Jobless claims rise, labor market still healing

Reuters ? ? ? 1 hr.

The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits rose more than expected last week, but probably not enough to suggest the labor market recovery was taking a step back.

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased 16,000 to a seasonally adjusted 357,000, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Still, they remained in the middle of their range for this year.

The prior week's claims figure was revised to show 5,000 more applications than previously reported. Economists polled by Reuters had expected first-time applications last week to rise to 340,000.

Last week's report contained annual benchmark revisions to the series and the model used by the government to iron out seasonal fluctuations.

Last week's increase pushed claims above the 350,000 level for the first time since mid-February.

The four-week moving average for new claims, a better measure of labor market trends, rose 2,250 to 343,000, but remained below the 350,000 level.

That could offer hope job growth this month retained some of the momentum from February. Nonfarm payrolls increased 236,000 last month, with the unemployment rate falling to a four-year low of 7.7 percent.

Claims over the next several weeks will be watched closely for signs of layoffs related to $85 billion in government budget cuts known as the "sequester." So far, there is little sign the across-the-board spending cuts are affecting the job market.

A Labor Department analyst said no states had been estimated and there were no special factors influencing the report.

Claims, however, could become volatile in the coming weeks because of the early timing of Easter and spring breaks, which could throw off the so-called seasonal factor.

The labor market is being closely watched by the Federal Reserve, which last week said it would maintain its monthly $85 billion purchases of mortgage and Treasury bonds to foster faster job growth.

The number of people still receiving benefits under regular state programs after an initial week of aid dropped 27,000 to 3.05 million in the week ended March 16. That was the lowest since June 2008.

The so-called continuing claims covered the period for the household survey from which the unemployment rate is derived.

Copyright 2013 Thomson Reuters.

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U.S. nominates Breedlove as top NATO commander

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama nominated U.S. Air Force General Philip Breedlove on Thursday to become NATO's top military commander, a key role as NATO aims to wind down an 11-year-old combat mission in Afghanistan that has tested the resolve of allies.

Breedlove, whose nomination was widely expected and endorsed by ambassadors from the 28 NATO allies, would succeed Admiral James Stavridis as NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe. His appointment requires U.S. Senate confirmation.

U.S. Marine General John Allen, who led NATO forces in Afghanistan and was caught up and later cleared in the scandal that forced CIA chief David Petraeus to resign, was originally nominated for the NATO job. He announced last month he would retire and forgo his nomination because of his wife's health.

Breedlove is currently the commander of U.S. Air Force units in Europe and Africa and a former Air Force vice chief of staff.

"General Breedlove has established trust and deep relations with our NATO allies and partners - assets he will draw upon in taking on this important new role on behalf of the United States and the Alliance," Obama said in a statement.

During his long military career, Breedlove also commanded a fighter squadron, an operations group and three fighter wings, according to a biography on the U.S. Air Force website.

(Reporting by Adrian Croft in Brussels, Phil Stewart and Steve Holland in Washington; Editing by Richard Meares and Paul Simao)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/nato-approves-breedloves-nomination-top-commander-191712709.html

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Lopez says late-night hosting days are behind him

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) ? Amid rumors of another "Tonight" show shake-up, comedian George Lopez says he has no desire to return to the late-night talk show scene.

Lopez said he had a great two-year run as a late-night talk show host. But, he said, "I'm out of that thing."

"I know all those guys. They're all good guys, but that's a tough job. There are a lot of tough jobs in TV. That could be one of the toughest, hosting a show every night," Lopez said Wednesday night.

Lopez's comments in Sioux Falls before taking the stage for a stand-up show benefiting the Brennan Rock & Roll Academy come after amid fresh turbulence in the late-night talk show business after word leaked last week that "Late Night" host Jimmy Fallon will unseat Jay Leno as the new host of NBC's "Tonight." The network has not confirmed the rumor.

Lopez wound up losing his cable television gig in August 2011 in a trickle-down effect from the last time the "Tonight" seat changed hands.

TBS canceled "Lopez Tonight" after its second-year viewership dropped 40 percent when Lopez moved his show back an hour to midnight to make room for Conan O'Brien. Lopez gave up his 11 p.m. Eastern slot to accommodate O'Brien, who joined TBS after a time-slot dispute that ended up reinstating Jay Leno as "Tonight" host.

Lopez said he had a great time hosting the TBS show and that the gig gave him the opportunity to get to know everyone in the entertainment field, from actors Helen Mirren and Ben Kingsley to musicians Prince, Janet Jackson and Snoop Dogg.

"I tried to create a party, and we did," he said. "The greatest was getting a harmonic from John Popper and then doing shots with the band, Blues Traveler, in the back."

Lopez joked that he's probably better off that the party ended "just for the fact that I wanted to live a little bit longer."

"We went hard every night," he said. "We did it like the old days. You'd sit around and drink till like 11 and then go home and come back and do it all over again.

Lopez said he's been keeping busy since his show was canceled, voicing parts for "Smurfs 2" and "Rio 2" and working on an "alleged project in TV." He was recently anointed by Bill Cosby to take over as master of ceremonies of the annual Playboy Jazz Festival.

"He called me himself and he said he'd like for me to succeed him, which is a tremendous honor," Lopez said. "And also we had a 40-minute conversation of the dos and don'ts of hosting."

Cosby has been a fixture at the gathering of jazz luminaries since the first festival in 1979. This year's show, scheduled for June 15 and 16 at the Hollywood Bowl, will feature Herbie Hancock, Jeffrey Osborne, Sheila E. and Grace Kelly.

Cosby's tips for Lopez included not letting the musicians into his dressing room. "They won't leave and they'll eat all your food and drink all the drink and smoke all that funny stuff."

___

Follow Dirk Lammers on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ddlammers

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/lopez-says-night-hosting-days-behind-him-184921997.html

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RIM sells a million new BlackBerry 10 phones in 4Q

TORONTO (AP) ? Research In Motion Ltd. said Thursday that it sold about 1 million of its critically important new BlackBerry 10 devices and surprised Wall Street by returning to profitability in the most recent quarter.

The earnings provide a first glimpse of how RIM's new touch-screen Z10 is selling internationally and in Canada since its debut Jan. 31. The 1 million Z10 phones were above the 915,000 that analysts had been expecting. Details on the U.S. launch are not part of the fiscal fourth quarter's financial results because the Z10 just went on sale in the U.S. last week.

