New target to stop cancer's spread discovered by Georgia State scientists

Public release date: 30-Jan-2013
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Contact: Jeremy Craig
jcraig@gsu.edu
404-413-1357
Georgia State University

Disrupting a key interaction between two types of proteins in cells inhibits the spread of cancerous cells, providing researchers with a new pathway toward developing cancer-fighting drugs, according to new findings by Georgia State University scientists.

Cell migration is essential for the spread of cancerous cells, also known as metastasis, as well as for other diseases. The research team in the labs of Zhi-Ren Liu, professor of biology, and Jenny Yang, professor of biochemistry, studied the interaction of two molecules, p68 RNA helicase and calcium-calmodulin.

Interrupting the interaction between p68 and calcium-calmodulin, which is essential for cell migration, inhibited metastasis.

The findings were recently published in Nature Communications.

"Cancer, at its primary site, will not necessary kill," Liu explained. "Cancer kills by multi-site metastasis. If we are able to disrupt this interaction, we will able to inhibit cancer metastasis. The research indicates that the interaction is absolutely required for all cell migration, and we suspect it may not be limited to cancerous-type cells. It may be a general phenomenon for all cell types."

Calcium-calmodulin is an important protein, acting like a messenger to turn different proteins on and off, said Yang, whose lab focuses on calcium's role in biological processes.

"Calmodulin is a very interesting protein and it interacts with many different systems in response to calcium level changes," she said. "We have demonstrated a new target. There are new ways possible to modulate calcium signaling as a way to treat diseases."

Because cell migration is a common phenomenon that is not only normal, but also related to diseases, there are impacts on treating other diseases, Liu said, from inflammation to neurodegenerative diseases and heart disease.

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The paper, "Interaction between p68 RNA helicase and Ca2+-calmodulin promotes cell migration and metastasis" in Nature Communications is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms2345.

Media requesting a copy of the study can also contact Jeremy Craig.

For more about Liu, visit http://biology.gsu.edu/5715.html.

For more about Yang, visit http://chemistry.gsu.edu/faculty/Yang/.

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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: 30-Jan-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Jeremy Craig
jcraig@gsu.edu
404-413-1357
Georgia State University

Disrupting a key interaction between two types of proteins in cells inhibits the spread of cancerous cells, providing researchers with a new pathway toward developing cancer-fighting drugs, according to new findings by Georgia State University scientists.

Cell migration is essential for the spread of cancerous cells, also known as metastasis, as well as for other diseases. The research team in the labs of Zhi-Ren Liu, professor of biology, and Jenny Yang, professor of biochemistry, studied the interaction of two molecules, p68 RNA helicase and calcium-calmodulin.

Interrupting the interaction between p68 and calcium-calmodulin, which is essential for cell migration, inhibited metastasis.

The findings were recently published in Nature Communications.

"Cancer, at its primary site, will not necessary kill," Liu explained. "Cancer kills by multi-site metastasis. If we are able to disrupt this interaction, we will able to inhibit cancer metastasis. The research indicates that the interaction is absolutely required for all cell migration, and we suspect it may not be limited to cancerous-type cells. It may be a general phenomenon for all cell types."

Calcium-calmodulin is an important protein, acting like a messenger to turn different proteins on and off, said Yang, whose lab focuses on calcium's role in biological processes.

"Calmodulin is a very interesting protein and it interacts with many different systems in response to calcium level changes," she said. "We have demonstrated a new target. There are new ways possible to modulate calcium signaling as a way to treat diseases."

Because cell migration is a common phenomenon that is not only normal, but also related to diseases, there are impacts on treating other diseases, Liu said, from inflammation to neurodegenerative diseases and heart disease.

###

The paper, "Interaction between p68 RNA helicase and Ca2+-calmodulin promotes cell migration and metastasis" in Nature Communications is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncomms2345.

Media requesting a copy of the study can also contact Jeremy Craig.

For more about Liu, visit http://biology.gsu.edu/5715.html.

For more about Yang, visit http://chemistry.gsu.edu/faculty/Yang/.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

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

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-01/gsu-ntt013013.php

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Cissy Houston On Whitney Houston Gay Relationship: I Would Have 'Absolutely' Disapproved (VIDEO)

Jeremy Renner

The hunky star of "The Avengers" blasted persistent rumors about his sexuality -- as well as probes into his personal life in general -- earlier this month. "I want my personal life to be personal, and it's not f***ing true," Renner, 41,<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/04/jeremy-renner-blasts-gay-rumors_n_1403859.html" target="_hplink"> is quoted as saying</a>. "And I don't care if you're talking about things that are true, you're still talking about my personal life.. How about I go peek in your window, take what underwear you wore last night, whose husband you were f***ing, and shove that in the megaphone throughout your neighborhood? How does that feel?"

Kristin Stewart

In 2009, gossip sites went wild with headlines that suggested the "Twilight" star was a lesbian. However, a closer look at Stewart's quotes <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/6508461/Twilight-star-Kristen-Stewart-on-dating-Robert-Pattinson-We-are.-We-arent.-Im-a-lesbian.html" target="_hplink">reveals how she was actually responding to a question </a>over the nature of her relationship with co-star Robert Pattinson: <blockquote>"I've thought about this a lot. There's no answer that's not going to tip you one way or the other. Think about every hypothetical situation. 'OK, we are. We aren't. I'm a lesbian.' I probably would've answered if people hadn't made such a big deal about it. But I'm not going to give the finding an answer."</blockquote>

Jessie J.

The British pop star, who is openly bisexual,<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/19/jessie-j-lesbian-rumors-biography-_n_1438372.html" target="_hplink"> faced allegations in an unauthorized biography</a> that she'd been ordered to withhold the fact that she was a lesbian by her record label. "Jessie might have been with boys in the past -- but she is 100 per cent gay," author Chloe Govan <a href="http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/thevoice/4265487/Voice-coach-Jessie-Js-100-gay-but-bi-is-more-trendy.html" target="_hplink">wrote in an excerpt of the book</a>. "Jessie was openly lesbian and didn't hide it." The singer <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/jessiejofficial/status/192975509381066752" target="_hplink">quickly took to Twitter</a> to deny the accusations, noting, "I'm really a lesbian?! Ha! Thanks for writing yet another boring untrue story."

James Franco

The 21st century actor, artist, intellectual and overall "renaissance man" has believably played gay characters onscreen numerous times (most memorably as Harvey Milk's lover in the Oscar-winning "Milk"), but Franco <a href="http://insidemovies.ew.com/2011/01/05/james-franco-gay-roles/" target="_hplink">has downplayed the rumors</a> about his real-life sexuality. "There are lots of other reasons to be interested in gay characters than wanting myself to go out and have sex with guys," he is quoted by <em>Entertainment Weekly</em> as saying.

Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino

The "Jersey Shore" star reportedly hit back at housemates Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi and Jenni "JWoww" Farley after they speculated about his sexuality and hinted he might be gay in <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/07/jersey-shore-snooki-and-jwoww-bisexual-feminism_n_1255913.html" target="_hplink">an interview with HuffPost Gay Voices</a>. "Mike really ripped both Snooki and JWoww a new one," a show insider <a href="http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/10514733-421/situation-to-snooki-and-jwoww-stop-hinting-that-im-gay.html" target="_hplink">told <em>The Chicago Sun-Times</a></em>. Noting that Sorrentino is concerned such comments could hurt his brand endorsements, which are focused on straight male customers, the source added, "He's extremely upset." In the interview, both JWoww and Snooki implied that despite his playboy reputation, Mike has questioned his own sexuality. "He brings it up," JWoww said. "He'll say, 'People think I'm gay and I don't know what they're talking about.'" Added Snooki: "He told me one time, '[All the talk is] making me wonder.'"

