We have to say, Olympus has a very compelling point-and-shoot to show off at CP+. The Stylus XZ-10, which launched just this week, includes a small arsenal of features that you wouldn't normally find on a pocketable cam, including incredibly fast autofocus, a control ring around the lens, a dedicated mode dial and a very sharp (920k-dot) 3-inch LCD. The autofocus is the standout here, however -- Olympus describes it as being on-par with its PEN Micro Four Thirds models, and as compacts go, it feels just about as speedy as Sony's RX100. The 5x, 26-130mm lens offers a maximum aperture range of f/1.8-2.7, which should have you covered in most lighting situations. There's a 12-megapixel CMOS chip on board, with sensor-shift image stabilization, and support for 1080/30p video as well.
The camera itself feels very much like a premium device, and it's attractive to boot. There's no built-in WiFi, which we've been seeing embedded with quite a few pocketable models this year, but you can take advantage of some smartphone sharing and editing features if you add on an optional Toshiba FlashAir card. Sadly, there's still no US pricing to speak of, but Olympus reps here in Japan quoted a retail price of ¥40,000 (about $440), plus tax, when the camera hits stores beginning in February. Take a closer look in our hands-on after the break.
GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK, Ariz. -- Google is giving people a way to virtually hike the Grand Canyon.
The search giant released images Thursday that map the most popular trails at the park's South Rim and other walkways.
The Mountain View, Calif.-based company used a rosette of cameras mounted for the first time on a backpack to gather thousands of panoramic images last year.
The so-called trekker captured images every 2.5 seconds, showing the steep switchbacks of the Bright Angel Trail, the change from juniper trees to scrub brush and the Colorado River.
Google has said it wants to deploy the backpacks to other national parks and forests, and to ancient ruins and castles.
The company also has used tricycles, push carts and snowmobiles to map places where vehicles cannot travel.
A MotherHood Experience: P&G Tips to maximize family budgets skip to main | skip to sidebar
P&G Tips to maximize family budgets
The holiday season is now over and as we sit back and reflect about the joyous festivities, we can't help but also think about our 2013 budget which may or may not have a dent in it after gift giving and holiday hosting. Soon we will be facing the much?dreaded?post-holiday bills and some of us may be scratching our heads as to what happened and how we can get back on track for the New Year.?Sandra Hanna, CEO and co-founder of www.smartcookies.com has some great tips to help ease the pain of the headache that comes with post-holiday budget blues. We had the opportunity to listen to Sandra speak at the P&G event last November, shes a fantastic person with some amazing ideas to help families everywhere.? Find free outdoor activities: During the weeks the kids are off on holidays, or on weekends, why not participate in free outdoor activities like sliding at a local public hill, skating at a local public rink or even look into free winter festivals that may be taking place in your neighbourhood. These activities keep everyone happy and won't make an impact on your already dented budget.? If you live in a close-knit neighbourhood you can also invite the local kids together for a snowman parade. This is where kids build snowmen and parade them around the block in a wagon or sled. Maybe even have a judging contest (of course everyone would win, it's all for fun after all). Workout at home: There's no need to keep up with the?Jones'?and spend on a gym membership this year. You can get a simple workout right at home. If you're willing to tough it outside a brisk walk, run or snowshoe could be the best workout you have all year. Best of all these activities cost you nothing but time and energy, if you want to work off that post-holiday overindulgence, these are great starting points. In winter months it can even be fun to get a group of friends together and share winter workout gear or workout music playlists to help eachother get motivated to meet their workout goals. With the money saved, you could all enjoy a nice hot chocolate or late for a treat afterward.? Cold water wash: No matter what the season, I wash our laundry in cold water. It saves money on electricity, use of hot water and also not as hard on the clothing. Less chance of shrinking that new sweater mom got me for Christmas. Using cold water and detergent like Cold Water Tide can actually save about $7 a load in energy costs. With the amount of laundry we do per week - those savings can definitely add up!
Winter Staycation: Want to take the family on a vacation on an already tight budget? Why spend hundreds on a vacation somewhere hot and balmy when you can save money on a staycation right in your own city! You'd be surprised how fun and inexpensive a staycation close to home can be. Local hotels, restaurants and attractions often have off-season discounts you can cash in on. Just do a little research about where you're heading and call in advance letting them know about your local staycation to see if they have any discounts and savings you could use for your family. Being local you may just find a cheap hotel room rate or family meal discounts in hotels and restaurants!? For more great money saving tips don't forget to follow @SmartCookies on Twitter and Like the SmartCookies Facebook fan page! Happy winter budgeting! Disclosure: Posted by AME in participation as a #PGMom Brand Ambassador. We receive special perks as part of the program. Comments and opinions on this blog are those of the author. Product information, tips and stock images provided by representatives of P&G.?