In the quarter that ended March 2, RIM earned $98 million, or 19 cents a share, compared with a loss of $125 million, or 24 cents a share, a year earlier. After adjusting for restructuring and other one-time items, RIM earned 22 cents a share. Analysts surveyed by FactSet had been expecting a loss of 31 cents.

Revenue fell 36 percent to $2.7 billion, from $4.2 billion. Analysts had expected $2.82 billion.

Despite the BlackBerry 10 sales, RIM lost about 3 million subscribers to end the quarter with 76 million.

Bill Kreyer, a tech analyst for Edward Jones, called the decline "pretty alarming."

"This is going to take a couple of quarters to really see how they are doing," Kreyer said.

In pre-market trading, RIM's stock rose briefly, but was down 7 cents at $14.50 at about 8:20 a.m.

The BlackBerry, pioneered in 1999, had been the dominant smartphone for on-the-go business people and other consumers before the iPhone debuted in 2007 and showed that phones can handle much more than email and phone calls.

The new BlackBerry Z10 has received favorable reviews since its release, but the launch in the critical U.S. market was delayed until late this month. A new keyboard BlackBerry, called the Q10, won't be released in the U.S. for two or three more months. The delay in selling the Q10 complicates RIM's efforts to hang on to customers tempted by the iPhone and a range of devices running Google Inc.'s Android operating system. Even as the BlackBerry has fallen behind rivals in recent years, many users have stayed loyal because they prefer a physical keyboard over the touch screen on the iPhone and most Android devices.

RIM, which is changing is formal name to BlackBerry, said it expects to break even in the current quarter despite increasing spending on marketing.

"To say it was a very challenging environment to deliver improved financial results could well be the understatement of the year," Chief Executive Thorsten Heins said during a conference call with analysts.

In a statement, Heins said he implemented numerous changes at the company over the past year and those changes have resulted in RIM returning to profitability.

"I thought they were dead. This is a huge turnaround," Jefferies analyst Peter Misek said from New York.

Misek said the Canadian company "demolished" the numbers, especially its gross margins. RIM reported gross margins of 40 percent, up from 34 percent a year earlier. The company credited higher average selling prices and higher margins for devices.

"This is a really, really good result," Misek said. "It's off to a good start."

The company also announced that co-founder Mike Lazaridis will retire as vice chairman and director.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/rim-sells-million-blackberry-10-phones-4q-113439034--finance.html

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FBI attempts to explain UFO memo in vault

Mar 26 (Reuters) - Leading money winners on the 2013 PGATour on Monday (U.S. unless stated): 1. Tiger Woods $3,787,600 2. Brandt Snedeker $2,859,920 3. Matt Kuchar $2,154,500 4. Steve Stricker $1,820,000 5. Phil Mickelson $1,650,260 6. Hunter Mahan $1,553,965 7. John Merrick $1,343,514 8. Dustin Johnson $1,330,507 9. Russell Henley $1,313,280 10. Kevin Streelman $1,310,343 11. Keegan Bradley $1,274,593 12. Charles Howell III $1,256,373 13. Michael Thompson $1,254,669 14. Brian Gay $1,171,721 15. Justin Rose $1,155,550 16. Jason Day $1,115,565 17. Chris Kirk $1,097,053 18. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/fbi-ufo-memo-guy-hottel-151647542.html

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Saddam-linked legal adviser jailed for fraud

LONDON (AP) ? A flamboyant but unqualified lawyer whose clients included deposed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was sentenced Thursday to 14 years in jail for fraud.

Giovanni Di Stefano was nicknamed "The Devil's Advocate" for speaking on behalf of figures including Saddam, former Iraqi Vice President Tariq Aziz and British train robber Ronnie Biggs.

Prosecutors say he conned clients out of millions of pounds by operating as a lawyer when he had no legal qualifications and was not registered to practice in Britain or Italy, where he had offices.

"Some predators hunt down their victims, others lie in wait for them," the judge, Alistair McCreath, told Di Stefano. "Your victims in this case were all desperate people and people who, because of their desperation, were vulnerable."

Di Stefano, who was born in Italy and raised in Britain, was one of several non-Arab lawyers who acted as consultants to the team that defended the deposed Iraqi dictator and associates in his regime.

He also represented many ordinary people, whom the judge said had been left emotionally scarred by "the building of false hopes, always and inevitably dashed, followed by years of misery and frustration as they tried to recover what you had stolen."

Di Stefano was convicted at London's Southwark Crown Court this week of 25 charges, including deception, fraud and money laundering.

He pleaded guilty Thursday to two other fraud charges, including stealing 150,000 pounds ($225,000) in compensation intended for a man who had lost an arm in a car crash. Prosecutors said Di Stefano had the money paid into his own business account instead.

Passing sentence, the judge said Di Stefano had caused distress to many people, adding: "Your only concern was to line your own pockets."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/saddam-linked-legal-adviser-jailed-fraud-134823645.html

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Sydney Family Congress beckons - book now!

? 7:25:54 PM Sydney Family Congress beckons - book now! | 27 Mar 2013 | tags : World Congress of Families 2013, Are you keen to do more for the family than fight same-sex marriage and sex education? Are you interested in what?s going on in the background -- marriage trends, families and the economy, education, health and welfare policies, the media -- and how you can work effectively to bring about wholesome change? If so there?s a conference on in Sydney in just six weeks time that is just made for you. Attention Aussies and Kiwis! -- The Sydney World Congress of Families is a very special opportunity for you and there are still concession rates available, says chief organiser Mary-Louise Fowler. Plus you a get a little break in one the world?s most popular cities. As well as the Early Bird Discount, MercatorNet readers and their friends can get a further 20% off by using a special discount code when registering: WCF01 and WCF0S (for your spouse) Further, for Kiwis (or people anywhere outside Australia) you will go in the draw to enjoy a hosted holiday in one of three great locations...it is all on the website but book soon to get in the draw. Mrs Fowler -- a fantastic lady who on and off for the past year?has beaten a trail between the family farm (situated 400kms west of Sydney) and meetings in the big smoke, and had to train her farmer husband in the fine art of heating frozen meals, all to get this event off the ground -- and her team have gone to great lengths to attract a star-studded list of keynote speakers and supporting talent to this first conference of its kind in the Australasia region. They include Professor W Bradford Wilcox, director of the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia, Dr Ted Baehr of the US Christian Film and Television Commission, and Dr Miriam Grossman, physician and author of You?re Teaching My Child What? -- a courageous critique of the sex education industry. All it needs now is lots more people from Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere to roll up and make the most of this unique opportunity to listen, network, enjoy and go home enthused. Visit the website and sign up now!? PS:?The congress includes the international premier of Return to the Hiding Place, a powerful sequel to the famous movie about Corrie ten Boom's defiance of the Nazis in occupied Holland. ?

