Honda recalls 46,000 Fit Sports, nearly 44,000 in the United States alone. A software problem with the Fit's electronic stability control prompted the Honda recall. ?
By Suzanne Kane,?Guest blogger / April 29, 2013
A woman walks past a Honda Fit Hybrid car during the media preview of the 10th China International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou last year. Honda Motor Co Ltd is recalling almost 46,000 Fit small cars in the United States and Canada to fix a problem with the electronic stability control system software.
Tyrone Siu/Reuters/File
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Honda is recalling certain 2012 and 2013 Fit Sport small cars to fix a software glitch in the electronic stability control (ESC) system.
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A?notice?on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website indicates that the affected vehicles were built from May 23, 2011 through March 22, 2012.
According to a statement on the Honda website, the voluntary safety recall affects some 43,782 Fit Sport cars in the United States.
The automaker said that the problem with the stability assist software occurs when the vehicle is equipped with certain tires.
An environmental group has warned that a federal agency's plan to designate 98.4 acres as critical habitat for an endangered plant in western Riverside County is inadequate and could result in the extinction of the species.
In response to a lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service earlier this month designated the small area just west of Lake Elsinore as critical habitat for Munz's onion.
The wildlife agency also rejected the center's request for it to protect habitat for the endangered San Jacinto Valley crownscale, which inhabits portions of the San Jacinto River flood plain near Hemet.
Both plants are threatened by habitat loss due to development, agricultural activities, off-road vehicle use, livestock grazing and clay mining, said Ileene Anderson, a biologist with the biological diversity group.
"Because of their tiny ranges and the development pressure there," Anderson said, "these rare plants could be lost to extinction if they don't have more critical habitat than this."
The Fish and Wildlife Service determined that additional critical habitat was not needed because much of the plants' historic range is within the boundaries of areas already proposed for protection under Western Riverside County's multiple-species habitat conservation plan.
But Anderson pointed out that in 2011, 89 acres of crownscale habitat was bulldozed to create artificial duck ponds within the boundaries of a conservation easement established under the multiple-species habitat conservation plan.
Munz's onion, a perennial bulb with bright white flowers, requires heavy clay soils that retain water.
San Jacinto Valley crownscale is a small scrubby plant with shiny grayish leaves. It is relegated to highly alkaline clay soils in flood plains.
"Western Riverside County is the only place on the planet where these plants are found and they are part of our natural heritage," Anderson said. "Their plight embodies the problems with the ecological health of the region."
Apr. 25, 2013 ? As scientists probe and parse the genetic bases of what makes a human a human (or one human different from another), and vigorously push for greater use of whole genome sequencing, they find themselves increasingly threatened by the unthinkable: Too much data to make full sense of.
In a pair of papers published in the April 25, 2013 issue of PLOS Genetics, two diverse teams of scientists, both headed by researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine, describe novel statistical models that more broadly and deeply identify associations between bits of sequenced DNA called single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs and say lead to a more complete and accurate understanding of the genetic underpinnings of many diseases and how best to treat them.
"It's increasingly evident that highly heritable diseases and traits are influenced by a large number of genetic variants in different parts of the genome, each with small effects," said Anders M. Dale, PhD, a professor in the departments of Radiology, Neurosciences and Psychiatry at the UC San Diego School of Medicine. "Unfortunately, it's also increasingly evident that existing statistical methods, like genome-wide association studies (GWAS) that look for associations between SNPs and diseases, are severely underpowered and can't adequately incorporate all of this new, exciting and exceedingly rich data."
Dale cited, for example, a recent study published in Nature Genetics in which researchers used traditional GWAS to raise the number of SNPs associated with primary sclerosing cholangitis from four to 16. The scientists then applied the new statistical methods to identify 33 additional SNPs, more than tripling the number of genome locations associated with the life-threatening liver disease.
Generally speaking, the new methods boost researchers' analytical powers by incorporating a priori or prior knowledge about the function of SNPs with their pleiotrophic relationships to multiple phenotypes. Pleiotrophy occurs when one gene influences multiple sets of observed traits or phenotypes.
Dale and colleagues believe the new methods could lead to a paradigm shift in CWAS analysis, with profound implications across a broad range of complex traits and disorders.
"There is ever-greater emphasis being placed on expensive whole genome sequencing efforts," he said, "but as the science advances, the challenges become larger. The needle in the haystack of traditional GWAS involves searching through about one million SNPs. This will increase 10- to 100-fold, to about 3 billion positions. We think these new methodologies allow us to more completely exploit our resources, to extract the most information possible, which we think has important implications for gene discovery, drug development and more accurately assessing a person's overall genetic risk of developing a certain disease."
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of California, San Diego Health Sciences, via Newswise.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal References:
Andrew J. Schork, Wesley K. Thompson, Phillip Pham, Ali Torkamani, J. Cooper Roddey, Patrick F. Sullivan, John R. Kelsoe, Michael C. O'Donovan, Helena Furberg, Nicholas J. Schork, Ole A. Andreassen, Anders M. Dale. All SNPs Are Not Created Equal: Genome-Wide Association Studies Reveal a Consistent Pattern of Enrichment among Functionally Annotated SNPs. PLoS Genetics, 2013; 9 (4): e1003449 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003449
Ole A. Andreassen, Wesley K. Thompson, Andrew J. Schork, Stephan Ripke, Morten Mattingsdal, John R. Kelsoe, Kenneth S. Kendler, Michael C. O'Donovan, Dan Rujescu, Thomas Werge, Pamela Sklar, J. Cooper Roddey, Chi-Hua Chen, Linda McEvoy, Rahul S. Desikan, Srdjan Djurovic, Anders M. Dale. Improved Detection of Common Variants Associated with Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder Using Pleiotropy-Informed Conditional False Discovery Rate. PLoS Genetics, 2013; 9 (4): e1003455 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003455
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.
TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's main stock market finished lower on Friday as natural resource stocks slumped and market sentiment soured following U.S. economic growth data that fell short of expectations. U.S. gross domestic product expanded at a 2.5 percent rate, an increase from the fourth quarter's dismal 0.4 percent pace but shy of the 3 percent growth analysts were hoping for. The weaker-than-expected data in Canada's biggest trading partner weighed on Canadian stocks.
Vodafone investors want bigger bid or full takeover by Verizon
LONDON (Reuters) - Six major Vodafone investors said $100 billion was not enough for the British company's stake in its U.S. joint venture with Verizon Communications , and urged the latter to come up with an offer of at least $120 billion. Their comments followed a Reuters report on Wednesday that Verizon had hired advisers to prepare a possible $100 billion bid to buy Vodafone's 45 percent stake in their Verizon Wireless joint venture, likely to be structured as a roughly 50:50 cash and stock bid.
TransCanada sees Keystone XL delayed till second-half 2015
CALGARY, Alberta (Reuters) - TransCanada Corp , Canada's No. 2 pipeline company, said on Friday the long wait for U.S. government approval of its controversial Keystone XL project will further delay completion of the pipeline and push its cost above the company's $5.3 billion estimate. TransCanada, which reported a 27 percent rise in first-quarter profit on Friday, is waiting for the Obama administration to issue a presidential permit for construction of the line, which is designed to carry 830,000 barrels a day of Canadian and U.S. crude oil to refineries on the Gulf of Mexico coast.
U.S. sues Novartis over kickbacks, second case this week
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. government on Friday announced its second civil fraud lawsuit against Novartis AG in four days, accusing a unit of the Swiss drugmaker of paying multimillion-dollar kickbacks to doctors in exchange for prescribing its drugs. Authorities said the Basel-based company for a decade lavished healthy speaking fees and "opulent" meals, including a nearly $10,000 dinner for three at the Japanese restaurant, Nobu, to induce doctors to prescribe its drugs.
Chevron profit pinched by cheaper oil, but beats estimates
(Reuters) - Lower oil prices bit into Chevron Corp's quarterly profit as did refinery downtime and higher operating costs in its home market, but the oil company's shares rose as the earnings topped expectations. Analysts cited foreign currency gains that gave the company a particular boost in the quarter.
Mothers group petitions Disney over sick pay laws
ORLANDO, Florida (Reuters) - Representatives of a national organization of mothers were prevented on Thursday from delivering a petition to Walt Disney World accusing it of trying to block laws that would require companies to provide paid sick leave for employees. "They were turned away and security was called," Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, executive director of MomsRising, told Reuters on Friday.
Valeant in talks to buy Actavis for over $13 billion: WSJ
(Reuters) - Canada's biggest listed drug maker, Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc , is in talks to buy generic drugmaker Actavis Inc for more than $13 billion, Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The companies had been working towards an all-stock deal, when some of Actavis' directors came out against it around the middle of this week. But executives on the two sides are still working to resurrect the deal, the journal said.
Dollar falls against the yen; bond yields decline
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. dollar tumbled against the yen on Friday after the Bank of Japan left its monetary policy unchanged, while benchmark U.S. bond yields fell to near 4-1/2-month lows after the U.S. economy grew less than expected in the first quarter. The disappointing growth rate spurred concerns about a tepid outlook for the United States which, along with recent concerns that China's growth is slowing, also hit the price of oil. Brent crude fell to just above $103 a barrel after rising $3 in the past two sessions.
Portugal to challenge JPMorgan, Santander swaps in court
LISBON (Reuters) - Portugal's government said on Friday it would challenge in court several high-risk hedge contracts signed by public companies and banks JPMorgan and the local unit of Spain's Santander to avoid losses for the debt-ridden state. Treasury Secretary Maria Luiz Albuquerque said the government had managed to renegotiate some swap contracts containing "highly speculative elements" with other banks, cutting by 20 percent potential liabilities from swaps that could total 3 billion euros ($3.9 billion).
GM files registration statement to make shareholder sales easier
DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Co on Friday filed a shelf registration statement that makes it easier for shareholders, including the U.S. Treasury, to sell stock in the company over the next three years. The U.S. automaker said it was not aware of any specific plans by a shareholder to sell stock and a spokesman called the S-3 filing procedural. The statement allows shareholders to sell registered securities in a public offering.
I'll field this one. There's a few different Gods we refer to when we start using "God" in thought experiments:
1. A Blind Watchmaker. 2. A Spoiled, Brutal Child 3. A Perfect, Immortal Machine 4. Further interesting ideas
However, people who are talking about God who isn't part of a thought experiment, but who actually worship Him usually are referring to American Jesus, who cries when you:
1.Look at pictures of naked women 2. Play Dungeons and Dragons 3. Read Harry Potter books 4. Are gay 5. Refuse to believe that
Tim Cook is holding an auction for coffee and conversation with himself on Apple's campus for charity. The terms of the deal state that the meeting will last between thirty minutes and an hour, and will cover two people. The auction is being run through Charitybuzz.
Bid now on this unique opportunity to have coffee with Apple CEO Tim Cook at Apple headquarters.
The bidding at this time stands at $190,000, well above the $50,000 estimated by the auction site. It?s a rare opportunity to sit down with CEO of the world?s most valuable technology company. Tim Cook often donates to charitable causes, and encourages others at Apple to do the same. The proceeds of the auction will go to benefit the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights.
ASTORIA, Ore. (AP) ? The Astoria Police Department's concrete pig is back in the pink and ready for another 20 years of duty.
The Daily Astorian reports (http://bit.ly/ZPr4hW ) the pig was dropped off at the station in 1993 by someone who didn't stay to explain the gift.
