Brand new island rises from Red Sea depths

Andrew Purcell, online producer

(Image: NASA/Earth Observatory)

Throw away that shiny new atlas you got for Christmas - it's already out of date.

Volcanic activity in the Red Sea is causing the formation of a new island in the Zubair archipelago as lava is cooled by the surrounding seawater and solidifies. The underwater volcano responsible is located on the Red Sea Rift, where the African and Arabian tectonic plates are slowly pulling apart.

Yemeni fishermen first spotted lava spewing 30 metres into the air on 19 December and this was later confirmed by satellite observations. Ash plumes were detected by NASA's Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer aboard its Terra and Aqua satellites and NASA's Advanced Land Imager aboard its Earth Observing One satellite, which produced this image. Elevated levels of sulphur dioxide in the region were also recorded by the Ozone Monitoring Instrument aboard NASA's Aura satellite.

By 23 December, the lava mass had broken the water's surface and the new island had begun to take shape. The island is currently around 500m wide and is still growing. The question now is whether or not it has staying power. It may continue to grow significantly as volcanic activity continues, or the fragile lava mass may be broken up by the action of the sea's waves.

Whatever the outcome, volcanic activity in the Red Sea region appears to be on the rise. This is the first time the volcano has erupted in over a century and follows recent eruptions in the Afar Triangle in Eritrea and Ethiopia and the volcanic fields of southern Yemen and Saudi Arabia. In 2007, the nearby Jabal al-Tair volcanic island also erupted for the first time in over a century, killing 8 people.

Read more: "Newest Canary Island pictured rising from the deep"

Source: http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10897/s/1b5e116b/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Cblogs0Cshortsharpscience0C20A110C120Cred0Esea0Eisland0Erises0Efrom0Ethe0Bhtml0DDCMP0FOTC0Erss0Gnsref0Fonline0Enews/story01.htm

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SOPA: Who's in and who's out?

By now we're sure you're aware that SOPA is more than just a tomato-based noodle soup. The Stop Online Piracy Act's been stirring controversy with its intentions, and it'll most likely continue in this path until we hear a final decision. Go Daddy wasn't shy -- before retracting -- about its support for the bill, and things have changed drastically since we first heard some of the "top dogs" express their feelings. But who else is behind it, who's got your back, and who's had a change of heart? The answers await you after the break.

Continue reading SOPA: Who's in and who's out?

SOPA: Who's in and who's out? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 31 Dec 2011 13:43:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/31/sopa-whos-in-and-whos-out/

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Debt Relief In America ? How To Use A Legal Settlement Process to Get Out Of Debt

Over the years thousands of us have had to deal with debt in some way or another. For some of us it can get to the point where the debts you currently have, outweigh the income you have coming in. This is called being insolvent.

For years people have been seeking solutions and debt relief options that would help them get themselves out from under the weight of their debt and back onto a track of financial freedom and responsibility.

For many years Bankruptcy was the fix all for debt. People would rack up large amounts of debt then file for a chapter 7 bankruptcy and have those debt wiped away, only to start the process up again. The banks lobbied and finally got stricter regulations in place to prevent this from happening. In 2005 the bankruptcy abuse act was passes making it very difficult for people to qualify for a chapter 7 bankruptcy but instead pushed people into a chapter 13 bankruptcy whereby people are forced into a repayment program, sometimes for 100% of the debt that they owe.

Next came the era of Consumer Credit Counseling as a debt relief program. These agencies popped up everywhere offering assistance to people looking to deal with mounting credit card debt. The process was simple because in many cases the credit card companies themselves either owned or had back room deals with the agencies who were ?supposedly? working for you. As a result the programs came under scrutiny and the FTC passed guidelines that prohibited the way they could operate. The typical person who is looking for debt relief, is looking to lower their monthly expenses but with CCC you typically pay the same as your paying right now which does not help the person who cannot afford their monthly payments as it is.

This not being an option for most people, individuals turned to debt consolidation loans whereby they attempted to lower their payments by bundling all of their debt into one loan with a low interest rate. In many cases people had too much debt or too low of a credit score to qualify for another unsecure loan, so the banks wanted a security. In many cases this took the form of a Home Equity loan, or a remortgage. Most of us today are still feeling the repercussions from this. People were bundling all of their unsecure debt into secure loans and then realizing not too long after that they no longer could afford those payments, or they got themselves mixed up with a balloon loan or a variable APR loan. Now these people run the risk of not falling behind on their credit card debt, but losing their homes.

People then began to turn to an age old practice of debt relief called debt settlement. This is a process that a person attempts to negotiate with the credit card companies and agrees on a lower payoff to settle out the debt. Since this process is both time consuming and required a lot of experience in the art of negotiations, often times requiring long standing relationships with the creditors, people turned to companies who specialize in this process. A company that does this for the consumer is known as a debt settlement company.

What happed next was that many people from the failing mortgage and real-estate industry, seeing the amount of people turning to debt settlement, decided to jump on the bandwagon in the hopes to make a quick buck. This created a boom in the amount of debt settlement companies out there. What is also did was cause a number of scam companies to pop up, offering what looked like legitimate debt settlement but in actuality were scamming the people out of their hard earned money. Many of these debt settlement companies were charging the majority of their fees up front before any settlements or in many cases before any services were provided at all.

Seeing the amount of people that had horror stories of dealing with a debt settlement company that took them for a ride, the FTC decided to pass debt settlement laws on how a debt settlement company can operate and charge its fees. First of all, if a company is charging its fees before a settlement had been reached, they do not have the client?s best interest in mind. It also shows that they do not have confidence in their own abilities.

No company should be charging you a penny until they reach a settlement. This ensures you that you know what you are paying for, and gives them the motivation to work hard on your behalf to save you the most they can. Any debt settlement company that is charging upfront fees are not only no doing you any justice, but may not be in compliance with the FTC guidelines.

If your looking for debt relief and are considering going with a debt settlement company, make sure you are choosing one where you don?t pay anything until you settle!

For more information on credit card debt help and to go over all of your options, click the link and speak to a debt analyst who can review your case and let you know which options might be best in your situation.

Source: http://www.resolveyourdebtonline.com/?p=8373

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Syria: Protesters clash with troops during Arab League's stay

Thousands of Syrian protesters took to the streets to prove to Arab League monitors the extent of their opposition to President Bashar al-Assad, the Los Angeles Times reported.

An estimated 500,000 people took to the streets in Syria Friday, in the largest demonstrations since the summer, the Guardian reported. The presence of Arab League monitors only energized the crowds. However, the monitors were unable to prevent or stop the violence.

Read more from GlobalPost: Syria closer to signing Arab peace plan

Syrian troops opened fired on the protesters, killing at least 12 people. Five members of the security forces were also killed in Homs, Reuters reported. The Guardian reported that at least 31 people were killed nationwide, in areas the Arab League has yet to visit.

