Wednesday, January 30, 2013

New semiconductor research may extend integrated circuit battery life 10-fold

Jan. 30, 2013 ? Researchers at Rochester Institute of Technology, international semiconductor consortium SEMATECH and Texas State University have demonstrated that use of new methods and materials for building integrated circuits can reduce power -- extending battery life to 10 times longer for mobile applications compared to conventional transistors.

The key to the breakthrough is a tunneling field effect transistor. Transistors are switches that control the movement of electrons through material to conduct the electrical currents needed to run circuits. Unlike standard transistors, which are like driving a car over a hill, the tunneling field effect transistor is more like tunneling through a hill, says Sean Rommel, associate professor of electrical and microelectronic engineering.

"The tunneling field effect transistors have not yet demonstrated a sufficiently large drive current to make it a practical replacement for current transistor technology," Rommel says, "but this work conclusively established the largest tunneling current ever experimentally demonstrated, answering a key question about the viability of tunneling field effect transistor technology."

Rommel worked with David Pawlik, Brian Romanczyk and Paul Thomas, three graduate students in the microelectronic engineering and microsystems engineering programs at RIT. Along with colleagues from SEMATECH and Texas State University, the team presented the breakthrough findings at the International Electron Devices Meeting in San Francisco this past December.

In order to accurately observe and quantify these current levels, a fabrication and testing procedure was performed at RIT. Pawlik developed a process to build and test vertical Esaki tunnel diodes smaller than 120 nanometers in diameter, Rommel explains. This procedure allowed the researchers to measure hundreds of diodes per sample. Because of the nanometer-scale devices tested, the researchers were able to experimentally observe currents substantially larger than any previously reported tunneling currents.

Esaki tunnel diodes, discovered in 1957 and the first quantum devices, were used to create a map showing output tunnel currents for a given set of material systems and parameters. For the first time, researchers have a single reference to which they can compare results from the micro- to the mega-ampere range, Rommel adds.

"This work may be used by others in designing higher performance tunneling field effect transistors which may enable future low power integrated circuits for your mobile device," he says.

The team's findings in the area of developing high performance, low-power electronic devices are also detailed in the paper, "Benchmarking and Improving III-V Esaki Diode Performance with a Record 2.2 MA cm2 Current Density to Enhance Tunneling Field-Effect Transistor Drive Current." The National Science Foundation, SEMATECH and RIT's Office of the Vice President of Research sponsor the work.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Rochester Institute of Technology. The original article was written by Michelle Cometa.

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


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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_technology/~3/ZyJYXe4kO5U/130130184406.htm

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Randy Couture will coach on Bellator reality series

Randy Couture is a member of the UFC Hall of Fame. He fought in the Octagon 23 times, and held the heavyweight and light heavyweight UFC belts. But according to a report from Sports Illustrated, his next move will be with Bellator.

Couture has reportedly signed on to do multiple projects with Viacom, the media conglomerate that has a major stake in Bellator and owns Spike TV, Bellator's TV partner. Couture's first project will be to coach on an upcoming MMA reality TV series.

This won't be Couture's first time in that role. Along with Chuck Liddell, Couture was a coach on the first season of "The Ultimate Fighter." That show helped catapult the UFC to the level it is on today.

Bellator is smartly banking on Couture's popularity as a fighter and an actor to help grow their promotion.

Other popular content on Yahoo! Sports:
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? Does Tiger Woods' early-season win mean he's back?
? Former NBA All-Star Allen Iverson declines a D-League invitation
? Yankees star Alex Rodriguez joins list of disgraced athletes

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/randy-couture-coach-bellator-reality-series-231006398--mma.html

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Eating bright-colored fruits and vegetables may prevent or delay ALS

Eating bright-colored fruits and vegetables may prevent or delay ALS [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 29-Jan-2013
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Dawn Peters
sciencenewsroom@wiley.com
781-388-8408
Wiley

New research suggests that increased consumption of foods containing colorful carotenoids, particularly beta-carotene and lutein, may prevent or delay the onset of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The study, published by Wiley in Annals of Neurology, a journal of the American Neurological Association and Child Neurology Society, found that diets high in lycopene, beta-cryptoxanthin, and vitamin C did not reduce ALS risk.

Carotenoids give fruits and vegetables their bright orange, red, or yellow colors, and are a source of dietary vitamin A. Prior studies report that oxidative stress plays a role in the development of ALS. Further studies have shown that individuals with high intake of antioxidants, such as vitamin E, have a reduced ALS risk. Because vitamin C or carotenoids are also antioxidants, researchers examined their relation to ALS risk.

According to the National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) roughly 20,000 to 30,000 Americans have ALSalso known as Lou Gehrig's diseaseand another 5,000 patients are diagnosed annually with the disease. ALS is a progressive neurological disease that attacks nerve cells (neurons) in the brain and spinal cord, which control voluntary muscles. As the upper and lower motor neurons degenerate, the muscles they control gradually weaken and waste away, leading to paralysis.

"ALS is a devastating degenerative disease that generally develops between the ages of 40 and 70, and affects more men than women," said senior author Dr. Alberto Ascherio, Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, Mass. "Understanding the impact of food consumption on ALS development is important. Our study is one of the largest to date to examine the role of dietary antioxidants in preventing ALS."

Using data from five prospective groups: the National Institutes of Health (NIH)AARP Diet and Health Study, the Cancer Prevention Study II-Nutrition Cohort, the Multiethnic Cohort, the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, and the Nurses' Health Study, researchers investigated more than one million participants for the present study. A total of 1093 ALS cases were identified after excluding subjects with unlikely food consumption.

The team found that a greater total carotenoid intake was linked to reduced risk of ALS. Individuals who consumed more carotenoids in their diets were more likely to exercise, have an advanced degree, have higher vitamin C consumption, and take vitamin C and E supplements. Furthermore, subjects with diets high in beta-carotene and luteinfound in dark green vegetableshad a lower risk ALS risk. Researchers did not find that lycopene, beta-cryptoxanthin, and vitamin C reduced the risk of ALS. Long-term vitamin C supplement intake was also not associated with lower ALS risk.

Dr. Ascherio concludes, "Our findings suggest that consuming carotenoid-rich foods may help prevent or delay the onset of ALS. Further food-based analyses are needed to examine the impact of dietary nutrients on ALS."