Bruno Mars

Rumors that the pop star had come out of the closet began after CNN iReport -- a subsection of the media outlet comprising 'citizen journalists' from around the world -- <a href="http://www.towleroad.com/2012/04/bruno-mars-did-not-come-out-of-the-closet.html" target="_hplink">posted a since-removed story</a> that stated, "The famous pop-star Bruno Mars admits his homosexuality," which caused the Mars' name to trend on Twitter. Nonetheless, Mars' rep called the report "completely fabricated" and "false," <a href="http://www.gossipcop.com/bruno-mars-gay-out-of-closet-homosexual-april-2012/" target="_hplink">according to Gossip Cop</a>.

Hulk Hogan

In an appearance on "The Wendy Williams Show," Hulk Hogan <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/09/hulk-hogan-gay-rumors-wendy-williams_n_1265982.html" target="_hplink">responded to accusations made by his ex-wife Linda</a> that he had an affair with fellow wrestler Brutus Beefcake. "It's tough because a lot of my friends in normal life, a lot of my friends in the entertainment business, and a lot of my friends in the wrestling business are gay," he told Wendy Williams. He continued, "Just to say something spiteful and hurtful, I don't get it...if it was true and I was gay, I'd embrace it, and I'd tell you guys about it and I'd celebrate it."

Tom Cruise

Despite three high-profile marriages, the "Top Gun" star has been the subject of gay speculation for years. In 2003, he won a $10 million default judgment in a case against a gay porn actor who claimed the two had an affair, and two years earlier, he sued Los Angeles-based publisher Michael Davis for $100 million after Davis claimed to have a videotape of Cruise engaged in homosexual acts. As <em>People</em> <a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,625389,00.html" target="_hplink">reported</a>, the suit was eventually dropped, and Davis eventually stated that Cruise "is not, and never has been, homosexual and has never had a homosexual affair."

Oprah Winfrey

Speculation has swirled over the talk show queen's long-standing kinship with TV anchor friend Gayle King for years. But as Winfrey <a href="http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-12-08/gossip/27083713_1_oprah-winfrey-network-gayle-king-stedman-graham" target="_hplink">told Barbara Walters last year</a>, "I'm not even kind of a lesbian. And the reason why [the rumor] irritates me is because it means that somebody must think I'm lying. That's No. 1. No. 2 ... why would you want to hide it? That is not the way I run my life."

Vin Diesel

When <a href="http://www.hollywood.com/news/Diesel_Slams_Gay_Rumors/3487636" target="_hplink">asked about the long-standing rumors</a> on his sexuality, the "Fast And The Furious" star proclaimed, "I was like, 'How could you say that? Why would you say that?'" He went on to note, "I'm not gonna put it out there on a magazine cover like some other actors. I come from the Harrison Ford, Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino code of silence. I'm not gonna do that."

Kelly Clarkson

Appearing on "The View," the pop star lamented the fact that she's never been in love and has difficulty dating, which <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/27/kelly-clarkson-denies-lesbian-rumors-on-the-view_n_1034814.html" target="_hplink">prompt many people to speculate that she's a lesbian</a>. "I'm from a small town so, like, everyone's married with children or about to have children," she said. "So it's a little hard when you go home and people are like -- and that's why people think I'm gay -- because they're like 'Why aren't you married?' And I'm like, 'it doesn't happen for everyone right off the bat.'"

Tom Hardy

The "Inception" hunk <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/28/inception-star-tom-hardy_n_662907.html" target="_hplink">sent the blogosphere into overdrive</a> after he was quoted as saying, "I'm an actor for f**k's sake. I've played with everything and everyone." Still, a source now claims Hardy, who is engaged to British actress Charlotte Riley, <a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/the_awful_truth/tom_hardy_source_sex_quotes_taken_out/192935" target="_hplink">had been taken out of context</a>: "He was discussing a gay role and quotes coming from the character."

George Clooney

After <em>Esquire</em> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/08/george-clooney-responds-t_n_90530.html" target="_hplink">uncovered a website</a> that referred to the Oscar-winning hunk as "gay, gay, gay," the good-natured actor quipped, "No, I'm gay, gay. The third gay -- that was pushing it." Friend Manuele Malenotti <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/8622173/George-Clooney-gay-rumours-are-untrue-claims-friend.html" target="_hplink">has also defended Clooney</a>, noting, "You never know in life, and men are having an identity crisis but I can tell you George is not gay. All I can say is that George, when it comes to love, has decided that he is not going to get married again and he is not going to have any children and he won't change his mind."

The 'Gossip' Guys

Tabloid speculation over the button-handsome young stars of "Gossip Girl" has been rampant, <a href="http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2008/06/chace_crawford_and_ed_westwick.html" target="_hplink">particularly given the fact </a>that Chace Crawford (right) and Ed Westwick (middle) were roommates for some time, according to <em>New York Magazine</em>. Westwick <a href="It's funny because I love this f**king dude dearly. I would die for this f**king dude. He's my brother. But, by God, we are so into our f**king women it's ridiculou" target="_hplink">later blasted the rumors</a>, saying, "It's funny because I love this f**king dude dearly. I would die for this f**king dude. He's my brother. But, by God, we are so into our f**king women it's ridiculous."

Michelle Rodriguez

When asked earlier this year if there <a href="http://www.afterellen.com/people/2011/03/michelle-rodriguez-wants-you-to-know-shes-not-a-lesbian" target="_hplink">were any rumors she wanted to clear up</a>, Rodriguez quipped, "I'm not a lesbian. Yeah! Mitchie likes sausage."

Zac Efron

Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton has <a href="http://perezhilton.com/2011-11-29-zac-efron-aiport-lax-sexy-blue-outfit-sunglasses?relate=#.TtkXgHNPkqU" target="_hplink">made no secret of his admiration</a> for the "High School Musical" star, while other gossip sites have openly speculated about Efron's sexuality. Still, Efron <a href="http://www.ivillage.com/zac-efron-addresses-gay-rumors-0/1-a-26706" target="_hplink">has laughed it off</a>: "I know it's very addictive to read that kind of stuff. It's entertainment. Honestly, if the worst [Perez Hilton] can say about me is that I'm gay, then I think I'll be fine. I can handle it."

Alicia Keys

The singer-songwriter acknowledges <a href="http://www.entertainmentwise.com/news/38024/alicia-keys-i-can-understand-lesbian-rumours" target="_hplink">why many thought she was a lesbian</a> shortly after her Grammy Award-winning debut: "I was definitely rough around the edges. I look back at certain interviews and I'm like, 'Damn! Did I have to look that hard? Did I have to do my hair that way?' More recently, <a href="http://www.theimproper.com/4623/alicia-keys-wants-lesbian-rumors-put-to-rest" target="_hplink">she said</a>, "I'm comfortable in my own skin - comfortable enough to know when something is right for me and when things need to change. All that comes in time, because when I first started out, I hadn't a clue."

John Travolta

Maybe it's the "Saturday Night Fever" syndrome, but Travolta, who has been married to Kelly Preston since 1991, has been<a href="http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2010/12/everyone-knows-john-travolta-gay-says-carrie-fisher" target="_hplink"> dogged by gay rumors and reports</a> since the late 1980s. Last year, his attorney Marty Singer sent to a five-page letter to Gawker threatening to sue over posting "false and outrageous" claims in a story <a href="http://gawker.com/5685811/the-secret-sex-life-of-john-travolta" target="_hplink">the site ran in a post called</a> "The Secret Sex Life of John Travolta."