Despite the killings, some activists said the presence of the Arab League brought on such intense international scrutiny that troops backed off from protesters in some areas, the Financial Times reported.

?We were able to move a bit more freely,? said Maria Haddad, an activist in the besieged city told the FT via Skype. ? Assad has [had] to withdraw some of the armed forces and tanks which enabled people to gather for the sit-in. But we are living a minute by minute [in] fear that they might go in and conduct another massacre.?

Read more from GlobalPost: Syria to allow in Arab League observers: reports

Fridays continue to be a major day of protest in Syria, after midday prayers. An announcement by the Free Syrian Army said it had suspended attacks against security forces for the duration of the league?s mission, the LA Times reported.

?The order to stop any military operations was issued since the arrival of the observers,? said the group?s spokesman, Maj. Maher Nuaimi, the LA Times reported. ?We want to show the world that these are peaceful demonstrations, that [President Bashar] Assad is a criminal, and that his army is using live ammunition against unarmed civilians.?

Read more from GlobalPost: Syria bans iPhones due to protest footage online: Reports (VIDEO)
?

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/111230/syria-protesters-clash-troops-during-arab-leagues-stay

Source: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/middle-east/111230/syria-protesters-clash-troops-during-arab-leagues-stay

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China speeds up QFII approvals amid signs of capital outflow (Reuters)

SHANGHAI (Reuters) ? China has since October granted nearly $1 billion in quotas for foreign institutions to invest in the country's capital markets following a five-month hiatus, reflecting Beijing's desire to encourage inbound investment amid signs of a capital outflow.

Combined quotas granted under the Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (QFII) scheme in 2011 totaled $1.92 billion, the lowest since 2007, partly due to an approval freeze between May and October, according to official data released on Thursday.

Some analysts attributed the temporary suspension to the government's intention to ease pressure on the yuan to appreciate, but the tide changed abruptly in October as market jitters about the global economy prompted some investors to withdraw, weakening the yuan against the dollar in the onshore market.

"Typically when the yuan faces pressure to appreciate, regulators slow or suspend quota approvals," said Howhow Zhang, head of research at Shanghai-based consultancy Z-Ben Advisors. "I think now, because there is a capital outflow, approvals are being accelerated."

In December alone, five foreign institutions including Italian insurer Assicurazioni Generali SpA (GASI.MI) and Spanish bank BBVA SA (BBVA.MC) obtained combined QFII quotas of $500 million, according to the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE). That compares with $250 million granted in November and $200 million in October.

Zhang said the data reflected the regulator's desire to accelerate QFII approvals.

Newly-appointed China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) Chairman Guo Shuqing said earlier this month that the watchdog would speed up approvals under the QFII scheme.

Under the system for allowing controlled inflows of capital for financial investment, the CSRC grants licenses to qualified institutions but foreign exchange regulator SAFE grants the quotas.

A sister scheme for allowing fund outflows, the Qualified Domestic Institutional Investor (QDII) program, has grown much more rapidly in recent years.

QDII quotas had risen to $74.95 billion as of December 21, up from $68.36 billion at the end of 2010. However, new quotas of about $820 million in the last three months of the year were much smaller than in the first three quarters.

In another sign that Beijing is encouraging inbound investment, China recently published rules allowing the Hong Kong subsidiaries of Chinese brokerages and fund houses to raise offshore yuan to invest domestically, under the Renminbi Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor, or RQFII, program.

The name refers to the fact that such investments are denominated in renminbi.

China launched the QFII scheme in 2003 to allow qualified foreign institutions to buy mainland stocks and bonds, and has so far granted total combined quotas of $21.6 billion.

(Editing by Chris Lewis)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/business/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111229/bs_nm/us_china_qfii

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Wintertime is great for observing Florida 'snowbirds'

We have two sorts of "snowbirds" on Florida beaches - human and avian.

Many come long distances to enjoy the mild oceanic weather of the low latitudes during winter. Some of the birds breed in northern Canada so the contrast between their summer and winter habitats is considerable.

It is fascinating to compare the different modes of feeding employed by various shorebirds. It can also be difficult for the uninitiated to distinguish among the species, some of which are confusingly similar. I recommend learning a few of the more common types of gulls, terns, egrets/herons, plovers and sandpipers to enhance your knowledge of beach ecology.

One of the most treasured birds is the common loon, which is not strictly speaking a beach bird, but it will feed just adjacent to the beach. This loon was swimming a few feet off the beach at Don Pedro Island, allowing it to trap small fish up against the sand.

Loons breed in northern freshwater lakes and have a marvelous call that has been used in movie sound tracks (notably "On Golden Pond") for years as a call of the wild. It is a special treat to see them in their winter saltwater habitat although their non-breeding plumage is drab compared with their summer finery. You will notice most of the birds are quite inconspicuous in winter to better blend in with the surroundings.

On the beach, especially in muddy areas, you will often see the dunlin, a mid-sized sandpiper with a long down-turned bill. It goes around probing the sediment for small invertebrates.

In comparison the red knot is slightly larger and has a shorter straight bill, which is used to pick food off the surface.

These two birds breed in the Arctic and illustrate how body size and bill length define the life styles of shorebirds. Red knots are famous for staging with millions of other shorebirds in Delaware Bay to fatten up on the eggs of horseshoe crabs before they fly north.

The plovers are a an interesting group of small- to medium-sized birds with short bills and a distinctive upright profile that picks up food from the surface. The largest is the black-bellied plover (only black in summer), which breeds in the Arctic north of Hudson Bay.

Two smaller plovers, the snowy and Wilson's, breed in Florida, including right here on Gasparilla Island.

Some of our wintering snowy plovers have been banded and found to breed on beaches in the Florida Panhandle. Many Wilson's plovers breed in our area. It is intriguing that the Wilson's has a larger bill than the snowy, apparently the better to catch and eat small ghost crabs.

One should not neglect to look overhead to observe birds such as gulls, terns and some exciting tropical visitors such as the magnificent frigate bird soaring overhead. Frigate birds are the ultimate flying machine with the longest wings relative to body mass of any bird.

They are parasites on other fish-eating birds and virtually never land on the surface. They breed in the Caribbean and the males have a bizarre red pouch under the throat, which is inflated and used to attract females.

To illustrate the amazing design of the frigate bird, I took a photo in the Yucatan of a rarely seen perched adult female. This illustrates the huge wings and giant hooked beak, which is used to pick up food from the surface without landing, or to attack other birds to steal their food.

The next time you go to the beach, look around to see what birds are there and you will begin to learn the major categories and species. It will enrich your experience to know a bit more about beach ecology and allow you to compare beaches at different times and observe changes. There is so much more to beaches than just sun, sand and waves.

