Thursday, February 28, 2013

Yosemite junior ranger mails back two sticks taken from park

Cars fill a parking lot near Yosemite Falls (David McNew/Getty)Cars fill a parking lot near Yosemite Falls (David McNew/Getty)

When visiting a national park, one should always leave things exactly as they were. Hats off to Evie, a junior ranger at Yosemite National Park, for living the motto. After returning home from a trip to the internationally known park, young Evie discovered that she had "accidentally brought home two sticks."

Honest Evie put the sticks in the mail and sent them back to Yosemite along with a letter that even the most jaded nature-hater would find completely charming.

Dear Park Rangers,

I am a Yosemite Junior Ranger. I went to Yosemite recently and accidentally brought home two sticks. I know I'm not supposed to take things from the park, so I am sending them back. Please put them in nature.

Thank you,

Evie

A photo of the letter was posted on Yosemite's official Facebook page with this explanation: "The rangers that answer the phone and mail in our public information office receive a lot of letters, but this might be one of the best in recent years."

Commenters praised Evie's honesty. One reader wrote, "Thats (sic) the kind of future leaders we need. Honest enough to admit their mistakes, and honorable enough to correct what they did." Another wrote, "Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints. Great kid!"

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/yosemite-junior-ranger-returns-two-sticks-park-001225972.html

weather lindsey vonn lindsey vonn weather nyc the walking dead the walking dead Walking Dead Season 3

Connecting the (quantum) dots: First viable high-speed quantum computer moves closer

Feb. 26, 2013 ? Recent research offers a new spin on using nanoscale semiconductor structures to build faster computers and electronics. Literally.

University of Pittsburgh and Delft University of Technology researchers reveal in the Feb. 17 online issue of Nature Nanotechnology a new method that better preserves the units necessary to power lightning-fast electronics, known as qubits (pronounced CUE-bits). Hole spins, rather than electron spins, can keep quantum bits in the same physical state up to 10 times longer than before, the report finds.

"Previously, our group and others have used electron spins, but the problem was that they interacted with spins of nuclei, and therefore it was difficult to preserve the alignment and control of electron spins," said Sergey Frolov, assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy within Pitt's Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, who did the work as a postdoctoral fellow at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.

Whereas normal computing bits hold mathematical values of zero or one, quantum bits live in a hazy superposition of both states. It is this quality, said Frolov, which allows them to perform multiple calculations at once, offering exponential speed over classical computers. However, maintaining the qubit's state long enough to perform computation remains a long-standing challenge for physicists.

"To create a viable quantum computer, the demonstration of long-lived quantum bits, or qubits, is necessary," said Frolov. "With our work, we have gotten one step closer."

The holes within hole spins, Frolov explained, are literally empty spaces left when electrons are taken out. Using extremely thin filaments called InSb (indium antimonide) nanowires, the researchers created a transistor-like device that could transform the electrons into holes. They then precisely placed one hole in a nanoscale box called "a quantum dot" and controlled the spin of that hole using electric fields. This approach -- featuring nanoscale size and a higher density of devices on an electronic chip -- is far more advantageous than magnetic control, which has been typically employed until now, said Frolov.

"Our research shows that holes, or empty spaces, can make better spin qubits than electrons for future quantum computers."

"Spins are the smallest magnets in our universe. Our vision for a quantum computer is to connect thousands of spins, and now we know how to control a single spin," said Frolov. "In the future, we'd like to scale up this concept to include multiple qubits."

Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:

Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:


Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Pittsburgh.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.


Journal Reference:

  1. V. S. Pribiag, S. Nadj-Perge, S. M. Frolov, J. W. G. van den Berg, I. van Weperen, S. R. Plissard, E. P. A. M. Bakkers, L. P. Kouwenhoven. Electrical control of single hole spins in nanowire quantum dots. Nature Nanotechnology, 2013; DOI: 10.1038/nnano.2013.5

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_science/~3/yzWo70ni_zA/130226114021.htm

Closing Ceremony London 2012 Tom Daley Leryn Franco The Campaign Kinesio tape randy travis Allyson Felix

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Balloon crash in Egypt's Luxor kills 19 tourists

LUXOR, Egypt (AP) ? A hot air balloon carrying tourists over Egypt's ancient city of Luxor caught fire Tuesday, and some passengers trying to escape the flames leaped to their deaths before the craft crashed in a sugar cane field. At least 19 tourists were killed in one of the world's deadliest ballooning accidents.

The accident was a new blow to Egypt's tourism industry, which has been gutted by the country's turmoil the past two years. The southern city of Luxor, site of some of the most dramatic pharaonic temples, has been particularly hard hit, with empty hotels worsening the area's poverty.

After the early morning crash, authorities suspended hot air balloon flights, a popular tourist attraction here, while investigators worked to determine the cause. The crash raised accusations that authorities have let safety standards fall amid the political instability since the 2011 fall of autocrat Hosni Mubarak ? though the civil aviation chief insisted his ministry keeps stringent inspections of balloons.

The balloon was carrying 20 tourists ? from France, Britain, Belgium, Hungary, Japan and Hong Kong ? and an Egyptian pilot on a sunrise flight over Luxor, officials said.

According to initial indications, it was in the process of landing after 7 a.m. when a landing cable got caught around a helium tube and a fire erupted, according to an investigator with the state prosecutor's office.

The balloon then shot up in the air, the investigator said. The fire set off an explosion of a gas canister and the balloon plunged some 300 meters (1,000 feet) to the ground, according to an Egyptian security official. It crashed in a sugar cane field outside al-Dhabaa village just west of Luxor, 510 kilometers (320 miles) south of Cairo, the official said.

The official and the investigator spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

"I saw tourists catching fire and they were jumping from the balloon. They were trying to flee the fire but it was on their bodies," said Hassan Abdel-Rasoul, a farmer in al-Dhabaa. He said one of those he saw on fire was a visibly pregnant woman.

Bodies of the dead tourists were scattered across the field around the remnants of the balloon, as rescue officials collected the remains in body bags.

The crash immediately killed 18, according to Luxor's governor, Ezzat Saad. Two Britons and the Egyptian pilot were taken to the hospital, but one of the Britons died of his injuries soon after. The other Briton and the Egyptian, who state media said suffered severe burns, were flown to Cairo for further treatment.

Among the dead were nine tourists from Hong Kong, four Japanese ? including a couple in their 60s ? and two other Britons, according to Egyptian officials or tourism authorities from the home countries.

Hot air ballooning is a popular pastime for tourists in Luxor, usually at sunrise to give a dramatic view over the pharaonic temples of Karnak and Luxor and the Valley of the Kings, a desert valley where many pharaohs, notably King Tutankhamun, were buried.

Luxor has seen crashes in the past. In 2009, 16 tourists were injured when their balloon struck a cellphone transmission tower. A year earlier, seven tourists were injured in a similar crash.

The toll puts the crash among the deadliest involving a recreational hot air balloon. In 1989, 13 people were killed when their hot air balloon collided with another over the Australian outback near the town of Alice Springs.

After the 2009 accident, Egypt suspended hot air balloon flights for several months and tightened safety standards. Pilots were given more training and a landing spot was designated for the balloons.

But Tuesday's crash raised accusations that standards had fallen, and many in Luxor were afraid it would only further damage tourism in a city that relies on foreign visitors.

"Tourism is dying here already and the tourists killed in the balloon will make things worse," said Mohammed Osman, head of the Luxor's Tourism Chamber. He blamed civil aviation authorities, who are in charge of licensing and inspecting balloons, accusing them of negligence

"There is no oversight, and no one is checking anything. I don't want to blame the revolution for everything but the laxness started with the revolution," he said. "These people are not doing their job, they are not checking the balloons and they just issue the licenses without inspection."