Kate Hudson

The "Almost Famous" star, who is currently dating Muse singer Matthew Bellamy and was previously married to Black Crowes frontman Chris Robinson, said she was baffled by <a href="http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2009/01/09/kate_hudson_baffled_by_lesbian_rumors_" target="_hplink">rumors she'd embarked on a steamy lesbian affair</a>. "No, no, no," she was quoted as saying. "Strictly boys for me!"

Ryan Seacrest

Speculation about the well-groomed TV's host sexuality has been so rampant, even his girlfriend Julianne Hough <a href="http://www.tmz.com/2010/07/21/julianne-hough-ryan-seacrest-gay-dinner-dating-north-carolina-mortons/" target="_hplink">thought he was gay</a>: "He totally wasn't my type," she said, according to TMZ.com. "I thought he was gay." Several years earlier, Seacrest himself had addressed the rumors, noting, "I know a lot of gay males who I work with that are fantastic people and I love hanging out with them. But because I hang out and bring gay men into my life, does that mean that I'm gay? I promise you that I very much love women."

Zoe Saldana

Addressing speculation she might be a lesbian, the self-professed tomboy said she <a href="http://www.shewired.com/g-spot/avatars-zoe-saldana-opens-about-her-lesbianism" target="_hplink">wasn't bothered by the reports</a>, adding, "People have sometimes told my grandmother, 'Your granddaughter has a bit of lesbianism in her,'" Saldana said. "It's that my sisters and I spent all our time among men. We were very popular with them. Our way of thinking is very masculine."

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/29/cissy-houston-whitney-houston-gay-rumors_n_2573718.html

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Twitter's Vine features porn video as 'Editor's Pick'

11 hrs.

Rosa Golijan , NBC News

Since Vine, Twitter's video-sharing service, launched on Thursday, it's been plagued by all sorts of woes. We noticed that it lacks privacy settings and?abuse prevention measures, Facebook prevented it from finding any friends through the social network, and now ... well, now pornographic?content has slipped?into Vine's?"Editor's Picks" section.

Vine's a rather neat service, in theory. If you've got an iOS device, you can create and share Vine videos. All you have to do is point your iPhone (or iPod Touch) at something and press your finger to the screen to record a clip up to six seconds in length (both sound and motion are captured, of course). Once done, you can share it to Vine, Twitter and Facebook. You can also use the app to browse through popular videos and those featured as "Editor's Picks."

And that's where Vine's latest troubles appear. On Monday morning, a video shared by "nsfwvine" ??an account created for the sole purpose of posting pornographic videos to Vine (hence the "Not Safe For Work" part of the name)???received the service's "Editor's Pick" badge of honor.

While the video did lose the "Editor's Pick" badge later in the morning, it was not removed from the service. Instead, it now carries a warning message declaring that the video?"may contain sensitive content" and requires a tap to be viewed. (From what we can tell, this warning message is automatically added to videos which are reported as inappropriate by Vine users.)

We have reached out to Twitter for more information regarding how the video in question?? which shows a young woman and a?sex toy?? was chosen as an "Editor's Pick." We wondered if some sort of automated process may be involved in the selection. A Twitter spokesperson explained that an actual person was actually to blame. "A human error resulted in a video with adult content becoming one of the videos in Editor's Picks," she wrote in an email to NBC News. "[U]pon realizing this mistake we removed the video immediately. We apologize to our users for the error."

We have also contacted Apple, as we suspect the Cupertino-based company is probably not all too happy about pornographic content being?prominently?featured in an iOS app. (It has banned apps for far less racy issues in the past.)

In the meantime, obscene material continues to flood into Vine. Several accounts ? including "nsfwvine" ? have been posting pornographic clips since Vine launched last week. Not all of porn clips?carry the "sensitive content" warning yet and it's not clear if any have been removed so far.

"Wow. How did this happen, Vine?" a user asked?on one of the videos, while another wondered "[c]an I flag this as inappropriate more than once?"

Want more tech news?or interesting?links? You'll get plenty of both if you keep up with Rosa Golijan, the writer of this post, by following her on?Twitter, subscribing to her?Facebook?posts,?or circling her?on?Google+.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/technolog/twitters-vine-features-porn-video-editors-pick-1C8137828

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Bioinspired fibers change color when stretched

Jan. 28, 2013 ? A team of materials scientists at Harvard University and the University of Exeter, UK, have invented a new fiber that changes color when stretched. Inspired by nature, the researchers identified and replicated the unique structural elements that create the bright iridescent blue color of a tropical plant's fruit.

The multilayered fiber, described January 28 in the journal Advanced Materials, could lend itself to the creation of smart fabrics that visibly react to heat or pressure.

"Our new fiber is based on a structure we found in nature, and through clever engineering we've taken its capabilities a step further," says lead author Mathias Kolle, a postdoctoral fellow at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS). "The plant, of course, cannot change color. By combining its structure with an elastic material, however, we've created an artificial version that passes through a full rainbow of colors as it's stretched."

Since the evolution of the first eye on Earth more than 500 million years ago, the success of many organisms has relied upon the way they interact with light and color, making them useful models for the creation of new materials. For seeds and fruit in particular, bright color is thought to have evolved to attract the agents of seed dispersal, especially birds.

The fruit of the South American tropical plant, Margaritaria nobilis, commonly called "bastard hogberry," is an intriguing example of this adaptation. The ultra-bright blue fruit, which is low in nutritious content, mimics a more fleshy and nutritious competitor. Deceived birds eat the fruit and ultimately release its seeds over a wide geographic area.

"The fruit of this bastard hogberry plant was scientifically delightful to pick," says principal investigator Peter Vukusic, Associate Professor in Natural Photonics at the University of Exeter. "The light-manipulating architecture its surface layer presents, which has evolved to serve a specific biological function, has inspired an extremely useful and interesting technological design."

Vukusic and his collaborators at Harvard studied the structural origin of the seed's vibrant color. They discovered that the upper cells in the seed's skin contain a curved, repeating pattern, which creates color through the interference of light waves. (A similar mechanism is responsible for the bright colors of soap bubbles.) The team's analysis revealed that multiple layers of cells in the seed coat are each made up of a cylindrically layered architecture with high regularity on the nano- scale.

The team replicated the key structural elements of the fruit to create flexible, stretchable and color-changing photonic fibers using an innovative roll-up mechanism perfected in the Harvard laboratories.

"For our artificial structure, we cut down the complexity of the fruit to just its key elements," explains Kolle. "We use very thin fibers and wrap a polymer bilayer around them. That gives us the refractive index contrast, the right number of layers, and the curved, cylindrical cross-section that we need to produce these vivid colors."

The researchers say that the process could be scaled up and developed to suit industrial production.

"Our fiber-rolling technique allows the use of a wide range of materials, especially elastic ones, with the color-tuning range exceeding by an order of magnitude anything that has been reported for thermally drawn fibers," says coauthor Joanna Aizenberg, Amy Smith Berylson Professor of Materials Science at Harvard SEAS, and Kolle's adviser. Aizenberg is also Director of the Kavli Institute for Bionano Science and Technology at Harvard and a Core Faculty Member at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard.

The fibers' superior mechanical properties, combined with their demonstrated color brilliance and tunability, make them very versatile. For instance, the fibers can be wound to coat complex shapes. Because the fibers change color under strain, the technology could lend itself to smart sports textiles that change color in areas of muscle tension, or that sense when an object is placed under strain as a result of heat.

Additional coauthors included Alfred Lethbridge at the University of Exeter, Moritz Kreysing at Ludwig Maximilians University (Germany), and Jeremy B. Baumberg, Professor of Nanophotonics at the University of Cambridge (UK).

This research was supported by the U.S. Air Force Office of Scientific Research Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative, by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, and through a postdoctoral research fellowship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. The researchers also benefited from facilities at the Harvard Center for Nanoscale Systems, which is part of the National Nanotechnology Infrastructure Network supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation. The Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard also contributed to this research.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Harvard University.