Source: http://www.bocagrandetalk.com/page/content.detail/id/516375.html

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London Riots: Defining Images of 2011

Some of the most powerful images of England in 2011 are of looters running from burning buildings as the August riots turned parts of London into a war zone.

Following the police shooting of suspected drug-dealer Mark Duggan, a peaceful protest march in Tottenham dissolved into a violent running battle with police.

Tottenham in north London lit the fuse for severe outbreaks of violence and disorder in Croydon, Brixton, Enfield, Clapham and Wood Green over four days. Rioting spread to Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester and other conurbations.

When the dust settled, more than 100 homes had been destroyed along with dozens of businessess, adding up to around ?200 million in damaged property.

A series of police operations followed, with more than 3,000 people arrested and more than 1,000 charged with offences related to the disorder.

The press and public response following the unrest was divided, with many calling for harsher sentences for offenders along with calls for the police to be given more freedom to use force to control crowds.

Others claimed that the scale of the unrest pointed to a decline in relations between police and youth coupled with social exclusion, leading to deep-seated frustration that eventually erupted in violence.

Tottenham MP David Lammy, whose constituency was the trigger-point for some of the worst rioting in a generation, has warned that the social problems highlighted by the riots show no signs of improving. There are fears of fresh outbreaks in 2012.

"We need politicians of all political parties to attend to these issues or it could happen again," he told The Independent.?

"What we saw was not just a battle against the police: it was a battle within and across community,"

Source: http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/273932/20111229/london-riots-defining-images-2011.htm

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Meredith Bagby: America Gets "D" on 2011 Report Card

As the year ends, students at Harvard University release a 2011 "report card" on America. The result -- you can probably guess -- is just short of harrowing.

Published by the Harvard Political Review, the premier undergraduate political rag on campus, and the American Education Foundation, "The Annual Report of the USA 2011" is a 70-plus-page tome, which analyzes the real state of the U.S. economy over the course of the past year. Written by Democrats and Republicans alike, the report seeks to be nonpartisan, clear, and most of all, understandable to an average citizen.

So how does America score this year? The U.S. gets a "D." Yikes. Now that's a report card I'd flush down the toilet before my mother saw. The reason for the low score includes the downgrade of American credit in August, a sluggish economy, the intractable U.S. debt problem and -- most of all -- the incessant political bickering which ensured that none of these problems were adequately addressed. While the grade "may seem harsh" -- especially given the economic crisis many European countries face -- they didn't "grade on a curve." A first for Harvard students.

Co-editors Rachel Wagley & Noah Rayman write:

This year, Americans watched as the national debt rose to over $15 trillion, nearly matching the GDP. A tumultuous Congress passed the Budget Control Act of 2011 to raise the debt ceiling on the condition that the federal government decreases future spending. Despite the last-minute compromise, Standard & Poor's downgraded the US credit ranking from an AAA to an AA+ immediately afterward, insinuating that the US is no longer the world's safest borrower. After three years of recession, the US failed to reign in federal spending and agree on a sustainable budget. This skyrocketing spending partially stemmed from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The Recovery Act sought to allay unemployment during the recession with over $787 billion in stimulus funding. But this is only a small factor in the deficit equation. The 2010 budget allocated over $820 billion to healthcare, $847 billion to defense, nearly $750 billion to pensions, and $502 billion to welfare. Entitlement spending, such as Social Security and Medicare increase annually as rising medical costs and an aging population demand more from the system.

The Annual Report is contextually important as fight after fight ensues in Washington about how to rein in our debt and political contenders for 2012 offer solutions. The first step for taxpayers -- and voters -- however is to understand the complicated issues at hand. As taxpayers, we are all truly shareholders of the U.S. government. But while corporate stockholders receive annual reports at the end of the year to track their investments, we American citizens are kept in the dark. The Annual Report is flipping the light switch on.

As a publisher of the Annual Report through the American Education Foundation, what I find most harrowing is that Americans seem to have lost faith in their government to deal with any of these problems. Wagley and Raymon write, "Even before the Budget Wars, the American people harbored serious concerns about their legislators' ability to enact sustainable solutions. The Bank Bailout, though it has largely paid for itself, incited anger against hasty government action on behalf of Wall Street. The Bailout failed to halt the foreclosure crisis, stymie rocketing unemployment, or increase lending. As evidenced by the Occupy Wall Street movement, many Americans believe that the government is beholden to Wall Street and special interests. Meanwhile, President Obama's newly proposed American Jobs Act of 2011 attempts to relive the Recovery Act, which failed to stem unemployment and jumpstart the economy."

2011 is nearly over. It's likely that most Americans will agree with Harvard's report card: it wasn't one of our bests. The question remains whether we can make 2012 and beyond better. As the year ends and the excitement of a new year builds, here is hoping that we force our politicians to present us with real economic solutions during -- and vote accordingly. While an "A" is a long way off, most of us might settle for a B next year.

To Download the Annual Report of the USA click here.

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Follow Meredith Bagby on Twitter: www.twitter.com/bagbyreports

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/meredith-bagby/harvard-gives-america-a-d_b_1173254.html

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Paul's surge may prompt a new look from GOP voters (The Arizona Republic)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories News, News Feeds and News via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/179960951?client_source=feed&format=rss

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The Most Popular Dear Prudence Videos of 2011

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Source: http://feeds.slate.com/click.phdo?i=052fa95a1120667c5e9fecea71b39706

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Apple Posts iTunes Match Walkthrough [Video]

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Source: www.iclarified.com --- Monday, December 26, 2011
Apple has launched a new webpage for iTunes Match which features a video walkthrough of the service. ...

Source: http://www.iclarified.com/entry/index.php?enid=18982

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Source: http://web.stagram.com/p/477421655_9380690

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Girls basketball: Sarah Pastuschyn returns to coach at Memphis

Sarah Pastuschyn is at home on the basketball court.

The new Memphis High School girls basketball coach was a star point guard in high school and college before coaching the Memphis junior varsity team from 2003-07.

Now in her second stint at Memphis, Pastuschyn hopes to help turn around the program.

"I'm different now," Pastuschyn said regarding her coaching style. "I learned from my experience with the JV team. It takes a while to get that coaching sense. It's a difficult transition going from playing to coaching."

After picking up the much needed experience, Pastuschyn knew exactly what type of team she wanted to have when she took the varsity job.

"I'd like to have the type of team that has a quick-hitting offensive philosophy," Pastuschyn said. "Where they score and we score twice. But we have to work with the basic skills we have.

"Between the JV and varsity, half of the squad is in their first year ever playing or their first year back. I don't know why they decided to come out, but I'm glad they did. We have some young girls to work with."

Pastuschyn is originally from Arnold, a city in the Upper Peninsula. After graduating from Gwinn High School, she went on to play for Division II Lakeland College in Wisconsin, before joining Memphis as its girls junior varsity basketball coach in 2003.

