Alarming levels of drug-resistant TB found worldwide

LONDON (Reuters) - Scientists have found an alarming number of cases of the lung disease tuberculosis in Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America that are resistant to up to four powerful antibiotic drugs.

In a large international study published in the Lancet medical journal on Thursday, researchers found rates of both multi drug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) were higher than previously thought and were threatening global efforts to curb the spread of the disease.

"Most international recommendations for TB control have been developed for MDR-TB prevalence of up to around 5 percent. Yet now we face prevalence up to 10 times higher in some places, where almost half of the patients ... are transmitting MDR strains," Sven Hoffner of the Swedish Institute for Communicable Disease Control, said in a commentary on the study.

TB is already a worldwide pandemic that infected 8.8 million people and killed 1.4 million in 2010.

Drug-resistant TB is more difficult and costly than normal TB to treat, and is more often fatal.

MDR-TB is resistant to at least two first-line drugs ? isoniazid and rifampicin - while XDR-TB is resistant to those two drugs as well as a powerful antibiotic type called a fluoroquinolone and a second-line injectable antibiotic.

Treating even normal TB is a long process, with patients needing to take a cocktail of powerful antibiotics for six months. Many patients fail to complete their treatment correctly, a factor which has fuelled a rise in the drug-resistant forms.

Researchers who studied rates of the disease in Estonia, Latvia, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, South Africa, South Korea and Thailand found almost 44 percent of cases of MDR TB were also resistant to at least one second-line drug.

Tom Evans, chief scientific officer at Aeras, a non-profit group working to develop new TB vaccines, told Reuters treatment options for XDR-TB patients were "limited, expensive and toxic".

Treatments for drug-resistant TB can cost 200 times more than those for normal TB, he said in an emailed statement. They can also cause severe side effects like deafness and psychosis, and can take two years to complete, he added.

In the United States, MDR-TB treatment can cost $250,000 or more per patient, and in many poorer countries costs can be catastrophic to health systems and patients' families.

"Without a robust pipeline of new drugs to stay one step ahead, it will be nearly impossible to treat our way out of this epidemic," Evans said.

SPREADS THROUGH AIR

Tracy Dalton from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who led the Lancet study, said that so far, XDR-TB has been reported in 77 countries worldwide.

"As more individuals are diagnosed with, and treated for, drug-resistant TB, more resistance to second-line drugs is expected to emerge," she said.

The spread of these drug-resistant strains was "particularly worrisome" in areas with poor healthcare resources and limited access to effective drugs, she added.

TB is a bacterial infection that destroys patients' lung tissue, making them cough and sneeze and spread germs through the air. Experts say anyone with active TB can easily infect another 10 to 15 people a year.

The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts more than 2 million people will contract MDR TB by 2015.

A report by non-governmental organizations in March said a $1.7 billion shortfall in funds to fight TB over the next five years meant 3.4 million patients would go untreated and gains made against the disease will be reversed.

In their research, Dalton and colleagues found rates of resistance varied widely between countries.

Overall, resistance to any second-line drug was detected in nearly 44 percent of patients, ranging from 33 percent in Thailand to 62 percent in Latvia.

In about a fifth of cases, they found resistance to at least one second-line injectable drug. This ranged from 2 percent in the Philippines to 47 percent in Latvia.

XDR-TB was found in 6.7 percent of patients overall. Rates in South Korea, at 15.2 percent, and Russia at 11.3 percent, were more than twice the WHO's global estimate of 5.4 percent at that time.

(Editing by Andrew Heavens)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/alarming-levels-drug-resistant-tb-found-worldwide-080500335.html

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No Deposit Mobile Casino Bonuses - Arts and Entertainment News

The marketplace for mobile casinos gambling is taking off at an accelerated pace. Increasing numbers of people are becoming enthusiastic about the prospect of gambling online using cell phones. In the UK, almost half of all online bingo players play using a mobile phone. The shift coming from betting on Computers towards gambling on cell phones is definitely well arrived. While it may take some time for those online bettors to embrace cellular betting on the go, most probably will within about 5 years or so.

The significance of Mobile Casino Games Apps

Programmers are generally rushing to meet the demand for cell phone gambling applications. Apps are actually available for just about every smart phone platform, which range from Apple to Android. No matter what smart phone you own, chances are there are actually a number of mobile casino games apps that will work with this. While the majority of applications are created for the Android platform, there really is not a shortage of applications available for other systems. If you are simply getting started with picking out cellular wagering apps, take your time and make sure you discover some you actually love playing around with. There are actually? too many applications available for you to need to settle with apps which are under near-perfect for you.

Discovering Ideal No Deposit Mobile Casino Bonuses

Everyone is unique and this means that everyone discovers various mobile casinos appealing. There are several, many different casino mobile websites out there. You should make sure you check out several of them to discover which of them are definitely the most fun for you. The available mobile wagering websites vary in many different ways. They have various themes and different video games. No deposit mobile casino bonuses are available at some of them and never offered at other people. Generally speaking, merely the best and most reliable websites can offer large casino mobile no deposit perks. These free house cash bonuses truly add to the pleasure of gambling and are loved simply by numerous wagering on the go customers.

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Mobile casinos efficiently put you in the driver?s seat, making it possible for you to definitely ?design? your own betting experience. Don?t like what one site is providing you? Not a problem: Switch to a different one. The endless number of the mobile casino games experience makes gambling on the move almost perfect. With traditional online gambling houses, it?s possible to get bored after a while. Using the mobile casinos, boredom can be easily remedied simply by changing your routine.

The Field Of Wagering Is Now On Hand

Betting is not like what it used to be. Today it is more powerful, flexible, obtainable, and social thanks mainly towards the mobile betting choices lately developed. These sites have revolutionized a world long dominated simply by conventional gambling establishments. They?ve overturned many of the old-fashioned events of the betting planet, even going as far as to make it easy to play at no cost (for minimal time periods). Even though it is impossible to predict the near future, the future of the mobile casinos looks bright. Each year they become more popular and provide increasingly more choices to internet gamblers searching for novelty and also good old-fashioned satisfying game play ideally with no deposit mobile casino bonuses.

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Source: http://www.e220v.biz/no-deposit-mobile-casino-bonuses-just-how-would-you-discover-them.html

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Senior Care in Sharpsville, PA ? CareGivers Plus Home Health ...

Immunizations are essential for prevention against serious life-threatening infections and diseases.

Many illnesses are contagious and can cause serious complications. Influenza is an illness that affects the respiratory system and individuals that catch the flu viruses can develop symptoms that range from mild to severe. Severe complications from the flu can lead to serious health problems and even result in death. Specific groups of people are at a higher risk of developing complications including young children and the elderly. August is recognized as National Immunization Awareness Month to help raise awareness of preventable diseases and the importance of vaccinations to stay healthy.