###

This study is published in Annals of Neurology. Media wishing to receive a PDF of this article may contact sciencenewsroom@wiley.com

Full citation: "Intakes of Vitamin C and Carotenoids and Risk of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis." Kathryn C Fitzgerald, Eilis J O'Reilly, Elinor Fondell, Guido J Falcone, Marjorie L McCullough, Yikyung Park, Laurence N Kolonel and Alberto Ascherio. Annals of Neurology; Published Online: January 29, 2013 (DOI:10.1002/ana.23820).

Author Contact: To arrange an interview with Dr. Ascherio, please contact Todd Datz with the Harvard School of Public Health at tdatz@hsph.harvard.edu.

About the Journal

Annals of Neurology, the official journal of the American Neurological Association and the Child Neurology Society, publishes articles of broad interest with potential for high impact in understanding the mechanisms and treatment of diseases of the human nervous system. All areas of clinical and basic neuroscience, including new technologies, cellular and molecular neurobiology, population sciences, and studies of behavior, addiction, and psychiatric diseases are of interest to the journal. The journal is published by Wiley on behalf of the American Neurological Association and Child Neurology Society. For more information, please visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/ana.

About Wiley

Founded in 1807, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. has been a valued source of information and understanding for more than 200 years, helping people around the world meet their needs and fulfill their aspirations. Wiley and its acquired companies have published the works of more than 450 Nobel laureates in all categories: Literature, Economics, Physiology or Medicine, Physics, Chemistry, and Peace.

Wiley is a global provider of content and content-enabled workflow solutions in areas of scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly research; professional development; and education. Our core businesses produce scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly journals, reference works, books, database services, and advertising; professional books, subscription products, certification and training services and online applications; and education content and services including integrated online teaching and learning resources for undergraduate and graduate students and lifelong learners. Wiley's global headquarters are located in Hoboken, New Jersey, with operations in the U.S., Europe, Asia, Canada, and Australia. The Company's Web site can be accessed at http://www.wiley.com. The Company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols JWa and JWb.


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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.


Eating bright-colored fruits and vegetables may prevent or delay ALS [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 29-Jan-2013
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Dawn Peters
sciencenewsroom@wiley.com
781-388-8408
Wiley

New research suggests that increased consumption of foods containing colorful carotenoids, particularly beta-carotene and lutein, may prevent or delay the onset of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The study, published by Wiley in Annals of Neurology, a journal of the American Neurological Association and Child Neurology Society, found that diets high in lycopene, beta-cryptoxanthin, and vitamin C did not reduce ALS risk.

Carotenoids give fruits and vegetables their bright orange, red, or yellow colors, and are a source of dietary vitamin A. Prior studies report that oxidative stress plays a role in the development of ALS. Further studies have shown that individuals with high intake of antioxidants, such as vitamin E, have a reduced ALS risk. Because vitamin C or carotenoids are also antioxidants, researchers examined their relation to ALS risk.

According to the National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) roughly 20,000 to 30,000 Americans have ALSalso known as Lou Gehrig's diseaseand another 5,000 patients are diagnosed annually with the disease. ALS is a progressive neurological disease that attacks nerve cells (neurons) in the brain and spinal cord, which control voluntary muscles. As the upper and lower motor neurons degenerate, the muscles they control gradually weaken and waste away, leading to paralysis.

"ALS is a devastating degenerative disease that generally develops between the ages of 40 and 70, and affects more men than women," said senior author Dr. Alberto Ascherio, Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, Mass. "Understanding the impact of food consumption on ALS development is important. Our study is one of the largest to date to examine the role of dietary antioxidants in preventing ALS."

Using data from five prospective groups: the National Institutes of Health (NIH)AARP Diet and Health Study, the Cancer Prevention Study II-Nutrition Cohort, the Multiethnic Cohort, the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, and the Nurses' Health Study, researchers investigated more than one million participants for the present study. A total of 1093 ALS cases were identified after excluding subjects with unlikely food consumption.

The team found that a greater total carotenoid intake was linked to reduced risk of ALS. Individuals who consumed more carotenoids in their diets were more likely to exercise, have an advanced degree, have higher vitamin C consumption, and take vitamin C and E supplements. Furthermore, subjects with diets high in beta-carotene and luteinfound in dark green vegetableshad a lower risk ALS risk. Researchers did not find that lycopene, beta-cryptoxanthin, and vitamin C reduced the risk of ALS. Long-term vitamin C supplement intake was also not associated with lower ALS risk.

Dr. Ascherio concludes, "Our findings suggest that consuming carotenoid-rich foods may help prevent or delay the onset of ALS. Further food-based analyses are needed to examine the impact of dietary nutrients on ALS."

###

This study is published in Annals of Neurology. Media wishing to receive a PDF of this article may contact sciencenewsroom@wiley.com

Full citation: "Intakes of Vitamin C and Carotenoids and Risk of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis." Kathryn C Fitzgerald, Eilis J O'Reilly, Elinor Fondell, Guido J Falcone, Marjorie L McCullough, Yikyung Park, Laurence N Kolonel and Alberto Ascherio. Annals of Neurology; Published Online: January 29, 2013 (DOI:10.1002/ana.23820).

Author Contact: To arrange an interview with Dr. Ascherio, please contact Todd Datz with the Harvard School of Public Health at tdatz@hsph.harvard.edu.

About the Journal

Annals of Neurology, the official journal of the American Neurological Association and the Child Neurology Society, publishes articles of broad interest with potential for high impact in understanding the mechanisms and treatment of diseases of the human nervous system. All areas of clinical and basic neuroscience, including new technologies, cellular and molecular neurobiology, population sciences, and studies of behavior, addiction, and psychiatric diseases are of interest to the journal. The journal is published by Wiley on behalf of the American Neurological Association and Child Neurology Society. For more information, please visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/ana.

About Wiley

Founded in 1807, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. has been a valued source of information and understanding for more than 200 years, helping people around the world meet their needs and fulfill their aspirations. Wiley and its acquired companies have published the works of more than 450 Nobel laureates in all categories: Literature, Economics, Physiology or Medicine, Physics, Chemistry, and Peace.

