implosion linefeed: April 2013

Monday, April 29, 2013

The Sahara Conflict Reached a Deadlock: Christopher Ross ...

By Loubna Flah

Morocco World News

Casablanca, April 28, 2013

Mr. Christopher Ross, the UN envoy to the Sahara said in his latest report to the Security Council on Monday that his attempts to bridge the gap between Morocco and the Polisario Front failed according to the daily al Massae.

I could create a less formal atmosphere for face-to-face negotiations, I pinpointed the commonalities between both parties and I suggested a detailed study of the pending issues but all my efforts failed, he was quoted by the Moroccan news paper as saying.

He went on to say that ?the Sahara conflict has reached a deadlock.?

Mr. Christopher Ross stated also hat he has been conducting secrete talks with Morocco and the Polisario Front in order to move forward and reach a mutually accepted solution to the conflict.

Ross revealed that he had expected the conflict to ease in the wake of the Arab spring and with the terrorist threat lurking in the Sahel region.

?I thought that the threat in the Sahel region would create a feeling of urgency but is did not,? he noted.

Ross hailed Morocco?s efforts to promote Human Rights through the National Council for Human Rights and especially its regional committees in Layoune and Dakhla cities. On the other hand, he reported growing disgruntlement among the youth in Tindouf camps and their inclination to armed struggle.

Earlier this month, the US had submitted a proposal to task the MINURSO (The United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara) with new prerogatives namely, the monitoring of Human Rights in the Sahara.

The American proposal stirred strong reactions and staunch opposition from the Moroccan government. Morocco deployed intensive diplomatic talks against the American proposal and called on the Security Council to show wisdom and to refrain from taking any step that may derail the political process.

After the lobbying of other members of the Group of Friend of the UN Secretary General on the Western Sahara, Washington withdrew its proposal.

Need to paving the way towards a political solution

In his annual report on the ?Situation concerning Western Sahara?, the UN chief, Ban Ki-moon, called on the parties to move beyond their stern positions and pave the way towards finding a solution to the conflict.

Ban makes went on to make it clear that no party can expect to obtain the totality of its demands, hence, the need that the two parties, Morocco and the Polisario, ?move beyond presenting and defending their respective proposals.?

?Each party must accept that neither will obtain the totality of its demands, but rather has to engage in a logic of give and take?, said the report in a direct message to the parties to show more flexibility and realism in the negotiation process.

Source: http://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2013/04/88878/the-sahara-conflict-reached-a-deadlock-christopher-ross-2/

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James leads Heat over Bucks and into next round

Miami Heat's LeBron James (6) dunks against the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half of Game 4 in a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Sunday, April. 28, 2013, in Milwaukee. Giving chase are Bucks' Brandon Jennings (3), Ersan Ilyasova (7), of Turkey, and Heat's Shane Battier. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Miami Heat's LeBron James (6) drives against Milwaukee Bucks' Ersan Ilyasova, left, and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute during the first half of Game 4 in a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Sunday, April. 28, 2013, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Bucks' John Henson fouls Miami Heat's Norris Cole, left, during the second quarter of Game 4 in their first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Sunday, April 28, 2013, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/The Miami Herald, Al Diaz) MAGS OUT.

Miami Heat's LeBron James (6) drives against Milwaukee Bucks' Ersan Ilyasova during the first half of Game 4 in a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Sunday, April. 28, 2013, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Miami Heat's LeBron James dunks against the Milwaukee Bucks during the first half of Game 4 in a first-round NBA basketball playoff series, Sunday, April. 28, 2013, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

MILWAUKEE (AP) ? After getting treatment "around the clock" for two days, Dwyane Wade tested his aching right knee in warm-ups before Game 4.

It still hurt.

"I could have pushed through it," he said. "But my teammates told me if it's hurtin', they got it."

The Miami Heat reminded everyone Sunday why they're heavy favorites to win a second straight NBA title. Despite Wade being reduced to a spectator, the Heat completed their sweep of the Milwaukee Bucks and advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Heat never trailed in their 88-77 victory, finishing the first-round series with a fourth straight double-digit win.

LeBron James did most of the work with 30 points, eight rebounds and seven assists. Ray Allen added 16 points, the third game in the series he reached double figures, and also had seven rebounds. Mario Chalmers had eight rebounds and six assists.

"We're a good basketball team. That's nothing that's a secret," Wade said. "We're not a one-man show, a two-man, a three-man (show). We're a basketball team."

The Heat won't play again until Saturday, at the earliest, facing the winner of the Brooklyn-Chicago series. While the extended time off provides a much-needed break for Wade, who is still recovering from the three bone bruises that forced him to miss six games near the end of the regular season, this is no vacation for the Heat. They won't be spending the week lounging in South Beach or jetting off to some exotic location.

They'll be working, trying to get even better.

"That won't be a problem," James said. "We've got an opportunity to rest because we took care of business, but our business is not done. The only thing we guaranteed ourselves is the next round. That's it."

Miami knew it would get a spirited effort Sunday from the Bucks, who were hoping to extend their first playoff appearance in three years even if it was only for a few more days.

After the Heat raced out to an 11-point lead in the first half, the Bucks steadily chipped away and were within a basket or two for most of the third quarter. When Mike Dunleavy drained a 3 and Monta Ellis scored on a floater with 9:34 left in the game, Miami's lead was down to 69-67.

"We knew they were going to come out and play as hard as they could and with as much desperation as they could to try and continue series," James said.

But James was even more determined.

When Ellis missed a free throw, failing to convert the three-point play, James grabbed the rebound and directed a 19-5 run in which he had a hand in every single score. First he fed Allen, who knocked down ? what else? ? a 3. After J.J. Redick missed a long jumper, James found an open Chalmers for another 3 that gave the Heat a 75-67 lead with 8:27 left.

The 3 was Chalmers' 80th in the postseason, tying Tim Hardaway's franchise record.

After Luc Richard Mbah a Moute made the second of two free throws, James scored on a layup. Redick made a jumper, but Shane Battier and Allen closed out the Bucks with a pair of 3s, with James credited with the assist on each.

He then converted a three-point play and added a layup to finish up the run.

"At some point during that stretch right there, (James) decided he was going to put his imprint on the game and he did. In a big way," Bucks coach Jim Boylan said. "When you're a superstar player like he is, that's what superstar players do."

Superstar teams, too.

Though Milwaukee had chances to win Games 2 and 4 late, and led Game 3 by 10 in the first half, there was never a sense Miami would lose any of them. Any time the Bucks showed the slightest bit of momentum, the Heat were quick to snuff it out.

"They'd either make a big play or it was a turnover on our part," Boylan said. "When you're playing against a quality team like Miami, you make some mistakes, they usually capitalize on them. And they did that."