Seniors and Influenza

Seniors are more susceptible to the flu virus due to the immune system weakening with age. One of the most common complications of the flu is pneumonia. Symptoms of pneumonia may be treatable at home; however, hospitalization is often required for those with compromised immune systems. Receiving a vaccine for influenza can reduce the chances of developing pneumonia and other illnesses that often occur after having the cold or flu.

The ?Flu Shot?

The influenza vaccine can help protect against three types of flu strains that are predicted to be the most commonly spread throughout the upcoming flu season. The viruses used in the flu vaccine may change each year depending on the research and estimation that helps to predict what strains will be the most harmful and widespread. The flu shot contains killed virus and is administered through a needle typically in the upper arm. Shots are approved for individuals six months of age and older.

The three different types of flu shots available include:

? Regular shots approved for those six months and older

? Intradermal flu shots for people ages 18 through 64

? High-dose flu shots recommended for those over the age of 65

Antibodies begin to develop in the body within two weeks of vaccination to provide protection against the most harmful strains throughout the flu season.

Seniors are advised to receive the flu vaccine as soon as it becomes available in their area. A healthcare professional can help determine what type of vaccine is right for an individual. In addition to receiving the flu vaccine, everyday measures such as eating right, getting an adequate amount of exercise and drinking plenty of fluids can also help seniors stay happy and healthy throughout the flu season.

The?caregivers?at CareGivers Plus?are available to talk with you and your family about all of your?senior care?needs.?CareGivers Plus?is an elder care agency providing quality and affordable senior care?in Sharpsville PA, and the surrounding areas. Call?724-638-7110?for more information.

Source: http://www.cgphomecarehermitage.com/senior-care-in-sharpsville-pa

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FCC to tax broadband Internet | Independent Film, News and Media

?The tax is on consumers,? Brookings Institute vice president Joe West told The Daily Caller News Foundation. ?But the tax revenue goes to the businesses to subsidize their coverage.?

The Federal Communications Commission has made universal Internet access a top priority ? even, critics say, if it comes at the expense of other customers.

Under the Connect America Fund, the FCC will reconfigure the preexisting Universal Service Fund (USF) to create subsidies for companies to develop the infrastructure to get people online in rural areas where it is more expensive to provide broadband.

The FCC remarked in a blog post Friday, ?Ultimately, the consumers who pay for universal service, consumers who directly benefit from expanded rural networks, and all who value a vibrant, ubiquitous broadband network are the winners in the changes we?re implementing today.?

Under the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the USF was created with the goal promoting ?the availability of quality services at just, reasonable and affordable [telecommunication] rates for all consumers.?

The USF charges higher rates in urban areas in order to provide affordable rates to rural consumers. While it is considered an assessment or fee, the FCC essentially taxes urban residents on their phone bills for the benefit of more rural communities.

[...]

Complete text linked here.

This entry was posted in Government, Tax, Technology. Bookmark the permalink.

Source: http://independentfilmnewsandmedia.com/fcc-to-tax-broadband-internet/

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Invention of Mobile

Mobile telephones have altered the globe of communication. From the initial call built in 1946 on one of only a handful of moveable phones to any one of a typical millions, likely billions of calls made today, the mobile or cell phone has altered this method of communication forever and a day. The mobile telephone is either the largest invention of the twentieth century or the most demanding. It is unquestionable that your particular technology behind the cellular telephone is one of the highest quality inventions and that advances in technology keep making the cell phone progressively a wants device.

It was n't until 1973 when Dr. Martin Cooper, former general manager of the Systems division at Motorola, was credited with making the first ever call on a moveable cell phone-a prerogative he enjoyed as its chief creator. Ironically, the first call was made to the head of lab at Bell, their chief rival. Perhaps this was actually fitting since Bell was responsible inventing the crude cell that was designed to be used in prowl car in the 40s. Four years later, Bell made a prototype that was used on trial in Chicago by up to two thousand people. Two years what is going to, in a completely not related speculation, a separate operation was undertaken in Tokyo. There was considerable international buzz about the new technology as it went from being something existing only in science fiction to something that seems imminently.   In 1981 Motorola joined with American Radio Telephone to start a second U.S. cell system test in Washington and Buffalo. The movement was gathering impulse, and by 1982 the FCC finally empowered commercial cellular services for the United States. Ameritech made the first American commercial parallel cellular service available in Chicago. Still, the technology was expensive and it was far from being as accessible as phones are today. But by 1987 cellphone subscribers exceeded one million and airways were crowded together.   The 90s brought on a new wave of cell phone technology that ushered in the modern era where one is one of the average person.   Day to Day Life.   The cellphone changed all of a typical questioning. Now, mothers could call and find out if their children carry it to their destination without any misadventures. Husbands could tell their wives when they were running late.   If they weren't enquiring about someone's whereabouts they were wishing they had thought of to tell them something before they were away from their office or home phone. Maybe it was to stop and pick up the kids or to go by the bank because they loan officer called. Whatever the reason, before the invention of the cell phone, they would have to wait to see them and so send them back out to appeal to the issue.   Emergencies.   Cell phone service has been responsible saving more lives than is definitely accounted for. Were someone try and put a number thereon, it would doubtless be in the millions, simply due to being able to contact help wherever you are located. Doctors can easily stay in touch along with their answering service every single time, making them more available in the case of emergencies.   Cell phones have grown key pieces of equipment in search and rescue operations. The chances are very good that a person who gets lost will have a cell phone. The cell phone may be geographically followed using navigation tools and GPS which happens to be built into most new cell phones. There have been completely numerous cases of trampers lost in the woods who were only found due their cell phones.   Law Enforcement.   In addition to hunt for criminals, law enforcement now go through about offences faster than ever before. The hesitating citizen who doesn't want to discover involved physically involved in a happening crime will most oft call it in to the police. This pays law enforcement a start on capturing criminals.   Cell phones that include video recording can really film the offense it turns out, offering grounds that is positive in court.   Business Communication.   Gone are the days when a deal is lost come from not being at work. Nowadays, deal can be sealed while on vacation. The mobile telephone has made the office open All day every day in some cases. Being out of the office is no longer an option because most business people are tethered to their office during their cell phones.   Technology has brought the office to the cell phone with the addition of smart phones and email via the telephone. Documents can be sent, reexamined and sent back all while being on the go.   The Flip Side.   With cell phones the workday is never over and time spent with family or friends can be perpetually off and on unless the tools is powered off. There are safety issues besides with cell phones. Drivers who can't wait up to the point they are stopped to have a conversation run a much greater risk to be in an accident. Using an earpiece helps the problem but does not avoid it beeing the focus is still on the conversation.

http://mobileworldlimited.com/invention-of-mobile/

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Source: http://www.freepressreleases.com/invention-mobile/227188

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Can Substance Abuse Result In Dysfunctional Families

Substance abuse is known to cause families to become dysfunctional because of its undesirable effects on all family members. Substance abuse is the use of any substance that disrupts a normal routine of a family. A family is functioning normally when everyone in it is listened to and respected without the fear of physical, verbal or emotional abuse.