?From MercatorNet's home page

?Tags

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Source: http://www.mercatornet.com/family_edge/view/11990

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Mass. Senate candidates spar over health care, abortion (cbsnews)

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Researchers attach Lyme disease antibodies to nanotubes, paving way for diagnostic device

Mar. 26, 2013 ? Early diagnosis is critical in treating Lyme disease. However, nearly one quarter of Lyme disease patients are initially misdiagnosed because currently available serological tests have poor sensitivity and specificity during the early stages of infection. Misdiagnosed patients may go untreated and thus progress to late-stage Lyme disease, where they face longer and more invasive treatments, as well as persistent symptoms.

Existing tests assess the presence of antibodies against bacterial proteins, which take weeks to form after the initial infection and persist after the infection is gone. Now, a nanotechnology-inspired technique developed by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania may lead to diagnostics that can detect the organism itself.

The study was led by professor A. T. Charlie Johnson of the Department of Physics and Astronomy in Penn's School of Arts and Sciences along with graduate student Mitchell Lerner, undergraduate researcher Jennifer Dailey and postdoctoral fellow Brett R. Goldsmith, all of Physics. They collaborated with Dustin Brisson, an assistant professor of biology who provided the team with expertise on the bacterium.

Their research was published in the journal Biosensors and Bioelectronics.

"When you're initially infected with the Lyme disease bacterium, you don't develop antibodies for many days to a few weeks," Johnson said. "Many people see their physician before antibodies develop, leading to negative serological test results. And after an initial infection, you're still going to have these antibodies, so using these serological diagnostics won't make it clear if you're still infected or not after you've been treated with antibiotics."

The research team's idea was to flip the process around, using laboratory-produced antibodies to detect the presence of proteins from the organism. This is an extension of previous work Johnson's lab has done connecting other biological structures, such as olfactory receptors and DNA, to carbon nanotube-based devices.

Carbon nanotubes, rolled-up lattices of carbon atoms, are highly conductive and sensitive to electrical charge, making them promising components of nanoscale electronic devices. By attaching different biological structures to the exteriors of the nanotubes, they can function as highly specific biosensors. When the attached structure binds to a molecule, that molecule's charge can affect the electrical conduction of the nanotube, which can be part of an electrical circuit like a wire. Such a device can therefore provide an electronic read-out of the presence, or even concentration, of a particular molecule.

To get the electrical signal out of these nanotubes, the team first turned them into transistor devices.

"We first grow these nanotubes on what amounts to a large chip using a vapor deposition method, then make electrical connections essentially at random," Johnson said. "We then break up the chip and test all of the individual nanotube transistors to see which work the best."

In their recent experiment, Johnson's team attached antibodies that naturally develop in most animals that are infected with the Lyme disease bacterium to these nanotube transistors. These antibodies naturally bind to an antigen, in this case, a protein in the Lyme bacterium, as part of the body's immune response.

"We have a chemical process that lets us connect any protein to carbon nanotubes. Nanotubes are very stable, so we have a very reactive compound that binds to the nanotube and also has a carboxylic acid group on the other end. For biochemists, getting any kind of protein to bind to a carboxylic acid group is just child's play at this point, and we have worked with them to learn how to perform this chemistry on the side wall of nanotubes. "

After using atomic-force microscopy to show that antibodies had indeed bound to the exteriors of their nanotube transistors, the researchers tested them electrically to get a baseline reading. They then put the nanotubes in solutions that contained different concentrations of the target Lyme bacteria protein.

"When we wash away the solution and test the nanotube transistors again, the change in what we measure tells us that how much of the antigen has bound," Johnson said. "And we see the relationship we expect to see, in that the more antigen there was in the solution, the bigger the change in the signal."

The smallest concentration the nanotube devices could detect was four nanograms of protein per milliliter of solution.

"This sensitivity is more than sufficient to detect the Lyme disease bacterium in the blood of recently-infected patients and may be sufficient to detect the bacterium in fluids of patients that have received inadequate treatment," Brisson said.

"We really want the protein we are looking to detect to bind as close to the nanotube as possible, as that is what increases the strength of the electrical signal," Johnson said. "Developing a smaller, minimal version of the antibody -- what we call a single chain variable fragment -- would be a next step.

"Based on our previous work with single chain variable fragments of other antibodies, this would probably make such a device about a thousand times more sensitive."

The researchers suggested that, given the flexibility of their technique for attaching different biological structure, eventual diagnostic tools could incorporate multiple antibodies, each detecting a different protein from the Lyme bacterium. Such a setup would improve accuracy and cut down on the possibility of false-positive diagnoses.

"If we were to do this type of test on a person's blood now, however, we would say the person has the disease," Johnson said. "The first thought is that if you detect any protein coming from the Lyme organism in your blood, you are infected and should get treatment right away."

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Pennsylvania.

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. Mitchell B. Lerner, Jennifer Dailey, Brett R. Goldsmith, Dustin Brisson, A.T. Charlie Johnson. Detecting Lyme disease using antibody-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotube transistors. Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 2013; 45: 163 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2013.01.035

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/matter_energy/biochemistry/~3/jKHfAQDeP-s/130326194140.htm

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Report: Intel Almost Has Key Broadcasters on Board for Streaming TV Service

One of Intel's biggest challenges to its upcoming streaming TV service has been getting content providers to sign on. But according to Bloomberg, many key deals are almost in place. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/S17l92GRwJQ/report-intel-has-key-broadcasters-on-board-for-streaming-tv-service

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10 Things to Know for Today

This photo provided by General Motors Co., shows the 2014 Buick LaCrosse 3.6L V6. GM is taking the latest step on its seemingly quixotic quest to revive the Buick brand in the U.S., rolling out refurbished versions of the midsize Regal and the larger LaCrosse in New York. (AP Photo/General Motors Co.)

