Thursday, February 28, 2013

Target sees solid year after weak holiday quarter

(Reuters) - Retailer Target Corp said it appears poised for a solid showing in the first quarter and forecast a higher profit for the year after a weak performance in the key holiday season.

Still, shares slid 3.6 percent to $61.77 in early Wednesday trading.

For the current year, Target forecast adjusted earnings of $4.85 to $5.05 per share, which would exceed the $4.76 it earned last year.

Target did not give a sales forecast, but Chief Executive Gregg Steinhafel said it faced a "highly promotional retail environment and continued consumer uncertainty."

It was not immediately clear how the company's results and forecasts compared to analysts' expectations.

Target rang up 1 percent fewer purchases in the fourth quarter, compared with a year earlier. But shoppers bought 0.7 percent more each time they shopped and the average spent was up 1.4 percent.

It was Target's weakest holiday season performance since 2008, and some strength in January helped prop up what could have been even weaker numbers, said Sandy Skrovan, U.S. research director at Planet Retail.

"Walmart proved the victor over Target for the 2012 holiday season," Skrovan said, pointing out that Walmart U.S. same-store sales rose 1 percent in the quarter. "But Target won the year overall since, unlike Walmart, its affluent shopper base tends to be more insulated from economic swings."

Target's holiday season included a disappointing showing for its collection of gifts sold in collaboration with high-end department store chain Neiman Marcus. The line that includes designer dresses and dishes launched on December 1, and Target sharply discounted the goods even before Christmas

Stronger sales of food and value-priced items only partially offset holiday weakness as shoppers held back from discretionary spending in an uncertain economy.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc said last week that Walmart U.S. same-store sales were likely to be flat this quarter as consumers faced higher gasoline prices and smaller paychecks after the expiration of the U.S. payroll tax cut.

At Target, more shoppers used its credit and debit cards. The cards offer a 5 percent discount to foster customer loyalty, but the discount can also pressure margins.

Target said 15.5 percent of sales in stores during the quarter were paid with its debit and credit cards, up from 14 percent in the third quarter and 10.8 percent a year earlier.

The fourth-quarter gross margin declined to 27.8 percent of sales from 28.4 percent a year earlier, due in part to markdowns on seasonal merchandise.

Target earned $961 million, or $1.47 per share, in the fiscal fourth quarter, down from $981 million, or $1.45 per share, a year earlier. Target had fewer shares outstanding in the latest period.

Adjusted earnings, excluding items such as costs related to Canadian store opening plans, rose to $1.65 per share from $1.49 per share a year ago.

Target tempered profit expectations back in early January, when it reported flat December same-store sales and forecast earnings per share to meet or somewhat exceed the low end of its prior view. Target's outlook was for net earnings of $1.45 to $1.55 per share and adjusted earnings of $1.64 to $1.74 per share.

Target previously said sales rose 6.8 percent to $22.37 billion in the fourth quarter, with same-store sales up 0.4 percent. Same-store sales missed analysts' average target of 0.8 percent, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

For the first quarter, Target forecast adjusted earnings of $1.10 to $1.20 per share versus $1.11 a year ago.

(Reporting by Jessica Wohl in Chicago; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/target-profit-slipped-winter-holiday-quarter-125132402--finance.html

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A Routine Screening That Could Save Your Life

Feb 27, 2013 9:35am

Katie?s Take

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and Katie Couric wants you to get screened! After losing her husband, Jay Monahan, to colon cancer in 1998, Couric co-founded The Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health in New York City. The clinic focuses on prevention, diagnosis, treatment and support for people suffering from gastrointestinal cancers.

Katie met with the Director of the Jay Monahan Center, Dr. Felice Schnoll-Sussman, to talk about the importance of getting screened, and about the center?s ?Make That Call? campaign ? which urges people 50 and older to get screened.

Of cancers that affect both men and women, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States.? In 2013, 143,000 people will be diagnosed and 50,000 will not survive the disease. The statistics are startling, especially considering that the disease is preventable. The key is early detection through proper screening.

Everyone over the age of 50 should get screened. This is not to say that the disease does not affect people under 50, and so people should be aware of the symptoms of colorectal cancer. If you are experiencing bloating, unexpected weight gain, change in bowel habits, or blood in your stool, it is time to make an appointment. The screening is simple, painless and can be life-saving.

For more information, visit www.makethatcall.org. Katie and Dr. Schnoll-Sussman urge you to ?Make that Call? and get your screening today!

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2013/02/27/a-routine-screening-that-could-save-your-life/

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Small Homes: Can You Live in 500 Square Feet or ... - RealEstate.com

The small house movement encapsulates both architectural and social movements that promote simple living. Author Sarah Susanka?s well-received book, ?The Not So Big House,? describes the value of building beautiful homes on a small scale, and explores ways that people can make a small house feel like a home. Since Susanka?s book was published in the late 1990s, the small house movement has grown in popularity, stemming from a backlash against supersized homes, materialism, the housing market crash and bad state of the environment. People are attracted to the reduced carbon footprint that small homes promise their owners.

What are the requirements for being part of this movement? The house in question is generally 500 square feet or smaller, which is tiny when you think about the average size of a new house. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average size of homes has increased by almost 1,000 extra square feet over the last 40 years.

Living in a small house can be challenging, but it also has a ton of benefits. Those thinking about making the plunge into a small home should take into account some considerations.

Tiny houses have become popular as part of the small house movement, which promotes downsizing to small homes that offer low cost and environmental impact Picture via tumbleweedhouses.com

How Will You Organize Your Small Home?

A disorganized home, regardless of its size, will drive anyone to the brink. Obviously, your organization efforts will become challenged when you move into a small home. Luckily, many small houses offer dual-purpose features (such as Murphy beds) and space-saving equipment. If you?ve ever been accused of being a pack rat or just have a lot of ?stuff,? you may want to consider downsizing your things before moving into a small house. ?Even a family that is committed to reducing ?stuff? may still have need for room for serving dishes and a pantry for dried goods and winter vegetables,? says Monica Neubauer, broker at Benchmark Realty LLC.

To find out how much stuff you have to organize, store everything you own in a room that is roughly 500 square feet, then remove what you think you can live without. Do you still have a lot of stuff? You aren?t alone in your organizing efforts. Small-house designers are becoming even more creative with how they design homes. Storage spaces under beds, decorative shelving, and attics give people opportunities to store their stuff. Even with creative storage options, many living in small houses commit to buying less as part of their ?live simply? mantra.