Every family is not expected to be functional all the time as there can be moments when some of its members can be unreliable. This can be possible when someone is sick, when there is a divorce situation that is going on in the family or when death strikes. But these dysfunctional moments should only be for a short term and if the family is originally functional, all family members will continue doing things to keep their bond intact.

Identifying Dysfunctional Families

According to treatment centers professionals, dysfunctional families can be categorized in four types which include the psychologically disturbed family, chemically-dependent family, dogmatic family and sexually or physically abusive family. A dysfunctional family has rigid rules that must be followed by children. Often, these children will suffer from a loss of identity, low self-image and poor communication patterns. Moreover, these children tend to be secretive and play with family members in such a way that one go against the other and send double messages. They can end up being perfectionists or highly tolerated for their behavior.

Children who are products of a dysfunctional family can also have codependency. Codependency in a family that is abusing drugs or alcohol can happen as a person observes relationships from other family members like parents that are kept by emotional abuse.

Treating dysfunctional families that are caused by substance abuse can be possible by self-heal. This includes making an assessment of the problems made and coming up with a treatment plan that will address the certain aspect of one's self which need rehabilitation. A lot of treatment centers professionals say that the healing process can be completed by writing down certain goals that family members may want to complete, the range of time they believe they can accomplish them and the possible things that can help in fulfilling them. Honesty in oneself is necessary to make this approach successful especially when treating a kind of abuse that has been suffered during a family member's childhood years.

A normally-functioning family can become dysfunctional when one of the members is abusing certain substances. Thus, it is imperative for every member to do something to help the sufferer get immediate help.

Jose Smith is a writer of various topics particularly http://www.helpaddicts.com/Illinois-Rehab/Cary/ and http://www.treatmentcentersdirectory.com/Florida/Orange-City/

Source: http://articles.submityourarticle.com/can-substance-abuse-result-in-dysfunctional-families-290848

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Creating Literary Eye Candy with Space-Saving Bookshelves

?Entry #1525, August 29, 2012

Whether you are a connoisseur of fine reading or you just enjoy having beautiful books lining your bookshelves, there?s no doubt books have a special place in our homes. While many people place books wherever they can fit, creating a focal point for your books can be doubly fun and make an eye-catching destination for the eye to fall when you walk in the room. Here are tips to create literary eye candy while still saving space for your favorite books.

Bookshelves can add dimension to any home.

Image via

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Let the interior architecture influence the bookshelf:

When thinking of an eye-popping bookshelf many of the forms that are unforgettable are the ones that embrace the architecture of the space. Whether it is sympathetic ? the book shelf plays off of the existing shapes, and detailing of the adjacent walls and architectural features, or is unsympathetic ? doesn?t correlate with the adjacent interior features, bookshelves can create a feature in itself. Stand back and take note of your room?s natural curves, lines, and styling. Play off of these when building your new bookshelf. Designing your home now? Why not ask your designer to play off of a curving staircase, a two story fireplace, or a breath-taking atrium? Bookshelves can add dimension to any space.

Create an architectural statement with bookshelves

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Bookshelf furniture is no longer boring:

While you can still buy a rectilinear bookshelf with 3 shelves there are so many more choices out there, so why not try them out? From ultra modern and minimalistic to organic and curvilinear, there aren?t any shape configurations that haven?t been thought of. Artisans, designers, and furniture designers have found a new niche of design expression through bookshelf varieties. From ones that spell out words, to bookshelves that encompass seating, beds, and even fireplaces, there is no limit when it comes to bookshelf design. Choose your fav and let your bookshelf speak for itself.

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Does your bookshelf make a statement?

Image via

Let your books become the focal point:

Shelving for books has become a hot topic for designers and homeowners and in more recent years interior trends showoff color coordinated book spines placed together, and matching books together strictly for their appearance as opposed to their content. Let your books become the instant conversation starter in your entertaining spaces. Take cues from colors in your interior furniture, textiles, pillows, and window treatments and match your books to create a unified and designer look. Don?t know where to shop for colorful books? Try vintage and thrift shops where you can buy affordable books, regardless of their content but for their colorful covers!

Who said they have to be REAL books?

Image via

Whether you are trying to make your library more eye-catching, or your dining room wall just doesn?t have enough pizazz, think of adding literary eye candy to make your room sing. Saving space, displaying your favorite books and creating an interior design style with your best hardbacks have never looked so good.

For more creative home decor ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Source: http://stagetecture.com/2012/08/creating-literary-eye-candy-with-space-saving-bookshelves/

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Enlisting the AIDS virus to fight cancer

ScienceDaily (Aug. 28, 2012) ? Can HIV be transformed into a biotechnological tool for improving human health? According to a CNRS team at the Architecture et R?activit? de l'ARN (RNA Architecture and Reactivity) laboratory, the answer is yes. Taking advantage of the HIV replication machinery, the researchers have been able to select a specific mutant protein. Added to a culture of tumor cells in combination with an anticancer drug, this protein improves the effectiveness of the treatment at 1/300 the normal dosage levels.

Published in PLoS Genetics on 23 August 2012, these findings could lead to long-term therapeutic applications in the treatment of cancer and other pathologies.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS, uses human cell material to multiply, primarily by inserting its genetic material into the host cells' genome. The distinctive characteristic of HIV is that it mutates constantly, and consequently generates several mutant proteins (or variants) in the course of its successive multiplications. This phenomenon allows the virus to adapt to repeated environmental changes and resist the antiviral treatments that have been developed so far.

At the IBMC (Institut de Biologie Mol?culaire et Cellulaire) in Strasbourg, the researchers of the CNRS Architecture et R?activit? de l'ARN laboratory had the idea of using this multiplication strategy to rechannel the effects of the virus for therapeutic purposes, in particular the treatment of cancer.

They first altered the HIV genome by introducing a human gene that is found in all cells: the gene for deoxycytidine kinase (dCK), a protein that activates anticancer drugs (2). Researchers have been trying to produce a more effective form of dCK for several years. Through HIV multiplication, the CNRS team has selected a "library" of nearly 80 mutant proteins and tested them on tumor cells in the presence of an anticancer drug. The results have enabled them to identify a dCK variant that is more effective than the wild-type (non-mutated) protein, inducing the death of tumor cells in culture. In combination with this protein, the anticancer drugs showed identical effectiveness at 1/300 the dose. The possibility of reducing the doses of anticancer drugs would palliate the problems posed by their components' toxicity, reduce their side effects and, most importantly, improve their effectiveness.

One advantage of this experimental technique is that the mutant proteins were tested directly on cells in culture. The next step in the years to come will be preclinical (animal) studies on the isolated mutant protein. In addition, this experimental system using a normally life-threatening virus is likely to lead to a great many other therapeutic applications.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS).