After four years at the helm, Pastuschyn stepped down to raise her family. But two children later, she was itching to get back onto the court.

She returns with the program far different than it was before. Instead of having several experienced players, Kristie Gaedcke is the lone senior in the program.

As one of the leaders of the team, Gaedcke said she has been happy with the development of the team under Pastuschyn.

"Things are going good," Gaedcke said. "She is keeping our conditioning up and pushing us a lot harder than previous coaches. It's a good change.

"She has us going on a good road. If she keeps pushing us, we will do a lot better toward the end of the season."

But first, the Yellowjackets will have to learn the basics.

"We have been teaching the basics such as triple-threat (position), ball screens and so forth," Pastuschyn said.

"We try to implement more in practice. Every drill we run through, we do it fast. We don't stand still in practice unless we are doing half-court offense or defense."

The Yellowjackets (2-5) are currently 2-3 in North Central Thumb League play and will return to action Jan. 3 at Dryden.

Source: http://www.thetimesherald.com/article/20111228/SPORTS/112280313/1006/RSS02

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Analysis does not support genetic test before use of anti-clotting drug

Public release date: 27-Dec-2011
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Michael V. Holmes, M.B.B.S., M.Sc.
mvholmes@gmail.com
JAMA and Archives Journals

CHICAGO Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended that a certain type of genetic testing (for the genotype CYP2C19) be considered before prescribing the drug clopidogrel to identify individuals who may be less responsive to the medication, a review and analysis of previous studies did not find an overall significant association between the CYP2C19 genotype and cardiovascular events, according to a study in the December 28 issue of JAMA.

Clopidogrel is an antiplatelet drug used by approximately 40 million patients worldwide to treat or prevent atherothrombotic (blood clot from thickening of inner lining of arteries) events and after percutaneous coronary revascularization (such as balloon angioplasty). "Despite the overall benefit, some individuals may be less responsive to clopidogrel than others because clopidogrel is a prodrug activated by several enzymes, including CYP2C19, and common genetic variation in CYP2C19 alters enzyme activity," according to background information in the article. The American Heart Association and American College of Cardiologists have argued evidence is insufficient to support CYP2C19 genotype testing.

Michael V. Holmes, M.B.B.S., M.Sc., of University College London, and colleagues conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the strength and quality of evidence on the association of CYP2C19 genotype with responsiveness to clopidogrel. The researchers conducted a search of the medical literature and identified 32 studies that met criteria for inclusion. These included studies that reported clopidogrel metabolism, platelet reactivity or clinically relevant outcomes (cardiovascular disease [CVD] events and bleeding), and information on CYP2C19 genotype.

The 32 studies included 42,016 patients reporting 3,545 CVD events, 579 stent thromboses, and 1,413 bleeding events. Six studies were randomized trials ("effect-modification" design) and the remaining 26 reported individuals exposed to clopidogrel ("treatment-only" design). In treatment-only analysis, individuals with 1 or more CYP2C19 alleles (an alternative form of a gene) associated with lower enzyme activity had lower levels of active clopidogrel metabolites, less platelet inhibition, lower risk of bleeding, and higher risk of CVD events. However, there was evidence of small-study bias, the authors write. When analyses were restricted to studies with 200 or more events, the point estimate was lessened.

In effect-modification studies, CYP2C19 genotype was not associated with modification of the effect of clopidogrel on CVD end points or bleeding. A limitation included selective outcome reporting.

"Despite associations between CYP2C19 genotype, clopidogrel metabolism, and platelet aggregation, this systematic review and meta-analysis does not demonstrate a clinically important association of genotype with cardiovascular outcomes with the possible exception of stent thrombosis," the researchers write.

"Our appraisal has identified issues pertaining to the design and analysis of pharmacogenetic studies that are important in the understanding of the significance of the CYP2C19 genotype."

(JAMA. 2011;306[24]:2704-2714. Available pre-embargo to the media at www.jamamedia.org)

Editor's Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, financial disclosures, funding and support, etc.

Editorial: Pharmacogenomics and Clopidogrel - Irrational Exuberance?

Steven E. Nissen, M.D., of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, writes in an accompanying editorial that several factors led to the unrealistic expectations of the effectiveness of CYP2C19 genotyping for clopidogrel, and that a large randomized controlled trial is needed to adequately test the clopidogrel pharmacogenomic hypothesis.

"In the absence of such a study, physicians should use CYP2C19 or platelet reactivity testing rarely, if ever, and interpret the results with caution. It is still likely that pharmacogenomics has a bright future in cardiovascular medicine, but the pharmacogenomics approach to drug therapy must undergo the same rigorous testing for efficacy and cost-effectiveness that is required for other therapies. Overzealous adoption based on limited biochemical data does not serve the public interest."

(JAMA. 2011;306[24]:2727-2728. Available pre-embargo to the media at www.jamamedia.org)

Editor's Note: Please see the article for additional information, including financial disclosures, funding and support, etc.

To contact Michael V. Holmes, M.B.B.S., M.Sc., email mvholmes@gmail.com. To contact editorial author Steven E. Nissen, M.D., call Brian Kolonick at 216-225-5614 or email Kolonib@ccf.org.

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

Public release date: 27-Dec-2011
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Michael V. Holmes, M.B.B.S., M.Sc.
mvholmes@gmail.com
JAMA and Archives Journals

CHICAGO Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recommended that a certain type of genetic testing (for the genotype CYP2C19) be considered before prescribing the drug clopidogrel to identify individuals who may be less responsive to the medication, a review and analysis of previous studies did not find an overall significant association between the CYP2C19 genotype and cardiovascular events, according to a study in the December 28 issue of JAMA.

Clopidogrel is an antiplatelet drug used by approximately 40 million patients worldwide to treat or prevent atherothrombotic (blood clot from thickening of inner lining of arteries) events and after percutaneous coronary revascularization (such as balloon angioplasty). "Despite the overall benefit, some individuals may be less responsive to clopidogrel than others because clopidogrel is a prodrug activated by several enzymes, including CYP2C19, and common genetic variation in CYP2C19 alters enzyme activity," according to background information in the article. The American Heart Association and American College of Cardiologists have argued evidence is insufficient to support CYP2C19 genotype testing.

Michael V. Holmes, M.B.B.S., M.Sc., of University College London, and colleagues conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the strength and quality of evidence on the association of CYP2C19 genotype with responsiveness to clopidogrel. The researchers conducted a search of the medical literature and identified 32 studies that met criteria for inclusion. These included studies that reported clopidogrel metabolism, platelet reactivity or clinically relevant outcomes (cardiovascular disease [CVD] events and bleeding), and information on CYP2C19 genotype.