Civil Aviation Minister Wael el-Maadawi, who flew to Luxor to oversee the investigation, said the balloon that crashed had been inspected earlier this month as a requirement for renewing the company's license. Speaking to Al-Jazeera Mubasher television, he said safety standards were "normally high" and that there must have been extreme circumstances that led to the crash.

"This is a painful accident," he said. "It is premature to say whether it is maintenance or a human error until the investigation is over, whether the tube was unhooked because of a maintenance error or because it was pulled, someone stepped on it and pulled it."

The Civil Aviation Ministry, like much of Egypt's administration, has seen some political disputes since Islamist President Mohammed Morsi came to power in June as Egypt's first freely elected leader.

The ministry was long dominated by military officers or former officers, some of whom have resented control by a civilian president, particularly one who hails from the Muslim Brotherhood. In other ministries, observers say Brotherhood members have been appointed, or included as volunteers, in many posts.

One civil aviation ministry official told The Associated Press that standards have fallen since civilians were brought in to some middle-ranking positions. The official said inspections have become more lax, taking place oncee a month instead of weekly. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to speak on the issue.

Egypt's tourism industry has been decimated since the 2011 uprising and the political turmoil that followed and continues to this day. Luxor's hotels are currently about 25 percent full in what is supposed to be the peak of the winter season.

Scared off by the turmoil and tenuous security following the uprising, the number of tourists coming to Egypt fell to 9.8 million in 2011 from 14.7 million the year before, and revenues plunged 30 percent to $8.8 billion.

Poverty swelled at the country's fastest rate in Luxor. In 2011, 39 percent of its population lived on less than $1 a day, compared to 18 percent in 2009, according to government figures.

Magda Fawzi, whose company operates four luxury Nile River cruise boats to Luxor, said she expects the accident will lead to tourist cancellations. Tour guide Hadi Salama said he expects Tuesday's accident to hurt the eight hot air balloon companies operating in Luxor, but that it may not directly affect tourism to the Nile Valley city.

In August, Morsi flew to Luxor to encourage tourism there, about a month after he took office and vowed that Egypt was safe for tourists.

"Egypt is safer than before, and is open for all," he said in remarks carried by the official MENA news agency at the time. He was referring to the security situation following the 2011 ouster of autocratic leader Hosni Mubarak.

Deadly accidents caused by poor management and a decrepit infrastructure have taken place since Morsi took office. In January, 19 Egyptian conscripts died when their rickety train jumped the track. In November, 49 kindergarteners were killed when their school bus crashed into a speeding train because the railway guard failed to close the crossing.

The Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's most powerful political force and Morsi's base of support, blames accidents on a culture of negligence fostered by Mubarak, under whose rule the country saw a number of devastating accidents.

In this combo made from images from amateur video provided by Al-Jazeera, smoke pours from a hot air balloon over Luxor, Egypt, top left, before bursting, top right, and plummeting about 1,000 feet to... more? In this combo made from images from amateur video provided by Al-Jazeera, smoke pours from a hot air balloon over Luxor, Egypt, top left, before bursting, top right, and plummeting about 1,000 feet to earth, bottom left and right, on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013. Nineteen people were killed in what appeared to be the deadliest hot air ballooning accident on record. A British tourist and the Egyptian pilot, who was badly burned, were the sole survivors. (AP Photo/Al-Jazeera) MANDATORY CREDIT: AL-JAZEERA less?

___

Associated Press writers Kelvin Chan in Hong Kong, Jill Lawless in London and Angela Charlton in Paris contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/balloon-crash-egypts-luxor-kills-19-tourists-163835417.html

marbury v. madison 2013 lincoln mkz burger king mary j blige google project glass google goggles one tree hill projectglass

