Thursday, January 31, 2013

THX releases iOS app for calibrating your home theater's visuals and audio

THX releases iOS app for calibrating your home theater's visuals and audio

Audio titan THX has released its very first mobile app, and it's aimed at helping folks fine tune their home theater experience. Dubbed "THX tune-up," the app slings videos, photos and test patterns to televisions and projectors to guide users through gauging and adjusting their kit's aspect ratio, brightness, color, contrast and tint. The solution isn't comprehensive, but it promises to work with hardware of any brand. If you don't have an AirPlay setup or cables to pipe content from your iDevice to a larger screen, the application also lends a hand when it comes to tweaking color and tint by leveraging a device's camera and a baked in color filter. As for audio, the app includes a pair of sound tests to make sure speakers are in phase and pump out the right output. THX tune-up won't be available on Android until this Spring, but it's currently up for download on Cupertino's App Store for free -- until it gets slapped with a $1.99 price tag after February 4th, that is. Hit the bordering source link to give it a spin.

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Source: THX, iTunes

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/30/thx-tune-up-calibration-app-ios/

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Female deer take control during the mating season

Female deer take control during the mating season [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 30-Jan-2013
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Contact: Neha Okhandiar
n.okhandiar@qmul.ac.uk
020-788-27927
Queen Mary, University of London

A new study provides the first evidence of polyandry when females choose to mate with more than one male in female fallow deer.

According to a team of scientists from Queen Mary, University of London, UWEHartpury, and University College Dublin, female fallow deer play an active role in selecting their mates, with a consistent proportion (on average 12 per cent) choosing to mate with multiple males each year.

"Until now there has been limited understanding of female mate choice during this process, with many people believing that female deer are controlled by males during the mating season, explains co-author Dr Alan McElligott from Queen Mary's School of Biological and Chemical Sciences.

"In fact, not only do females decide with whom they mate, but our study has shown that a proportion choose to mate more than once each year, and with different males. Traditionally most research of this type has focused on male deer mating strategies and female behaviour during the rut was often overlooked."

The research was carried out on a herd of fallow deer in Dublin's Phoenix Park over a 10-year period.

Dr Elodie Briefer, also from Queen Mary's School of Biological Sciences, said: "While the majority of female deer only mated once, we found that 5-20 per cent of the female fallow deer population mated with multiple males over the 10-year period. We believe that the presence of polyandrous females each year in the population is very good evidence of female fallow deer adopting different mating strategies."

The researchers suggest that the most likely explanation for polyandry in female fallow deer is to ensure that they become pregnant. For example, they observed that the female deer were more likely to mate again if their first mate was relatively old, or he had mated many times before, potentially indicating sperm depletion.

Dr Mary Farrell from UWEHartpury commented: "The timing of breeding is driven by the best time for offspring to be born. If a female is not fertilised during the first breeding season, she will come back into oestrous three weeks later. This causes a delay in the birth of the fawn, which can reduce its chances of survival."

###

The research was published in the journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology today.



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Female deer take control during the mating season [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 30-Jan-2013
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Neha Okhandiar
n.okhandiar@qmul.ac.uk
020-788-27927
Queen Mary, University of London

A new study provides the first evidence of polyandry when females choose to mate with more than one male in female fallow deer.

According to a team of scientists from Queen Mary, University of London, UWEHartpury, and University College Dublin, female fallow deer play an active role in selecting their mates, with a consistent proportion (on average 12 per cent) choosing to mate with multiple males each year.

"Until now there has been limited understanding of female mate choice during this process, with many people believing that female deer are controlled by males during the mating season, explains co-author Dr Alan McElligott from Queen Mary's School of Biological and Chemical Sciences.

"In fact, not only do females decide with whom they mate, but our study has shown that a proportion choose to mate more than once each year, and with different males. Traditionally most research of this type has focused on male deer mating strategies and female behaviour during the rut was often overlooked."

The research was carried out on a herd of fallow deer in Dublin's Phoenix Park over a 10-year period.

Dr Elodie Briefer, also from Queen Mary's School of Biological Sciences, said: "While the majority of female deer only mated once, we found that 5-20 per cent of the female fallow deer population mated with multiple males over the 10-year period. We believe that the presence of polyandrous females each year in the population is very good evidence of female fallow deer adopting different mating strategies."

