FDA Approves 1st in New Class of Type 2 Diabetes Drugs - Health ...

FRIDAY, March 29 (HealthDay News) ? The first in a new class of type 2 diabetes drugs was approved Friday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Invokana (canaglifozin) tablets are to be taken, in tandem with a healthy diet and exercise, to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Invokana belongs to a class of drugs called sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. It works by blocking the reabsorption of glucose (sugar) by the kidney and increasing glucose excretions in urine, the FDA said in a news release.

?We continue to advance innovation with the approval of new drug classes that provide additional treatment options for chronic conditions that impact public health,? Dr. Mary Parks, director of the division of metabolism and endocrinology products in the FDA?s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in the news release.

About 24 million Americans have type 2 diabetes, and it accounts for more than 90 percent of diabetes cases diagnosed in the United States, the FDA said. If blood sugar levels are not carefully controlled, there is an increased risk for serious complications, including heart disease, blindness, and nerve and kidney damage, the agency added.

The FDA approval is based on the findings of nine clinical trials involving more than 10,000 patients. Patients who took the drug showed improvement in hemoglobin A1c levels (a measure of blood sugar control) and fasting blood sugar levels.

Invokana should not be used by people with type 1 diabetes or people with type 2 diabetes who have increased ketones in their blood or urine (diabetic ketoacidosis), severe kidney disease, kidney failure or who are on dialysis, the FDA said.

The agency told drug maker Janssen Pharmaceuticals that it must conduct five post-approval studies of the drug to determine the risk of problems such as heart disease, cancer, pancreatitis, liver abnormalities and pregnancy complications.

The most common side effects of Invokana are vaginal yeast infections and urinary tract infections. It may also cause dizziness and fainting.

More information

The U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases has more about type 2 diabetes.

Source: http://news.health.com/2013/03/29/fda-approves-1st-in-new-class-of-type-2-diabetes-drugs/

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27 Adorable Animals In Baskets (PHOTOS)

With Easter swiftly approaching, you could celebrate by eating a ton of candy that?s only available this time of year. Or you could opt for something a bit healthier, like looking at these 27 adorable animals in baskets.

From kittens in baskets to puppies and even a sloth, who knew there was a way to make already adorable animals even cuter? Check out the 27 animals in baskets below and let us know which you think is the cutest.

• Cat's Cradle

• Kittens And A Baby

  Too much cuteness.

• Cat In A Bread Basket

  Dinner is served.

• A Barrel Of Fun

  Peek-a-boo!

• The Contortionist

  What are you looking at? I'm just trying to sleep.

• Carrying The Cuteness

  Look what I brought you.

• Husky Handbasket

  The basket brings out their baby blues.

• Kitten Clan

  This is too precious!

• Contented Canine

  I kicked out my stuffed animals to give myself more room.

• Repurposed

  I know this is for napkins, but I'd like it to be my bed now.

• The Easter Bunny Is Here

  Presentation is key.

• Sloth Surprise

  He's just as shocked as you are.

• Baskets Filled With Love...

  And puppies!

• Cat Confusion

  What am I doing in here?

• Little Leopards

  Looking precious instead of ferocious.

• Quadruplets!

  We're only squeezing in here, because we know it's adorable.

• Little Cat, Big Basket

  I think this is a good size for me.

• Balled Up Basket

  Curled up and completely adorable.

• Pigs In A Basket

  Much better than pigs in a blanket.

• Seeing Double

• Cozy Cubs

  They may be dangerous, but here they just look adorable.

• Basket Case

  I can't fit, but I'm going to keep trying.

• Let Me Outta Here

  Yeah, it's cute but it's not comfortable.

• Move Over!

  This basket is mine.

• Napping With Friends

  It's cuddle time.

• Bunny Basket

  She was lured in with lettuce.

• Squeezing In

  It's a tight fit, but I feel secure and snug.

Also on HuffPost:

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/30/27-adorable-animals-in-baskets_n_2957142.html

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Psychologist III job at Commonwealth of Massachusetts in Boston

Commonwealth of Massachusetts is presently looking of Psychologist III on Fri, 29 Mar 2013 23:25:04 GMT. General duties of this position include providing clinical assessment, consultation and facilitation of pre-admission and focal treatment planning processes for children and adolescents referred for admission to DMH continuing care services and/or placement in a Statewide Program (inpatient, IRTP/CIRT or other related service). In addition, the role requires interface with clinical leadership with...

Location: Boston, Massachusetts

Description: Commonwealth of Massachusetts is presently looking of Psychologist III right now, this job will be placed in Massachusetts. More details about this job opportunity please give attention to these descriptions. General duties of this position include providing clinical assessment, consultation and facilitation of pre-admission and focal treatment planning processes for children and adolescents refer! red for admission to DMH continuing care services and/or placement in a Statewide Program (inpatient, IRTP/CIRT or other related service). In addition, the role requires interface with clinical leadership with Statewide Programs, DMH contracted services, and/or programs/providers participating in the Department of Children and Families Caring Together service array, and the Mass Health/Behavioral Health program in order to facilitate seamless, timely transitions for children and their families through the DMH system. The position involves working closely with DMH and DCF field staff and contracted providers to advance systemic and practice changes in the DMH Statewide services.