The 32 studies included 42,016 patients reporting 3,545 CVD events, 579 stent thromboses, and 1,413 bleeding events. Six studies were randomized trials ("effect-modification" design) and the remaining 26 reported individuals exposed to clopidogrel ("treatment-only" design). In treatment-only analysis, individuals with 1 or more CYP2C19 alleles (an alternative form of a gene) associated with lower enzyme activity had lower levels of active clopidogrel metabolites, less platelet inhibition, lower risk of bleeding, and higher risk of CVD events. However, there was evidence of small-study bias, the authors write. When analyses were restricted to studies with 200 or more events, the point estimate was lessened.

In effect-modification studies, CYP2C19 genotype was not associated with modification of the effect of clopidogrel on CVD end points or bleeding. A limitation included selective outcome reporting.

"Despite associations between CYP2C19 genotype, clopidogrel metabolism, and platelet aggregation, this systematic review and meta-analysis does not demonstrate a clinically important association of genotype with cardiovascular outcomes with the possible exception of stent thrombosis," the researchers write.

"Our appraisal has identified issues pertaining to the design and analysis of pharmacogenetic studies that are important in the understanding of the significance of the CYP2C19 genotype."

(JAMA. 2011;306[24]:2704-2714. Available pre-embargo to the media at www.jamamedia.org)

Editor's Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, financial disclosures, funding and support, etc.

Editorial: Pharmacogenomics and Clopidogrel - Irrational Exuberance?

Steven E. Nissen, M.D., of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, writes in an accompanying editorial that several factors led to the unrealistic expectations of the effectiveness of CYP2C19 genotyping for clopidogrel, and that a large randomized controlled trial is needed to adequately test the clopidogrel pharmacogenomic hypothesis.

"In the absence of such a study, physicians should use CYP2C19 or platelet reactivity testing rarely, if ever, and interpret the results with caution. It is still likely that pharmacogenomics has a bright future in cardiovascular medicine, but the pharmacogenomics approach to drug therapy must undergo the same rigorous testing for efficacy and cost-effectiveness that is required for other therapies. Overzealous adoption based on limited biochemical data does not serve the public interest."

(JAMA. 2011;306[24]:2727-2728. Available pre-embargo to the media at www.jamamedia.org)

Editor's Note: Please see the article for additional information, including financial disclosures, funding and support, etc.

To contact Michael V. Holmes, M.B.B.S., M.Sc., email mvholmes@gmail.com. To contact editorial author Steven E. Nissen, M.D., call Brian Kolonick at 216-225-5614 or email Kolonib@ccf.org.

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Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-12/jaaj-adn122211.php

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Russia completes tests of new ICBM (AP)

MOSCOW ? President Dmitry Medvedev says a ballistic missile that is to be a cornerstone of Russia's nuclear arsenal has completed its rocky test program and will be commissioned by the military.

The Bulava ICBM, intended to arm a new generation of nuclear submarines, suffered a string of failures during tests that dragged on for years. That raised doubts about the future of the most expensive military project in the nation's post-Soviet history.

Several recent tests, however, have been successful, including last week's simultaneous launch of two Bulavas.

Medvedev made the announcement at a meeting with military officers on Tuesday.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/world/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111227/ap_on_re_eu/eu_russia_new_missile

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Charity hails East Africa appeal (icWales)

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Source: http://wik.io/info/UK/306355929

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Aral?k ay?n?n en ilgin? iOS geli?tiricisi: Microsoft

[unable to retrieve full-text content]

Source: www.donanimhaber.com --- Sunday, December 25, 2011
iOS d?nyas?n?n en beklenmedik ve en b?y?k at?l?mc?s? ge?ti?imiz ay i?in Microsoft oldu. Bu ay boyunca Microsoft tam bir iOS ata?? yapt? ve ?u aplikasyonlar? AppStore'da sat??a sundu ; Windows Live Messenger (5 Aral?k) - Bir ?ok uygulama bu i?levi yapsada orjinalide yerini ald?. ...

Source: http://www.donanimhaber.com/Aralik_ayinin_en_ilginc_iOS_gelistiricisi_Microsoft-30934.htm

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Sunday's NFL Capsules (AP)

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. ? Victor Cruz set two franchise receiving records, and Ahmad Bradshaw ran for two touchdowns as the Giants kept their playoff hopes alive by winning the New York-area bragging rights with a 29-14 victory over the Jets on Saturday.

After a week of trash talk about who ruled the city, neither team did much to boast about. But the Giants (8-7) did more than the Jets (8-7) and can win the NFC East with a victory next week against Dallas.

The Jets' playoff hopes took a serious hit, and they will need to win at Miami next week and get help from several other teams.

Cruz, who had three catches for 164 yards, broke Amani Toomer's single-season mark for yards receiving ? and the team's record for longest touchdown reception, a 99-yarder that gave the Giants the lead for good in the second quarter.

___

LIONS 38, CHARGERS 10

DETROIT (AP) ? The Lions made the playoffs for the first time since 1999 as Matthew Stafford threw three touchdown passes in the first half.

Detroit (10-5) has won three straight after a seven-game slump to earn a wild-card spot.

According to the Chargers (7-8), they will not be in the postseason for a second straight year after making it five times in a six-season stretch. And that might cost coach Norv Turner his job.

The Lions held San Diego scoreless until midway through the third quarter, when Philip Rivers threw an 11-yard pass to Malcom Floyd to make it 24-7.

___

PATRIOTS 27, DOLPHINS 24

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) ? Tom Brady ran for two touchdowns and threw for another and New England rallied to clinch a playoff bye.

The Patriots trailed 17-0 at halftime then scored on their first five possessions in the second half. The Dolphins helped when Matt Moore lost a fumble at his 38-yard line then threw an interception that Devin McCourty picked off at the Patriots 2.

New England (12-3) won its seventh straight game. After the Texans lost to the Colts on Thursday night, the Patriots needed a win or a tie to lock up one of the AFC's top two spots.

Miami (5-10) lost for the third time in eight games after opening at 0-7 and is 1-1 under Todd Bowles, who took over when Tony Sparano was fired.

___

RAIDERS 16, CHIEFS 13, OT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) ? Sebastian Janikowski kicked a 36-yard field goal 2:13 into overtime, eliminating Kansas City from the playoff race and keeping Oakland's AFC West title hopes alive.

Carson Palmer threw for 237 yards and a touchdown for the Raiders (8-7). His perfectly thrown 53-yard pass to Darrius Heyward-Bey early in overtime set up Janikowski's winning kick, allowing Oakland to avoid a second straight late-game meltdown.

Kyle Orton threw for 300 yards for Kansas City, his only TD pass going to Dwayne Bowe with 1:02 left to tie the game. The Raiders went three-and-out, giving Kansas City the ball back, and Orton hit Bowe for 25 yards and Terrance Copper for 11 more to set up Ryan Succop for a potential winning field goal on the final play of the game.