The researchers suggest that the most likely explanation for polyandry in female fallow deer is to ensure that they become pregnant. For example, they observed that the female deer were more likely to mate again if their first mate was relatively old, or he had mated many times before, potentially indicating sperm depletion.

Dr Mary Farrell from UWEHartpury commented: "The timing of breeding is driven by the best time for offspring to be born. If a female is not fertilised during the first breeding season, she will come back into oestrous three weeks later. This causes a delay in the birth of the fawn, which can reduce its chances of survival."

###

The research was published in the journal Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology today.



[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-01/qmuo-fdt013013.php

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Volvo Inks Strategic Alliance with Chinese Company Dongfeng Motor Group

AB Volvo has signed an agreement with the Chinese vehicle manufacturer Dongfeng Motor Group Company Limited (DFG) to acquire 45 percent of a new subsidiary of DFG, Dongfeng Commercial Vehicles (DFCV), which will include the major part of DFG?s medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles business.

Completion of the transaction is subject to certain conditions, including the approval of relevant anti-trust agencies and Chinese authorities. The purchase consideration amounts to RMB 5.6 billion. The ambition is to complete the transaction as soon as possible and completion is expected to take place within approximately 12 months from today.

The transaction with DFG follows the recent agreement between DFG and Nissan Motors, in which DFG purchased the medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicle operation from the joint venture DFL (owned jointly by DFG and Nissan Motors). The major part of the re-purchased commercial vehicle operation will be included in the new company, Dongfeng Commercial Vehicles (DFCV). According to the agreement between DFG and Volvo, Volvo will acquire 45 percent of Dongfeng Commercial Vehicles for a total amount of RMB 5.6 billion, subject to adjustments, to be paid on closure of the transaction. Payment of the purchase price will increase Volvo?s net debt by approximately SEK 6 billion.

The Volvo Group sold 180,000 units worldwide in 2011. Dongfeng had total sales of 186,000 units in 2011, of which approximately 142,000 units were produced by the part of the company that will be included in DFCV.

In 2011, DFCV reported net sales of approximately RMB 39 billion (pro forma) and operating income of approximately RMB 1.2 billion (pro forma). DFCV has approximately 28,000 employees and sold 142,000 heavy-duty trucks and 49,000 medium-duty trucks in 2011 (pro forma).

For the first three quarters of 2012, DFCV?s net sales amounted to approximately RMB 22 billion (pro forma) and operating income to approximately RMB 0.3 billion (pro forma). During the same period, 81,000 heavy-duty trucks and 35,000 medium-duty trucks were sold by DFCV (pro forma). At the end of the third quarter of 2012, DFCV had net financial debt of approximately RMB 500 million (pro forma). The AB Volvo holding in DFCV is expected to be reported as an associated company and consolidated in accordance with the equity method, one-line consolidation, within the Trucks segment.

During 2012, the Chinese market for heavy-duty trucks totaled approximately 636,000 vehicles, while the corresponding figure for the medium-duty market was 290,000 vehicles, according to a Volvo press release. DFCV had sales of 102,000 heavy-duty trucks and 45,500 medium-duty trucks, corresponding to market shares of 16.1 percent and 15.7 percent, respectively.

The DFCV management team will consist of eight members, with Volvo nominating four of the eight members and Dongfeng the remaining four. Dongfeng will nominate the company?s managing director, while Volvo will be responsible for nominating the chief financial officer. The Board of DFCV will comprise seven board members and it has been agreed that the Volvo Group will account for three places and DFG four.

The transaction is subject to certain conditions, including approval of relevant authorities. The ambition is to complete the transaction as soon as possible and completion is expected to take place within approximately 12 months.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AutomotiveFleet/~3/j008FDNBkhY/Volvo-Inks-Strategic-Alliance-with-Chinese-Company-Dongfeng-Motor-Group.aspx

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Microsoft?s Cloud-Friendly Office 365 Launches

Microsoft’s Cloud-Friendly Office 365 Launches
The new cloud-friendly subscription-based Office suite that Microsoft first detailed last summer is finally available.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GearFactor/~3/XHirkw3nSMc/

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Wednesday, January 30, 2013

'Investors Want Progressive, Consistent Regulations in India'


Davos: India needs to have a regulatory regime that is consistent and progressive in nature to find a place in the investment roadmap of foreign companies, global banking giant HSBC's India chief Naina Lal Kidwai has said.