It's Thursday! Huzzaha! That means it's time for two things: Podcastin' and more podcastin'. We've got a full slate to night, including the Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0, some hot HTC leaks, and more new (and, frankly, awesome) apps than we can shake a stick at. In fact, we got a stick. It wouldn't shake at them. That's how awesome they are. Plus, more of your e-mails and voicemamails!
So join Phil and the gang -- and, of course, the chat room -- live tonight at 2 a.m. BST / 9 p.m. EDT / 6 p.m. PDT for the live broadcast. You should be there. You will be there. You must be there. After all, you are what makes it the Greatest Android Podcast in the World.
Not at a computer? Pick up the free UStream Viewer from Google Play [link] and search for Mobile Nations a little before the show (it won't appear until we go live). We'll see you there!
The Defense Department?s inspector general has found that allegations that Gen. John Allen engaged in inappropriate behavior in emails he exchanged with Tampa, Fla., socialite Jill Kelley were unsubstantiated.
NEW DELHI (AP) ? On the eve of a trial over a fatal gang rape that horrified Indians, a government panel recommended that India strictly enforce sexual assault laws, commit to holding speedy rape trials and change the antiquated penal code to protect women.
The panel, formed in response to last month's brutal attack on a New Delhi bus, received more than 80,000 suggestions for a complete overhaul in the criminal justice system's treatment of violence against women. The suggestions included banning a traumatic vaginal exam of rape victims and ending political interference in sex crime cases.
The panel issued its findings Wednesday. On Thursday, a trial is set to be begin for five men accused in the case. The case of a sixth suspect who says he is a juvenile is being handled separately.
Police say the victim and a male friend were attacked after boarding the bus Dec. 16. The attackers beat the man and raped the woman, inflicting massive internal injuries with a metal bar, police said. The victims were dumped on the roadside, and the woman died two weeks later in a Singapore hospital.
The government set up the panel a month ago to help quell street protests sparked by the rape.
Women say they feel under siege and are so frightened they have structured their entire lives to protect themselves from harassment and attack. Many travel in groups, go out of their homes only during the day and carry sharp objects to stab men who grope them on public buses.
Those who are raped are often blamed by their families for the attack. If they report the crime, the police often refuse to file a report or try to get the victim and attacker to reach a settlement. If it reaches court, the case can drag on for years in the overburdened justice system.
"Failure of good governance is the obvious root cause for the current unsafe environment, eroding the rule of law and not the want of knee-jerk legislation," said retired Chief Justice J.S. Verma, who headed the three-member panel.
The panel recommended to the government that police and other officials who fail to act against crimes against women be punished. It called for a crackdown on dowry payments to enhance women's status, since families are often forced into massive debt to get their daughters married. It also suggested the government appoint more judges to lessen the backlog of cases and ensure swift justice, and it called for updating the law to include crimes such as voyeurism and stalking.
"We hope the Parliament will take the legislative suggestions given by the committee," and translate these into law, Verma said.
Verma advocated strict punishment to prevent sexual harassment and assaults against women and sought reforms in how police treat rape victims.
He called for speedy justice and the setting of a time frame to deal with cases of crimes against women.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's office had no immediate comment about what it would do with the recommendations.
More than 100 women's rights activists, lawyers and ordinary citizens appeared before the commission during a recent hearing to offer suggestions for removing loopholes in the existing laws and scrapping some of its most offensive provisions.
Activists and lawyers have criticized the existing laws on crimes against women as so archaic and riddled with loopholes that they end up further traumatizing victims and allowing perpetrators to get away lightly.
Women's groups say the most egregious problem is the medical test that a victim has to undergo, which includes a vaginal exam to determine if the woman is sexually active.
In the so-called "two-finger test," doctors probe the vagina to determine if a hymen is present and to try to determine if the vagina is lax, which is taken as evidence the woman routinely has sex and thus consented to intercourse. Often, the doctor is male.
"The two-finger test, which has been found to be not only unscientific and unnecessary but also subjects the complainant to further trauma and humiliation should be immediately stopped," said Kirti Singh, of the All India Democratic Woman's Association.
Indian law only targets three crimes against women, rape, using force to "outrage her modesty," and making rude sounds or gestures aimed at "insulting the modesty of any woman."
Lawyers say those laws needs to be updated to include crimes such as sexual harassment, groping, stalking and acid attacks.