The Bucks had seven turnovers before the first quarter ended Sunday, and shot just 37 percent for the game. Ellis led the Bucks with 21 points, and Larry Sanders had 11 rebounds to go with seven points.

But Milwaukee got almost nothing again from Brandon Jennings, who was benched for the entire fourth quarter. Jennings, who had guaranteed the Bucks would win the series in six games, finished with three points on 1-of-7 shooting.

After scoring 26 points in Game 1, Jennings had 27 total in the final three.

"We've been playing close, playing hard," Ellis said. "They're just a better team."

And that is what makes them so dangerous at this time of year.

Despite their star-studded roster, the Heat have little use for individual accolades or accomplishments right now. They have one goal in mind, and one goal only, and it will take the entire team to achieve it.

"I'm glad to get this," coach Erik Spoelstra said. "It's the first step in our journey. Hopefully, a long journey."

NOTES: This is the first time the Heat have swept a playoff series since James and Chris Bosh came to Miami three years ago. ... The Heat have won eight straight postseason games dating to last season. That matches the franchise record. ... NBA Commissioner David Stern was in attendance. ... James scored 30 or more for the 54th time in the postseason, second only to Kobe Bryant among active players. ... The Bucks are 20-26 in elimination games. ... Packers LB Clay Matthews was at the game.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-04-29-BKN-Heat-Bucks-Folo/id-81d0a9f5c96c47aebd35d30601dcd6af

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Researchers Put Sense of Touch in Reach for Robots

[unable to retrieve full-text content]A group of roboticists has developed a robot arm that moves and finds objects by touch, a vital ability if robots are ever to begin to undertake tasks in human environments.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/28/science/researchers-put-sense-of-touch-in-reach-for-robots.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

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Big Papi stays hot as Red Sox roll over Astros

By KEN POWTAK

Associated Press

Associated Press Sports

updated 11:05 p.m. ET April 27, 2013

BOSTON (AP) - David Ortiz has even run out of ways to talk about his red-hot return.

Ortiz had two hits and three RBIs to extend his torrid start after a long layoff, and Felix Doubront overcame a wild first inning to pitch into the seventh as the Boston Red Sox beat the struggling Houston Astros 8-4 on Saturday night.

"I ain't talking about that anymore," said Ortiz, joking with the media as he dressed quickly in front of his locker. "You make up a new question, I'll answer it. Otherwise, copy what I said yesterday and the day before."

The 37-year old Ortiz made quite a return in his first seven games. He is hitting .519 (14 of 27) with two homers and nine RBIs since getting back into the lineup last Saturday after missing the 71 of the final 72 games last season and all of spring training with a heel injury.

"He's doing things that look to him to be very easy, but its hard to imagine or even script out that he'd have this kind of performance considering the layoff," Red Sox manager John Farrell said.

It was 14th win in 19 games for the surging Red Sox (17-7). Boston can tie a club record for the most wins in April by completing a four-game sweep over Houston (7-17) on Sunday.

The Astros, coming off 56 and 55 wins seasons the last two, respectively, in the National League, are finding their new league just as tough.

"I don't get caught up in the record," Astros first-year manager Bo Porter said. "I deal with each day, each game, one game at a time."

Boston matched its best start since 2002 with its fourth straight win.

The Red Sox went 18-8 in April 1998 and 2003.

Jacoby Ellsbury had a two-run single for the Red Sox. Dustin Pedroia and Daniel Nava each added two hits and an RBI.

Doubront (3-0) walked three in the first, hit a batter, and had a wild pitch before settling down to hold the Astros to three runs, four hits, striking out eight and walking four over 6 2-3 innings.

"Seriously, I don't know what happened in the first inning," Doubront said. "I was feeling like I was using more of my arm than my body. I was frustrated because I was thinking a little too much. But overall, after the first inning, I was really focused and I wasn't thinking about my mechanics at all. I was throwing the ball. I was so happy I did that."

Houston starter Brad Peacock (1-3) gave up five runs on six hits in 3 2-3 innings. He hasn't gone past five innings in each of his five starts.

"I know we've got to start doing better," he said. "I'm just going to keep working and hopefully I can get out of this."

Doubront retired 17 of 19 batters after the rough beginning. He was pulled with a runner on in the seventh. Alex Wilson escaped a bases-loaded, eighth-inning jam and Andrew Miller pitched the ninth.

Trailing 2-0, Boston scored four runs in the second on Ellsbury's two-run single and Ortiz's two-run double into the left field corner.

Ortiz's sacrifice fly made it 5-2 in the fourth after Nava doubled leading off and advanced on Pedroia's ground out to second.

Jose Altuve's run-scoring ground out cut it to 5-3 in the seventh.

Stephen Drew, Nava and Pedroia each had RBI singles in the seventh.

The Astros took advantage of Doubront's wild first to grab their first lead of the series. Doubront hit Brandon Barnes after a leadoff single before walking Brandon Laird. He then walked Chris Carter, forcing in a run, before Ronny Cedeno's sacrifice fly made it 2-0. The left-hander walked the next batter on four pitches, but got the final two outs easily.

NOTES: Farrell said OF Shane Victorino, sidelined since leaving Wednesday's game with a stiff lower back, has made slight progress, but was out again. ... Farrell also said that LHP Franklin Morales has been shut down for a few days with a strained muscle on his left side. Morales has been on the DL since March 22 with a strained lower back. ... Porter loaded his lineup with right-handed hitters from 1-7, with switch hitters in the final two spots. ... Porter had glowing praise for Boston 2B Pedroia before the game. "I think people should ask, `Why don't more people play the game that way?' I've been a fan of Dustin Pedroia's before I came to Fenway for these four games," he said. "He'll do what he can to beat you." ... Boston RHP Ryan Dempster walked out the player's parking lot and went for a jog on the streets outside the park about 2 hours before the game. Fans that were lined up to get in didn't even seem to notice. ... RHP John Lackey (0-1, 4.15 ERA) is set to make his return from the disabled list Sunday against Houston's Bud Norris (3-2, 4.13 ERA). Lackey went on the DL April 7 with a strained right biceps. ... The Red Sox improved to 13-0 when scoring first.

More newsChristian Petersen / Getty Images

At their best beyond nine

Extra-innings seem to suit the Diamondbacks just fine, as Arizona improved to 6-0 in extra-inning games this season on Saturday.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/51690800/ns/sports-baseball/

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Today in History

Today is Monday, April 29, the 119th day of 2013. There are 246 days left in the year.

Today's Highlight in History:

On April 29, 1913, Swedish-born engineer Gideon Sundback of Hoboken, N.J., received a U.S. patent for a "separable fastener" ? later known as the zipper.

On this date:

In 1429, Joan of Arc entered the besieged city of Orleans to lead a French victory over the English.