Kidwai, who was here for the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting, further said that a renewed wave of reforms initiated by the government have indeed indicated towards better times ahead, but there still remains a scepticism about execution and it is very important for the country's leaders to demonstrate their deliverability.


Asked about the perception about India among foreign investors present at Davos, Kidwai told PTI in an interview, "What we have seen at Davos this year is that the people believe it is an important time for India to be back on track.


"The reforms have started again and in the last few months India got quite a few new policies and new bills through. These are indications that even better times are to come with regard to the India story.


More: 7 Worthless Websites Which Earned Millions


"However, there is some scepticism about whether India can really deliver on some of these early promises and therefore it is going to be very important for us to really demonstrate that we can," she added.


Kidwai, the Country Head of HSBC India and a Director of HSBC Asia Pacific, last month also took over as the first woman President of apex industry Chamber FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry).


Asked about the issues coming on the way of India growth story, Kidwai said: "There is a desire to see the issues with the pending projects that have got struck, particularly in power sector, getting sorted out.


"There is a desire to ensure that India gives a regulatory regime which does not appear to be stepping back or changing all the time. The concerns about regulatory changes, such as retrospective taxation, remain despite the recent reforms."


"What we need today is a consistency in the regulatory framework. These concerns are a sort of repeated refrain among the overseas investors here at Davos and we need to work on these issues," she added.


Kidwai said India is clearly important for foreign investors and fortunately they can not write it off.


"The investors and foreign companies present here, all of them want to engage with India. All acknowledge that we (India) are a sort of tough country to do business with, but they can't ignore it either.


"It is up to us to demonstrate that we can get it right and tell them that we are not as difficult as they believe, so that the decisions that they take about investments include India as a major destination," Kidwai.


"We have always been an attractive destination in the services sector, but we should also work towards making ourselves an attractive destination for supply chain investments in the manufacturing sector. This is the area where big companies can come and invest," Kidwai said.


Source: PTI

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/sibiznews/~3/148K-SDJfl8/Investors-Want-Progressive-Consistent-Regulations-in-India-nid-139853-cid-3.html

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Tuesday, January 29, 2013

US consumer confidence plunges on higher taxes

In this Thursday, Jan. 20, 2013, photo, a woman shops at a Nordstrom store in Chicago. U.S. consumer confidence plunged in January to its lowest level in more than a year, reflecting higher Social Security taxes that left Americans with less take-home pay. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

In this Thursday, Jan. 20, 2013, photo, a woman shops at a Nordstrom store in Chicago. U.S. consumer confidence plunged in January to its lowest level in more than a year, reflecting higher Social Security taxes that left Americans with less take-home pay. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

In this Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013, photo, a woman walks in front of a Victoria's Secret store in Chicago. U.S. consumer confidence plunged in January to its lowest level in more than a year, reflecting higher Social Security taxes that left Americans with less take-home pay. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

(AP) ? U.S. consumer confidence plunged in January to its lowest level in more than a year, reflecting higher Social Security taxes that left Americans with less take-home pay.

The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index dropped 8.1 points in January from December to a reading of 58.6, the lowest since November 2011.

The index has declined for three straight months since hitting a nearly five-year high of 73.1 in October 2012. It's still above the post-recession low of 40.9 reached in October 2011.

Conference Board economist Lynn Franco said the tax increase was the key reason confidence tumbled in January, making Americans less optimistic about the next six months.

For a worker earning $50,000 a year, take-home pay will shrink this year by about $1,000.

"It may take a while for confidence to rebound and consumers to recover from their initial paycheck shock," Franco said.

The index fell sharply in December as congressional Republicans and President Barack Obama moved closer to the fiscal cliff without reaching a resolution on sharp spending cuts and tax increases.

Congress and the White House ultimately struck a deal on Jan. 1 to prevent income taxes from rising on most Americans. But they delayed the spending cuts for only two months. And they allowed a temporary cut in Social Security taxes to expire.

The survey was conducted through Jan. 17, at which point most people began to realize their paychecks were lighter.

Consumers were less confident in January than December about current economic conditions, the survey showed. And their outlook for the job market also grew more pessimistic.

