams, a former intelligence officer, was nominated for the job on Dec. 12.
As Trump prepares to enter the third year of his presidency, he may find supporters on Capitol Hill diminishing in number, especially if Mueller’s investigation proves collusion between Trump’s campaign and Russian operatives. The jury is out whether he can find a smoking gun.
Even though Trump’s base will believe him and not Mueller, the Republicans on Capitol Hill are likely to protect themselves first — siding with Trump would essentially mean siding with Russia, which could also mean political suicide given the intense anti-Russia sentiment in Washington.
Signs that Republicans are distancing themselves are already beginning to appear. This past Thursday, the Republican-controlled Senate voted unanimously to condemn Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the brutal killing of Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist and a US resident.
Trump has publicly sided with the Saudi leader against the assessment of his own intelligence community that the crown prince masterminded the attack inside the Saudi Consulate in Turkey.
The White House will expect the hard right to come to its rescue. There are a few key members in the House and Senate who will defend Trump on Fox News but most Republicans do not want to get caught up in the Trump-Mueller war because they see no good or useful outcome.
Trump has constantly accused the special prosecutor of conducting a “witch hunt” against him and largely managed to lull Republicans to a place where they simply ignored the details of the many court filings and various legal developments from Mueller.
But they are going to wake up in 2019 because the Democrats will weaponise the Mueller report when it comes out. And that wake up call may not be pleasant. Reported by Eurasia Review 3 hours ago.
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Turning Seawater Into Freshwater Through Solar Energy
According to FAO estimates, by 2025 nearly 2 billion people may not have enough drinking water to satisfy their daily needs. One of the possible solutions to this problem is desalination, namely treating seawater to make it drinkable. However, removing salt from seawater requires 10 to 1000 times more energy than traditional methods of freshwater supply, namely pumping water from rivers or wells.
Motivated by this problem, a team of engineers from the Department of Energy of Politecnico di Torino has devised a new prototype to desalinate seawater in a sustainable and low-cost way, using solar energy more efficiently. Compared to previous solutions, the developed technology is in fact able to double the amount of water produced at given solar energy, and it may be subject to further efficiency improvement in the near future. The group of young researchers who recently published these results in the prestigious journal Nature Sustainability [*] is composed of Eliodoro Chiavazzo, Matteo Morciano, Francesca Viglino, Matteo Fasano and Pietro Asinari (Multi-Scale Modeling Lab).
The working principle of the proposed technology is very simple: “Inspired by plants, which transport water from roots to leaves by capillarity and transpiration, our floating device is able to collect seawater using a low-cost porous material, thus avoiding the use of expensive and cumbersome pumps. The collected seawater is then heated up by solar energy, which sustains the separation of salt from the evaporating water. This process can be facilitated by membranes inserted between contaminated and drinking water to avoid their mixing, similarly to some plants able to survive in marine environments (for example the mangroves)”, explain Matteo Fasano and Matteo Morciano.
While conventional ‘active’ desalination technologies need costly mechanical or electrical components (such as pumps and/or control systems) and require specialized technicians for installation and maintenance, the desalination approach proposed by the team at Politecnico di Torino is based on spontaneous processes occurring without the aid of ancillary machinery and can, therefore, be referred to as ‘passive’ technology. All this makes the device inherently inexpensive and simple to install and repair. The latter features are particularly attractive in coastal regions that are suffering from a chronic shortage of drinking water and are not yet reached by centralized infrastructures and investments.
Up to now, a well-known disadvantage of ‘passive’ technologies for desalination has been the low energy efficiency as compared to ‘active’ ones. Researchers at Politecnico di Torino have faced this obstacle with creativity: “While previous studies focused on how to maximize the solar energy absorption, we have shifted the attention to a more efficient management of the absorbed solar thermal energy. In this way, we have been able to reach record values of productivity up to 20 litres per day of drinking water per square meter exposed to the Sun. The reason behind the performance increase is the ‘recycling’ of solar heat in several cascade evaporation processes, in line with the philosophy of ‘doing more, with less’. Technologies based on this process are typically called ‘multi-effect’, and here we provide the first evidence that this strategy can be very effective for ‘passive’ desalination technologies as well”.