Raising Children in a Smaller Space

It?s easy to join the small house movement when you are single or moving in with a partner, but you?ll have to think about what you see in your family?s future before moving into a small home. When looking at small houses, Nebauer suggests asking yourself, ?Is this comfortable enough for the number of people who will live in it?? Kristie Vossier, director of online communication and PR for Prudential Preferred Realty, says, ?Rooms in small homes are often very open and have multiple uses ? those living in the small home will be living in very close corners and sharing space.?

Many fans of small houses love raising children in tight quarters because it gives them a chance to keep an eye on the kids. However, children tend to want more privacy when they get older. It?s important to look down the line at your family?s goals when shopping for small homes.

How Much do Tiny Houses Cost?

The cost of a small house is one of the largest selling points for this movement. Small houses can cost between $20,000 to upward of $50,000, according to the Huffington Post. While the cost of a small home varies depending on geographic region, their low price tags compared to large homes are undeniable. Those wanting to build their own small house can easily purchase a blueprint, which cost as low as $400 to $1,000, from companies such as Tumbleweed Tiny House Company. Also, owners of small homes save money each month in utilities, cleaning supplies and home maintenance. These savings make a huge difference for those paying off debts or saving money.

How Big of a House do You Need?

The size of the home you pick is entirely a personal choice, but it?s essential to consider certain factors. Many people don?t live out their days in smaller houses. Often, a small house suits an owner?s needs for a certain amount of time and then is either sold or used for another function like a guest home or office. Living in a small space can require a big life change. The small amount of space will dictate what you can do in your home, how much stuff you can own, and possibly the size of your family. Because the benefits are so attractive, it?s worth giving it some thought. You never know ? the new talk of the neighborhood might be the Jones? tiny house.

Source: http://www.realestate.com/advice/small-homes-can-you-live-in-500-square-feet-or-less-15719/

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Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Barbara Walters To Return To 'The View' On Monday, March 4

  • Today

    TODAY -- Pictured: Co-Anchor Barbara Walters -- Photo by: NBC NewsWire

  • Today

    TODAY -- GOLDA MEIR -- Pictured: (l-r) Prime Minister of Israel Golda Meir during an interview with Barbara Walters on NBC News' 'Today' on September 30, 1969 -- Photo by: NBC/NBC NewsWire

  • Today

    TODAY -- Pictured: Co-Anchor Barbara Walters -- Photo by: NBC NewsWire

  • Today

    TODAY -- 1969 -- Pictured: (l-r) Panelist Joe Garagiola, co-anchor Barbara Walters, co-anchor Hugh Downs (Photo by NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

  • Today

    TODAY -- Pictured: (l-r) Co-Anchor Barbara Walters, co-anchor Hugh Downs, co-anchor Frank Blair (Photo by NBC NewsWire/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

  • Today

    TODAY -- Pictured: The Kingsford Company Sponsorship Ceremony (l-r) Fessel, Siegfriedt & Moeller Inc. President Ed Fessel, FS&M Copy Chief Dave Evans, NBC News' Frank Blair, NBC News' Barbara Walters, NBC News' Hugh Downs, Kingsford President Owen Pyls, FS&M Executive Art Director Victor Verderstrasse (Photo by NBC NewsWire/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

  • Today

    TODAY -- PRINCE PHILIP -- Pictured: (l-r) Barbara Walters interviewing Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh on NBC News' 'Today' (Photo by NBC NewsWire/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

  • THE TODAY SHOW

    THE TODAY SHOW -- Pictured: (l-r) Co-anchor Barbara Walters, co-anchor Hugh Downs, (Photo by NBC NewsWire/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

  • The TODAY Show

    THE TODAY SHOW -- Pictured: (l-r) Co-anchor Barbara Walters, co-anchor Hugh Downs (Photo by NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

  • Tricia Nixon speaks with Barbara Walters

    380450 59: Tricia Nixon speaks with Barbara Walters before an interview April 28, 1972 at the White House. (Photo by National Archive/Newsmakers)

  • TV Personality Barbara Walters

    UNDATED FILE PHOTO: TV Personality Barbara Walters. (Photo by Diane Freed)

  • Barbara Walters and Oscar de la Renta Arrive at White House

    N364974 05: Barbara Walters, left, and Oscar de la Renta arrive at the White House for a state dinner honoring King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain in Washington, D.C., February 23, 2000. (Photo by Michael Smith)

  • 2000 GQ Men of the Year Awards

    Barbara Walters at the 2000 GQ 'Men of the Year' Awards at the Beacon Theater in New York City, 10/26/00. The show airs on the FOX Network on December 9, 2000. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)

  • NBC 75th Anniversary

    Barbara Walters arrives for the NBC 75th Anniversary celebration taking place live in Studio 8H in Rockefeller Center in New York City, May 5, 2002. Photo by Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect.

  • Daytime Emmy Party Hosted By Mayor Michael Bloomberg

    NEW YORK - MAY 15: (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER & U.S. TABS OUT) Barbara Walters arrives at a party hosted by mayor Michael Bloomberg to celebrate the 30th Annual Daytime Emmy Awrds May 15, 2003 at Gracie Mansion in New York City. (Photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images)

  • The Museum of Television & Radio Gala - Arrivals

    HOLLYWOOD - NOVEMBER 15: Journalist Barbara Walters arrives at the Museum of Television and Radio's gala tribute to Barbara Walters, held on November 15, 2004 at the Beverly Hills Hotel, in Beverly Hills, CA, California. (Photo by Michael Tullberg/Getty Images)

  • Oprah Winfrey Host The Legends Ball

    SANTA BARBARA, CA - MAY 14: Television reporter Barbara Walters attends Oprah Winfrey's Legends Ball at the Bacara Resort and Spa on May 14, 2005 in Santa Barbara, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

  • Alt 365+ Book Party

    NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 12: TV personality Barbara Walters attends the Alt 365+ book party during Olympus Fashion Week at Barney's September 12, 2005 in New York City. (Photo by Donald Bowers/Getty Images)

  • Hollywood Reporter Women In Entertainment Breakfast - Arrivals

    BEVERLY HILLS, CA - DECEMBER 6: Television journalist Barbara Walters attends the 14th annual Hollywood Reporter Women In Entertainment Power 100 breakfast December 6, 2005 at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)

  • NY: Columbia Pictures & St. Regis Screening Of ''Marie Antoinette''

    SOUTHAMPTON, NY - AUGUST 28: Barbara Walters arrives at the Columbia Pictures & St. Regis screening of ''Marie Antoinette'' August 28, 2006 in Southampton, New York. (Photo by Steven Henry/Getty Images)

  • The New York Public Library Hosts Annual Library Lions Gala

    NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 13: Television journalist Barabra Walters poses with honoree Oprah Winfrey at The New York Public Library's Annual Library Lions Gala at The New York Public Library, November 13, 2006 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images)

