The Most Realistic Artificial Brain Has a Mind of Its Own

Computers can do practically anything these days, but they're still a far cry from robotic brains that don't just do what they're told but actually think for themselves. The Semantic Pointer Architecture Unified Network, or Spaun, is one of those, and it's creeping up on human intelligence. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/y78PUDUFpjA/the-most-realistic-artificial-brain-has-a-mind-of-its-own

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The "Elf on a Shelf" -- holiday fun for your family - Pregnancy.org

by Julie Snyder

Elf on a Shelf"You better watch out. You better not cry. You better not pout. I'm telling you why..."

As a child, a present from Santa may have encouraged good behavior during the holiday season.

Something or someone new's out there!

It might be time to move over Santa. Make way for the elf!

A few years ago, hardly anyone had heard about these little helpers that keep tabs on kids.

Now it seems, almost every family has an "elf."

Will you be participating in this new holiday tradition? Do you think the "Elf" replaces Santa?

"The Elf on a Shelf" -- in the beginning

Carol Aebersold was suffering empty nest syndrome. Her twin daughters suggested that they write a book based on the family's Christmas tradition, their elf, Fisbee.

Fisbee arrived every Thanksgiving. Each morning until Christmas Eve, the girls would race out of bed to see where he was hiding today.

Years later, daughter Christa realized that no other families shared that ritual. Certain that others would fall in love with the tradition, she quit her job, moved back to Georgia and helped produce the book.

Welcoming the "Elf" into your home

In 2005, the elf and his book, "The Elf on the Shelf" made their debut. Have you wondered how Santa keeps track of all these kids? The word's out. He sends a scouting elf on a mission to see if the kids are naughty or nice.

"Elf on a Shelf" rules and facts

? Give your elf a name.
? Be kind and thoughtful. No good deed goes unnoticed by the little guy.
? Head to bed; while you sleep, the elf flies off to the North Pole and reports to Santa.
? Wake up; find where he ended up and what he's been doing. Yours might hide in the freezer, in your underwear drawer or peek down from a picture frame.
? Don't touch the elf or he loses his magic.
? On Christmas Eve, say, "Good-bye. See you again next Christmas season!"

This tradition takes the "Santa is watching you" concept to a whole new -- and incredibly fun -- level. Your child sets off on a scavenger hunt every day and you have a new creative outlet.

? Where can he hide tomorrow?
? Should he be naughty or nice?
? How much mess do I feel like cleaning up?

Tips and ideas

High-flying elf: Harness your elf to a balloon and let him float around all day.

Watch your shoes: Set the little guy in shoe, holding the laces as if guiding a sleigh.

Inspire reading, writing and imagination. Leave the elf by a new book or leave it with holding a note that asks your child to finish elf's half-written story.

Just watching the treats: Dribble cookie crumbs on the elf and leave him next to the cookies, as if he ate some.

Giving back: Have your elf leave money and ask that it be used to buy a toy for toys for tots or leave a note asking your child to gather old clothing to donate.

Hanging out with the "Elf"

"Elfie is an adorable little spy for Santa. Each night he flies back to the North Pole to file his report, and each morning a 'scavenger hunt' ensues to see where he's landed. Our elf gets harder to find as Christmas approaches. Last year, Grace woke us up with laughter when she found him sitting on her potty," Ellie says.

Lillie shares, "It's so much fun. This morning, he was snuggling with Jason's puppy in a "towel" watching Jason's brand new movie. Tonight Ichabod will decorate his Christmas tree with his underwear and socks. Tomorrow night, he'll bring the stuff to make homemade cookies for Jason's teachers next week."

"My younger boys love finding the elf in different places. One year, I forgot to remove him on Christmas Eve. My kids asked why he was still there. I told them that Johnny liked them so much that he wanted to see them open their presents," Carolyn admits.

Has your family adopted the 'Elf on a Shelf" tradition? What fun and crazy things will your elf do this year?

Source: http://www.pregnancy.org/article/the-elf-on-a-shelf-holiday-fun-for-your-family

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'Sympathy For Lady Vengeance' Remake Continues Hollywood's Korean Film Obsession

By Hannah Soo Park It's pretty much official now. Hollywood's remake of South Korean movie "Sympathy for Lady Vengeance" is no longer just the subject of rumors, now that Charlize Theron is confirmed to play the leading role of a wrongfully accused woman who emerges from prison seeking?you guessed it?vengeance. Theron has also signed on [...]

Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2012/11/29/sympathy-for-lady-vengeance-remake-charlize-theron/

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Angola October forex reserves rise to $30.49 bln - cbank

DEAR ABBY: My wife and I have been married for five years. I recently discovered that she made between 10 and 20 porn videos when she was 19. We got married when she was 27. We have four kids from two previous marriages.I am devastated. When I confronted her about it, she cried harder than I had ever seen. She said she was lost, and it's the biggest regret of her entire life.I understand how hard it can be to tell someone you have done something like this. I haven't led a perfect life either, and I have my own skeletons and things that I would never mention. But still, I can't get over this. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/angola-october-forex-reserves-rise-30-49-bln-112130652--business.html

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ScienceDaily: Gene News

http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/health_medicine/genes/ Genes and Genetics News. Read today's medical research in genetics including what can damage genes, what can protect them, and more.en-usWed, 28 Nov 2012 01:05:15 ESTWed, 28 Nov 2012 01:05:15 EST60
Media_httpwwwscienced_uguag
http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/health_medicine/genes/ For more science articles, visit ScienceDaily.http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121127190021.htm A new study produced new mathematical support for a theory that explains why men in some cultures often feed and care for their sisters? children: where extramarital sex is common and accepted, a man?s genes are more likely to be passed on by their sister?s kids than by their wife?s kids.Tue, 27 Nov 2012 19:00:00 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121127190021.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121127130256.htm Some infants are more susceptible to potentially life-threatening breathing problems after birth, and rare, inherited DNA differences may explain why, according to new research.Tue, 27 Nov 2012 13:02:02 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121127130256.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121127101534.htm Scientists have broadened our understanding of how cells regulate silencing of the X chromosome in a process known as X-inactivation.Tue, 27 Nov 2012 10:15:15 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121127101534.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121127094311.htm Researchers have discovered an alternative mechanism for activating rhe oncogene Ras that does not require mutation or hormonal stimulus.Tue, 27 Nov 2012 09:43:43 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121127094311.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121127094248.htm Scientists have discovered that injecting a novel human protein into muscle affected by Duchenne muscular dystrophy significantly increases its size and strength, findings that could lead to a therapy akin to the use of insulin by diabetics.Tue, 27 Nov 2012 09:42:42 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121127094248.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121127093951.htm Researchers have identified and ?switched off? a chemical chain that causes neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington?s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and dementia. The findings could one day be of particular therapeutic benefit to Huntington?s disease patients.Tue, 27 Nov 2012 09:39:39 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121127093951.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121127093855.htm New research showing a more than four-fold increase in the incidence of breast cancer in women with neurofibromatosis-1 (NF1) adds to growing evidence that women with this rare genetic disorder may benefit from early breast cancer screening with mammograms beginning at age 40, and manual breast exams as early as adolescence.Tue, 27 Nov 2012 09:38:38 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121127093855.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121126164003.htm PKM2 slips into nucleus to promote cancer; potential biomarker and drug approach discovered.Mon, 26 Nov 2012 16:40:40 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121126164003.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121126142855.htm Discovery of a new drug with high potential to treat Ewing sarcoma, an often deadly cancer of children and young adults, and the previously unknown mechanism behind it, come hand-in-hand in a new study.Mon, 26 Nov 2012 14:28:28 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121126142855.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121126131349.htm A newly discovered gene that is essential for embryo survival could also hold the key to treating and potentially controlling chronic infections such as HIV, hepatitis and tuberculosis. The gene, called Arih2, is fundamental to the function of the immune system -- making critical decisions about whether to switch on the immune response to an infection.Mon, 26 Nov 2012 13:13:13 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121126131349.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121126110737.htm Two years ago, a 71-year-old Indiana man impaled his hand on a branch after cutting down a dead tree. The wound caused an infection that led scientists to discover a new bacterium and solve a mystery about how bacteria came to live inside insects.Mon, 26 Nov 2012 11:07:07 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121126110737.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121125192838.htm Over a decade after sequencing the human genome, it has now become clear that the genome is not mostly ?junk? as previously thought. In fact, the ENCODE project consortium of dozens of labs and petabytes of data have determined that these ?noncoding? regions house everything from disease trait loci to important regulatory signals, all the way through to new types of RNA-based genes.Sun, 25 Nov 2012 19:28:28 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121125192838.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121124090511.htm Researchers have uncovered a protein ?partner? commonly used by breast cancer cells to unlock genes needed for spreading the disease around the body. A report on the discovery details how some tumors get the tools they need to metastasize.Sat, 24 Nov 2012 09:05:05 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121124090511.