After developing the prototype for more than two years and testing it directly in the Ligurian sea (Varazze, Italy), the Politecnico’s engineers claim that this technology could have an impact in isolated coastal locations with little drinking water but abundant solar energy, especially in developing countries. Furthermore, the technology is particularly suitable for providing safe and low-cost drinking water in emergency conditions, for example in areas hit by floods or tsunamis and left isolated for days or weeks from electricity grid and aqueduct. A further application envisioned for this technology are floating gardens for food production, an interesting option especially in overpopulated areas.The researchers, who continue to work on this issue within the Clean Water Center at Politecnico di Torino, are now looking for possible industrial partners to make the prototype more durable, scalable and versatile. For example, engineered versions of the device could be employed in coastal areas where over-exploitation of groundwater causes the intrusion of saline water into freshwater aquifers (a particularly serious problem in some areas of Southern Italy), or could treat waters polluted by industrial or mining plants.[*] Eliodoro Chiavazzo, Matteo Morciano, Francesca Viglino, Matteo Fasano, Pietro Asinari. Passive solar high-yield seawater desalination by modular and low-cost distillation, NATURE SUSTAINABILITY, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-018-0186-x Reported by Eurasia Review 3 hours ago.
Motivated by this problem, a team of engineers from the Department of Energy of Politecnico di Torino has devised a new prototype to desalinate seawater in a sustainable and low-cost way, using solar energy more efficiently. Compared to previous solutions, the developed technology is in fact able to double the amount of water produced at given solar energy, and it may be subject to further efficiency improvement in the near future. The group of young researchers who recently published these results in the prestigious journal Nature Sustainability [*] is composed of Eliodoro Chiavazzo, Matteo Morciano, Francesca Viglino, Matteo Fasano and Pietro Asinari (Multi-Scale Modeling Lab).
The working principle of the proposed technology is very simple: “Inspired by plants, which transport water from roots to leaves by capillarity and transpiration, our floating device is able to collect seawater using a low-cost porous material, thus avoiding the use of expensive and cumbersome pumps. The collected seawater is then heated up by solar energy, which sustains the separation of salt from the evaporating water. This process can be facilitated by membranes inserted between contaminated and drinking water to avoid their mixing, similarly to some plants able to survive in marine environments (for example the mangroves)”, explain Matteo Fasano and Matteo Morciano.
While conventional ‘active’ desalination technologies need costly mechanical or electrical components (such as pumps and/or control systems) and require specialized technicians for installation and maintenance, the desalination approach proposed by the team at Politecnico di Torino is based on spontaneous processes occurring without the aid of ancillary machinery and can, therefore, be referred to as ‘passive’ technology. All this makes the device inherently inexpensive and simple to install and repair. The latter features are particularly attractive in coastal regions that are suffering from a chronic shortage of drinking water and are not yet reached by centralized infrastructures and investments.
Up to now, a well-known disadvantage of ‘passive’ technologies for desalination has been the low energy efficiency as compared to ‘active’ ones. Researchers at Politecnico di Torino have faced this obstacle with creativity: “While previous studies focused on how to maximize the solar energy absorption, we have shifted the attention to a more efficient management of the absorbed solar thermal energy. In this way, we have been able to reach record values of productivity up to 20 litres per day of drinking water per square meter exposed to the Sun. The reason behind the performance increase is the ‘recycling’ of solar heat in several cascade evaporation processes, in line with the philosophy of ‘doing more, with less’. Technologies based on this process are typically called ‘multi-effect’, and here we provide the first evidence that this strategy can be very effective for ‘passive’ desalination technologies as well”.