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. Paola Rossolillo, Flore Winter, Etienne Simon-Loriere, Sarah Gallois-Montbrun, Matteo Negroni. Retrovolution: HIV?Driven Evolution of Cellular Genes and Improvement of Anticancer Drug Activation. PLoS Genetics, 2012; 8 (8): e1002904 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002904

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/top_news/~3/mV4X5-v8v7o/120828073304.htm

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Policy Tips: Avoiding Copyright Infringement - Inside AdSense

One of the fantastic benefits of the Internet is that it puts incredible information and entertainment at our fingertips. We can instantly watch videos, listen to music, read news articles and much more. It?s important to remember, however, that these works may be protected by copyright law.

We?d like to take a moment to explain the AdSense policies regarding copyrighted material and provide some tips on how to comply with them.

AdSense policy
It?s against our policies to show ads alongside copyrighted material you don?t have authorization to use. Simply put, you cannot run AdSense ads alongside copyrighted content that violates copyright laws, or alongside links to such content. The program policies go into more detail.

What?s copyrighted?
Generally speaking, any original creative work that appears online is protected by copyright law. There are some exceptions, such as purely factual material, or material that has entered the public domain. But in general the reach of copyright law is very broad.

Do you have the right to use the material?
In most cases, without a specific license or exception, you don?t have the right to offer most mainstream entertainment such as television shows, movies, and popular music on your website.

If you created the content entirely from scratch, chances are you hold the copyright. Generally, you?re free to monetize this kind of content any way you like. If you didn?t create the content, or you created it using other peoples? content as source material, you should ask yourself if you have a license or if an exception applies.

You may have acquired permission from the copyright holder for the material on your web site. This kind of permission is typically called a license. In this case, as long as your use is in line with the license you have, you should be okay.

There are also exceptions to copyright law that may apply to your use. Fair use in the United States, and other similar exceptions elsewhere, allow for certain kinds of uses of copyrighted material. Common examples are criticism or scholarship. There are other exceptions to copyright law as well.

We don?t want AdSense used in ways that may support copyright violations, so we sometimes err on the side of caution if a site cannot demonstrate a clear legal basis for using or linking to copyrighted material.

Linking to filesharing hosts
It?s against our policies to show ads on the same page as links to other sites that are hosting copyrighted materials without authorization. Keep in mind that these sites come in various forms such as forums, blogs or community websites.

Reporting instances of copyright infringement
If you believe that a site which is participating in the AdSense program is displaying your copyrighted material without the rights to do so, please report it using this form or by clicking on the AdChoices icon. If you?d like to know more information about copyright issues and AdSense, we encourage you to visit our Help Center.

Posted by Ben Barkhoff, ?AdSense Policy Team

Source: http://adsense.blogspot.com/2012/08/policy-tips-avoiding-copyright.html

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Nearby Advertising In Business Directories | FBF Article Directory

For decades, neighborhood mom and pop businesses could rely on word of mouth and
classic print services to garner clients. In the event the local organizations had
a great or service that they wanted to promote, they could just call up the
local newspaper and ask for an advertisement. Nonetheless, as media has evolved
towards much more sophisticated routes including the web, it has turn into
increasingly far more hard (and oftentimes prohibitively expensive) for
local companies to stand-out against the crowd by marketing in each newer
and older types of media.

Yet, local organizations continually uncover themselves facing a problem. As
prospective customers turn into far more Web savvy, nearby organizations could possibly be
carrying out themselves an excellent disservice by not having some sort of exposure on
the world wide web.

According to Kelsey Research, 70% of US households now use the web when
looking for nearby goods and services. The truth is, it is projected that
over 20 billion searches for neighborhood info will probably be created in 2007. 75% of
Web customers have looked for services and merchandise inside an region close to
their residence or company. Moreover, current Internet studies have located that
some of the most searched queries in search engines like google like Google or Yahoo
are words like neighborhood company, free of charge, discount, inexpensive, and also other terms
bearing the connotation that the searcher is hunting for something to
obtain.

Although a lot of could possibly be trying to look for low-cost electronics that can be
shipped to their properties, it is also incredibly apparent that customers are
trying to find businesses in their nearby area that they can patronize. Most
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might be bought on the web. Individuals want automotive services, tutors, daycare,
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much more inside a number of miles of their property. These day-to-day rituals that we all
engage in are all predicated on realizing where to find enterprise. And as
mentioned above, with an abundance of men and women turning to the World wide web to locate
out where well priced, hassle-free goods and services are positioned, even a
little Web presence can skyrocket an organization.

Unfortunately, the common neighborhood company doesn?t have a large amount of money to
devote on Net exposure. Even when they do have the finances to create a
web site, the approach can be cumbersome and somewhat daunting for the
generations of little business that aren?t well-read within the approaches of
cyberspace. If the typical website can run anywhere from hundreds to
thousands of dollars, is it nevertheless worth producing Even if you get the
web site up and operating, how will people discover you How high will you be
ranked on search engines like google In the event you are like me, all the be concerned involved requires
away time from each of the daily client service troubles that include the
territory of owning a company. Why must you commit an inordinate amount of
income when there is absolutely no guarantee of finding much more buyers for your trouble
Many are pushed away due to the fact the return on investment just doesn?t seem
worth it.

If this can be what you think, maybe you can consider a lot of other low expense
choices for your tiny business to acquire attention and some exposure on the
net. Something as simple as a Facebook or Myspace account can be utilised to
garner advertisement for the business. The internet is all about content material
and link popularity, and getting even just a little bit might help. Nonetheless, there
are services that are beginning to expand the selection of possibilities for
nearby organizations and cater explicitly to them. Websites including
www.Cityslick.net and www.Merchantcircle.com permit organizations to create nearby
listings whereby buyers can place simple get in touch with info, slogans,
product descriptions and photos, customizable coupons, appointment
generators, documents, social bookmarking, and far more. The terrific part
about internet sites like these is that they?re not static; companies tend not to
simply post a listing and hope for customers to show up. Customers can
browse, request deals, request appointments, chat with other shoppers and
businesses inside the forums, and leave critiques.

In the event you decide to list on an enterprise directory web site, make sure that they
are performing their greatest to obtain you probably the most exposure possible. In accordance with
www.webworkshop.net, Link text (the text that?s clicked on when clicking on
a link) is singly one of the most important factor when Google determines the
rankings for any provided search-term. To help a modest local enterprise web site
grow in this style, it?s important that company owners submit to neighborhood
directories that could give custom back links.

www.Cityslick.net in particular is proactive in its method to make sure that
these sorts of interactions take place. By using the latest search engine
optimization (Seo) strategies, they may be drawing clients for the website not
only by promoting it as a strategy to uncover inexpensive, nearby offers, but they?re also
generating it to ensure that listings, just by themselves, have the exact same kind of
visibility as traditional websites.