Succop's 49-yard try was blocked by Trevor Scott to send the game to overtime.

___

BILLS 40, BRONCOS 14

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) ? Jairus Byrd and Spencer Johnson returned Tim Tebow interceptions for touchdowns on consecutive plays in the fourth quarter to help Buffalo snap a seven-game losing streak.

Tebow finished with a career-worst four interceptions as the Broncos (8-7) fell into a tie with Oakland for first place in the AFC West. Denver lost its second in a row while squandering a chance to inch closer to its first playoff berth since 2005.

Byrd scored on a 37-yard return with 8:03 left and Johnson had a 17-yarder 18 seconds later for Buffalo (6-9). C.J. Spiller ran for a career-best 111 yards and a touchdown, and Leodis McKelvin scored on an 80-yard punt return.

___

TITANS 23, JAGUARS 17

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) ? Matt Hasselbeck threw for 240 of his 350 yards in the first half as Tennessee tried to keep its faint playoff hopes alive.

The Titans (8-7) snapped a two-game skid, and head to Houston with a chance at their first winning record since 2008.

Rob Bironas kicked three field goals, including a pair of 51-yarders, and Jamie Harper ran for a touchdown. Jared Cook had a 55-yard TD catch and finished with 169 yards receiving, a franchise high for a tight end.

Maurice Jones-Drew, the NFL's rushing leader, ran for 103 yards and a TD for the Jaguars (4-11). He now has a career-high 1,437 yards this season.

___

BENGALS 23, CARDINALS 16

CINCINNATI (AP) ? Andy Dalton threw a pair of touchdown passes, and Cincinnati withstood yet another fourth-quarter comeback by Arizona that kept the Bengals in playoff contention.

Another small crowd at Paul Brown Stadium saw the Bengals (9-6) secure only their third winning record in the last 21 years and stay in the running for the final AFC wild card.

Dalton threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Jermaine Gresham and a 19-yarder to Jerome Simpson, who did a somersault over a defender and landed on both feet in the end zone. Dalton joined Peyton Manning (26), Charlie Conerly (22) and Dan Marino (20) as the only NFL rookies to throw 20 touchdowns.

Arizona (7-8) rallied from a 23-0 deficit and had a chance to tie. Receiver Early Doucet was uncovered at the goal line but tripped as he ran, letting a fourth-down pass fall incomplete with 1:11 left.

___

VIKINGS 33, REDSKINS 26

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) ? The Minnesota Vikings survived injuries to Adrian Peterson and Christian Ponder on back-to-back plays to end a six-game losing streak.

Toby Gerhart filled in for Peterson and set up a touchdown with a 67-yard run, and Joe Webb threw for two TDs and ran for another while subbing for Ponder.

Webb's 8-yard pass to Percy Harvin broke a 23-all tie early in the fourth quarter, and rookie Mistral Raymond's first career interception set up Ryan Longwell's 23-yard field goal that gave the Vikings a 10-point lead with 4:05 to play.

The Vikings are 3-12. The Redskins lost their sixth straight home game to fall to 5-10.

Peterson's left knee was hurt on the first offensive play of the second half. Ponder suffered a concussion.

___

PANTHERS 48, BUCCANEERS 16

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) ? Cam Newton broke Peyton Manning's rookie record for yards passing in a season and set a franchise record with a 91-yard touchdown pass to Brandon LaFell.

Newton threw for 171 yards and three touchdowns and scored on a remarkable 49-yard run up the middle in which he outraced smaller defensive backs to the end zone.

The Panthers (6-9) scored on eight of their first nine possessions and piled up 397 yards in three quarters against the league's 30th-ranked defense. Coach Ron Rivera pulled Newton and the other key starters early in the fourth quarter.

DeAngelo Williams scored on runs of 8 and 22 yards, his sixth and seventh of the season, and Jonathan Stewart ran for 88 yards and caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from Newton.

Tampa Bay (4-11) lost its ninth in a row.

___

STEELERS 27, RAMS 0

PITTSBURGH (AP) ? Rashard Mendenhall ran for 116 yards and a touchdown and backup quarterback Charlie Batch played efficiently in place of an injured Ben Roethlisberger.

The Steelers (11-4) kept their hopes of an AFC North title alive even with Roethlisberger's sprained left ankle forcing him to watch the game from the sideline as the team's third quarterback.

Pittsburgh hardly needed him. The defense had little trouble dominating the NFL's lowest-scoring offense.

St. Louis (2-13) managed just 232 yards while getting shut out for the second time this month. Steven Jackson rushed for 103 yards to top 1,000 for the seventh straight season, but backup quarterback Kellen Clemens sputtered in place of the injured Sam Bradford. The Rams lost their sixth straight.

___

RAVENS 20, BROWNS 14

BALTIMORE (AP) ? Joe Flacco threw two touchdown passes, and Baltimore moved one step closer to winning the AFC North.

Ray Rice ran for 87 yards and caught a TD pass for the Ravens (11-4), who led 17-0 at halftime and held on against the bumbling Browns. Baltimore completed its first unbeaten season at home (8-0).

The Ravens would win the AFC North by defeating Cincinnati next week. That would also give them a first-round bye and a home playoff game.

Josh Cribbs had a career-high 84-yard punt return for Cleveland (4-11). But the Browns generated little offense and were victimized by questionable play calling, bad clock management and untimely penalties in their fifth straight loss.

___

49ERS 19, SEAHAWKS 17

SEATTLE (AP) ? David Akers kicked four field goals, including a 39-yarder with 2:57 left, and San Francisco hung on against Seattle (7-8).

Larry Grant sealed the win by forcing Tarvaris Jackson's fumble that was recovered by Donte Whitner with 1:07 left. San Francisco (12-3), which already clinched the NFC West, remained in position for the No. 2 seed in the conference and a first-round playoff bye.

Akers set an NFL record with his 42nd field goal of the season. Frank Gore had a 4-yard touchdown run on the 49ers' first drive of the second half.

Marshawn Lynch scored on a 4-yard run with 6:41 left to give Seattle a 17-16 lead. It was the first TD rushing allowed by the 49ers this season.

___

EAGLES 20, COWBOYS 7

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) ? Michael Vick threw two touchdown passes in a game that had all the intensity of a preseason dress rehearsal.

This game became somewhat meaningless midway through the first quarter. A victory by the Giants eliminated the Eagles (7-8) from the playoffs and turned the Dallas-New York game next weekend into a showdown to decide the NFC East title.

The Cowboys (8-7) sat quarterback Tony Romo after one series and running back Felix Jones after two.