Most economists attributed the drop in confidence to the increase in payroll taxes.

Joshua Shapiro, chief U.S. economist at MFR Inc., also noted that sharp divisions in Washington over spending cuts and tax increases likely made consumers less optimistic about the economy, too.

"All the negative news about the dysfunction in Washington surrounding the fiscal cliff negotiations contributed to the December plunge, and ongoing shenanigans concerning the debt ceiling and fiscal sanity in general continued to weigh in January," Shapiro said.

Taxes are rising at a time when wages and salaries are barely growing. The combination is expected to hurt consumer spending and slow economic growth.

Many economists predict economic growth slowed in the October-December quarter to an annual rate of around 1 percent. That would be much weaker that the 3.1 percent rate in the July-September quarter. Most economists don't expect growth to pick up much in the first quarter of 2013.

The decline in confidence comes as the economy is signaling improvement elsewhere.

A recovery in housing market is looking more sustainable and is expected to strength this year.

A separate report Tuesday showed home prices accelerated this fall, pushed higher by rising sales and a tighter supply of available homes. The Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller 20-city home price index rose 5.5 percent in November compared with the same month a year ago. That's the largest year-over-year gain in six years.

The U.S. auto industry and financial sector are also picking up.

Auto sales reached a five-year high of 14.5 million in 2012. Analysts expect sales will climb even higher this year, to 15.5 million.

Stocks are near their all-time highs. The Standard and Poor's 500 has more than doubled from its low in 2009.

Still, the job market remains sluggish. Employers have added an average of about 150,000 jobs a month for the past two years. That's enough for a gradual decline in the unemployment rate, which remains high at 7.8 percent.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2013-01-29-Consumer%20Confidence/id-d42451d1871044e08f022f794255c267

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'Master' proto-oncogene regulates stress-induced ovarian cancer metastasis

Jan. 29, 2013 ? Scientists at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have discovered the signaling pathway whereby a master regulator of cancer cell proteins -- known as Src -- leads to ovarian cancer progression when exposed to stress hormones. The researchers report in the current issue of Nature Communications that beta blocker drugs mitigate this effect and reduce cancer deaths by an average of 17 percent.

Src (pronounced "sarc," short for sarcoma) is a proto-oncogene -- a normal gene that can become an oncogene due to increased expression -- involved in the regulation of cell growth and division. Known to be instrumental to changes that cause normal cells to go awry, this study sheds light on its functional role as a key molecular switch affecting a downstream signaling pathway that spurs disease progression.

Led by Anil K. Sood, M.D., professor in MD Anderson's Departments of Gynecologic Oncology and Cancer Biology, researchers found that noradrenaline (NA; a stress hormone) directly affects tumor growth and spread through beta-adrenergic (ADRB) receptors expressed on tumor cells. The study demonstrated that ADRB signaling leads to Src activation via a unique protein kinase A (PKA)-mediated mechanism, which is critical to the regulation of cellular activity and cancer metastasis. This is the first time that scientists have been able to show that ADRB receptors play a direct role in Src activation by this mechanism.

"When Src is triggered by stress, it works like a dam letting out water that causes a flood downstream. Src, like the dam, is a master regulator switch that causes a chain reaction in the cells," said Sood.

Based on existing findings of Sood's ongoing work exploring potential interventions against the effects of stress, the researchers examined data on outcomes of cancer patients treated with beta blocker drugs from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System. They found that mortality in patients treated with a beta blocker was reduced by an average of 17 percent across all major cancer types. Moreover, they observed a nearly 15 percent decrease in mortality among patients with ovarian and cervical cancer.

Beta blockers, also called beta-adrenergic blocking agents, treat a variety of conditions, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, glaucoma and migraines. They act on the ADRB receptors, which are also found on the heart -- causing the heart to beat harder and faster under stress -- and are involved in maintaining blood flow.

When the ADRB receptors on cancer cells are activated, they set into motion a chain of events that leads to formation of new blood vessels that feed tumor growth -- a process known as angiogenesis. New blood vessel formation allows tumors to grow and spread more rapidly. Beta blocking agents stop this process.