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

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Journal Reference:

1. Mathias Kolle, Alfred Lethbridge, Moritz Kreysing, Jeremy J. Baumberg, Joanna Aizenberg, Peter Vukusic. Bio-Inspired Band-Gap Tunable Elastic Optical Multilayer Fibers. Advanced Materials, 2013; DOI: 10.1002/adma.201203529

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/strange_science/~3/F55whN1jT3w/130128151938.htm

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Phone and mailed interventions significantly increase colorectal cancer screening rates

Public release date: 28-Jan-2013
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Contact: Steve Graff
stephen.graff@jefferson.edu
215-955-5291
Thomas Jefferson University

Patients 3 times more likely to get screened with phone navigation and mailings, researchers at Jefferson's Kimmel Cancer Center found

PHILADELPHIAA mailing or phone call to help patients get screened for colorectal cancer significantly increases their chances of actually getting tested, according to a study published in the January issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention by researchers at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson.

The research team, led by Ronald E. Myers, Ph.D., Professor and Director of Division of Population Science, Department of Medical Oncology at Thomas Jefferson University, performed a randomized, controlled trial of 945 people aged 50-79 to test the impact of a new, preference-based navigation intervention, as opposed to standard mailing or usual care, on screening rates.

A third of the patients received a "tailored" phone call to encourage them to perform their preferred screening test (colonoscopy vs. at-home blood stool test), plus a mailing of preferred information; another third were sent information on colonoscopy and a stool blood test kit; while the last third received no intervention.

Patients who received a phone call and/or mailing were almost three times as likely to undergo screening six months later compared to those who had no intervention. However, there was no significant difference between the phone and mailed interventions versus mailings only on screening rates.

While colorectal cancer screening rates are increasing in the United States, rates lag behind those for breast and cervical cancer screening. Screening and early detection of colon and rectal cancer holds tremendous promise for reducing the toll of colon and rectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in this country with more than 140,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Late diagnoses will account for many of the colorectal cancer related deaths.

The study, which was conducted between 2007 and 2011, included 10 primary care practices affiliated with the Christiana Care Health System in Delaware that used a comment medical record system.

The research team searched for patients who had no prior diagnosis of colorectal neoplasia or inflammatory bowel diseases, had visited one of the participating practices within the previous two years, and were not compliant with American Cancer Society colorectal cancer screening guidelines.

For the study, 312 patients received a tailored intervention, where they were informed about both colonoscopy and blood stool tests and then were sent information on colonoscopy or the actual blood test performed, based on their preference. Another group, consisting of 316 patients, was mailed information about both colonoscopy and stool blood test performed. The remaining 317 were sent no information or tests and did not receive any phone calls.

Overall screening adherence at six months was significantly higher in both invention groups compared to the control group, the researchers found. Thirty-eight percent of patients who received the tailored phone interventions and 33 percent of patients who received mailings completed screening tests. Only 12% of patients in the control group completed screening tests.

In terms of the intervention groups, the researchers found that preference-based navigation did not significantly boost overall adherence to a level that was significantly higher than that achieved by mail, but increased participant performance of their preferred screening test in comparison to the mailed intervention, especially colonoscopy use.

"The study showed that both strategies were superior to usual care, and that there is not a one-size fits all approach to screening," said Dr. Myers. "The next step is to determine if an intervention strategy that maximizes screening test access, incorporates patient preference, and engages providers can achieve higher screening rates compared to just mailings."

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Public release date: 28-Jan-2013
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Contact: Steve Graff
stephen.graff@jefferson.edu
215-955-5291
Thomas Jefferson University

Patients 3 times more likely to get screened with phone navigation and mailings, researchers at Jefferson's Kimmel Cancer Center found

PHILADELPHIAA mailing or phone call to help patients get screened for colorectal cancer significantly increases their chances of actually getting tested, according to a study published in the January issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention by researchers at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson.

The research team, led by Ronald E. Myers, Ph.D., Professor and Director of Division of Population Science, Department of Medical Oncology at Thomas Jefferson University, performed a randomized, controlled trial of 945 people aged 50-79 to test the impact of a new, preference-based navigation intervention, as opposed to standard mailing or usual care, on screening rates.

A third of the patients received a "tailored" phone call to encourage them to perform their preferred screening test (colonoscopy vs. at-home blood stool test), plus a mailing of preferred information; another third were sent information on colonoscopy and a stool blood test kit; while the last third received no intervention.

Patients who received a phone call and/or mailing were almost three times as likely to undergo screening six months later compared to those who had no intervention. However, there was no significant difference between the phone and mailed interventions versus mailings only on screening rates.

While colorectal cancer screening rates are increasing in the United States, rates lag behind those for breast and cervical cancer screening. Screening and early detection of colon and rectal cancer holds tremendous promise for reducing the toll of colon and rectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in this country with more than 140,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Late diagnoses will account for many of the colorectal cancer related deaths.

The study, which was conducted between 2007 and 2011, included 10 primary care practices affiliated with the Christiana Care Health System in Delaware that used a comment medical record system.

The research team searched for patients who had no prior diagnosis of colorectal neoplasia or inflammatory bowel diseases, had visited one of the participating practices within the previous two years, and were not compliant with American Cancer Society colorectal cancer screening guidelines.

For the study, 312 patients received a tailored intervention, where they were informed about both colonoscopy and blood stool tests and then were sent information on colonoscopy or the actual blood test performed, based on their preference. Another group, consisting of 316 patients, was mailed information about both colonoscopy and stool blood test performed. The remaining 317 were sent no information or tests and did not receive any phone calls.

Overall screening adherence at six months was significantly higher in both invention groups compared to the control group, the researchers found. Thirty-eight percent of patients who received the tailored phone interventions and 33 percent of patients who received mailings completed screening tests. Only 12% of patients in the control group completed screening tests.

In terms of the intervention groups, the researchers found that preference-based navigation did not significantly boost overall adherence to a level that was significantly higher than that achieved by mail, but increased participant performance of their preferred screening test in comparison to the mailed intervention, especially colonoscopy use.

"The study showed that both strategies were superior to usual care, and that there is not a one-size fits all approach to screening," said Dr. Myers. "The next step is to determine if an intervention strategy that maximizes screening test access, incorporates patient preference, and engages providers can achieve higher screening rates compared to just mailings."

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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.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-01/tju-pam012813.php

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PBS stacks humans against all other life on Earth, discovers we're doing okay

At just over 7 billion in number, human beings are kind of a big deal. Despite our greatness in numbers, however, there are quite a few other species sharing our little blue dot. Sadly, the one greatest in number isn't something you see every day or ... well, ever, for that matter. And say what you will about obesity in our society, but PBS' "Life By the Numbers" Digital Short (part of its new "It's Okay to be Smart" series) argues that human biomass (287 million tons) is nowhere near that of even a single species of krill (500 million tons). Take that, Richard Simmons!

See the full video, just below; if it does end up guilting you into weight loss with all that biomass talk, might we direct you towards the Hapifork?

Filed under: Science, Alt

Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/28/pbs-digital-short-life-by-the-numbers/

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Congo deal delayed at African Union meeting

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) ? A large-scale peace agreement to end fighting in Congo that would see more peacekeeping forces enter the region was delayed Monday over what the United Nations chief called "procedural issues."

A signing ceremony scheduled for Monday at the African Union summit in Ethiopia was canceled. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said, however, there are no fundamental differences holding back the agreement.

"This is a broader political and security framework whereby the country, particularly (Congo), will be committed to certain policies regarding the situation," Ban said, adding that other regional countries will also commit to support.