Unoffended, the police promptly adopted the animal and left it in place.
But two decades took a toll, washing off the pink paint, pitting the surface, loosening the ears.
Michael Peden, the 16-year-old grandson of a department administrator, took on the restoration chores as an Eagle Scout project.
Now the department has stationed the restored pig in a more prominent location, as it said in a news release, "at the entrance to the Police Department parking area, watching the comings and goings of police officers."
___
Information from: The Daily Astorian, http://www.dailyastorian.com
Spanish group patents an automatic suture system for colon cancer operationsPublic release date: 25-Apr-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: SINC info@agenciasinc.es 34-914-251-820 FECYT - Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology
The Spanish research centre Innotex has developed a device that enables automatic suturing of the large intestine after being sectioned during cancer colon surgery. The novelty of the system, called Insewing, is that it allows the use of absorbable suture material instead of metallic staples which are currently used and could cause intestinal stiffness and obstruction.
Two American companies have shown interest in a development of the Innotex group, based in the Innovation and Technology Centre at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (CIT UPC). "This is a device that enables automatic suturing of the large intestine after being sectioned during cancer colon surgery and it is done with conventional absorbable suture material," as explained to SINC by Jos Antonio Tornero, promoter of research at Innotex and project co-ordinator.
According to Tornero, Innotex has requested the Spanish patent for its system, named Insewing, and is in the process of extending it to other countries. They hope to obtain funding for this by reaching an agreement with the American companies in the medical equipment sector, whose identity is still confidential.
"The Insewing system can be applied in a surgical procedure, known as anastomosis, which is defined as the joining of two ends of tubular tissue. It can be large or small intestine, oesophagus etc., but our device is developed for the large intestine. It will have application in a great number of colon cancer operations in which it is necessary to cut a section of the intestine at the location of the tumour and then join the two sectioned ends," the Project Manager adds.
Options
One of the two options, when performing this operation, is for the surgeon to sew the ends of the sectioned intestine by hand. "Manual suturing is very reliable. It is done with an absorbable suture material that disappears after a few weeks and the intestine is well joined together and fully elastic. However, as Tornero explains, "hand sewing is very difficult".
In addition, it has to be done by an experienced surgeon and it is very time-consuming, more than the time being dedicated to the rest of the intervention steps. It is known that the risk increases proportionate to the time a patient remains anesthetised and therefore the joining is done by manual procedure in very few cases.
In fact, approximately 90% of these sutures are not done by hand, but by using a device that puts two rows of metallic staples to join the sectioned intestine. "Stapling is faster, but causes a section of the intestine to become stiff due to the metallic staples". This results in a narrowing of the intestine and may cause intestinal obstructions in a fairly high percentage.
Automatic suturing with absorbable material
Tornero and his team set out to develop a device that enables automatic suturing of the large intestine with absorbable material, which is used in surgery, made from a copolymer which is called polyglycolic acid. This suture is the same type used by surgeons to sew by hand and it disappears in a few weeks without trace.
"Our objective is to combine the advantages of hand sewing with the speed of the stapler so that the intestine is elastic and looks untouched and there is no stiff section," Tornero adds.
The idea for Insewing was developed almost 10 years ago by Francesc Soler Giralt, a laboratory technician at UPC, and now retired. According to Tornero, there was interest from some companies, but they were unwilling to provide funding until there was a prototype. The project has been dormant all this time, despite there being an initial patent for proof of concept at UPC.
However, the project was revived in 2010 thanks to the submission to qualify for funding from the European project ECHORD, within the seventh framework programme for small robotic projects.
In this project, Innotex has participated with the Institute for Organisation and Control of Industrial Systems at UPC, led by Ral Suarez, which has developed the electronic and control elements, and with the Vall d'Hebron Hospital, which has provided advice and review from a medical point of view.
Experimentation with a pig's intestine
Thanks to funding provided by ECHORD, of 300,000 euros, Innotex and its partners have been able to develop the full prototype and carried out the first tests on a dead pig's intestine.
"It's a very human-like tissue in viscosity, consistency and thickness and the tests have been very satisfactory. Manuel Lpez Cano, the surgeon at Vall d'Hebron who supervised the tests, made a very positive assessment," Tornero says.
The sealing requirements are very high. "The suture has to be completely sealed from the inside outwards because any leaks could cause a risk of infection and very serious immediate problems," he adds.
The co-ordinator points out that there is still some way to go before it can come onto the market, "about four or five years". After testing on dead tissue, tests will be carried out in vivo with laboratory pigs and then with humans.
According to Tornero, Innotex employs 60 people and integrates all the textile research excellence at UPC.
The second most common cancer in women and the third in men
Colon cancer is the second most common cancer in women, after breast cancer, and the third in men, after lung and prostate cancer. According to the OMC, it is closely related to age and more prevalent in Europe and the United States. In these areas there are 1.5 million cases a year.
Approximately half of the cases of colon cancer end up requiring an intervention of anastomosis, which is currently carried out by manual sewing or with staples and to which the device developed by Innotex can be applied.
###
[ | 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.
Spanish group patents an automatic suture system for colon cancer operationsPublic release date: 25-Apr-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: SINC info@agenciasinc.es 34-914-251-820 FECYT - Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology
The Spanish research centre Innotex has developed a device that enables automatic suturing of the large intestine after being sectioned during cancer colon surgery. The novelty of the system, called Insewing, is that it allows the use of absorbable suture material instead of metallic staples which are currently used and could cause intestinal stiffness and obstruction.
Two American companies have shown interest in a development of the Innotex group, based in the Innovation and Technology Centre at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (CIT UPC). "This is a device that enables automatic suturing of the large intestine after being sectioned during cancer colon surgery and it is done with conventional absorbable suture material," as explained to SINC by Jos Antonio Tornero, promoter of research at Innotex and project co-ordinator.