"Prior to our work, the concept of stress hormones driving cancer growth was very new and only very limited information about the effect of beta blockers on cancer outcomes in humans has been available," said Guillermo Armaiz-Pena, Ph.D., instructor of Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine and first author of the study. "This study provides incentive to further explore beta blockers as a possible supplement to traditional cancer therapies."

A Mystery Pathway Revealed

While NA -- the most abundant stress hormone in the ovary -- has been proven to modulate multiple cellular functions important for cancer progression, how it does so had remained a puzzle. Sood's team used a multi-step process to determine how the tumor microenvironment is disrupted by stress hormones.

First, the researchers exposed ovarian cancer cells to NA and identified a number of proteins altered by stress hormones. Using bioinformatics analysis, they narrowed potential mediators to Src.

A series of subsequent experiments designed to verify the biological roles of Src in promoting ovarian cancer tumor growth in response to stress hormones revealed the signaling pathway involved in NA-mediated Src activation. Specifically, they showed:

? PKA (also known as cAMP-dependent protein kinase) is the switch that "turns on" NA-induced Src activation; ? The signaling pathway occurs at a particular site on the cell known as S17; and ? This specific mechanism is key to mediating ADRB/cAMP/PKA-induced Src activation.

Building on the Stress-Cancer Connection For the past 13 years, Sood's research efforts have focused on the effects of chronic stress on cancer metastasis. The latest study helps form a more comprehensive picture on the impact of and biological mechanics of chronic stress on ovarian cancer, as well as the role of beta blockers in slowing disease progression. Previous studies have shown:

? Chronic stress triggers a chain of molecular events that protects breakaway ovarian cells from destruction, as heightened levels of the fight-or-flight hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine permit more malignant cells to safely leave the primary tumor -- a necessary step in metastasis and cancer progression.

? When mice with ovarian cancer are stressed, their tumors grow and spread more quickly, but the effect can be blocked using propranolol, a beta blocker commonly prescribed for heart disease.

Future research will focus on other biological mechanisms that may be affected by stress. Eventually, Sood hopes his studies will help identify the cancer patients most likely to benefit from beta blockers and other stress interventions. He is also looking at the impact of stress on other diseases, such as gastrointestinal disorders.

"This is a major step forward in understanding the biology and impact of stress on cancer progression and it opens the door to study drugs that could inhibit this unique signaling pathway," Sood said.

The current study was supported by grants from the NCI (F31CA126474), NIH (numbers CA101642, CA140933, CA104825, CA110793, CA109298, P50CA083639, P50CA098258, CA128797, RC2GM092599, U54CA96300, and U54CA96297), the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, Zarrow Foundation, Department of Defense (numbers OC073399, W81XWH-10-1-0158, OC100237, and BC085265) Betty Ann Asche Murray Distinguished Professorship, the Marcus Foundation, RGK Foundation, Gilder Foundation, the estate of C.G. Johnson Jr., the Laura and John Arnold Foundation and the Blanton-Davis Ovarian Cancer Research Programme.

Co-authors of the paper from MD Anderson included Guillermo N. Armaiz-Pena Ph.D.; Julie K. Allen; Rebecca L. Stone, M.D.; Alpa M. Nick, M.D.; Yvonne G. Lin, M.D.; Liz Y. Han, M.D.; Lingegowda S. Mangala; Gabriel J. Villares; Pablo Vivas-Mejia, Ph.D.; Christian Rodriguez, Ph.D.; Archana S. Nagaraja; Kshipa M. Gharpure; Mian M.K. Shazhad, M.D.; Maya Zigler; Michael T. Deavers, M.D.; Gary E. Gallick, Ph.D; Menashe Bar-Eli, Ph.D.; and Gabriel Lopez-Berestein, M.D. Sood, Allen, Villares, Nagaraja, Gharpure and Zigler are also affiliated with The University of Texas Health Science Center. Other co-authors included Madeline Torres-Lugo, Ph.D., Gustavo E. Lopez, Ph.D. and Anthony Cruz, University of Puerto Rico; Zheng Wu, Ph.D., Robert D. English, Ph.D., Kizhake V. Soman, Ph.D. and John E. Wiktorowicz, Ph.D., University of Texas Medical Branch; Alexander Zien, Ph.D., Theodoros G. Soldatos and David B. Jackson, Molecular Health GmbH; Tom Young, Ph.D., Lehman College; Koen De Geest, M.D. and Susan K. Lutgendorf, Ph.D., University of Iowa; Steve W. Cole, Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