Wiley is a global provider of content and content-enabled workflow solutions in areas of scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly research; professional development; and education. Our core businesses produce scientific, technical, medical, and scholarly journals, reference works, books, database services, and advertising; professional books, subscription products, certification and training services and online applications; and education content and services including integrated online teaching and learning resources for undergraduate and graduate students and lifelong learners. Wiley's global headquarters are located in Hoboken, New Jersey, with operations in the U.S., Europe, Asia, Canada, and Australia. The Company's Web site can be accessed at http://www.wiley.com. The Company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols JWa and JWb.


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

?


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


Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-01/w-ebf012513.php

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Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Fun and educational Android apps for preschoolers

When I purchased my smartphone, I was very hesitant letting my kids play with it. They slowly wore me down and now I have to sometime fend them off just to use it. The Google Play store is filled with tons of educational games for kids for all ages. My next few articles will cover some of the educational games and apps out there for different age groups available for Android devices. Today?s post is all about games for preschoolers.

Kids Preschool Memory Game is just one of many games from Fun4kids for the Android platform. The paid version of the game unlocks four additional games. This simple game focuses on improving your kid?s matching and memory, and doesn?t include any complicated directions. The buttons are big, bright, and colorful.

The free version allows you to play the bear, bird and fruit levels. The pro version has the chicks, fish, penguin, and duck games. The bear game is a 12-tile matching game with fun objects like trucks, robots, rubber duckies and more. The bird game is an 8 -tile matching game with numbers. The fruit game is an 8-tile matching game with different fruits. When you complete a level, you will be given a score but that is not recorded anywhere. Overall, this is a cute game that little kids can play and work on their memory skills.

Every kid loves to color. Toddler Coloring Book is a easy to use coloring app, and the free version comes with four different pictures: spider, snail, cat, and butterfly. To unlock more pictures, you will need to upgrade to the pro version. This free version doesn?t have any ads, so the whole screen is dedicated to coloring. If parents want to upgrade to the pro version, then they will need to push buttons in the proper order (written on the screen), which is nice way to keep kids from accidentally making in-app purchases.

To color in this game, the preschooler simply picks the color they want to use and taps on the area in the picture they want to fill in. There are two color palettes on each side of the screen, and you can unlock more colors by rating the app or completing an offer from one of their sponsors. If your kid wants to change colors, simply tap the new color and tap where to put it, even over a previously colored spot. They will always color within the lines, too!

Save the Fishes is one of many games from Baby Bus. When you open the app, you will see a bright yellow bus and a signpost, which indicates the age group and signs to different types of games. It was a bit confusing to me and would definitely be for a child. ?Save the Fishes is a game about recognition and quick reflexes. The cute little fish are trapped in bubbles and as they rise to the top of the screen, you need to tap them to free them. You will earn points for freeing the fish.

However, you must avoid releasing ?sharks and jellyfish trapped in bubbles. If you do, you will hear ?ouch.? As you progress in the game, more types of fish appear.

Preschool and Kindergarten Learning Games, developed by Kevin Bradford, is a very popular Android game. The free version of the game comes with three levels, while the pro version provides another six. The three game modes--Basics, Language, and Math--will adequately test your preschoolers skill sets.

After you unlock all nine levels, you will be able to cover: Shapes and Colors, Letters, Counting, Memory, Alphabet, Addition, Puzzles, Spelling, and Subtraction. In Shapes and Colors for 2 years olds, the game gives you four options and then asks you to pick the correct object. The option for your child to visualize and hear is a nice combination for teaching colors and shapes.

These are just a few of the many wonderful games for Android for preschooler to play to help them learn. Are there any particular ones you or your children have enjoyed?

Download the Appolicious Android app

Source: http://www.androidapps.com/education/articles/13173-fun-and-educational-android-apps-for-preschoolers

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Climate change impacts to U.S. coasts threaten public health, safety and economy, report finds

Jan. 28, 2013 ? According to a new technical report, the effects of climate change will continue to threaten the health and vitality of U.S. coastal communities' social, economic and natural systems.

The report, Coastal Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerabilities: a technical input to the 2013 National Climate Assessment, authored by leading scientists and experts, emphasizes the need for increased coordination and planning to ensure U.S. coastal communities are resilient against the effects of climate change.

The recently released report examines and describes climate change impacts on coastal ecosystems and human economies and communities, as well as the kinds of scientific data, planning tools and resources that coastal communities and resource managers need to help them adapt to these changes.

"Sandy showed us that coastal states and communities need effective strategies, tools and resources to conserve, protect, and restore coastal habitats and economies at risk from current environmental stresses and a changing climate," said Margaret A. Davidson of NOAA's Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management and co-lead author of the report. "Easing the existing pressures on coastal environments to improve their resiliency is an essential method of coping with the adverse effects of climate change."

A key finding in the report is that all U.S. coasts are highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change such as sea-level rise, erosion, storms and flooding, especially in the more populated low-lying parts of the U.S. coast along the Gulf of Mexico, Mid-Atlantic, northern Alaska, Hawaii, and island territories. Another finding indicated the financial risks associated with both private and public hazard insurance are expected to increase dramatically.

"An increase in the intensity of extreme weather events such as storms like Sandy and Katrina, coupled with sea-level rise and the effects of increased human development along the coasts, could affect the sustainability of many existing coastal communities and natural resources," said Virginia Burkett of the U.S. Geological Survey and co-lead author of the report.

The authors also emphasized that storm surge flooding and sea-level rise pose significant threats to public and private infrastructure that provides energy, sewage treatment, clean water and transportation of people and goods. These factors increase threats to public health, safety, and employment in the coastal zone.

The report's authors noted that the population of the coastal watershed counties of the U.S. and territories, including the Great Lakes, makes up more than 50 percent of the nation's population and contributed more than $8.3 trillion to the 2011 U.S. economy but depend on healthy coastal landforms, water resources, estuaries and other natural resources to sustain them. Climate changes, combined with human development activities, reduce the ability of coasts to provide numerous benefits, including food, clean water, jobs, recreation and protection of communities against storms.

Seventy-nine federal, academic and other scientists, including the lead authors from the NOAA and USGS, authored the report which is being used as a technical input to the third National Climate Assessment -- an interagency report produced for Congress once every four years to summarize the science and impacts of climate change on the United States.