After developing the prototype for more than two years and testing it directly in the Ligurian sea (Varazze, Italy), the Politecnico’s engineers claim that this technology could have an impact in isolated coastal locations with little drinking water but abundant solar energy, especially in developing countries. Furthermore, the technology is particularly suitable for providing safe and low-cost drinking water in emergency conditions, for example in areas hit by floods or tsunamis and left isolated for days or weeks from electricity grid and aqueduct. A further application envisioned for this technology are floating gardens for food production, an interesting option especially in overpopulated areas.The researchers, who continue to work on this issue within the Clean Water Center at Politecnico di Torino, are now looking for possible industrial partners to make the prototype more durable, scalable and versatile. For example, engineered versions of the device could be employed in coastal areas where over-exploitation of groundwater causes the intrusion of saline water into freshwater aquifers (a particularly serious problem in some areas of Southern Italy), or could treat waters polluted by industrial or mining plants.[*] Eliodoro Chiavazzo, Matteo Morciano, Francesca Viglino, Matteo Fasano, Pietro Asinari. Passive solar high-yield seawater desalination by modular and low-cost distillation, NATURE SUSTAINABILITY, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-018-0186-x Reported by Eurasia Review 3 hours ago.
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Larson Electronics Releases Mini Rechargeable LED Light Tower with Four 60W LED Lamps
KEMP, Texas, Dec. 16, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Larson Electronics, a Texas-based company with over 40 years of experience spearheading the industrial lighting sector, announced the release of rechargeable mini LED light tower with the capacity to illuminate up to two acres with 21,600 lumens. This unit contains six 250aH 12V 8D sealed lead acid batteries and can illuminate an area for up to 12 hours on a single charge. This unit is equipped with four 60-watt high-output LED bulbs and an adjustable height tower.The WAL-ML-RPS-4XWP60E mini portable LED light tower features two adjustable LED light heads mounted on a telescoping mini light tower mounted on a wheeled cart base. The tower can extend to 12 feet and collapse to seven feet and features a single hand crank to easily raise or lower the tower. The lamp mounting platform can be removed for easy transport and storage.
Larson Electronics’ mini LED light tower features four 60-watt LEDs producing 5,400 lumens of light each and are ideal replacements for hot-running, fragile metal halide lamps. The LED assembly is made up of six LEDs contained inside IP68-rated waterproof aluminum housings that are powder coated to resist corrosion. These six LEDs are paired with high purity specular optics that produce a wide light distribution.
The light tower draws on only 0.5 amps at 120V AC and produces a long flood beam of light. The light is made up of three angled boards to provide a wider spread of light, with the center board angled straight and the two side boards angled at 45˚. This unit comes with a 120V charger featuring a 25-foot cord and 5-15P cord cap.
“This mini LED light tower is the perfect compact fixture for operators who need great light output but locational flexibility,” said Rob Bresnahan, CEO of Larson Electronics LLC. “The adjustable tower and wheeled cart base allow this unit to be used with large and small footprint applications, depending on the tower’s height, and offers easy mobility and storage.”
*About Larson Electronics LLC: *Larson Electronics LLC is a manufacturer of industrial lighting equipment and accessories. The company offers an extensive catalog of industry-grade lighting and power distribution products for the following sectors: manufacturing, construction, food processing, oil and gas, military, marine and automobile. Customers can benefit from the company’s hands-on, customized approach to lighting solutions. Larson Electronics provides expedited service for quotes, customer support and shipments.
*For further information, please contact:
*Rob Bresnahan, President and CEO
Toll-free: 1-888-351-2363
Int’l: 214-616-6180
Fax: 903-498-3364
E-mail: sales@larsonelectronics.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3605dd9d-adfe-4abc-ae71-24a39e5c913d Reported by GlobeNewswire 14 hours ago.
Larson Electronics’ mini LED light tower features four 60-watt LEDs producing 5,400 lumens of light each and are ideal replacements for hot-running, fragile metal halide lamps. The LED assembly is made up of six LEDs contained inside IP68-rated waterproof aluminum housings that are powder coated to resist corrosion. These six LEDs are paired with high purity specular optics that produce a wide light distribution.
The light tower draws on only 0.5 amps at 120V AC and produces a long flood beam of light. The light is made up of three angled boards to provide a wider spread of light, with the center board angled straight and the two side boards angled at 45˚. This unit comes with a 120V charger featuring a 25-foot cord and 5-15P cord cap.
“This mini LED light tower is the perfect compact fixture for operators who need great light output but locational flexibility,” said Rob Bresnahan, CEO of Larson Electronics LLC. “The adjustable tower and wheeled cart base allow this unit to be used with large and small footprint applications, depending on the tower’s height, and offers easy mobility and storage.”