"To cope with the threat posed by armed groups in the eastern part of the country, we plan to create a peace enforcement force in the mission," said Ban.

The agreement had been circulated to eight countries: Congo, the Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, South Africa, Angola and Tanzania, he said.

The peace deal is an effort at a large-scale political framework to end violence in Congo. Separate talks are taking place in Uganda between the rebel group known as M23 and Congolese officials.

Jean Baptiste Rudaseswa, a lawyer for M23, said he was happy the U.N. plan has so far failed because he said it risked destabilizing Congo further.

"Our biggest concern is the deployment of a so-called neutral international force to wipe out M23 and other negative forces, as they say," he said.

Ban is seeking additional resources to strengthen the U.N. peacekeeping force in Congo with "intervention" troops with a more robust mandate to protect civilians from armed groups in Congo's vast eastern region.

U.N. diplomats said Ban is expected to send a report to the council with specific recommendations for additional troops ? possibly totaling as many as 2,500 ? that would actively intervene, for example, to prevent another takeover of the key eastern city of Goma.

The Security Council wants to beef up the U.N. peacekeeping force known as MONUSCO, which has more than 17,700 U.N. peacekeepers and over 1,400 international police, following last year's takeover of many villages and towns in eastern Congo by M23 rebels who briefly held Goma before withdrawing in early December. The force ? the largest of the U.N.'s 15 far-flung peacekeeping operations ? did little to protect the tens of thousands of civilians, many of whom fled their homes.

Rudaseswa said Ban's plan would lead to more violence, because then groups like M23 would have to defend themselves in action.

A senior Ugandan diplomat who has been involved in regional efforts to end violence in eastern Congo said the U.N. peace plan seemed unlikely to win the unconditional support of some regional leaders. The diplomat said he believed an African-led peace effort is more likely to succeed.

The official said there is not yet any agreement among regional leaders and the U.N. over who would control a new force to intervene in eastern Congo. The Southern African Development Community, a regional bloc, has already offered to send about 4,000 troops to eastern Congo .

The official, who insisted on anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak publicly while negotiations were still taking place, said a U.N. push to introduce drones into the region has also been met with resistance.

Ban did not specify any time frame when further negotiations on the deal will take place.

___

Muhumuza reported from Kampala, Uganda. Associated Press writer Peter Spielmann contributed from the United Nations in New York.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/congo-deal-delayed-african-union-meeting-133116555.html

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Eliteratur-Blog ? Blog Archive ? Smoking and Its Effects on Asbestos

26 Januar 2013 AUTOR:

Mesothelioma is just a kind of cancer caused by contact with fatal fibers of asbestos. Though this is a type of cancer that affects the dual coating of the lungs, it?s not in fact lung cancer.The treatment for those afflicted with Mesothelioma is poor. Because of the difficulty of detecting symptoms and the excessively long dormancy time, often times Mesothelioma is not recognized until it?s too late. When someone is exposed to asbestos fibers, they become lodged in the pleura of the lungs where they will develop scar tissue formation. This scar tissue will eventually turn carcinogenic and Mesothelioma will arise. Many people, even when only uncovered for a short period of time to asbestos, might contract this disease.Although smoking is just a very fast method to destruction lungs, it is important to comprehend that smoking doesn?t cause Mesothelioma. However, smoking does complicate an individual?s possibility of getting the condition. Smoking may well not cause Mesothelioma straight, but it could cause other lethal conditions such as for example lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary illness, emphysema and asbestosis. Asbestosis isn?t a type of Mesothelioma, but it does assist in the development of the cancer.If someone is identified as having Mesothelioma, it is crucial that they stop smoking immediately. The statistics that surround smoking are destructive. Even though smoking doesn?t cause Mesothelioma, it does boost the potential for contracting lung cancer by 50% or maybe more! An individual who is just a smoker is much more likely to really have a lung-related illness than the usual person who has been exposed to Mesothelioma for many years. This preceding truth goes to show exactly how damaging and serious the results of smoking are on the lungs.Both Mesothelioma and lung cancer caused by smoking are very serious due to their prognosis difficulty. The severity and kind of symptoms are influenced by several aspects. For Mesothelioma people, the amount of asbestos consumed and the level of coverage will establish the unwanted effects and extent of the cancer. For lung cancer due to smoking, the total amount of smoking each day and how long an individual has reviewed will establish the medial side effects and severity.A smoker who has been exposed to asbestos at any place in his / her life should get tested immediately for both Mesothelioma and other styles of lung-related diseases, even when symptoms are non-existent. Again, it is important to realize that Mesothelioma and Lung Cancer are two independent kinds of cancers, both working with the lungs or surrounding organs.

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Source: http://www.eliteratur-blog.de/2013/01/smoking-and-its-effects-on-asbestos/

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Time and Punishment: Police Have Done More Than Prisons to Cut Crime in New York

[unable to retrieve full-text content]The United States has the world?s highest reported rate of incarceration, but many criminologists say diverting money to policing would make the streets safer.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/26/nyregion/police-have-done-more-than-prisons-to-cut-crime-in-new-york.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

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New "Legal Tips" Podcast- How to Find and Hire a Good Lawyer ...

Wealthy corporate interests scheme every day to undermine civil justice. They seek to restrict trial by jury, limit damages through caps and exploit anything that keeps them unaccountable. They call it ?tort reform.? We call it greed?putting profits ahead of people. Click "Take Justice Back" to learn more...

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Source: http://jacksonandwilson.com/podcast-how-to-find-a-good-lawyer-01-26-13/

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The USO Draws Hundreds of Troops and Their Families to "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" Screening at MCAS Miramar

The critically acclaimed Cartoon Network series "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" along with its director Dave Filoni, producer Cary Silver and cast recently descended on Marine Corps Air Station Miramar and entertained hundreds of servicemen and women with a special USO screening spectacular. Complete with a base tour, visit to the flight line, debut of a 25-minute exclusive episode and Q&A sessions with audience members followed by autograph signings, the "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" USO visit with troops was a big success.

Arlington, VA (PRWEB) January 24, 2013

Among Those to Debut the Episodes Were Supervising Director Dave Filoni, Producer Cary Silver and Five Members of the Show?s Cast ? Including USO Tour Vet/Actor James Arnold Taylor

Twitter Pitch: @the_USO @TheClone Wars Screenings at @MCASMiramarCA a big hit, drawing hundreds of troops and their families!

The USO brought sci-fi, fantasy and animation to Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar with its screening of the critically acclaimed Cartoon Network series Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Saturdays at 9:30am ET/PT). Joining the show?s supervising director Dave Filoni and producer Cary Silver to extend their gratitude and talk galactic battles were actors Dee Bradley Baker (voice of Captain Rex, ?the clones and Bossk), Catherine Taber (voice of Padm? Amidala), James Arnold Taylor (voice of Obi-Wan Kenobi), Matt Lanter (voice of Anakin Skywalker) and Ashley Eckstein (voice of Ahsoka Tano).***Link to video and photos below***

DETAILS:

• ????Attended by hundreds of troops and military families stationed at MCAS Miramar and surrounding bases, the Star Wars: The Clone Wars USO Screening consisted of two 25-minute episodes featuring an exclusive premiere, followed by a Q&A session and an autograph session.

