Friday, May 24, 2013

Broadcom to bring 5G WiFi to the masses with entry-level combo chips

Broadcom bringing 5G WiFi to the masses with entrylevel combo chips

As we've mentioned before, 5G WiFi, aka 802.11ac is a good thing, unless you hate speed and range. After launching its integrated BCM4335 chip on flagship handsets like Samsung's Galaxy S 4 and the HTC One, Broadcom has announced new 5G WiFi combo chips for lower-end smartphones, PCs, notebooks and tablets. Budget handheld devices can now be equipped with the BCM4339, which Broadcom says brings the same performance as its top-end mobile chip while integrating power and low-noise amplifiers for easier integration. Meanwhile, the BCM43162 is targeted at desktop and notebook PCs with direct support for the Microsoft's Windows OS. Customers are now sampling both chips, and Broadcom expects volume production in the second half of the year -- another possible reason to put off that notebook purchase a bit longer.

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/LVzggqPbdZk/

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Evan Peters Joins X-Men: Days of Future Past

While The Avengers 2 isn't due in theaters until May 2015, Joss Whedon recently admitted that he'd be adding two important characters to the mix, siblings Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch, who both come with a very interesting history. Because they're part of the X-Men universe and the Avengers universe, Disney/Marvel and 20th Century Fox both have the rights to use them in any of their movies. Though we don't know how they're being used in The Avengers 2, we gather it'll be in a major capacity (possibly as villains), and that Saoirse Ronan is on the wishlist to play Scarlet Witch.

That may have all changed this afternoon, however, as X-Men: Days of Future Past director Bryan Singer busted out a big announcement via Twitter, revealing that Kick-Ass actor Evan Peters has been cast as Quicksilver in his X-Men sequel, due out on July 18, 2014, less than a year before the character would appear in The Avengers 2. Did Fox simply write the character into their script in order to make things difficult for Marvel, or could Quicksilver's appearance in Days of Future Past actually help The Avengers 2 by introducing the origin story for a pivotal new Avengers character, thereby making him an easier sell by the time Marvel's monster sequel comes to town?

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Based on the way Singer phrases his tweet -- and that Evan Peters is in his mid-20s -- we imagine they'll be using a younger Quicksilver in the X-Men sequel, leaving enough room for Marvel to use an older version of the same character in The Avengers 2. If it seems confusing, know that no matter what happens behind the scenes, this is definitely a cool thing for fans in that there's potential to see a single character used in two major franchises from different studios. Quicksilver's father is none other than Magneto, and if we see his origin story in Days of Future Past, then reunite with an older version of the character in The Avengers 2, all that does is allow fans to have a more complete big-screen experience with a character versus seeing only part of his history.

Of course there's also the small chance both studios are conspiring together and working toward an even bigger crossover down the line, testing the waters with one character before building something larger. That would be pretty amazing, and also pretty unbelievable considering the amount of legal hoops each party would need to jump through first.?

Should be fascinating to see what Marvel does now. We hope they stick to their plan, because assuming Fox does right by Quicksilver, it'll just make fans that much hungrier to see him appear on screen again in The Avengers 2.

What do you think?

and

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1927537/news/1927537/

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Thursday, May 23, 2013

Ants and carnivorous plants conspire for mutualistic feeding

May 22, 2013 ? An insect-eating pitcher plant teams up with ants to prevent mosquito larvae from stealing its nutrients, according to research published May 22 in the open access journal PLOS ONE by Mathias Scharmann and colleagues from the University of Cambridge and the University Brunei Darussalam.

The unusual relationship between insect-eating pitcher plants and ants that live exclusively on them has long puzzled scientists. The Camponotus schmitzi ants live only on one species of Bornean pitcher plants (Nepenthes bicalcarata), where they walk across slippery pitcher traps, swim and dive in the plant's digestive fluids and consume nectar and prey that fall into the trap. Though the benefits to the ants are obvious, it has been harder to tell what exactly the plants gain. However, plants that harbor the insects grow larger than those that do not, suggesting a mutualistic relationship exists between the two.

In this new study, researchers demonstrated a flow of nutrients from ants to their plant hosts, and found that plants colonized by insects received more nitrogen than those that did not host ants. Ants appeared to increase the pitchers' capture efficiency by keeping traps clean, and also protected the plants by actively hunting mosquito larvae that otherwise bred in pitcher fluids and sucked up plant nutrients.

"Kneeling down in the swamp amidst huge pitcher plants in a Bornean rainforest, it was a truly jaw-dropping experience when we first noticed how very aggressive and skilled the Camponotus schmitzi ants were in underwater hunting: it was a mosquito massacre!" says Scharmann. "Later, when we discovered that the ants' droppings are returned to the plant, it became clear that this unique behaviour could actually play an important role in the complex relationship of the pitcher plant with the ants."

Based on these observations, the authors suggest that nutrients the pitchers would have otherwise lost to flies are instead returned to them as ant colony wastes. They conclude that the interaction between ants, pitcher plants and mosquito larvae in the pitcher represents a new type of mutualism, where animals can help mitigate the damage caused by nutrient thieves to a plant.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_science/~3/72Pi0GIh7h0/130522180304.htm

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Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Samsung?s Galaxy S4 passes 10 million channel sales within one month of launch

Samsung co-CEO?Shin Jong-kyu?told media last week that he expected the Galaxy S4 to pass 10 million channel sales this week, and that has proven to be true as the electronics giant announced the milestone (via Yonhap News) today. That feat makes it the company?s fastest selling phone ever.

The Galaxy S4 was released at the end of April thus, by hitting 10 million sales already, it has reached the milestone 20 times faster than its predecessor ? the Galaxy S3 ? which?took two months.

Samsung has confirmed the milestone and provided a somewhat nondescript?statement from?JK Shin, CEO and President of its mobile business, and revealed the device will be available in a series of new colors this summer:

On behalf of Samsung, I would like to thank the millions of customers around the world who have chosen?the Samsung GALAXY S4. At Samsung we?ll continue to pursue innovation inspired by and for people.

Samsung?s Galaxy range actually passed 100 million sales to date (again, this is channel sales, so sales to retailers and operators rather than consumers) in January this year. That news coincided, rather nicely, with the Galaxy S3 clocking up 40 million channel sales within 7 months of its launch.

Yet, despite the impressive figures, Apple?s iPhone is in a league of its own when it comes to sales records. Consumer (not channel) sales of the iPhone 5 topped five million during the first weekend following its release, while the same device logged two million sales in China the weekend after its launch.