*About Larson Electronics LLC: *Larson Electronics LLC is a manufacturer of industrial lighting equipment and accessories. The company offers an extensive catalog of industry-grade lighting and power distribution products for the following sectors: manufacturing, construction, food processing, oil and gas, military, marine and automobile. Customers can benefit from the company’s hands-on, customized approach to lighting solutions. Larson Electronics provides expedited service for quotes, customer support and shipments.
*For further information, please contact:
*Rob Bresnahan, President and CEO
Toll-free: 1-888-351-2363
Int’l: 214-616-6180
Fax: 903-498-3364
E-mail: sales@larsonelectronics.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3605dd9d-adfe-4abc-ae71-24a39e5c913d Reported by GlobeNewswire 14 hours ago.
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Larson Electronics Releases C1D2 Solar Powered Explosion Proof 24V LED Indicator Light
KEMP, Texas, Dec. 16, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Larson Electronics, a Texas-based company with over 40 years of experience spearheading the industrial lighting sector, announced the release of a solar powered explosion proof LED indicator light for remote areas and standalone applications where power is impractical or unavailable. This 7-watt unit offers 360˚ of illumination and is ATEX rated for Zone 1 and 21 with a Class I, Division 2 solar panel.The ATEX-EPSLED-80-STB-SOL-20C-C1D2-24V explosion proof solar powered LED indicator light operates on 24V DC, a Class I, Division 2 rated solar panel, and eight 24V AC 18aH sealed lead acid batteries. When exposed to direct sunlight, the battery bank charges in five hours. The batteries are housed in a NEMA 4X remote enclosure and charged by the solar panel with a 20-foot 12/2 SOOW cord connecting the light fixture to the solar panel.
Made of aluminum with a temperature-resistant pressed glass lens, this 7-watt lamp is rated for flammable environments and work sites where combustible gas, vapor or mist may be present. This saltwater-resistant unit’s control box features either a day/night sensor and motion sensor, or an on/off switch. This LED indicator light offers 1,235 candela and is compatible with wall, pendant or trunnion mount configurations and is suitable for paint spray booths, chemical manufacturing and waste treatment plants, and more.
“This indicator light is great for reliable notification in remote areas and standalone applications,” said Rob Bresnahan, CEO of Larson Electronics LLC. “Explosive environments especially need notification lights that can be operated safely under dangerous conditions. This LED offers high light output, safety features and of course durability and a long lifespan.”
*About Larson Electronics LLC: *Larson Electronics LLC is a manufacturer of industrial lighting equipment and accessories. The company offers an extensive catalog of industry-grade lighting and power distribution products for the following sectors: manufacturing, construction, food processing, oil and gas, military, marine and automobile. Customers can benefit from the company’s hands-on, customized approach to lighting solutions. Larson Electronics provides expedited service for quotes, customer support and shipments.
*For further information, please contact:
*Rob Bresnahan, President and CEO
Toll-free: 1-888-351-2363
Int’l: 214-616-6180
Fax: 903-498-3364
E-mail: sales@larsonelectronics.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/79299e50-5199-4a46-a705-77c4020cfc81 Reported by GlobeNewswire 7 hours ago.
Made of aluminum with a temperature-resistant pressed glass lens, this 7-watt lamp is rated for flammable environments and work sites where combustible gas, vapor or mist may be present. This saltwater-resistant unit’s control box features either a day/night sensor and motion sensor, or an on/off switch. This LED indicator light offers 1,235 candela and is compatible with wall, pendant or trunnion mount configurations and is suitable for paint spray booths, chemical manufacturing and waste treatment plants, and more.
“This indicator light is great for reliable notification in remote areas and standalone applications,” said Rob Bresnahan, CEO of Larson Electronics LLC. “Explosive environments especially need notification lights that can be operated safely under dangerous conditions. This LED offers high light output, safety features and of course durability and a long lifespan.”
*About Larson Electronics LLC: *Larson Electronics LLC is a manufacturer of industrial lighting equipment and accessories. The company offers an extensive catalog of industry-grade lighting and power distribution products for the following sectors: manufacturing, construction, food processing, oil and gas, military, marine and automobile. Customers can benefit from the company’s hands-on, customized approach to lighting solutions. Larson Electronics provides expedited service for quotes, customer support and shipments.