"Groping and stalking should be viewed as sexual assault. Stalking is a psychological terror on the victim. It should be specifically defined," said Mukul Mudgal, a former chief justice of the Delhi High Court.
Rebecca John, a criminal lawyer who spoke with the commission, said the "very lexicon of the law" needs to be changed to remove euphemistic and outdated terms.
"The very definition of crimes against women is faulty. Phrases such as 'outraging the modesty of a woman,' and references to her chastity or honor are irrelevant," John said.
Most of India's laws, including those on rape, were inherited from the country's former British colonial rulers and date to 1860. Public pressure after highly publicized rape cases led to amendments in the rape laws in 1983 and 2003. But loopholes remain. The law, for example, does not recognize marital rape for anyone over the age of 15.
Women's groups have also called for ending political interference in police work that lets accused rapists persuade police to quash their cases by forcing women to reach settlements with their attackers.
"Those having clout are not held accountable even for blatant violations of laws," said a joint appeal by 10 women's groups made to the commission.
Human rights groups welcomed the panel's recommendations to widen the scope of sexual rape to include assaults on homosexual, transgender and transsexual rape.
The commission has also recommended a uniform national protocol for the treatment and medical examination of rape survivors.
"This is something that women's and rights groups have been asking for for a long time," said Meenakshi Ganguly, South Asia director, Human Rights Watch.
When high level Microsoft employees decide to leave the company, they often form new tech-based companies. Gabe Newell, a former Microsoft Windows producer, went on to co-found Valve. More recently Stephen Elop left Microsoft to become CEO of Nokia.
Now there's word that a number of former Microsoft executives in Asia have banded together to launch a new retail website, Thatspersonal.com. Before you head over to the URL, however, be aware; the website is designed to sell ...well, sex toys for the Indian market.
The Times of India reports that the site was launched by Samir Saraiya, who previously was the leader for business development for Microsoft Singapore. He is now the CEO of Digital E-Life, which launched Thatspersonal.com. Two other former executives from Microsoft India have put up angel investment money for Digital E-Life.
So why leave a nice job with a well respected company to run a sex toy website? As you might expect, it's all about the money that could be made. Saraiya says, "The sheer size of the business opportunity was the biggest driver for me to leave the high-paying job in Singapore with an amazing expat life."
India is well known as having very strict laws concerning the sale of sex related items, but one of the site's investors, lawyer Lekhesh Dholakia, says, "As long as the products are not 'obscene' and/or displayed or exhibited in a manner which is not 'obscene', there ought not to be any serious concerns in the sale of such products."
Source: Times of India | Image via Thatspersonal.com
reply to post by lolita64 Wouldn't it be humorous if we went to war over a string of islands and millions of people died? All because of national pride or whatnot? It would be funny if it was a movie.
So many wars start over debates about who owns what and how much. Gulf War 1 was about debts and old ownership rights and the Iran-Iraq war was over disputed land (ex: Khuzestan).
If people didn't disagree about who owns Canaan (Israel, etc), how many less wars would there be in the Middle East? A lot of the blame also lies on the United Kingdom and its conquest of the world. Britain was a superpower for many ages and went across the world spreading war.
I think it's safe to say homosapien is a warlike species. Quick to anger and violent and expansionist and stubborn and self-righteous and clever enough to survive anyway. Homosapien children prepare for adulthood by engaging in staged warfare through various games. Even the least aggressive among them will pathetically and persistently attack each other in writing or in speech. Their selfish and individualistic habits cause them grave debts and divisions which further ignite their instinctive aggressive tendencies. Nonetheless, they persevere through it all to jeer at us.
Jeer? /laugh We've conquered whole clusters of stars. Your inferiority doesn't threaten us.
NEW YORK (AP) ? Some key things to know about the flu season:
THE SITUATION: The annual flu season hit about a month early this year, and illness is now widespread in 47 states. Many cases are caused by a flu strain that tends to make people sicker. But so far experts say it's too early to know whether this will end up being a bad season. Maybe not: There are signs the flu may have already peaked in a few states, though it's too early to tell for sure, health officials say.
THE VACCINE: This season's vaccine is well matched to the circulating strains, and there's still some available. It is 62 percent effective, according to government study results released Friday, which is pretty good for a flu vaccine. Health officials are urging people to get vaccinated; it's recommended for everyone 6 months or older.
THE DEFENSE: Besides getting a flu shot, wash hands with soap and warm water, and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Keep away from sick people.
THE TREATMENT: Most people will get a mild case and can help themselves and protect others by staying home and resting. But people with severe symptoms should see a doctor. They may be given antiviral drugs or other medications to ease symptoms.