  • Barbara Walters Honored With A Star On The Walk Of Fame

    HOLLYWOOD - JUNE 14: Television Personality Barbara Walters poses as she is honored with the 2,340th Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame June 14, 2007 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

  • Broadcasters Foundation Of America "Golden Mike" Fundraiser

    NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 25: Co-Chair of Disney Media Networks and President of the Disney Television Group Anne Sweeney (L) and television host Barbara Walters attend the Broadcasters Foundation Of America 'Golden Mike' Fundraiser at the Waldorf Astoria February 25, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images)

  • 125th Metropolitan Opera Opening Night

    NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 22: Barbara Walters attends the 125th Metropolitan Opera opening night at Lincoln Center on September 22, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)

  • Opening Night Of "Billy Elliot The Musical" - Arrivals & Curtain Call

    NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 13: Television personality Barbara Walters attends 'Billy Elliot The Musical' on Broadway at the Imperial Theatre on November 13, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Wintrow/Getty Images)

  • Time's 100 Most Influential People In The World

    NEW YORK - MAY 05: American journalist Barbara Walters attends Time's 100 Most Influential People in the World Gala at the Frederick P. Rose Hall at Jazz at Lincoln Center on May 5, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

  • InStyle Magazine Hosts Super Saturday 12 To Benefit Ovarian Cancer Research

    WATERMILL, NY - AUGUST 01: Barbara Walters, former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Judith Giuliani attend Super Saturday 12 to benefit Ovarian Cancer Research Fund hosted by InStyle Magazine at Nova's Ark Project on August 1, 2009 in Watermill, New York. (Photo by Rick Odell/Getty Images)

  • TIME's 2009 Person of the Year

    NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 12: (L-R) Editor of O Magazine Gayle King, managing editor for Time Richard Stengel, TV personality Barbara Walters and Mayor Luke Ravenstahl attend the TIME's 2009 Person of the Year at the Time & Life Building on November 12, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Time Inc)

  • "Boardwalk Empire" New York Premiere - Arrivals

    NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 15: Journalist Barbara Walters attends the premiere of 'Boardwalk Empire' at the Ziegfeld Theatre on September 15, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

  • "Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark" Broadway Opening Night

    NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 14: Barbara Walters attends 'Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark' Broadway opening night at Foxwoods Theatre on June 14, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)

  • Sir Paul McCartney and Nancy Shevell - Wedding Reception

    LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 09: Barbara Walters attends Sir Paul McCartney and Nancy Shevells' wedding reception at Paul's house in St John's Wood on October 9, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Danny Martindale/Getty Images)

  • Glamour's 2011 Women Of The Year Awards - Inside

    NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 07: Barbara Walters attends Glamour's 2011 Women of the Year Awards on November 7, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Glamour Magazine)

  • "Evita" Opening Night New Star Cast

    NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 05: Barbara Walters attends the 'Evita' opening night new star cast at the Marquis Theatre on April 5, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)

  • Barbara Walters attends the Time 100 Gal

    Barbara Walters attends the Time 100 Gala celebrating the Time 100 issue of the Most Influential People In The World at Jazz at Lincoln Center on April 24, 2012 in New York. AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A.CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)

  • 2012 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner - Arrivals

    WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 28: Journalist Barbara Walters attends the 98th Annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner at the Washington Hilton on April 28, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

  • 2012 MoMA Party In The Garden Benefit - Arrivals

    NEW YORK, NY - MAY 22: Barbara Walters attends the 2012 Party in the Garden benefit at the Museum of Modern Art on May 22, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

  • Barbara Walters

    COMMERIAL IMAGE In this photograph taken by AP Images for The Hollywood Reporter Barbara Walters arrives at The Hollywood Reporter 35 Most Powerful People in Media event on Wednesday, April 11, 2012 in New York. (Evan Agostini/AP Images for The Hollywood Reporter)

  • Barbara Walters poses for a photo on the red carpet for The Colleagues 23rd Annual Spring Luncheon on Tuesday April 17, 2012 in Los Angeles (AP Photo/Earl Gibson III)

  • Barbara Walters

    Barbara Walters arrives at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner on Saturday, April 28, 2012 in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

  • New York City Ballet Celebrates Legendary Fashion Designer Valentino Garavani

    This Sept. 20, 2012 photo released by Starpix shows Barbara Walters at the New York City Ballet Fall Gala honoring Valentino Garavani at Lincoln Center in New York. Valentino, who created most of the vibrant costumes and dramatically upped the glamour quotient of the evening, attracting movie stars, supermodels and socialites galore. (AP Photo/Starpix, Amanda Schwab)

  • Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Whoopi Goldberg, Barbara Walters, Joy Behar, Sherri Shepherd, Elisabeth Hasselbeck

    President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama appear on the ABC Television show ?The View? in New York, Monday, Sept. 24, 2012, From left are, Whoopi Goldberg, Barbara Walters, the president, the first lady, Joy Behar, Sherri Shepherd and Elisabeth Hasselbeck. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

  • BARBARA WALTERS

    This image released by American Broadcasting Companies shows Barbara Walters answering a phone to take donations for victims of Superstorm Sandy during "Good Morning America," Monday, Nov. 5, 2012 in New York. Walters made a contribution of $250,000 to the American Red Cross and GMA co-host George Stephanopoulos followed suit with a donation for $50,000. (AP Photo/American Broadcasting Companies, Lou Rocco)

  • Barbara Walters

    FILE - This June 23, 2012 file photo shows Barbara Walters presenting an award onstage at the 39th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif. Walters, who has been battling the Chicken Pox, will not return to her daytime talk show "The View," for three more weeks. She was hospitalized on Jan. 19 after fainting and cutting her head at a pre-inaugural party in Washington. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, file)

  • Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/26/barbara-walters-returns-to-view_n_2765655.html

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    2 new species of mushroom documented in the Iberian Peninsula

    2 new species of mushroom documented in the Iberian Peninsula [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 26-Feb-2013
    [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

    Contact: SINC
    info@agenciasinc.es
    34-914-251-820
    FECYT - Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology

    In collaboration with the Royal Botanic Gardens of Madrid and the Slovenian Forestry Institute, researchers in the Basque Country have documented two new species of Hydnum, commonly known as ox tongue mushrooms, as part of their study published in the 'Mycologia' journal. This genus is known because many of its fungi are edible.

    Spanish researchers have headed the discovery of two mushroom species belonging to the Hydnum genus, a type of fungus commonly used in cooking.