In 1861, the Maryland House of Delegates voted 53-13 against seceding from the Union. In Montgomery, Ala., President Jefferson Davis asked the Confederate Congress for the authority to wage war.

In 1863, newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst was born in San Francisco.

In 1916, the Easter Rising in Dublin collapsed as Irish nationalists surrendered to British authorities.

In 1945, during World War II, American soldiers liberated the Dachau (DAH'-khow) concentration camp. Adolf Hitler married Eva Braun and designated Adm. Karl Doenitz (DUHR'-nihtz) president.

In 1946, 28 former Japanese officials went on trial in Tokyo as war criminals; seven ended up being sentenced to death.

In 1968, the counterculture musical "Hair" opened on Broadway following limited engagements off-Broadway.

In 1974, President Richard M. Nixon announced he was releasing edited transcripts of some secretly made White House tape recordings related to Watergate.

In 1983, Harold Washington was sworn in as the first black mayor of Chicago.

In 1992, rioting resulting in 55 deaths erupted in Los Angeles after a jury in Simi Valley, Calif., acquitted four Los Angeles police officers of almost all state charges in the videotaped beating of Rodney King.

In 1993, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II announced that for the first time, Buckingham Palace would be opened to tourists to help raise money for repairs at fire-damaged Windsor Castle.

In 2011, Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton were married in an opulent ceremony at London's Westminster Abbey.

Ten years ago: The Palestinian parliament approved Mahmoud Abbas (mahk-MOOD' ah-BAHS') as prime minister, clearing the final obstacle to the launch of a U.S.-backed "road map" to peace. Pakistani authorities captured Waleed bin Attash, accused of playing a leading role in the Sept. 11 attacks.

Five years ago: Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama angrily denounced his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, for what he termed "divisive and destructive" remarks on race. Swiss chemist Albert Hofmann, the discoverer of LSD, died in Burg im Leimental, Switzerland, at age 102.

One year ago: Despite past differences, President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton began a summer fundraising blitz with an event in McLean, Va. An out-of-control SUV plunged more than 50 feet off the side of a New York City highway overpass and landed on the grounds of the Bronx Zoo, killing all seven people aboard, including three children.

Today's Birthdays: Poet Rod McKuen is 80. Actor Keith Baxter is 80. Bluesman Otis Rush is 79. Conductor Zubin Mehta is 77. Disgraced financier Bernard Madoff is 75. Pop singer Bob Miranda (The Happenings) is 71. Country singer Duane Allen (The Oak Ridge Boys) is 70. Singer Tommy James is 66. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., is 63. Movie director Phillip Noyce is 63. Country musician Wayne Secrest (Confederate Railroad) is 63. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld is 59. Actor Leslie Jordan is 58. Actress Kate Mulgrew is 58. Actor Daniel Day-Lewis is 56. Actress Michelle Pfeiffer is 55. Actress Eve Plumb is 55. Rock musician Phil King is 53. Country singer Stephanie Bentley is 50. Actor Vincent Ventresca is 47. Singer Carnie Wilson (Wilson Phillips) is 45. Actor Paul Adelstein is 44. Actress Uma Thurman is 43. Tennis player Andre Agassi is 43. Rapper Master P is 43. Actor Darby Stanchfield is 42. Country singer James Bonamy is 41. Gospel/rhythm-and-blues singer Erica Campbell (Mary Mary) is 41. Rock musician Mike Hogan (The Cranberries) is 40. Actor Tyler Labine is 35. Actress-model Taylor Cole is 29. Actor Zane Carney is 28.

Thought for Today: "Human beings are perhaps never more frightening than when they are convinced beyond doubt that they are right." ? Sir Laurens van der Post, South African author (1906-1996).

(Above Advance for Use Monday, April 29)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/today-history-050206767.html

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Friday, April 26, 2013

Woody Guthrie Center opens Saturday in Tulsa

This April 25, 2013, photo shows workers put the finishing touches on the Woody Guthrie Center, which features a mural of the Oklahoma-born folk singer/songwriter, in downtown Tulsa. The center is set to open to the public on Saturday, April 27. (AP Photo/Justin Juozapavicius)

This April 25, 2013, photo shows some of the more than 400 metal plates featuring copies of song lyrics and illustrations by Woody Guthrie at the Oklahoma-born folk singer?s center opening Saturday in Tulsa. The 12,000 square-foot Woody Guthrie Center features exhibits that chronicle Guthrie?s life and career. (AP Photo/Justin Juozapavicius)

In this April 25, 2013, photo Deana McCloud, of the Woody Guthrie Center, tries out the Woody?s America interactive map at the Woody Guthrie Center in Tulsa. The 12,000 square-foot center, which opens to the public on Saturday, features many interactive exhibits chronicling the life and work of Woody Guthrie and is home to the folk singer?s archives. (AP Photo/Justin Juozapavicius)

This April 25, 2013, photo shows the entrance to the Woody Guthrie Center, which opens to the public on Saturday in downtown Tulsa. The center features interactive exhibits chronicling the Oklahoma folk singer?s life and career, as well as an original, handwritten copy of ?This Land is Your Land.? (AP Photo/Justin Juozapavicius)

This circa 1943 photo courtesy of the Woody Guthrie Archives shows Oklahoma-born folk singer Woody Guthrie. The Woody Guthrie Center opens to the public on Saturday, April 27, 2013, with many interactive exhibits chronicling the life and work of Guthrie and is home to the folk singer?s archives. (AP Photo/Al Aumuller, Courtesy Woody Guthrie Archives)

TULSA, Okla. (AP) ? Supporters of folk singer Woody Guthrie say the opening of a center chronicling his storied life and career is long overdue in his native state of Oklahoma.

The 12,000-square-foot Woody Guthrie Center opens Saturday afternoon in Tulsa.

It features Oklahoma's only permanent exhibit on the Dust Bowl and also includes Guthrie's original handwritten copy of "This Land Is Your Land," perhaps his best-known song.

Guthrie's daughter Nora says Oklahomans should take pride in knowing that the core of who her father was as a man and a musician was determined in Oklahoma.

The center is also home to the Woody Guthrie Archives, a collection featuring nearly 3,000 song lyrics, hundreds of pieces of artwork, journal entries, postcards, manuscripts and more than 500 photographs, among other rare items.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-04-26-US-Woody-Guthrie-Center/id-50f21535a0d045c798666e42810748d5

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International Business Conference 2013 : Conference on ... - WikiCFP

CALL FOR PAPERS

Hosted By:
Northern State University
Center of Excellence in International Business

Email Submissions to:
ckhauck@northern.edu

Click HERE for more information

Rapid City, South Dakota USA
September 26 ? 28, 2013

The Twentieth Annual Conference on International Business and Contemporary Issues in Business will be held the end of September in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota. There is much to see and do in this part of state with many monuments and historic sites. We will see some of these sites on our cultural tour which is held on Saturday. The conference will be two days with four academic sessions per day dealing with a variety of business topics that should interest everyone! We hope that you will be able to come and enjoy the beauty of the Black Hills while interacting with many business professionals from all over the world.