At this point it isn?t clear what new devices the Galaxy S4 will come up against. Apple is rumored to be planning to launch a new version of the iPhone later this year, which would become its main contender. Going on today?s announcement, competition from the likes of the well-regard HTC One has not cut into demand for Samsung?s flagship device.

The Galaxy S4 has a premium 5-inch 1080p display, set at an impressive 441 ppi. Under the hood is a quad-core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A15 processor, bumped up by an additional quad-core 1.2 GHz Cortex-A7 chipset.?The phone?has enjoyed a monumental marketing campaign both before and after its launch, starting with a number of teaser videos that included?Seth Rogan and Paul Rudd during the Superbowl, as well as?this little chap?leading up to the launch event in New York.

The Broadway-style unveiling in the Big Apple?drew some criticism?from the press, but it was without doubt one of Samsung?s grandest and most high-profile media events. Billboard and television advertisements have since swamped a number of major cities, giving the Galaxy S4 the best possible chance at retail.

Related: Confirmed: Samsung buys 10% stake in Korean handset maker Pantech for $48 million

Headline image via Greg Wood /?Getty Images

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheNextWebAsia/~3/U3eStF4UFYA/

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Thinking About Purchasing Real Estate? Use These Great Tips To ...

A common concern among those in the market to purchase a home is its ability to maintain its value. Here are some real estate tips regarding that.

All real estate agents should contact any past clients during the holidays, and at the anniversary of that person?s purchase date. By keeping in touch, you will remain in the client?s mind for helpfulness when they think about their own real estate experience. Kindly remind them that you make your income via referrals and that you would feel honored if they spread your name to friends.

Real estate agents would do well to reach out to former clients during the holiday season or sell a home once each year. Hearing your voice again will let them remember of the real estate transaction that occurred. When you are concluding your greeting, neighbor or family member needs a real estate agent, because referrals are how you earn your living.

Should a seller decline your offer on their home, don?t fret, because they do want to sell, and they might be creative enough to manifest an opportunity to make the price affordable to you. Sellers will often cover repairs or closing costs, in order to help a buyer afford the property.

TIP! When seeking a new home, think long-term. While you might not have children currently, you should look at the quality of area schools if you think you may still reside there when you do have children.

A lot of Realtors have lists that contain all the important components of everything you need to do when buying a home.The checklist allows all necessary parties to make sure everything is in order when it needs to be.

If you want to make a terrific real estate investment, do some remodeling or repairs to the property. You?ll experience the benefit of a fast return on it as you see your property value. Sometimes it will rise more than what you invested.

Be flexible in your choices. Sometimes you must choose between two major features if the price of having both falls outside of your price range. If you can?t find the perfect house in the perfect area, look for it in an adequate area or find an adequate house in a perfect area.

TIP! When you are buying a new property, you need to have some liquid funds available for unexpected expenses. Real estate buyers generally take into account only the amount of the down payment, relevant taxes that will be charged, and funds needed by the bank when determining closing costs.

Now is the time to start investing in real estate. Property values are currently at an all-time low after the housing market crash. Eventually, the market will rise again over time, and you could even profit from your investment.

If you haggle with the seller a bit, you are sure to reach a selling price that you both feel comfortable with.

You should understand how mortgages work prior to buying a home. Understanding these mortgage terms will avoid later confusion regarding the amount of the monthly payment as well as the total coast paid over the lifetime of the loan.

Sex offender information is publicly available, but that doesn?t mean that someone selling a home is obligated to mention that to you.

Always hire an inspector to look at any property that you wish to buy. You do not want to uncover any major renovations. This makes the inspector an extremely cost-effective and-safety conscious choice that you will be responsible for and you may have to leave your home while it is repaired.

When purchasing a foreclosed home, it is wise to assume that there will be repairs that will need to be made. Most foreclosed homes have sat vacant for a period of time, and have not had regular maintenance. Quite often a foreclosed house will require a new HVAC system, and it may also have pests.

TIP! When looking for an investment property, location should be one of your main considerations. Opening your business in a terrible neighborhood can prevent you from having a large client base.

Try to buy houses that have fireplaces only in the main living room. It may be hard to keep up with cleaning multiple fireplace considering that they are rarely used anyway.

Once you have made the decision to start home shopping, you must find a professional Realtor to help with the process. You clearly need to find someone you can rely on to be honest and fair. An agent can show you properly.

Ask each potential real estate agent how familiar he is with the area you want to live in. For example, ask how long he has lived in the general area you?re looking at. If an agent has recently moved to the area, they will not be as familiar with details such as community restrictions, roads and neighborhoods as a long-time resident. If it can be done, try to locate a Realtor who is ultimately familiar with the neighborhood, because they have made a long term home there.

TIP! It?s necessary you research a home?s neighborhood before investing in it. You need to find a neighborhood that meet your needs so that you will be totally satisfied with your home for the long haul.

When looking for an investment property, ensure that the neighborhood is healthy and relatively crime-free. Starting up a business in the wrong neighborhood will not win you many customers. Ask Realtors where it is best to open shop.

When you are talking to a real estate agent about buying a property, ask how many years they have been involved in the community you are interested in.If they haven?t been on the job or in the area for that long then they won?t be as up to speed on local restrictions, they are not going to know as much about the roads, roads and neighborhoods as a long-time resident.

You may be able to borrow an assessor?s device for measuring a house. You should do this before deciding to buy. You need to make sure public records for square footage match the listing. They don?t have to be exact, but they should be within a hundred square feet. If this is not the case, you may want to think twice about the purchase and/or ask some questions to find out the reason for the discrepancy.

TIP! Get a warranty for the house. When you are buying a new home from the person who built it, or from an owner, get a warranty.

When people look at those house buying shows on TV, they generally don?t suspect that the real-world process will be a byzantine labyrinth of forms and other red tape. When purchasing your next piece of real estate, make sure you keep this advice in mind.

Source: http://www.holldon.com/thinking-about-purchasing-real-estate-use-these-great-tips-to-make-your-purchase/

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Senate Panel Approved Welfare For Newly Legal Immigrants | The ...

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I seem to remember some politicians promising us that newly legalized immigrants would not be able to receive welfare benefits. I must have been mistaken, seeing that a Senate panel just approved welfare payments for those they want to legalize. But on the bright side, if any of the formerly illegal aliens is convicted of drunk driving three times they can be deported. (Not that this administration would do so. They regularly ignore laws, or parts of laws, that don?t jibe with their agenda.)

The SenateJudiciary Committee voted Monday to allow illegal immigrants who get legal status to begin collecting tax-welfare payments, as the panel spent a fourth day working through amendments to the massive immigration bill and party-line splits began to emerge.