According to Tornero, Innotex has requested the Spanish patent for its system, named Insewing, and is in the process of extending it to other countries. They hope to obtain funding for this by reaching an agreement with the American companies in the medical equipment sector, whose identity is still confidential.
"The Insewing system can be applied in a surgical procedure, known as anastomosis, which is defined as the joining of two ends of tubular tissue. It can be large or small intestine, oesophagus etc., but our device is developed for the large intestine. It will have application in a great number of colon cancer operations in which it is necessary to cut a section of the intestine at the location of the tumour and then join the two sectioned ends," the Project Manager adds.
Options
One of the two options, when performing this operation, is for the surgeon to sew the ends of the sectioned intestine by hand. "Manual suturing is very reliable. It is done with an absorbable suture material that disappears after a few weeks and the intestine is well joined together and fully elastic. However, as Tornero explains, "hand sewing is very difficult".
In addition, it has to be done by an experienced surgeon and it is very time-consuming, more than the time being dedicated to the rest of the intervention steps. It is known that the risk increases proportionate to the time a patient remains anesthetised and therefore the joining is done by manual procedure in very few cases.
In fact, approximately 90% of these sutures are not done by hand, but by using a device that puts two rows of metallic staples to join the sectioned intestine. "Stapling is faster, but causes a section of the intestine to become stiff due to the metallic staples". This results in a narrowing of the intestine and may cause intestinal obstructions in a fairly high percentage.
Automatic suturing with absorbable material
Tornero and his team set out to develop a device that enables automatic suturing of the large intestine with absorbable material, which is used in surgery, made from a copolymer which is called polyglycolic acid. This suture is the same type used by surgeons to sew by hand and it disappears in a few weeks without trace.
"Our objective is to combine the advantages of hand sewing with the speed of the stapler so that the intestine is elastic and looks untouched and there is no stiff section," Tornero adds.
The idea for Insewing was developed almost 10 years ago by Francesc Soler Giralt, a laboratory technician at UPC, and now retired. According to Tornero, there was interest from some companies, but they were unwilling to provide funding until there was a prototype. The project has been dormant all this time, despite there being an initial patent for proof of concept at UPC.
However, the project was revived in 2010 thanks to the submission to qualify for funding from the European project ECHORD, within the seventh framework programme for small robotic projects.
In this project, Innotex has participated with the Institute for Organisation and Control of Industrial Systems at UPC, led by Ral Suarez, which has developed the electronic and control elements, and with the Vall d'Hebron Hospital, which has provided advice and review from a medical point of view.
Experimentation with a pig's intestine
Thanks to funding provided by ECHORD, of 300,000 euros, Innotex and its partners have been able to develop the full prototype and carried out the first tests on a dead pig's intestine.
"It's a very human-like tissue in viscosity, consistency and thickness and the tests have been very satisfactory. Manuel Lpez Cano, the surgeon at Vall d'Hebron who supervised the tests, made a very positive assessment," Tornero says.
The sealing requirements are very high. "The suture has to be completely sealed from the inside outwards because any leaks could cause a risk of infection and very serious immediate problems," he adds.
The co-ordinator points out that there is still some way to go before it can come onto the market, "about four or five years". After testing on dead tissue, tests will be carried out in vivo with laboratory pigs and then with humans.
According to Tornero, Innotex employs 60 people and integrates all the textile research excellence at UPC.
The second most common cancer in women and the third in men
Colon cancer is the second most common cancer in women, after breast cancer, and the third in men, after lung and prostate cancer. According to the OMC, it is closely related to age and more prevalent in Europe and the United States. In these areas there are 1.5 million cases a year.
Approximately half of the cases of colon cancer end up requiring an intervention of anastomosis, which is currently carried out by manual sewing or with staples and to which the device developed by Innotex can be applied.
###
[ | 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.
PASADENA, Calif. ? The Bowl Championship Series will be replaced by the College Football Playoff.
The BCS conference commissioners announced the name of the new postseason system that starts in 2014 on Tuesday, the first of three days of meetings at a resort hotel in the Rose Bowl's backyard.
They also will choose the remaining three sites for the six-bowl semifinal rotation and the site of the first championship game to be held Jan. 12, 2015, this week.
The website is already up and running and allowing fans to vote on a new logo. And there also is a Twitter handle: (at)cfbplayoff. www.collegefootballplayoff.com
"It's really simple. It gets right to the point," BCS executive director Bill Hancock, who will hold the same position in the playoff system, said at a short news conference with the 10 commissioners of the FCS conferences.
"Nothing cute. Nothing fancy. We decided it would be best to call it what it is."
Premiere Sports Management in Overland Park, Kan., was hired to help come up with a name and brand the new system. A committee of commissioners handled the naming of the new system. Hancock said they ran through "in the neighborhood of three dozen" names.
Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott said, "We're clearly trying to make a clear break from the BCS."
Before the news was reported, Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany said he'd be happy with whatever was selected.
"I'm am not good with names ? obviously," Delany said with a smile, referring to the Big Ten's division names, Legends and Leaders, that produced so much negative feedback the conference has already decided to change them.
The new postseason format will create two national semifinals to be played New Year's Eve or New Year's Day, with the winners advancing. The six bowls in the playoff rotation will host marquee, BCS-type games on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day during the seasons they do not host a semifinal.
"I don't think you can ever go too wrong calling something what it is," Scott said. "Things that make sense tend to stand the test of time."
Three semifinal spots have already been decided: the Rose, Orange and Sugar bowls.
Four other bowls have bid for the final three spots. The clear front-runners are the Cotton, Chick-fil-A and Fiesta. The Holiday Bowl in San Diego also put in a bid, but even its organizers have acknowledged they are a long shot at best to land the game.