COLD OR FLU?: Influenza is not the only bug making people sick. The cold virus and a nasty stomach virus are also going around. It can sometimes be hard to tell the difference, but cold symptoms include stuffy or runny nose, sore throat and sneezing. Flu usually involves fever, along with chills, headache and moderate-to-severe body aches and tiredness. Symptoms can come on rapidly, within three to six hours.
How belly fat differs from thigh fat -- and why it mattersPublic release date: 11-Jan-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Heather Buschman hbuschman@sanfordburnham.org 858-795-5343 Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute
Researchers discover that the genes active in a persons belly fat are significantly different from those in his or her thigh fat, a finding that could shift the way we approach unwanted belly fat -- from banishing it to relocating it
ORLANDO, Fla., January 11, 2013 Men tend to store fat in the abdominal area, but don't usually have much in the way of hips or thighs. Women, on the other hand, are more often pear-shapedstoring more fat on their hips and thighs than in the belly. Why are women and men shaped differently? The answer still isn't clear, but it's an issue worth investigating, says Steven R. Smith, M.D., director of the Florida Hospital Sanford-Burnham Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes. That's because belly fat is associated with higher risks of heart disease and diabetes. On the other hand, hip and thigh fat don't seem to play a special role in these conditions.
In a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Smith and colleagues help explain this discrepancy by determining how belly and thigh fat differ genetically. This research might shift common thinking about fatrather than focusing on how to banish belly fat, perhaps we need tip the balance in favor of heart-friendly fat in the lower body. In that case, the study also provides a first step toward aiming treatments at specific regions of the body, especially those that contribute most to the complications of obesity.
Belly fat genes vs. thigh fat genes
Smith and colleagues first took fat samples from men and women. Then they compared the genes most active in belly fat to those most active in thigh fat.
Here's what they found: The genes operating in a person's thigh fat are hugely different from those in his or her belly fat. For men, 125 genes are expressed differently in the belly than in the thighs. For women, it's 218 genes (most are unique to women, but 59 genes are the same as those that varied in male fat).
The most notable genes that differed are known as homeobox genes. These genes are known for their role in helping shape a developing embryodetermining which cells and organs go where. Many homeobox genes are influenced by hormones such as estrogen.
Why are these homeobox genes important for fat? "We believe these genes actually program those fat cells to respond differently to different hormones and other signals," Smith says.
Stem cells show fat is preprogrammed for its location
In the course of their work, Smith and his team also isolated stem cells from belly and thigh fat and grew them in laboratory dishes. This was a nice control because fat cells in a dish aren't influenced by nerves, hormones, or other outside signals.
Yet the researchers still saw the same location-specific differences in gene activity in the fat that developed from these stem cells. That result told them that the cells are preprogrammed. In other words, belly fat and thigh fat are genetically destined for their final location during development. It's not a difference that's acquired over time, as a result of diet or environmental exposure.
A new way of thinking about fat
Medically speaking, says Smith, it's important to understand these differences and how they arise. "Even though many women hate having large hips and thighs, that pear shape actually reduces their risk of heart disease and diabetes. In fact, women who have heart attacks tend to have more belly fat than thigh fat."
This research marks a new way of thinking. "Most people want to stop belly fat. But the problem is not just the fatit's the location. Belly fat is just a marker of the problem. The real issue is in inability to store that fat on the hips and thighs," he continues.
Smith hopes that future studies aimed at understanding the fundamental differences in these fat depots could lead to specific treatments aimed at the regions that contribute most to the complications of obesity.
###
This research was funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases grants DK072476, R24DK087669, and P30DK46200), the Society for Women's Health Research Interdisciplinary Studies on Sex Differences (ISIS) Network on Metabolism, the Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Affinity Research Collaborative on Sex Differences in Adipose Tissue at Boston University School of Medicine, the Genomics Core Facility at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, and the Geriatric Research Education Clinical Center, Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
The study was co-authored by Kalypso Karastergiou, Boston University; Susan K. Fried, Boston University; Hui Xie, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute and the Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes; Mi-Jeong Lee, Boston University; Adeline Divoux, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute and the Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes; Marcus A. Rosencrantz, University of California, San Diego; R. Jeffrey Chang, University of California, San Diego; and Steven R. Smith, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute and the Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes.
About Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute
Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute is dedicated to discovering the fundamental molecular causes of disease and devising the innovative therapies of tomorrow. The Institute consistently ranks among the top five organizations worldwide for its scientific impact in the fields of biology and biochemistry (defined by citations per publication) and currently ranks third in the nation in NIH funding among all laboratory-based research institutes. Sanford-Burnham utilizes a unique, collaborative approach to medical research and has established major research programs in cancer, neurodegeneration, diabetes, and infectious, inflammatory, and childhood diseases. The Institute is especially known for its world-class capabilities in stem cell research and drug discovery technologies. Sanford-Burnham is a U.S.-based, non-profit public benefit corporation, with operations in San Diego (La Jolla), California and Orlando (Lake Nona), Florida. For more information, news, and events, please visit us at sanfordburnham.org.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
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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.
How belly fat differs from thigh fat -- and why it mattersPublic release date: 11-Jan-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Heather Buschman hbuschman@sanfordburnham.org 858-795-5343 Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute
Researchers discover that the genes active in a persons belly fat are significantly different from those in his or her thigh fat, a finding that could shift the way we approach unwanted belly fat -- from banishing it to relocating it
ORLANDO, Fla., January 11, 2013 Men tend to store fat in the abdominal area, but don't usually have much in the way of hips or thighs. Women, on the other hand, are more often pear-shapedstoring more fat on their hips and thighs than in the belly. Why are women and men shaped differently? The answer still isn't clear, but it's an issue worth investigating, says Steven R. Smith, M.D., director of the Florida Hospital Sanford-Burnham Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes. That's because belly fat is associated with higher risks of heart disease and diabetes. On the other hand, hip and thigh fat don't seem to play a special role in these conditions.
In a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, Smith and colleagues help explain this discrepancy by determining how belly and thigh fat differ genetically. This research might shift common thinking about fatrather than focusing on how to banish belly fat, perhaps we need tip the balance in favor of heart-friendly fat in the lower body. In that case, the study also provides a first step toward aiming treatments at specific regions of the body, especially those that contribute most to the complications of obesity.
Belly fat genes vs. thigh fat genes
Smith and colleagues first took fat samples from men and women. Then they compared the genes most active in belly fat to those most active in thigh fat.
Here's what they found: The genes operating in a person's thigh fat are hugely different from those in his or her belly fat. For men, 125 genes are expressed differently in the belly than in the thighs. For women, it's 218 genes (most are unique to women, but 59 genes are the same as those that varied in male fat).
The most notable genes that differed are known as homeobox genes. These genes are known for their role in helping shape a developing embryodetermining which cells and organs go where. Many homeobox genes are influenced by hormones such as estrogen.
Why are these homeobox genes important for fat? "We believe these genes actually program those fat cells to respond differently to different hormones and other signals," Smith says.
Stem cells show fat is preprogrammed for its location
In the course of their work, Smith and his team also isolated stem cells from belly and thigh fat and grew them in laboratory dishes. This was a nice control because fat cells in a dish aren't influenced by nerves, hormones, or other outside signals.
Yet the researchers still saw the same location-specific differences in gene activity in the fat that developed from these stem cells. That result told them that the cells are preprogrammed. In other words, belly fat and thigh fat are genetically destined for their final location during development. It's not a difference that's acquired over time, as a result of diet or environmental exposure.
A new way of thinking about fat
Medically speaking, says Smith, it's important to understand these differences and how they arise. "Even though many women hate having large hips and thighs, that pear shape actually reduces their risk of heart disease and diabetes. In fact, women who have heart attacks tend to have more belly fat than thigh fat."
This research marks a new way of thinking. "Most people want to stop belly fat. But the problem is not just the fatit's the location. Belly fat is just a marker of the problem. The real issue is in inability to store that fat on the hips and thighs," he continues.
Smith hopes that future studies aimed at understanding the fundamental differences in these fat depots could lead to specific treatments aimed at the regions that contribute most to the complications of obesity.
###
This research was funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases grants DK072476, R24DK087669, and P30DK46200), the Society for Women's Health Research Interdisciplinary Studies on Sex Differences (ISIS) Network on Metabolism, the Evans Center for Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research Affinity Research Collaborative on Sex Differences in Adipose Tissue at Boston University School of Medicine, the Genomics Core Facility at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, and the Geriatric Research Education Clinical Center, Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
The study was co-authored by Kalypso Karastergiou, Boston University; Susan K. Fried, Boston University; Hui Xie, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute and the Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes; Mi-Jeong Lee, Boston University; Adeline Divoux, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute and the Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes; Marcus A. Rosencrantz, University of California, San Diego; R. Jeffrey Chang, University of California, San Diego; and Steven R. Smith, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute and the Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and Diabetes.
About Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute
Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute is dedicated to discovering the fundamental molecular causes of disease and devising the innovative therapies of tomorrow. The Institute consistently ranks among the top five organizations worldwide for its scientific impact in the fields of biology and biochemistry (defined by citations per publication) and currently ranks third in the nation in NIH funding among all laboratory-based research institutes. Sanford-Burnham utilizes a unique, collaborative approach to medical research and has established major research programs in cancer, neurodegeneration, diabetes, and infectious, inflammatory, and childhood diseases. The Institute is especially known for its world-class capabilities in stem cell research and drug discovery technologies. Sanford-Burnham is a U.S.-based, non-profit public benefit corporation, with operations in San Diego (La Jolla), California and Orlando (Lake Nona), Florida. For more information, news, and events, please visit us at sanfordburnham.org.
[ | E-mail | 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.
This flu season seems especially bad this year now that Boston has declared a public health emergency and a Pennsylvania hospital was forced to construct a tent to handle flu cases. But doctors - backed up by the numbers - say that this season is a shock partly because we had so little flu last year.
Click here to read Dr. Richard Besser's blog on the flu so far this year.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 22,048 flu cases from Sept. 30 through the end of 2012. By the same time last year, only 849 flu cases had been reported nationwide. That's 26 times more flu cases by the last week of this year than by the last week of 2011.
"In an immediate sense; we were a little spoiled last year," said Dr. William Schaffner, chair of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn. "Last year, we had fewer influenza cases than had ever been recorded before.
Schaffner, a former president of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, explained that the dominant virus from 2009 through last year was the H1N1 flu strain, nicknamed swine flu. Although many people came down with it in 2009, most of them had been vaccinated against it by last year, resulting in fewer infected people.
But this year, the flu season started early with a different dominant strain: H3N2.
"This year, we're seeing a lot of H3N2, which you see in the past tends to affect young kids and the elderly more," said CDC spokesman Tom Skinner. "That may be some of the explanation for why we're having more of a severe flu season this year."
Schaffner said children and the elderly are always the most vulnerable to the flu, because they have weaker immune systems than everyone else. Children actually exhale more flu virus than adults when they get sick, and they exhale it longer, making them the "great distributors of influenza virus," he said.
Click here to read our story about why the weather has little to do with the flu.
Seniors are the most at-risk for coming down with flu complications, such as pneumonia, which could turn deadly, Schaffner said. In Boston, the mayor declared a public health emergency after four seniors died after coming down with the virus. It's not clear whether they had pneumonia.
Other at-risk populations include people with underlying heart disease, those who have compromised immune systems or those who are severely obese, Schaffner said.
The best way to protect yourself against the flu is to get vaccinated, Schaffner said, adding that it's not too late.
"This season is stacking up to be a moderate to severe flu season," Skinner said. "How severe, only time will tell."
Despite the 26-fold increase over last year, this flu season is still mild compared to 2009's swine flu epidemic, the numbers show.
When the flu season was first dominated by H1N1, there were almost four times as many flu cases by the last week of December 2009 compared to the last week of December 2012: 80,724 cases in all. Of those, 60,847 were H1N1. There were also 229 pediatric deaths by that time last year compared with 18 so far this year.
Jan. 10, 2013 ? Perennial biofuel crops such as miscanthus, whose high yields have led them to be considered an eventual alternative to corn in producing ethanol, are now shown to have another beneficial characteristic -- the ability to reduce the escape of nitrogen in the environment. In a 4-year University of Illinois study that compared miscanthus, switchgrass, and mixed prairie species to typical corn-corn-soybean rotations, each of the perennial crops were highly efficient at reducing nitrogen losses, with miscanthus having the greatest yield.
"Our results clearly demonstrate that environmental nitrogen fluxes from row-crop agriculture can be greatly reduced after the establishment of perennial biofuel crops," said U of I postdoctoral research associate Candice Smith."Because of the establishment variability, we were able to compare annual row crops with perennial crops. Although in the first two years, nitrate leaching remained high in the non-established miscanthus crop, once a dense, productive crop was established in the second year of growth, nitrate leaching in tile drainage quickly decreased."
Smith said that this ability to reduce the loss of nitrogen into the environment will prove to be greatly beneficial.
"Intensive corn production with large fertilizer inputs leads to large losses of nitrogen into the environment, both through gas emissions of nitrous oxide and leaching of nitrate to surface waters through tile drainage systems," added Mark David, U of I biogeochemist. "Nitrous oxide is a greenhouse gas, and nitrate can contaminate drinking water supplies and leads to coastal ocean problems. The hypoxic zone that forms each summer in the Gulf of Mexico is a result of nitrate leaching from the tile-drained Corn Belt of the midwestern United States -- a likely location for biofuel production," he said.