Other key findings of the report include:

  • Expected public health impacts include a decline in seafood quality, shifts in disease patterns and increases in rates of heat-related morbidity.
  • Changes in the location and the time of year when storms form can lead to large changes in where storms land and the impacts of storms. Any sea-level rise is virtually certain to exacerbate storm-surge and flooding related hazards.
  • Because of changes in the hydrological cycle due to warming, precipitation events (rain, snow) will likely be heavier. Combined with sea-level rise and storm surge, this will increase flooding severity in some coastal areas, particularly in the Northeast.
  • Temperature is primarily driving environmental change in the Alaskan coastal zone. Sea ice and permafrost make northern regions particularly susceptible to temperature change. For example, an increase of two degrees Celsius during the summer could basically transform much of Alaska from frozen to unfrozen, with extensive implications.
  • As the physical environment changes, the range of a particular ecosystem will expand, contract or migrate in response. The combined influence of many stresses can cause unexpected ecological changes if species, populations or ecosystems are pushed beyond a tipping point.
  • Although adaptation planning activities in the coastal zone are increasing, they generally occur in an ad-hoc manner and are slow to be implemented. Efficiency of adaptation can be improved through more accurate and timely scientific information, tools, and resources, and by integrating adaptation plans into overall land use planning as well as ocean and coastal management.
  • An integrated scientific program will reduce uncertainty about the best ways coastal communities can to respond to sea-level rise and other kinds of coastal change. This, in turn, will allow communities to better assess their vulnerability and to identify and implement appropriate adaptation and preparedness options.

This report is available online.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by United States Geological Survey.

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


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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_environment/~3/LJ4zZMA7j_g/130128143010.htm

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Gutter Talk

There has been quite a bit of talk lately about gutters here on Active Rain. I have even blogged about them as well. The need and the reasoning for having them is unquestionable. We all know that letting water pour off of your roof and splash onto the soil that is the foundation of your home is not a good idea. In this case, the gutters were installed, but they really were totally ineffective, ok I will say it... useless!

If they are not installed and pitched correctly they will not do the job as intended for the homeowner. Here, you can see that they are too low, the flow of water running down the valleys of the clay tiles is still much higher than the upper outside lip of the gutter. So, you know where the water is going, right? Right over the top to the driveway below.

So the poor homeowner built dams at the corners of his garage door jambs to keep the water that was flooding his driveway when it rains hard from going into his garage.

I'm pretty sure I would be calling the gutter guy back out to the house... "Uhhh, buddy, the gutters aren't working"

?

They could raise the level of the gutters, or install a splash guard on the outer edge of the gutter to stop the deluge...?

?

?

Source: http://activerain.com/blogsview/3603331/gutter-talk

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Monday, January 28, 2013

Can I drink coffee with caffeine? - POST-Operation Gastric Sleeve ...

Posted Today, 12:44 PM

At two weeks, I probably would not and let things get fully healed. Caffeine was the one thing that I did not or would not give up.??There's enough restrictions in this process, and I am okay giving up most foods and alcohol, but caffeine, sorry no can do!

"There are no constraints on the human mind, no walls around the human spirit, no barriers to our progress except those we ourselves erect." - R. Reagan

Source: http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/66871-can-i-drink-coffee-with-caffeine/

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How To Prepare Your Kitchen For The Market - Home Stager in Atlanta

As I?m sure you?ve heard, kitchens are one of the ?key-rooms? to a buyer. That said, it?s important that it look its very best when you put your home on the market.

Here are some tips to help get you started:

  • Do a thorough cleaning.
  • Clean and organize the inside of your cupboards, as well as your pantry. Potential buyers will definitely be opening them to see just how much space they?ll have for their own items.
  • For the exterior of the cupboards, clean by using a detergent and then followed by a water and vinegar mixture. Next, apply an orange oil as this will help them shine.

One of the most frequently asked questions from homeowners who will be living in the home while it?s on the market is what to have on their counter tops.

Having staged hundreds of vacant homes throughout Atlanta, my recommendations include:

  • Removing everything off the counters and add only those items you use daily.
  • Detergent bottles and sponges should be placed under the sink
  • Remove all paperwork. While the kitchen counter top is convenient for incoming mail (junk or otherwise), its best to keep your counter tops clutter-free.
  • Make it pretty by adding accessories.

Here are a few examples of some of the kitchens we?ve staged:

Virginia-highlands-staged-kitchen

Piedmont-heights-staged-kitchen

Atanta-real-estate-investor-staging-kitchen

Accessories used in kitchens by Atlanta home stager, Kathy Nielsen

?

If you?d like further assistance with preparing your kitchen for the market, contact us at 678 522 8392 to schedule an appointment.

?

Source: http://atlantahomestaging.net/how-to-prepare-your-kitchen-for-the-market/

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Now, a Look at the Biggest Real Estate Whales in US History - Curbed

Monday, January 28, 2013, by Rob Bear Photos: bgerman/micechat/wiki

Some may have owned larger tracts of land and built bigger houses, but few figures in American history exemplify the traits of a real estate whale better than publishing baron William Randolph Hearst. This is the guy who built an entire hotel just so his mistress and her friends would have a place to stay, who dreamed up a fantastical compound deep in the woods of Northern California, and who, most famously, devoted much of his time and fortune to the construction of Hearst Castle. Located on a remote stretch of the California coastline, the 90,000-square-foot castle compound was built on a 250,000-acre ranch that Hearst had inherited from his mother in 1919. In that year, he commissioned society architect Julia Morgan to design a personal palace of epic proportions. After almost three decades of construction, the castle contained "56 bedrooms, 61 bathrooms, 19 entertaining rooms, indoor and outdoor tiled swimming pools, tennis courts, a private movie theater, an airfield, the world's largest private zoo, and 127 acres of gardens," plus an untold amount of art and artifacts torn from some of the great homes of Europe. It is a stunning architectural achievement and one that is unlikely to ever be properly replicated.

henry_morrison_flagler_museum_facade.jpegPhoto: Flagler Museum

? Where Hearst was all about spending his fortune on personal extravagances, Standard Oil founding partner Henry Flagler saw a potential for profit in real estate development, particularly in the opening of swampy Florida to deep pocketed winter residents. Flagler founded the city of Palm Beach?where modern day whales now spend many, many millions on grand seaside mansions?and built himself a lavish estate to rival the famous Newport summer "cottages." Known as Whitehall, the 55-room Beaux Arts mansion is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and operated as a museum, detailing Flagler's legendary exploits. Among them, the construction of a railroad to service the east coast of Florida, the founding of several destination hotels, and the eventual extension of that railway to reach Key West.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Get cirrus in the fight against climate change

FEATHERY cirrus clouds are beautiful, but when it comes to climate change, they are the enemy. Found at high-altitude and made of small ice crystals, they trap heat - so more cirrus means a warmer world. Now it seems that, by destroying cirrus, we could reverse all the warming Earth has experienced so far.

