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ASMC The Business of Defense
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A type of fungus is being used to produce a hydrocarbon-based fuel by engine experts and biofuels researchers at Sandia National Labs - through funding by the Department of Energy. The biofuels being investigated are produced by a class of fungi called endophytes that live between the walls of plant cells. The cellular material in plant walls can be converted into hydrocarbon compounds that work well as fuels for internal combustion engines. The fungi can turn crystalline cellulosic material directly into fuel-type hydrocarbons without any mechanical breakdown - eliminating the need for the cost-intensive industrial processes required to break down biomass. Through genetic manipulation, the Sandia team hopes to improve yield of the biofuel by tailoring the molecular structure of the hydrocarbons that are produced.
February 02, 2011 -
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Satellites - operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - were critical last year in the rescue of hundreds of people from life-threatening situations throughout the U.S. and its surrounding waters. The satellites picked up distress signals from emergency beacons carried by downed pilots, shipwrecked boaters and stranded hikers - relaying information about their location to first responders on the ground. Officials say - of the 295 people saved - 180 people were rescued from water, 43 from aviation incidents, and 72 who were lost on land. NOAA\'s polar-orbiting and geostationary satellites, along with Russia\'s COSPAS spacecraft, are part of the international Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking system. It uses a network of satellites to quickly detect and locate distress signals broadcast by emergency beacons. Alaska had the most people rescued last year with 77, followed by Florida with 37.
February 02, 2011 -
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has waived its earlier limitation on selling gasoline that contains more than 10 percent ethanol for model year 2001 through 2006 passenger vehicles, including cars, SUVs, and light pickup trucks. The waiver applies to fuel that contains up to 15 percent ethanol - known as E15. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson says recently completed testing by the Department of Energy shows E15 does not harm emissions control equipment in the vehicles. The National Farmers Union says the decision means E15 will soon be available for approximately 60 percent of all vehicles in the U.S. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 mandated an increase in the overall amount of renewable fuels - like ethanol - into the marketplace. Several trade groups claim that more research is need to determine how increased ethanol levels could affect vehicles.
February 02, 2011 -
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The Arab world is consumed by protests demanding democracy and justice. Yemen\'s president, is hoping to shut-down unrest by offering concessions. But will they be enough? The changes sweeping the region may mean upheaval is not far away. Sporadic demonstrations have already struck the poor Arabian Peninsula state. And the protests are taking place with the understanding that Al Qaida sympathizer Anwar Al Awlaki has urged attacks there to deal with their discontent.
February 02, 2011 -
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Carrying with knives and sticks gangs roam and rule the streets of the Tunisian town of Gessrine. Yesterday those gangs attacked government buildings and they threatened residents. The gangs burnt a youth center and attacked a number of other buildings in. Police were largely absent on the streets on Monday and the Army has had trouble restoring order in Gessrine. The uprising in Tunisia that led to the sacking of former President Ben Ali, is largely responsible for the revolution unfolding in Egypt.
February 02, 2011 -
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Egypt\'s military chief of staff cut short a visit to the Pentagon because of anti-government. U.S. Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. James Cartwright said that Egypt\'s Lt. Gen. Sami Hafez Anan flew home, just two days into a planned week of meetings in Washington. Anan was in the U.S. for the highest level strategic talks each year between Washington and Cairo. Repeating the Obama administration\'s position on upheaval in Egypt, Cartwright urged the Egyptian government to show restraint in how it deals with protesters.
February 02, 2011 -
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So what will the new terror alert system look like? The National Terrorism Advisory System will be implemented over the next 90 days. Under the new system, DHS and other federal entities to issue formal, detailed alerts when the federal government receives information about a specific or credible terrorist threat. They\'ll provide a concise summary of the potential threat and actionable information.
February 02, 2011 -
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268 American troops were killed last year by roadside bombs in Afghanistan. The Pentagon says since the U.S. invasion in October 2001, 619 U.S. troops have been killed and another 5,764 have been wounded in improvised explosive device (IED) attacks. Overall, at least 1,370 U.S. troops have been killed in Afghanistan since the war began. Last year was, by far, the deadliest for all foreign troops, including Americans, with 702 killed, eclipsing the 2009 record of 504. While the number is high, it\'s about a third of what the number was in Iraq.
February 02, 2011 -
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Did the Chinese pilfer the technology to build their stealth fighter. An official Chinese newspaper has dismissed a report that the country used technology taken from a downed U.S. airplane in its own stealth fighter program. But the concerns are not going away. The Chinese staged the first-known test flight of its J-20 prototype stealth fighter that could one day challenge American air superiority.
February 02, 2011 -
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A British court on Friday approved the extradition of a terror suspect wanted in the United States over an alleged plot to detonate explosives aboard the New York City subway system. According to the Associated Press, Judge Quentin Purdy said that 24-year-old Abid Naseer can be sent for to the U.S. to stand trial for his alleged role in a terror campaign that would have struck at targets in Britain, Norway and the U.S. U.S. authorities say they aim to prove that Naseer collected bombing ingredients, conducted reconnaissance, and was in frequent contact with other al-Qaida operatives as part of the international plot, previously tied to a foiled plan to detonate explosives aboard the New York City subway and a suspected plot to bomb a busy shopping area in the northern England city of Manchester.
February 02, 2011 -
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January 31st and February 2nd, 2011 Carol W.Pope is the first Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA) career employee to serve as Chairman and Member.
January 31, 2011 -
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John Gage AFGE National President Dr. Fredrick Snow President, Grantham University James Green Author, \"Death in the Haymarket: A Story of Chicago, the First Labor Movement and the Bombing That Divided Gilded Age America\"
January 28, 2011 -
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January 24th and January 26th, 2011 Mr. Fulgham is responsible for the FBI\'s overall information technology (IT) efforts, including developing the FBI\'s IT strategic plan and operating budget.
January 24, 2011