In one major change, the committee voted 17-1 to make a third drunken-driving conviction a deportable offense for the newly legalized immigrants if at least one of those offenses occurs after they are approved for legal status?.

Overall, the committee continued to maintain the delicate balance struck by the ?Gang of Eight? senators who negotiated the 867-page bill: Quick legal status for illegal immigrants, but delaying citizenship rights until after the administration spends more money on border security, puts in place a new electronic verification system to check workers? status, and enacts an entry-exit system to check visas at airports and seaports.

In previous days? action, two Republican members of the Gang of Eight ? Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Jeff Flake of Arizona ? joined with Democrats to block a series of GOP amendments to stiffen the bill?s security.

But on Monday, the two Republicans sided with their party colleagues on key questions on giving illegal immigrants public benefits. (Read More)

I don?t know what makes Senator Rubio and his Republican colleagues on the Gang of 8 believe they can work with the Democrats on this or anything.

Source: http://lonelyconservative.com/2013/05/senate-panel-approved-welfare-for-newly-legal-immigrants/

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Massive Tornado In Oklahoma Leaves At Least 91 Dead (VIDEO)

Massive Tornado In Oklahoma Leaves At Least 91 Dead (VIDEO)

Massive tornado wipes out part of OklahomaA deadly tornado that was reportedly 2 miles wide hit Oklahoma at around 3 p.m. today, leaving a trail of devastation behind. There were initial reports that 51 people were confirmed dead, 20 of which are children. But the Oklahoma medical examiner, Amy Elliott, revealed at least 91 people are dead. People scrambled to help ...

Massive Tornado In Oklahoma Leaves At Least 91 Dead (VIDEO) Stupid Celebrities Gossip Stupid Celebrities Gossip News

Source: http://stupidcelebrities.net/2013/05/enormous-tornado-in-oklahoma-kills-at-least-51-injures-hundreds-video/

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Google Checkout for web merchants to be retired on November 20th

Google Checkout for web merchants to be retired on November 20th

Although Google Checkout was rolled into Google Wallet at the end of 2011, it's still been an option for folks who peddle their wares online to collect payments. Come November 20th, however, the service will officially shut down. While Page and Co. recommend US-based merchants switch to the revamped Wallet, they're partnering with Braintree, Shopify and Freshbooks to offer discounted migration options as well. As for developers using Checkout for transactions through the Chrome Web Store, Google Play and Offers Marketplace, they'll be automatically transitioned to the Google Wallet Merchant Center in the coming weeks.

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Source: Google Commerce

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/NxRATO6bXBs/

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Tuesday, May 21, 2013

India Finance Minister Begs His People To Stop Buying Gold | Zero ...

While the overnight collapse in precious metals has been notably retraced, the media is unable to take its eyes off the ball that the status quo is shaking focusing on the demise and what that must mean for the future. Well, it seems, the Indian finance minister is very clear. Speaking in New Delhi P. Chidambaram explained his lack of surprise at the increase in gold imports in April (as physical demand exploded amid falling paper prices) adding:

  • *CHIDAMBARAM APPEALS TO PEOPLE TO CONTAIN PASSION FOR GOLD, and
  • *CHIDAMBARAM: MORE STEPS PLANNED TO CURB GOLD IMPORTS IF NEEDED

So China/Hong Kong is importing near record amounts of the precious metal into reserves and India is not only seeing demand but enough to warrant further government intervention... makes perfect sense that (paper) prices should be falling - or are the planners plans backfiring once again? As we noted here, as long as the price suppression of paper gold prices continues, don't expect any notable changes to these demand trends.

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Source: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2013-05-20/india-finance-minister-begs-citizens-stop-buying-gold

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Monday, May 20, 2013

NYPD to increase presence after bias killing

NEW YORK (AP) ? A spate of anti-gay attacks in New York City is prompting police to increase their presence in some gay-friendly neighborhoods heading into what's usually a time for celebration.

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said Monday that the NYPD has pledged to station command vehicles in Greenwich Village, Chelsea and Hell's Kitchen through the end of June, which is Gay Pride Month.

The decision comes after a man walking with a companion was shot dead Saturday. Police say the gunman made homophobic remarks.

The killing happened in Greenwich Village, where the gay rights movement crystallized in the 1960s.

Several other gay bashings have been reported in Manhattan recently.

Quinn and Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott also say public schools will soon have assemblies or other discussions on bullying and hate crimes.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/nypd-increase-presence-bias-killing-180717050.html

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Police call fatal NYC shooting a hate crime

NEW YORK (AP) ? A gunman used homophobic slurs before firing a fatal shot point-blank into a man's face on a Manhattan street alive with a weekend midnight crowd, a killing New York's police commissioner called an "anti-gay" hate crime.

Before opening fire early Saturday, the gunman confronted the victim and his companion in Greenwich Village and asked if they "want to die here," Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said.

The shooting follows a series of recent bias attacks on gay men in New York, but this was the first deadly one.

About 15 minutes before the bloodshed, the gunman was seen urinating outside an upscale restaurant a few blocks from the Stonewall Inn, a birthplace of the gay rights movement, according to Kelly. He then went inside the restaurant and asked if someone was going to call the police about him.

Police said the gunman, identified later as 33-year-old Elliot Morales, told both the bartender and the manager, "if you do call the police, I'll shoot you" and opened his sweatshirt to reveal a shoulder holster with a revolver and made anti-gay remarks, Kelly said.

Morales has a previous arrest for attempted murder in 1998, police said. Details of that arrest weren't immediately clear.

Out on the street minutes later, the gunman and two others approached the 32-year-old victim, identified by police as Harlem resident Marc Carson, and a companion on Sixth Avenue. One of the three men yelled out, "What are you, gay wrestlers?" according to Kelly.

The two men stopped, turned and, according to Kelly, said to the group taunting them, "What did you say?" ? then kept walking.

"There were no words that would aggravate the situation spoken by the victims here," the commissioner said. "This fully looks to be a hate crime, a bias crime."

Two of the men kept following the victim and his companion, Kelly said, adding that witnesses saw the pair approach from behind while repeating anti-gay slurs.

The gunman asked the men if they were together and when he got an affirmative answer, Kelly said, "we believe that the perpetrator says to the victim, 'Do you want to die here?'"

That's when suspect produced the revolver and fired one shot into Carson's cheek, Kelly said.

The gunman fled to 3rd Street, where an officer who had heard a description on his radio spotted him and ordered him to stop, Kelly said. The suspected gunman threw his revolver to the ground and was arrested on the edge of the New York University campus.