• ????In the hours leading up to the screening, the group took a tour of MCAS Miramar and learned about military operations. The group also visited the MCAS Miramar flight line, where they spoke to pilots, explored military aircraft and posed for dozens of photos.
• ????The screening marked the second USO experience for Taylor, who traveled to Japan in 2009 and will be returning to the Pacific with the USO in March 2013, and the first for the remainder of the group.
• ????A diehard Star Wars fan, Filoni joined Lucasfilm Animation fresh from another touchstone fantasy franchise ? Nickelodeon?s ?Avatar: The Last Airbender,? for which he served as director. Filoni began his animation career working for Film Roman?s ?King of the Hill? as well as ?Mission Hill? and ?Oblongs.? From there, he moved onto Walt Disney Television Animation.
• ????Baker has built an extraordinary voice-acting career spanning more than two decades. Having worked extensively in television animation, and top videogames, his feature film credits include ?Dawn of the Dead,? ?Space Jam? and ?Happy Feet.? In addition to his work on Stars Wars: The Clone Wars, his voice can be heard on ?American Dad,? ?Ben 10: Alien Force,? "Phineas and Ferb," and ?Avatar: The Legend of Korra,? among others.
• ????Hailed as a geek goddess among the sci-fi, fantasy and gaming communities, Taber has appeared in numerous games, films and television projects including ?The Girls Room,? ?Just Like Heaven,? and ?Metal Gear Solid.? But her favorite roles have been In a galaxy far far away! In addition to The Clone Wars, she has portrayed memorable characters in ?Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic,? ?The Force Unleashed I & II,? and ?The Old Republic.? In addition to her film career, in 2008 the Georgia native (and "Army brat") created Game For Soldiers, which collects donations of videogames and comic books that she sends to deployed soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
• ????Known for his versatile vocal range, Taylor is one of the most sought-after voice-actors working today. Taylor is heard worldwide daily, having voiced promos for the Fox Broadcasting Network, national ad campaigns and some of today?s hottest video games. From Obi-Wan Kenobi to Fred Flintstone, Leonardo the Ninja Turtle to Johnny Test, Taylor is able to sound more than 150 difference voices.
• ????Slated to become one of the industry?s most desirable leading men, Lanter has appeared in such hit shows as ?Grey?s Anatomy,? ?CSI,? ?Heroes,? and ?Commander and Chief,? among others. In addition to lending his voice to Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Lanter currently stars in the popular CW hit ?90210? as Liam Court. Having starred in such major motion pictures as The Roommate and Disaster Movie, his recent film credits include ?A Chance of Rain? and ?Liars All? (both pending release).
• ????Born in Louisville, KY and raised in Orlando, FL, Eckstein made her television debut on ?JAG.? Since then, she has starred in ?Blue Collar TV,? ?Drake and Josh,? ?That?s So Raven,? ?Alice Upside Down? and ?Sydney White.? In addition to several hosting specials and videogames, Eckstein founded Her Universe, a merchandise line featuring fashionable, feminine apparel and accessories for female fans. Eckstein can currently be heard as the voice of ?Mia? the Bluebird on Disney Junior's new hit show ?Sofia The First.?

QUOTES:????

Attributed to Dave Filoni:

?To have the opportunity to entertain the families stationed at Miramar for a short while, and take them to our galaxy far, far away, was a real privilege. They do so much for us every day, it was an honor to be asked to do something for them.?

Attributed to Dee Bradley Baker:

"The stories we tell in "The Clone Wars" resonate in a special way with military fans. It's incredible to see! I've had officers serving in the Middle East tell me they love our show and how they've turned their platoon on to our show and the clones in particular. They are as into our show as anyone I've ever met! I've met with dads and their kids who show me the incredibly accurate clone armor they've made. It's such an honor to meet these folks and thank them for their service. The characters we portray in our show are heroic, but these service men and women are real heroes in my eyes and it's truly exciting to meet them and share their enthusiasm for Star Wars: The Clone Wars!"

Attributed to Catherine Taber:

?The USO event was amazing! From seeing the jets fly over, to sitting in the pilot seat of the Osprey, it was a fantastic time. But the best part of day and the heart of it all really, was meeting the servicemen and women, their families and the children and spouses of deployed soldiers. I hope they enjoyed the event as much as we did and know how truly grateful we are for their sacrifices. Thank you USO for making it happen!?

Attributed to James Arnold Taylor:

"As someone who has worked with the USO in the past, I was thrilled to combine forces with our Clone Wars cast and bring an event to our troops that was family-friendly and just plain fun! It's an honor to be a part of anything that supports our men and women of the U.S. Military."

Attributed to Matt Lanter:

I have such a fondness and supreme respect for our troops who protect our freedom and their families who endure. To be able to give back in a small way was such a privilege for me and I would love to continue supporting the USO however I can in the future.

Attributed to Ashley Eckstein:

It was truly an honor to have the opportunity to share Star Wars The Clone Wars with the troops and their families at MCAS Miramar. This was a very small way that we could say Thank You for the service that these amazing men and women provide for us everyday. The Force is Strong with MCAS Miramar!

MULTI-MEDIA:

Tour Photos: http://bit.ly/Y7og4V

Tour Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeYAG8ixNJE&list=UUT7XEsWeo9V8VNblnZfj2Kw&index=1

USO Fact Sheet: http://bit.ly/yaebvo

###

About the USO

The USO (United Service Organizations) lifts the spirits of America?s troops and their families millions of times each year at hundreds of places worldwide. We provide a touch of home through centers at airports and military bases in the U.S. and abroad, top quality entertainment and innovative programs and services. We also provide critical support to those who need us most, including forward-deployed troops, military families, wounded warriors and their families and the families of the fallen.

The USO is a private, nonprofit organization, not a government agency. All of our programs and services are made possible by the American people, support of our corporate partners and the dedication of our volunteers and staff. In addition to individual donors and corporate sponsors, the USO is supported by President?s Circle Partners: American Airlines, AT&T, Clear Channel, The Coca-Cola Company, jcpenney, Kangaroo Express, Kroger, Lowe?s, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Procter & Gamble, and TriWest Healthcare Alliance and Worldwide Strategic Partners: BAE Systems, The Boeing Company, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft Corporation and TKS Telepost Kabel-Service Kaiserslautern GmbH & Co. KG. We are also supported through the United Way and Combined Federal Campaign (CFC-11381). To join us in this patriotic mission, and to learn more about the USO, please visit uso.org.

Oname Thompson
USO
(703) 908-6471
Email Information

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/uso-draws-hundreds-troops-families-star-wars-clone-205228230.html

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Sadie, 11-Year-Old Transgender Girl, Writes Moving Response to Obama Inauguration Speech

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/01/sadie-11-year-old-transgender-girl-writes-moving-response-to-oba/

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How Mobile Devices are Used For Marketing | Reviewster.com

The way we?ve been using the internet and accessing it has changed dramatically over the past ten years due to tremendous changes in wireless communication technology. In 2002, we were using our desktop PCs and laptops to surf the internet, connected to the cyber highway by a dial-up connection, cable, or DSL. Internet access wasn?t really mobile at all, unless one had a particularly long cable! And back then, our mobile phones were just that: phones that were used for voice calls, and the occasional SMS or text would get sent out.

The wireless technology has changed all of that. The latest modern mobile phone networks allow for wireless internet and data transfer, and gadgets have flooded the market to take advantage of this development. As a result, we now use smartphones and other mobile devices to use the internet while we?re on the go; in fact, most of the phones now available at the market make for a better internet surfing experience than our fixed PCs did a decade ago. The changes have been rapid and astounding.

What the Experts are Saying About How We Use Our Mobile Devices

James Martell, host of Coffee Talk, an extremely popular podcast on Internet marketing and Don Campbell, CEO of Expand2Web and social media marketing expert, recently had a chat on Martell?s online radio show Coffee Talk, in which both men highlighted the stunning changes in our internet and telephone behavior.

• 91% of smartphone users keep their device within arm?s reach 24/7.
• 44% of the 400 million Facebook users access the site with a mobile device.
• 9 out 10 Internet searches conducted on a mobile device lead to an action.
• 61% of local searches conducted on a mobile device result in a phone call to a business.