Source: http://www.wikicfp.com/cfp/servlet/event.showcfp?eventid=30491©ownerid=37054

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Novel therapeutic approaches may cure chronic HBV infection

Apr. 25, 2013 ? Exciting new data presented today at the International Liver Congress? 2013 include results from early in vitro and in vivo studies targeting covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), which may form the basis of a cure for chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

HBV cccDNA is organized into mini-chromosomes within the nucleus of infected cells by histone and non-histone proteins. Despite the availability of efficient therapies against HBV, long-term persistence of cccDNA necessitates life-long treatments to suppress the virus. The following three experimental studies demonstrate effective HBV-cccDNA targeting/depletion using novel therapeutic approaches which offer the potential of a cure.

Liver regeneration induces strong reduction of viral replication and cccDNA levels, but not complete cccDNA eradication; without antiviral treatment, de novo HBV infection can be re-established.

Key findings of research in HBV-infected human hepatocytes using the uPA/SCID chimeric mouse system show that liver regeneration induces strong reduction of viral replication and cccDNA levels, with rapid formation of cccDNA-free hepatocytes. However, because complete cccDNA eradication is not achieved, in the absence of antiviral treatment, de novo HBV infection could be re-established in quiescent (non-dividing) human hepatocytes. This suggests that induction of hepatocyte turn-over together with antiviral drugs inducing viral suppression, such as nucleoside analogues and IFN, or blocking cell entry, may accelerate the clearance of the viral minichromosome.

Targeting epigenetic control of nuclear cccDNA minichromosome to suppress HBV transcription and replication may form basis for other therapeutic approaches to curing chronic HBV infection.

In the infected liver cell the rate of replication of HBV is regulated by the acetylation or methylation of histone proteins which surround the cccDNA minichromosome -- so called epigenetic regulation. In a separate innovative study, the suppression of HBV transcription and replication by small molecules that target the epigenetic control of nuclear cccDNA minichromosome was investigated. The different classes of small molecules studied included: Class I, II and III histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi); p300 and PCAF histone acetyltransferases (HAT) inhibitors; hSirt1 activators; JMJD3 histone demethylase inhibitors.

The combined inhibition of p300 and PCAF HATs resulted in an evident reduction of HBV replication which mirrored the decrease of pgRNA transcription. The hSirt1/2 activator MC2791 and the JMJD3 inhibitor MC3119, albeit with different efficiency, inhibited both HBV replication and cccDNA transcription. Results represent a proof of concept that activation of hSirt1 and Ezh2 (through the inhibition of its functional antagonist JMJD3) by small molecules can induce an active epigenetic suppression of HBV cccDNA minichromosome similar to that observed with IFN?, and lead to persistent cccDNA silencing.

Lymphtoxin beta receptor (LTbR) agonisation represents basis for novel alternative therapeutic approach to curing chronic HBV infection.

The final study demonstrated that stimulating the lymphtoxin beta receptor (LTbR) provides an effective, long lasting and non-cytopathic mechanism for achieving effective HBV-cccDNA depletion in infected hepatocytes. Cell culture models including HBV-infected HepaRG cells and primary human hepatocytes were used to test the effect of antibodies stimulating human LTbR (BS1 or CBE11). Results show that a strong and dose-dependent anti-HBV effect was achieved by activation of the LTbR. All HBV replication markers were decreased with this treatment, including cccDNA in cells where HBV infection was already established.

Hepatitis B is the most prevalent cause of chronic viral hepatitis and a major global health problem. Prof. Fabien Zoulim, EASL Educational Councillor commented on the exciting new data: "In chronic hepatitis B infection, the viral genome forms a stable minichromosome -- the covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) -- which can persist throughout the lifespan of the hepatocyte."

"Current treatments focus on suppression of HBV and discovery of compounds directly targeting cccDNA has been one of the major challenges to curing HBV infection; but these preliminary data show novel therapeutic approaches can be applied to successfully target cccDNA with the long-term aspiration of finding a cure" added Prof. Fabien Zoulim.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by European Association for the Study of the Liver, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_health/~3/oorJAU_URNI/130425091612.htm

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Smartphones & Tablets To Be Primary Screen For Gamers, Says Analyst, Powering 64BN+ Games Downloads By 2017 (3X 2012 Figure)

Games app downloads to smartphones and tablets are set to grow significantly over the next four years, according to a new report by analyst Juniper Research which projects there will be 64.1BN such downloads in 2017 -- more than three times the 21 billion downloaded in 2012. Key drivers powering this high rate of growth include free-to-play releases, more sophisticated devices & smartphone growth.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/W8RnIeQMej0/

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Total Recall: Diane Keaton's Best Movies

We count down the best-reviewed work of the Big Wedding star.

Diane Keaton

If you're the type of film fan who goes in for all-star romantic comedy extravaganzas, this weekend's The Big Wedding could be the cinematic event of the season -- a good old-fashioned, light-hearted look at all the horseplay, tomfoolery, and shenanigans that lead up to one bride and groom's betrothal, with the added bonus of the familiar faces of Robert De Niro, Robin Williams, Susan Sarandon, and Diane Keaton. Cinematic legends, all of them, but this week we're focusing on Keaton's contributions, and when you take a look at the amazing array of films she's appeared in, we think you'll understand why. Break out your favorite vests, baggy pants, and fedoras -- it's time for Total Recall!

92%

The most recent of the eight films she's made with Woody Allen, 1993's Manhattan Murder Mystery, almost didn't come Keaton's way; initially, the part of Carol Lipton, an amateur detective whose efforts to solve the mystery of a neighbor's death draw in her neurotic husband (Allen) and a family friend (Alan Alda), was supposed to go to Allen's longtime muse Mia Farrow -- but when their notorious breakup forced him to find a new leading lady, he reached out to a dependable friend. The result was decidedly one of his more lightweight films, but for quite a few critics, that was part of its affable charm; as Owen Gleiberman wrote for Entertainment Weekly, "Nobody labors quite like Woody Allen to produce a modest entertainment."

94%

An epic 194-minute biopic about the tortured affair between radical journalists John Reed (Warren Beatty) and Louise Bryan (Keaton) during the early 20th century, set against the backdrop of the Russian Revolution, Reds wasn't exactly the most commercially friendly film of 1981 -- but thanks to positive word of mouth and a stellar cast that also included Jack Nicholson, Paul Sorvino, Gene Hackman, and M. Emmet Walsh, it ended up grossing more than $50 million during its theatrical run, on the way to picking up three Academy Awards (against a dozen nominations). Calling it "Political drama and sweeping romance in one," Carol Cling of the Las Vegas Review-Journal marveled, "Only Warren Beatty would, or could, do it."