This photo provided by General Motors Co., shows the 2014 Buick LaCrosse 3.6L V6. GM is taking the latest step on its seemingly quixotic quest to revive the Buick brand in the U.S., rolling out refurbished versions of the midsize Regal and the larger LaCrosse in New York. (AP Photo/General Motors Co.)

From left, Kris Perry, Sandy Stier of Berkeley, Calif., and Jeff Zarrillo and Paul Katami of Burbank, Calif., arrive to visit the National Archives in Washington, Monday, March 25, 2013, to view the U.S. Constitution, a day before their same-sex marriage case is heard before the Supreme Court. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

FILE - This is a Monday, Oct. 3, 2011 file photo of Amanda Knox as she breaks into tears after hearing the verdict that overturns her conviction and acquits her of murdering her British roommate Meredith Kercher, at the Perugia court, central Italy. Italy's highest criminal court Tuesday March 26, 2013 has ordered a new trial in the case of Amanda Knox in the slaying of her British roommate. The court ruled that an appeals court in Florence must re-hear the case against the American and her Italian-ex-boyfriend. Knox has been living back in the U.S. while her former boyfriend continues studies in Italy. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito, File)

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today:

1. HIGH COURT TO TAKE UP GAY MARRIAGE

The Supreme Court's first major examination of gay rights in a decade begins today as public opinion shifts in favor of same-sex marriage.

2. AMANDA KNOX ACQUITTAL OVERTURNED

Italy's highest court ordered a new trial for the American and her Italian ex-boyfriend in the 2007 murder of her roommate.

3. A SEAT FOR SYRIAN OPPOSITION AT ARAB SUMMIT

A delegation of opponents to Assad's regime took the country's seat at an Arab League meeting in Qatar.

4. WHEN CYPRUS WILL GET ITS MONEY BACK

The country's shutdown entered its second week as officials fearing runs on the banks extended their closure until Thursday.

5. NEW JERSEY'S NEWEST MULTIMILLIONAIRE

Pedro Quezada bought the winning lottery ticket for a $338 million Powerball jackpot. The immigrant from the Dominican Republic says he wants to help his family.

6. ANOTHER WARNING FROM NORTH KOREA

Pyongyang warned its artillery and rocket forces are at their highest-level combat posture.

7. WEAPON FOUND IN COLORADO CORRECTIONS CHIEF'S DEATH

The gun that a parolee used in a shootout in Texas is the same that killed Tom Clements at his front door.

8. WHAT A YOUNGER BUICK LOOKS LIKE

GM is unveiling new editions of the LaCrosse and Regal today, hoping to attract more 30- and 40-somethings to cars with older buyers.

9. YAHOO'S NEWEST WHIZ KID

Seventeen-year-old Nick D'Aloisio is younger than Yahoo, but sold the company his Summly app to make it easier to read news stories on smartphones.

10. WHO'S BACK AT NO. 1

Tiger Woods wins his third tournament of the year and reclaims golf's top ranking.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-03-26-10-Things-to-Know-Today/id-41e60742d3894afcbbf8755c7be9c133

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Facebook: Now with weather!

Facebook and Weather Underground are teaming up to tell you the the forecast for public pages and events you're planning to attend.

By Leslie Meredith,?TechNewsDaily / March 21, 2013

Facebook, with a little help from Weather Underground, has begun unrolling its new weather feature. You'll soon know the forecast for any event you might attend, or for any public place you're planning to visit.

Michael Dalde / Reuters / File

Enlarge

Few things are worse than being caught without a hoodie or an umbrella if the weather at a get-together takes a turn for the worse. Facebook today (March 21) added a handy weather forecast to a number of spots across its massive platform.

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Facebook events will now include a weather?forecast if the event is 10 days away or less. Public pages, such as those for local parks and far-flung cities, will also include the weather. The new information will be included on both Web-based and mobile versions of Facebook.

Weather information is provided by Weather Underground. Each single-line entry will include a general forecast as well as the high and low temperatures for the day.

It's a small update for Facebook, but adding automatic weather updates to event pages could be a big help to users. Further, people can use the search bar to find weather for a particular location by typing in "Weather for New York City," for instance. This information is provided by?Bing .

Facebook has begun rolling out its weather feature, so watch for it the next time you plan or RSVP to an event.

Follow Leslie Meredith ?@lesliemeredith. Follow us?@TechNewsDaily,?Facebook?or?Google+.

Copyright 2013 TechNewsDaily, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/science/~3/usFkfyposgw/Facebook-Now-with-weather

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Celebs visit CHOC for radio broadcast - The Orange County Register

ORANGE ? Ryan Seacrest and a host of young celebrities inaugurated a new multi-media studio Friday at Children's Hospital of Orange County with a live radio broadcast and visits to patient rooms.

Seacrest hosted his 102.7 KIIS-FM radio show from the new Seacrest Studios, which is the fourth to open in a pediatric hospital. The 652-square-foot glass-paneled studio was built during construction of CHOC's new tower, which opened last month.

Ryan Seacrest broadcasts from the new Seacrest Studios at CHOC in Orange Friday.

JOSHUA SUDOCK, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Seacrest's nonprofit foundation outfitted the studio with five guest microphones, production-quality video cameras and a green screen.

"We just got off the air moments ago," Seacrest said during a ribbon cutting ceremony with singer Miley Cyrus and hospital mascot CHOCO the bear. "It all works. Everything connects; not only to the patient rooms, but to the entire country."

Bryan Mundia, media program coordinator, said CHOC plans to expand to five-day-a-week radio broadcasts and use the studio to film events such as puppet or magic shows.

The hospital's old radio station, while a popular activity for patients, did not have video capability. Now programming can be broadcast into rooms for patients who can't go downstairs.

"We teach them how to deejay, how to be producer, how to use video components," Mundia said. "It's state-of-the-art. It's the best you could possibly put in a radio station."

Patients will continue to call in to the station from their rooms to tell jokes or request songs.

