The latest NPD automotive market research points out that, although consumers who bought on deal come in all “shapes and sizes,” there are some interesting distinctions.¡ For example, motor oil deal shoppers last year were slightly more likely to purchase full synthetic motor oil than other types of motor oil.¡ NPD’s Aftermarket Industry Monitor, which tracks point-of-sale data from over 18,000 auto parts stores, finds that full synthetic quart volume increased nearly 9 percent in the 12 months ending November 2009 versus year-ago. While total passenger car motor oil price per quart increased 11 percent, full synthetic price per quart was only up 4 percent, perhaps reflecting promotional discounts.

Single-event effects in microelectronics are caused when energetic particles in a radiation environment ( typically protons, neutrons, or heavy ions ) strike a sensitive region of a microelectronics device or integrated circuit. The particle strike may cause no observable effect, a temporary malfunction, or even permanent damage

Another Sandia researcher is participating in a Los Alamos National Laboratory-led proposal that was granted 25 million hours.

In 2001, senior scientist Peter Feibelman proposed an unexpected solution to a long-standing experimental mystery concerning a one-molecule thick layer of water on ruthenium: By giving up a hydrogen atom, half the layer’s water molecules find themselves more attracted to the surface. They therefore move closer to it, just as was seen, but not understood, in a 1994 diffraction experiment.

Worldwide semiconductor revenue in 2010 is forecast to reach $276 billion in 2010, a 19.9 percent increase from 2009 revenue of $231 billion, according to the latest outlook by Gartner, Inc.

Experts project that algae-based biofuels could displace large volumes of diesel and jet transportation fuels. One of the field’s leading experts, Sandia researcher Ron Pate, will present an overview of the current state of research and development and associated opportunities and challenges for algal biofuels during the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in San Diego on Feb. 19.

Considered one of the top freestyle skiers, CR Johnson had been featured in many magazines and movies with his impressive huge jumps, backwards skiing and almost defying acrobatics on the slopes.

Two South Koreans placed in the first two spots but did not have any part of the reported interference during the race.

Both Congresswoman Louise Slaughter and Senator Lamar Alexander have spoken during this summit with strong objections to such parts of the reform as preexisting conditions and who will have the power in the reform: doctors or the U.S. government.

Noting that "there is a natural affinity between Tamils in Britain and our [Conservative] Party," William Hague, the British Shadow Foreign Secretary, in his speech to the inaugural launch of Global Tamil Forum, warned that the "continued confinement [of thousands] will simply sow the seeds of discontent, [and] could lead to renewed conflict in years to come," called for "meaningful political reform," and said that "there should be a full independent inquiry into alleged war crimes committed by both sides during the final stages of the military conflict."

Tamil National Aliance (TNA) submitted Wednesday its list of candidates to contest Vanni district in the forthcoming parliamentary election at Vavuniyaa Secretariat, sources in Vavuniyaa said. Meanwhile, United National Party (UNP) is expected to submit Thursday its list of candidates contesting Jaffna district with Ms. Vijayakala Maheswaran, wife of late Thiyagarajah Maheswaran, former Colombo district parliamentarian, as its chief candidate.

Mahintha Thilakumara Udugama, Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) organizer of Jaffna and Vanni, paid Thursday deposit money to contest as an independent candidate in Jaffna district as he was not included in the SLFP nomination list, sources in Jaffna said. Meanwhile, Tamil National Alliance (TNA) accused the government for paying money to many independent groups to contest Jaffna district with the view to split the votes in Jaffna peninsula, the sources added.

Scotty Lago has tried to avoid the pictures scandal and voluntarily left the Olympic Games.¡ The snowboarder did not want to bring negative attention to himself nor the Team USA members.

Fifteen independent groups have paid deposit money to contest Jaffna electoral district until Thursday evening, sources in Jaffna said. Meanwhile, four independent groups out of the six which had paid deposit money submitted their lists of candidates at Jaffna Secretariat Thursday, the sources added.

Twenty-two district secretariats in the island are declared as special