    "During our study we discovered two new species: Hydnum ovoideisporum and Hydnum vesterholtii, which belong to a genus commonly known as 'ox tongue'. Although many of this species' mushrooms are consumed in many parts of the world, paradoxically there have been few recent serious studies that attempt to clarify what species exist and the differences between them," as explained to SINC by Ibai Olariaga Ibarguren, lead researcher of the study conducted from the University of the Basque Country.

    According to the experts, differentiating this genus is a very complicated task since there is much resemblance between species and they have rather similar microscopic characteristics. "This is one of the reasons why many authors of studies have believed that there are few Hydnum species with different variables," outlines the scientist.

    Nonetheless, the scarcity of molecular studies carried out on these fungi indicates that their genetic diversity is very high. Olariaga himself has been performing a review of this genus in the Iberian Peninsula for years. One day he discovered that there were two species that were distinguishable from the rest because of their specific ecology and the fact that they had ovoid basidiospores, instead of the blastospores in the majority of species.

    "The molecular study that our work provides confirmed that the species detected at the time using classical morphology-based taxonomy belonged to two genetically different lineages," highlights the researcher.

    Recognising collected species

    Since they cannot be cultivated, species belonging to the Hydnum genus are collected from natural ecosystems in large quantities. They are not poisonous, which is one of the reasons why great emphasis has not been placed on differentiating them.

    Nonetheless, very little is known about how widespread they are, their ecology and whether those being collected are an endangered species or under threat of extinction or, on the contrary, a very common species.

    "This type of study allows us to delve deeper into these aspects and gain precise information that can be interesting from an applied point of view, since it is necessary to know for example if one or a few species produce certain secondary metabolites or molecules of industrial interest," explains Olariaga.

    It is probable that the collectors have consumed these two new species since Hydnum mushrooms are phylogenetically related to Cantharellus (chanterelles) and Clavulina (coral fungi) and they all have edible species. "It would be highly unlikely that these two species documented were not actually edible."

    ###

    References:

    Ibai Olariaga, Tine Grebenc, Isabel Salcedo, Mara P. Martn. "Two new species of Hydnum with ovoid basidiospores: H. ovoideisporum and H. Vesterholtii" Mycologia, 104(6):1443-55, December 2012. doi:10.3852/11-378.



    [ 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.


    2 new species of mushroom documented in the Iberian Peninsula [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 26-Feb-2013
    [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

    Contact: SINC
    info@agenciasinc.es
    34-914-251-820
    FECYT - Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology

    In collaboration with the Royal Botanic Gardens of Madrid and the Slovenian Forestry Institute, researchers in the Basque Country have documented two new species of Hydnum, commonly known as ox tongue mushrooms, as part of their study published in the 'Mycologia' journal. This genus is known because many of its fungi are edible.

    Spanish researchers have headed the discovery of two mushroom species belonging to the Hydnum genus, a type of fungus commonly used in cooking.

    "During our study we discovered two new species: Hydnum ovoideisporum and Hydnum vesterholtii, which belong to a genus commonly known as 'ox tongue'. Although many of this species' mushrooms are consumed in many parts of the world, paradoxically there have been few recent serious studies that attempt to clarify what species exist and the differences between them," as explained to SINC by Ibai Olariaga Ibarguren, lead researcher of the study conducted from the University of the Basque Country.

    According to the experts, differentiating this genus is a very complicated task since there is much resemblance between species and they have rather similar microscopic characteristics. "This is one of the reasons why many authors of studies have believed that there are few Hydnum species with different variables," outlines the scientist.

    Nonetheless, the scarcity of molecular studies carried out on these fungi indicates that their genetic diversity is very high. Olariaga himself has been performing a review of this genus in the Iberian Peninsula for years. One day he discovered that there were two species that were distinguishable from the rest because of their specific ecology and the fact that they had ovoid basidiospores, instead of the blastospores in the majority of species.

    "The molecular study that our work provides confirmed that the species detected at the time using classical morphology-based taxonomy belonged to two genetically different lineages," highlights the researcher.

    Recognising collected species

    Since they cannot be cultivated, species belonging to the Hydnum genus are collected from natural ecosystems in large quantities. They are not poisonous, which is one of the reasons why great emphasis has not been placed on differentiating them.

    Nonetheless, very little is known about how widespread they are, their ecology and whether those being collected are an endangered species or under threat of extinction or, on the contrary, a very common species.

    "This type of study allows us to delve deeper into these aspects and gain precise information that can be interesting from an applied point of view, since it is necessary to know for example if one or a few species produce certain secondary metabolites or molecules of industrial interest," explains Olariaga.

    It is probable that the collectors have consumed these two new species since Hydnum mushrooms are phylogenetically related to Cantharellus (chanterelles) and Clavulina (coral fungi) and they all have edible species. "It would be highly unlikely that these two species documented were not actually edible."

    ###

    References:

    Ibai Olariaga, Tine Grebenc, Isabel Salcedo, Mara P. Martn. "Two new species of Hydnum with ovoid basidiospores: H. ovoideisporum and H. Vesterholtii" Mycologia, 104(6):1443-55, December 2012. doi:10.3852/11-378.



    [ 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/2013-02/f-sf-tns022613.php

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    Researchers explore PKC role in lung disease

    Tuesday, February 26, 2013
    A JGP study examines the role of PKC in airway smooth muscle contraction and raises the possibility that this enzyme could be a therapeutic target for treating asthma, COPD, and other lung diseases. The diagram shown summarizes the pathways regulating airway smooth muscle contraction. Credit: Dixon, R.E., and L.F. Santana. 2013. J. Gen. Physiol. appear in The Journal of General Physiology, provide new insight into the mechanisms involved in regulating luminal diameter of small airways and reveal PKC as a potential target for drug therapies.

    The researchers used phase-contrast video microscopy, confocal microscopy, Western blot analysis, and pharmacological activators and inhibitors to investigate the role of PKC in airway SMC contraction in mouse lung slices. Their results suggest that activation of PKC in small airways promotes an influx of calcium into SMC and subsequent intracellular release of calcium ions to generate low frequency SMC twitching. PKC activation also induces a strong calcium ion sensitization of contraction, eliciting a stronger contractile response to stimuli that increase free intracellular calcium. Consequently, PKC activation downstream of various molecules, such as thrombin, that are present in the airways in conjunction with inflammatory lung diseases, could sensitize the airway SMCs to contractile stimuli and contribute to the airway hyper responsiveness that is characteristic of asthma and COPD.

    ###

    Rockefeller University Press: http://www.rupress.org/

    Thanks to Rockefeller University Press for this article.

    This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

    This press release has been viewed 27 time(s).