Those decisions will be announced Wednesday.
The coaches on the Big 12's spring teleconference were already talking about the Cotton Bowl having a spot in the rotation as if it was a done deal.
"I think it's really exciting for this region, for everybody, and I think all of the schools in this region, to have Dallas as one of those sites is great for everybody in this region, and exciting for everybody," Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. "Obviously, everybody knows what a great and quality, what an awesome stadium it is, then the location for us is an advantage, or should be."
The first semifinals will be played at the Rose and Sugar bowls.
The site of the first national championship game in the new system will also be determined at these meetings and the finalists are Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the billion dollar home of the NFL team and the Cotton Bowl, and Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., home of the Buccaneers.
Arlington is the favorite to land that first championship game, but the competition from Tampa has been serious.
"I'm glad it has," Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said Tuesday. "I think it will give us a better outcome."
Also on the agenda this week for the commissioners will be the composition of the selection committee that will set the field for the playoff. They have said they would like the committee to be similar to the one that picks the teams for the NCAA basketball tournament, made up of conference commissioners and athletic directors.
Bowlsby said he expected both current and former administrators to have a spot on the committee.
"The hardest thing is making sure we're arming whoever is on the committee with the tools that it takes to differentiate among closely proximal teams," Bowlsby said. "You have to have some metrics available to differentiate between three, four, five, six and seven."
"You can't just say we like blue uniforms and not gold uniforms. You've got to arm the committee with the tools that it takes to do their job."
WASHINGTON (AP) ? An analysis of more than 33,000 cases of foodborne illness shows that ground beef and chicken have caused more hospitalizations than other meats.
The report by the Center for Science in Public Interest says chicken nuggets, ham and sausage pose the lowest risk of foodborne illness.
The group used government data on 1,700 outbreaks over 12 years to analyze salmonella, E. coli, listeria and other pathogens that were definitively linked to a certain meat.
To calculate which meats were riskiest, CSPI ranked the foods in which contamination was most likely to cause hospitalizations. Some meats may have had more illnesses but were less likely to cause severe illness.
After ground beef and chicken, CSPI categorized turkey and steak as "high risk" and deli meat, pork, roast beef and beef or pork barbeque as "medium risk."
Salmonella and E. coli, pathogens that contaminate meat and poultry during slaughter and processing, accounted for a third of the illnesses surveyed. Clostridium perfringens, a lesser-known pathogen that usually grows after processing when foods are left at improper temperatures for too long by consumers or food establishments, accounted for another third.
While a large number of chicken illnesses were due to clostridium perfringens, chicken led to many hospitalizations partly because of the high incidence of salmonella in chicken that isn't properly cooked.
Most of the ground beef illnesses were from E. coli, which is found in the intestinal tracts of cattle and can transfer to the carcass if the meat isn't handled properly during slaughter. Ground beef can be riskier than steak and other beef products because pathogens are spread during the grinding process.
According to the report, listeria, salmonella and E. coli required the most hospitalizations.
The group noted that the data is incomplete because so many foodborne illnesses are not reported or tracked. The CDC estimates that as many as 48 million Americans get sick from food poisoning each year.
To reduce foodborne illnesses from meat, CSPI recommends what they call "defensive eating" ? assuming that meat can be unsafe. Safe handling includes not letting meat juices drip onto other food or counters, cleaning cutting boards and plates that have held raw meat, wearing gloves when preparing meat and washing hands often. Cooks should also make sure meat is heated to the proper temperature before eating it.
Amazon is pulling a Netflix today, in the sense that it's now touting the release of its original programming as the "most watched" TV shows on the Amazon Video service since?launch on Friday. Netflix previously issued the same statement about its original show, "House of Cards." But it's not exactly an apples-to-apples comparison, here. When Netflix?Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos said that its new political thriller was the most-watched piece of content on the site, it was a few weeks after its release, not days.
Could BlackBerry be prepping a return to slider form for future BB10 hardware? From the looks of this recently awarded design patent, we'd be willing to wager the Waterloo-based outfit's seriously considering it. The USPTO doc, initially filed back in December 2011, is as plain as they come, outlining a multi-perspective design for a handheld electronic device that looks to be a combo of the Z10's all-touch candybar aesthetic with a physical QWERTY keyboard hiding underneath à la the Torch series. With BB diehards about to get a first taste of the Q10's more traditional design, it's reasonable to assume that a portrait QWERTY slider's next up on the 2013 horizon. And with the company's annual showcase, now renamed BB Live, set for mid-May, it's likely we'll be hearing about the next phase of BB10's portfolio and potentially this prospective gem in particular.
Last week, I joined several hundred professional organizers in New Orleans for the Annual Conference and Organizing Exposition hosted by the National Association of Professional Organizers. In addition to the educational programming, one of the things I always look forward to is visiting the conference vendors who tend to debut their ?latest and the greatest? organizing products ? items that are new to their line or not yet on the market. In today?s post, I?m sharing the ones that caught my attention and that I think can help you stay organized at home. (Note: this is NOT a sponsored post and I haven?t received any payment from any of the manufacturers.)
Paper Management
I have to say that I was very impressed with the Staples Better? Binder with Removable FileRings?. Why would you want to remove the FileRings?? So that you can put the contents in archival storage when they are no longer needed on a daily basis. If you prefer filing physical papers (instead of digitizing them), this can be a great option for keeping important project documents or for storing business or household papers.
The spine of the file ring has a designated space for a label as well as extended ends that fit on the rails of most standard file drawers or boxes. Once you file the contents, you can replace the removable ring and reuse the binder. This means you?ll need less space since you?ll only purchase (and store) the FileRings? (instead of storing several bulky binders). This one-inch binder holds up to 275 sheets of paper.