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121123092132.htm The genome encodes the complete information needed by an organism, including that required for protein production. Viruses, which are up to a thousand times smaller than human cells, have considerably smaller genomes. Using a type of herpesvirus as a model system scientists have shown that the genome of this virus contains much more information than previously assumed. The researchers identified several hundred novel proteins, many of which were surprisingly small.Fri, 23 Nov 2012 09:21:21 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121123092132.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121122152928.htm Scientists have made a major advance in understanding how flu viruses replicate within infected cells. The researchers used cutting-edge molecular biology and electron-microscopy techniques to ?see? one of influenza?s essential protein complexes in unprecedented detail. The images generated in the study show flu virus proteins in the act of self-replication, highlighting the virus?s vulnerabilities that are sure to be of interest to drug developers.Thu, 22 Nov 2012 15:29:29 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121122152928.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121122152910.htm Fifty years after scientists first posed a question about protein folding, the search for answers has led to the creation of a full-fledged field of research that led to major advances in supercomputers, new materials and drug discovery, and shaped our understanding of the basic processes of life, including so-called "protein-folding diseases" such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and type II diabetes.Thu, 22 Nov 2012 15:29:29 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121122152910.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121121145638.htm Researchers recently uncovered a nerve cell's internal clock, used during embryonic development. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new tools to repair and regenerate nerve cells following injuries to the central nervous system.Wed, 21 Nov 2012 14:56:56 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121121145638.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121121145621.htm Using a new technique called cryo-electron tomography, scientists have created a three-dimensional map that gives a better understanding of how the architecture of the rod sensory cilium (part of one type of photoreceptor in the eye) is changed by genetic mutation and how that affects its ability to transport proteins as part of the light-sensing process.Wed, 21 Nov 2012 14:56:56 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121121145621.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121121130933.htm Researchers have resolved the structure of that allows a telomere-related protein, Cdc13, to form dimers in yeast. Mutations in this region of Cdc13 put the kibosh on the ability of telomerase and other proteins to maintain telomeres.Wed, 21 Nov 2012 13:09:09 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121121130933.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121121130811.htm Cancer therapies often have short-lived benefits due to the emergence of genetic mutations that cause drug resistance. A key gene that determines resistance to a range of cancer drugs has been reported in a new study. The study reveals a biomarker that can predict responses to cancer drugs and offers a strategy to treat drug-resistant tumors based on their genetic signature.Wed, 21 Nov 2012 13:08:08 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121121130811.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121121130703.htm Two recent studies delve into the role of chromatin modifying enzymes and transcription factors in tumour cells. In one, it was found that the PARP1 enzyme activated by kinase CDK2 is necessary to induce the genes responsible for the proliferation of breast cancer cells in response to progesterone. In another, extensive work has been undertaken to identify those genes activated by the administration of progesterone in breast cancer, the sequences that can be recognized and how these genes are induced.Wed, 21 Nov 2012 13:07:07 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121121130703.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121121130643.htm Previously discarded, human-specific ?junk? DNA represents untapped resource in the study of diseases like Alzheimer?s and autism.Wed, 21 Nov 2012 13:06:06 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121121130643.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121121130633.htm In a new study, researchers describe markers and a model that quantify how aging occurs at the level of genes and molecules, providing not just a more precise way to determine how old someone is, but also perhaps anticipate or treat ailments and diseases that come with the passage of time.Wed, 21 Nov 2012 13:06:06 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121121130633.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121121104552.htm New research has found there are several different ways that kidney tumors can achieve the same result -- namely, grow.Wed, 21 Nov 2012 10:45:45 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121121104552.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121121104416.htm Clumped proteins can be dissolved with the aid of cellular repair systems -- a process of critical importance for cell survival especially under conditions of stress. Researchers have now decrypted the fundamental mechanism for dissolving protein aggregates that involves specific molecular chaperones.Wed, 21 Nov 2012 10:44:44 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121121104416.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121121104401.htm New understanding of molecular changes that convert harmless cells surrounding ovarian cancer cells into cells that promote tumor growth and metastasis provides potential new therapeutic targets for this deadly disease, according to new research.Wed, 21 Nov 2012 10:44:44 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121121104401.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121120194932.htm A new rapid test for tuberculosis (TB) could substantially and cost-effectively reduce TB deaths and improve treatment in southern Africa -- a region where both HIV and tuberculosis are common.Tue, 20 Nov 2012 19:49:49 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121120194932.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121120194926.htm A new study has identified hundreds of small regions of the genome that appear to be uniquely regulated in human neurons. These regulatory differences distinguish us from other primates, including monkeys and apes, and as neurons are at the core of our unique cognitive abilities, these features may ultimately hold the key to our intellectual prowess (and also to our potential vulnerability to a wide range of 'human-specific' diseases from autism to Alzheimer's).Tue, 20 Nov 2012 19:49:49 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121120194926.