In 2009, David Mitchell of the Desert Research Institute in Reno, Nevada, proposed a radical way to stop climate change: get rid of some cirrus. Now Trude Storelvmo of Yale University and colleagues have used a climate model to test the idea.

Storelvmo added powdered bismuth triiodide into the model's troposphere, the layer of the atmosphere in which these clouds form. Ice crystals grew around these particles and expanded, eventually falling out of the sky, reducing cirrus coverage. Without the particles, the ice crystals remained small and stayed up high for longer.

The technique, done on a global scale, created a powerful cooling effect, enough to counteract the 0.8 ?C of warming caused by all the greenhouse gases released by humans (Geophysical Research Letters, DOI: 10.1002/grl.50122).

But too much bismuth triiodide made the ice crystals shrink, so cirrus clouds lasted longer. "If you get the concentrations wrong, you could get the opposite of what you want," says Storelvmo. And, like other schemes for geoengineering, side effects are likely - changes in the jet stream, say.

Different model assumptions give different "safe" amounts of bismuth triiodide, says Tim Lenton of the University of Exeter, UK. "Do we really know the system well enough to be confident of being in the safe zone?" he asks. "You wouldn't want to touch this until you knew."

Mitchell says seeding would take 140 tonnes of bismuth triiodide every year, which by itself would cost $19 million.

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Iraqi insurgents try to harness opposition rage

In this Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013 photo, masked men parade during a protest against Iraq's Shiite-led government in Ramadi, 70 miles (115 kilometers) west of Baghdad, Iraq. Iraqi insurgents are trying to capitalize on the rage of anti-government protesters and the instability caused by rising civil unrest, complicating the government?s efforts to stamp out a resurgent al-Qaida and other extremists. (AP Photo/ Khalid Mohammed)

In this Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013 photo, masked men parade during a protest against Iraq's Shiite-led government in Ramadi, 70 miles (115 kilometers) west of Baghdad, Iraq. Iraqi insurgents are trying to capitalize on the rage of anti-government protesters and the instability caused by rising civil unrest, complicating the government?s efforts to stamp out a resurgent al-Qaida and other extremists. (AP Photo/ Khalid Mohammed)

In this Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013 photo, masked men hold copies of the Quran during a protest against Iraq's Shiite-led government in Ramadi, 70 miles (115 kilometers) west of Baghdad, Iraq. Iraqi insurgents are trying to capitalize on the rage of anti-government protesters and the instability caused by rising civil unrest, complicating the government?s efforts to stamp out a resurgent al-Qaida and other extremists. (AP Photo/ Khalid Mohammed)

In this Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013 photo, masked men parade during a protest against Iraq's Shiite-led government in Ramadi, 70 miles (115 kilometers) west of Baghdad, Iraq. Iraqi insurgents are trying to capitalize on the rage of anti-government protesters and the instability caused by rising civil unrest, complicating the government?s efforts to stamp out a resurgent al-Qaida and other extremists. (AP Photo/ Khalid Mohammed)

In this Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013 photo, masked men protest against Iraq's Shiite-led government in Ramadi, 70 miles (115 kilometers) west of Baghdad, Iraq. Iraqi insurgents are trying to capitalize on the rage of anti-government protesters and the instability caused by rising civil unrest, complicating the government?s efforts to stamp out a resurgent al-Qaida and other extremists. (AP Photo/ Khalid Mohammed)

Protesters chant slogans against Iraq's Shiite-led government near a burning Iraqi army armored vehicle during clashes in Fallujah, 40 miles (65 kilometers) west of Baghdad, Iraq, Friday, Jan. 25, 2013. Iraqi troops shot dead five protesters Friday as they opened fire at stone-hurling demonstrators angry at the troops for preventing them from joining an anti-government rally west of Baghdad, officials said. (AP Photo/ Bilal Fawzi)

BAGHDAD (AP) ? Iraqi insurgents are trying to capitalize on the rage of anti-government protesters and the instability caused by rising civil unrest, complicating the government's efforts to stamp out a resurgent al-Qaida and other militants.

Organizers of the protests attracting minority Iraqi Sunnis insist they have no links to terrorist groups. Yet Iraqi and U.S. officials have expressed concern that violent extremists could benefit from the demonstrators' feelings of alienation and hostility toward the Shiite-led Iraqi government.

And tensions are rising.

At least five protesters were killed and more than 20 were wounded on Friday when soldiers opened fire at stone-hurling demonstrators near Fallujah, a former al-Qaida stronghold where tens of thousands took to the streets. Some in the crowd waved black banners emblazoned with the Muslim confession of faith.

They were the first deaths at opposition rallies that have been raging around the country for more than a month. Two soldiers were later killed in an apparent retaliatory attack.

Protesters also have staged demonstrations in other areas with large concentrations of Sunni Arabs, who feel discriminated against by the government. Their list of demands includes the release of detainees and an end to policies they believe unfairly target their sect.

For now, the American Embassy has no indication that al-Qaida is gaining support from the demonstrations. But the fear remains, particularly as the security situation deteriorates in neighboring Syria.

An embassy official said the U.S. had expressed concern that the protesters' peaceful expression of their viewpoints must not be usurped by extremists trying to provoke violence. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.

Sectarian violence that once pushed Iraq to the brink of civil war has ebbed significantly, though violent attacks aimed mainly at Iraq's Shiite majority, security forces and civil servants still happen frequently.

Insurgents have managed to mount large, mass-casualty bombings of the type favored by al-Qaida on at least five days this month. In another attack, a suicide bomber killed a total of seven when he assassinated a prominent politician who played a leading role in the fight against al-Qaida.

The extremist group later claimed responsibility for the latter bombing and other unspecified attacks.

At least 170 people have been killed in insurgent violence since the start of the year, making January already the deadliest month since September.

Protest organizers and the politicians who support them are eager to distance themselves from extremist rhetoric.

Sunni lawmaker Ahmed al-Alawani recently urged Iraq President Nouri al-Maliki to meet demonstrators' demands so al-Qaida and other militant groups could not exploit their frustration.