In the study, funded by the Energy Biosciences Institute, miscanthus, switchgrass, and mixed prairie species were compared against a typical corn-corn-soybean rotation. Harvested biomass and nitrogen, nitrous oxide emissions, and nitrate leaching in the mid-soil profile and through tile drainage lines were all measured.
The researchers found that the perennial crops quickly reduced nitrate leaching in the mid-soil profile as well as from tile lines. "By year four each of the perennial crops had small losses," Smith said. "Nitrous oxide emissions also were much smaller in the perennial crops--including switchgrass, which was fertilized with nitrogen, while prairie and miscanthus were not. Overall, nitrogen levels were higher for the corn and soybean treatment as well as switchgrass, but were lower for prairie and miscanthus. Prairie and miscanthus levels were lower due to harvest of the plant biomass (and nitrogen) each winter, with no fertilizer nitrogen additions to replace it, as occurred in corn and switchgrass," she said.
David added that the miscanthus and mixed prairie also had very wide carbon-to-nitrogen ratios in the harvested material -- as much as 257 to 1 for miscanthus. "Miscanthus efficiently moved nitrogen from leaves to root and rhizome systems after the growing season, where it could be used again the next year," David said. "The lower nitrogen level suggests that the small amount of nitrogen removed by harvest in prairie and miscanthus came from the large pool of soil nitrogen and/or nitrogen fixation. If the soil is the source, this could lead to depletion of this resource without fertilization. If microbial fixation supplied the nitrogen, this would be a more sustainable input," he said.
David said that although more research is needed to fully understand the nitrogen cycle in these new and exciting biofuel crops such as miscanthus, results from this study clearly show these crops have the potential to quickly and greatly reduce nitrogen losses that have important environmental effects, while providing a large biomass harvest.
"Reduced Nitrogen Losses after Conversion of Row Crop Agriculture to Perennial Biofuel Crops" was published in an issue of the Journal of Environmental Quality. In addition to Smith and David, Corey Mitchell, Michael Masters, Kristina Anderson-Teixeira, Carl Bernacchi, and Even DeLucia contributed to the research.
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. The original article was written by Debra Levey Larson.
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Journal Reference:
Candice M. Smith, Mark B. David, Corey A. Mitchell, Michael D. Masters, Kristina J. Anderson-Teixeira, Carl J. Bernacchi, Evan H. DeLucia. Reduced Nitrogen Losses after Conversion of Row Crop Agriculture to Perennial Biofuel Crops. Journal of Environment Quality, 2013; 42 (1): 219 DOI: 10.2134/jeq2012.0210
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
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The Seattle Microserfs? The Blue Screen of Dunk? Get your nickname-generator ready?Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer is reportedly leading a group that's finalizing a deal to buy the NBA's Sacramento Kings and bring the team to Seattle.
League sources told Yahoo Sports that the $500 million agreement would land the team in northwest Washington, filling a void left when the Seattle Supersonics?the city's last professional basketball team?was moved to Oklahoma City in 2008 and renamed the Thunder.
Ballmer is reportedly teaming up with hedge-fund manager Chris Hansen (not to be confused with the host of Dateline's To Catch a Predator) to put together the deal.
The Microsoft CEO and his partner are aiming to snag the franchise in time for the 2013-14 season. The plan, according to Yahoo Sports, is to play two seasons in Seattle's KeyArena before moving into a new venue.
But Kings owners the Maloof family, the franchise's longest-tenured owners, may be the biggest speed bump.
According to Yahoo Sports, the family's history of changing course late in negotiations has some parties uneasy about completing the deal, especially after they backed out of a close-to-complete deal with Sacramento executives to help finance a new arena in California's capital city.
Once the agreement is signed, sealed, and delivered, Ballmer would join an elite group of tech moguls-turned-NBA owners, including the Dallas Mavericks' Mark Cuban, Memphis Grizzlies' Robert Pera, Golden State Warriors' Joe Lacob, and of course, Ballmer's pal and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, who owns the Portland Trailblazers.
If all goes well, the franchise would change its name to the Sonics and sport the same logo sorely missed in Seattle since NBA basketball left town. The good news for Ballmer and Hansen is that NBA commissioner David Stern is reportedly a supporter of the deal. Yahoo Sports said that Stern and other league officials are poised to help the franchise move to Seattle and not spend "a final lame-duck season in Sacramento."