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


Journal Reference:

  1. Guillermo N. Armaiz-Pena, Julie K. Allen, Anthony Cruz, Rebecca L. Stone, Alpa M. Nick, Yvonne G. Lin, Liz Y. Han, Lingegowda S. Mangala, Gabriel J. Villares, Pablo Vivas-Mejia, Cristian Rodriguez-Aguayo, Archana S. Nagaraja, Kshipra M. Gharpure, Zheng Wu, Robert D. English, Kizhake V. Soman, Mian M. K. Shazhad, Maya Zigler, Michael T. Deavers, Alexander Zien, Theodoros G. Soldatos, David B. Jackson, John E. Wiktorowicz, Madeline Torres-Lugo, Tom Young, Koen De Geest, Gary E. Gallick, Menashe Bar-Eli, Gabriel Lopez-Berestein, Steve W. Cole, Gustavo E. Lopez, Susan K. Lutgendorf, Anil K. Sood. Src activation by ?-adrenoreceptors is a key switch for tumour metastasis. Nature Communications, 2013; 4: 1403 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2413

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

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_health/~3/yTx1bu1EI84/130129121843.htm

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Senate immigration reform backers seek quick action

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bipartisan group of senators who have agreed on an immigration reform plan said on Monday they hope to move quickly with legislation giving 11 million illegal immigrants a chance to eventually become American citizens.

The four Democrats and four Republicans released the outline of a comprehensive immigration reform effort - one with plenty of details missing - that still must be turned into legislation.

At a news conference on the proposal, Democratic Senator Charles Schumer of New York, one of the eight working on the initiative, said he hoped it could be passed by the Senate in late spring or early summer.

In an attempt to build support among lawmakers, the Senate proposal would couple immigration reform with enhanced security efforts aimed at preventing illegal immigration and ensuring that those foreigners here temporarily return home when their visas expire.

A Republican member of the group, Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, said he hoped for an overwhelming vote of support in the Senate, which could enhance chances of a bill passing the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.

But Graham also warned, "If for some reason we fail in our efforts to pass comprehensive immigration reform, I do believe it will be many years before anyone is willing to try and solve this problem."

The plan, which faces an uncertain future in Congress, was unveiled a day before President Barack Obama was to give a policy speech on immigration in Nevada.

With Republicans regrouping after November elections in which they failed to garner significant support from Hispanic voters, there are other indications immigration reform could be on a fast track in the newly convened 113th Congress.

A bipartisan group in the House also is close to unveiling its own immigration proposals, according to the congressional source with knowledge of the reform efforts.

The source said the House group could detail its outline either later this week or next week.

No one expects an easy path for any of the proposals, which are still being developed and lack detail.

The last comprehensive revision of the nation's immigration law was in 1986. Numerous efforts since then have encountered stiff resistance, especially from the conservative wing of the Republican Party, which as recently as the Republican presidential primary races in 2012 opposed anything resembling an "amnesty" for undocumented immigrants.

"When you legalize those who are in the country illegally, it costs taxpayers millions of dollars, costs American workers thousands of jobs and encourages more illegal immigration," warned Republican Representative Lamar Smith, who is the former chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

With the electoral power of Hispanic voters growing rapidly, however, leading Republicans have been urging conservatives to rethink both their positions and their rhetoric.

The Senate group included Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid expressed his support for the effort.

Under its proposal, undocumented immigrants would be allowed to register with the government, pay a fine, and then be given probationary legal status allowing them to work.

Ultimately, they would have to "go to the end of the line" and apply for permanent status.

The White House praised the group's efforts but warned that Obama would not be satisfied until there was meaningful reform. The president "will continue to urge Congress to act until that is achieved," a White House spokesman said.

(Additional reporting by Jeff Mason in Washington and Tim Gaynor in Arizona; Editing by Fred Barbash and Doina Chiacu)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/bipartisan-senate-group-proposes-broad-immigration-plan-103529891.html

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Qigong Improves Quality of Life for Breast Cancer Patients | Psych ...

By Janice Wood Associate News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on January 26, 2013

Qigong Improves Quality of Life for Breast Cancer Patients  New research has found that qigong, an ancient mind-body practice, has been found to reduce depression and improve the quality of life in women undergoing radiation for breast cancer.