If you prefer to digitally store information and documents that you need for your home, you may be interested in HomeZada.com. It is technically not a product, but I found it so helpful that I had to include it. HomeZada is a web-based app that lets you manage your home?s product manuals, maintenance costs, and home improvement projects. For example, if you?re remodeling a room in your home, you can use HomeZada to track your budget, needed supplies, and specific purchases. HomeZada also provides you with a library of specific home maintenance tasks (you?ll get automatic reminders) and you can use it for multiple homes (rental property, vacation home). By keeping all your important documents and tasks in one location, you?ll always know where to go to find what you need and save a bit of time.
Another helpful feature is the ability to inventory the items in your home as well as the value of your belongings. In the event of an emergency (like a burglary, fire, natural disaster), having this information at your fingertips will be invaluable, especially when requested by your insurance company. Simply enter your address and the number of bedrooms and bathrooms in your home, the app will assign typical spaces (family room, living room, office, etc.) and items to each room. You can revise the spaces and items to better match your home?s layout and then upload and tag photos of your things along with the approximate date of purchase.
Storage Solutions
When you think of Bankers Box?, you probably think about storing paper files, but the newest Bankers Box? is meant for storing clothing or other household items. The boxes are stackable and have a viewing window so you can easily see what?s inside. When the boxes are not in use, they can be folded and stored flat. And, unlike their office counterparts, these boxes have a more stylish design and come in three sizes (small, medium, and large). There?s also an underbed and ornament storage box.
Rubbermaid is known for great storage products (my personal favorite are the Easy Find Lids food storage set) and their new All Access? storage containers are also stackable and have a clear viewing panel that acts as drop down door. That way, when the containers are stacked, you don?t have to remove the one on top to get to items in the bottom container. The All Access? boxes can be used as a nightstand or side table and can store a number things like toys, craft supplies, laundry items, books, and more.
At the OpenStack Summit last week, Tuesday's keynote opened with?Dope'n'Stack E.N.T.E.R.P.R.I.S.E, a video that symbolizes the arrival of a new force of disruptors who see riches in building software and systems that will displace the legacy systems of old. It's not a question anymore. OpenStack has the momentum to win, and it can thank this young group of developers and feisty systems gurus for making it happen.
Apr. 21, 2013 ? Adding more color to your diet in the form of berries is encouraged by many nutrition experts. The protective effect of berries against inflammation has been documented in many studies. Diets supplemented with blueberries and strawberries have also been shown to improve behavior and cognitive functions in stressed young rats.
To evaluate the protective effects of berries on brain function, specifically the ability of the brain to clear toxic accumulation, researchers from the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University and University of Maryland Baltimore County recently fed rats a berry diet for 2 months and then looked at their brains after irradiation, a model for accelerated aging. All of the rats were fed berries 2 months prior to radiation and then divided into two groups- one was evaluated after 36 hours of radiation and the other after 30 days.
"After 30 days on the same berry diet, the rats experienced significant protection against radiation compared to control," said investigator Shibu Poulose, PhD. "We saw significant benefits to diets with both of the berries, and speculate it is due to the phytonutrients present."
The researchers looked at neurochemical changes in the brain, in particular what is known as autophagy, which can regulate the synthesis, degradation and recycling of cellular components. It is also the way in which the brain clears toxic accumulations. "Most diseases of the brain such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's have shown an increased amount of toxic protein. Berries seem to promote autophagy, the brain's natural housekeeping mechanism, thereby reducing the toxic accumulation," said Poulose.
The researchers are currently conducting a human study in older people ages 60-75. "We have a lot of animal work that suggests these compounds will protect the aged brain and reverse some of behavioral deficits. We are hoping it will translate to human studies as well," said Dr. Barbara Shukitt-Hale, the lead investigator conducting the human study.
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NEW DELHI (AP) ? A 5-year-old girl was in serious condition Saturday after being raped and tortured by a man who held her in a locked room in India's capital for two days, officials said.
The incident ? which came four months after the fatal gang rape of a woman on a New Delhi bus caused outrage across India about the treatment of women in the country ? sparked protests against the authorities' handling of the case.
The girl went missing Monday and was found Wednesday by neighbors who heard her crying in a room in the same New Delhi building where she lives with her parents, said Delhi police officialDeepak Mishra. The girl was found alone locked in a room and left for dead, he said.
A 24-year-old man who lived in the room where the girl was found was arrested Saturday in Muzaffarpur town in Bihar state, about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) east of New Delhi, Mishra said. The man was flown to New Delhi, where a magistrate ordered that he be held in police custody.
The girl suffered severe internal injuries, as well as cuts and bite marks on her face and torso, said D.K. Sharma, the medical superintendent of the government-run hospital in New Delhi where she was being treated. Sharma described the girl's condition as "serious" and said doctors were trying to stabilize her condition.
Meanwhile, hundreds of people in New Delhi protested Saturday near the home minister's residence and outside police headquarters demanding government action against the police for allegedly failing to immediately investigate after the girl was reported missing.
Rights activists and officials said the girl's parents went to police Monday to report their daughter was missing, but that police refused to register a case. The parents are poor construction workers who had migrated to the city some years ago in search of work.
"The police did nothing. They did not register a complaint, the first step before they can begin investigations," said Ranjana Kumari, a women's rights activist and social scientist. "This heinous crime could have been prevented if police had begun investigations promptly."
Police had no immediate comment on the accusations, but Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said Saturday that an inquiry had been ordered into the handling of the case.
The growing outrage against alleged police high-handedness in India led even the country's normally reticent leader to react.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called the police behavior "completely unacceptable." He conveyed to Delhi authorities "the need for the strictest possible action to be taken against the erring officials," the prime minister's office said in a statement late Friday.