Nearby and tiny enterprise owners have a multitude of factors to worry about
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to sophisticated company directories, organizations can get each of the positive aspects of
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Poll: Romney faces headwinds in race against Obama

TAMPA, Florida (Reuters) - Mitt Romney enters Republican convention week facing serious challenges in his drive to unseat President Barack Obama in the November 6 election, with the Democrat outscoring him on eloquence and likability, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Monday.

But many factors weigh in the Republican's favor as he seeks a boost from his Tampa, Florida, convention. An overwhelming majority of Americans believe the U.S. economy is on the wrong track, the poll found.

The convention that will nominate Romney as the Republican candidate to face Obama begins in earnest on Tuesday. The former Massachusetts governor addresses thousands of delegates gathered for the event on Thursday.

Obama and Vice President Joe Biden were ahead of Romney and running mate Paul Ryan by 46 percent to 42 percent, according to the online poll. The Obama team led the Republicans by 16 percentage points among independents, a key voting bloc that could tip the election in battleground states.

It was the first installment of a four-day rolling poll by Reuters/Ipsos which will measure and track attitudes during the Republican and Democratic conventions.

Other polls have shown Obama and Romney neck-and-neck and the Republican's campaign officials believe they are in good position to upset the Democrat in November given that Romney has withstood a barrage of negative attacks from Obama over the summer.

The poll found that Obama far outstrips Romney on who is more eloquent by 51 percent to 21 percent. Obama also gets higher likability numbers, with 54 percent to 26 percent finding him more likeable.

Forty-seven percent say he is "a good person," compared to 29 percent for Romney, and 48 percent said Obama would be "fun to meet in person," while 21 percent said that about Romney.

Romney is seeking to use his convention this week to improve his likability performance with several speakers expected to talk up his life and career as a family man, former businessman, and ex-governor.

The one trait where Romney leads by a large margin is "a man of faith" -- 40 percent for Romney against 28 percent for Obama.

The two candidates were within a few points of each other on "will protect American jobs," 36 percent for Obama against 33 percent for Romney. There were identical numbers on the question of who "can be effective in Washington."

A host of factors that arose in the poll should serve as warning signs for the president despite his advantages over the lesser-known Republican.

According to the poll, 75 percent believe the economy is on the wrong track, 83 percent believe the same of fuel and gasoline prices, and 79 percent think "your cost of living" is doing badly.

Both Biden and Ryan were viewed unfavorably by more voters than favorable.

Biden, who drew criticism for telling a crowd in former slave state Virginia that Romney wanted to "put y'all back in chains," was viewed favorably by 49 percent to 51 percent who see him unfavorably.

Ryan, whose proposed budget plan would lead to deep budget cuts and changes to the Medicare healthcare plan for seniors, was viewed favorably by 48 percent to 52 percent who viewed him unfavorably.

(Editing By Alistair Bell and Jim Loney)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/poll-romney-faces-headwinds-race-against-obama-235841829.html

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Resurrection from a personal or business sales slump | John Blake

?

Resurrection from a personal or business sales slump

Resurrection from a personal or business sales slump

About 12 months ago I?was interviewed by?longtime friend and?colleague, Glenn Twiddle.

Glenn is the ?go to? Real?Estate sales and marketing?mentor in this country.

The interview themed?on getting through tough?times which at the time?was particularly topical
for Glenn?s list of agents?essentially, a step by step?process for resurrection?from a personal or business?sales slump.

Since then, Glenn?s?had dozens of people?who received the CD raving?about how much they?got from it.

In fact, after listening to?it again for the first time?in ages a couple of days?ago, I was reminded of how
much of my best stuff?I shared on the?interview

And until now, no one?else has heard it other?than his monthly?paid subscribers.

but because you are one?of my subscribers?I wanted you to have?a complimentary copy.

the download link is?below.

use this link

Oh?and I should also?mention I share some?personal stuff regarding?the mental steps
I took to get myself?back into action after?my wife passed away?18 months ago.

I hope you enjoy it?as much as Glenns??subscribers have?and that you are able?to use

this powerful?message for Resurrection?from a personal or business?sales slump.

?

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Source: http://john-blake.com.au/resurrection-from-a-personal-or-business-sales-slump/

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'Cyborg' Tissues: Merging engineered human tissues with bio-compatible nanoscale wires

ScienceDaily (Aug. 26, 2012) ? Harvard scientists have, for the first, time created a type of "cyborg" tissue by embedding a three-dimensional network of functional, bio-compatible nanoscale wires into engineered human tissues.

As described in a paper published August 26 in Nature Materials, a multi-institutional research team led by Charles M. Lieber, the Mark Hyman, Jr. Professor of Chemistry at Harvard and Daniel Kohane, a Harvard Medical School professor in the Department of Anesthesia at Children's Hospital Boston developed a system for creating nanoscale "scaffolds" which could be seeded with cells which later grew into tissue.

Also contributing to the work were Robert Langer, from the Koch Institute at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Zhigang Suo, the Allen E. and Marilyn M. Puckett Professor of Mechanics and Materials at Harvard's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

"The current methods we have for monitoring or interacting with living systems are limited," said Lieber. "We can use electrodes to measure activity in cells or tissue, but that damages them. With this technology, for the first time, we can work at the same scale as the unit of biological system without interrupting it. Ultimately, this is about merging tissue with electronics in a way that it becomes difficult to determine where the tissue ends and the electronics begin."

The research addresses a concern that has long been associated with work on bioengineered tissue -- how to create systems capable of sensing chemical or electrical changes in the tissue after it has been grown and implanted. The system might also represent a solution to researchers' struggles in developing methods to directly stimulate engineered tissues and measure cellular reactions.

"In the body, the autonomic nervous system keeps track of pH, chemistry, oxygen and other factors, and triggers responses as needed," Kohane explained. "We need to be able to mimic the kind of intrinsic feedback loops the body has evolved in order to maintain fine control at the cellular and tissue level."

Using the autonomic nervous system as inspiration, Bozhi Tian, a former doctoral student under Lieber and former postdoctoral fellow in the Kohane and Langer labs, and collaborator Jia Liu worked in Lieber's lab at Harvard to build mesh-like networks of nanoscale silicon wires -- about 30 -- 80 nm in diameter -- shaped like flat planes or in a reticular conformation.

The process of building the networks, Lieber said, is similar to that used to etch microchips.

Beginning with a two-dimensional substrate, researchers laid out a mesh of organic polymer around nanoscale wires, which serve as the critical nanoscale sensing elements. Nanoscale electrodes, which connect the nanowire elements, were then built within the mesh to enable nanowire transistors to measure the activity in cells without damaging them. Once complete, the substrate was dissolved, leaving researchers with a net-like sponge or a mesh that can be folded or rolled into a host of three dimensional shapes.