ScienceDaily: Top Health News

ScienceDaily: Top Health Newshttp://www.sciencedaily.com/news/top_news/top_health/ Top health stories, featured on ScienceDaily's home page.en-usWed, 27 Feb 2013 09:24:23 ESTWed, 27 Feb 2013 09:24:23 EST60ScienceDaily: Top Health Newshttp://www.sciencedaily.com/images/logosmall.gifhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/news/top_news/top_health/ For more science articles, visit ScienceDaily.Discovery on animal memory opens doors to research on memory impairment diseaseshttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227085944.htm A new study offers the first evidence of source memory in a nonhuman animal. The findings have fascinating implications, both in evolutionary terms and for future research into the biological underpinnings of memory, as well as the treatment of diseases marked by memory failure such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's, or disorders such as schizophrenia, PTSD and depression.Wed, 27 Feb 2013 08:59:59 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227085944.htmSame-sex cohabitors less healthy than those in heterosexual marriages, study suggestshttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227085706.htm Same-sex cohabitors report worse health than people of the same socioeconomic status who are in heterosexual marriages, according to a new study, which may provide fuel for gay marriage proponents.Wed, 27 Feb 2013 08:57:57 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130227085706.htmSelf help books and websites can benefit severely depressed patientshttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226194010.htm Patients with more severe depression show at least as good clinical benefit from 'low-intensity' interventions, such as self help books and websites, as less severely ill patients, suggests a new article.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 19:40:40 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226194010.htmIncreased risk of sleep disorder narcolepsy in children who received swine flu vaccinehttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226194006.htm A study finds an increased risk of narcolepsy in children and adolescents who received the A/H1N1 2009 influenza vaccine (Pandemrix) during the pandemic in England.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 19:40:40 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226194006.htmJust a drop? Alcohol consumption much higher than reported in Englandhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226193908.htm Alcohol consumption could be much higher than previously thought, with more than three quarters of people in England drinking in excess of the recommended daily alcohol limit, according to a new article.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 19:39:39 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226193908.htmBiting back: Snake venom contains toxic clotting factorshttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226193845.htm The powerful venom of the saw-scaled viper Echis carinatus contains both anticoagulants and coagulants according to a new study. These may be a source of potent drugs to treat human disease. The saw-scaled viper family Echis, responsible for most snake attacks on humans, are recognizable by the ?sizzling? noise they make, produced by rubbing together special serrated scales, when threatened. Echis venom causes coagulopathy, which can result in symptoms ranging from lack of blood clotting, hemorrhage, renal failure and stroke.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 19:38:38 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226193845.htmMuscle, skin and gastrointestinal problems cause a quarter of patients with heart disease and strokes to stop treatment in HPS2-THRIVE trialhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226193840.htm The largest randomized study of the vitamin niacin in patients with occlusive arterial disease (narrowing of the arteries) has shown a significant increase in adverse side-effects when it is combined with statin treatment.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 19:38:38 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226193840.htmLinking insulin to learning: Insulin-like molecules play critical role in learning and memoryhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226162837.htm Though it's most often associated with disorders like diabetes, scientists have shown how the pathway of insulin and insulin-like peptides plays another critical role in the body -- helping to regulate learning and memory.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 16:28:28 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226162837.htmLong-term use of medication does not improve symptoms for heart failure patientshttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226162725.htm Among patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, long-term treatment with the medication spironolactone improved left ventricular diastolic function but did not affect maximal exercise capacity, patient symptoms, or quality of life, according to a new study.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 16:27:27 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226162725.htmPolice and firefighters at higher risk for mental disorders following traumatic eventshttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226141256.htm New research suggests that exposure to diverse types of traumatic events among protective services workers is a risk factor for new onset of psychopathology and alcohol use disorders.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:12:12 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226141256.htmSimple method devised for determining atrial fibrillation risk in womenhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226141254.htm Researchers have devised and tested a simple atrial fibrillation risk prediction model, based on six easily obtained factors: A woman's age, height, weight, blood pressure, alcohol consumption and smoking history.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:12:12 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226141254.htmTexting Gloves Dangerous in Winter, Says experthttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226141235.htm Fingers are one of the first body parts to suffer from the cold and popular fingerless texting gloves can lead to frostbite and in worst cases, amputation, says an expert.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:12:12 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226141235.htmNovel combination therapy shuts down escape route, killing glioblastoma tumor cellshttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226135525.htm Scientists have uncovered an unexpected, but important molecular mechanism of mTOR inhibitor resistance and a novel drug combination that reverses this resistance using low dose arsenic in mice. The mTOR pathway is hyperactivated in 90 percent of glioblastomas, the most lethal brain cancer in adults. The data suggest a new approach for treatment of glioblastoma.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 13:55:55 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226135525.htmGenetic variation behind acute myeloid leukemia treatment success identifiedhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226135523.htm Researchers are working to identify genetic variations that may help signal which acute myeloid leukemia patients will benefit or not benefit from one of the newest antileukemic agents.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 13:55:55 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226135523.htmPersistent negative attitude can undo effectiveness of exposure therapy for phobiashttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226135154.htm Because confronting fear won?t always make it go away, researchers suggest that people with phobias must alter memory-driven negative attitudes about feared objects or events to achieve a more lasting recovery from what scares them the most.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 13:51:51 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226135154.htmNotion of using herceptin only for HER2-positive breast cancer challengedhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226135109.htm New research finds that the protein HER2 plays a role even in breast cancers that would traditionally be categorized as HER2-negative ? and that the drug Herceptin, which targets HER2, may have an even greater role for treating breast cancer and preventing its spread.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 13:51:51 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226135109.htmNew design could reduce complications in hip replacementhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226135107.htm Andrew Murtha, a second-year medical student, hopes to specialize in orthopedic medicine. A unique opportunity to collaborate with experienced researchers not only gave him a head start in his medical career, but also allowed him to develop a new design for an artificial hip that should help reduce post-operative complications.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 13:51:51 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226135107.htmFor some, surgical site infections are in the geneshttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226135103.htm An estimated 300,000 U.S. patients get surgical site infections every year, and while the causes are varied, a new study suggests that some who get an infection can blame it partly on their genes.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 13:51:51 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226135103.htmEating well could help spread disease, water flea study suggestshttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226120551.htm Plentiful food can accelerate the spread of infections, scientists have shown in a study of water fleas. Scientists studying bacterial infections in tiny water fleas have discovered that increasing their supply of food can speed up the spread of infection.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 12:05:05 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226120551.htmCell discovery could hold key to causes of inherited diseaseshttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226113830.htm Fresh insights into the protective seal that surrounds the DNA of our cells could help develop treatments for inherited muscle, brain, bone and skin disorders. Researchers have discovered that the proteins within this coating -- known as the nuclear envelope -- vary greatly between cells in different organs of the body.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 11:38:38 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226113830.htmControlling element of Huntington's disease discovered: Molecular troika regulates production of harmful proteinhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226113826.htm A three molecule complex may be a target for treating Huntington's disease, a genetic disorder affecting the brain.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 11:38:38 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226113826.htmEat too much? Maybe it's in the bloodhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226113824.htm Bone marrow cells that produce brain-derived eurotrophic factor, known to affect regulation of food intake, travel to part of the hypothalamus in the brain where they "fine-tune" appetite, said researchers in a new article.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 11:38:38 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226113824.htmBlood vessels 'sniff' gut microbes to regulate blood pressurehttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226113431.htm Researchers have discovered that a specialized receptor, normally found in the nose, is also in blood vessels throughout the body, sensing small molecules created by microbes that line mammalian intestines, and responding to these molecules by increasing blood pressure.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 11:34:34 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226113431.htmWomen's iron intake may help to protect against PMShttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226101448.htm In one of the first studies to evaluate whether dietary mineral intake is associated with PMS development, medical researchers assessed mineral intake in approximately 3,000 women in a case-control study.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 10:14:14 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226101448.htmBlueprint for an artificial brain: Scientists experiment with memristors that imitate natural nerveshttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226101400.htm Scientists have long been dreaming about building a computer that would work like a brain. This is because a brain is far more energy-saving than a computer, it can learn by itself, and it doesn't need any programming. Scientists are experimenting with memristors -- electronic microcomponents that imitate natural nerves.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 10:14:14 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226101400.htmTexting becoming a pain in the neckhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226101259.htm Orthopedic surgeon, spine specialist says excessive leaning head forward and down, while looking at a phone or other mobile device could result in what some people call ?text neck.?Tue, 26 Feb 2013 10:12:12 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226101259.htmUnlimited source of human kidney cells createdhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226092142.htm Researchers have successfully generated human kidney cells from human embryonic stem cells in vitro1. Specifically, they produced the renal cells under artificial conditions in the lab without using animals or organs. This has not been possible until now.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 09:21:21 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226092142.htmProtein that may control the spread of cancer discoveredhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226092138.htm Researchers have uncovered a novel mechanism that may lead to more selective ways to stop cancer cells from spreading. Cancer biologists have identified the role of the protein RSK2 in cancer cell migration, part of the process of cancer metastasis.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 09:21:21 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226092138.htmMicroscopy technique could be key to improving cancer treatments with targeted therapeutic drugshttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226092132.htm For scientists to improve cancer treatments with targeted therapeutic drugs, they need to be able to see proteins prevalent in the cancer cells. This has been impossible, until now. Thanks to a new microscopy technique, medical researchers have now observed how clusters of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) -- a protein abundant in lung and colon cancers, glioblastoma and others -- malfunctions in cancer cells.