Police found the mortally wounded victim on the pavement. He was pronounced dead at Beth Israel Hospital.

Authorities said they could not immediately identify Morales because he was carrying forged identification. But investigators learned his name after the forged ID was submitted to the department's Facial Recognition Unit.

Of the other recent New York bias attacks on gay men, one was reported last week on nearby Christopher Street, where a 35-year-old man told police he was beaten up and heard anti-gay words after leaving a bar.

On May 10, two men trying to enter a billiards hall on West 32nd Street were approached and beaten by a group shouting homophobic slurs, police said.

And on May 5, a man and his partner were beaten near Madison Square Garden after a group of men wearing Knicks shirts hurled anti-gay slurs at them.

The commissioner said Saturday that police were looking into possible links between the incidents.

Multiple lawmakers have condemned the violence.

"I am horrified to learn that last night, a gay man was murdered in my district after being chased out of a Greenwich Village restaurant and assailed by homophobic slurs," New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said. "I stand with all New Yorkers in condemning this attack."

The Democratic mayoral candidate said there was a time in New York when hate crimes were common ? when two people of the same gender could not walk down the street arm in arm without fear of violence and harassment.

But "we refuse to go back to that time," she said. "This kind of shocking and senseless violence, so deeply rooted in hate, has no place in a city whose greatest strength will always be its diversity."

New York State Sen. Brad Hoylman, a Democrat whose district includes Manhattan's West Side, called on New Yorkers "to unite against hate and gun violence."

And State Assemblywoman Deborah Glick declared that "New York is not open for bigotry."

The New York City Anti-Violence Project plans to gather on Friday night for what it calls a "Community Safety Night."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/police-call-fatal-nyc-shooting-hate-crime-175502430.html

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McConnell: ?Culture of intimidation throughout the administration?

Obama addresses the IRS scandal at a news conference. (Getty)

Republican Senators Rand Paul, Mitch McConnell and Rob Portman continued Sunday to press the Obama administration on the Internal Revenue Service scandal that's engulfed the White House.

On CNN's "State of the Union," Paul told Candy Crowley he heard about a "written policy" that encouraged IRS officials to target "those who are critical of the president."

"And when that comes forward, we need to know who wrote the policy and who approved the policy," Paul said.

The Kentucky senator seemed to backtrack when pressed about the existence of yet another controversial document.

"Well, we keep hearing the reports and we have several specifically worded items saying who was being targeted," Paul said. "I don't know if that comes from a policy, but that's what's being reported in the press and reported orally. I haven't seen a policy statement, but I think we need to see that."

Memo or no memo, McConnell said it's clear that political bullying is being cultivated by the Obama White House.

"There is a culture of intimidation throughout the administration," McConnell, the Senate Minority Leader, said on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday. "The nanny state is here to tell us all what to do and if you start criticizing, you get targeted."

[Related: The IRS targeted tea party groups. Did liberal groups get better treatment?]

Earlier this month, an inspector general report disclosed that the IRS improperly scrutinized certain conservative groups applying for tax-exempt status. On Sunday's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos,? Portman called for a bipartisan investigation into inspector general's report.

"What we do know is that politics was put ahead of the public interest," Portman said. "And it was done in two of the most sensitive areas of our government."

"So, it seems to me that there's a lot of issues here we need to get bottom of," the Ohio Republican added. "We need to find out what really happened and ensure that we can begin to regain some trust in our government. That's my concern."

Meanwhile, White House senior adviser Dan Pfeiffer accused the GOP of conducting "fishing expeditions" ahead of next year's midterm elections.

"I think we've seen this playbook from Republicans before," Pfeiffer said on "Meet The Press" Sunday. "What they want to do when they are lacking a positive agenda is try to drag Washington into a swamp of partisan fishing expeditions, trumped-up hearings and false allegations. We're not going to let that happen."

Obama appears to be weathering the storm, the Associated Press noted. A poll released on Sunday by CNN/ORC International showed President Obama has a 53 percent approval rating, with just 45 percent saying they disapprove.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/irs-scandal-mcconnell-paul-obama-191839606.html

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Sunday, May 19, 2013

How Cheap Genetic Testing Complicates Cancer Screening For Us ...

Sometimes, more medical information is a bad thing. The influential United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends against most women getting genetic screenings for their susceptibility to breast cancer. Why? Because the tests are imperfect: for every woman who gets tested for genes associated with onset breast cancer, even more will falsely test positive, leading spooked patients into needless surgery or psychological trauma. Super cheap genetic testing from enterprising health startups, such as 23andMe, have complicated cancer detection for us all by increasing the accessibility of imperfect medical information.

After discovering a mutated BRCA1 gene, known to increase breast cancer 60 to 80%, actress Angelina Jolie?s underwent a radical preventive double mastectomy. Her brave confession in the New York Times brought much needed attention to breast cancer awareness, but it?s dangerous in the hands of a statistically illiterate population.

For instance, as New York Times statistical guru, Nate Silver, once reminded me, while breast cancer mammograms are 75% accurate, a woman who tests positive only has about a 10% chance of actually getting cancer. Since the vast majority of women don?t have cancer, there are far more women who will falsely test positive (here is a helpful blog post with the numbers worked out). Most importantly, surveys reveal that many people don?t understand the math behind false positives in cancer testing, and may make uninformed decisions as a result.

The same math holds true for the mutated BRCA1/2 gene of Jolie?s confession: researchers estimate that a tiny 0.11 to 0.12 of women have the faulty gene. ?I believe in doing genetic testing for BRCA1/2 with appropriate counseling,? writes University of Southern California?s David Agus, one of Steve Jobs? cancer doctors, The answers are not simple in this case and require experienced professionals to discuss with the patient.?

Traditionally hundreds, if thousands of dollars to test, a cottage industry of cheap genetic testing has sprung up. 23andMe, one of the most popular, offers the service for as little at $99, and has even dared to weigh in on the BRCA controversy on the company blog.

Citing a new study that found no negative emotional consequences from patients after learning about their BRCA1 mutation, the 23andMe blog concludes, ?The findings are important given that a frequent criticism of direct-to-consumer testing is based on the assumption that it causes either serious emotional distress or triggers deleterious actions on the part of consumers,? wrote the blog.

?Given the absence of evidence for serious emotional distress or inappropriate actions in this subset of mutation-positive customers who agreed to be interviewed for this study, broader screening of Ashkenazi Jewish women for these three BRCA mutations should be considered.?