The study examined qigong in patients receiving radiation therapy and included a follow-up period to assess its benefits over time, according to researchers.

?We were [...] particularly interested to see if qigong would benefit patients experiencing depressive symptoms at the start of treatment,? said Lorenzo Cohen, Ph.D., a professor in the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center?s Departments of General Oncology and Behavioral Science.

?It is important for cancer patients to manage stress because it can have a profoundly negative effect on biological systems and inflammatory profiles.?

For the study, Cohen and his colleagues recruited 96 women with stage 1-3 breast cancer from Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center in Shanghai, China.

About half of the women ? 49 ? were randomly assigned to a qigong group consisting of five 40-minute classes each week during their five-to-six week course of radiation therapy. The remaining 47 women comprised a control group receiving standard care.

The program incorporated a modified version of Chinese medical qigong, which consisted of synchronizing one?s breath with various exercises, the researchers explained.

Participants in both groups completed assessments at the beginning, middle and end of radiation therapy and then one and three months later. Different aspects of quality of life were measured, including depressive symptoms, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and overall quality of life.

According to the researchers, patients in the qigong group reported a steady decline in depressive symptom scores beginning at the end of radiation therapy, with a mean score of 12.3, through the three month post-radiation follow-up with a score of 9.5. No changes were noted in the control group over time, the study found.

The study also found that qigong was especially helpful for women reporting high baseline depressive symptoms, Cohen said.

?We examined women?s depressive symptoms at the start of the study to see if women with higher levels would benefit more,? he said.

?In fact, women with low levels of depressive symptoms at the start of radiotherapy had good quality of life throughout treatment and three months later regardless of whether they were in the qigong or control group. However, women with high depressive symptoms in the control group reported the worst levels of depressive symptoms, fatigue, and overall quality of life that were significantly improved for the women in the qigong group.?

As the benefits of qigong were largely observed after treatment concluded, researchers suggest qigong may prevent a delayed symptom burden or expedite the recovery process, especially for women with elevated depressive symptoms at the start of radiation therapy. Cohen notes the delayed effect could be explained by the cumulative nature of the treatments, as the benefits often take time to be realized.

According to the researchers, the findings support other previously reported trials examining the benefits of qigong, but are too preliminary to offer clinical recommendations.

They note that additional research is needed to understand the possible biological mechanisms involved and further explore the use of qigong in ethnically diverse populations with different forms of cancer.

The study was published in the journal Cancer.

Source: University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center


APA Reference
Wood, J. (2013). Qigong Improves Quality of Life for Breast Cancer Patients. Psych Central. Retrieved on January 27, 2013, from http://psychcentral.com/news/2013/01/27/qigong-improves-quality-of-life-for-breast-cancer-patients/50826.html

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Source: http://psychcentral.com/news/2013/01/27/qigong-improves-quality-of-life-for-breast-cancer-patients/50826.html

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Investing for Retirement: Making A Crown of Old Age - Solomon ...

Welcome! If this is your first time visiting Jason Hartman's website, please read this page to learn more about what we do here. You may also be interested in receiving updates from our blog via RSS or via email if you prefer. If you have any questions about Christian investing feel free to contact us anytime! Thanks!

silimons success graphicFor King Solomon, who reigned for forty years, old age yields the rewards of a life well lived. ?Old age is a crown of dignity, which is found in the ways of justice,? he says in Proverbs 16:1. The King?s words suggest the importance of preparing early to enjoy those serene, comfortable years after retirement. Yet, according to a number of recent surveys, most Americans fail to plan realistically for retirement.

Many people responding to a recent survey on their retirement plans said they expected to work well beyond retirement age. Although the majority of these individuals were working in fields where retirement isn?t mandated ? as business owners, academics and professionals in law and medicine ? unforeseen circumstances can derail that plan. An unexpected health problem, changes in economic conditions, or even a change of heart about the whole thing can mean a need to fall back on retirement income.

Others, nearing retirement with limited savings, think it?s just too late to try to create a better income stream. These folks may be relying on an employer?s pension plan or Social Security to fill in the gaps. Some may have a retirement savings account without much in it. But financial experts say it?s never too late to start planning. And for those who can manage it, investing in real estate or becoming an entrepreneur may provide a solution to creating income in retirement.