This position will serve as a statewide leader and resource to the DMH Statewide Programs, DMH Field staff, involved DCF staff, Mass Health/Behavioral Health staff/providers, local School Districts, Families, Advocates, and inpatient providers who refer children and adolescents for Statewide! Program admission. A primary focus of the role will be to fur! ther the Child/Adolescent Division?'s focal treatment planning efforts toward efficient, effective, trauma-informed, person-centered care. Many duties will focus on processes that support individual/family care. Other responsibilities will require on-site clinical consultation to the Statewide Programs in order to address circumstances impacting treatment integrity and quality clinical care, such as program start-up, program acuity, milieu management challenges, workforce development issues, and practice development needs. In addition, this position will interface closely with the Interagency Regional Teams (currently in development) that are intended to be the ?'front door?', contract monitor and mechanism for quality management and oversight of services for all youth and their families referred to residential service purchased in the Caring Together procurement.
1. Participates in DMH Child/Adolescent Division Meetings;
2. Participates in monthly DMH Child/Adolesc! ent Field Meetings;
3. Participates and co-facilitates in monthly DMH Statewide Program Director Meetings;
4. Participates and co-facilitates in monthly DMH Statewide Clinical Director Meetings;
5. Participates in monthly meetings with statewide program clinical directors and family partners/peer mentors to review data related to performance based contract, family/youth outcomes, CQI initiatives tied to outcome/PBC data, and case review of any youth who has received a consultation;
6. Meets regularly with DMH Statewide Program clinical leadership and clinical staff to support the implementation of a trauma-informed focal treatment initiative;
7. Meets regularly with DMH Area-based child/adolescents team(s) to provide clinical consultation for both individual families/youth as well as contracted services;
8. Provides consultation to youth in DMH Statewide Programs (SWP) who have experienced multiple restraints; medical hospitalization; psychiatric hos! pitalization from the SWP; elopement; serious self injurious behavior/s! elf-harming behaviors; aging out; readmission to SWP; other behaviors/concerns as identified;
9. Participates in monthly meetings with Area Child/Adolescent Psychiatrists as needed;
10. Participates and co-facilitates bi-monthly meetings with Statewide Child/Adolescent Screeners;
11. Participates and co-facilitates bi-monthly/quarterly meeting with Designated Child/Adolescent Forensic Psychiatrists and Psychologists;
12. Participates in other meetings as necessary and directed by the Assistant Commissioner of Child/Adolescent Services;
13. Participates in IRTP licensing visits or preparation for the visit, as needed or requested by the DMH Licensing Division
14. Participates in the DMH Child/Adolescent Restraint Prevention Initiative;
15. Participates and co-facilitates in pre-admission and Focal Treatment Planning meetings for children and adolescents accepted for admission to a DMH Child/Adolescent Statewide Program;
16. Participates in ini! tial review of children and adolescent referral materials for continuing care services in a DMH Child/Adolescent Statewide Program;
17. Works with the DYS clinical leadership to maximize effective collaboration with DMH and support best practices and outcomes;
18. Leads forums/meetings/groups relevant to the Scope of Duties as necessary;
19. Conducts a semi-annual and annual analysis of the Statewide System status of implementation of Focal Treatment Planning, including: obstacles, successes, recommendations for ?"course-correction?" and changes needed in the implementation process. Drafts and submits written reports reflecting the same,
20. Leads forums with collateral professionals regarding pre-admission and focal treatment planning or related efforts to roll out this effort,
21. Conducts trainings, workshops, Grand Rounds and other learning opportunities regarding trauma informed care and pre-admission and focal treatment planning,
22. Directs ac! tivities related to advancing clinical practices, consistent with the q! uality initiatives and goals of the Department,
23. Participates in relevant meetings, forums, trainings with DCF and/or the Interagency Regional Teams and the leadership thereof,
24. Other duties as required or directed by the Assistant Commissioner for Child/Adolescent Services.

Qualifications:Minimum Entrance Requirements:
Current and valid registration as a Psychologist by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Psychology. Applicants must also have at least one year of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional experience as a Licensed Psychologist in the application of psychological principles and techniques in a recognized agency providing psychological services or treatment.

Special Requirements:
Based on assignment, travel may be required. Those employees who elect to use a motor vehicle for travel must have a current and valid Massachusetts Class D Motor Vehicle Operator's license or the equivalent fr! om another state.

Preferred Qualifications:LICENSE AND/OR CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Doctorate in psychology from a recognized graduate school in psychology. Licensed as a Psychologist in Massachusetts. Certified as a Health Service Provider in Massachusetts and/or listing in National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology is preferred.