Small Businesses Need to Catch Up to Reach Potential Customers

So what do all of these numbers really mean? Well, when we consider that an astonishing 85% of small business owners don?t have an online presence suitable for mobile devices, it means that small and medium businesses are still catering to a clientele that may have existed a decade ago but have moved beyond the last decade?s technology.

Consider this: the fact that businesses need an online presence has been well established and many businesses do have websites that they update frequently in order to place highly on search engine results and interact with clients forming good customer relations. However, if these websites are not mobile friendly, the only customers they will be able to reach are those that are sitting at non-portable internet access sites. Furthermore, people are not likely to conduct local searches on their PCs or laptops; they are going to do them on their ever present mobile phones whenever the need strikes them. If your website isn?t friendly to mobiles, the potential loss to your business could be catastrophic.

Even More Info to Show How our Internet Habits Have Changed

It is essential for a business owner to have a mobile-friendly website; to not have one means they will get left behind. If you?re still not convinced, here are some more facts for you to ponder:

• More internet capable mobile devices are getting sold than PCs at the current time.
• 86% of mobile device owners use them while watching television
• 29% of mobile users will be happy to scan a mobile tag to get coupons
• 50% of mobile owners use their phones for internet searches

It?s exactly how Martell says: Mobile internet is a game changer when it comes to marketing. Our internet usage patterns have changed; instead of looking at the yellow pages, calling information or even waiting to get home to look up the information on our desktop or laptop computers, we want our information immediately.

Get in Early and Strike

There are two sayings here which perfectly illustrate the present-day situation when it comes to mobile marketing: the early bird catches the worm, and strike while the iron is hot. Businesses that establish their presence early with mobile-friendly websites, whether it?s a business that tells you how to order personal check packages, or a sports memorabilia website, will attract the greatest amount of traffic; and as of now, demand for mobile-friendly sites is sky high and will only continue to grow in the future as more and more people connect to the internet with their phones and other devices.

Strike while the iron is hot and ensure your website is mobile friendly; you?ll see how much your business will grow.

About the Author

James Martell is an online marketer and owner of The School of Internet Marketing. He is a huge Disneyland fan from White Rock, B.C. where he lives with his wife and two remaining kids still at home. While sipping a cup of his favorite Tim Hortons coffee, James prepares articles on many topics and uses websites such as www.personalchecksplus.com and those of other small businesses to research for topics on how to better your business online.

Source: http://reviewster.com/how-mobile-devices-are-used-marketing-381/

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Obama names ex-federal prosecutor to head SEC

19 hrs.

NBC News staff and wire reports

Saying that more needs to be done to reform Wall Street, President Barack Obama named tough former federal prosecutor Mary Jo White to head the Securities and Exchange Commission, bringing a proven white-collar crime watchdog into an agency that has been criticized for being soft on the financial industry.

"We need to keep going after irresponsible behavior in the financial industry so that taxpayers don't pay the price. I am absolutely confident that Mary Jo has the experience and the resolve to tackle these complex issues and to protect the American people in a way that is smart and in a way that is fair," Obama said at a White House event to announce Whites' nomination.

At the same event, the president rounded out his watchdog arsenal by renominating Richard Cordray to remain as the head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, created in the wake of the financial crisis as part of the Dodd-Frank act to reform Wall Street.?

Obama urged Congress to swiftly confirm both nominees, adding that there was "no excuse for the Senate to wait any longer."

Cordray was never confirmed when Obama appointed him to the position in 2012. The appointment set up a contentious debate with Senate Republicans, who objected to the entire concept of the CFPB.?The renomination could reignite that clash.

The?choice?of?White?drew praise from both Wall Street and reform advocates who say White would ably steer the powerful agency that plays a key role in overseeing U.S. financial markets.?

New York's Charles Schumer, a Democrat who is part of the Senate leadership and sits on the powerful Senate Banking Committee, praised White's reputation as a tough-as-nails prosecutor and predicted she will "easily be confirmed."?

A swift confirmation for White could help the SEC speed up its implementation of the dozens of unfinished rules required by the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform law.?

White would succeed current SEC Chairman Elisse Walter, a Democratic commissioner who took over in December after predecessor Mary Schapiro stepped down.?

Schapiro's departure left the commission divided between two Democrats and two Republicans, and observers said the split could make it nearly impossible to complete controversial rules, such as the Volcker Rule, which bans banks from proprietary trading.?

High-profile?cases
White, now a respected white-collar defense attorney with the law firm Debevoise and Plimpton, was the only woman in the 200-year history of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York to serve in the top spot there.?

She was in office from 1993 through to 2002, during a tumultuous time starting with the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center and then later, the infamous Sept. 11 attacks of 2001.?

Under her watch, the U.S. Attorney's office won about 35 convictions of militant Muslims charged with plotting against Americans.?

"I view her as an incredibly well-regarded lawyer who has spent a significant amount of time as a partner at Debevoise representing companies and individuals in high-profile securities related matters," said Cheryl Scarboro, the former head of the SEC's Foreign Corrupt Practices Act unit and now a partner with Simpson Thacher & Bartlett.?

As a defense attorney, White has been involved in high-profile SEC and Justice Department cases.?

She conducted an internal investigation into corruption at Siemens AG that resulted in a record settlement for the German engineering conglomerate. She also represented healthcare provider HCA Holdings Inc in an insider-trading investigation, according to her online biography.?

She has also represented JPMorgan Chase & Co in major matters related to the financial crisis, as well as former Bank of America CEO Lewis over a civil lawsuit in connection with Bank of America's acquisition of Merrill Lynch.?

It is unclear whether her defense of Wall Street clients could prove troublesome for her during the U.S. Senate confirmation process. But Wall Street champions and critics both had positive takes on White.?

"I have met Mary Jo White, and anyone who knows her at all - extremely capable, competent, bright, tough, and a perfect choice," JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon said in an interview on Thursday with Fox Business News from Davos.?

Neil Barofsky, who was hired as an assistant U.S. attorney by White in 2000 and went on to become the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, called Obama's pick an "inspired choice."?

"I expect that she will be unfazed by the intimidation tactics of the usual suspects in Washington - be they antagonistic members of Congress, captured officials from other parts of government or those who so relentlessly push the agendas of the largest banks," Barofsky said.?

Like Schapiro, White has previously been identified as a political independent. Unlike Schapiro, White has not worked as a Wall Street regulator.?

However, White's husband, John White, served as the director of the SEC's Corporation Finance division, which oversees public company disclosures, from 2006 to 2008.?

Known for a legendary work ethic and a fondness for beer and baseball, White also developed a reputation as a ferocious basketball player when in the U.S. Attorney's office, even though she stands around 5 feet tall.?

Former SEC enforcement director William McLucas said it was an "excellent sign" that the White House could get someone of her caliber to take the position. "There is no one I know that works harder," McLucas said.?

James Cox, a professor of law at Duke University who has served with White on various panels, said White will be a very different SEC chairman than Schapiro.?

"Mary Schapiro was a politician," Cox said. Mary Jo White, by contrast, he said, will be more blunt and direct. "She can unpack somebody's argument really quickly."?

Cordray controversy
Cordray has already faced some uphill battles with Republicans in Congress.?

Cordray, a former Ohio attorney general, was appointed in January 2012 while Congress was in recess after Republicans who were wary of the CFPB's independence blocked his nomination.?

The controversial appointment limited the amount of time Cordray could serve without going through a full confirmation process.?

The CFPB has drawn criticism from Republicans and business groups, who say it is virtually unchecked and will hurt lending and put small banks out of business.?