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121120132906.htm Rather than target RNA viruses directly, aiming at the host cells they invade could hold promise, but any such strategy would have to be harmless to the host. Now, a surprising discovery made in ribosomes may point the way to fighting fatal viral infections such as rabies.Tue, 20 Nov 2012 13:29:29 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121120132906.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121120121835.htm Microbiologists studying bacterial colonization in mice have discovered how the very rapid and efficient spread of antibiotic resistance works in the respiratory pathogen, Streptococcus pneumoniae (also known as the pneumococcus). The team found that resistance stems from the transfer of DNA between bacterial strains in biofilms in the nasopharynx, the area just behind the nose.Tue, 20 Nov 2012 12:18:18 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121120121835.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121120100155.htm Scientists have discovered another molecule that plays an important role in regulating myelin formation in the central nervous system. Myelin promotes the conduction of nerve cell impulses by forming a sheath around their projections, the so-called axons, at specific locations -- acting like the plastic insulation around a power cord.Tue, 20 Nov 2012 10:01:01 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121120100155.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121120084725.htm Researchers have discovered new genetic evidence about why some people are happier than others. The scientists have uncovered evidence that the gene FTO -- the major genetic contributor to obesity -- is associated with an eight per cent reduction in the risk of depression. In other words, it's not just an obesity gene but a "happy gene" as well.Tue, 20 Nov 2012 08:47:47 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121120084725.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121119213144.htm Researchers have found that biological age and life expectancy can be predicted by measuring an individual's DNA. They studied the length of chromosome caps -- known as telomeres -- in a 320-strong wild population of Seychelles Warblers on a small isolated island.Mon, 19 Nov 2012 21:31:31 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121119213144.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121119171403.htm Certain mutated cells keep trying to replicate their DNA -- with disastrous results -- even after medications rob them of the raw materials to do so, according to new research.Mon, 19 Nov 2012 17:14:14 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121119171403.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121119163301.htm DNA sequences obtained from a handful of patients with multiple sclerosis have revealed the existence of an ?immune exchange? that allows the disease-causing cells to move in and out of the brain.Mon, 19 Nov 2012 16:33:33 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121119163301.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121119132056.htm Changes in how DNA interacts with histones ?- the proteins that package DNA ?- regulate many fundamental cell activities from stem cells maturing into a specific body cell type or blood cells becoming leukemic. These interactions are governed by a biochemical tug of war between repressors and activators, which chemically modify histones signaling them to clamp down tighter on DNA or move aside and allow a gene to be expressed.Mon, 19 Nov 2012 13:20:20 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121119132056.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121119114249.htm A new tool for neuroscientists delivers a thousand pinpricks of light to individual neurons in the brain. The new 3-D "light switch", created by biologists and engineers, could one day be used as a neural prosthesis that could treat conditions such as Parkinson's and epilepsy by using gene therapy to turn individual brain cells on and off with light.Mon, 19 Nov 2012 11:42:42 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121119114249.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121119104944.htm A large-scale international study has just discovered a gene for susceptibility to a rare disease providing evidence of the heterogeneous aetiology of Alzheimer's disease.Mon, 19 Nov 2012 10:49:49 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121119104944.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121119093848.htm The cerebral cortex is the most complex structure in our brain and the seat of consciousness, emotion, motor control and language. In order to fulfill these functions, it is composed of a diverse array of nerve cells, called cortical neurons, which are affected by many neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases. Researchers have opened new perspectives on brain development and stem cell neurobiology by discovering a gene called BCL6 as a key factor in the generation of cortical neurons during embryonic brain development.Mon, 19 Nov 2012 09:38:38 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121119093848.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121118141530.htm Scientists have demonstrated that induced pluripotent stem cells -- the embryonic-stem-cell look-alikes whose discovery a few years ago won this year's Nobel Prize in medicine -- are not as genetically unstable as was thought.Sun, 18 Nov 2012 14:15:15 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121118141530.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121118141524.htm The prevailing wisdom has been that every cell in the body contains identical DNA. However, a new study of stem cells derived from the skin has found that genetic variations are widespread in the body's tissues, a finding with profound implications for genetic screening.Sun, 18 Nov 2012 14:15:15 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121118141524.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121118141432.htm Geneticists, pediatricians, surgeons and epidemiologists have identified two areas of the human genome associated with the most common form of non-syndromic craniosynostosis premature closure of the bony plates of the skull.Sun, 18 Nov 2012 14:14:14 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121118141432.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121117184658.htm A new discovery concerning a fundamental understanding about how DNA works will produce a "180-degree change in focus" for researchers who study how gene packaging regulates gene activity, including genes that cause cancer and other diseases.Sat, 17 Nov 2012 18:46:46 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121117184658.