Preferred:
knowledge of the principles, theories, practices and techniques of developmental psychology, psychopathology, psychotherapy & an understanding of psychopharmacologic treatment practice/protocols; knowledge of psychodiagnostic tools, evidence-based treatment and promising practices, and the impact of trauma and of trauma-informed care/treatment/services; ability to relate well to individuals, groups, and to work well individually and as part of a team, to present in public forums and to analyze clinical, statistical and narrative data and render written and verbal opinions! , analyses and/or interpretations; to recognize clinical quality.
Certified as a Health Service Provider in Massachusetts and/or listing in National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology or Board Certification with the American Board of Professional Psychology. Experience in clinical leadership roles demonstrating knowledge of clinical supervision, treatment planning, care coordination, family treatment, child/adolescent systems experience, and service delivery within a managed care environment.

Comments:
A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit
http://www.mass.gov/hhs/cori

This is a Civil Service position.
If there is no civil service list for this title, employees appointed must take and pass the next Civil Service examination when administered. As applicable, preference for this position! will be given to those candidates who are eligible for Civil Service/ConTest Reinstatement/Reemployment or to those candidates who have passed the civil service examination for this job title, and who respond to the job certification that was recently issued for this location" and/or to employees laid off or bumped from this title who are eligible for recall, and in accordance with Article 14 or applicable Collective bargaining requirements.
- .
If you were eligible to this job, please deliver us your resume, with salary requirements and a resume to Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Interested on this job, just click on the Apply button, you will be redirected to the official website

This job will be opened on: Fri, 29 Mar 2013 23:25:04 GMT

Apply Psychologist III Here

Source: http://ma-psychiatristjobs.blogspot.com/2013/03/psychologist-iii-job-at-commonwealth-of.html

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Oklahoma: Dental clinic inspections not necessary

Dentist Alice G. Boghosian removes packages of properly sterilized dental instruments from an autoclave that uses heat and steam to sterilize the tools Friday, March 29, 2013, in Chicago. Health officials in Oklahoma are calling an oral surgeon there who used dirty equipment and risked cross-contamination a ?menace to public health? and are urging thousands of his patients to seek medical screenings for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. Though officials say such situations involving dental clinics are rare, Dr. Matt Messina, a dentist in Cleveland, and a consumer advisor for the American Dental Association, says patients should ask their dentist and oral surgeon about the steps they and their staffs take to sterilize equipment. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

Dentist Alice G. Boghosian removes packages of properly sterilized dental instruments from an autoclave that uses heat and steam to sterilize the tools Friday, March 29, 2013, in Chicago. Health officials in Oklahoma are calling an oral surgeon there who used dirty equipment and risked cross-contamination a ?menace to public health? and are urging thousands of his patients to seek medical screenings for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. Though officials say such situations involving dental clinics are rare, Dr. Matt Messina, a dentist in Cleveland, and a consumer advisor for the American Dental Association, says patients should ask their dentist and oral surgeon about the steps they and their staffs take to sterilize equipment. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

Dentist Alice G. Boghosian shows a package of properly sterilized dental instruments before they are unwrapped along with a cassette filled with more sterilized instruments, lower left, Friday, March 29, 2013, in Chicago. Health officials in Oklahoma are calling an oral surgeon there who used dirty equipment and risked cross-contamination a ?menace to public health? and are urging thousands of his patients to seek medical screenings for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV. Though officials say such situations involving dental clinics are rare, Dr. Matt Messina, a dentist in Cleveland, and a consumer advisor for the American Dental Association, says patients should ask their dentist and oral surgeon about the steps they and their staffs take to sterilize equipment. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

Map locates city where health officials are urging 7000 patients of Oklahoma dentist Dr. W. Scott Harrington to seek testing for hepatitis or HIV.

This photo taken Thursday, March 28, 2013 shows the office of oral surgeon W. Scott Harrington in Tulsa, Okla. Health officials have urged Harrington?s patients to undergo hepatitis and HIV testing, saying filthy conditions at his office posed a threat to his 7,000 clients and made him a "menace to the public health." (AP Photo/Justin Juozapavicius)

TULSA, Okla. (AP) ? The Oklahoma agency that accused a Tulsa oral surgeon of unsanitary practices, putting thousands of people at risk for hepatitis and HIV, says it's never needed to inspect medical offices regularly.

"This doesn't happen," Susan Rogers, the executive director of the Oklahoma Board of Dentistry, said Friday. "There's not been a need for these inspections because we've never had a complaint like this."

That's not unusual. Some other states don't routinely inspect clinics, either, noting they don't have the money and such incidents are so rare that the need just isn't there.

In Oklahoma, the Board of Dentistry's small staff does inspections only if the agency receives a complaint. That's what happened in the case of Dr. W. Scott Harrington, whose practice was inspected after officials determined a patient may have contracted hepatitis C while having dental surgery.

State epidemiologist Kristy Bradley and Tulsa Health Department Director Bruce Dart sent letters Friday to all 7,000 patients they found in Harrington's 6-year-old records, urging them to be screened for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and the virus that causes AIDS because of unsafe practices at his two clinics. More patients may be at risk, but Harrington's files go back only to 2007.