Sometimes, however, voluntary surveys don?t tell the whole story. Time, in their cover story on Jolie?s decision, recounts the tale of one woman who likely had unnecessary preventative surgery after learning about a genetic defect. ??She freaked out and had a bilateral mastectomy,? said Otis Brawley, chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society, who worried that this patient?s particular mutation was not as troubling as she worried it was.

Interestingly, TIME?s author, Kate Pickart, argues the financial costs of genetic testing has stall mass run on genetic tests. Even a new provision under the Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. Obamacare) only mandates 100% insurance coverage for patients with a family history of genetic flaws.

But, at just $99 (and probably far less in the future), financial barriers are crumbling. This isn?t to say that genetic screening is bad, it just complicates things for the rest of us, especially those who don?t understand statistics. The more women get tested, the more false positives exist, the less confident patients and physicians become in a course of action.

Maybe our only hope out of this cheaper testing spiral is technology that makes detection more accurate and more predictive. One promising solution is a new bra that constantly monitors deep tissue for cancerous signs (below)

So, perhaps, before long, we will innovate our way out of this dilemma.

Source: http://techcrunch.com/2013/05/19/how-cheap-genetic-testing-complicates-cancer-screening-for-us-all/

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The periodic table of elements, in song (video) (Americablog)

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Stevens rides Oxbow to 3rd Preakness win

Jockey Gary Stevens gives thumbs up after riding Oxbow to win 138th Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico Race Course, Saturday, May 18, 2013, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Jockey Gary Stevens gives thumbs up after riding Oxbow to win 138th Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico Race Course, Saturday, May 18, 2013, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Jockey Gary Stevens celebrates aboard Oxbow after winning the 138th Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico Race Course, Saturday, May 18, 2013, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Jockey Gary Stevens holds up a trophy in the winner's circle after riding Oxbow to win the 138th Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico Race Course, Saturday, May 18, 2013, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Jockey Gary Stevens celebrates aboard Oxbow after winning the 138th Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico Race Course, Saturday, May 18, 2013, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Jockey Gary Stevens celebrates aboard Oxbow after winning the 138th Preakness Stakes horse race at Pimlico Race Course, Saturday, May 18, 2013, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

(AP) ? Gary Stevens came out of retirement for the chance to get back in the winner's circle in a Triple Crown race.

He accomplished his goal Saturday in the Preakness.

Stevens, a grandfather who retired in 2005 because of knee problems, rode Oxbow to an upset victory on a horse saddled by 77-year-old trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

Stevens led from start to finish and won the race by 1? lengths to end Orb's bid for the Triple Crown.

Stevens said, "To win a classic at 50 years old after seven years retirement, it doesn't get any better than this. It's even more special winning it for Wayne Lukas and his team."

It was Stevens' third career victory in the Preakness, the first since 1997 on Silver Charm.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-05-18-RAC-Preakness-Stevens/id-d1402c807b814a1288fd3ae033f32f4e

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Saturday, May 18, 2013

Dawg gone! 'Idol' barely says goodbye to Randy

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1 hour ago

Mariah Carey, Randy Jackson and Nicki Minaj.

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Mariah Carey, Randy Jackson and Nicki Minaj.

Opinion: Anyone hoping for an extended ?American Idol? tribute to Randy Jackson on Thursday?s finale had to wait an awfully long time for a minimal payoff.

The man?s been a judge on the show for 12 years. He?s brought catchphrases such as ?In it to win it!? into our national database of clich?s. He?s dealt with cranky personalities and divas, and sat through every single terrible group performance during Hollywood weeks. Plus he wears loud clothing for every episode without complaints. Surely the least he deserved was a show-stopping send-off!

And he gave "Idol" every chance to make that happen. Like a man hinting that he wants his own surprise party, Randy announced his retirement from the show last week, giving producers ample time to throw something together.

?Idol? could have sent off their lone remaining original judge in style, much like the Simon Cowell appreciation tour that occurred when the acerbic judge departed after season nine. Plus, Mariah Carey was right there already. How hard would it have been to get a giant cake for her to burst out of?

No dice.

Instead, it wasn?t until almost 90 minutes into a two-hour show that Ryan Seacrest walked behind the judges? podium to say, ?Tonight is the end of an era. This evening we say thank you very much and goodbye to Randy Jackson.?

?The new age begins,? Mariah said helpfully.

The lights dropped. The tape rolled. And what did viewers get?

First, a brief bit involving dogs discussing the news in a board room. Get it? Because Randy calls everyone ?dawg?! Hilarious! But it's great to see that dogs can gather indoors for something other than a poker game.

Then a taped interview saw Randy note, ?If ?Idol? were around and was an opportunity for me growing up, I would have auditioned and won it five times.? It illustrated that after a dozen years, he still doesn?t have a firm grasp on the rules of the competition, or his own singing voice. (Randy, buddy, you?re a bass guitarist, not a front man.)

The wayback machine took the audience to Kelly Clarkson?s audition, and to footage of Randy, Simon and Paula Abdul when they were all much more natural looking and didn?t seem to be a creation of wardrobe and makeup. Long-term viewers sighed and remembered the good old days when the concept was fresh.

?Not in a trillion, billion years would this man ever make it to Hollywood,? Simon said.

(How great would it have been had that been followed by Randy saying, "Not in a trillion billion years can you make a different reality singing competition successful without me being a party of it as well?")

Also, did the show really have to use Daniel Powter?s ?Bad Day? as the musical accompaniment? For years, that was the song that ?Idol? losers heard upon their departure each week. If nothing else, didn?t Randy at least rate someone performing it live?

All too soon -- less than three minutes after it began -- the clip show ended, and the pink-jacketed Randy was taking his final bows.

?By the way, Randy, I think I speak on behalf on a lot of people in America and our producers when I say the door is always open, my brother,? Ryan said. And the show moved on.

That?s it? That?s all the man gets after a dozen years?

Hope Ryan is taking notice. He?ll clearly have to plan his own wrap party when the time comes.

Did Randy deserve a better send-off? Share your thoughts by clicking the "Talk about it" button below!

Source: http://www.today.com/entertainment/dawg-gone-american-idol-disses-randy-jackson-barely-farewell-1C9967590

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Ways To Fight Off That Aching Pain In Your Back ? Hot Article Depot

Having consistent back pain can have an effect on many aspects of your life. It may put an end to exercising or from enjoying many daily activities. If you experience back pain, read through this article to discover some ways to improve your situation.

Avoid back pain by making sure your mattress is not too soft. It is generally agreed that very soft mattresses are not good for backs. But mattresses that are excessively firm will cause painful pressure points, so you must find your happy medium between the two. It is highly likely that you will need to visit a variety of stores, testing out various brands, and sizes, of mattresses to find the right one for you.