Vick threw a touchdown pass on the opening series and again just before halftime. Alex Henery kicked field goals of 43 and 51 yards for the Eagles.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111225/ap_on_sp_fo_ga_su/fbn_nfl_capsules

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Convert from Vista Home Premium to Windows 7

Resolved question

Convert from Vista Home Premium to Windows 7 - New!

by BB4ALL - 12/25/11 5:54 AM

Hi,
I am in a quandary and need some advice. I want to upgrade my present Vista 32 bit Home Edition to the Windows 7 Home Edition 32 bit. I already conformed with the windows advisor that my system is ready for the Windows 7 upgrade, but I see that there are two options that I can purchase Windows 7 Home Edition and Windows 7 Home Edition N. Can you tell me the difference between the two and will it be beneficial for me to upgrade. I have had nothing but trouble trying to install Windows Office 2010 over the trial Windows Office 2007 recently and this is still not working properly despite contacting MS Store for advice. Why don't MS offer programs that can be directly downloaded from their site and will operate correctly after installation. I didn't know that a complete uninstall of Office 2007 was necessary before installing 2010 and I don't want a repeat performance in the change over to Windows 7. Any help would be much appreciated.

Source: http://forums.cnet.com/7723-12546_102-551259.html

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RonnieFieg: hahahaa ?@jeffstaple: The best holiday greeting. Ever. Yes. EVER!!! #chinese #jews #christians http://t.co/h6HQsZmH?

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hahahaa ?@jeffstaple: The best holiday greeting. Ever. Yes. EVER!!! #chinese #jews #christians twitter.com/jeffstaple/sta?? Il y a environ 6 heures via Twitter for iPhone Retweeted by 4 people

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Rapper 'Tyler, the Creator' arrested for vandalism (AP)

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. ? The rapper known as "Tyler, the Creator," was arrested after authorities say he got rowdy following a show at The Roxy Theatre in West Hollywood.

Los Angeles County sheriff's Sgt. Arthur Famble Jr. said the rapper was arrested Thursday night after he appeared in a show by his group, Odd Future, and destroyed the Sunset Strip nightclub's electronic soundboard.

The sergeant said Roxy security guards called deputies, and the 20-year-old rapper, whose real name is Tyler Gregory Okonma, was booked for investigation of felony vandalism. He was released early Friday on $20,000 bail.

As Okonma was being led to a squad car, the crowd leaving the Roxy became angry and rushed toward deputies, Famble said.

Additional deputies were called in to disperse the crowd, and Sunset Boulevard was shut down for about a half-hour.

No one was hurt.

Telephone numbers for Okonma and his Los Angeles record company couldn't be found. Okonma said in a Twitter message that he wasn't arrested.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/music/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111223/ap_en_mu/us_rapper_vandalism_arrest

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A new way of approaching the early detection of Alzheimer's disease

ScienceDaily (Dec. 23, 2011) ? One of our genes is apolipoprotein E (APOE), which often appears with a variation which nobody would want to have: APOE?4, the main genetic risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer's disease (the most common form in which this disorder manifests itself and which is caused by a combination of hereditary and environmental factors). It is estimated that at least 40% of the sporadic patients affected by this disease are carriers of APOE?4, but this also means that much more still remains to be studied. The researcher at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) Xabier Elcoroaristizabal has opened up a channel for making a start by analysing candidate genes which, always in combination with APOE?4, could help to explain more cases.

His thesis is entitled "Molecular markers in mild amnestic cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease" (Marcadores moleculares en deterioro cognitivo leve tipo amn?sico y enfermedad de Alzheimer). An initial article on this can be read in the journal BMC Neuroscience.

The long-term aim is to contribute towards the early detection of Alzheimer's disease by identifying signs that could be detectable in the very early phases. And, as Elcoroaristizabal explains, while there is no cure for this disorder, the alternative is to get ahead of it and delay its development: "Certain preventive measures involving cognitive stimulation delay its appearance. There are even new drugs that could start to be used earlier. Today there is no solution, but the more we maintain a person's correct cognitive state, the better."

Mild amnestic, cognitive impairment

The individuals who develop Alzheimer's go through a transition period first of all, and this could be the key moment for the effective application of preventive measures. This is mild cognitive impairment (MCI), in which slight cognitive alterations take place but do not affect everyday activities. Among the different types of MCI, one affects memory almost exclusively (amnestic MCI), and those people who suffer from it have a high probability of developing the disorder. The difficult and interesting part is knowing which genetic components are linked to this impairment and also in determining by what percentage the risk of developing the disease increases, a task which Elcoroaristizabal has set himself. "If we can identify which genes are involved and what susceptibility factors there are, preventive measures could be taken," he explains.

So a contrast study has been carried out among a sample of patients with MCI, ones with Alzheimer's and healthy people. This can be used to observe the changes and narrow down the field for the zones to be studied, so that candidate genes can be sought there. Elcoroaristizabal himself notes one example among the many others identified: "It has been observed that the brain's capacity to control cholesterol levels seems to play a key role throughout the illness. So, protein encoding genes linked to this control have been analysed."

In this quest for candidate genes, Elcoroaristizabal has confirmed that the APOE?4 genetic variation is, in fact, the main risk factor for developing Alzheimer's disease. But it does not end there; he has identified several genes which, as long as they are manifested in combination with APOE?4, could take us one step further towards the early detection of this disorder. "Genes that in some way are connected with neurotransmission channels, oxidative stress or the effectiveness of oestrogens seem to be linked to a greater risk for APOE?4 carriers," he explains. Specifically, the candidate genes are as follows: COMT (neurotransmission), SOD2 (oxidative stress elimination) and ESR1 and ESR2 (oestrogen action facilitators).

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Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111223091447.htm

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Family builds Haiti orphanage to honor daughter (AP)

GRAND GOAVE, Haiti ? Three hours before Britney Gengel died in the massive earthquake that killed hundreds of thousands in Haiti two years ago, she sent her family a text message expressing pure affection for the children she had met that morning while doing humanitarian work.

"They love us so much and everyone is so happy," she wrote. "They love what they have and they work so hard to get nowhere, yet they are all so appreciative. I want to move here and start an orphanage myself."

Later that January day, Gengel lay trapped under the wreckage of a hillside hotel that had collapsed. Rescuers pulled at least 68 bodies, including Gengel's, out of the ruins.

With her last text message in mind, Gengel's family is now making it their mission to carry out her dream and aid children in this devastated island nation.

Father Leonard Gengel and his 19-year-old son Bernie are following in Britney's footsteps and spending the Christmas holiday here to finish building an elaborate orphanage on the country's western coast. The trip is Leonard Gengel's 20th this year.

"My wife and I will wrap our arms around that text message for the rest of our lives," Gengel said from the passenger seat of a maroon Mitsubishi taking him to the construction site. "The text message still resonates with us."

The center they have in mind is a memorial of sorts, a brick-and-mortar homage to not just Britney but also the dozens who perished at the Hotel Montana, which was known for its sweeping vista of the capital of Port-au-Prince.