    Source: http://www.labspaces.net/127020/Researchers_explore_PKC_role_in_lung_disease_

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    2 dead as wind-whipped winter storm pounds Great Plains; stay off ...

    Hurricane force winds blew into Texas creating a 'historic' blizzard and whiteout conditions in the Texas-Oklahoma panhandle. Kansas also saw its share of snow as the storm blew north, and blizzard warnings are in effect. The Weather Channel's Mike Seidel reports.

    By Erin McClam, Staff Writer, NBC News

    A deadly snowstorm packing hurricane-force wind pummeled the Great Plains on Monday, the second bout of fierce winter weather there in less than a week. Authorities pleaded with people to stay off the roads.

    Wind gusts of 75 mph were recorded at the airport in Amarillo, Texas, and up to a foot and a half of snow was on the ground ? the most in at least 110 years. At least one city fire truck was stuck.


    ?This is a really nasty blizzard,? said Greg Postel, a meteorologist with The Weather Channel.

    The storm was being blamed for at least two deaths: In the town of Woodward, Okla., heavy snow caused a roof to collapse, killing one person inside the home, Oklahoma Highway Patrol told NBC News. And in northwest Kansas, a 21-year-old man was killed when his SUV overturned on an icy patch of Interstate-70, according to Kansas Emergency Management officials.

    Full coverage from weather.com

    National Guard units set out to help drivers stranded along Interstate 40, but the state said that troopers couldn?t get to everyone because of the whiteout. The wind whipped the snow into 10-foot drifts.

    Amarillo had 17 inches of snow on the ground at mid-afternoon, threatening its single-day record of 18.1 inches, set in 1934.

    Larry Phillips / Southwest Daily Times via AP

    City crews remove snow early on Monday in Liberal, Kan., which is under a blizzard warning until Tuesday at midnight.

    Authorities closed highways in the Oklahoma panhandle, which was bracing for more than a foot of snow. The University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University canceled afternoon classes.

    In Kansas, which was expecting up to 2 feet of snow through Tuesday, Gov. Sam Brownback extended a state of emergency from last week.

    ?This storm has the potential to be more dangerous than last week?s storm,? he said. His advice to drivers: ?Stay off the road unless it?s absolutely critical.? For those who had to drive, he suggested packing charged phones and emergency kits.

    The storm last week dumped more than 14 inches of snow on Wichita, Kan., its second-highest total on record. Parts of Kansas got a foot and a half, and parts of Missouri more than a foot.

    Jamie Squire / Getty Images

    Tow-truck driver Tyson House helps trucker Gary Wheeler after his vehicle slid off the road in Greensburg, Kan., during last week's storm.

    Joe Pajor, a public works official, told NBC affiliate KSN in Wichita that this storm would create driving conditions ?that are basically unprecedented for the traveling public.?

    The storm?s reach extended to the Southeast. The National Weather Service said it could spawn tornadoes Tuesday in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and the Florida Panhandle.

    FedEx said the storm was causing delays for deliveries in 15 states, as far east as Pennsylvania and as far north as Minnesota.

    The storm also threatened to dump 6 inches of snow on Chicago through Tuesday.

    The same weather system blanketed Colorado on Sunday. About 200 flights were canceled at the airport in Denver, and Gov. John Hickenlooper told non-essential state workers to report two hours late Monday.

    Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

    This story was originally published on

    Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/25/17084324-2-dead-as-wind-whipped-winter-storm-pounds-great-plains-stay-off-roads-authorities-warn

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    Tuesday, February 26, 2013

    Video: Prisoner's death sparks violence in West Bank

    Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

    Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/50948541/

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    MetroPCS rakes in $1.3 billion for Q4 2012 thanks to 2.2 million new LTE customers

    MetroPCS rakes in $13 billion for Q4 2012, bumps fullyear revenue by 10 percent over 2011 to $824M

    Over a quarter of MetroPCS' customer base is now on LTE (26 percent), and the company made $1.3 billion in revenue for Q4 and $5.1 billion total in 2012 as a result, it said. Though revenue was down for Q4 over last year to $122 million compared to $215 million for Q4 2011, profits were up year-over-year by 10 percent to $824 million, and the company said it made a record $1.5 billion EBITDA (before taxes, etc.) The company attributes that in part to a 2.2 million LTE subscriber bump, an increase of 117 percent over Q3 2012, but indicated that it lost 93 thousand subscribers total over the same period. It added that churn (customers leaving to other carriers) fell to 3.4 percent, its lowest level ever. Meanwhile, the carrier said it's proposed Deutsche Telecom-backed merger with T-Mobile is moving along swimmingly with a definitive proposal filed yesterday. It anticipates "closing the transaction in early April" ahead of schedule, which it says would make MetroPCS "the leading value wireless carrier in the United States."

    Filed under: ,

    Comments

    Source: PR Newswire

    Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/81G_LgBwgWk/

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    Monday, February 25, 2013

    Net providers begin warning of illegal downloads

    Internet users who illegally share music, movies or television shows online could soon receive warning notices from the nation's five major Internet service providers.

    The Copyright Alert System, organized by the recording and film industry, is being activated this week to target consumers using peer-to-peer software.

    Under the new system, complaints will prompt an Internet service provider ? such as Verizon or AT&T ? to notify a customer whose Internet address has been detected sharing files illegally. A person will be given up to six opportunities to stop before the Internet provider will take more drastic steps, such as temporarily slowing their connection, or redirecting Internet traffic until they acknowledge they received a notice or review educational materials about copyright law.

    Consumers who maintain they have been wrongly accused would be forced to pay $35 to appeal the decision. The fee would be reimbursed if they prevail.

    Proponents say the focus is on deterring the average consumer rather than chronic violators. The director of the organization behind the system, Jill Lesser of the Center for Copyright Infringement, said in a blog post Monday that the program is "meant to educate rather than punish, and direct (users) to legal alternatives."

    Each Internet provider is expected to implement their own system. The other providers expected to participate are Cablevision, Time Warner Cable and Comcast. (NBC News is part of NBCUniversal, which is owned by Comcast, a provider of cable TV and broadband Internet access.)

    The program gives each customer five or six "strikes" after a music or film company has detected illegal file-sharing and lodged a complaint. The first alerts are expected to be educational, while the third and fourth would require the customer to acknowledge that they have received the warnings and understand their behavior is illegal. The final warnings are expected to lead to "mitigation measures," such as slowing a person's Internet connection speeds.

    Officials involved in the effort acknowledge it's unlikely to stop the biggest violators. There are ways to disguise an IP address or use a neighbor's connection that is unlocked. Public wireless connections, such as those offered at coffee shops, also won't be monitored.