Ballmer has had plenty to keep him busy lately, even without the added stress of keeping tabs on 15 pro athletes. Just last year, Microsoft released its new Windows 8 operating systems, with the former achieving 60 million licenses sold since its late-October release. Additionally, the company launched its Surface tablet and ramped up its mobile device platform with the release of Windows Phone 8.
For more about Microsoft in 2012, check out PCMag's A 'Reimagined' Windows: Microsoft's Year in Review.
For more from Stephanie, follow her on Twitter @smlotPCMag.
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick pauses during a news conference before NFL football practice in Foxborough, Mass., Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013. The Patriots don't know who they'll face in their playoff opener. But, they do know plenty about that team. They are familiar with all three potential opponents, the Texans, Ravens and Colts, having played them already this season.(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick pauses during a news conference before NFL football practice in Foxborough, Mass., Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013. The Patriots don't know who they'll face in their playoff opener. But, they do know plenty about that team. They are familiar with all three potential opponents, the Texans, Ravens and Colts, having played them already this season.(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Bill Belichick insists the rematch of a December game with the Texans will be different.
Not too much different, of course, because he fully expects his Patriots to win the divisional-round playoff game and advance to the AFC title match.
As for another 42-14 outcome, New England's coach is having none of it.
"The plays will match up differently and I'm sure there will be new plays that weren't in that game," Belichick said. "I don't think you can overanalyze that game. We're playing a team, we have our team, they have their team and it's a big picture thing."
The big picture is that the AFC East champion Patriots (12-4) come off their playoff bye as 9?-point favorites against the AFC South winners. Houston (13-4) beat Cincinnati 19-13 in the wild-card round, not looking particularly overwhelming.
It's pretty simple what the Texans must do at the outset Sunday: stay close. They fell behind so quickly on Dec. 10 that the outcome was decided after one quarter.
"We know that our effort and how we performed last time wouldn't give us a chance against anybody on the road," coach Gary Kubiak said. "It's about right now refocusing on all the things we have to do to go down there and have a chance to be successful, and I'm sure that's what they're thinking about."
It won't be as bad as 42-14, but ...
BEST BET: PATRIOTS, 41-14.
Green Bay (plus 3) at San Francisco
The Packers have no fear about going on the road in the postseason. A similar crew to this year's group won three away games two years ago, then beat Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl.
And the NFC North champion Packers who the West-winning 49ers face Saturday night have gotten healthier as the playoffs approached. They have a decent running game to go with that deep receiving corps Aaron Rodgers throws to.
But Green Bay has two significant questions:
?Can the spotty offensive line neutralize one of the NFL's most dangerous pass rushes, something it couldn't do in the season opener?
?Can a defense that has been gorged on the ground at times slow down the league's fourth-best rushing attack, led by Frank Gore.
The Niners also have some uncertainties, notably how second-year QB Colin Kaepernick will handle the playoff pressure for the first time. They do have a secondary that matches up well with Green Bay's receivers.
The Pack has been through this before and succeeded. Why not again?
UPSET SPECIAL: PACKERS, 30-27
Baltimore (plus 9?) at Denver
For the Ray Lewis Tribute Tour to keep rolling, the Ravens must beat Peyton Manning and the NFL's hottest team, the AFC West champion Broncos. In the Mile High City.
It's a lot more imposing a task than the AFC North champ Ravens faced at home against the Colts.
"There's probably an element that we'll carry forward because you're always building on what you are," coach John Harbaugh said. "Hopefully we take all the things that happened and we take it into that game emotionally and carry it with us. But this is a new game. It's a whole new environment. It's a whole new situation for us. So I think the slate is wiped clean in that sense. This will be a new challenge for us."
Too big a challenge.
BRONCOS, 27-20
Seattle (plus 3) at Atlanta
Seattle has become the fashionable choice, the outsider that could emulate the Giants of last season, the Packers of the previous year, and so on.
The Falcons, meanwhile, have been stamped by many as the shaky favorite because of an 0-3 postseason record under Mike Smith. There's also the feeling that no team fears going into the Georgia Dome, and with the Seahawks having erased their road woes in the last month or so, they are a formidable foe.
Still, these Falcons are better than the previous three playoff editions, and they have the big, physical and versatile receivers to deal with Seattle's big, physical and versatile secondary.
Like the other NFC game, this will be close.
FALCONS, 22-20
___
2012 RECORD:
Against spread: 2-2 (114-126-7). Straight up: 3-1 (162-93-1)
Best Bet: 8-8-2 against spread, 12-6 straight up.
Upset special: 11-7 against spread, 9-9 straight up.
___
Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL
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Public release date: 11-Jan-2013
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