*For further information, please contact:
*Rob Bresnahan, President and CEO
Toll-free: 1-888-351-2363
Int’l: 214-616-6180
Fax: 903-498-3364
E-mail: sales@larsonelectronics.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/79299e50-5199-4a46-a705-77c4020cfc81 Reported by GlobeNewswire 7 hours ago.
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For These Critically Endangered Marine Turtles, Climate Change Could Be A Knockout Blow
Hawksbill turtles aren’t the only marine turtles threatened by the destabilizing effects of climate change, but a new study from researchers at Florida State University shows that this critically endangered species could be at particular risk.
In a study published in the journal PLOS ONE, researchers from FSU’s Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science suggest that projected increases in air temperatures, rainfall inundation and blistering solar radiation could significantly reduce hawksbill hatching success at a selection of major nesting beaches.
Earth’s history abounds with examples of climate shifts, but researchers say today’s transforming climate, paired with unabated human development, imperils hawksbills and other marine turtles in new and alarming ways.
“Marine turtles have been around for millions of years, and during this time they have adapted to substantial climatic changes,” said Assistant Professor of Oceanography Mariana Fuentes, co-author of the study. “In the past they have adapted by shifting their nesting grounds and nesting season to align with more favorable conditions. However, increasing impacts to nesting habitats from coastal construction, storms and sea level rise are jeopardizing their ability to adapt.”
To evaluate climate change’s effects on hawksbill hatching success, FSU researchers analyzed more than 5,000 nests from the five Brazilian beaches where a majority of the region’s hawksbill nesting occurs. The team focused specifically on five climatic variables — air temperature, rainfall, humidity, solar radiation and wind speed — in order to render a more comprehensive model of the various and subtle effects of a changing climate on the sensitive incubation process.
“Research is lacking on how climate change may influence hawksbills, and this population in particular,” said former FSU graduate student Natalie Montero, who led the study. “We chose to study how climate change may impact hatchling production because significant changes to how many baby marine turtles are born can dramatically alter population stability.”
As reptiles, marine turtles’ body temperature regulation relies on external sources of heat. That makes hawksbills and their cousins especially dependent upon and responsive to air temperature. Nowhere is that responsiveness more apparent than in marine turtle nests, where extreme temperature fluctuations can influence egg incubation, dictate sex ratios and determine hatching success.
For some marine turtle species, rising temperatures may not necessarily mean less successful incubation. For example, a study from Montero and Fuentes published earlier this year revealed that, for loggerhead turtles in the temperate nesting beaches of North Florida, changing conditions could yield potential short-term increases in hatching success by 1 to 7.6 percent.
The outlook for the hawksbills, however, is not as rosy.
Montero and Fuentes found that rising air temperatures, accompanied by increased rainfall and solar radiation, are projected to reduce overall hatching success at the Brazilian nesting sites by up to 11 percent by the year 2100. Higher temperatures may warm nests beyond the threshold for healthy incubation, they said, and increased rainfall could saturate the soil and suffocate the embryos.
If the turtles do incubate successfully and hatch, they then have to contend with skyrocketing solar radiation, which could bake the sand and cause the nests to cave in — a major hazard for the hatchlings as they seek the safety of the open sea.
While that may seem a dire and difficult future for a species whose numbers are already dwindling, Montero said there’s still time for humans to soften the blow.
“Humans can help marine turtles in many ways,” she said. “Reducing coastal construction and protecting more coastal habitat will help ensure present and future nesting habitat is available. Reducing human impacts on dune structure and beach vegetation is also important. Additionally, reducing trash and microplastics on the beach can create a higher quality nesting and incubating environment.” Reported by Eurasia Review 2 hours ago.
In a study published in the journal PLOS ONE, researchers from FSU’s Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science suggest that projected increases in air temperatures, rainfall inundation and blistering solar radiation could significantly reduce hawksbill hatching success at a selection of major nesting beaches.
Earth’s history abounds with examples of climate shifts, but researchers say today’s transforming climate, paired with unabated human development, imperils hawksbills and other marine turtles in new and alarming ways.