Water therapy might be efficient in healing your back pains. When you are in the water, the pressure and strain your spine and back muscles are subjected to is considerably lessened. In addition, water can help restore some of the range of motion your back problems have caused you to lose. There are a lot of community recreation centers that offer water therapy for a reasonable price.

If you?ve tried all known back pain relief methods to no avail, it may be time to schedule an appointment with a chiropractor. The chiropractor will take x-rays, and you can then discuss how to go about treating it. With these gentle adjustments, you can ease your pain.

For those suffering with back pain, receiving a massage is a good way to relieve it. Touch therapy can really help people with back pain. A good massage will loosen up your back muscles that are tight, giving you a nice feeling of relaxation and a relief from pain. You should aim to get a massage a minimum of once per week to help you manage your back pain.

Is back pain a part of your daily life? If so, do not twist your back too much as you go about your day. Regardless of what you are doing, twisting your body can seriously damage your back and leave you in pain. If you are active in various sporting activities, make sure to notice how your spine?s movements react. If you experience tightness or pain, slow down whatever activity in which you are engaged.

Give up smoking! Someone who smokes has 30% more chances of getting back pains. Smoking constricts blood vessels and reduces blood circulation. This stops necessary nutrients from accessing the lower portion of the spine and the discs, which makes them become brittle and apt to be injured.

Relaxing is probably considered one of the better remedies for back pain. Also, doing something as easy as the right breathing technique could really help someone suffering from pain. Using controlled breathing exercises can significantly reduce the pain and the stress that may be causing it. For instance, breathing deeply should take most of the pain away.

Being aware of various types of back pain is good, but all are painful when they strike your personally. Back pain can ruin a person?s day. If you use the tips from this article, you can keep living your life in less pain.

Whenever you are curious about the topic of best chiropractor, go ahead and visit Yahoo and look for best naples chiropractor. You?ll be satisfied to know you did!

Source: http://hotarticledepot.com/ways-to-fight-off-that-aching-pain-in-your-back-2/

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Christianophobia

British journalist Rupert Shortt documents and examines the persecution of Christians around the world ? a problem of which many Westerners are unaware.

By Rayyan Al-Shawaf / May 16, 2013

Christianophobia: A Faith Under Attack By Rupert Shortt Eerdmans, William B. Publishing Company 328 pp.

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In the introduction to his focused yet far-ranging Christianophobia: A Faith Under Attack, Rupert Shortt points out that ?[o]ne reason why Western audiences hear so little about religious oppression in the Muslim world is straightforward: young Christians in Europe and America do not become ?radicalized,? and persecuted Christians tend not to respond with terrorist violence.?

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Another reason for the silence, he adds, stems from the fear that criticizing Muslims will prompt charges of racism. A third explanation lies in the fact that many liberals in the West look askance at Christianity in the developing world due to a simplistic and often historically inaccurate belief that its spread was bound up with Western imperialism.

Shortt, religion editor at the (London) Times Literary Supplement and biographer of Rowan Williams (former Archbishop of Canterbury), begins with the premise ?that freedom of belief and association are unqualified goods? and proceeds to examine countries ? including several non-Muslim ones ? that deny them to Christians.

Shortt relies on interviews he conducted in seven countries he visited, reports released by international Christian aid organizations as well as Amnesty International, and scholarly and other books. In some ways, he follows in the footsteps of Paul Marshall and co-authors, who have long written about persecution of Christians and whose findings are among the references he cites. Throughout, he eschews polemics and unhesitatingly criticizes both historical and recent Christian violence against Muslims and others.

Shortt makes a very good point regarding the title of his book, which, technically, would refer to fear of Christianity. ?I am aware that ?Christianophobia,? like ?Islamophobia,' is an elastic term, perhaps implying a passive attitude, unlike the more active ?anti-Semitism?; and that prejudice should be distinguished from more overt forms of ill will manifested in state ideology or various sorts of behavior,? he observes. ?However, neither ?anti-Muslimism? nor ?anti-Christianism? has caught on, so Christianophobia seems to me a valid term.??

So, why are Christians discriminated against and even persecuted? Reasons are varied, and Shortt strives, with a good deal of success, to provide context. In Vietnam, China, and North Korea, all of which are totalitarian and have been Communist to varying degrees, the regimes fear alternative sources of authority, as well as some Christians? association with the West.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/F9ti2DT5Ftg/Christianophobia

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Friday, May 17, 2013

Google and NASA Snap Up D-Wave Quantum Computer

Except what they obviously intend to use it for - large scale decryption of SSL traffic so the data can be mined by Google (for profit) and the Government (to oppress).

If that's their intent, they'll be sorely disappointed, since D-Wave's machine has only 512 qubits (where as all new SSL certificates are at least 1024 bits). More importantly, the machine is not a general purpose quantum computer and can't run Shor's algorithm.

Besides, NSA is already able to break 1024 bit RSA using conventional computing (not to mention the possibility of much cheaper side channel attacks). See e.g. Schneier [schneier.com].

If we are optimistic, it may be possible to factor a 1024-bit RSA modulus [before 2020] by means of an academic effort on [a] limited scale.

- Kleinjung et al., 2010 [iacr.org], my emphasis

The same paper gives an estimated difficulty

Source: http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdotScience/~3/F-MWwpuqvus/story01.htm

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A Small Shock To The System May Help Brain With Math

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Ever get stuck on these?

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Stimulating the brain with a very small electrical current through the forehead could boost a student's ability to learn and remember basic mathematics, a provocative experiment suggets.

The work, published online Thursday by the journal Current Biology, could help those who struggle with mental arithmetic. But the study was small and the long-term effect wasn't profound.

The study tested something called transcranial random noise stimulation, a technique that sends a tiny current to the brain.

The current, generated by a small electronic device, is delivered through two electrodes attached to the temple. The electricity seems to affect the brain's neurons, which themselves use electrical signals to communicate with each other.

The results are preliminary, and alpha parents seeking an edge for their children shouldn't risk electrocution. "Do not try this at home," says Jackie Thompson, a psychologist at the University of Oxford in the U.K.

Some studies suggest that up to 1 in 5 of us has difficulty learning basic math, according to Thompson. Thompson and her colleagues thought that very slight electrical stimulation could help. Electrical stimulation has sometimes been shown to boost basic cognitive skills, Thompson says.

To find out if it could help with more complex brain functions, the team tried mathematics. They took 25 students and asked them to memorize a series of made-up mathematical equations. For example, 4 # 12 = 17. The idea was to test their ability to memorize sums that they hadn't seen before.