Once complete, the networks were porous enough to allow the team to seed them with cells and encourage those cells to grow in 3D cultures.

"Previous efforts to create bioengineered sensing networks have focused on two-dimensional layouts, where culture cells grow on top of electronic components, or on conformal layouts where probes are placed on tissue surfaces," said Tian. "It is desirable to have an accurate picture of cellular behavior within the 3D structure of a tissue, and it is also important to have nanoscale probes to avoid disruption of either cellular or tissue architecture."

Using heart and nerve cells, the team successfully engineered tissues containing embedded nanoscale networks without affecting the cells' viability or activity. Using the embedded devices, they were able to detect electrical signals generated by cells deep within the tissue, and to measure changes in those signals in response to cardio- or neuro-stimulating drugs.

Researchers were also able to construct bioengineered blood vessels, and used the embedded technology to measure pH changes -- as would be seen in response to inflammation, ischemia and other biochemical or cellular environments -- both inside and outside the vessels.

Though a number of potential applications exist for the technology, the most near-term use, Lieber said, may come from the pharmaceutical industry, where researchers could use the technology to more precisely study how newly-developed drugs act in three dimensional tissues, rather than thin layers of cultured cells. The system might also one day be used to monitor changes inside the body and react accordingly, whether through electrical stimulation or the release of a drug.

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

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Journal Reference:

1. Bozhi Tian, Jia Liu, Tal Dvir, Lihua Jin, Jonathan H. Tsui, Quan Qing, Zhigang Suo, Robert Langer, Daniel S. Kohane, Charles M. Lieber. Macroporous nanowire nanoelectronic scaffolds for synthetic tissues. Nature Materials, 2012; DOI: 10.1038/nmat3404

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/top_news/top_technology/~3/8jAMTZeQspA/120826143610.htm

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Ann Romney has Secret Service protection (The Arizona Republic)

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

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/243623992?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Travel and Leisure Resorts ? Triple Threat Adventures

Article by David Patullo

If you are planning to embark on a luxury cruise voyage, then do not hesitate any more. As much as it may look like just an ordinary leisure outing, at the end of it all you will have developed great and lasting friendship with your cruising partners. It is from such friendships that you get to learn very many things that you never knew.

During your journey, you will be overjoyed to spend some time in the travel and leisure resorts which offer marvelous services and delicacies. As you cruise all over the fabulous ports and any other place that the cruise ship sails, you should not be worried of where you will sleep or eat. Almost all travel and leisure resorts operate all day and night long. Other than the mega cruise liners, there also exist a number of various types of ships that are of different sizes. Despite the big craze of travelling in the big ships, the smaller cruise ships are better when it comes to inland waterways navigation. This makes it very simple to view historic landmarks and cities.

Travel and leisure resorts offer some good place to relax after all the day?s site seeing and travelling. If you choose to travel on a larger cruise, they organize one or two shore excursions at every port of call. You get to go for one excursion in the morning hours, and the other one in the afternoon then from there you get your time to rest at any of the travel and leisure resorts. After the first excursion, all people gather back at the travel and leisure resorts for a sumptuous lunch buffet.

Although travel and leisure resorts also offer dinner, you might always miss it on the days that you go out for an afternoon excursion and come back late at night or early evening. However, you should not miss out on any adventure just because of one meal or two. The travel and leisure resorts are always open and all of them offer very good and high quality meals. Sometimes, you can even explore the city, an island, town, or other landmarks and tourist attractions on your own provided you get to the ship on time or else, it will sail without you.

Do not forget that your vacation time is limited. You should distribute your time effectively so that you do not spend too much time in the travel and leisure resorts at the expense of shore excursions. The other very important thing that you should not forget to carry with you is the travel guide book. Without this book, you may end up lost or you may never know where certain sites are found. Some travel and leisure resorts have these guides but they cannot allow you to leave with them. Similarly, you can also carry a camera which you will use to take photos and videos. You should therefore make sure that the memory card is big enough to store all those images and videos.

About the Author

David has been writing articles for nearly 2 years. Come visit his latest websiteover at www.childrensplayhouseequipment.comwhich helps people find the best deals and a great range of resources on childrens playhouse equipment.

Use and distribution of this article is subject to our Publisher Guidelines
whereby the original author?s information and copyright must be included.

Find More Travel And Leisure Articles

Source: http://triplethreatadventures.com/2012/08/26/travel-and-leisure-resorts/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=travel-and-leisure-resorts

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Randy Travis Gets Into Fight With Girlfriend?s Husband

Randy Travis Gets Into Fight With Girlfriend’s Husband

Troubled country singer Randy Travis got into a fight with his girlfriend’s estranged husband outside a Texas church. Police arrived to the scene at around [...]

Randy Travis Gets Into Fight With Girlfriend’s Husband Stupid Celebrities Gossip Stupid Celebrities Gossip News

Source: http://stupidcelebrities.net/2012/08/randy-travis-gets-into-fight-with-girlfriends-husband/

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chrisabraham: The Twitter Typo That Exposed Anthony Weiner http://t.co/W6ZWNhwN #orm

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Source: http://twitter.com/chrisabraham/statuses/239016084076900352

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Angelina Jolie Takes A Dig At Jennifer Aniston For 'Simple' Wedding Plans .... h...

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Source: http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10152047162955333&id=278750055332

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Brief Solution About Hemroids | ArticlePDQ.com

What is Haemorhoids?

Expansion of radicles of rectal veins within the anal canal is called Haemorhoids.The medical term for piles is hemorrhoids.Compared to arteries veins are weak due to thin walls and hence any backpressure in the veins can make them tortuous.There are three rectal veins namely superior, middle and inferior rectal veins. Any obstructions or growth of pressure in these veins can predispose Haemorhoids.

Depending upon the situation there are two types of piles.

1) External Hemorrhoids. 2) Internal Hemroids.

1) External Hemorrhoids:-

This type of piles is seen outside the anal opening and is covered by skin.It is black or brown in colour.This type of piles is very agonyful due to rich nerve supply in this area.

2) Internal Hemroids:-

It is inside the anal canal and internal to the anal orifice. It is covered by mucous membrane and is red or purple in colour.These Piles are afflictionless.

Some times internal and external Hemorrhoids occure in same individual.

Factors responsible for Hemroids:?

1) This is a familial disease.

2) Haemorhoids is seen only in animals maintain an erect posture. This is due to congestion in the rectal veins due to the effect of gravity.

3) It is common in individuals having chronic constipation.Those who have a habit of visiting the toilet due to frequent urge for stool may develop piles in future.

4) Hemroids is common in those who take excess of chicken, prawns, spicy food ect.Those who take vegetables and fibrous food are rarely affected.

5) Some ladies get Hemorrhoids during pregnancy due to compression of rectal veins by the uterus.

6) Cancerous lesions in the rectum can obstruct blood flow and result in piles.