97%

Woody Allen didn't direct the 1972 film adaptation of his Broadway hit Play It Again, Sam, but he did star in it and write the screenplay -- and he did make sure to bring over Keaton, his leading lady from the stage. While the whole thing still didn't amount to much more than an affable homage to Casablanca, there's no denying the strength of that impeccable source material, or the skill and affection with which Sam pays tribute to an assortment of scenes, lines, and characters that every film buff knows by heart. "Maybe the movie has too much coherence, and the plot is too predictable; that's a weakness of films based on well-made Broadway plays," admitted Roger Ebert. "Still, that's hardly a serious complaint about something as funny as Play It Again, Sam."

98%

By the end of the 1970s, Keaton had starred in six Woody Allen films -- with the fifth, Annie Hall, sending her home with an Academy Award for Best Actress. She didn't repeat the feat with their sixth collaboration, 1979's Manhattan, but it's safe to say audiences and critics responded to the end result; Allen's story of a neurotic TV writer character caught in a(n admittedly unlikely-seeming) love triangle between a teenager (Mariel Hemingway) and an intellectual (Keaton) is regarded as one of the high points of his distinguished career. As Vincent Canby wrote for the New York Times when Manhattan was released, "Mr. Allen's progress as one of our major filmmakers is proceeding so rapidly that we who watch him have to pause occasionally to catch our breath."

98%

Keaton's career was already well on its way in 1977, but her turn as the title character in Woody Allen's Annie Hall rocketed her into Hollywood's upper echelon, earning her a Best Actress Oscar and heaps of critical accolades for a performance of a character who'd form the (often misunderstood) template for countless quirky-but-lovable leading ladies in subsequent rom-coms. While Keaton's affinity for the character makes sense, given that Allen constructed it based on what she's described as an "idealized version" of herself, that doesn't detract from the sheer winsomeness in the film; as Vincent Canby observed for the New York Times, "There will be discussion about what points in the film coincide with the lives of its two stars, but this, I think, is to detract from and trivialize the achievement of the film, which, at last, puts Woody in the league with the best directors we have."

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1927305/news/1927305/

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Healthy Eating: Should you have 6 Meals or 3 ... - Diet and Fitness

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Healthy Eating: Should you have 6 Meals or 3 Meals for Weight Loss?

Healthy eating and healthy living revolves around having sufficient food (read: a balanced diet!). But how many meals should you have per day? Healthy eating is a key component of weight loss and muscle building for those who want to maintain a healthy weight. Our strength and conditioning expert, Arnav Sarkar lays out the benefits of three meals versus six meals. He also tells you when you should have three meals and six meals for optimal health benefits.

As per popular belief ?going more than three hours without eating anything would lead to a drop in energy levels, loss of lean muscle tissue, increased fat storing, etc,? says Arnav. Hence it was always important to eat every three hours. So, three good meals in a day is a good option since fasting experts reveal that six meals is responsible for body fat and poor hormones.

?One of the major claims for three meals a day being better for fat loss is that it helps to keep insulin and blood sugar levels low and thus bodyfat is lower. In my personal opinion, however, this is where most people make a major mistake. They do not take the total caloric intake into calculation,? explains Arnav.

Arnav Sarkar elaborates the benefits of eating 3 meals a day:

Easy to follow in the long term - All offices, schools and colleges give people time to have breakfast, lunch and dinner ? meals that you can eat at home. There are also those who do not feel like eating first thing in the morning, and generally do not feel like eating till lunch. If this is the case, then do keep in mind that breakfast does not have be eaten immediately upon waking up. You can eat your breakfast even a couple of hours after waking up. So no need to miss breakfast altogether.

Allows you to eat bigger meals - This is where six meals a day becomes a problem for those who love to eat big and are trying to lose weight. Six small meals never make one mentally feel like they have eaten a meal, they always feel that they are snacking, and thus mentally are always craving for a meal.

Teaches you to control hunger better - In most cases, eating six times a day tends to make one eat more, since they tend to mentally crave food every 2-3 hours whether they are actually hungry or not. So when they decide to eat only three times a day, they slowly start to control their hunger better as they now go longer without food and develop better mental control.

Arnav Sarkar elaborates the benefits of eating 6 meals a day:

Ideal for eating a lot of calories - If you need to eat a lot of calories to gain weight or because you are an athlete who burns a lot of calories, then frequent meals is ideal for you.

Great to follow when trying to consume high amounts of protein - Our bodies were not designed to be able to digest 70-80 gms or more of protein in one meal easily. It?s always best for most people to keep protein to about 15-40 gms at each serving, and maybe a bit more for really big guys who exercise a lot.

Great to follow when trying to consume large amounts of carbs.

Helps avoid drops in energy/sugar levels - Some people truly cannot go on for more than 3-4 hours without eating anything and still be able to perform well. For these people, smaller frequent servings work well and help to keep their energy/sugar levels stable.

Arnav has chalked out and elaborated the importance of three meals and six meals; it is up to you to decide what are your needs and which meal will supplement it.

*Images courtesy: ? Thinkstock photos/ Getty Images

Source: http://healthmeup.com/news-diet-fitness/healthy-eating-should-you-have-6-meals-or-3-meals-a-day-for-weight-loss/21018

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Florida ordered to improve access to jobless benefits

By Tom Brown

MIAMI (Reuters) - The Department of Labor has ordered Florida to improve access to jobless benefits for people with disabilities or limited English proficiency in a ruling that could help make the state's unemployment insurance program more accessible to everyone, employment rights and legal advocacy groups said on Thursday.

"This is a huge victory," Valory Greenfield, an attorney for the non-profit Florida Legal Services, said of the Labor Department ruling.

"It's our expectation that this decision will have implications for the way Florida continues to implement its program with respect to all kinds of groups of people," Greenfield said.

Under revised procedures introduced in 2011, Florida requires everyone who applies for unemployment benefits to do so online and to complete a 45-question online exam that tests reading, math and research skills before they can receive a check.

The Labor Department's Civil Rights Center has been investigating the changes, based on a complaint filed by the National Employment Law Project and Florida Legal Services. In an initial determination, made public on Thursday, the department found that some of the more onerous online procedures may have opened the door to civil rights violations involving people with language and disability barriers.

"The way it's been operating does in fact violate certain federal discrimination laws," said George Wentworth, a senior staff attorney with the National Employment Law Project.