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 09:21:21 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226092132.htmSuperbugs may have a soft spot, after allhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226092130.htm The overuse of antibiotics has created strains of bacteria resistant to medication, making the diseases they cause difficult to treat, or even deadly. But now a research team has identified a weakness in at least one superbug that scientists may be able to medically exploit.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 09:21:21 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226092130.htmTaking omega-3 supplements may help prevent skin cancer, new study findshttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226092002.htm Taking omega-3 fish oils could help to protect against skin cancer, according to new research. Scientists just carried out the first clinical trial to examine the impact of the fish oils on the skin immunity of volunteers.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 09:20:20 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226092002.htmPTSD symptoms common among ICU survivorshttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226081238.htm One in three people who survived stays in an intensive care unit and required use of a mechanical ventilator showed substantial post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms that lasted for up to two years, according to a new study of patients with acute lung injury.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 08:12:12 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226081238.htmBariatric surgery restores pancreatic function by targeting belly fathttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226081236.htm Researchers have found that gastric bypass surgery reverses diabetes by uniquely restoring pancreatic function in moderately obese patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 08:12:12 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226081236.htmNow hear this: Forerunners of inner-ear cells that enable hearing identifiedhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226081234.htm Researchers have identified a group of progenitor cells in the inner ear that can become the sensory hair cells and adjacent supporting cells that enable hearing.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 08:12:12 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226081234.htmSleep reinforces learning: Children?s brains transform subconsciously learned material into active knowledgehttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226081155.htm During sleep, our brains store what we have learned during the day a process even more effective in children than in adults, new research shows.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 08:11:11 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226081155.htmWhen morning sickness lasts all dayhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226081023.htm Severe nausea during pregnancy can be fatal, yet very little is known about this condition. Hormonal, genetic and socio-economic factors may all play a role.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 08:10:10 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226081023.htmPain can be a reliefhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226081021.htm When something causes less pain than expected it is even possible for it to feel pleasant, a new study reveals. These findings may one day play a key role in treating pain and substance abuse.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 08:10:10 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226081021.htmSweet news for stem cell's 'Holy Grail'http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226081014.htm Scientists have used sugar-coated scaffolding to move a step closer to the routine use of stem cells in the clinic and unlock their huge potential to cure diseases from Alzheimer?s to diabetes.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 08:10:10 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226081014.htm3-D atlas of the human heart drawn using statisticshttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226081010.htm Researchers in Spain have created a high resolution atlas of the heart with 3-D images taken from 138 people. The study demonstrates that an average image of an organ along with its variations can be obtained for the purposes of comparing individual cases and differentiating healthy forms from pathologies.Tue, 26 Feb 2013 08:10:10 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130226081010.htmCortisone can increase risk of acute pancreatitishttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225210321.htm A new study shows that cortisone -- a hormone used in certain medicines -- increases the risk of acute pancreatitis. According to the researchers, they suggest that patients treated with cortisone in some forms should be informed of the risks and advised to refrain from alcohol and smoking.Mon, 25 Feb 2013 21:03:03 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225210321.htmPregnant mother's blood pressure may affect future health of childrenhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225201930.htm Up to 10 percent of all women experience some form of elevated blood pressure during pregnancy. Researchers now show that mild maternal hypertension early in pregnancy actually benefits the fetus, but that late pregnancy hypertension has negative health consequences for the child.Mon, 25 Feb 2013 20:19:19 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225201930.htmSmall molecules in the blood might gauge radiation effects after exposurehttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225201928.htm Researchers have identified molecules in the blood that might gauge the likelihood of radiation illness after exposure to ionizing radiation. The animal study shows that radiation predictably alters levels of certain molecules in the blood. If verified in human subjects, the findings could lead to new methods for rapidly identifying people at risk for acute radiation syndrome after occupational exposures or nuclear reactor accidents, and they might help doctors plan radiation therapy for patients.Mon, 25 Feb 2013 20:19:19 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225201928.htmCell scaffolding protein fascin-1 is hijacked by cancerhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225201820.htm A protein involved in the internal cell scaffold is associated with increased risk of metastasis and mortality in a range of common cancers finds a meta-analysis. The protein, fascin-1, is involved in bundling together the actin filaments which form the internal scaffolding of a cell and are involved in cell movement.Mon, 25 Feb 2013 20:18:18 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225201820.htmNew clot removal devices show promise for treating stroke patientshttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225201809.htm Specialists are treating patients with a new generation of blood clot removal devices that show promise in successfully revascularizing stroke patients, including those with large vessel blockages. The Solitaire Flow Restoration Device and the Trevo device, approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2012 to treat stroke caused by the sudden obstruction of a brain blood vessel (acute ischemic stroke) showed improved results over a previous standard and first generation clot-removal device in clinical trials.Mon, 25 Feb 2013 20:18:18 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225201809.htmMediterranean diet helps cut risk of heart attack, stroke: Results of PREDIMED study presentedhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225181536.htm Results of a major study aimed at assessing the efficacy of the Mediterranean diet in the primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases show that such a diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil or tree nuts reduces by 30 percent the risk of suffering a cardiovascular death, a myocardial infarction or a stroke.Mon, 25 Feb 2013 18:15:15 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225181536.htmHigher levels of several toxic metals found in children with autismhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225162231.htm Researchers have found significantly higher levels of toxic metals in children with autism, compared to typical children. They hypothesize that reducing early exposure to toxic metals may help lessen symptoms of autism, though they say this hypotheses needs further examination.Mon, 25 Feb 2013 16:22:22 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225162231.htmDoing good is good for you: Volunteer adolescents enjoy healthier heartshttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225162229.htm Giving back through volunteering is good for your heart, even at a young age, according to researchers.Mon, 25 Feb 2013 16:22:22 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225162229.htmVirus shows promise as prostate cancer treatmenthttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225153141.htm A recombinant Newcastle disease virus kills all kinds of prostate cancer cells, including hormone resistant cells, but leaves normal cells unscathed, according to a new article. A treatment for prostate cancer based on this virus would avoid the adverse side effects typically associated with hormonal treatment for prostate cancer, as well as those associated with cancer chemotherapies generally.Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:31:31 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225153141.htmLiver stem cells grown in culture, transplanted with demonstrated therapeutic benefithttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225153130.htm For decades scientists around the world have attempted to regenerate primary liver cells known as hepatocytes because of their numerous biomedical applications, including hepatitis research, drug metabolism and toxicity studies, as well as transplantation for cirrhosis and other chronic liver conditions. But no lab in the world has been successful in identifying and growing liver stem cells in culture -- using any available technique -- until now.Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:31:31 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225153130.htmBPA may affect the developing brain by disrupting gene regulationhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225153122.htm Environmental exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), a widespread chemical found in plastics and resins, may suppress a gene vital to nerve cell function and to the development of the central nervous system, according to a new study.Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:31:31 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225153122.htmMuch needed test for river blindness infection developedhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225153048.htm Scientists have found a telltale molecular marker for Onchocerciasis or ?river blindness,? a parasitic infection that affects tens of millions of people in Africa, Latin America and other tropical regions. The newly discovered biomarker, detectable in patients? urine, is secreted by Onchocerca volvulus worms during an active infection. The biomarker could form the basis of a portable, field-ready test with significant advantages over current diagnostic methods.Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:30:30 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225153048.htmTargeting CPR education in high-risk neighborhoods could save more liveshttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225153046.htm Targeting CPR education in high-risk neighborhoods could increase the number of bystanders giving CPR and decrease deaths from cardiac arrest, according to a new statement.Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:30:30 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225153046.htmTweaking gene expression to repair lungshttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225153027.htm A healthy lung has some capacity to regenerate itself like the liver. In COPD, these reparative mechanisms fail. HDAC therapies may be useful for COPD, as well as other airway diseases. The levels of HDAC2 expression and its activity are greatly reduced in COPD patients. Decreased HDAC activity may impair the ability of the lung epithelium to regenerate.Mon, 25 Feb 2013 15:30:30 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225153027.htmExtremely high estrogen levels may underlie complications of single-birth IVF pregnancieshttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225131624.htm Researchers have identified what may be a major factor behind the increased risk of two adverse outcomes in pregnancies conceived through IVF. Their findings support the hypothesis that extremely high estrogen levels at the time of embryo transfer increase the risk of infants born small for their gestational age and the risk of preeclampsia. They also outline a protocol that reduced those risks in a small group of patients.Mon, 25 Feb 2013 13:16:16 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225131624.htmBoys' lack of effort in school tied to college gender gaphttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225131552.htm When it comes to college education, men are falling behind by standing still. The proportion of men receiving college degrees has stagnated, while women have thrived under the new economic and social realities in the United States.Mon, 25 Feb 2013 13:15:15 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225131552.htmPrenatal DHA reduces early preterm birth and low birth weighthttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225131537.htm Infants of mothers who were given 600 milligrams of the omega-3 fatty acid DHA during pregnancy weighed more at birth and were less likely to be very low birth weight and born before 34 weeks gestation than infants of mothers who were given a placebo.Mon, 25 Feb 2013 13:15:15 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225131537.htmMoments of spirituality can induce liberal attitudes, researchers findhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225131532.htm People become more politically liberal immediately after practising a spiritual exercise such as meditation, researchers have found.Mon, 25 Feb 2013 13:15:15 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225131532.htmMemory strategy may help depressed people remember the good timeshttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225122047.htm New research highlights a memory strategy that may help people who suffer from depression in recalling positive day-to-day experiences.Mon, 25 Feb 2013 12:20:20 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225122047.htmGiving a voice to kids with Down syndromehttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225122039.htm A new case study shows children with Down syndrome can benefit from conventional stuttering treatment.Mon, 25 Feb 2013 12:20:20 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225122039.htmIntense acupuncture can improve muscle recovery in patients with Bell palsy, study suggestshttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225122037.htm Patients with Bell palsy who received acupuncture that achieves de qi, a type of intense stimulation, had improved facial muscle recovery, reduced disability and better quality of life, according to a randomized controlled trial.Mon, 25 Feb 2013 12:20:20 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/02/130225122037.htm