"We tend to play a lot of Justin Bieber still," Mundia said. "Second is probably the Beatles."

After their radio interviews, celebrities spent time with patients.

Leukemia patient Catherine Ordaz, 7, was introduced to the Disney show "Shake It Up" during a previous stay at CHOC. She couldn't stop laughing and smiling when one of the show's stars, Zendaya Coleman, came to her room.

The two chatted about movies, purple and playing the piano.

Catherine's mother, Magaly Ordaz, said the visit lifted her daughter's spirits.

"This is a treat for her," said Ordaz, who lives in Santa Ana. "There are days where she's just bored."

Nolan Torres, 10, who receives treatment at CHOC for benign brain cysts and a suppressed immune system, appeared on Seacrest's show early in the morning. Seacrest then surprised him with a call from Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton.

"That was the best thing ever. That was awesome," said Nolan, who is from Corona.

The moment made his mother, Kris, cry.

"I have never seen my kid that happy," she said.

Contact the writer: cperkes@ocregister.com 714-796-3686

Related:

Source: http://www.ocregister.com/articles/radio-500934-seacrest-choc.html

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2013 Kids Choice Awards Honor Kristen Stewart, One Direction

Nickelodeon's 25th Annual Kids' Choice Awards - Show

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 31: Model Heidi Klum and actor Chris Colfer speaks onstage at Nickelodeon's 25th Annual Kids' Choice Awards held at Galen Center on March 31, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Nickelodeon's 25th Annual Kids' Choice Awards - Show

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 31: Model Heidi Klum and actor Chris Colfer speak onstage at Nickelodeon's 25th Annual Kids' Choice Awards held at Galen Center on March 31, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Nickelodeon's 25th Annual Kids' Choice Awards - Show

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 31: Actor Chris Colfer speaks onstage at Nickelodeon's 25th Annual Kids' Choice Awards held at Galen Center on March 31, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Nickelodeon's 25th Annual Kids' Choice Awards - Show

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 31: Actor Chris Colfer speaks onstage at Nickelodeon's 25th Annual Kids' Choice Awards held at Galen Center on March 31, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Nickelodeon's 25th Annual Kids' Choice Awards - Show

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 31: Actor Taylor Lautner onstage at Nickelodeon's 25th Annual Kids' Choice Awards held at Galen Center on March 31, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Nickelodeon's 25th Annual Kids' Choice Awards - Show

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 31: Host Will Smith onstage at Nickelodeon's 25th Annual Kids' Choice Awards held at Galen Center on March 31, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Nickelodeon's 25th Annual Kids' Choice Awards - Show

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 31: Singer Justin Bieber (L) accepts the Favorite Singer award onstage with host Will Smith at Nickelodeon's 25th Annual Kids' Choice Awards held at Galen Center on March 31, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Nickelodeon's 25th Annual Kids' Choice Awards - Show

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 31: Singer Justin Bieber (L) accepts the Favorite Singer award onstage with host Will Smith at Nickelodeon's 25th Annual Kids' Choice Awards held at Galen Center on March 31, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Nickelodeon's 25th Annual Kids' Choice Awards - Show

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 31: Singer Justin Bieber (L) accepts the Favorite Singer award onstage with host Will Smith at Nickelodeon's 25th Annual Kids' Choice Awards held at Galen Center on March 31, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Nickelodeon's 25th Annual Kids' Choice Awards - Show

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 31: Singer Justin Bieber accepts the Favorite Singer award onstage at Nickelodeon's 25th Annual Kids' Choice Awards held at Galen Center on March 31, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Nickelodeon's 25th Annual Kids' Choice Awards - Show

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 31: Singer Justin Bieber accepts the Favorite Singer award onstage at Nickelodeon's 25th Annual Kids' Choice Awards held at Galen Center on March 31, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Nickelodeon's 25th Annual Kids' Choice Awards - Show

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 31: Singer Justin Bieber (L) accepts the Favorite Singer award onstage with host Will Smith at Nickelodeon's 25th Annual Kids' Choice Awards held at Galen Center on March 31, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Nickelodeon's 24th Annual Kids' Choice Awards - Show

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 02: Rapper Snoop Dogg gets slimed onstage during Nickelodeon's 24th Annual Kids' Choice Awards at Galen Center on April 2, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Nickelodeon's 24th Annual Kids' Choice Awards - Show

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 02: Rapper Snoop Dogg gets slimed onstage as Kendall Schmidt of Big Time Rush looks on during Nickelodeon's 24th Annual Kids' Choice Awards at Galen Center on April 2, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Nickelodeon's 24th Annual Kids' Choice Awards - Show

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 02: Actor Jim Carrey gets slimed onstage during Nickelodeon's 24th Annual Kids' Choice Awards at Galen Center on April 2, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Nickelodeon's 24th Annual Kids' Choice Awards - Show

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 02: Host Jack Black gets slimed onstage during Nickelodeon's 24th Annual Kids' Choice Awards at Galen Center on April 2, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Nickelodeon's 24th Annual Kids' Choice Awards - Show

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 02: Actor Josh Duhamel gets slimed onstage during Nickelodeon's 24th Annual Kids' Choice Awards at Galen Center on April 2, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Nickelodeon's 24th Annual Kids' Choice Awards - Show

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 02: Model Heidi Klum gets slimed onstage as actor Nick Cannon jumps out of the way during Nickelodeon's 24th Annual Kids' Choice Awards at Galen Center on April 2, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Nickelodeon's 24th Annual Kids' Choice Awards - Show

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 02: Model Heidi Klum gets slimed onstage as actor Nick Cannon jumps out of the way during Nickelodeon's 24th Annual Kids' Choice Awards at Galen Center on April 2, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Nickelodeon's 23rd Annual Kids' Choice Awards - Show

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 27: Host Kevin James gets slimed onstage at Nickelodeon's 23rd Annual Kids' Choice Awards held at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion on March 27, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for KCA)

Nickelodeon's 23rd Annual Kids' Choice Awards - Show

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 27: Actress Tina Fey (L) and actor Steve Carrell speak onstage at Nickelodeon's 23rd Annual Kids' Choice Awards held at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion on March 27, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for KCA)