    ? 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

    Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/technolog/net-providers-begin-warning-illegal-downloads-1C8543845

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    50 Cent makes awkward move on TV reporter

    Rapper 50 Cent wasn't content just chatting up Erin Andrews.

    He went in for a kiss.

    Rebuffed.

    In the strangest part of the buildup to the Daytona 500, Mr. Cent brought back memories of Joe Namath's awkward attempt to plant one on Suzy Kolber when he tried the same move with Andrews on pit road.

    She turned her head one way, then the other, only allowing the "Candy Shop" rapper to get a peck on the cheek.

    ? Paul Newberry ? http://www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

    ___

    BIG CRASH: We've had the first big wreck of the Daytona 500.

    And a bunch of top contenders have seen their chances go up in smoke.

    Former 500 winners Kevin Harvick, Tony Stewart and Jamie McMurray were caught up in the crash on lap 33. So was defending Sprint Cup champion Brad Keselowski.

    The melee began coming through the tri-oval when Kasey Kahne's car began to slide across the track after appearing to get bumped from behind by Kyle Busch.

    At least two other drivers also got caught up in the mess: Juan Pablo Montoya and Casey Mears. Joey Logano made a great move to dodge the spinning cars.

    Pole sitter Danica Patrick made it through unscathed and remains near the front of the pack.

    ? Paul Newberry ? http://www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

    ___

    HANG ON TIGHT: From one defending champion to another, Brad Keselowski had a piece of advice for Daytona 500 starter Ray Lewis:

    Don't drop the flag.

    The retired Baltimore Ravens star served as honorary starter for the Daytona 500. Lewis waved the green flag without incident Sunday to start the "Great American Race."

    Lewis, who said he was nervous, got a quick tip from Keselowski.

    "Brad texted me on the way in, the one rule is, don't drop the flag," Lewis said before the race. "I'm going to squeeze the flag very hard. I want to watch this and be a part of it. To be here is an awesome experience."

    Lewis was one of several stars at Daytona International Speedway. Rappers T.I. and 50 Cent attended NASCAR's season opener, which has Danica Patrick starting on the pole.

    Oscar-nominated actor James Franco was the grand marshall and said, "Drivers and Danica, start your engines!" The Zac Brown Band played a pre-race concert in the Daytona International Speedway infield. Band member Clay Cook performed the national anthem.

    Retired baseball pitcher Tom Gordon, comedian Drew Carey, and Wes Welker and Steve Spurrier also were in attendance.

    Lewis called Keselowski on the eve of the 2012 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway and left him an inspirational voice message. Keselowski also often listens to Lewis' motivational speeches before races.

    "I caught a glimpse of how he always watched my videos and it really inspired him," Lewis said. "That's when me and him really started having conversations with each other, and from there it just turned into a friendship. I send him motivational things, and heads-up on what I am doing, that's where the relationship has gone."

    ? Dan Gelston ? http://twitter.com/APgelston

    ___

    DANICA DROPS BACK: Danica Patrick made history by becoming the first woman to start from the pole in a NASCAR Cup race.

    But in the beginning of the Daytona 500, she failed to pull off another landmark.

    Choosing the outside spot on the front row, Patrick gave up the lead to Jeff Gordon on the very first lap, missing out on an early chance to become the first female to lead a Cup lap.

    Over the first 10 laps, she settled in behind Gordon and held on to the second spot in the 43-car field.

    Patrick went on the radio before the race to thank her crew for giving her such a strong car. "I'll do the best job I can to do my end of the deal today," she said. "All in all, thank you for everything. You guys are awesome."

    ? Paul Newberry ? http://www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

    ___

    FRANCO'S AUDIBLE: "Drivers ... and Danica!!! ... start your engines."

    With that unique command, actor James Franco has ordered the 43 cars to fire up for the Daytona 500.

    The duty is normally carried out with the most famous words in racing: "Gentlemen, start your engines."

    Of course, this year is different. Danica Patrick is the first woman to start from the pole in a Cup race, and Franco hinted beforehand that he was planning an audible. As unpredictable as ever, he passed on a chance to copy the command that was used when Patrick raced in the Indianapolis 500, "Lady and gentlemen, start your engines."

    Now, it's time to go racing at Daytona.

    ? Paul Newberry ? http://www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

    ___

    A HEARTY BUNCH: NASCAR FANS RETURN TO DANGER ZONE: Say this about NASCAR fans: They don't frighten easily.

    One day after a harrowing crash injured dozens of fans in the stands, those same seats are filling up for the Daytona 500.

    No one seems too concerned.

    "These should be good seats," said Rick Barasso, as he settled into a spot that was right in the danger zone when Kyle Larson's car slammed into the catch fencing on the final lap of a Nationwide Series race Saturday. "I mean, what are the chances of it happening again?"

    That seems to be the attitude of the fans heading into the Daytona 500, the season-opening Cup race and biggest event on the NASCAR schedule. Most people say it's worth the risk to sit next to the ear-rattling action ? no more than 20 feet away for those in the first row. They love to hear the engines, smell the exhaust, and feel the wind whipping in their face as 43 cars go by at nearly 200 mph.

    Still, there are a few fans fretting about the location of their seats.

    Raymond Gober returned to the same location where he was nearly struck by a bolt from Larson's car. He scooped up the debris as a souvenir, though he acknowledged being a little nervous about his seat on the back row of the lower level. He even considered wearing his motorcycle helmet to the 500, but figured "everybody would start laughing at me." Next year, he plans to buy an upper-level seat in the main grandstand.

    "My dad called and said, 'You're sitting in the same seats? "' Gober said. "He couldn't believe it."

    There are grim reminders of what happened Saturday: a bloody spot that had been washed down (not entirely, though), a tire mark on a seat, another seat that was partially bent from getting struck by that same tire.

    ? Paul Newberry ? http://www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

    ___

    EDITOR'S NOTE ? "Daytona 500 Watch" shows you the Daytona 500 and events surrounding the race through the eyes of Associated Press journalists. Follow them on Twitter.