Signs and symptoms of piles:?

1) Agony:-

Sickness is common in external piles which will be worse while straining at stool.

2) Bleeding:-

Bleeding comes in splashes while pressing for stool. Bleeding may be profuse in some cases.

3) Protruding mass:-

In external Hemorrhoids the swelling can be felt around the anal orifice. In case of internal Hemroids initially it can not be felt. When the disease progresses the Hemroids protrude during stool and will go inside automatically. When the condition becomes worse the protruded Hemorrhoids will not go back in to the anus.

4) In some cases there will be discharge of mucus with itching around the anal orifice.

Complications of Piles:?

1,Infection: The infection can spread to deep veins resulting in septicaemia.
2,Fibrosis: Here the piles become fibrosed with hardening of anal orifice.
3,Thrombosis: Here the blood inside the piles will form clots and can obstruct blood flow.
4,Gangrene: Here the tissues in the Piles and nearby skin die due to lack of blood supply.
5,Suppuration: When the Piles suppurate it can produce abscess with discharge of pus.

Treatment of Hemorrhoids:?

Initially it is treated on the basis of symptoms.Constipation should be treated. If there is anaemia iron should be give. Homoeopathic medicines can give unexceptional results. If medicinal therapy is not giving any result the following can be tried.

1) The thrombosed external pile is excised under local anaesthesia.

2) Sclerosant injection therapy can reduce the size of Haemorhoids.

3) Rubber band ligation around the neck of Hemroids is useful in some cases.

4) Cryosurgery is very real.

5) Anal decrease can reduce constipation and pain.

6) Haemorrhoidectomy is the surgical removal of Piles.

How to prevent Piles?

1) Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.

2) Take fibrous food.

3) Fake out excess intake of meat, prawns, crabs ect.

4) Keep a regular timing for food.

6) Drink sufficient quantity of water.

7) Keep a regularity in bowel habits.

8) Take cure for constipation.

Hemroids Creme

Source: http://articlepdq.com/health-fitness/brief-solution-about-hemroids/

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Preview Fonts with One Click in the OS X Font Window [Mac Tips]

Most OS X apps have a small "Fonts" window that pops up if you want to change your font's options, but by default, it doesn't show you what each font actually looks like. Here's how to show a preview of every font with one click.

This may be one of the most annoyingly hidden Mac features out there, but when you open up the font window, you should see a small dot under the title bar. Click it, drag it down, and you'll get a full preview of whatever font you've chosen, complete with the size, typeface, and other settings you've chosen. Why this isn't on by default we'll never know, but apparently it's been hidden there for years.

Just realised this secret of the Fonts panel by accident. Wonder if anybody knew. | Reddit via Cult of Mac

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/my--wBVUmpU/preview-fonts-with-one-click-in-the-os-x-font-window

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BYOD ? Good For Business? Or Security Nightmare? | Aragonite ...

BYOD, (Bring Your Own Device), is a phrase that has been adopted to refer to employees who bring their own computing devices to the workplace, (smartphones, laptops, tablets, PDA?s).? This is an emerging trend in the workplace, which is being embraced in many corporate environments.? I recall for many years of my IT career, just thinking of allowing someone to bring their own device and plug it into your corporate network was enough to get you laughed out of the building.? The main reason being security, since these are personal devices, IT would be unable to enforce the strict security standards necessary to ensure the companies network was secure.

Recently Trend Micro commissioned a study on the growing Mobile Consumerization Trends & Perceptions.? Of the more than 400 IT professionals who responded, 78% said that their company supports employee owned devices accessing the corporate network and data.? Those figures are in line with other studies that show BYOD is the new normal among most U.S. companies.

Alarmingly, approximately half, of companies that indicate they support BYOD have experienced a security breach as a direct result of an employee-owned device accessing the corporate network.? A large number of the companies, but not all, that experienced breaches introduced new standards to prevent future occurrence.

Approximately half of the companies that experienced a security breach responded by putting access restrictions on the resources and data that users could access from mobile devices, while about 42% installed security tools on the employee owned devices.? 12% of companies responded to the security breach by terminating there BYOD programs.

The numbers suggest that many companies are not instituting sufficient security measures when adopting BYOD programs, even if mobile device management systems are in place.? They also suggest that many companies are not taking the steps necessary to prevent the breaches even after having experienced one.? Those are disturbing implications for companies and employee, customer, or client data that they collect or have access to.

There are also some positive findings in the report:

• Nearly all companies (89.1%) have security and acceptable use policies around personal devices that access a company network
• Most (80%) require some form of mobile security or management agent be installed on employee devices
• A little over half (53.7%) restrict BYOD to specific platforms, mobile OS versions, or specific devices
• Almost three-quarters (72.5%) plan to implement a solution the separates business and personal data on employee devices like the encrypted container approaches offered by Good and Bitzer Mobile.
• Most companies have a remote wipe policy in place ? 35.7% wipe devices when they are lost/stolen and when an employee leaves the company, 25.3% wipe lost/stolen devices but don?t wipe when an employee leaves

Source: http://blog.aragonitetechnologies.com/?p=278

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Microbiome Creep, E. coli and Colorectal Cancer (Oh My!) | Mike the ...

Some studies of course do an OK job of trying to test whether observations are correlations or have some causative connection. One seemingly well done case from the scientific publication point of view involves a recent paper on gut microbes and colon cancer: Gut Microbes Implicated in the Development of Colorectal Cancer. Alas it is not an open access paper so what most people out there have to go on is the press coverage of the work. The paper itself is quite interesting and the authors do a pretty good job of discussing how they went about testing the roles of specific microbes and even specific genes in the etiology of disease in a mouse model.

The press coverage has not been so clear alas. Some examples of the press coverage are below:

In many of the stories the key distinction between correlation vs. causation is nowhere to be found. Of course, I don?t always expect the press to cover such distinctions, but the more this is discussed in blogs, press stories the better off we all will be.

If you read the titles of the stories versus what?s reported in the article, there is quite a big gap. So I?m going to summarize the results as best I understand them. Here?s what they found (note: I?m trying to reduce the use of non-technical language and strip things down to their essentials for non-specialists; if you?re an expert, don?t be pedantic in the comments):

1) Germ-free mutant mice prone to forming tumors and developing colitis under the experimental conditions have a different gut microbiota than normal non-germ-free mice (germ-free are raised from birth in a sterile environment).
2) Germ-free mutant mice prone to forming tumors and developing colitis have a 1000-fold increase in the bacterium E. coli.
3) Germ-free mutant mice prone to forming tumors and developing colitis exposed to either Enterococcus faecalis or E. coli strain NC101 develop severe colitis, but only the mice exposed to E. coli NC101 routinely developed tumors.
4) A group of E. coli, known as the B2 phylogroup (a lineage of E. coli), to which E. coli NC101 belongs, produce colibactin (colibactin damages DNA, potentially causing tumors). More about these E. coli later.
5) 5/24 people (not mice) who did not have either IBD (inflammatory bowel disease) or colorectal cancer had colibactin-producing E. coli, while 14/35 IBD and 14/21 patients with colorectal cancer had colibactin-producing E. coli.
6) A variant of E. coli NC101 which lacks the ability to produce colibactin is unable to damage the DNA of a laboratory line of rat epithelial cells.
7) The absence of colibactin production in E. coli in germ-free mutant mice prone to forming tumors and developing colitis appears to reduce tumor formation, although colonic inflammation is unaltered. It is worth noting the normal mice seem perfectly fine: only mice prone to inflammation (the mutants) seem to run into trouble.