A third group tends to rely on home equity as a backup source of retirement money. But, as the ups and downs of the housing market over the last few years have shown, that?s an income source that may not be reliable. If housing values fall, or sales go flat in the local market, homeowners needing to sell quickly may not end up with as much as they?d hoped on the deal.

There are other myths about retirement savings, too. People may simply miscalculate the amount needed for a comfortable and prosperous retirement. Anticipating needs, as well as the volatile nature of the economy, may be difficult. But in today?s world, people can expect to live a third of their lives ? or maybe more ? post-retirement. That?s a long time ? longer than many realize.

Of course, these myths about retirement are not really myths. There?s truth in them all. But as Solomon advises, wisdom and prudence can lay the foundation for a comfortable and prosperous life post retirement. The key is to take active steps to ensure a secure income stream. Investing in income property as a real estate entrepreneur, as Jason Hartman advises,? can lay the foundation for that kind of income stream, allowing retirees to enjoy life with that crown of dignity the King describes.

The Solomon Success Team


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Tags: Biblical investing, financial investing, income property, jason hartman, Solomon proverbs

Source: http://www.solomonsuccess.com/investing-for-retirement-making-a-crown-of-old-age/

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DNA-repairing protein may be key to preventing recurrence of some cancers

Jan. 28, 2013 ? Just as the body can become resistant to antibiotics, certain methods of killing cancer tumors can end up creating resistant tumor cells. But a University of Central Florida professor has found a protein present in several types of cancer, including breast and ovarian cancer, which could be helpful in preventing tumors from coming back.

The protein, KLF8, appears to protect tumor cells from drugs aimed at killing them and even aid the tumor cells' ability to regenerate.

"All cells have a DNA-repair mechanism," explained Jihe Zhao, a medical doctor and researcher who in the past few months has published several articles related to the protein in the Journal of Biological Chemistry and Oncogene, among others. "That's why we survive constant DNA damage threats. But KLF8 is overexpressed in specific cancers, such as breast cancer and ovarian cancer. The thought is that if we can stop it from switching on, we may be able to stop the tumors from coming back as part of therapy. We still need to do a lot more research, but it is plausible.

There are between 2.5 million and 2.7 million women who have breast cancer in the United States and 10 to 20 percent will experience a recurrence, according to the American Cancer Society. Current treatment options, depending on the stage of cancer, include surgical removal followed by chemotherapy using a combination of cancer killing drugs. Each year about 22,200 women are also diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

DNA damage-based chemotherapies depend on failure of cancer cells to repair the DNA damage and subsequent cell death, according to the journal article. Aberrant high levels of DNA repair function in the cells likely increase not only the resistance of the cells to such therapies but also the malignancy of the cells due to improper DNA repair-mediated genomic and chromosomal instability.

In the study, Zhao's team tested one specific cancer-fighting drug used in the treatment of breast cancer to determine the role of the protein.

"Indeed, our results have clearly linked the KLF8-promoted DNA repair to the cell resistance to doxorubicin-induced cell death," Zhao said. "It remains to be determined whether KLF8 plays a similar role in repairing DNA damage caused by other types of genotoxic agents such as DNA alkylating agents and ionizing radiation."

Even so, the results suggest that in addition to enhancing the drug resistance of the cancer cells, KLF8 could play a role in disturbing genomic integrity through its aberrant DNA repair function and subsequently contribute to aggressive progression of cancer.

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

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


Journal References:

  1. H. Lu, L. Hu, T. Li, S. Lahiri, C. Shen, M. S. Wason, D. Mukherjee, H. Xie, L. Yu, J. Zhao. A Novel Role of Kruppel-like Factor 8 in DNA Repair in Breast Cancer Cells. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 2012; 287 (52): 43720 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M112.418053
  2. H Lu, X Wang, A M Urvalek, T Li, H Xie, L Yu, J Zhao. Transformation of human ovarian surface epithelial cells by Kr?ppel-like factor 8. Oncogene, 2012; DOI: 10.1038/onc.2012.545

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

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/OBBSx68vNM4/130128104626.htm

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Sunday, January 27, 2013

The More Republicans Know About Politics, the More They Beli ...


Terry V. (42)
Friday January 25, 2013, 5:13 pm
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