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121116161059.htm Adverse side effects of certain hepatitis C medications can now be replicated in the lab, thanks to a research team. The new method aids understanding of recent failures of hepatitis C antiviral drugs in some patients, and could help to identify medications that eliminate adverse effects. The findings may aid the development of safer and more effective treatments for hepatitis C and other pathogens such as SARS and West Nile virus.Fri, 16 Nov 2012 16:10:10 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121116161059.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121116124644.htm Researchers have found that a protein, known for causing cancer cells to spread around the body, is also one of the molecules that trigger repair processes in the brain.Fri, 16 Nov 2012 12:46:46 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121116124644.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121116124551.htm New research shows that a gene is responsible for a person's tendency to be an early riser or night owl -- and helps determine the time of day a person is most likely to die.Fri, 16 Nov 2012 12:45:45 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121116124551.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121116091226.htm Insights from a genetic condition that causes brain cancer are helping scientists better understand the most common type of brain tumor in children.Fri, 16 Nov 2012 09:12:12 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121116091226.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121115210541.htm Researchers have pieced together new genetic clues to the arthritis puzzle in a study that brings potential treatments closer to reality and could also provide insights into why more women than men succumb to the disabling condition.Thu, 15 Nov 2012 21:05:05 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121115210541.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121115172255.htm Passing one's genes on to the next generation is a mark of evolutionary success. So it makes sense that the body would work to ensure that the genes the next generation inherits are exact replicas of the originals. Biologists have now identified one way the body does exactly that.Thu, 15 Nov 2012 17:22:22 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121115172255.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121115152655.htm Researchers report that an efficient, high-volume technique for testing potential drug treatments for Alzheimer's disease uncovered an organic compound that restored motor function and longevity to fruit flies with the disease.Thu, 15 Nov 2012 15:26:26 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121115152655.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121115133414.htm For the past several years, research has focused on the intricate actions of an ancient family of catalytic enzymes that play a key role in translation, the process of producing proteins. In a new study, scientists have shown that this enzyme can actually also work in another fundamental process in humans.Thu, 15 Nov 2012 13:34:34 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121115133414.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121115133312.htm Researchers have discovered that tanshinones, which come from the plant Danshen and are highly valued in Chinese traditional medicine, protect against the life-threatening condition sepsis.Thu, 15 Nov 2012 13:33:33 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121115133312.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121115132903.htm Medical researchers have for the first time described the structure of the active site core of topoisomerase II alpha, an important target for anti-cancer drugs. The type II topoisomerases are important enzymes that are involved in maintaining the structure of DNA and chromosome segregation during both replication and transcription of DNA. One of these enzymes, topoisomerase II alpha, is involved in the replication of DNA and cell proliferation, and is highly expressed in rapidly dividing cancer cells.Thu, 15 Nov 2012 13:29:29 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121115132903.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121115132901.htm Enzyme hunters at UiO have discovered the function of an enzyme that is important in the spreading of cancer. Cancer researchers now hope to inhibit the enzyme.Thu, 15 Nov 2012 13:29:29 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121115132901.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121115132613.htm New research has revealed a genetic link in pregnant moms - and their male partners - to pre-eclampsia, a life-threatening complication during pregnancy.Thu, 15 Nov 2012 13:26:26 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121115132613.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121115132344.htm Thanks to some careful detective work, scientist better understand just how iPS cells form ? and why the Yamanaka process is inefficient, an important step to work out for regenerative medicine. The findings uncover cellular impediments to iPS cell development that, if overcome, could dramatically improve the efficiency and speed of iPS cell generation.Thu, 15 Nov 2012 13:23:23 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121115132344.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121115132342.htm About 10 percent of kids born with kidney defects have large alterations in their genomes known to be linked with neurodevelopmental delay and mental illness, a new study has shown.Thu, 15 Nov 2012 13:23:23 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121115132342.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121114172833.htm Relatively small levels of exposure to alcohol while in the womb can influence a child's IQ, according to a new study using data from over 4,000 mothers and their children.Wed, 14 Nov 2012 17:28:28 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121114172833.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121114171710.htm A gene so powerful it nearly triples the risk of Alzheimer's disease has been discovered by an international team of researchers. It is the most potent genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's identified in the past 20 years.Wed, 14 Nov 2012 17:17:17 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121114171710.htmhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121114171708.htm For the first time, researchers have landed on a potential diagnostic method to identify at least a subset of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome - testing for antibodies linked to latent Epstein-Barr virus reactivation.Wed, 14 Nov 2012 17:17:17 ESThttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121114171708.htm