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/rss/top_news/top_health.xml

Freddy E NHL lockout Honey Boo Boo pirate bay Psalms 91 once upon a time once upon a time

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Vatican says Vatileaks report to remain confidential

Playing off his?pre-Oscars prediction?that everyone would hate him at the Oscars, Seth MacFarlane spent the first 19 minutes of the Academy Awards on Sunday making sure everyone would, in fact, hate him.?After some real stinkers, the main conceit was William Shatner descending on a screen as Captain Kirk, from the future, to tell MacFarlane to do a better job of hosting, in a kind of alternate-reality bit that turned pretty sordid?and pretty fast. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/vatican-says-vatileaks-report-remain-confidential-120524369.html

margaret sanger paul george eddie long ufc 143 weigh ins micron ceo glenn miller who do you think you are

Mophie Juice Pack Helium iPhone 5 Review - Business Insider

My iPhone battery is always running low.?

Everyday by mid-day my battery it's practically dead, meaning if I'm going to be out for the evening, I need to remind myself to bring my charger from home.?

That doesn't always happen.

For a while I resorted to carrying around the Mophie powerstation mini an external battery with a USB port that can power most mobile devices, but I hated carrying around two phone-sized things to stay charged.

When I learned that Mophie was finally releasing its latest battery extender for the iPhone 5, I got excited. And I was lucky enough to get my hands on one a bit early.

Kevin Smith/Business Insider

With the exception of a few minor quirks, the Mophie Juice Pack Helium is an essential accessory for just about any iPhone 5 owner.

The new juice pack builds on the previous versions, yet it doesn't add too much bulk to the svelte iPhone 5. Obviously, your iPhone 5 will be significantly thicker than before, but that's because the Helium adds an extra battery that's almost as big as the one in your phone now.

Still, the extra thickness didn't bother me at all, especially because the case adds an additional 80% to my battery.

By itself, the helium weighs 2.44-ounces and adds a 1500 mAh battery capacity to your iPhone 5. This means that you can talk for six more hours on 3G, use the internet for 6 more hours on 3G/LTE/Wi-Fi, and listen to audio for an additional 30 hours.

Kevin Smith/Business Insider

Using the helium

Kevin Smith/Business Insider

The helium is ridiculously easy to use. After placing the case over your phone, just turn the switch when you need a charge.

I did notice the juice pack got relatively warm when it was charging for an extended amount of time, but on a cold winter night this wasn't necessarily a disadvantage. The case charges with a regular USB cable, so you won't need to go digging around for one of the special new iPhone 5 cables. (It charges your phone too).

What's bad about the helium?

Kevin Smith/Business Insider

The worst thing about the helium is the headphone jack. The case makes the port extra deep, so it's nearly impossible to plug in your headphones without a special extender that comes with the Helium.

The extender works fine, but it's a bit annoying to carry around another dongle. And it's so tiny that chances are pretty good you'll eventually lose it. It feels like an odd compromise.

Kevin Smith/Business Insider

Should you buy it?

Kevin Smith/Business Insider

I think the juice pack is a necessary accessory for any iPhone 5 user, especially since those iPhone 5 chargers are hard to come by.

Even if you don't outfit your phone with the case at all times, having the helium easily accessible in a briefcase or purse can save you when in a pinch and battery is low.

The helium will begin shipping March 15. It retails for $79.95 and comes in two colors: dark metallic and silver metallic.

Bottom line:

The helium adds 80% more battery to your iPhone with a slim profile. The only negative is access to the headphone jack, which makes it difficult to plug in accessories.

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com/mophie-juice-pack-helium-iphone-5-review-2013-2

barney frank barney frank kim richards robert hegyes mary louise parker mary louise parker cher

Monday, February 25, 2013

Adele Oscar Dress 2013: See Her Red Carpet Look! (PHOTOS)

While our ears will certainly be tuned in to Adele as she belts out her Oscar-nominated theme song "Skyfall," our gaze is currently locked on her her red carpet dress. The English singer-songwriter looked breathtaking at the 2013 Oscars in a beaded black tulle Jenny Packham gown with sheer sleeves. And her half-up, half-down hairstyle and thick liquid eyeliner add the finishing touches.

See Adele's red carpet look at the 2013 Academy Awards and tell us what you think!

PHOTOS:

adele oscar dress 2013


adele oscar hair 2013


See the rest of the red carpet glam:

  • Jessica Chastain

    in an Armani Priv? dress, Christian Louboutin shoes and Harry Winston jewelry.

  • Anne Hathaway

    in Prada.

  • Charlize Theron

    in a Christian Dior Couture dress and Harry Winston jewelry.

  • Naomi Watts

    in an Armani Priv? dress, Jimmy Choo shoes, a Roger Vivier bag and Neil Lane jewelry.

  • Amanda Seyfried

    in an Alexander McQueen dress, Roger Vivier shoes and Lorraine Schwartz jewelry.

  • Halle Berry

    in Versace.

  • Kristen Stewart

    in a Naeem Khan dress, Jimmy Choo shoes and Fred Leighton jewelry.

  • Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck

    Garner in a Gucci dress and Neil Lane jewelry; Affleck in Gucci.

  • Renee Zellweger

    in Carolina Herrera.

  • Sandra Bullock

    in Elie Saab.

  • Nicole Kidman

    in a L'Wren Scott dress and Fred Leighton jewelry.

  • Kerry Washington

    in a Miu Miu dress, Christian Louboutin shoes, Prada clutch, Chopard earrings and Fred Leighton ring.

  • Salma Hayek

    in Alexander McQueen.

  • Jennifer Aniston

    in a Valentino dress, Salvatore Ferragamo clutch and Fred Leighton jewelry.

  • Adele

    in a Jenny Packham dress and Lorraine Schwartz jewelry.

  • Olivia Munn

    in Marchesa.

  • Jennifer Lawrence

    in a Christian Dior Couture dress, Brian Atwood shoes, Roger Vivier clutch and Chopard jewelry.

  • Reese Witherspoon

    in Louis Vuitton.

  • Amy Adams

    in an Oscar de la Renta dress and Moa jewelry.

  • Bradley Cooper and guest

  • Hugh Jackman

    in Tom Ford.

  • Julie Yaeger and Paul Rudd

    Rudd in Giorgio Armani.

  • George Clooney and Stacy Keibler

    Clooney in Giorgio Armani; Keibler in a Naeem Khan dress, Giuseppe Zanotti shoes and Lorraine Schwartz jewelry.

  • Emmanuelle Riva

  • Naomie Harris

    in Vivienne Westwood.

  • Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw

  • Helen Hunt

    in H&M.

  • Christoph Waltz and Judith Holste

  • Melissa McCarthy

    in David Meister.

  • Helena Bonham Carter

    in Vivienne Westwood.

  • Sally Field

    in Valentino.

  • Zoe Saldana

    in an Alexis Mabille Couture dress, Roger Vivier shoes, Salvatore Ferragamo clutch and Neil Lane jewelry.

  • Octavia Spencer

    in a Tadashi Shoji dress, Prada shoes, Edie Parker clutch and Lorraine Schwartz jewelry.

  • Harvey Weinstein and Georgina Chapman

  • Richard Gere

  • Quentin Tarantino and Lianne Spiderbaby

  • Mark Ruffalo and Sunrise Coigney

  • Jamie Foxx and Corinne Bishop

    Foxx in Calvin Klein.

  • Jeremy Renner

    in Givenchy.

  • Justin Theroux

    in Salvatore Ferragamo.

  • Queen Latifah

    in Badgley Mischka.

  • Daniel Day-Lewis and Rebecca Miller

  • Dustin and Lisa Hoffman

    Dustin in Calvin Klein.

  • Tom Hooper

  • Jane Fonda

    in Versace.

  • Norah Jones

    in Tadashi Shoji.

  • Marcia Gay Harden

    in a David Meister dress, Swarovski clutch and John Hardy jewelry.