    Source: http://news.yahoo.com/50-cent-makes-awkward-move-tv-reporter-192712051--spt.html

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    Dominican singer can be held for year in drug case

    Dominican Republic's singer Martha Heredia, is escorted handcuffed into the prosecutor's office in Santiago, Dominican Republic, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013. Heredia, a winner of the TV talent show "Latin American Idol", was arrested late Wednesday and charged with drug smuggling after police found heroin stuffed in the heels of her platform shoes as she was about to board a plane to New York at the Cibao International airport in Santiago, according to National Drug Control Agency Director Frank Duran. (AP Photo)

    Dominican Republic's singer Martha Heredia, is escorted handcuffed into the prosecutor's office in Santiago, Dominican Republic, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013. Heredia, a winner of the TV talent show "Latin American Idol", was arrested late Wednesday and charged with drug smuggling after police found heroin stuffed in the heels of her platform shoes as she was about to board a plane to New York at the Cibao International airport in Santiago, according to National Drug Control Agency Director Frank Duran. (AP Photo)

    Dominican Republic's singer Martha Heredia, center, is escorted handcuffed into the prosecutor's office in Santiago, Dominican Republic, Thursday, Feb. 21, 2013. Heredia, a winner of the TV talent show "Latin American Idol", was arrested late Wednesday and charged with drug smuggling after police found heroin stuffed in the heels of her platform shoes as she was about to board a plane to New York at the Cibao International airport in Santiago, according to National Drug Control Agency Director Frank Duran. (AP Photo)

    In this picture taken Monday, Feb. 18, 2013, Dominican singer Martha Heredia is shown in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Heredia, a winner of the TV talent show "Latin American Idol", was arrested late Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013, and charged with drug smuggling after police found heroin stuffed in the heels of her platform shoes as she was about to board a plane to New York at the Cibao International airport in Santiago, Dominican Republic, according to National Drug Control Agency Director Frank Duran. (AP Photo)

    (AP) ? A judge in the Dominican Republic ruled Monday that the winner of a TV talent show can be held in jail for up to a year while authorities investigate her alleged involvement in drug smuggling.

    Martha Heredia, a 22-year-old Dominican singer who was a winner of the show "Latin American Idol," was arrested at a Dominican airport on Wednesday as she was about to board a flight to New York. Police allege she had 2.9 pounds (1.3 kilograms) of heroin stuffed in the heels of three pairs of platform shoes.

    On Monday, Judge Deyanira Vasquez ruled that Heredia can be held for a year in jail. No charges have been filed, but the Dominican legal systems allows for lengthy preventative detention.

    Heredia's lawyer, Felix Portes, said there is "no evidence" that links the singer to the suitcase where the heroin was found.

    Portes tried unsuccessfully to get the court to authorize Heredia's transfer from a lockup to a medical clinic, arguing she had underwent a liposuction procedure in recent weeks and was experiencing discomfort.

    Heredia had become a local star after she won the final "Latin American Idol" contest in 2009. The show, which ran for three years, was a Spanish-language version of the popular "Idols" franchise. Her subsequent musical career failed to take off.

    Associated Press

    Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-02-25-CB-Dominican-Arrested-Singer/id-f4a1442e57a840bea0b31661063f28eb

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    Credit Rating Card Financial Debt Consolidation | Adrenalink

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    Sunday, February 24, 2013

    Bees use the 'force' to choose the best flowers, study finds

    Bees can alter the electrical charge of the flowers they touch. A new study finds that bees use these electrical cues to help them choose flowers with the most nectar and pollen.

    By Pete Spotts,?Staff writer / February 22, 2013

    Bees learn to use electrical clues to choose which flower is the most promising target, according to a new study.

    Vasily Fedosenko/Reuters/File

    Enlarge

    If you're a bee having a hard time finding that flower trying to tell you it's loaded with nectar and pollen, use the force, bee, use the force.

    Skip to next paragraph

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    For the first time, scientists have demonstrated that the interaction of charges that can build up naturally on bees and plants plays a role in helping the insects find the best flowers to nourish themselves and the hive.

    Bees have long been known to use color, shape, patterns, and odor to identify their their floral targets. The new study, conducted by researchers at the University of Bristol in Britain, suggests that bees also use electrical cues. Based on the results, the researchers suggest that if bees approach a flower and sense a disturbance in the "force," they know another bee has beat them to the blossom.

    From a bee's perspective, electrical cues are another tool that enables more-efficient foraging. The flower also benefits, according to University of Bristol biologist Daniel Robert, who oversaw the study.

    "The last thing a flower wants is to attract a bee and then fail to provide nectar," he said in a prepared statement. Bees quickly learn which flowers are productive and which aren't. The ones that aren't are less likely to get visits and have their pollen spread to other flowers for reproduction. The electrical cues they receive from the flowers may represent a "come back later" signal.

    Bees' ability to sense and respond to plants' electrical fields "is a remarkable finding, " says Mark Winston, a biologist at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C., and the author of a book on bee biology.

    It represents another method "by which bees perceive the world around them and it adds another wonderful story that continues to deepen our understanding the co-evolved relationship between bees and flowers," he says.

    For 30 years, some researchers have posited that electrostatic charges that can build up on bees play a role in the bees taking up and transporting pollen ? a kind of small-scale static cling. They also found that the voltage associated with a flower changes as it's pollinated.

    But the experiments by Dr. Robert and colleagues suggest that electricity represents a medium for conveying information between flower and bee before the bee lands.

    Previous studies had indicated that bees carry a positive electrical charge with voltages that in some cases can reach as high as 200 volts. They build up the charge as they fly. With their roots in the earth, plants tend to carry a negative charge.

    Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/science/~3/8TgV6CvU7ss/Bees-use-the-force-to-choose-the-best-flowers-study-finds

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    UK cardinal contests 'inappropriate' acts claims

    FILE - A Thursday Sept. 16, 2010 photo from files showing Cardinal Keith Patrick O'Brien speaking to the media in Edinburgh, Scotland. Roman Catholic priests should be allowed to marry and have children, Britain's most senior Catholic cleric said Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. Cardinal Keith O'Brien, who heads the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, said the requirement for priestly celibacy is "not of divine origin" and could be reconsidered. He told BBC Scotland that "the celibacy of the clergy, whether priests should marry _ Jesus didn't say that." (AP Photo/Scott Campbell, File)

    FILE - A Thursday Sept. 16, 2010 photo from files showing Cardinal Keith Patrick O'Brien speaking to the media in Edinburgh, Scotland. Roman Catholic priests should be allowed to marry and have children, Britain's most senior Catholic cleric said Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. Cardinal Keith O'Brien, who heads the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, said the requirement for priestly celibacy is "not of divine origin" and could be reconsidered. He told BBC Scotland that "the celibacy of the clergy, whether priests should marry _ Jesus didn't say that." (AP Photo/Scott Campbell, File)

    LONDON (AP) ? The Vatican is looking into allegations of "inappropriate behavior" by Cardinal Keith O'Brien, Britain's most senior Catholic cleric, officials said Sunday. The claims came at a sensitive time, as O'Brien and other cardinals prepare for a conclave to choose the next pope.