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/rss/health_medicine/genes.xml

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Factbox: Japan ruling party's policy platform for December poll

(Reuters) - Japan's ruling Democratic Party (DPJ), unveiled its election manifesto on Tuesday, vowing to defend the nation's interests with "cool-headed" and "practical" diplomacy to contrast with the hawkish rhetoric of its main opposition rivals.

Following are key points from the DPJ's campaign platform:

FOREIGN POLICY AND SECURITY

- Promote "cool-headed" and "practical" foreign diplomacy and defense, and deepen an alliance between Japan and the United States.

- Do utmost to protect Japanese territory by expanding and strengthening guarding and surveillance carried out mainly by Japan's Coast Guard.

- Strengthen relationships with countries of the Asia-Pacific region such as China, Korea, ASEAN nations, India, Australia and Russia.

ECONOMY

- Compile a large-scale extra budget at the beginning of 2013 for seamless economic policy to beat deflation and boost the economy.

- Aim to achieve average annual nominal economic growth of about 3 percent and real growth of 2 percent by the fiscal year 2020/21 by focusing on green energy, healthcare and agriculture areas, and speeding up trade partnerships to tap growing overseas markets.

- Continue regulatory and institutional reforms in areas such as energy, healthcare and farming.

- Set up an environment where corporations including small-and-medium-sized firms can develop business by reviewing tax system, regulations and support for locating.

- Do the utmost to beat deflation in cooperation with the Bank of Japan based on the joint statement issued in October 2012. Aim to beat deflation by the fiscal year 2014/15.

- Take decisive steps against excessive yen's strength and rapid currency moves reflecting the view sharp yen rises are harmful to the economy.

- Speed up reconstruction in the areas hit by the 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis by strengthening the reconstruction agency, special economic zones and through subsidies.

- Allocate all the revenue from sales tax increases to financing of the social security while adopting measures to ease the burden imposed on low-income earners.

- Halve Japan's primary budget deficits by the fiscal 2015/16 and achieve primary a budget surplus by fiscal 2020/21.

SPENDING CUTS AND SAVINGS

- Introduce a law that will require ministries and government agencies to carry out annual reviews of public projects with the view of cutting wasteful spending.

- Reduce the number of parliamentary seats by cutting 75 of 480 lower house seats and 40 in the 242-member upper house during the next ordinary parliamentary session.

TRADE

- Pursue the U.S.-led free trade pact, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), in parallel with free trade among Japan, Korea and China, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

- In doing so, protect Japan's agriculture, food safety and universal health-care system based on a premise to protect national interests.

ENERGY POLICY

- Employ all the policy resources available to make it possible to put an end to nuclear power generation by the 2030s.

- Deregulate the utility sector including possibly "unbundling" regional utilities' control of power generation and transmission of electricity.

- Compile a plan within 2012 to secure safe decommissioning of nuclear reactors damaged by the natural disaster and thorough safety checks of nuclear reactors which Japan restarted after the disaster.

(Reporting by Kaori Kaneko; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/factbox-japan-ruling-partys-policy-platform-december-poll-090444078--business.html

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Tory senator surprised to be mentioned at Quebec construction ...

OTTAWA ? Conservative Sen. Leo Housakos said he was surprised to hear his name mentioned at a commission of inquiry into Quebec?s construction industry Wednesday, and questioned the accuracy of the emerging evidence.

In an interview with Postmedia News, Housakos confirmed that he frequented an exclusive Montreal club to do networking, while noting that he had no business dealings with any of the representatives from the construction industry or municipal politics who are now under scrutiny by the commission over allegations of corruption and bid-rigging.