That was a sentiment echoed by protest organizer and spokesman Saeed Humaim in Ramadi, a city in western Iraq that has been the focus of daily sit-ins and frequent mass rallies. He said protesters have no intention to take up arms, but will defend themselves if attacked by government security forces.

Still, many Iraqi Sunnis have little doubt that the protests strengthen militant groups.

"I don't think the al-Qaida people would miss an opportunity to move freely when the government and security forces are busy handling these spreading protests," said Ayad Salman, 42, who owns a shoe store in northern Baghdad. "The country is slipping toward a new round of civil war, or at least some groups are planning and pushing for this."

The rallies broke out just over a month ago in Iraq's western Sunni heartland of Anbar following the arrest of guards assigned to the Iraqi finance minister, a Sunni who hails from the province. The vast desert territory on Syria's doorstep was the birthplace of the Sunni insurgency that erupted after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, and where Iraqi officials believe al-Qaida's Iraq arm is regrouping.

In an interview aired late Thursday, the Iraqi prime minister suggested that al-Qaida and members of Saddam Hussein's ousted regime have a hand in the demonstrations.

"I hope that these protests would not turn violent ... and drag the country to a sectarian war," he told al-Baghdadiya TV.

Al-Qaida's local affiliate this week posted a statement praising the protesters, saluting what it called "the true Muslims who revolted in defense of their honor and religion."

A senior Iraqi security official who specializes in terrorist activities said al-Qaida is making use of the resentment in predominantly Sunni provinces, where local residents who used to provide authorities tips about terrorist activities are growing much more reluctant to snitch.

He and another senior security official said al-Qaida fighters now have more freedom to move around. That is partly because state security forces' movements are being restricted in Sunni areas so they cannot be accused of unfairly targeting the Muslim sect, they said.

The second official said the demonstrations give extremists a good opportunity to try to mobilize Sunni opposition and portray themselves as the only groups who can safeguard the rights and interests of the Sunni minority.

The Iraqi officials insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss security operations with the media.

The local wing of al-Qaida, known as the Islamic State of Iraq, generally does not operate beyond Iraq's borders. But al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri last year urged Iraqi insurgents to support the Sunni-based uprising in neighboring Syria against President Bashar Assad, whose Alawite sect is a branch of Shiite Islam.

Iraqi officials believe Sunni fighters aligned with al-Qaida's Iraq franchise are moving back and forth across the Syrian border to help Sunni rebels overthrow Assad.

Rebel gains in Syria are giving Iraq's Sunni protesters and insurgents alike a sense that their fortunes may be shifting too.

"Sunnis seem ascendant in Syria. That is a major psychological boost to the Sunnis in Iraq," said Kamran Bokhari, an expert on Mideast issues for the global intelligence company Stratfor. "They're trying to capitalize on that."

Other militants are trying to tie their fight to the protests too.

Earlier this month, uniformed members of the Naqshabandi Army appeared in an online video urging Iraqis to continue their protests, sit-ins and acts of civil disobedience. It called on security forces to turn their weapons on the "traitors and foreign agents" ? a likely reference to what many Sunnis see is Shiite powerhouse Iran's influence over the government.

The group, a network of former Iraqi military officers and jihadists, frequently claims responsibility for attacks on government security forces.

The highest ranking member of Saddam's regime still at large, Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, has separately lent his support to the demonstrators. Al-Douri, who is suspected of having ties to the Naqshabandi Army, is thought to have played a key role in financing Sunni insurgents seeking to undermine Iraq's post-Saddam government.

Another small jihadist group, the 1920 Revolution Brigades, put out a statement of its own backing the protest movement.

___

Associated Press writers Qassim Abdul-Zahra and Sameer N. Yacoub contributed reporting.

___

Follow Adam Schreck on Twitter at http://twitter.com/adamschreck

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-01-26-Iraq-Protests/id-5bdfa56898ed4cd3a8739e6b8cfcf687

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Chinese anti-corruption drive nets Politburo member - paper

BEIJING (Reuters) - A senior Chinese official is under investigation, a Hong Kong newspaper reported at the weekend, in a case that could represent the first time a national political figure has been netted in China's anti-corruption drive.

Li Jianguo, a member of the country's elite Politburo and the vice chairman of the national rubber-stamp legislature, has not been charged with any offence.

The Hong Kong-based Ming Pao newspaper however reported that Li had checked into a Beijing military hospital due to "psychological stress" from the investigation.

A call to the National People's Congress news department was not answered on Sunday.

If charges do result, Li would be the highest-ranking official snagged in an anti-corruption drive launched by the new party leadership.

Earlier this month, the new head of China's ruling communist party, Xi Jinping, said anti-corruption efforts should target low-ranking "flies" as well as powerful "tigers".

Not all corruption investigations result in charges, and officials rumored to be under investigation often reappear in public in a sign that their case has been cleared.

Li, who is not a widely known political figure, was formerly secretary to Li Ruihuan, a powerful official throughout the 1990s. He is considered close to the Communist Youth League, the power base for outgoing Chinese president Hu Jintao, and was only named to the Politburo in November.

He spent many years as party secretary of Shaanxi Province before a brief stint as party secretary of Shandong Province.

If charged, Li would be only the fourth member of the Politburo, a powerful grouping of only 25 senior Party members, to be toppled in a corruption scandal since 1995.

The anti-corruption drive has so far implicated mostly regional officials, including the deputy party boss of Sichuan Province, Li Chuncheng, who had for many years overseen development of the province's prosperous capital, Chengdu.

A construction magnate has also been detained in that case.

Li is a common family name in China, and the three Lis are unrelated.

(Reporting By Benjamin Kang Lim and Lucy Hornby; Editing by Paul Tait)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/chinese-anti-corruption-drive-nets-politburo-member-paper-060445455.html

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Saturday, January 26, 2013

Diet, parental behavior and preschool can boost children's IQ

Jan. 25, 2013 ? Supplementing children's diets with fish oil, enrolling them in quality preschool, and engaging them in interactive reading all turn out to be effective ways to raise a young child's intelligence, according to a new report published in Perspectives on Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.

Using a technique called meta-analysis, a team led by John Protzko, a doctoral student at the NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, combined the findings from existing studies to evaluate the overall effectiveness of each type of intervention. In collaboration with NYU Steinhardt professors Joshua Aronson and Clancy Blair, leaders in the field of intelligence, Protzko analyzed the best available studies involving samples of children from birth and kindergarten from their newlyassembled "Database of Raising Intelligence."

