A team of volunteers, international scientists and center staff have attached GPS tracking devices to the backs of small birds known as kuriri, or Pacific golden plovers,with the hopes of obtaining answers to questions about why these little creatures coming to New Zealand are declining.

The Miranda shores, in the Firth of Thames, are the kuriri’s part-time home. Several decades ago, each year they’d arrive in thousands, escaping the winter of the Northern Hemisphere. Now there is fewer than 200 that visit.

It’s a mystery why the numbers of these birds visiting New Zealand have declined so much. Most of the birds’ life is also a mystery.

Every year, the small birds voyage in locations close to the Arctic Ocean for nesting. Whether this is Alaska or Sibera is not known. It’s also not known which route the birds take and where they may stop during their journey. There’s theory there may be a degraded habitat they could be using as a stop-off point.

Identifying the answers could be a great first step in learning more about the birds’ decline.

Read the rest of this entry »

As with any illness, early detection is critical for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia patients to enjoy greater overall quality of life longer. Along with early detection and treatment, comes the need to begin habits, such as GPS tracking for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients, so family can remain apprised of their safety at all times.

What is Early Alzheimer’s and Dementia?

During the early stages of Alzheimer’s and dementia most patients are just beginning to show symptoms of the disease’s development. They still live independent lives only showing occasional instances of forgetfulness, confusion, and choosing words.

Read the rest of this entry »

While it may sound like something of a Nancy Drew caper, the theft of a 10 foot by 10-foot inflatable intestine, weighing in at 150 pounds is big news for Kansas City, MO residents.

The month of March represents National Colorectal Cancer Awareness month, and the intestine serves as a walking tour for a colonoscopy, according to the New York Times, and its thefts left more questions than answers.

The mystery remains even after the colon was recovered, thanks to a tip received by Kansas City Police who were then able to recover the inflatable intestine from a vacant house. The organization does not plan to press charges feeling that the theft of the colon did more to raise awareness of their cause, raising awareness about colon cancer, than the inflatable by itself could ever accomplish.

Read the rest of this entry »

Fuel costs are one of the biggest expenses today’s fleets face. As a fleet manager you have a lot on your plate, including the responsibility of answering for your fleet’s fuel costs to your bosses. There are some things you can do, though, that can help you greatly reduce your fuel costs making your bosses happy and securing your future within your organization.

1. Manage maintenance more effectively.

Improving vehicle maintenance improves how effectively every aspect of the vehicle operates. This includes everything from keeping up with routine maintenance to practicing active preventative maintenance to reduce or practically eliminate breakdowns and maintenance-related accidents that cost your fleet extra fuel to correct.

2. Invest in GPS tracking for fleet vehicles.

GPS fleet tracking is a fleet manager’s best friend when it comes to reducing fuel costs. It can help you, initially, by assisting in the planning of more fuel-efficient routes. Additionally, it can help ensure your drivers are sticking to their designated routes and notify you of deviation. Read the rest of this entry »

Technology is changing the way the world does business. Agriculture and farming may seem far removed from the Silicon Valley and other technology supercenters, but that doesn’t mean technology has nothing to offer in these industries, though. In fact, if you’re not taking advantage of some of these technology advancements, you may be missing out on huge profit windfalls for your agricultural enterprise.

Why Do You Need to Take Advantage of New Technology?

Farmers work that land to make amazing things happen. Many of today’s farmers literally have it in their blood having worked for generations to make the land produce. Sometimes, change is hard, but there is no denying the good that can come from adopting agriculture technology, according to the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture who credits agricultural technology for a variety of benefits, including:

• Increased crop yields.
• Decreased use of fertilizers, water, and pesticides.
• Reduces impact on the planet.
• Fewer chemicals running off into rivers, streams, and groundwater.
• Improvements in worker safety.

Read the rest of this entry »