  • Catherine Zeta-Jones

    in a Zuhair Murad dress and Lorraine Schwartz jewelry.

  • Jennifer Hudson

    in a Roberto Cavalli dress, Giuseppe Zanotti shoes, Jimmy Choo clutch and Sutra jewelry.

  • Bryan Cranston and Robin Dearden

  • Gloria Reuben

Want more? Be sure to check out HuffPost Style on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest and Instagram at @HuffPostStyle.
--
Do you have a style story idea or tip? Email us at stylesubmissions@huffingtonpost.com. (PR pitches sent to this address will be ignored.)

"; var coords = [-5, -72]; // display fb-bubble FloatingPrompt.embed(this, html, undefined, 'top', {fp_intersects:1, timeout_remove:2000,ignore_arrow: true, width:236, add_xy:coords, class_name: 'clear-overlay'}); });

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/24/adele-oscar-dress-2013-photos_n_2750739.html

nit colcannon dystonia tourettes gonzaga rosie o donnell soda bread recipe

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Zotac ZBox Nano AD12 Plus


As I was leaving the Labs the other day, I slipped the Zotac ZBox Nano AD12 Plus ($304.99 direct) into my bag before heading out. This would be fairly unremarkable if the ZBox Nano AD12 Plus was an ultrabook or tablet. But here's the thing: It's a nettop, and one that's compact enough to fit as behind your HDTV as easily as it did in my bag. For a shade over $300, it's an affordable way to jazz up your home entertainment system. That said, though, it's far from perfect. For starters, you'll need to purchase an operating system separately to actually get the system running. Additionally, the ZBox Nano AD12 Plus doesn't have the chops to do anything more intensive than light computing tasks. Still, though, it's a decent option for anyone who intends to use it mainly for media consumption.

Design and Features
Measuring 1.77 by 5 by 5 inches (HWD) and weighing 1.23 pounds, the ZBox Nano AD12 Plus is even smaller than the Lenovo IdeaCentre Q150 and fits in the palm of your hand as easily as a stack of jewel cases. Its square-shaped metallic chassis is decked out in a two-tone color scheme, with black plastic on the top and bottom abutting silver lining on the sides. Like the Giada i53 Mini PC's chassis, the glossy black plastic is highly prone to smudging. There's a circular LED that emanates a green hue. Four removable rubber feet on the bottom provide a grip for horizontal orientation. These can be unscrewed if the user opts for vertical positioning, which clears the way for attaching the bundled VESA mounting plate on the underside.

Despite its limited surface area, an impressive amount of ports have been crammed onto the ZBox Nano AD12 Plus. The front panel houses a pair of USB 2.0 ports, a mini-optical S/PDIF out jack, a microphone jack, and a 7-in-1 memory card reader (MMC/SD/SDHC/SDXC/MS/MS Pro/xD). The rear panel features two more USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports, an eSATA port, an RJ45 Ethernet port, and a socket for the included Wi-Fi antennae connector, which can be used to strengthen the ZBox Nano AD12 Plus's 802.11n Wi-Fi signal. The ZBox Nano AD12 Plus also sports Bluetooth 3.0 connectivity, letting users connect a Bluetooth keyboard or mouse without having to mess about with dongles. Lastly, there are HDMI and DisplayPort outputs, which allows for two displays to be used simultaneously. While the latter is undoubtedly a nifty feature, the ZBox Nano AD12 Plus nevertheless forces users to remain tethered to their larger displays since it doesn't feature Intel's Wireless Display technology, which can beams data directly to a HDTVs outfitted with an aftermarket adapter like the Netgear Push2TV ($99 list). Still, that's a forgivable omission at this price point.

Opening the ZBox Nano AD12 Plus's chassis is a simple operation that merely requires removing the underside's four rubber feet?which double as thumbscrews?and popping off the cover. Doing so reveals a little room for upgrades. Our test unit's single DIMM socket was occupied by a 2GB memory module, which can be replaced with a 4GB or 8GB stick. The included 320GB 5,400rpm HDD can be swapped with a more capacious 2.5-inch HDD or a solid-state drive (SSD).

Included peripherals, on the other hand, aren't as abundant. Unlike the Acer Revo RL100-UR20P, the ZBox Nano AD12 Plus doesn't come with a bundled keyboard or mouse. It does, however, ship with a remote, which is handy for navigating through whichever media-playback interface you install.

Speaking of omissions, the ZBox Nano AD12 Plus doesn't ship with an operating system, so users intent on using Windows Media Center as an entertainment portal will need to shell out extra cash for Windows 7 or 8 (we installed Windows 7 on our test unit). Bear in mind that since the ZBox Nano AD12 doesn't have an optical drive, doing so will require the use of an external optical drive, which in turn contributes to another added expense.

Zotac ZBox Nano AD12 Plus

Performance
The ZBox Nano AD12 Plus packs a 1.7GHz AMD A2-1800 APU (accelerated processing unit), which combines a dual-core AMD processor and Radeon HD 7430 graphics on a single chip. The system yielded predictably modest scores on our benchmark tests. Its PCMark7 score of 1,040 points managed to squeak past the Acer RL100-UR20P (994 points) while falling significantly short of the Giada i53 Mini PC (4,337), which boasts a more robust Core i5-3317U CPU but also costs twice as much. Its Cinebench R11.5 score of 0.65, meanwhile, landed between the Giada MiniPC A50 (0.64) and the Acer RL100-UR20P (0.69), and trumped the Lenovo Q150 (0.52).

Since the ZBox Nano AD12 Plus is primarily geared toward media consumption, its capacity for creation was unsurprisingly not as sure-footed. It completed our Handbrake video-encoding test in 6 minutes 43 seconds, which is sluggish even though it outpaces both the Giada MiniPC A50 (9:18) and Lenovo Q150 (12:31). Moreover, it took 15:09 to run through our usual collection of a dozen filters in Photoshop CS5. That was quicker than the snail-like pace of the Lenovo Q150 (23:38) but short of the Acer RL100-UR20P (13:19) and, to a greater extent, the Giada MiniPC A50 (9:02).

Zotac ZBox Nano AD12 Plus

Given these scores, then, it didn't come as a major shock that the ZBox Nano AD12 Plus couldn't run any of our gaming benchmark tests. Ultimately, the results confirm what we had already suspected: beyond its home-entertainment functionality, the ZBox Nano AD12 Plus doesn't have the firepower to perform much beyond light daily tasks such as web browsing and casual social gaming.

For folks looking for an affordable way to jazz up their home entertainment systems, the Zotac ZBox Nano AD12 Plus is a decent choice. It's compact, stuffed with ports, and looks cool enough to show off to your friends. Still, it doesn't bring enough to the table to unseat the Acer Revo RL100-UR20P as Editors' Choice for nettop PCs. The latter includes a Blu-ray player and larger hard drive, and while it costs $300 extra, the difference isn't as pronounced after outfitting the ZBox Nano AD12 Plus with an operating system, keyboard, and mouse. Still, for anyone interested in using it mainly for its intended media-consumption purposes and who doesn't mind these shortcomings, it's worth checking out.

BENCHMARK TEST RESULTS: Check out the test scores for the

COMPARISON TABLE
Compare the Zotac ZBox Nano AD12 Plus with several other desktops side by side.

More Desktop Reviews:
??? Zotac ZBox Nano AD12 Plus
??? HP Pavilion 20-b010z
??? HP Envy Phoenix h9-1320t
??? Dell Inspiron One 23
??? Acer Veriton VZ2650G-UG645X
?? more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/f07qrrxzfIc/0,2817,2415724,00.asp

summerfest fidel castro rick santorum ozzie guillen castro comments phish gluten free diet barry zito

Fruit flies force their young to drink alcohol for their own good

Feb. 22, 2013 ? The fruit fly study adds to the evidence "that using toxins in the environment to medicate offspring may be common across the animal kingdom," says biologist Todd Schlenke.