The fatal beating and gang rape of a young woman aboard a moving New Delhi bus in December sparked outrage and spurred the government to pass tough laws for crimes against women, including the death penalty for repeat offenders or for rape attacks that lead to the victim's death.
A man squats near the collapsed remains of a building destroyed by Saturday's earthquake in Lushan county in southwestern China's Sichuan province, Monday, April 22, 2013. Saturday's earthquake in Sichuan province killed at least 186 people, injured more than 11,000 and left nearly two dozen missing, mostly in the rural communities around Ya'an city, along the same seismic fault where a devastating quake to the north killed more than 90,000 people in Sichuan and neighboring areas five years ago in one of China's worst natural disasters.(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A man squats near the collapsed remains of a building destroyed by Saturday's earthquake in Lushan county in southwestern China's Sichuan province, Monday, April 22, 2013. Saturday's earthquake in Sichuan province killed at least 186 people, injured more than 11,000 and left nearly two dozen missing, mostly in the rural communities around Ya'an city, along the same seismic fault where a devastating quake to the north killed more than 90,000 people in Sichuan and neighboring areas five years ago in one of China's worst natural disasters.(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
An elderly Chinese man waits for food to be distributed with his dog at a makeshift tent in Lushan county in southwestern China's Sichuan province, Monday, April 22, 2013. Saturday's earthquake in Sichuan province killed at least 186 people, injured more than 11,000 and left nearly two dozen missing, mostly in the rural communities around Ya'an city, along the same seismic fault where a devastating quake to the north killed more than 90,000 people in Sichuan and neighboring areas five years ago in one of China's worst natural disasters. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
Residents line up for packets of instant noodles in the earthquake struck county of Lushan in southwestern China's Sichuan province, Monday, April 22, 2013. Saturday's earthquake in Sichuan province killed at least 186 people, injured more than 11,000 and left nearly two dozen missing, mostly in the rural communities around Ya'an city, along the same seismic fault where a devastating quake to the north killed more than 90,000 people in Sichuan and neighboring areas five years ago in one of China's worst natural disasters.(AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
The head of a horse statue decapitated by Saturday's earthquake sits near tents set up for residents displaced by the quake in Lushan county in southwestern China's Sichuan province, Monday, April 22, 2013. Saturday's earthquake in Sichuan province killed at least 186 people, injured more than 11,000 and left nearly two dozen missing, mostly in the rural communities around Ya'an city, along the same seismic fault where a devastating quake to the north killed more than 90,000 people in Sichuan and neighboring areas five years ago in one of China's worst natural disasters. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A woman opens business in a shelter near her damaged shop after the earthquake in Yuxi village of Baosheng township in Lushan county in southwest China's Sichuan province Sunday, April 21, 2013. Saturday's earthquake in Sichuan province killed over 200 people, China's Xinhua News Agency said. (AP Photo) CHINA OUT
LUSHAN, China (AP) ? After dynamiting through landslide-blocked roads, Chinese relief crews hurried food, water and other supplies into the rural hills of China's Sichuan province Monday, two days after an earthquake killed at least 188 people and injured more than 11,000.
Rescuers reached the most cut-off communities in Baoxing and Lushan counties, though heavy machinery and trucks bearing supplies moved slowly along roads partly blocked by landslide debris. Repairmen hoisted ladders up against electrical poles to fix power lines.
The delivery of relief supplies, while not enough to meet all the demand, marked headway as frustrations grew among survivors.
Near an old house that had crumpled by the roadside in Lushan, about 2,000 people gathered early Monday to complain about the lack of food. A few jumped on to a motorized three-wheel cart to look for officials, and 20 minutes later a truck pulled up and distributed instant noodles. At another street corner, a truck handed out bottled water.
"We're so grateful for these donations," said Ji Yanzi, who was loading cartons of bottled water on to a three-wheeled vehicle to take to her family of 10, including aging parents. "At this point, we don't have much except a tent we made ourselves and some food we were able to pull out from our apartment."
Large parts of Lushan and other towns have been turned into makeshift encampments for people whose homes were damaged or destroyed by Saturday's quake or are too scared to stay indoors.
The quake was among the deadliest China has seen in the past three years. The China Earthquake Administration said that 188 people had died, another 25 remain missing and more than 11,000 were injured. More than 2,000 aftershocks have rattled the area since the quake, the agency said.
Sitting near chunks of concrete, bricks and a ripped orange sofa in the hard-hit Lushan village of Longmen, Luo Shiqiang told how his grandfather was just returning from feeding chickens when their house collapsed and crushed him to death.
"We lost everything in such a short time," the 20-year-old college student said on Sunday. His cousin was injured in the collapse, but other family members were spared because they were working in the fields.
The quake, which the earthquake agency measured at magnitude-7 and the U.S. Geological Survey put at 6.6., occurred farther to the south on the same fault line where a devastating 2008 quake killed more 90,000 people. Because Lushan and Baoxing were largely spared in 2008, they also had not benefited from the massive rebuilding efforts and its emphasis on earthquake safety.
Luo said he wished more had been done to make his community's buildings quake-resistant.
"Maybe the country's leaders really wanted to help us, but when it comes to the lower levels the officials don't carry it out," he said.
Relief teams flew in helicopters and dynamited through landslides Sunday to reach some of the most isolated communities, where rescuers in orange overalls led sniffer dogs through piles of brick, concrete and wood debris to search for survivors.
"I was working in the field when I heard the explosions of the earthquake, and I turned around and saw my house simply flatten in front of me," said Fu Qiuyue, a 70-year-old rapeseed farmer in Longmen.
Fu sat with her husband, Ren Dehua, in a makeshift shelter of logs and a plastic sheet on a patch of grass near where a helicopter had parked to reach their community of terraced grain and vegetable fields. She said the collapse of the house had crushed eight pigs to death.