This is an impressive study. But is this really a link between E. coli and colon cancer? Come on. It?s important because the study indicates a phenomenon we need to explore further, ultimately in people. Yet there is a long way to go from these data to making causative statements about disease (as Eisen notes).

I also want to raise a couple points about the E. coli side of things too. B2 phylogroup E. coli are quite common, usually occurring in 20-30% of healthy people; they are also disproportionately associated with urinary tract infections and other ?extraintestinal? infection (i.e., not diarrhea). What?s interesting is that if you look for the colibactin production genes in commensal B2 E. coli (those not isolated from sick people?in some cases, not even from humans), almost all of them have these genes, and no other non-B2 commensals do (that I?ve examined so far; obviously, ?no other? is a very strong statement). That doesn?t invalidate their model, but there are a number of genes that are very common in and exclusive to B2 E. coli; those genes could also be responsible for these mechanisms. It should also be noted that other genotoxins are found in many E. coli, but, as the authors note, they are not found in E. coli NC101. What they observe in the study might not be a colibactin-specific or B2-specific phenomenon at all.

The other issue is that it?s not clear how this translates into healthy humans. I realize that?s often a generic criticism, but normal mice aren?t affected by E. coli NC101. Lots of healthy people carry B2 E. coli. People will also have a mixture of E. coli at various times, and E. coli are, in the long term, transient?this isn?t like Helicobacter pylori where strains will persist for years. It remains to be seen how long an association is required in a complex community, as opposed to ?mono-associated mice? for these processes to occur (if they do at all). In short, this study highlights a potential mechanism underlying colorectal cancer, but we have no idea how potent this mechanism is in humans (doesn?t seem to have much effect in normal mice). As Eisen put it, ?there is no evidence that the colibactin producing bacteria cause cancer.?

Finally, there?s one result that doesn?t make sense to me?the statistics don?t seem correct:

Although 5 of the 24 (20.8%) non-IBD/non-CRC controls [MB: 'normal' mice] harbored pks+ E. coli [MB: colibactin-producers], the genotoxic island was detected in 14 of 35 (40%, P < 0.05) IBD patients and in 14 of 21 (66.7%, P < 0.001) CRC patients (Fig. 3B and table S3).

I must be missing something obvious, because if you use any of the basic statistical tests (binomial sign, Fisher?s Exact, Chi-Square or Pearson?s tests), the IBD patients don?t have a significantly higher frequency of colibactin-producers (5 vs. 19 for normal; 14 vs. 21 for IBD). Anyone want to run the numbers and show me what I?m not getting?

For the non-scientists, it?s worth actually realizing what studies like these do well: illuminating potential mechanisms. This work is good science. The reason I went through this exercise is not to tear down this article, but because, like Eisen, I?m concerned by what I?ll call ?microbiome creep?, where claims in the popular coverage keep escalating (hell, give it few months, and we will probably start to see people claim E. coli causes breast cancer). When we (and I include science communicators in ?we?) act as if these kinds of studies concretely explain natural phenomena, we are stretching good studies too far. Inevitably, even among scientists who are skimming news reports, many readers will think, ?Bacteria can cause cancer.? This then leads to unrealistic expectations (e.g., even if this mechanism does work, it could be very weak, so it?s not where you intervene medically). That?s not a good thing, especially for younger researchers just getting their feet wet in this field, and who could get hit with a nasty backlash when ?we haven?t cured colorectal cancer.?

For the scientists, remember than even though science journalists are sympathetic to scientists (certainly relative to political reporters and politicians), their interests and research scientists? interests do not always overlap. We don?t want to undersell things, but overplaying results won?t help us either.

Cited article: Arthur JC, Perez-Chanona E, M?hlbauer M, Tomkovich S, Uronis JM, Fan TJ, Campbell BJ, Abujamel T, Dogan B, Rogers AB, Rhodes JM, Stintzi A, Simpson KW, Hansen JJ, Keku TO, Fodor AA, Jobin C. 2012. Intestinal Inflammation Targets Cancer-Inducing Activity of the Microbiota. Science DOI: 10.1126/science.1224820

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Source: http://mikethemadbiologist.com/2012/08/23/microbiome-creep-e-coli-and-colorectal-cancer-oh-my/

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Is Marriage a Noun or a Verb? | Relate 360? Blog - Relationships Work

Despite what you?ve heard
Yeah love ain?t a thing
Love is a verb
Love ain?t a thing
Love is a verb

So you gotta show, show, show me
Show, show, show me
Show, show, show me
That love is a verb

~ John Mayer (Lyrics from ?Love Is a Verb?)

When you think of ?true love? what comes to mind? Passion, romance, a rush of adrenaline, 50 Shades of Grey?

Most of us think of ?true love? as a feeling. Gary Chapman, in his best-selling book Love is a Verb says, ?Love is a choice you make every day.? Love is not the dreamy, adoring, fiery feeling where your partner can do no wrong. (You may have that in the beginning, but ask anyone who has been married for a while, it doesn?t last.)

The honeymoon feelings that you may take for granted will be challenged when you have an argument or your partner spends too much money. It?s vital for any couple who wants a long-term relationship to understand that as love evolves over the years it ripens into a more mature love; but only if you actively feed and nurture the loving feelings.

?True love? is alive, active, dynamic and energetic and requires conscious, concrete loving acts of kindness to keep the emotional and sexual desire burning.

The in-love experience does not focus on our own growth or on the growth and development of the other person. Rather, it gives us the sense that we have arrived and that we do not need further growth. ~Gary Chapman

Watch this video to hear us talk about how love is a verb in relationships and what you can do.

We would love to hear your thoughts about love as a verb in your relationship on our Facebook page.

To your relationship,

Lori and Bob Hollander

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1. The Evolution of Commitment Over a Lifetime Michael: I don?t understand. You used to be content staying...
2. Growing Through Your Relationship This is a letter of gratitude to my husband, Bob,...
3. Marriage Advice in a Word At the Top 100 Women event last evening, Bob and...

Source: http://www.relationshipswork.com/blog/2012/08/is-marriage-a-noun-or-a-verb/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=is-marriage-a-noun-or-a-verb

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