The Haitian government estimates more than 300,000 people died in the Western Hemisphere's worst modern natural disaster. Britney Gengel's death brought home the catastrophe to her family more than 1,500 miles (2,400 kilometers) away in Rutland, Massachusetts.

She was a 19-year-old sophomore at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida, when she found her calling. The communications major had come to Haiti to hand out meals to children for Food for the Poor, a religious charity based in Coconut Creek, a Fort Lauderdale suburb.

"She fell in love with the children," said Leonard Gengel, a 51-year-old home builder. "She was consumed by what she saw and felt."

Just hours before the magnitude-7 earthquake hit, Britney sent the text message to her mother, Cherylann. The last photo of Britney, taken on the day she died, shows her surrounded by a group of pigtailed girls in crisp, blue uniforms.

At first, school officials told the family that Britney had gone missing. Later they said she was on a Florida-bound helicopter. Elated and relieved, the Gengels made their way to Fort Lauderdale to reunite with her. They learned there that she wouldn't be coming. School officials had received wrong information.

"It's unfathomable for a parent to lose a child twice in 36 hours," Gengel, his voice choked up, said as the car neared Grand Goave, the coastal town Britney had planned to visit before she died.

Gengel showed up in Haiti 10 days later to recover his daughter's remains, which wouldn't be found until Feb. 14, Valentine's Day. She would be the last of the six Lynn University students and professors who died to be located.

She was buried in Worcester, Massachusetts, outside the family home in Rutland.

On Wednesday, Gengel and his son landed in Haiti, clearly still grieving their loss. They spoke of Britney in quivering voices and wore matching white Polo-style shirts with the name of the orphanage stitched across their chests: Be Like Brit.

Be Like Brit, they said, means lending a hand and looking out for the underdog.

With that in mind, the hilltop orphanage they are building, estimated to cost $1 million, will feature solar panels and earthquake-resistant walls, a medical clinic and an abundance of symbolic flourishes. It will be shaped like a 'B,' visible to Port-au-Prince-bound airplane passengers. Family members and sympathetic strangers have donated as much as $800,000, Gengel said.

The 19,000-square-foot (nearly 1,800-square-meter) facility will also house 33 boys and 33 girls, for the number of days Britney's body lay under rubble.

It's not clear yet where the children will come from, but Gengel said he wants the facility to house "true" orphans, that is, children without both parents. It's possible the children could be selected from the homeless settlements that sprung up in the aftermath of the earthquake, Gengel said.

On the Gengels' side has been an unlikely link to the National Palace. They call the first lady by her first name, Sophia.

As it happens, Bernie is roommates with the son of Haiti's pop star-turned-president, Michel "Sweet Micky" Martelly, at Suffolk University in Boston, Massachusetts.

"Very normal," Bernie said about Sandro, a first-year student who also performs under the stage name of Ti-Micky. "You wouldn't know he's the president's son."

Still, there have been hurdles, and more are certain to follow.

It took six months for the Gengels to secure a clear land title and a deposit wasn't made until September of last year. They bought the land for $50,000, father Leonard Gengel said.

On Wednesday, several dozen Haitian workers hammered away amid the cinderblock base as others poured cement.

Kervince Parayson, the site coordinator, said it was inspiring "to see someone that comes from outside Haiti, as a (foreigner), and wants to do something big like that for the children."

The orphanage is due to open on the third anniversary of the quake, in 2013.

Standing above the construction site and looking out to the ocean, Bernie Gengel said he was pleased all the effort will help dozens of people in Haiti, but it will come too late for one.

"I'm happy we're doing this," he said. "But at the same time you wish you could go back and change things and you can't."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/latam/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111223/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/cb_haiti_earthquake_orphanage

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Hawaii beats No. 14 Xavier 84-82 in overtime (AP)

HONOLULU ? Xavier coach Chris Mack summed up the No. 14 Musketeers' latest post-brawl loss in a hurry.

"This was as disappointing a game for as long as I've been around," Mack said.

Hawaii relegated the reeling Musketeers to the seventh-place game in the Diamond Head Classic, rallying for an 84-82 overtime victory Friday night in the consolation semifinals.

Joston Thomas sent the Musketeers to their third straight loss since the bench-clearing brawl Dec. 10 against Cincinnati, making a layup from the baseline with 0.8 seconds left.

"I'm my mind, my heart I was thinking we're not losing," Thomas said. "No excuses. We have to pull through."

Down by 15 early in the second half of the consolation semifinal, Hawaii tied it at 77 on Hauns Brereton's 3-pointer from the top of the key with 2.0 seconds left in regulation.

Thomas finished with a career-high 24 points on 8-of-11 shooting and had nine rebounds. Vander Joaquim added 20 points for Hawaii (6-5), Zane Johnson had 14 and Brereton 13.

The victory was Hawaii's first over a ranked team since it beat then-No. 4 Michigan State in November 2005.

"We struggled defensively in the second half," Mack said. "We're struggling offensively. We got some open looks we didn't knock down."

On the winning play, Johnson penetrated the lane before passing to Thomas, whose right-handed shot circled the rim before falling through. It wasn't the way Hawaii coach Gib Arnold planned it.

"We drew up a play where Zane comes off a screen and knocks down a jumper for us like he's done all season," said Thomas, describing the winning play. Instead, Johnson penetrated the lane before passing to Thomas, whose right-handed shot circled the rim before falling through.

A desperation heave by Xavier from about 75 feet as time expired was well short.

Tu Holloway led Xavier (8-3) with 26 points, Mark Lyons had 18 and Kenny Frease 13. Xavier has lost three straight for the first time under coach Mack.

Lyons played for the first time since the victory over Cincinnati. He was one of three Musketeers suspended for their parts in the altercation.

Holloway, who returned from his one-game suspension Thursday in a first-round loss to Long Beach State, was 4 of 8 from 3-point range and 7 of 16 overall. He also had six assists.

Holloway left the game briefly with an apparent right (shooting) hand injury early in the game.

Xavier opened the game on a 12-0 run and stretched the lead to 15 with 17:17 remaining in regulation.

"They jumped on us pretty good and I think we were down 15 in the second half," Arnold said. "This team has some character and we're finding out who we are. We're still figuring things out."

Johnson's 3-pointer pulled Hawaii to 75-74 with 3:10 to play, but Holloway answered for the Musketeers with a 3-pinter with 24 seconds. Brereton then hit his tying 3-pointer off an assist from Jeremiah Ostrowski.

Hawaii took its first lead on the first possession of overtime on Joaquim's dunk.

The Rainbow Warriors, who rebounded from a quarterfinal loss to Auburn on Thursday, will face Clemson in the fifth-place game Sunday. The Musketeers will play Southern Illinois for seventh place.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/topstories/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111224/ap_on_sp_co_ga_su/bkc_t25_xavier

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