“Marine turtles have been around for millions of years, and during this time they have adapted to substantial climatic changes,” said Assistant Professor of Oceanography Mariana Fuentes, co-author of the study. “In the past they have adapted by shifting their nesting grounds and nesting season to align with more favorable conditions. However, increasing impacts to nesting habitats from coastal construction, storms and sea level rise are jeopardizing their ability to adapt.”
To evaluate climate change’s effects on hawksbill hatching success, FSU researchers analyzed more than 5,000 nests from the five Brazilian beaches where a majority of the region’s hawksbill nesting occurs. The team focused specifically on five climatic variables — air temperature, rainfall, humidity, solar radiation and wind speed — in order to render a more comprehensive model of the various and subtle effects of a changing climate on the sensitive incubation process.
“Research is lacking on how climate change may influence hawksbills, and this population in particular,” said former FSU graduate student Natalie Montero, who led the study. “We chose to study how climate change may impact hatchling production because significant changes to how many baby marine turtles are born can dramatically alter population stability.”
As reptiles, marine turtles’ body temperature regulation relies on external sources of heat. That makes hawksbills and their cousins especially dependent upon and responsive to air temperature. Nowhere is that responsiveness more apparent than in marine turtle nests, where extreme temperature fluctuations can influence egg incubation, dictate sex ratios and determine hatching success.
For some marine turtle species, rising temperatures may not necessarily mean less successful incubation. For example, a study from Montero and Fuentes published earlier this year revealed that, for loggerhead turtles in the temperate nesting beaches of North Florida, changing conditions could yield potential short-term increases in hatching success by 1 to 7.6 percent.
The outlook for the hawksbills, however, is not as rosy.
Montero and Fuentes found that rising air temperatures, accompanied by increased rainfall and solar radiation, are projected to reduce overall hatching success at the Brazilian nesting sites by up to 11 percent by the year 2100. Higher temperatures may warm nests beyond the threshold for healthy incubation, they said, and increased rainfall could saturate the soil and suffocate the embryos.
If the turtles do incubate successfully and hatch, they then have to contend with skyrocketing solar radiation, which could bake the sand and cause the nests to cave in — a major hazard for the hatchlings as they seek the safety of the open sea.
While that may seem a dire and difficult future for a species whose numbers are already dwindling, Montero said there’s still time for humans to soften the blow.
“Humans can help marine turtles in many ways,” she said. “Reducing coastal construction and protecting more coastal habitat will help ensure present and future nesting habitat is available. Reducing human impacts on dune structure and beach vegetation is also important. Additionally, reducing trash and microplastics on the beach can create a higher quality nesting and incubating environment.” Reported by Eurasia Review 2 hours ago.
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Missing Ocean Monitoring Instrument Found After Five Years At Sea
After going missing on Christmas Day five years ago, deep ocean measuring equipment belonging to the UK’s National Oceanography Centre (NOC) has just been found on a beach in Tasmania by a local resident after making an incredible 14,000 km journey across the ocean.
In 2011, this deep-ocean lander instrument was deployed by NOC scientists in the northern Drake Passage, which is a narrow section of the ocean between South America and Antarctica. Measuring ocean bottom pressure here helps provide information on the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, which is the largest ocean current in the world. The instrument was due to spend two years collecting data at a depth of 1100 metres, before being recovered on Christmas Day in 2013 by a research expedition on the Royal Research Ship (RRS) James Clark Ross, operated by British Antarctic Survey. However it did not return to the surface as planned for reasons that are not clear, possibly due to something getting tangled up with the release mechanism.
After being presumed lost, the deep ocean instrument frame was discovered washed up on a beach on the western tip of Tasmania. After being made aware of the find, the manufacturers were able to use the serial numbers on two of the sensors on the frame to trace the NOC as the owners and contact them.
The instruments, frame and data sensors have now been removed from the beach as a result of a collaboration between the finder of the instrument, the NOC, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and the Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) based at the University of Tasmania, in Hobart. The process of removal from the beach took several trips over a number of days, and the data sensors have now been taken to CSIRO where a team have managed to successfully recover some of the information. It is hoped that a scientific analysis of the recovered data will soon provide further insights into this remarkable journey.