"Our aim in creating this database is to learn what works and what doesn't work to raise people's intelligence," said Protzko. "For too long, findings have been disconnected and scattered throughout a wide variety of journals. The broad consensus about what works is founded on only two or three very high-profile studies."

All of the studies in this database rely on a normal population (participants without clinical diagnoses of intellectual disabilities), focus on interventions that are sustained over time, use widely accepted measures of intelligence, and, most importantly, are randomly controlled trials (participants selected at random to receive one of the interventions).

"The larger goal here is to understand the nature of intelligence, and if and how it can be nurtured at every stage of development," said Aronson, Protzko's advisor. "This is just a first step in a long process of understanding. It is by no means the last word. In fact, one of the main conclusions is how little high quality research exists in the field and how much more needs to be done."

Overall, the results of the meta-analyses indicated that certain dietary and environmental interventions can be effective in raising children's IQ.

Supplementing pregnant women and newborns with long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, foods rich in Omega-3, were found to boost children's IQ by more than 3.5 points. These essential fatty acids may help raise intelligence by providing the building blocks for nerve cell development that the body cannot produce on its own.

There is insufficient research, however, to determine whether other types of supplements -- including iron, B-complex vitamins, riboflavin, thiamine, niacin, and zinc -- have beneficial effects on intelligence.

Enrolling an economically disadvantaged child into an early education intervention was found to raise his or her IQ by more than four points; interventions that specifically included a center-based education component raised a child's IQ by more than seven points.

The researchers hypothesize that early education interventions may help to raise children's IQ by increasing their exposure to complex environments that are cognitively stimulating and demanding. It's not clear, however, whether these results apply more broadly to kids from different socioeconomic backgrounds.

Surprisingly, Protzko, Aronson, and Blair found no evidence to support the idea that early education interventions that take place earlier in childhood are more effective than those that begin later.

Interventions focused on interactive reading -- teaching parents how to engage their children while reading with them -- were found to raise children's IQ by over 6 points. These interventions do not seem to have an effect for children over 4 years old, suggesting that the interventions may accelerate language development, which, in turn, boosts IQ.

Sending a child to preschool was found to raise his or her IQ by more than four points, and preschools that include a language development component were found to boost IQ by more than seven points. The link between preschool and intelligence could be a function of increased exposure to language or the result of the overall cognitive complexity of the preschool environment.

"Our current findings strengthen earlier conclusions that complex environments build intelligence, but do cast doubt on others, including evidence that earlier interventions are always most effective," Protzko explained. "Overall, identifying the link between essential fatty acids and intelligence gives rise to tantalizing new questions for future research and we look forward to exploring this finding."

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Association for Psychological Science.

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


Journal Reference:

  1. J. Protzko, J. Aronson, C. Blair. How to Make a Young Child Smarter: Evidence From the Database of Raising Intelligence. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 2013; 8 (1): 25 DOI: 10.1177/1745691612462585

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/-ju1a4P4FHc/130125111339.htm

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Making the Most of Your Home Based Business | See Debt Run

home business

The Following Is a Guest Post

Working from home might seem like a licence to procrastinate, especially if you?re easily distracted by your sofa, bed or TV. However, for many business people who can?t afford to house their companies in a rented office space or pay for any extras like utility bills or extra furniture, it?s their only option. It?s possible to make a home-based business work, but if you have considered going down this route, here are some things you may want to consider.

In almost every home business, you will need a way to implement effective communication tools. A reliable broadband connection, laptop or PC, smartphone, extra capacity for file storage in the form of an external hard drive, server or cloud computing and Powwownow video conferencing software are all essential. The latter in particular can help to save money and time through allowing you to arrange a video call with anyone in the world, whether it?s clients, colleagues or investors in very little time.

Something else you might want to consider is having a space that is specific to working. ?A lot of noise from television, children playing, or otherwise can hinder productivity. ?If your home has the available space and room with a door, make it your office. ?This room should be off-limits to any possible distractions. ?Having a door on the room will also allow you to close off your work space when it is time to unwind. ?For example, if your work space happens to be the same as your dining space, you might have trouble separating the two and giving yourself necessary time to decompress after your work is done. ?If you have the space but no door or fourth wall, one can be put in for a few hundred dollars. ?This may sound substantial, but it may not be if you are truly able to work more efficiently when complete. ?Furthermore, a lot of items pertaining to a home office can be written off as tax deductions within limits.

Do all you can to make your home office a comfortable yet professional working environment. If you don?t have a suitable office chair or desk, you could buy them second-hand from a site such as eBay or Gumtree. Ensuring you won?t be interrupted repeatedly, you might want to consider using one phone line for business calls only, and leave your personal calls to come through a cell phone. Disabling a doorbell or putting up a sign asking visitors to knock during your work hours may be necessary if you live in a bustling neighborhood.

Working from home can save you a lot of money on gas and usage of your vehicle. It can also free up a lot of time in your schedule that would have otherwise gone to commuting. In addition to those cost-saving breaks, you don?t ever have to worry about getting up early to pack a lunch or wasting money going out to a restaurant eat. ?An unexpected added bonus is the health benefits of being able to cook and eat at home on your own time.

?

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Source: http://seedebtrun.com/2013/01/making-the-most-of-your-home-based-business.html

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Addiction and fear - Alcohol - Addiction Blog

Many people who deal with addiction have a difficult time in managing their fears when they are in recovery. Remember that alcohol and drugs will do nothing in the long run in fixing your problems. It will just make things worse. Managing your fear and anxieties as well as seeking addiction and depression help will take some hard work. ? In fact, addiction and psychological treatment are complementary. Be patient, persistent and stay committed in trying to solve your problem.

Here are a few tips on how an addict can manage their fears and cope with anxiety self help while they are trying to get better.

1. Take it ?One Day At A Time?

Instead of worrying about how you will get through the rest of the week or coming month, try to focus on today. Each day can provide us with different opportunities to learn new things and that includes learning how to deal with your problems. Focus on the present and stop trying to predict what may happen next week. Next week will take care of itself.

2. Manage negative thoughts

A good way to manage your worry is to challenge your negative thinking with positive statements and realistic thinking. When encountering thoughts that make your fearful or anxious, challenge those thoughts by asking yourself questions that will maintain objectivity and common sense.