    O'Brien, who heads the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland, was taking advice from lawyers after British newspaper The Observer reported that three priests and a former priest have filed complaints to the Vatican alleging that the cardinal approached them in an inappropriate manner.

    The paper did not cite the names of the priests, but it said their allegations date back to the 1980s.

    "Cardinal O'Brien contests these claims and is taking legal advice," Peter Kearney, a spokesman for the Scottish Catholic Church, said. He declined to comment further.

    A Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said the complaints had been channeled through the office of the papal nuncio ? the Vatican's ambassador ? in London. "The pope has been informed, and the question is in his hands," Lombardi said.

    In the coming weeks, O'Brien, 74, is expected to join a conclave of cardinals at the Vatican to elect the next pontiff, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI. Benedict announced earlier this month that he will step down on Thursday ? the first pope to resign in some 600 years.

    O'Brien has not been the only cardinal to become embroiled in negative news as the papal election approaches. Across the Atlantic, thousands of people have signed a petition to keep California Cardinal Roger Mahony from the conclave because of revelations he had shielded sexually abusive priests.

    Mahony has made it clear he will attend the gathering and that no one can force him to recuse himself.

    In comments on the papacy made to the BBC on Friday, O'Brien said the next pope would be free to consider changing church policy on issues that were not "basic dogmatic beliefs." He said he believed that the requirement for priestly celibacy is not "of divine origin" and could be reconsidered.

    O'Brien also said it was time to think seriously about having a pope from outside Europe. He said he would be "open to a pope from anywhere if I thought it was the right man, whether it was Europe or Asia or Africa or wherever."

    The cardinal is due to retire when he turns 75 in March.

    Associated Press

    Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-02-24-Britain-Cardinal/id-72f3f78d279c4463aee5d60524a466d8

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    Saturday, February 23, 2013

    No increase in HIV/AIDS cases in India: Azad

    NEW DELHI: There has been no increase in the number of people living with HIV/AIDS in India, union health minister GhulamNabi Azad said on Friday.

    In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Azad said under the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP), antiretroviral therapy (ART) centres have been established in medical colleges, district hospitals and other local hospitals in the government sector to provide treatment to people with HIV/AIDS.

    The minister said there are 380 ART centres functional in the country and 604,987 patients were obtaining free drugs from these centres.

    The minister said the government proposed to make 600 ART centres functional in the country by the end of 2016-17 to treat to an estimated 850,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in the country.

    Azad said the performance of NACP has been assessed through periodic joint implementation reviews and mid-term review involving development partners.

    "All the review missions reported that most of the targets under NACP have been achieved and even surpassed," he said.

    Azad quoted an independent impact assessment study, funded by the World Bank, to say that the HIV epidemic in India has remained contained and has been declining in the country.

    Increase in condom use in sex work as a result of targeted interventions accounted for the decline, he said quoting from the study.

    Source: http://timesofindia.feedsportal.com/fy/8at2EtY0kNFxR48s/story01.htm

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    F-35 fleet grounded after engine crack found

    FILE -This undated photo provided by Northrop Grumman Corp., shows a pre-production model of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The Pentagon on Friday grounded its fleet of F-35 fighter jets after discovering a cracked engine blade in one plane. The problem was discovered during what the Pentagon called a routine inspection at Edwards Air Force Base, California, of an F-35A, the Air Force version of the sleek new plane. The Navy and the Marine Corps are buying other versions of the F-35, which is intended to replace older fighters like the Air Force F-16 and the Navy F/A-18. All versions , a total of 51 planes , were grounded Friday, Feb. 22, 2013 pending a more in-depth evaluation of the problem discovered at Edwards. None of the planes have been fielded for combat operations; all are undergoing testing.AP Photo/Northrop Grumman, File) no sales

    FILE -This undated photo provided by Northrop Grumman Corp., shows a pre-production model of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. The Pentagon on Friday grounded its fleet of F-35 fighter jets after discovering a cracked engine blade in one plane. The problem was discovered during what the Pentagon called a routine inspection at Edwards Air Force Base, California, of an F-35A, the Air Force version of the sleek new plane. The Navy and the Marine Corps are buying other versions of the F-35, which is intended to replace older fighters like the Air Force F-16 and the Navy F/A-18. All versions , a total of 51 planes , were grounded Friday, Feb. 22, 2013 pending a more in-depth evaluation of the problem discovered at Edwards. None of the planes have been fielded for combat operations; all are undergoing testing.AP Photo/Northrop Grumman, File) no sales

    (AP) ? The Pentagon on Friday grounded its fleet of F-35 fighter jets after discovering a cracked engine blade in one plane.

    The problem was discovered during what the Pentagon called a routine inspection at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., of an F-35A, the Air Force version of the sleek new plane. The Navy and the Marine Corps are buying other versions of the F-35, which is intended to replace older fighters like the Air Force F-16 and the Navy F/A-18.

    All versions ? a total of 51 planes ? were grounded Friday pending a more in-depth evaluation of the problem discovered at Edwards. None of the planes have been fielded for combat operations; all are undergoing testing.

    In a brief written statement, the Pentagon said it is too early to know the full impact of the newly discovered problem.

    A watchdog group, the Project on Government Oversight, said the grounding is not likely to mean a significant delay in the effort to field the stealthy aircraft.

    "The F-35 is a huge problem because of its growing, already unaffordable, cost and its gigantically disappointing performance," the group's Winslow Wheeler said. "That performance would be unacceptable even if the aircraft met its far-too-modest requirements, but it is not."

    The F-35 is the Pentagon's most expensive weapons program at a total estimated cost of nearly $400 billion. The Pentagon envisions buying more than 2,400 F-35s, but some members of Congress are balking at the price tag.

    Friday's suspension of flight operations will remain in effect until an investigation of the problem's root cause is determined.

    The Pentagon said the engine in which the problem was discovered is being shipped to a Pratt & Whitney facility in Connecticut for more thorough evaluation.

    Associated Press

    Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-02-22-US-Fighter%20Jet%20Grounded/id-4d5f588721814c7aa5545ac843be6f4c

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    U.S. military grounds F-35

    The U.S. military on Friday grounded the F-35 fighter jet due to a crack in an engine component that was discovered during a routine inspection in California.

    The Pentagon said in a statement that it was too early to assess the impact on the fleet of jets designed for use by the Navy, Air Force and Marines.

    The nearly $400 billion Joint Strike Fighter is the Pentagon's most expensive weapons system. It is currently being tested.

    The program has been beset by cost overruns and various technical problems during development.

    Currently, there are 51 planes in the F-35 fleet.

    Source: http://www.wptz.com/news/national/U-S-military-grounds-F-35/-/8869978/19043200/-/8uftywz/-/index.html

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