Nickelodeon's 23rd Annual Kids' Choice Awards - Show

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 27: Actress Tina Fey (L) and actor Steve Carrell speak onstage at Nickelodeon's 23rd Annual Kids' Choice Awards held at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion on March 27, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for KCA)

Nickelodeon's 23rd Annual Kids' Choice Awards - Show

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 27: Singer Katy Perry onstage at Nickelodeon's 23rd Annual Kids' Choice Awards held at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion on March 27, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for KCA)

Nickelodeon's 23rd Annual Kids' Choice Awards - Show

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 27: Singer Katy Perry onstage at Nickelodeon's 23rd Annual Kids' Choice Awards held at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion on March 27, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for KCA)

Nickelodeon's 23rd Annual Kids' Choice Awards - Show

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 27: Singer Katy Perry onstage at Nickelodeon's 23rd Annual Kids' Choice Awards held at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion on March 27, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for KCA)

Nickelodeon's 23rd Annual Kids' Choice Awards - Show

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 27: Singer Katy Perry onstage at Nickelodeon's 23rd Annual Kids' Choice Awards held at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion on March 27, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for KCA)

Nickelodeon's 23rd Annual Kids' Choice Awards - Show

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 27: Actor Jonah Hill (L) and singer Katy Perry speak onstage at Nickelodeon's 23rd Annual Kids' Choice Awards held at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion on March 27, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for KCA)

Nickelodeon's 2008 Kids' Choice Awards - Show

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 29: Actor Harrison Ford gets slimed during Nickelodeon's 2008 Kids' Choice Awards held at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion on March 29, 2008 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Nickelodeon)

Nickelodeon's 2008 Kids' Choice Awards - Show

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 29: Actor Harrison Ford gets slimed during Nickelodeon's 2008 Kids' Choice Awards held at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion on March 29, 2008 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Nickelodeon)

Nickelodeon's 2008 Kids' Choice Awards - Show

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 29: Host Jack Black (L) and actor Orlando Bloom get slimed during Nickelodeon's 2008 Kids' Choice Awards held at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion on March 29, 2008 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Nickelodeon)

Nickelodeon's 2008 Kids' Choice Awards - Show

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 29: Host Jack Black (L) and actor Orlando Bloom get slimed during Nickelodeon's 2008 Kids' Choice Awards held at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion on March 29, 2008 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images for Nickelodeon)

20th Annual Kid's Choice Awards - Show

WESTWOOD, CA - MARCH 31: Host Justin Timberlake get slimed onstage during the 20th Annual Kid's Choice Awards held at the UCLA Pauley Pavilion on March 31, 2007 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

20th Annual Kid's Choice Awards - Show

WESTWOOD, CA - MARCH 31: Host Justin Timberlake and actor Vince Vaughn get slimed onstage during the 20th Annual Kid's Choice Awards held at the UCLA Pauley Pavilion on March 31, 2007 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

20th Annual Kid's Choice Awards - Show

WESTWOOD, CA - MARCH 31: Host Justin Timberlake performsand gets slimed onstage during the 20th Annual Kid's Choice Awards held at the UCLA Pauley Pavilion on March 31, 2007 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

19th Annual Kid's Choice Awards - Show

WESTWOOD, CA - APRIL 01: Actor Robin Williams gets slimed onstage at the 19th Annual Kid's Choice Awards held at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion on April 1, 2006 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

18th Annual Kids Choice Awards - Show

WESTWOOD, CA - APRIL 02: Actor Johnny Depp gets slimed onstage at the 18th Annual Kids Choice Awards at UCLA's Pauley Pavillion on April 2, 2005 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)

18th Annual Kids Choice Awards - Show

WESTWOOD, CA - APRIL 02: Actor Johnny Depp gets slimed onstage at the 18th Annual Kids Choice Awards at UCLA's Pauley Pavillion on April 2, 2005 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)

18th Annual Kids Choice Awards - Show

WESTWOOD, CA - APRIL 02: Actor Johnny Depp gets slimed onstage at the 18th Annual Kids Choice Awards at UCLA's Pauley Pavillion on April 2, 2005 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)

Nickelodeons 17th Annual Kid's Choice Awards - Show

LOS ANGELES - APRIL 3: Actor Mike Myers gets slimed at Nickelodeon's 17th Annual Kid's Choice Awards at UCLA's Pauley Pavillion on April 3, 2004 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Nickelodeon's 17th Annual Kids' Choice Awards - Show

WESTWOOD, CA - APRIL 3: Actresses Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen get slimed on stage during Nickelodeon's 17th Annual Kids' Choice Awards at Pauley Pavilion on the campus of UCLA, April 3, 2004 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Nickelodeon's 17th Annual Kids' Choice Awards - Show

WESTWOOD, CA - APRIL 3: Actresses Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen get slimed at Nickelodeon's 17th Annual Kids' Choice Awards at Pauley Pavilion on the campus of UCLA, April 3, 2004 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)

Nickelodeon's 17th Annual Kids' Choice Awards - Show

WESTWOOD, CA - APRIL 3: Actresses Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen get slimed at Nickelodeon's 17th Annual Kids' Choice Awards at Pauley Pavilion on the campus of UCLA, April 3, 2004 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)

Nickelodeon's 17th Annual Kids' Choice Awards - Show

WESTWOOD, CA - APRIL 3: Actresses Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen get slimed on stage during Nickelodeon's 17th Annual Kids' Choice Awards at Pauley Pavilion on the campus of UCLA, April 3, 2004 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Nickelodeon's 16th Annual Kids' Choice Awards - Show

SANTA MONICA, CA - APRIL 12: Actor Jim Carrey gets slimed during Nickelodeon's 16th Annual Kids' Choice Awards at the Barker Hangar April 12, 2003 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Robert Mora/Getty Images)

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/24/2013-kids-choice-awards-kristen-stewart-one-direction_n_2941912.html

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Scientists reveal quirky feature of Lyme disease bacteria

Friday, March 22, 2013

Scientists have confirmed that the pathogen that causes Lyme Disease?unlike any other known organism?can exist without iron, a metal that all other life needs to make proteins and enzymes. Instead of iron, the bacteria substitute manganese to make an essential enzyme, thus eluding immune system defenses that protect the body by starving pathogens of iron.