"It was the scariest sound I have ever heard," she said.
The government mobilized thousands of soldiers and emergency personnel, sending excavators and other heavy machinery as well as tents, blankets and other emergency supplies. The Chinese Red Cross said it had deployed relief teams with food, water, medicine and rescue equipment to the disaster areas.
As happens now after natural disasters, Chinese with cars were packing them with supplies and heading to the disaster area. The State Council, or Cabinet, issued a notice Monday asking volunteers, tourists and others not trained as rescuers to stay out of the disaster area.
At the Lushan county seat, tents have been set up on open spaces, and volunteers doled out noodles and boxed meals to survivors from stalls and the backs of vans.
A large van with a convertible side served as a mobile bank with an ATM, military medical trucks provided X-rays for people with minor injuries, and military doctors administered basic first aid, applying iodine solution to cuts and examining bruises.
Patients with minor ailments were lying in tents in the yard of the hospital, which was wrecked by the quake, with the most severely injured patients sent to the provincial capital. With a limited water supply and buildings inaccessible, sanitation is a problem for the survivors.
One of the patients receiving care in the hospital's yard was the son of odd-job laborer Zhou Lin, 22. The baby boy was born a day before the quake struck. Zhou said he was relieved that his newborn son and wife were safe and healthy but was worried about his 60-year-old father and other relatives who have been unreachable in Baoxing.
"I can't get through on the phone, so I don't know what's going on there and they don't know if we are all right," he said.
Every so often, an aftershock struck, shaking windows of buildings and sending murmurs through the crowds.
If your hair is a mess but you don't have time to shower, dry shampoo is a great alternative to soak up the oils that make your hair greasy. Usually these are sold as aerosols, but you can make your own powder version with a few household ingredients.
jessyratfink shares two versions of the shampoo on Instructables: one for light hair and one for dark. For light hair, just combine 1/4 cup of cornstarch and a tablespoon of baking soda in a spice jar. For dark hair, add in two tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder.
Once everything's mixed together, sprinkle a small amount in your hands, rub it into your hair, let it sit for a moment, then brush it out. The powder should absorb a lot of oil and make your hair look and feel less greasy.
SEOUL (Reuters) - Singing a duet in front of thousands of fans with South Korean rapper Psy, a world sensation for his "Gangnam Style" and "Gentleman" videos, would be heady for any singer, much less one who's only 16 years old and has just launched her first album.
But the soulful-voiced Lee Hi, like Psy, has been breaking rules for the K-pop music industry since her discovery in an amateur talent show two years ago, including looking more like the girl next door than a diva.
South Korea's love affair with pretty boy bands and doll-like girl groups may be starting to crack and its music industry is becoming more willing to experiment with talented and less lovingly groomed stars, following Psy's megahit "Gangnam Style," YouTube's most popular song with over 1.5 billion hits.
The song catapulted the sunglass-wearing singer with the garish jackets to global fame and gave an additional boost to the growing K-pop industry, despite his difference from the polished K-pop norms - a change that came just in time for Lee Hi, who sang with Psy at an April 13 concert at a Seoul stadium.
"Other singers are very pretty and tall. I am short, no matter how high my heels are," said Lee, referring to the height and well-groomed slimness of the nine-member Girls Generation, one of K-pop's most famous groups.
"I cannot beat them with looks, so I figured, I need to focus on singing well. That's what I'm good at and like most," added Lee, whose demure clothing contrasts with the long-legged, miniskirted look of Girls Generation.
Lee was runner-up in a national talent show while still in junior high school, gaining a contract with YG Entertainment Inc, the same company that manages Psy. The top song from her debut album, "Rose", surged to the top of the charts after its March release.
By contrast, the vast majority of K-pop wannabes go through years of rigorous training at entertainment agencies, sometimes even 10 years. Many in Girls Generation trained for five years.
These "idol trainees" prepare with lessons in singing, dancing, acting and foreign languages and lives similar to that of military cadets. They live together, stick to a schedule prepared by their agencies, and practice dancing and singing for hours each day, without knowing if they will ever even debut.
Some will go on severe diets and have plastic surgery, aiming for the pale-skinned, slender and double-eyelid looks idealized by Yoona from Girls Generation.
The result is an industry whose overseas sales surged 135 percent in 2011 to $196 million, according to a Music Industry White Paper published by the Korean Creative Content Agency. In 2006, overseas sales were worth $16.7 million.
SIGNS OF CHANGE
But change had begun, slowly, before Lee Hi took the stage.
A handful of singers have now come out of audition and talent shows on Korean television, most notably the indie band Busker Busker. Their single "Cherry Blossom Ending" reigned on the charts after its release and topped them again this spring.
Analysts say growth of audition stars, who have worked their way into the industry through their love of music and sheer talent, may help widen the spectrum of K-pop.
"Such audition programs can contribute to species diversity of Korean pop music," said Lee Dongyeon, professor at Korea National University of Arts.
Cultural critic Bae Kook-nam agreed that the programs have provided a fairer way into the industry for talented individuals, but what K-pop really needs is to improve content, its songs are often slammed as cookie-cutter replicas.
"Quality content is best achieved through diversifying musical genres and performance. Healthy indie music, for example, can imbue a new strength into the mainstream music," he said. "K-pop has to prove that it has more than idols."
In the end, it may just come down to personalities.
"I think what I have in common with Psy is that we both have very strong characteristics of our own that help us define who we are," said Lee. "We both know for sure what we can do well and what we like."
(Reporting By Jane Chung and Narae Kim, Editing by Elaine Lies and Michael Perry)
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Public release date: 25-Apr-2013
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Amazon is pulling a Netflix today, in the sense that it's 
At the 