Florida's Department of Economic Opportunity, which administers the state's jobless benefits program, denied any legal violations. It said in a brief statement that the changes introduced in 2011 "conformed to federal law and regulations." Florida was working, however, to improve jobless aid, it said.

A Labor Department spokesperson said the federal government and Florida were now working together "to ensure that all persons who have limited English language proficiency or have disabilities, and who are eligible for unemployment compensation, have fair and meaningful access to those benefits."

Under a timeline laid out in its preliminary ruling, Florida was given 60 days beginning on April 5 to reach voluntary compliance with the ruling or face civil action by the U.S. Attorney General's Office and the potential loss of federal funding.

The ruling also provided a list of proposed remedies to fix some of the problems in Florida, which has a large population of people for whom English is not their primary language.

A separate, broader complaint filed with the Labor Department over the revisions to Florida's unemployment benefits program is still pending. Greenfield said the preliminary ruling was sure to set some precedent and influence other states considering online-only systems like Florida's.

"We think this signals a blueprint," she said. "It's telling these states, including Florida, that if you're going to do this you have to do it in a thoughtful way and protect people's rights."

She did not elaborate, but Florida ranks among the most tight-fisted states in the country when it comes to providing jobless benefits for the unemployed.

The average unemployment benefit paid to recipients in Florida was just $231 a week last year. Only Alabama and Mississippi paid out less in average weekly jobless aid.

Florida also ranks among the lowest in the nation when it comes to the number of eligible people receiving jobless benefits. In Florida these benefits are available for only 19 weeks compared with 26 weeks in most other states.

(Editing by Christopher Wilson)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/florida-ordered-improve-access-jobless-benefits-003241137--sector.html

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How to make a DNA double helix from jelly babies and liquorice

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The microbes you inhale on the New York City subway

Thursday, April 25, 2013

The microbial population in the air of the New York City subway system is nearly identical to that of ambient air on the city streets. This research, published ahead of print in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology, establishes an important baseline, should it become necessary to monitor the subway's air for dispersal of potentially dangerous microbes. Also, the combination of new methodologies in the study, including fast collection of aerosols and rapid sequencing technology, provide an efficient means for monitoring which was not previously available.

The results "are strong testimony for the efficiency of the train pumping system for ventilation," says principal investigator Norman R. Pace of the University of Colorado, Boulder. The wind one feels while walking across a subway grate as the subway clatters beneath also demonstrates just how effective that system is, he says. The only obvious differences in the subway's microbial population are the somewhat higher proportion of skin microbiota, and the doubled density of the fungal population, which Pace suggests may be due to rotting wood. "I was impressed by the similarity of [subway] and outdoor air," he says.

The researchers used a high tech mechanism to collect air at around 300 liters per minute (L/min), a big jump on the previous state of the art, which swallowed 12 L/min. That enabled collecting sufficient volume of air?a couple of cubic meters?to take the bacterial census within 20 minutes, instead of after "hours," says Pace. And analysis by sequencing is far faster and more thorough then using culture.

Pace notes that until now, the microbial content of subway air was unknown, and that the microbiology of indoor air is an emerging field of scientific inquiry. His research was funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, through its Microbiology of the Built Environment program, which has made 64 grants totaling $28 million to date.

"While it is difficult to predict what will be discovered on the frontier of scientific inquiry, the opportunity exists to better understand these complex microbial ecosystems and how they affect health and the environment. We expect that someday this knowledge will influence design and construction practices and other industrial processes," says Paula Olsiewski, program director, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

###

C.E. Robertson, L.K. Baumgartner, J.K. Harris, K.L. Peterson, M.J. Stevens, D.N. Frank, and N.R. Pace, 2013. Culture-independent analysis of aerosol microbiology in a metropolitan subway system. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. Published ahead of print 29 March 2013 ,doi:10.1128/AEM.00331-13

American Society for Microbiology: http://www.asm.org

Thanks to American Society for Microbiology for this article.

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

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/127921/The_microbes_you_inhale_on_the_New_York_City_subway

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Apple: The Good, the Bad, and the Really Rotten ... - Yahoo! Finance

The long awaited, much hyped Apple earnings report came out last night and offered a little something for everyone, particularly investors who've been arguing that the company has much bigger problems than a slumping stock price.

The Good

Apple (AAPL) reported earnings of $10.09 per share on revenues of $43.6 billion. Wall Street analysts had been looking for $10.07 on $42.3 billion in revenues. It was a slight beat of estimates that had fallen nearly 14% in the last month.

The Bad

* For the current fiscal period Apple lowered its revenue forecast to between $33.5 and $35.5 billion, well below the Street's estimate of $38.2b. In the same quarter in 2012, Apple booked $35b in sales and earned $9.32 per share.

* Gross margins also missed expectations at 37.5%, compared to expectations of 38.5%. In the same quarter last year, Apple's gross margin was 47.4%. The company says it expects margins in the current quarter to be between 36 and 37% compared to 43% in the quarter ending June 29 of 2012.

* Splitting the middle on revenue and gross margin guidance, Apple would gross profit of $12.6 billion vs. $15 billion last year. Unless the company finds a score of ways to cut expenses -- and they don't seem to have any plans to do so -- net income would come in somewhere near $7.5b or a drop of 15 - 16%, year over year. Assuming the number of share outstanding remains constant (a generous assumption), Apple would earn in the vicinity of $8 per share in the current quarter, compared to $9.30 last year.

The average analyst estimate for this quarter is $9.08. Expect that number to fall in earnest -- if not this morning, very soon. Apple is now running well below results that would get the company anywhere near the average estimate of $43.66.

* The company has spent $2.1b on R&D over the last 6 months, putting it on pace to spend around $4.2B for the year. To be generous, we'll say Apple's expected R&D expenditures are about 2.5% of revenues. To compare, the percentage of revenues used for R&D at Microsoft (MSFT), and Samsung are about 11% and 6% respectively.

Despite the questions raised by this underinvestment in new products, Apple stubbornly refuses to discuss timing on new product roll-outs. "Our teams are hard at work on some amazing new hardware and services we can't wait introduce this fall and throughout 2014," CEO Tim Cook said vaguely on last night's conference call.

Pressed further, Cook said "I don't want to be more specific, but I'm just saying we've got some really great stuff coming in the fall and all across 2014."

Cook's vague comments caused Apple shares to drop 5% by the end of the call, taking back all of its after hours gains. "It was very disappointing, I think it's time for Tim Cook to pass the baton," says Jeff Kilburg, founder & CEO of KKM Financial and a CNBC contributor, in the attached video. "I think the buyback was encouraging; at least they gave us something to bite on."