To cause disease, Borrelia burgdorferi requires unusually high levels of manganese, scientists at Johns Hopkins University (JHU), Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), and the University of Texas reported. Their study, published March 22, 2013, in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, may explain some mysteries about why Lyme Disease is slow-growing and hard to detect and treat. The findings also open the door to search for new therapies to thwart the bacterium by targeting manganese.

"When we become infected with pathogens, from tuberculosis to yeast infections, the body has natural immunological responses," said Valeria Culotta, a molecular biologist at the JHU Bloomberg School of Public Health. The liver produces hepcidin, a hormone that inhibits iron from being absorbed in the gut and also prevents it from getting into the bloodstream. "We become anemic, which is one reason we feel terrible, but it effectively starves pathogens of iron they need to grow and survive," she said.

Borrelia, with no need for iron,has evolved to evade that defense mechanism. In 2000, groundbreaking research on Borrelia's genome by James Posey and Frank Gherardini at the University of Georgia showed that the bacterium has no genes that code to make iron-containing proteins and typically do not accumulate any detectable iron.

Culotta's lab at JHU investigates what she called "metal-trafficking" in organisms??the biochemical mechanisms that cells and pathogens such as Borrelia use to acquire and manipulate metal ions for their biological purposes.

"If Borrelia doesn't use iron, what does it use?" Culotta asked.

To find out, Culotta's lab joined forces with Mak Saito, a marine chemist at WHOI, who had developed techniques to explore how marine life uses metals. Saito was particularly intrigued because of the high incidence of Lyme Disease on Cape Cod, where WHOI is located, and because he specializes in metalloproteins, which contain iron, zinc, cobalt, and other elements often seen in vitamin supplements. The metals serve as linchpins, binding to enzymes. They help determine the enzymes' distinctive three-dimensional shapes and the specific chemical reactions they catalyze.

It's difficult to identify what metals are within proteins because typical analyses break apart proteins, often separating metal from protein. Saito used a liquid chromatography mass spectrometer to distinguish and measure separate individual Borrelia proteins according to their chemical properties and infinitesimal differences in their masses. Then he used an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer to detect and measure metals down to parts per trillion. Together, the combined analyses not only measured the amounts of metals and proteins, they showed that the metals are components of the proteins.

"The tools he has are fantastic," Culotta said. "Not too many people have this set of tools to detect metalloproteins."

The experiments revealed that instead of iron, Borrelia uses that element's next-door neighbor on the periodic chart, manganese, in certain Borrelia enzymes. These include an amino peptidase and an important antioxidant enzyme called superoxide dismutase.

Superoxide dismutase protects the pathogens against a second defense mechanism that the body throws against them. The body bombards pathogens with superoxide radicals, highly reactive molecules that cause damage within the pathogens. Superoxide dismutase is like an antioxidant that neutralizes the superoxides so that the pathogens can continue to grow.

The discoveries open new possibilities for therapies, Culotta said. "The only therapy for Lyme Disease right now are antibiotics like penicillin, which are effective if the disease is detected early enough. It works by attacking the bacteria's cell walls. But certain forms of Borrelia, such as the L-form, can be resistant because they are deficient in cell walls."

"So we'd like to find targets inside pathogenic cell that could thwart their growth," she continued. "The best targets are enzymes that the pathogens have, but people do not, so they would kill the pathogens but not harm people." Borrelia's distinctive manganese-containing enzymes such as superoxide dismutase may have such attributes.

In search of new avenues of attack, the groups are planning to expand their collaborative efforts by mapping out all the metal-binding proteins that Borellia uses and investigating biochemical mechanisms that the bacteria use to acquire manganese and directs it into essential enzymes. Knowing details of how that happens offers ways to disrupt the process and deter Lyme Disease.

###

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution: http://www.whoi.edu

Thanks to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution for this article.

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

This press release has been viewed 92 time(s).

Source: http://www.labspaces.net/127404/Scientists_reveal_quirky_feature_of_Lyme_disease_bacteria

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Engadget Podcast 336 - 03.23.13

There's a whole lotta new going on this week. A new flagship from Samsung, a new (successful) event for Engadget, new studio gear and -- most importantly -- a new chair for Tim. What isn't new is where you go to get it. As always, that's right here.

Hosts: Tim Stevens, Peter Rojas, Brian Heater

Producer: James Trew

Hear the podcast

Filed under: Podcasts

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/2_b9Np8eye0/

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Pain reliever shows anti-viral activity against flu

Friday, March 22, 2013

The over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drug naproxen may also exhibit antiviral activity against influenza A virus, according to a team of French scientists. The finding, the result of a structure-based investigation, is published online ahead of print in the journal Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.

New influenza vaccines must be developed annually, because the surface proteins they target mutate rapidly, the way cars used to get a whole new look every year. The researchers, led by Anny Slama-Schwok of the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Jouy en Josas, France, found a much more stable, reliable target for anti-influenza activity. The so-called ribonucleoprotein complexes are necessary for replication, and the researchers realized they could target the nucleoprotein, preventing assembly of the complexes. Because of its vital function, the nucleoprotein is highly conserved, making it a good potential target for antiviral drugs.

The nucleoprotein's three dimensional structure, solved in 2006, provided the basis for searching for new drugs that could interfere with its action. The researchers did a virtual screening within the Sigma-Aldrich online catalog of biochemicals. That screening identified Naproxen, better known as the over-the-counter pain reliever Aleve, and as expected, it bound to the nucleoprotein, and impeded RNA binding, says Slama-Schwok. In further testing, it reduced the viral load in cells infected with H1N1 and H3N2 influenza A virus, and in mice it demonstrated a therapeutic index against influenza A that was superior to that of any other anti-inflammatory drug.

Specifically, naproxen blocks the RNA binding groove of the nucleoprotein, preventing formation of the ribonucleoprotein complex, thus taking the vital nucleoproteins out of circulation. The researchers write that naproxen is a lead compound for drug development that could be improved by tweaking the molecule to boost its ability to bind to nucleoprotein.

As an already approved drug, naproxen could become a treatment against influenza relatively quickly, the researchers write. Its status as a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), which inhibits the COX-2 pathway, as well as an antiviral would boost its efficacy.