"Although we do not know whether you were personally exposed to blood-borne viruses, there is a possibility that you may have been exposed to infectious material," they wrote, acknowledging their discovery could be "alarming and frightening" for the patients.

Rogers' office filed a 17-count complaint against Harrington, saying officials found rusty instruments, potentially contaminated drug vials and improper use of a machine designed to sterilize tools.

According to guidelines from the American Dental Association, of which Harrington was listed as a member Friday, to keep their licenses dentists must stay up to date on the latest scientific and clinical developments.

Rogers noted that dentists know they could close their licenses if they violate health codes, so they are motivated to "do the right thing" ? clean their instruments, inspect drug cabinets for outdated or expired medicines and require staff to be trained.

Rogers said the Oklahoma board will consider changes in its practices but that it was too early to provide specifics.

In Colorado, where an oral surgeon was accused of reusing needles and syringes, the state doesn't routinely inspect dental offices. No changes were made to that policy after the 2012 incident.

"We respond if there is a complaint," spokesman Mark Salley said in a telephone interview Friday. "I don't know of any agency in this department that has the resources to conduct routine inspections of private practices."

California, too, responds only if a problem is reported.

"We are complaint-driven. Inspections are not routine. We're looking at 30,000-plus dentists in California alone," said Kim Trefry, the enforcement chief at the Dental Board of California.

Dr. Douglas Dieterich, a professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, called the Oklahoma case "an anomaly."

"There's all sorts of codes. The employees are watching. The patients are watching. With all the news reports of mini-epidemics caused by unsafe practices, I think everybody is" more careful, Dieterich said.

Harrington had been a dentist for 36 years before giving up his license March 20. He faces an April 19 hearing at which he could have his certification revoked.

Lydia Miller, director of communications for the Oklahoma Dental Association, said Harrington was a member of the organization until Thursday, when health officials branded him a "menace to the public health." Oklahoma has between 2,000 and 2,200 dentists; 1,600 belong to the ODA.

Until Thursday, the state Dentistry Board had had no problem with Harrington. Rogers said the agency, which is funded from license fees that range from $25 for a dental assistant's annual certificate renewal to $500 for an initial license testing fee, has only a $1 million budget and five employees to monitor dentists serving 3.8 million residents. She said the board concentrates primarily on complaints involving missing drugs and possible sexual misconduct.

Harrington could not be reached for comment Friday. His malpractice lawyer, Jim Secrest II, did not respond to phone messages left Thursday or Friday. A message at Harrington's Tulsa office said it was closed and an answering service referred callers to the Tulsa Health Department.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, there have been only three documents cases of a dental patient contracting either HIV or hepatitis B from a dental procedure: HIV in Florida in 1991 and hepatitis B in New Mexico in 2001 and West Virginia in 2009.

The CDC in 2003 established infection control guidelines for dental offices, including rules about hand hygiene and sterilization of dental instruments, but inspections are left to the states.

According to the Oklahoma Dentistry Board's complaint, Harrington's practice had varying cleaning procedures for its equipment, needles were re-inserted in drug vials after their initial use, drug vials were used on multiple patients and the office had no written infection-protection procedure. Also, dental assistants performed some tasks reserved to a licensed dentist, such as administering IV sedation. A device used to sterilize equipment hadn't undergone required monthly tests in at least six years.

Hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV are typically spread through intravenous drug use or unprotected sex.

___

Associated Press writers Tim Talley in Oklahoma City and Mike Stobbe in New York contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-03-29-US-Dentist-Investigation-Testing/id-bd1b810412644fd7a60c4c9221d0690c

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EE's 4G LTE reaches 50-market milestone in the UK

UK's first 4G network says it now covers half the country's population

EE, currently the UK's sole provider of 4G LTE services, has announced that its 4G network is now live in a total of 50 towns and cities, five months after its launch. The operator says today's 4G light-ups mean its 4G network now covers half the UK population.

Today EE's LTE has been switched on in Bradford, Bingley, Doncaster, Dudley, Harpenden, Leicester, Lichfield, Loughborough, Luton, Reading, Shipley, St Albans and West Bromwich. EE says it's committed to bringing 4G to a further 30 towns and cities by the end of June.

EE claims its 4G network currently offers average download speeds of 16Mbps and peak speeds of 50Mbps. That average speed sounds about right, but the 50Mbps claim is nowhere near what we've seen from EE's network in real-world use. If you've been using EE's 4G network in recent months, let us know how you're getting on down in the comments.

We've got the full list of all towns and cities with EE 4G service after the break.

read more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/6YqVuGsf7XE/story01.htm

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Lil Twist Hosted RAGER at Justin Bieber's Mansion in Singer's Absence: Report

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/03/lil-twist-hosted-rager-at-justin-biebers-mansion-in-singers-abse/

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4 Ill. teens die after car plunges into icy creek

CHICAGO (AP) ? The mayor of a rural community in northern Illinois says residents are still coming to terms with the deaths of four high school students whose car skidded off a bridge into an icy creek.