The Buyback

Apple also announced that it would be expanding its share buyback program from $10 billion to $60 billion and jacked its dividend by 15% to $3.05 a share. The company said it would be borrowing money to pay for the increased outlays. In doing so, it will be able to avoid paying a repatriation tax on the $102B of its $144B cash hoard being held overseas. Since Apple has the same debt rating as the U.S., borrowing money here is a smart play. On the other hand, using that cash for a buyback and token bump to the dividend yield is asinine.

Apple's existing buyback program was launched October 1st of last year. Since then, the company has spent $1.95B buying shares at an average cost of $478. The stock has fallen more than 40% since the buyback went live and shares purchased have lost 15% of their value.

In late February, Hedge Fund manager David Einhorn made the case that conventional buybacks and dividends are an inefficient use of shareholder money. Einhorn didn?t just complain, he created an alternative he dubbed iPrefs and presented the idea in a rather compelling power point slideshow.

Cook dismissed Einhorn?s proposal as a ?silly sideshow? then failed to even slightly deviate from the ancient and demonstrably futile Dividend/ Buyback combination so long favored by companies running low on ideas and creativity.

Regardless of what Apple?s stock does in the near term, yesterday?s performance left little doubt that Cook is not only a pale imitation of Steve Jobs but a low-rent version of John Sculley.

Apple is now just a depressing reminder that the circle of life applies to all living things, even Apple.

?At the end of the day, they do make money, they are growing globally. It?s not sexy, they don?t have the product you want, but they are, I think, a little bit oversold here,? concludes Kilburg.

More stories on Apple:

Three Steps to Fixing Apple
Einhorn Alone Can't Save Apple
Apple's Chart is Broken; Deal With It

Source: http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/breakout/apple-good-bad-rotten-115009507.html

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Gut bacteria byproduct predicts heart attack and stroke

Apr. 24, 2013 ? A microbial byproduct of intestinal bacteria contributes to heart disease and serves as an accurate screening tool for predicting future risks of heart attack, stroke and death in persons not otherwise identified by traditional risk factors and blood tests, according to Cleveland Clinic research published today in The New England Journal of Medicine.

The research team was led by Stanley Hazen, M.D., Ph.D., Vice Chair of Translational Research, Chair of the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine for the Lerner Research Institute and section head of Preventive Cardiology & Rehabilitation in the Miller Family Heart and Vascular Institute at Cleveland Clinic, and W.H. Wilson Tang, M.D., Department of Cardiovascular Medicine in the Miller Family Heart and Vascular Institute and Lerner Research Institute.

The current study is an extension of Dr. Hazen's previous work, in which he found that a chemical byproduct called trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is produced when intestinal bacteria digest the nutrient phosphatidylcholine, commonly known as lecithin. The prior research showed that TMAO levels in the blood were associated with heart disease. Dr. Hazen and colleagues have now confirmed that gut flora are essential in forming TMAO in humans and demonstrated a relationship between TMAO levels and future cardiac events like heart attack, stroke, and death -- even in those with no prior evidence of cardiac disease risk.

To demonstrate the role of gut flora in forming TMAO, human subjects were asked to eat two hard-boiled eggs (a common dietary source of lecithin) and a capsule of labeled lecithin (as a tracer). After ingestion, TMAO levels in the blood increased. However, when these same subjects were given a brief course of broad-spectrum antibiotics to suppress their gut flora, their TMAO levels were suppressed, and no additional TMAO was formed, even after ingesting lecithin. These results demonstrated that the intestinal bacteria are essential for the formation of TMAO.

In the second phase of the study, the researchers measured TMAO levels in a large, independent, clinical cohort -- consisting of more than 4,000 adults undergoing cardiac evaluation at Cleveland Clinic -- over a three-year follow-up period. They found that higher TMAO blood levels were associated with higher future risks of death and nonfatal heart attack or stroke over the ensuing three-year period, independent of other risk factors and blood test results. These results complement those of another recent study of Dr. Hazen's linking gut flora metabolism of a structurally similar nutrient found in animal products, carnitine, to TMAO production and heart attack risk.

"Heart disease remains the No. 1 killer, and while we know how to reduce cholesterol, treat blood pressure, and reduce cardiac risks through diet and other interventions, a substantial residual risk still remains," Dr. Hazen said. "We need to find new pathways to attack heart disease, and these findings strongly suggest that further research into the involvement of gut microbiome in the development of cardiovascular disease could lead to new avenues of prevention and treatment of heart disease."

Dr. Hazen further suggested, "These studies show that measuring blood levels of TMAO could serve as a powerful tool for predicting future cardiovascular risk, even for those without known risk factors. More studies are needed to confirm that TMAO testing, like cholesterol, triglyceride or glucose levels, might help guide physicians in providing individualized nutritional recommendations for preventing cardiovascular disease. Our goal is not to suggest dietary restrictions of entire food groups. Eggs, meat and other animal products are an integral part of most individuals' diets. Our work shows, however, that when digesting these foods, gut flora can generate a chemical mediator, TMAO, that may contribute to cardiovascular disease."

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Cleveland Clinic, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

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

Journal Reference:

W.H. Wilson Tang, Zeneng Wang, Bruce S. Levison, Robert A. Koeth, Earl B. Britt, Xiaoming Fu, Yuping Wu, Stanley L. Hazen. Intestinal Microbial Metabolism of Phosphatidylcholine and Cardiovascular Risk. New England Journal of Medicine, 2013; 368 (17): 1575 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1109400

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/health_medicine/heart_disease/~3/D14BpEQC7uQ/130424185211.htm

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Joy Field: Radical Idea: The Short-Term Ministry Staycation

Spring is here, and that means summer is almost upon us. In Christian circles, that means camping trips, BBQs, church soft-ball leagues and low attendance on Sunday mornings as families take weekend trips out of town.

Another sign of the season is summer short-term ministry* trip fund-raising--just about now you will begin to see the usual flurry of bake sales, rummage sales and car-washes all with the goal of raising money for these trips. These ministry trips often consists of one or two dozen people traveling internationally for a week to do a service project or lead a VBS. Globally, this has turned into a billion dollar industry (it is a business) and some have advocated the broader use of the term 'Christian tourism' to describe this trend rather than short-term ministry.

I don't want to go on a tirade against short-term ministry, although I would encourage the church to consider more deeply how it stewards its resources and determines its priorities. What I do want to do is offer an alternative vision, a radical new idea!
?
A popular term that has popped up over the past few years is 'staycation,' meaning, a vacation taken locally or at home. Vacations cost a lot of money, especially ones that include international travel. With the economic downturn, more people have been opting to take their vacations locally and explore what their own communities have to offer in the way of leisure activities.

For two years I had the opportunity to serve with a ministry that worked among refugees in Chicago, each year we would have several short-term teams visit and we would give them the opportunity to experience what life and ministry was like for us. We emphasized learning and understanding rather than doing.