###

N. Lejal, B. Tarus, E. Bouguyon, S. Chenavas, N. Bertho, B. Delmas, R.W.H. Ruigrok, C. Di Primo, A. Slama-Schwok, 2013. Structure-based discovery of the novel antibviral properties of Naproxen against the nucleoprotein of influenza A virus. Antim. Agents Chemother. Online ahead of print 4 March 2013 ,doi:10.1128/AAC.02335-12

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

Thanks to American Society for Microbiology for this article.

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

This press release has been viewed 32 time(s).

Source: http://www.labspaces.net/127405/Pain_reliever_shows_anti_viral_activity_against_flu

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Quantum computers coming soon? Metamaterials used to observe giant photonic spin Hall effect

Mar. 21, 2013 ? Researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have once again demonstrated the incredible capabilities of metamaterials -- artificial nanoconstructs whose optical properties arise from their physical structure rather than their chemical composition. Engineering a unique two-dimensional sheet of gold nanoantennas, the researchers were able to obtain the strongest signal yet of the photonic spin Hall effect, an optical phenomenon of quantum mechanics that could play a prominent role in the future of computing.

"With metamaterial, we were able to greatly enhance a naturally weak effect to the point where it was directly observable with simple detection techniques," said Xiang Zhang, a faculty scientist with Berkeley Lab's Materials Sciences Division who led this research. "We also demonstrated that metamaterials not only allow us to control the propagation of light but also allows control of circular polarization. This could have profound consequences for information encoding and processing."

The spin Hall effect, named in honor of physicist Edwin Hall, describes the curved path that spinning electrons follow as they move through a semiconductor. The curved movement arises from the interaction between the physical motion of the electron and its spin -- a quantized angular momentum that gives rise to magnetic moment. Think of a baseball pitcher putting spin on a ball to make it curve to the left or right.

"Light moving through a metal also displays the spin Hall effect but the photonic spin Hall effect is very weak because the spin angular momentum of photons and spin-orbit interactions are very small," says Xiaobo Yin, a member of Zhang's research group and the lead author of the Science paper. "In the past, people have managed to observe the photonic spin Hall effect by generating the process over and over again to obtain an accumulative signal, or by using highly sophisticated quantum measurements. Our metamaterial makes the photonic spin Hall effect observable even with a simple camera."

Metamaterials have garnered a lot of attention in recent years because their unique structure affords electromagnetic properties unattainable in nature. For example, a metamaterial can have a negative index of refraction, the ability to bend light backwards, unlike all materials found in nature, which bend light forward. Zhang, who holds the Ernest S. Kuh Endowed Chair Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of California (UC) Berkeley, where he also directs the National Science Foundation's Nano-scale Science and Engineering Center, has been at the forefront of metamaterials research. For this study, he and his group fashioned metamaterial surfaces about 30 nanometers thick (a human hair by comparison is between 50,000 and 100,000 nanometers thick). These metasurfaces were constructed from V-shaped gold nanoantennas whose geometry could be configured by adjusting the length and orientation of the arms of the Vs.

"We chose eight different antenna configurations with optimized geometry parameters to generate a linear phase gradient along the x direction," says Yin. "This enabled us to control the propagation of the light and introduce strong photon spin-orbit interactions through rapid changes in direction. The photonic spin Hall effect depends on the curvature of the light's trajectory, so the sharper the change in propagation direction, the stronger the effect."

Since the entire metasurface sample measured only 0.3 millimeters, a 50-millimeter lens was used to project the transmission of the light through the metamaterial onto a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera for imaging. From the CCD images, the researchers determined that both the control of light propagation and the giant photonic spin Hall effect were the direct results of the designed meta-material. This finding opens up a wealth of possibilities for new technologies.

"The controllable spin-orbit interaction and momentum transfer between spin and orbital angular momentum allows us to manipulate the information encoded on the polarization of light, much like the 0 and 1 of today's electronic devices," Yin says. "But photonic devices could encode more information and provide greater information security than conventional electronic devices."

Yin says the ability to control left and right circular polarization of light in metamaterial surfaces should allow for the formation of optical elements, like highly coveted "flat lenses," or the management of light polarization without using wave plates.

"Metamaterials provide us with tremendous design freedom that will allow us to modulate the strength of the photonic spin Hall effect at different spatial locations," Yin says. "We knew the photonic spin Hall effect existed in nature but it was so hard to detect. Now, with the right metamaterials we can not only enhance this effect we can harness it for our own purposes."

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by DOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

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. X. Yin, Z. Ye, J. Rho, Y. Wang, X. Zhang. Photonic Spin Hall Effect at Metasurfaces. Science, 2013; 339 (6126): 1405 DOI: 10.1126/science.1231758

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_science/~3/5swIk_-rtcw/130321151921.htm

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Promoters: MMA fighter faked own death, ruse discovered after arrest for armed robbery

We're not experts on faking our own death, but it would seem you might want to avoid getting arrested and charged with armed robbery and assault with intent to murder less than a month after pulling off your ruse.

That challenge, however, was apparently too much for Charles Rowan. The 25-year-old MMA fighter from Michigan was recently hauled in by police after they alleged he robbed a store named "Guns and Stuff" with his girlfriend Rosalinda Martinez and friend Michael Bowman.

Seeing Rowan's mug shot on the news came as a surprise to his promoters Christo Piliafas and Scott DiPonio. Both say they had been told by Martinez and Bowman in late February that the amateur heavyweight had died in a car accident and that they had helped raise over $1,000 for his funeral costs.

From the Associated Press:

Rowan's fifth career fight was scheduled for February in Traverse City. That night, DiPonio said, Martinez called from Rowan's phone number to tell him that her boyfriend had been involved in a fatal car wreck on the way to the event.

A distraught DiPonio and his girlfriend hopped in their car the next day and made the lengthy trek to Gladwin, where they were met by ''young kids and grandparents crying.''

''I thought for sure Charlie was dead. I mean, these people were hysterically crying,'' said DiPonio, who gave the family $150 for expenses on the spot.

Two weeks ago, Piliafas and DiPonio helped raise $1,350 in proceeds and donations through their benefit event, ''Fight for Charlie.''

Rowan had a career record of 1-3 and his rap sheet is equally as poor. He has past convictions for failing to register as a sex offender and delivery and manufacture of marijuana.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/michigan-mma-fighter-fakes-own-death-ruse-discovered-233653332--mma.html

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