All the students had two electrodes stuck to their foreheads, but only half received the tiny electrical signal. The signal was too small to be felt, and even the researchers conducting the tests didn't know who had received a signal and who hadn't.

When they went back and checked, they found that those who had received the stimulation appeared to memorize their sums faster and better than those who hadn't. Moreover, the effect seemed to last for six months after the stimulation. But it wasn't as strong.

Researchers aren't quite sure how it works, but co-author author Thompson says that the electrical signal may get brain cells synchronized: "Kind of like if you have eight rowers in a boat, if they're all rowing together they go faster," she says.

Researchers hope that their new technique could eventually be developed into a tool to help those with learning disabilities, or anyone who finds they are severely math challenged. But Thompson says that more research is needed to see what method of stimulation works best.

Source: http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/05/16/184544875/a-small-shock-to-the-system-may-help-brain-with-math?ft=1&f=1007

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PFT: Cards GM says Mathieu best playmaker in draft

Washington Redskins v Pittsburgh SteelersGetty Images

Tracing Doug Whaley?s move from Wall Street to Bills G.M.

The Dolphins signed undrafted rookie T Rupert Bryan and plan to move him to fullback.

Do the changes on the defensive line foreshadow scheme changes for the Patriots?

Jets G Vladimir Ducasse knows he has one more chance with the Jets.

With Rolando McClain officially out of the picture, here?s how things look at inside linebacker for the Ravens.

Five students have received $20,000 in college scholarship money from the charitable organization run by Bengals coach Marvin Lewis.

Browns G Jason Pinkston feels great after returning to the field for the first time since he developed a blood clot in his lung last year.

Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com thinks Antonio Brown can prove himself as a No. 1 receiver with the Steelers this year.

After spending 2012 on injured reserve, Texans K Randy Bullock is excited to actually do some kicking.

Said Colts coach Chuck Pagano of WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, ?We are very fortunate to get him on board. Big, fast, long athletic guy, that can go up and find the football and can certainly stretch a defense and take the top off the secondary, off the backend.?

The new-look Jaguars jerseys seem to be selling well.

Titans rookie CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson has made a habit of learning quickly on the football field.

It?s hard to find a weakness when it comes to Broncos LB Von Miller.

Chiefs defenders are enjoying the aggressiveness in this year?s defensive scheme.

Josh Cribbs is looking forward to playing for Raiders special teams coach Bobby April.

A move to guard looks like it is working out well for Jeromey Clary of the Chargers.

A call for the Cowboys to add Collin Klein?to their roster.

Aaron Curry believes he can be an impact linebacker for the Giants.

How will the Eagles use their tight ends this season?

Some disbelief about reports of Redskins interest in RB Tim Hightower.

How much did the Bears spend on undrafted free agents?

The Lions? defensive backs should be tested frequently in 2013.

A group of Packers players went to Iowa to fire up the team?s fans in the state.

Vikings LB Chad Greenway wants you to be a farmer.

Said Falcons coach Mike Smith of the team?s belief in high-character players, ?We win in the locker room first.?

Several Panthers rookies made a good first impression.

The Saints signed DT Isaako Aaitui to a two-year deal.

Going one-on-one with Buccaneers rookie DT Akeem Spence.

Cardinals rookies are getting plenty of chances to impress their coaches.

G.M. Les Snead has completed his overhaul of the team?s scouting and personnel departments.

RB Marcus Lattimore was left inspired by his first meeting with new 49ers teammate Frank Gore.

On Friday, Washington Governor Jay Inslee is signing a bill that will allow people to get Seahawks license plates.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/05/15/cardinals-gm-mathieu-could-be-the-best-playmaker-in-the-draft/related/

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Clam fossils divulge secrets of ecologic stability

May 15, 2013 ? Clam fossils from the middle Devonian era -- some 380 million years ago -- now yield a better paleontological picture of the capacity of ecosystems to remain stable in the face of environmental change, according to research published today (May 15) in the online journal PLOS ONE.

Trained to examine species abundance -- the head counts of specimens -- paleontologists test the stability of Earth's past ecosystems. The research shows that factors such as predation and organism body size from epochs-gone-by can now be considered in such detective work.

Back 380 million years ago, New York was under the Devonian sea. Today, the fossils found in the rocks of this region have become well known for documenting long-term stability in species composition -- that is, the same species have been found to persist with little change over a 5 million year period. But research has found that species abundance in this ancient ecosystem went up and down, generating debate among paleontologists whether the fauna, as a whole, was also stable in terms of its ecology.

A team of Cornell, Paleontological Research Institution (PRI) -- an affiliate of Cornell -- and University of Cincinnati researchers revisited this debate by examining the ecological stability of the Devonian clam fauna.

"To understand how these species fared in the Devonian, you have to look at how they interacted with other species. There is more to ecology than just the abundance and distribution of species," said Gregory Dietl, Cornell adjunct professor, earth and atmospheric sciences, and a paleontologist at PRI.

The research, "Abundance Is Not Enough: The Need for Multiple Lines of Evidence in Testing for Ecological Stability in the Fossil Record," was written by Judith Nagel-Myers, paleontologist, PRI; John Handley, PRI; Carlton Brett, University of Cincinnati professor of geology; and Dietl.

The scientists took a new approach to testing ecological stability: In addition to counting numbers of clams, they examined repair scars on fossil clams that were left by the unsuccessful attacks from shell-crushing predators, and the body size of the clam assemblage as it yields biological information on the structure of food webs.

"Surprisingly, predation pressure and the body size structure of the clams remained stable, even as abundance varied," said Nagel-Myers. Possible mechanisms that explain the clam assemblage's stability are related to the dynamics of food webs -- the same mechanisms operating in food webs today. In one mechanism, predators switched between feeding on different clam species as their abundance varied.

The ancient Devonian ecosystem was more complex than previously thought, as it cautions scientists against basing conclusions on a single factor. Said Dietl: "Our results thus raise serious doubt as to whether ecological stability can be tested meaningfully, solely based upon the abundance of taxa, which has been the standard metric used to test for ecological stability in paleoecology."

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/h9DvRjAsaXI/130515174029.htm

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Thursday, May 16, 2013

Cholesterol-lowering drug may reduce exercise benefits for obese adults

May 15, 2013 ? Statins, the most widely prescribed drugs worldwide, are often suggested to lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease in individuals with obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome, which is a combination of medical disorders including excess body fat and/or high levels of blood pressure, blood sugar and/or cholesterol. However, University of Missouri researchers found that simvastatin, a generic type of statin previously sold under the brand name "Zocor," hindered the positive effects of exercise for obese and overweight adults.