When fruit flies sense parasitic wasps in their environment, they lay their eggs in an alcohol-soaked environment, essentially forcing their larvae to consume booze as a drug to combat the deadly wasps.

The discovery by biologists at Emory University is being published in the journal Science on February 22.

"The adult flies actually anticipate an infection risk to their children, and then they medicate them by depositing them in alcohol," says Todd Schlenke, the evolutionary geneticist whose lab did the research. "We found that this medicating behavior was shared by diverse fly species, adding to the evidence that using toxins in the environment to medicate offspring may be common across the animal kingdom."

Adult fruit flies detect the wasps by sight, and appear to have much better vision than previously realized, he adds. "Our data indicate that the flies can visually distinguish the relatively small morphological differences between male and female wasps, and between different species of wasps."

The experiments were led by Balint Zacsoh, who recently graduated from Emory with a degree in biology and still works in the Schlenke lab. The team also included Emory graduate student Zachary Lynch and postdoc Nathan Mortimer.

The larvae of the common fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, eat the rot, or fungi and bacteria, that grows on overripe, fermenting fruit. They have evolved a certain amount of resistance to the toxic effects of the alcohol levels in their natural habitat, which can range up to 15 percent.

Tiny, endoparasitoid wasps are major killers of fruit flies. The wasps inject their eggs inside the fruit fly larvae, along with venom that aims to suppress their hosts' cellular immune response. If the flies fail to kill the wasp egg, a wasp larva hatches inside the fruit fly larva and begins to eat its host from the inside out.

Last year, the Schlenke lab published a study showing how fruit fly larvae infected with wasps prefer to eat food high in alcohol. This behavior greatly improves the survival rate of the fruit flies because they have evolved high tolerance of the toxic effects of the alcohol, but the wasps have not.

"The fruit fly larvae raise their blood alcohol levels, so that the wasps living in their blood will suffer," Schlenke says. "When you think of an immune system, you usually think of blood cells and immune proteins, but behavior can also be a big part of an organism's immune defense."

For the latest study, the researchers asked whether the fruit fly parents could sense when their children were at risk for infection, and whether they then sought out alcohol to prophylactically medicate them.

Adult female fruit flies were released in one mesh cage with parasitic wasps and another mesh cage with no wasps. Both cages had two petri dishes containing yeast, the nourishment for lab-raised fruit flies and their larvae. The yeast in one of the petri dishes was mixed with 6 percent alcohol, while the yeast in the other dish was alcohol free. After 24 hours, the petri dishes were removed and the researchers counted the eggs that the fruit flies had laid.

The results were dramatic. In the mesh cage with parasitic wasps, 90 percent of the eggs laid were in the dish containing alcohol. In the cage with no wasps, only 40 percent of the eggs were in the alcohol dish.

"The fruit flies clearly change their reproductive behavior when the wasps are present," Schlenke says. "The alcohol is slightly toxic to the fruit flies as well, but the wasps are a bigger danger than the alcohol."

The fly strains used in the experiments have been bred in the lab for decades. "The flies that we work with have not seen wasps in their lives before, and neither have their ancestors going back hundreds of generations," Schlenke says. "And yet, the flies still recognize these wasps as a danger when they are put in a cage with them."

Further experiments showed that the flies are extremely discerning about differences in the wasps. They preferred to lay their eggs in alcohol when female wasps were present, but not if only male wasps were in the cage.

Theorizing that the flies were reacting to pheromones, the researchers conducted experiments using two groups of mutated fruit flies. One group lacked the ability to smell, and another group lacked sight. The flies unable to smell, however, still preferred to lay their eggs in alcohol when female wasps were present. The blind flies did not make the distinction, choosing the non-alcohol food for their offspring, even in the presence of female wasps.

"This result was a surprise to me," Schlenke says. "I thought the flies were probably using olfaction to sense the female wasps. The small, compound eyes of flies are believed to be more geared to detecting motion than high-resolution images."

The only obvious visual differences between the female and male wasps, he adds, is that the males have longer antennae, slightly smaller bodies, and lack an ovipositor.

Further experimentation showed that the fruit flies can distinguish different species of wasps, and will only choose the alcohol food in response to wasp species that infect larvae, not fly pupae. "Fly larvae usually leave the food before they pupate," Schlenke explains, "so there is likely little benefit to laying eggs at alcoholic sites when pupal parasites are present."

The researchers also connected the exposure to female parasitic wasps to changes in a fruit fly neuropeptide.

Stress, and the resulting reduced level of neuropeptide F, or NPF, has previously been associated with alcohol-seeking behavior in fruit flies. Similarly, levels of a homologous neuropeptide in humans, NPY, is associated with alcoholism.

"We found that when a fruit fly is exposed to female parasitic wasps, this exposure reduces the level of NPF in the fly brain, causing the fly to seek out alcoholic sites for oviposition," Schlenke says. "Furthermore, the alcohol-seeking behavior appears to remain for the duration of the fly's life, even when the parasitic wasps are no longer present, an example of long-term memory."

Finally, Drosophila melanogaster is not unique in using this offspring medication behavior. "We tested a number of fly species," Schlenke says, "and found that each fly species that uses rotting fruit for food mounts this immune behavior against parasitic wasps. Medication may be far more common in nature than we previously thought."

Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:

Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:


Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Emory Health Sciences. The original article was written by Carol Clark.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.


Journal References:

  1. B. Z. Kacsoh, Z. R. Lynch, N. T. Mortimer, T. A. Schlenke. Fruit Flies Medicate Offspring After Seeing Parasites. Science, 2013; 339 (6122): 947 DOI: 10.1126/science.1229625
  2. Neil?F. Milan, Balint?Z. Kacsoh, Todd?A. Schlenke. Alcohol Consumption as Self-Medication against Blood-Borne Parasites in the Fruit Fly. Current Biology, 2012; 22 (6): 488 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2012.01.045

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/553YyOM3vUk/130222102958.htm

joe oliver joba chamberlain new york mega millions jetblue jetblue michelle malkin october baby

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Laura Bush: Gay marriage ad should not include me

The national advertising campaign of print, television and online ads that launched this week featured a quote from an appearance by?Bush?on CNN in which she says: 'When couples are committed to each other and love each other then they ought to have the same sort of rights that everyone has.'

By Jamie Stengle,?Associated Press / February 21, 2013

In this 2012 photo, former first lady Laura Bush is seen in Arlington, Texas. Bush spokeswoman Anne MacDonald said Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013 that the former first lady wants to be removed from a pro-gay marriage group's national advertising campaign featuring prominent people speaking on the topic. MacDonald says Bush 'did not approve of her inclusion in this advertisement nor is she associated in any way with the group that made the ad.'

LM Otero/AP/File

Enlarge

Former first lady?Laura?Bush?wants to be removed from a pro-gay marriage group's national advertising campaign featuring prominent people speaking on the topic.

Skip to next paragraph

' + google_ads[0].line2 + '
' + google_ads[0].line3 + '

'; } else if (google_ads.length > 1) { ad_unit += ''; } } document.getElementById("ad_unit").innerHTML += ad_unit; google_adnum += google_ads.length; return; } var google_adnum = 0; google_ad_client = "pub-6743622525202572"; google_ad_output = 'js'; google_max_num_ads = '1'; google_feedback = "on"; google_ad_type = "text"; google_adtest = "on"; google_image_size = '230x105'; google_skip = '0'; // -->

The Respect for Marriage Coalition responded that it would start a new ad this weekend. The group, made up of more than 80 organizations supporting the freedom of gays to marry, said Thursday that it appreciatedBush's?previous comments but was "sorry she didn't want to be included in an ad."

The national advertising campaign of print, television and online ads that launched this week featured a quote from an appearance by?Bush?on CNN in which she says: "When couples are committed to each other and love each other then they ought to have the same sort of rights that everyone has."