Wilmington Mayor Marty Orr says it's a "tragic loss."

Will County Sheriff's Department spokesman Ken Kaupas (KOW'-puhs) says the bodies of the two boys and two girls, aged 15 to 17, were recovered Tuesday from Forked Creek near Wilmington.

Kaupas says the teens had been missing since Monday evening. Authorities don't know exactly when the accident occurred. Kaupas says the driver likely lost control after hitting a patch of water or ice. The car tore through a guard rail and plunged into the water.

Wilmington is 60 miles southwest of Chicago.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/4-ill-teens-die-car-plunges-icy-creek-184646869.html

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NUS graphene researchers create 'superheated' water that can corrode diamonds

Public release date: 11-Mar-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Carolyn Fong
caroyln@nus.edu.sg
65-651-65399
National University of Singapore

Novel discovery paves the way to improve waste degradation and laser-assisted etching of materials

A team of researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) led by Professor Loh Kian Ping, Head of the Department of Chemistry at the NUS Faculty of Science, has successfully altered the properties of water, making it corrosive enough to etch diamonds. This was achieved by attaching a layer of graphene on diamond and heated to high temperatures. Water molecules trapped between them become highly corrosive, as opposed to normal water.

This novel discovery, reported for the first time, has wide-ranging industrial applications, from environmentally-friendly degradation of organic wastes to laser-assisted etching of semiconductor or dielectric films.

The findings were published online in Nature Communications on 5 March 2013 with Ms Candy Lim Yi Xuan, a Ph.D. candidate at the NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering as the first author.

When Diamond Meets Graphene

While diamond is known to be a material with superlative physical qualities, little is known about how it interfaces with graphene, a one-atom thick substance composed of pure carbon.

A team of scientists from NUS, Bruker Singapore and Hasselt University Wetenschapspark in Belgium, sought to explore what happens when a layer of graphene, behaving like a soft membrane, is attached on diamond, which is also composed of carbon. To encourage bonding between the two rather dissimilar carbon forms, the researchers heated them to high temperatures.

At elevated temperatures, the team noted a restructuring of the interface and chemical bonding between graphene and diamond. As graphene is an impermeable material, water trapped between the diamond and graphene cannot escape. At a temperature that is above 400 degree Celsius, the trapped water transforms into a distinct supercritical phase, with different behaviours compared to normal water.

Said Professor Loh, who is also a Principal Investigator with the Graphene Research Centre at NUS, "We show for the first time that graphene can trap water on diamond, and the system behaves like a 'pressure cooker' when heated. Even more surprising, we found that such superheated water can corrode diamond. This has never been reported."

Industrial Applications and New Insights

Due to its transparent nature, the graphene bubble-on-diamond platform provides a novel way of studying the behaviours of liquids at high pressures and high temperature conditions, which is traditionally difficult.

"The applications from our experiment are immense. In the industry, supercritical water can be used for the degradation of organic waste in an environmentally friendly manner. Our work can is also applicable to the laser-assisted etching of semiconductor or dielectric films, where the graphene membrane can be used to trap liquids," Prof Loh elaborated.

To further their research, Prof Loh and his team will study the supercritical behaviours of other fluids at high temperatures, and strive to derive a wider range of industrial applications.

###

For more information and scheduling of media interviews, please contact:

Carolyn FONG
Manager (Media relations)
Office of Corporate Relations
National University of Singapore
DID: +65 6516 5399
Email: carolyn@nus.edu.sg

---

[ | 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.

Public release date: 11-Mar-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Carolyn Fong
caroyln@nus.edu.sg
65-651-65399
National University of Singapore

Novel discovery paves the way to improve waste degradation and laser-assisted etching of materials

A team of researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) led by Professor Loh Kian Ping, Head of the Department of Chemistry at the NUS Faculty of Science, has successfully altered the properties of water, making it corrosive enough to etch diamonds. This was achieved by attaching a layer of graphene on diamond and heated to high temperatures. Water molecules trapped between them become highly corrosive, as opposed to normal water.

This novel discovery, reported for the first time, has wide-ranging industrial applications, from environmentally-friendly degradation of organic wastes to laser-assisted etching of semiconductor or dielectric films.

The findings were published online in Nature Communications on 5 March 2013 with Ms Candy Lim Yi Xuan, a Ph.D. candidate at the NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering as the first author.

When Diamond Meets Graphene

While diamond is known to be a material with superlative physical qualities, little is known about how it interfaces with graphene, a one-atom thick substance composed of pure carbon.

A team of scientists from NUS, Bruker Singapore and Hasselt University Wetenschapspark in Belgium, sought to explore what happens when a layer of graphene, behaving like a soft membrane, is attached on diamond, which is also composed of carbon. To encourage bonding between the two rather dissimilar carbon forms, the researchers heated them to high temperatures.