Asked whether the administration foresees any problems getting Cordray confirmed, White House spokesman Jay Carney said he did not expect any objections to him "on substance."?

"He is absolutely the right person for the job," Carney said. He said earlier obstacles to Cordray's nomination had been based on "political considerations" from lawmakers who had opposed the creation of the financial protection board.?

Some political observers, however, said Thursday that any fights to come will not be about Cordray personally, but about the overall structure of the CFPB itself.?

"Issues larger than his handling of the bureau will probably dictate that," said Jason Rosenstock, the director of government relations at ML Strategies.?

Reuters and CNBC contributed to this report.

?

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/obama-names-ex-federal-prosecutor-white-new-sec-chief-1C8086505

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Ben and Me: Apps Day Review -- SentenceBuilderTeen (Mobile ...

The Mobile Education Store was born from a father?s desire to help his special needs daughter. ?Our family had invested thousands of dollars in special education software, and almost always came away from the experience disappointed. ?Not only were the programs incredibly expensive, but they lacked the variety of content and engaging play that makes our daughter WANT to play. ?We exist to fill the large gap that exists between the availability and cost of commercial special needs software and the needs of everyday parents.

Since that time, this incredible company has given us the opportunity to review 2 more Language Arts apps -- SentenceBuilderTeen and TenseBuilder. Watch for my review of TenseBuilder later today! SentenceBuilderTeen is designed to help teens learn how to build grammatically correct sentences. With 3 levels of play, your student will build sentences based on 100 teen-friendly photos, choosing between photos that will appeal to girls or boys.?

Here's an example of a Level One exercise:?

The photos used are just stunning. The sentences are formed by tapping on the correct word or phrase to compose the best sentence. Once the words have been chosen, the student taps "select" and finds out immediately if they are correct. If they are not, they are given the opportunity to try again until they get it right.?

There are a couple of options provided, among them, ?audio clips for "correct answer reinforcement and/or audio instruction. For example, in the above exercise, the (real, live not computer-generated) voice says:

Audio Instruction: "Make a sentence about the picture."

Correct Answer Reinforcement: "That's right. The correct answer is, 'The people are falling out of the raft.'"

When both of these option are turned off, there is still an audio voice, in the form of encouragement. Some of the encouraging words heard by Ben were, "You are learning fast," "Tremendous!" and "That was first class work!" when he selected the correct answer.?

When an incorrect answer was given, he heard words such as, "You are really trying!" and "That was so close."

The app slso tracks the student's progress:

Just so you can see the differences in level of difficulty, here's a screenshot of exercises in levels 2 (left) and 3 (right):?

This is a language arts app that is appealing to all kinds of learners -- auditory, visual, and tactile (Ben has elements of all 3). Bear in mind that it was developed for children with special needs. For Ben at age 11/12, it wasn't terribly challenging, but he is pretty advanced in language arts (reading and spelling at a high school level). And he actually does he still does enjoy using it, even if only because it's fun to compose sentences around such lovely photographs and not have to write them out. It is a great way to introduce/reinforce different parts of speech. While I didn't have been diagram the sentences, I did have him verbally identify different parts of speech.

Speaking of the photos -- because that can be a concern for many -- I looked through the app for both boys and girls and did not find much most conservative, Christian families would object to. There are a few on the girls side with clothing that is not as modest as some would like, including mini-skirts, bare shoulders, and short shorts. Here's an example:

The cost for SentenceBuilderTeen is $5.99 on the Appstore and is compatible with iPad only --iOS 4.3 or later.

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Source: http://www.benandme.com/2013/01/apps-day-review-sentencebuilderteen.html

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Syrian troops and militia push to take Sunni Homs areas

AMMAN (Reuters) - The Syrian army has stepped up an offensive on opposition Sunni Muslim strongholds in the central city of Homs, bringing in ground forces and loyalist militia to try to secure a major road junction, opposition sources said on Friday.

Around 15,000 Sunni civilians are trapped on the southern and western edge of the city near the intersection of Syria's main north-south and east-west arteries, crucial to let the army travel between Damascus and the Mediterranean coast, opposition campaigners in Homs said.

Rebels said they had moved into new areas of Homs this month to grab more territory, which could explain the offensive. Activists said that rebels had asked them not to report on the advances because it could provoke retaliatory strikes.

But activists in Homs said a barrage of army rocket, artillery and aerial bombardment had killed at least 120 civilians and 30 opposition fighters since Sunday.

In the south, eight members of Syria's military intelligence were killed by an Islamist militant car bomb on Thursday night near the frontier with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, opposition activists and a violence monitoring group said on Friday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the bomb was planted by Al-Nusra Front, a rebel unit fighting to oust Assad that the United States has labeled a terrorist group.

"We think the blast might have killed a colonel who has been leading the fight against rebels in the area," Rami Abdelrahman, head of the Britain-based Observatory said. The building targeted is in the town of Saasa, 14 miles (23km) from the frontier with the Golan Heights, he said.

Syrian authorities have banned most independent media, making it difficult to verify such reports on the ground.

The nearly two-year-old conflict has now killed an estimated 60,000 people and a military stalemate has formed while hundreds of thousands of refugees flood into Syria's neighbors.

The Syrian Interior Ministry called on Thursday for Syrian refugees to come home and said they would be guaranteed safety.

A statement on the state news agency SANA said the government was "offering guarantees to all political opposition sides to enter the country ... (and) ... take part in the national dialogue without any query."

Few who left have returned, especially opposition supporters, and Assad said in a speech this month that he would not talk with opposition members he said had betrayed Syria or "gangs recruited abroad that follow the orders of foreigners".

The war has reached every province in the country and fighting has encroached on the heart of the capital Damascus, with residents reporting the daily thud of artillery being fired on rebel-held districts in the outskirts.

U.S. ambassador to Syria Robert Ford told CNN on Thursday that Assad's mother Anisa Makhlouf and his sister Bushra had both moved to the United Arab Emirates. It is not clear why they left.

SHABBIHA BROUGHT IN

Activist Nader al-Husseini, speaking by phone from the western sector of Homs, said at least 10,000 pro-Assad shabbiha militiamen had been brought from the coastal city of Tartous to back up the regular army.

"They go in infantry formations behind the soldiers and their specialty is looting and killing civilians," he said, adding that among dozens killed by the shabbiha were a family of five in the village of Naqira.

Husseini said 100 wounded civilians were trapped in Homs' western neighborhood of Kafar Aya and that the Free Syrian Army rebels had tried to negotiate a deal to evacuate them but failed.

Opposition sources blame shabbiha for the death of more than 100 Sunni men, women and children when they overran a nearby area 10 days ago.

Mostly Sunni Homs, a commercial and agricultural hub 140 km (90 miles) north of Damascus, has been at the heart of the uprising and armed insurgency against Assad and his establishment, composed mostly of Alawites, who follow an offshoot of Shi'ite Islam and comprise about 10 percent of the population. There is a large Alawite minority in Homs.

Syrian authorities have not commented directly on the latest offensive, but official media have in the past referred to the need to ?cleanse' the city of what they described as terrorists who were terrorizing peaceful neighborhoods.

Tareq, another activist, said the fall of Kafar Aya and the adjacent neighborhoods of Jobar and al-Sultaniya would make the position of Sunnis in the city untenable.

"These districts are the front line with Alawite areas from where rebels have been sometimes disrupting the road between Damascus and Tartous. If they fall the Assad army will have carved a big hole to proceed deep into Homs and secure the link to the capital."

(Additional reporting by Oliver Holmes, Mariam Karouny and Reuters TV in Beirut, Dan Williams in Jerusalem; Writing by Oliver Holmes; Editing by Myra MacDonald)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/syria-sends-ground-forces-try-seize-sunni-areas-105159473.html

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