We took these visitors to mosques and Hindu temples, took them down to Little India for a day and had them prayer walk while they explored--often they would exclaim that they had never prayed so much in their lives. Sometimes we were even able to arrange it so that they could do home-stays with some of the refugee families that we were working among. Never once did I hear anyone complain that their trip to Chicago didn't live up to their expectations--more often than not, these visitors were surprised at the rich diversity around them and went home excited to about the possibility of reaching out in their own communities to their new neighbors.

This kind of trip, to an American city is significantly less costly than traveling overseas--and in the case of these teams, the impact on them Spiritually and practically was often more significant than international trips that they had previously taken, because it hit closer to home.

Here's where my radical idea comes in. Continue to have the bake sales and car washes, continue to have the young people in your church scrimp and save their money, continue to have them send out financial appeals to their friends and families. But instead of using the money on themselves, teach them the joy of giving. Consider using the tens of thousands of dollars your church raises for short-term ministry each year, and pick a long-term missionary to invest it in!

Here's the rub, this isn't a new idea--churches used to have their youth raise money for global missions. Most of the time these youth would never travel internationally, but they would save their pennies for missions. Instead, we've inculcated into today's youth the idea that church fund-raising is about them--they're not raising for the mission of God, but for their own summer experience.

I was recently at a church that was planning several short-term international ministry trips for their youth. Each youth would need to raise over two-thousand dollars. In total, this meant over fifty thousand dollars would be needed just for that summer's trips--they had been doing these trips for years! The congregation didn't blink an eye-lash at the expense. However, that same congregation couldn't find fifty-dollars a month in their budget to support a long-term missionary working among an unreached people group and turned me away at the door.

Very few churches take into account how much they spend on short-term ministry because it isn't a line item in their church budget. They depend on those in the church to raise the money. At the same time, they are often very wary of missionaries making direct appeals to their church members out of fears that it will diminish giving towards the church.

In some cases, this creates a funny paradigm where long-term missionaries have to vie for a small amount of financial support through official channels while short-term teams can make direct appeals to church members and circumvent official channels and accountability.

What would happen if the youth leader at the church advanced a radical new idea--rather than raising money for a short-term international trip this summer, raise the same amount of money and give it towards long-term missions.

The youth group could then spend a week ministering locally. In the process the youth members would be required to study an unreached people group and learn about the long-term missionary they were supporting. They could skype with the missionary(s) and pray for them. They may even have a banquet at the church where they partake in a meal inspired by the food of the people they are praying for.

This would be a great way to do a short-term summer staycation--have it be focused on prayer and education rather than some amorphous experience.

To be clear, I believe that short-term international ministry trips have value, when done right--but we need to be discerning both in how we use our resources and how best to disciple those in our churches--both the adults and the youth. Short-term ministry staycations may be one way that we can become more healthy in all of these areas.

* I advocate the use of the term short-term ministry rather than mission. Ministry means service, whereas mission, properly understood has a much narrower definition of making disciples cross-culturally. Going to another country and painting a wall doesn't count as mission work.

Source: http://www.joyfield.org/2013/04/radical-idea-short-term-ministry.html

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Thursday, April 25, 2013

Early Earth's chlorine blown away by giant impacts

Element has long puzzled scientists because modern levels are so low

By Erin Wayman

Web edition: April 24, 2013

Earthlings may owe a debt of gratitude to the enormous miniplanets that smashed into the planet it its youth. Such collisions might have knocked away much of the supply of chlorine concentrated on the planet?s surface, geochemists propose. Had that loss not occurred, the world?s oceans would have been too salty for complex life to thrive, they suggest.

The scenario may explain why Mars, which suffered fewer large impacts, may have more than twice as much chlorine as Earth does, the researchers report April 16 in Earth and Planetary Science Letters.

?The story seems to hang together pretty well,? says James Brenan, a geologist at the University of Toronto who wasn?t involved in the study. ?Life, probably over a fairly long time, might have been able to adapt to this environment, though certainly things would be different than today.?

One snag is that the idea is ?a very difficult thing to test,? says geochemist Ray Burgess of the University of Manchester in England.

The composition of ancient meteorites, which are remnants of the raw material that built the planets, indicates that Earth should have 10 times as much chlorine as it does. The missing chlorine has perplexed scientists for decades. In 1995, geochemist William McDonough suggested that chlorine was dragged to Earth?s center by iron, nickel and other metals that formed the planet?s core.

Normally, chlorine and other elements known as halogens don?t readily dissolve in metals or often combine with other elements to form minerals found in rocks. But perhaps under the intense heat and pressure of the core, chlorine might have become more willing to mix with metal. ?I wasn?t happy with putting it in the core,? says McDonough, of the University of Maryland in College Park. But he didn?t know what else to do with it. ?I was scratching my head,? he says.

The new work suggests that, in fact, the core is not where chlorine went. In lab tests, Zachary Sharp of the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and David Draper of the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston approximated the conditions of the core and observed chlorine?s behavior. They added iron metal, rocks typical of the mantle and a chlorine compound to a capsule heated to 1900? Celsius under pressures about 80,000 times higher than Earth?s atmospheric pressure. The result: Chlorine still didn?t dissolve in iron. That means chlorine probably isn?t hiding out in the core, Sharp says.

So he and Draper looked elsewhere for a solution. After ruling out the possibility that Earth never accumulated chlorine in the first place, the pair concluded that the incipient Earth rammed into giant planetary bodies more than 4 billion years ago and the repeated impacts blew the element away.

The explanation hinges on the peculiarity of chlorine. Unlike elements that mostly end up in rocks and metals, most of Earth?s chlorine is in salt deposits and brines or dissolved in the ocean. Because the element is concentrated on the surface, giant impacts in the past would have stripped away a good chunk of Earth?s chlorine supply, Sharp and Draper say.

Had the early impacts not happened, Sharp says, ?the Earth would have been a halogen-poisoned planet.? The oceans would be as salty as the Dead Sea, and high salinity would reduce precipitation. With less rain, there would be less erosion on land and fewer nutrients washing into the sea. In such a world, he says, ?it would be much more difficult for [complex] life to evolve.?

McDonough acknowledges that the new work disproves the idea that chlorine is trapped in the core. However, he?s not yet convinced that cosmic crashes removed the element. Even with the massive collision that created the moon, the pull of gravity returned to Earth most of the material that had been kicked into space, he says. ?But I don?t have a better idea.?

To strengthen the argument, planetary geochemist Mikhail Zolotov of Arizona State University in Tempe suggests that the team develop simulations to assess how impacts could have affected elements in the young Earth?s atmosphere, oceans and crust. The team could also investigate whether other elements preferentially found on the surface are also lower than expected. ?

Source: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/349930/title/Early_Earths_chlorine_blown_away_by_giant_impacts

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