At elevated temperatures, the team noted a restructuring of the interface and chemical bonding between graphene and diamond. As graphene is an impermeable material, water trapped between the diamond and graphene cannot escape. At a temperature that is above 400 degree Celsius, the trapped water transforms into a distinct supercritical phase, with different behaviours compared to normal water.

Said Professor Loh, who is also a Principal Investigator with the Graphene Research Centre at NUS, "We show for the first time that graphene can trap water on diamond, and the system behaves like a 'pressure cooker' when heated. Even more surprising, we found that such superheated water can corrode diamond. This has never been reported."

Industrial Applications and New Insights

Due to its transparent nature, the graphene bubble-on-diamond platform provides a novel way of studying the behaviours of liquids at high pressures and high temperature conditions, which is traditionally difficult.

"The applications from our experiment are immense. In the industry, supercritical water can be used for the degradation of organic waste in an environmentally friendly manner. Our work can is also applicable to the laser-assisted etching of semiconductor or dielectric films, where the graphene membrane can be used to trap liquids," Prof Loh elaborated.

To further their research, Prof Loh and his team will study the supercritical behaviours of other fluids at high temperatures, and strive to derive a wider range of industrial applications.

###

For more information and scheduling of media interviews, please contact:

Carolyn FONG
Manager (Media relations)
Office of Corporate Relations
National University of Singapore
DID: +65 6516 5399
Email: carolyn@nus.edu.sg

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

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

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-03/nuos-ngr031113.php

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Jimi Hendrix's 'People, Hell and Angels': Posthumous Album Set For A Strong Debut

"People, Hell and Angels," a new posthumous album from music legend Jimi Hendrix, is set to be the deceased rocker's biggest album since his 1968 smash hit, "Electric Ladyland."

While "Electric Ladyland" hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200, "People, Hell and Angels" is set to debut at No. 2.

The 12-track "People, Hell and Angels" was produced by Eddie Kramer, Hendrix's former sound manager. The album features tracks that were recorded to serve as a follow-up to "Electric Ladyland," including the recently released single, "Somewhere."

Billboard reports that "People, Hell and Angels" is on track to sell 70,000 copies. The rock album will likely come in second to Luke Bryan's latest album, "Spring Break... Here to Party," which is projected to take the No. 1 spot.

Hendrix and Bryan will be joined at the top of Billboard's chart by Josh Groban, Bruno Mars, and Tim McGraw, among others.

For more, head over to Billboard.

• US rock singer and guitarrist Jimi Hendrix ('Hey Joe', 'Purple Haze') pictured during his concert on the island Fehmarn in the Baltic Sea, West Germany, 1970.

• US rock singer and guitarist, Jimi Hendrix performs on stage at the Isle of Wight festival in 1970.

• US Rock singer and guitarist Jimi Hendrix on stage at the Pop festival on the Baltic Sea island of Fehmarn 1970.

• 1970 photo of Jimi Hendrix performing on the Isle of Wight in England. (AP Photo/FILE)

• The Jimi Hendrix Experience; Noel Redding, Jimi Hendrix and Mitch Mitchell.

• Jimi Hendrix performs live on stage 1969

• Noel Redding, left, Jimi Hendrix, centre, and Mitch Mitchell, of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, arrive at Heathrow airport, London, Aug. 21, 1967, after completing a nine week tour of the United States. (AP Photo/Peter Kemp)

• The American rock singer and guitarist Jimi Hendrix performs at a pop festival on the Baltic Sea island of Fehmarn.

• An undated portrait of the US-American rock singer and guitarist Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix died on 18th Septmenber 1970 after the consumption of alcohol and sleeping pills.

• The Jimi Hendrix Experience; (clockwise from top left) Mitch Mitchell, Noel Redding and Jimi Hendrix. Circa 1969

• The Jimi Hendrix Experience performing live on stage. Circa 1968

• American-born guitarist Jimi Hendrix with his girlfriend Kathy Etchingham at a record launch in central London. 1969

• Shown in photo is 25-year old Pop singer Jimi Hendrix was jailed for drunkenness in Stockholm, Sweden in morning on Thursday, Jan. 5, 1968 after having gone berserk and destroyed everything in his room at Goteborg hotel Opa Len. Jimi Hendrix is escorted by two police. (AP Photo)

• Hendrix In England, 1966

• Hendrix In England, 1966

• Singer and songwriter, Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970) smiles as he arrives at Heathrow airport, London, England. 1965

• Photo of Jimi HENDRIX and Curtis KNIGHT and SQUIRES, 1966

• Jimi Hendrix At An Airport Around 1966-1970

• Al Hendrix and his son Jimi Hendrix (3 years old), 1945

• Photo of Jimi HENDRIX 1967

• Photo of Jimi HENDRIX performing, 1967

• Photo of Noel REDDING and Mitch MITCHELL and JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE and Jimi HENDRIX

• Photo of Noel REDDING and Jimi HENDRIX

• Photo of Jimi HENDRIX EXPERIENCE and Jimi HENDRIX and Mitch MITCHELL and Noel REDDING

• Photo of Jimi HENDRIX 1967

• Photo of Jimi HENDRIX EXPERIENCE and Jimi HENDRIX and Mitch MITCHELL and Noel REDDING 1967

• Photo of Mitch MITCHELL and Jimi HENDRIX and Noel REDDING 1967

• Photo of Jimi HENDRIX 1967

• Photo of Jimi HENDRIX 1967

• Photo of Jimi HENDRIX 1967

• Photo of Jimi HENDRIX 1967

• Photo of Jimi HENDRIX 1967

• Photo of Jimi HENDRIX 1967

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/10/jimi-hendrix-people-hell-and-angels-debut_n_2848208.html

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Elle Macpherson Engaged!