"Fitness has proven to be the most significant predictor of longevity and health because it protects people from a variety of chronic diseases," said John Thyfault, an associate professor of nutrition and exercise physiology at MU. "Daily physical activity is needed to maintain or improve fitness, and thus improve health outcomes. However, if patients start exercising and taking statins at the same time, it seems that statins block the ability of exercise to improve their fitness levels."

Thyfault says many cardiologists want to prescribe statins to all patients over a certain age regardless of whether they have metabolic syndrome; the drugs also are recommended for people with Type 2 diabetes. He recommends that cardiologists more closely weigh the benefits and risks of statins given this new data about their effect on exercise training.

"Statins have only been used for about 15-20 years, so we don't know what the long-term effects of statins will be on aerobic fitness and overall health," Thyfault said. "If the drugs cause complications with improving or maintaining fitness, not everyone should be prescribed statins."

Thyfault and his colleagues measured cardiorespiratory fitness in 37 previously sedentary, obese individuals ages 25-59 with low fitness levels. The participants followed the same exercise regimen on the MU campus for 12 weeks; 18 of the 37 people also took 40 mg of simvastatin daily.

Statins significantly affected participants' exercise outcomes. Participants in the exercise-only group increased their cardiorespiratory fitness by an average of 10 percent compared to a 1.5 percent increase among participants also prescribed statins. Additionally, skeletal muscle mitochondrial content, the site where muscle cells turn oxygen into energy, decreased by 4.5 percent in the group taking statins while the exercise-only group had a 13 percent increase, a normal response following exercise training.

Thyfault suggests that future research determine whether lower doses of simvastatin or other types of statins similarly affect people's exercise outcomes and thus their risk for diseases such as Type 2 diabetes. Starting a statin regimen after exercising and obtaining a higher fitness level may reduce the drugs' effects on fitness, he says.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Missouri-Columbia. The original article was written by Kate McIntyre.

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


Journal Reference:

  1. Catherine R. Mikus, Leryn J. Boyle, Sarah J. Borengasser, Douglas J. Oberlin, Scott P. Naples, Justin Fletcher, Grace M. Meers, Meghan Ruebel, M. Harold Laughlin, Kevin C. Dellsperger, Paul J. Fadel, John P. Thyfault. Simvastatin impairs exercise training adaptations. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 2013; DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2013.02.074

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/HGgePthEP6g/130515151945.htm

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Arias back in court as jury ponders death option

PHOENIX (AP) ? Jodi Arias heads back to court Wednesday as jurors consider whether the death penalty should be an option for sentencing the former waitress after convicting her of first-degree murder last week.

Arias spent the weekend on suicide watch before being transferred back to the all-female Estrella Jail on Monday where she will remain held until her sentencing.

The so-called "aggravation" phase of the trial is set for Wednesday, during which jurors will deliberate one more time to weigh the death penalty option.

Prosecutor Juan Martinez must convince the panel that the murder was committed in an especially cruel, heinous and depraved manner. This phase will be a mini-trial of sorts, as both sides call witnesses to present testimony to jurors ? the defense in an effort to spare Arias' life, the prosecution to at least have a shot at a death sentence.

Martinez will likely call the county medical examiner who performed the autopsy on the victim to explain to jurors how Travis Alexander did not die calmly and fought for his life as evidenced by the numerous defensive wounds on his hands and feet. The lead detective on the case also will likely testify about the crime scene in an effort to show jurors just how much blood was spread around Alexander's bathroom and bedroom as he struggled to fend off the attack.

It wasn't clear who the defense would call to testify in an effort to get the death penalty off the table.

If jurors find the killing fits the definition of cruel and heinous, the panel will recommend either life in prison or death during the next and final penalty phase of the trial.

If the panel finds no aggravating factors exist, jurors will be dismissed and the judge will determine whether Arias should spend the rest of her life in prison or be sentenced to 25 years with the possibility of release.

"I think this jury is going to listen to everything, but they're going to come back very quickly and find that indeed the state has shown beyond a reasonable doubt the crime was committed in an especially cruel, heinous and depraved manner," Phoenix criminal defense lawyer Julio Laboy said. "This was a cruel death and one in which he (Alexander) knew he was dying."

Arias stabbed and slashed Alexander nearly 30 times, shot him in the forehead and slit his throat from ear to ear, leaving the motivational speaker and businessman nearly decapitated before she dragged his mutilated body into his shower where friends found him about five days later.

The 32-year-old Arias admitted killing her onetime boyfriend Alexander on June 4, 2008, at his suburban Phoenix home. She initially denied any involvement then later blamed masked intruders. Two years after her arrest, she said it was self-defense when the victim attacked her after a day of sex.

Prosecutors said she planned the killing in a jealous rage as Alexander wanted to end their affair and was planning to take a trip to Mexico with another woman.

Testimony began in early January. The jury reached its verdict last Wednesday after about 15 hours of deliberations over four days.

All 12 jurors ? eight men and four women ? unanimously agreed the killing was premeditated.

Minutes after her conviction last week, Arias granted an interview to Fox affiliate KSAZ while in a holding cell at the courthouse, only adding to the circus-like environment surrounding the trial, which has become a cable TV sensation with its graphic tales of sex, lies and violence.

"Longevity runs in my family, and I don't want to spend the rest of my natural life in one place," a tearful Arias said in the interview. "I believe death is the ultimate freedom, and I'd rather have my freedom as soon as I can get it."

Despite Arias' comments that she would rather die than be in prison for life, she cannot choose the death penalty. It is up to the jury to recommend a sentence.

Officials with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday the agency would not grant anymore media interviews with Arias after receiving a court order prohibiting authorities from facilitating the requests. The order came shortly after a closed door meeting with the judge and attorneys in the case.

If jurors on Wednesday find Arias' crime deserves consideration of the death penalty, the trial will move into yet another ? and final ? phase, during which prosecutors will call witnesses, including members of Alexander's family, aimed at convincing the panel she should face the ultimate punishment. Arias' attorneys, meanwhile, will also call witnesses, likely members of her family, in an attempt to gain sympathy from jurors to spare her life.

"This case is not over. There's a lot left and without question, victory still awaits the defense if they can save her life and keep her off death row," Laboy said. "It was such a difficult set of facts and circumstances for her defense to overcome, from her multiple lies to the crime scene to the physical evidence ... If despite all of those things, they can save her life, they've still won."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/arias-back-court-jury-ponders-death-option-071142088.html

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