This instrument was developed by a team of scientists and engineers at the NOC to measure sea level by means of precision pressure sensors, as well as monitoring salinity and temperature.
Professor Ed Hill, Executive Director of the NOC, said “Finding this instrument is like an early Christmas present. The Antarctic Circumpolar Currentis key to understanding the dynamics of the global ocean, so these sustained observations are incredibly important. There is no better place to make these observations than the narrow Drake Passage, which is why this instrument was deployed there before it made its epic journey to Tasmania.
The Antarctic Circumpolar Currentis three times bigger than the Gulf Stream and connects all three major ocean basins, transporting heat and carbon between them. In addition, it circulates around the whole of Antarctica, keeping warm ocean waters away. This allows the Antarctic continent to maintain its hugeice sheet.
The NOC’s sustained observing of the Antarctic Circumpolar Currentis an important part of our on-going commitment to improve understanding of future environmental change, as well as the relationship between oceans and climate.”
Although the research project that this instrument was originally deployed for has now finished, research and annual measurements along the Drake Passage are continuing at the NOC. Currently they are conducted as part of the Ocean Regulation of Climate by Heat and Carbon Sequestration and Transports (ORCHESTRA) long term science programme. Funded by the Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC), this programme aims to use measurements of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, alongside computer simulations, to radically improve scientific understanding of the circulation of the Southern Ocean and its role in the global climate. This programme has a particular emphasis on the way the Southern Ocean absorbs and stores heat and carbon. Reported by Eurasia Review 48 minutes ago.
In 2011, this deep-ocean lander instrument was deployed by NOC scientists in the northern Drake Passage, which is a narrow section of the ocean between South America and Antarctica. Measuring ocean bottom pressure here helps provide information on the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, which is the largest ocean current in the world. The instrument was due to spend two years collecting data at a depth of 1100 metres, before being recovered on Christmas Day in 2013 by a research expedition on the Royal Research Ship (RRS) James Clark Ross, operated by British Antarctic Survey. However it did not return to the surface as planned for reasons that are not clear, possibly due to something getting tangled up with the release mechanism.
After being presumed lost, the deep ocean instrument frame was discovered washed up on a beach on the western tip of Tasmania. After being made aware of the find, the manufacturers were able to use the serial numbers on two of the sensors on the frame to trace the NOC as the owners and contact them.
The instruments, frame and data sensors have now been removed from the beach as a result of a collaboration between the finder of the instrument, the NOC, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and the Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) based at the University of Tasmania, in Hobart. The process of removal from the beach took several trips over a number of days, and the data sensors have now been taken to CSIRO where a team have managed to successfully recover some of the information. It is hoped that a scientific analysis of the recovered data will soon provide further insights into this remarkable journey.
This instrument was developed by a team of scientists and engineers at the NOC to measure sea level by means of precision pressure sensors, as well as monitoring salinity and temperature.
Professor Ed Hill, Executive Director of the NOC, said “Finding this instrument is like an early Christmas present. The Antarctic Circumpolar Currentis key to understanding the dynamics of the global ocean, so these sustained observations are incredibly important. There is no better place to make these observations than the narrow Drake Passage, which is why this instrument was deployed there before it made its epic journey to Tasmania.
The Antarctic Circumpolar Currentis three times bigger than the Gulf Stream and connects all three major ocean basins, transporting heat and carbon between them. In addition, it circulates around the whole of Antarctica, keeping warm ocean waters away. This allows the Antarctic continent to maintain its hugeice sheet.
The NOC’s sustained observing of the Antarctic Circumpolar Currentis an important part of our on-going commitment to improve understanding of future environmental change, as well as the relationship between oceans and climate.”
Although the research project that this instrument was originally deployed for has now finished, research and annual measurements along the Drake Passage are continuing at the NOC. Currently they are conducted as part of the Ocean Regulation of Climate by Heat and Carbon Sequestration and Transports (ORCHESTRA) long term science programme. Funded by the Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC), this programme aims to use measurements of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, alongside computer simulations, to radically improve scientific understanding of the circulation of the Southern Ocean and its role in the global climate. This programme has a particular emphasis on the way the Southern Ocean absorbs and stores heat and carbon. Reported by Eurasia Review 48 minutes ago.
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