He asked, she said yes and now Elle Macpherson is engaged. The supermodel is set to wed?billionaire?Jeffrey Soffer. US Weekly was first to break the news that Elle and her fiance’ Jeffrey are getting hitched. Although a rep for the former The Fashion Star host has yet to confirm the engagement, a “source” close to the happy couple confirms that the two are going to take a walk down the asile. The blonde bombshell is also keeping mum about her new fiance’ status, she has not said a peep about it on her Twitter account. However I have a feeling that will change soon. The soon to be husband and wife duo dated for two years before they split last year. However despite her reportedly being romanced by?financier?Roger Jenkins after the break up and he a young 20 something, it seems that the love of Macpherson and Sofer could not be denied. In November of last year the couple reconciled after he was injured in a helicopter crash. It looks like this time they are not letting each other go. As for when the wedding will take place something tells me that we won’t know that until after the two [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RightCelebrity/~3/nAc0Ea75yIQ/

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Authorities seize 36 Chihuahuas at 2 Calif. homes (Providence Journal)

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

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Last-chance Expand ticket giveaway and congrats to our Photo Contest winner!

In celebration of Expand, our first enormous electronics extravaganza next weekend at San Francisco's Fort Mason, we're giving away 5 pairs of tickets to 5 lucky @EngadgetExpand followers. This will be your last chance to score a free pass before the big event, so be sure to join us for this one!

Here's how to enter: mention @EngadgetExpand in a tweet that also includes which session in the now fully-unveiled agenda you are most looking forward to. That might not be the easiest task, since there will be a lot going on at the show: from DJ Spooky's live performance to Veronica Belmont's appearance on the Sci-Fi panel to Make Magazine's Mark Frauenfelder co-hosting the Insert Coin awards - and then some. To be eligible to enter, you must be 18 years of age and a U.S. resident (please peruse the full rules). Get your tweets in by midnight EST this Sunday night for your chance to win; we'll choose 5 entries at random to each receive a free pair of tickets.

Read on for our Samsung Galaxy Camera winner...

Filed under: Announcements, Meta

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/jjvGeulKU5Q/

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Natural News: MicroWave "Cookery" Destroys Essentially All Nutrients

"Microwaves absolutely decimate the nutritional value of your food, destroying the very vitamins and phytonutrients that prevent disease and support good health. Previous studies have shown that as much as 98% of the cancer-fighting nutrients in broccoli, for example, are destroyed by microwaving. "To understand why, you have to understand the nature of vitamins and phytonutrients (plant-based nutrients). These are very delicate molecules which are fragile. They are easily destroyed by heat, which is why raw plant foods contain more plant nutrients than cooked foods. Carotenoids, antioxidants and other molecules like DIM (in broccoli) or anthocyanins (in purple corn) are all easily destroyed by microwave energy."

This ad goes away when you register.

http://www.naturalnews.com/039404_mi...#ixzz2MyD1pRMO

Very related

http://www.naturalnews.com/039400_co...ss_health.html

Source: http://indigosociety.com/showthread.php?66291-Natural-News-MicroWave-quot-Cookery-quot-Destroys-Essentially-All-Nutrients

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Vermont newspaper defends 'fry Rice' sign supporting team

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) ? A Vermont newspaper defended itself Saturday against accusations of racism over a poster it published in support of a local sports team that read "fry Rice" in type associated with Chinese calligraphy, saying it meant no offense and simply wanted to play on words.

The back-page poster, printed in Thursday's editions, was intended to support St. Johnsbury Academy's basketball team in its game against Rice Memorial High School in South Burlington, the Caledonian Record wrote in an unsigned editorial (http://bit.ly/Yj75aB ).

"We sought a simple play on words in support of an extraordinary group of local student athletes. Indulging our critics for a moment, the outcry reminds us that racial and ethnic stereotypes can offend ? regardless of intent," the editorial said.

The editorial acknowledged that the poster's wordplay, punctuated by the chosen font, "evoked a particular ethnic cuisine" but did not constitute racism.

"We don't concede, however, that the use of imagery with any racial, ethnic or religious inference is to inherently debase that race/ethnicity/religion," the paper said.

"A fair accusation of racism would at least pre-require the reference to actually be demeaning or degrading," the editorial said. "Simply invoking ethnic customs (food, dress, design) doesn't do that, nor does it suggest any kind of characteristic about the culture, its people or a history of oppression by the majority.