The ads also include clips of President Barack Obama, former Vice President Dick Cheney and former Secretary of Defense Colin Powell talking about same-sex marriage. The coalition noted that it had used for the campaign public comments from "American leaders who have expressed support for civil marriage."

Bush?spokeswoman Anne MacDonald has said that?Bush?asked to be removed from the campaign after learning that she was being featured. MacDonald has said?Bush?"did not approve of her inclusion in this advertisement nor is she associated in any way with the group that made the ad."

After the coalition released its statement Thursday, MacDonald said?Bush?would have no further comment.

Cheney, whose daughter Mary is gay, said in a speech at the National Press Club in 2009 that he supported gays being able to marry but believed that states, not the federal government, should make the decision. The ad campaign that included?Bush?also featured a clip of Cheney saying at the National Press Club "Freedom means freedom for everyone."

Powell was shown in a clip from CNN saying, "Allowing them to live together with the protection of the law, it seems to me is the way we should be moving in this country." Obama's quote came from his inaugural address this year during which he says, "Our journey is not complete until our gay brothers and sisters are treated like anyone else under the law."

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/_zusCY-KtiE/Laura-Bush-Gay-marriage-ad-should-not-include-me

quick silver

Friday, February 22, 2013

Papay's all set for the third annual Gyro Nights festival - The Orcadian

disp_image.phpThe 2013 Papay Gyro Nights arts festival kicks off today, Thursday and promises a unique line-up, for this, the third outing of the event.

Around 20 artists and participants, from all over the globe, will be travelling to Papay for the eight-day event.

Artists Ivanov and Chan are at the helm of the event.

They explained: ?The main part of the festival is video art and experimental film, but we are also presenting sound art, music, storytelling and architecture. This year our festival residencies programme is also covering the fields of philosophy, anthropology and archaeology.

?It will be good entertainment, but also a great learning opportunity?

For full details, see www.papaygyronights.papawestray.org.

Source: http://www.orcadian.co.uk/2013/02/papays-all-set-for-the-third-annual-gyro-nights-festival/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=papays-all-set-for-the-third-annual-gyro-nights-festival

google project glass google goggles one tree hill projectglass stock act new york auto show khalid sheikh mohammed

Thursday, February 21, 2013

At least 14 hurt in gas explosion, fire in Kansas City, Missouri

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Reuters) - A fire triggered by a natural gas explosion that appeared to originate underground engulfed a restaurant in Kansas City, Missouri, on Tuesday, injuring more than a dozen people, authorities and witnesses said.

The gas explosion shook the Country Club Plaza, an upscale shopping area about 30 blocks south of downtown Kansas City, around dinner time, just after 6 p.m. CST (0000 GMT), Kansas City Fire Department spokesman James Garrett told CNN.

Mayor Sly James and Fire Chief Paul Berardi said 14 people were injured. Of those, nine were taken to area hospitals, including two with life-threatening injuries. No one was known to have been killed, the mayor said.

"I am just keeping my fingers crossed that this turns out to be what it looks like on first blush - that this is a relatively low number of injuries compared to what it could be," he told reporters.

"Hopefully, no fatalities will come out of it, but we don't know that at this point," he added.

The precise cause of the explosion was not immediately known, officials said. However, an office building was under construction across the street from the fire scene.

One witness, Bryce McElroy, who lives about two blocks away, said he heard a loud boom and headed toward the noise, arriving on the scene to see flames leaping from a manhole cover and advancing on the restaurant, a popular steakhouse and fine dining venue called JJ's.

Jeff Hansen, who lives about four blocks away, said he went to the scene to offer assistance after hearing the blast and saw six to eight people visibly injured who were leaving the area.

"Obviously there were multiple injuries," he said. "The question is if there is anybody still in there."

Firefighters swarmed into the area to battle flames consuming the restaurant as police officers ordered bystanders to move two blocks back from the fire as a precaution. The smell of gas fumes permeated the air around the scene.

The University of Kansas Hospital received six patients from the blast and fire, two of whom drove themselves from the scene and were treated and released, hospital spokesman Bob Hallinan told Reuters.

Of the four patients transported to the hospital, one was listed in critical condition and two in serious condition, he said. The fourth was being transferred from another hospital.

Local television station KCTV-5 reported at least three people were listed in critical condition at nearby St. Luke's Medical Center, suffering from burns and lacerations. Two more people were listed in good condition at Research Medical Center, spokeswoman Denise Charpentier said.

Two JJ's employees who were away from the restaurant at the time of the blast said they were told later by fellow workers who were present that staff members were alerted to the smell of gas shortly before the blast and had begun to evacuate the building.

One of those workers who relayed that account, Talley Saey, said she was told that several employees were among those taken to the hospital.

(Additional reporting by David Bailey; Writing by Steve Gorman; Editing by Cynthia Johnston, Eric Beech and Lisa Shumaker)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/several-hurt-explosion-fire-kansas-city-missouri-witnesses-012047389.html

alcatraz martin luther king jr. zappos john elway john elway i have a dream speech fox news debate

Monday, February 18, 2013

Rand Paul: Some Republicans Want Illegals 'Sent Back to Mexico'

Sunday, 17 Feb 2013 18:27 PM

Republican opponents of former Sen. Chuck Hagel's stalled bid to become defense secretary said Sunday that they'll proba?.?.?.

Sunday, 17 Feb 2013 16:04 PM

Lawmakers complained on Sunday that President Barack Obama had failed to protect Iranian dissidents from persecution by ?.?.?.

Sunday, 17 Feb 2013 15:21 PM

His arms outstretched in a symbolic embrace, Pope Benedict XVI blessed tens of thousands of cheering people on Sunday in?.?.?.

Source: http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/US-Paul-Immigration/2013/02/17/id/490742

jeff saturday jason smith jon corzine austin rivers austin rivers sweet home alabama etch a sketch

Friday, February 15, 2013

Notre Dame football: Slaughter denied sixth year

Jamoris Slaughter

Jamoris Slaughter (February 14, 2013)

Notre Dame safety Jamoris Slaughter's appeal for a sixth year has been denied by the NCAA, the school announced on Thursday. Slaughter was originally denied a sixth year in January and appealed that decision.

Slaughter suffered an Achilles injury in last season's Week 3 victory at Michigan State and missed the remainder of the season. He did not play as a true freshman in 2008.

"I understood that a sixth year was far from a guarantee," Slaughter said in a statement issued by the school. "It is sad to know that my time at Notre Dame as a football player is complete, but it doesn't lessen my love for this university and its football program. This decision simply begins the next chapter of my life and I'll be forever grateful for my coaches, teammates and all the Irish fans that supported me throughout my career."

"I appreciate the NCAA taking the time to thoroughly look into Jamoris' application for a sixth year," ND coach Brian Kelly said in the statement. "Jamoris is a first-class young man and most importantly leaves Notre Dame with his degree. We wish him all the best as he now pursues his dream of playing in the NFL."

Slaughter has been invited to the NFL Combine, which will be held Feb. 20-26 in Indianapolis. He was projected to be drafted prior to the injury, but draft analyst Scott Wright of DraftCountdown.com now sees Slaughter as a likely free agent.

"Coming into the year, a lot of people imagined him as a mid-round pick," Wright said. "Now, coming off the injury, I think he's a late-rounder at best and probably more along the lines of those undrafted free agent guys."

Slaughter saw action in 39 career games for ND, starting 19. He finishes with 98 tackles, two interceptions and two sacks.

Source: http://www.southbendtribune.com/sports/notredame/sbt-notre-dame-football-slaughter-denied-sixth-year-20130214,0,6334002.story?track=rss

kate gosselin helicopter crash matt jones whitney houston in casket photo resolute national enquirer whitney houston casket photo jk rowling