Housakos said he joined the venue, Club 357c, as a marketing consultant?in 2007 and 2008, following an invitation from Montreal-area businessman Paolo Catania.

?I just don?t see the issue (with me) at the commission,? Housakos said. ?I have never been in any shape, way or form in any business activity with these guys, directly or indirectly.?

Housakos, who gave up his membership at the prestigious club in Old Montreal before Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced his appointment to the Senate in December 2008, said he was prepared to answer questions at the commission, headed by Quebec Justice France Charbonneau.

?At the end of the day, I support the commission?s work 100-per-cent, and I just want to put on the record (that) at no such time has the commission called me or questioned me in regards to anything,? Housakos said. ?This is the first time I have gotten wind of my name at this commission and it would have been, I think, appropriate that they would take the time to inform people and question people on issues before they go forward.?

Housakos confirmed that he had crossed paths over the years with businessmen such as Catania and Joe Borsellino, as well as Bernard Trepanier, a fundraiser for municipal political party Union Montreal.

Catania and Trepanier are among a group of people facing charges in connection with an alleged bid-rigging scheme over a city of Montreal construction contract.

Housakos could not recall details of all of the meetings he had at the exclusive venue, but said he was checking his records to review what happened.

?We?re talking about events that happened five years ago, so my recollection is not as clear as it should be,? Housakos said.

But Housakos suggested some of the records presented as evidence Wednesday about his events at Club 357c were mistaken.

For example, he said a June 2007 event he hosted on behalf of the provincial Action democratique du Quebec party was not a fundraising event, as it was described at the commission, but rather a networking event to meet with the business community. He also denied evidence suggesting that Borsellino, from Garnier Construction, had attended the event.

?So that to me is false. It?s erroneous,? Housakos said. ?I don?t know if he was at the club while I was at that event, but at no such time did I ever come across Joe Borsellino in 2007 and I have no reason to believe that Mr. Borsellino would have been present at any of my meetings or events.?

Housakos, who was appointed by the government to the board of Via Rail before his Senate appointment in December 2008, also worked as an executive at a prominent engineering firm, BPR, in 2008 and was a major fundraiser for the ADQ.

He said he had met Catania several years earlier at a public event and was later invited to join the club.

?Paolo Catania was the gentleman who introduced me to the club, years back. He was an active member in the club,? Housakos said. ?We could have, on a couple of occasions, had lunch, that would be for sure. It?s possible.?

Housakos also noted that no one received any favours or preferential treatment from the federal government.

?I haven?t seen any accusations ? that?s the problem I face with this,? he said. ?I know in the House of Commons, they?re going to take liberties again, under the curtain of parliamentary immunity, and it?s unfortunate, but you can?t defend yourself against no allegations, and all I?ve seen so far are some breakfasts and lunches at a club that I was a member of with individuals who since then seem to have had some difficulty with the law, in some cases, obviously not in all of their cases. So what more can I say??

Opposition MPs asked the Harper government to explain Wednesday whether it knew what was going on in the private meetings at the club.

Harper dismissed the issue as ?hearsay,? without mentioning Housakos by name.

?I have no information of any credible allegation against this particular individual,? Harper said.

? With files from Christopher Curtis, Postmedia News

Source: http://o.canada.com/2012/11/28/tory-senator-surprised-his-name-mentioned-at-inquiry-into-quebec-construction-industry/

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DOT fines Travelzoo over code-share disclosures

21 hrs.

The U.S. Department of Transportation is fining online travel company Travelzoo Inc. $50,000 for failing to properly disclose to consumers that they were selling flights operated by airlines using code-sharing arrangements.

Under code-sharing arrangements, an airline will sell tickets on flights that use its own designator code but are actually operated by a separate airline. Federal rules require airlines and ticket agents to disclose to consumers, before they book a flight, if the flight is operated under a code-sharing arrangement.

"Passengers deserve to know which airline will be operating their flight before they purchase their tickets," U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement.

The federal department also ordered Travelzoo to cease and desist from future violations

A representative for Travelzoo was not immediately available to comment.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/travel/travelkit/travelzoo-fined-50-000-failure-disclose-code-share-arrangements-1C7263394

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What Stocks Albert Einstein Would Invest in Today - The Market Oracle

Peak Price Not 'Peak Oil', Free 26 Page Report

Companies / Investing 2012 Nov 27, 2012 - 03:33 AM

By: Investment_U

Companies

Alexander Green writes: Albert Einstein wasn?t famous as an investor. He was a genius who revolutionized theoretical physics. But if he were alive today, it?s pretty clear what he would be doing with his money. And you should be doing it, too.