3. Learn from fearful experiences

In every fear related situation you experience, begin to learn what works, what doesn?t work, and what you need to improve on in managing your fears and anxieties. This will give you the confidence to manage your anxiety the next time around.

4. Take it easy and go at your own pace

Be smart in how you deal with your fears and anxieties. Do not try to tackle everything all at once. When facing a current or upcoming task that overwhelms you with a lot of anxiety, break the task into a series of smaller steps. Completing these smaller tasks one at a time will make the stress more manageable and increases your chances of success. Remember to take things one step at a time and do no more than what you can handle.

5. Use the help that is available

If you have trouble, talk to a member of the clergy, a professional clinical counselor, psychiatrist or psychologist to help deal with fears and anxieties. They will be able to provide you with additional advice and insights on how to cope with your current problem. By talking to a professional, you help yourself in the long run ly learning techniques and behaviors to continue throughout your life. The important thing is to get the proper help by seeing a mental healthprofessional.

Photo credit: stuant63

Source: http://alcohol.addictionblog.org/addiction-and-fear-5-ways-to-address-fear-in-addiction-recovery/

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Friday, January 25, 2013

Citigroup's private bank pulling money from SAC Capital: WSJ

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Citigroup Inc's private bank is withdrawing its $187 million investment from SAC Capital Advisors LP, the latest of several client redemptions at the hedge fund firm, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.

The question of investor redemptions from Steven A. Cohen's SAC Capital has come up in the wake of charges brought last month by U.S. authorities against a former SAC Capital portfolio manager, Mathew Martoma.

He is accused of using inside information to generate profits and avoid losses totaling $276 million in shares of two drug stocks, Elan Corp PLC and Wyeth. The deadline for submitting redemptions to Cohen's $14 billion hedge fund is February 15.

"We do not expect the redemptions by certain external investors to have a significant impact on our funds," an SAC spokesman said.

"We are confident that the aggregate outflows of capital will neither impair our ability to generate returns for our funds nor adversely impact our business," he said.

A spokesman for Citigroup did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment. However, a spokeswoman said in a statement to the WSJ that the decision "should not be construed as a statement on the merits of any outstanding legal proceedings or potential regulatory action" related to the scrutiny on SAC.

(Reporting By Dena Aubin; Editing by Bob Burgdorfer)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/citigroups-private-bank-pulling-money-sac-capital-wsj-001656467--sector.html

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New mutations discovered driving malignant melanoma

Jan. 24, 2013 ? Two new mutations that collectively occur in 71 percent of malignant melanoma tumors have been discovered in what scientists call the "dark matter" of the cancer genome, where cancer-related mutations haven't been previously found.

Reporting their findings in the Jan. 24 issue of Science Express, the researchers from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Broad Institute said the highly "recurrent" mutations -- occurring in the tumors of many people -- may be the most common mutations in melanoma cells found to date.

The researchers said these cancer-associated mutations are the first to be discovered in the vast regions of DNA in cancer cells that do not contain genetic instructions for making proteins. The mutations are located in non-protein-coding DNA that regulates the activity of genes.

This non-coding DNA, much of which was previously dismissed as "junk," accounts for 99 percent of a cell's genome. A large number of oncogenic mutations in cancer have been identified in the past several decades, but all have been found within the actual genetic blueprints for proteins.

"This new finding represents an initial foray into the 'dark matter' of the cancer genome," said Levi Garraway, MD, PhD, of Dana-Farber and the Broad and the article's senior author.

"In addition, this represents the discovery of two of the most prevalent melanoma gene mutations. Considered as a whole, these two TERT promoter mutations are even more common than BRAF mutations in melanoma. Altogether, this discovery could cause us to think more creatively about the possible benefits of targeting TERT in cancer treatment or prevention."

The mutations affect a promoter region -- a stretch of DNA code that regulates the expression of a gene -- adjacent to the TERT gene. TERT contains the recipe for making telomerase reverse transcriptase, an enzyme that can make cells virtually immortal, and is often found overexpressed in cancer cells. A promoter region of DNA controls the rate of a gene's transcription -- the copying of its DNA recipe into a message used by the cell to manufacture a protein.

"We think these mutations in the promoter region are potentially one way the TERT gene can be activated," said Franklin Huang, MD, PhD, co-first author of the report along with Harvard MD-PhD student Eran Hodis, of Dana-Farber and the Broad Institute.

To investigate the mutation's effect, the researchers hooked the mutant TERT promoter to a gene that makes luciferase -- a light-emitting protein. They observed that the mutant promoter increased the production of luciferase in laboratory cell lines. In the same way, the scientists presume, the mutant promoter in human pigmented skin cells can send the TERT gene into overdrive, potentially contributing to the development of melanoma.

The mutations were discovered when the scientists sifted through data from whole-genome sequencing of malignant melanoma tumors. Unlike "whole-exome" searches that examine only the protein-coding DNA of a cell's genome, whole-genome searches scan all of the DNA, including the non-coding regions.

In analyzing whole-genome data, the investigators discovered the two somatic, or not-inherited, mutations in 17 of 19 (89 percent) of the tumors. Next, they sequenced a larger number of melanoma tumors and found that the two mutations were present in 71 percent of tumors in total.

The researchers said the same mutations are present in cell lines from some other malignancies, and that preliminary evidence showed they might be unusually common in bladder and liver cancers. They also noted that the discovery of these important mutations in DNA previously not linked to cancer-causing alterations highlights the value of whole-genome searches of tumor DNA.

Other authors include Mary Jue Xu, a student at Harvard Medical School; Gregory V. Kryukov, PhD, of the Broad; and Lynda Chin, MD, of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

The research was supported in part by the National Institutes of Health (T32 CA009172, T32GM07753, DP2OD002750, and R33CA126674), the Mittelman Family Fellowship, the American Cancer Society, the Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, the Melanoma Research Alliance, and the Starr Cancer Consortium.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

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


Journal Reference:

  1. Franklin W. Huang, Eran Hodis, Mary Jue Xu, Gregory V. Kryukov, Lynda Chin, and Levi A. Garraway. Highly Recurrent TERT Promoter Mutations in Human Melanoma. Science, 24 January 2013 DOI: 10.1126/science.1229259

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/7w7AmjSMqM8/130124150810.htm

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