Let me explain?

It?s a truism that when times are good, investors tend to forget about risk and focus on opportunity. When times are bad, investors tend to forget about opportunity and focus on risk.

This is exactly the opposite of what they should be doing, of course.

But today you have a great opportunity to both limit risk and generate superb returns in your stock portfolio with ? stifle that yawn ? stodgy, old dividend-paying stocks. These investments aren?t nearly as boring as you may think. And in the decade ahead, their returns are likely to be outstanding.

The Basics of Dividend-Paying Stocks

Let?s start with the basics. Dividend yields are a company?s annualized payment divided by its share price. When share prices fall ? as many have over the last month ? yields rise.

It still astonishes me that investors are willing to lend money to the U.S. Treasury for the next 10 years at less than 2%. What a terrible bet, one that virtually guarantees a negative, real (i.e. after inflation) return over the next decade.

A far better bet is a diversified portfolio of dividend-paying stocks. Understand that, over the long run, stock market performance is tied to economic growth. And ? news flash ? the growth outlook in the developed world today isn?t exactly torrid.

Understand furthermore that over the eight decades through 2010, dividends contributed 44% of the stock market?s return, according to Fidelity Investments. Sometimes it was much more. During the 1970s, for example, dividends generated 71% of returns.

Dividend stocks today represent an unusual opportunity. U.S. corporations are sitting on $2 trillion in cash, a record amount. More S&P 500 companies have initiated or raised dividends this year through August than during the same period in any of the last seven years. And there?s plenty of room for more increases. Payments are less than one third of profits, a historic low.

If you?re a growth-oriented investor, you probably don?t think much about dividends. You?re interested in doubling or tripling your money. And with a bit of patience, you can.

The Historical Returns of Dividend-Paying Stocks

Analysts often talk about the lost decade, how stocks have essentially returned nothing since the market highs in the spring of 2000. But the story has been very different with dividend-paying stocks.

Over the past decade ? with dividends reinvested:

  • Oil producer Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX) has returned 200%.
  • Altria Group (NYSE: MO), the U.S. tobacco giant, has returned more than 300%.
  • Even musty old Con Edison (NYSE: ED) ? a utility that was born 23 years before Thomas Edison ? has returned 130% over the period.

Today there are plenty of blue-chip stocks with decent (and growing) dividends attached. Consider Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG), Exxon Mobil (NYSE: XOM), AT&T (NYSE: T), Merck (NYSE: MRK), or Verizon (NYSE: VZ).

Or, for a more-diversified approach, plunk for a few shares of PowerShares Dividend Achievers Portfolio (NYSE: PFM), the Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (NYSE: VYM), or the WisdomTree Total Dividend Fund (NYSE: DTD).

Dividend stocks alone won?t generate a mouth-watering return. But dividends will rise over time ? and surprising things happen when you reinvest them. Picture a snowball rolling downhill.

Albert Einstein understood this. As he observed, money compounding ?is the most powerful force in the universe.?

Good Investing,

Alex

Source : http://www.investmentu.com/2012/November/what-albert-einstein-would-invest-in-today.html

by Alexander Green , Oxford Club Investment Director Chairman, Investment

http://www.investmentu.com

Copyright ? 1999 - 2012 by The Oxford Club, L.L.C All Rights Reserved. Protected by copyright laws of the United States and international treaties. Any reproduction, copying, or redistribution (electronic or otherwise, including on the world wide web), of content from this website, in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited without the express written permission of Investment U, Attn: Member Services , 105 West Monument Street, Baltimore, MD 21201 Email: CustomerService@InvestmentU.com

Disclaimer: Investment U Disclaimer: Nothing published by Investment U should be considered personalized investment advice. Although our employees may answer your general customer service questions, they are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular investment situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed as personalized investment advice. We expressly forbid our writers from having a financial interest in any security recommended to our readers. All of our employees and agents must wait 24 hours after on-line publication or 72 hours after the mailing of printed-only publication prior to following an initial recommendation. Any investments recommended by Investment U should be made only after consulting with your investment advisor and only after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

? 2005-2012 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.

Source: http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article37737.html

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The Daily Roundup for 11.24.2012

DNP The Daily RoundUp

You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.

Continue reading The Daily Roundup for 11.24.2012

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/11/24/the-daily-roundup-for-11-24-2012/

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