But the editorial missed the point, said the president of the Asian American Journalists Association, who had criticized the poster after it was published.

"I'm not criticizing the Caledonian Record for rooting for their home team," said Paul Cheung, the association's president. While Cheung does not believe the newspaper's intention was to be racist, it showed "a lapse of judgment and poor taste."

"It evoked a racial undertone and a negative stereotype," said Cheung, who is also interactive and graphics editor for The Associated Press.

St. Johnsbury Academy ended up losing the game to Rice Memorial.

A private school, St. Johnsbury Academy serves local students and also has boarding students from across the world, including Asia. Academy Headmaster Tom Lovett said Friday that none of the school's Asian students were offended by the poster.

"Overall, our students often see such things as a way to celebrate their culture, not demean it. And in this case, we chose to follow our students' lead and look at the Caledonian's intent, not taking offense where none was intended," Lovett said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/vt-paper-defends-fry-rice-sign-supporting-team-141113462.html

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Chuck Hagel in Afghanistan: 'We're still at war'

Chuck Hagel arrived in Afghanistan for his first trip abroad as U.S. defense secretary. On the flight over he told the press that he was? traveling there to better understand "where we are in Afghanistan."

By Courney Kube, Pentagon producer, NBC News

Chuck Hagel arrived in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Friday for his first trip there as the secretary of defense, saying, "We're still at war."

On the flight over, Hagel gave a short press briefing to set up the visit, saying that he was traveling to Afghanistan to thank the troops serving there and to better understand "where we are in Afghanistan."

Hagel would not talk specifics about the pace of U.S. troop drawdown through the end of 2014, saying that the president has not made his decision yet.

Asked whether he's concerned that the U.S. has forgotten about the war in Afghanistan, Hagel said, "I can't speak for the American people, or where we are on attention spans, but I would tell you now as the secretary of defense who has some responsibility for assuring that this transition be conducted responsibly, that we're still at war."

---

"We're still at war in Afghanistan," he later reiterated.

Then Hagel gave a somewhat convoluted reason for why the U.S. is at war there, saying the U.S. sought "to give the Afghan people an opportunity for their country, their people, to be free of terrorists and a government that was very hostile to what was going on in the neighborhood, and certainly as an effect of what happened September 11, 2001."? He added that "I think we need to follow through the reasons we first went there, what we have tried to do."

Hagel said that it "was never the intention of the United States to stay in Afghanistan indefinitely," but then added that the U.S. still has "troops in a different capacity in South Korea, troops in Europe, Okinawa."

Asked whether the war is reminiscent of Vietnam, Hagel said, "The only thing I would say is the world we live in today is so complicated. And we have to factor that into our policies and everything that we do.? And I think that, that speaks for itself, that complicated world that we live in."

Finally, asked about the recent North Korean threats, Hagel said that "the United States of America and our allies are prepared to deal with any threat, and any reality that occurs in the world."

He added, "We are aware of what's going on.? We have partnerships in that part of the world that are important, and I think that -- that that reality is --- is clear, and that's what we will -- will continue to do."

Jason Reed / AFP - Getty Images

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel (C) steps off his helicopter with Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, commander of the international security force, near Camp Eggers in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Friday.

Related link:

?

Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/08/17239340-defense-chief-chuck-hagel-in-afghanistan-were-still-at-war?lite

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Post-Combustion CO2 Capture to Mitigate Climate Change: Separation Costs Energy

An astounding variety of data supports the conclusion that our earth?s climate is changing due to increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations in the atmosphere. The economic, social, and environmental implications could be catastrophic. Moreover, scientists have reached a consensus that the increase in GHGs is indeed anthropogenic, caused by fossil fuel burning and deforestation. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the GHG that contributes the most to climate change because of both its abundance and long atmospheric lifetime. With the rapid economic development of China (the world?s leading CO2 emitter) and India?s increasing energy demands, the rate of CO2 emissions is accelerating, leaving politicians, scientists, and engineers with an international problem of an enormous scale.

More long-term technological development is required to substantially shift to renewable energy sources that do not emit CO2. Thus, short-term solutions are being considered that enable us to continue using fossil fuels. At present, coal-burning power plants provide 42% of electricity in the US, but at the expense of accounting for ~36% of US CO2 emissions. Among a portfolio of strategies to mitigate anthropogenic CO2 emissions, one high-impact option is carbon capture and storage (CCS). The idea is to capture the CO2 from the flue gas emitted from the smokestacks of coal-burning power plants and subsequently store it underground in a geological formation. The geological formation can be thought of as a sponge for CO2, sequestering it from the atmosphere where it would, otherwise, instigate global warming.

An advantage of the CCS process is that it can in principle be retrofitted to existing coal power plants. A coal power plant retires after a long 45 years of use; a plant built today will, if left unchecked, continue to emit CO2 for 45 years coming. The economics of completely abandoning a prodigious investment in a young plant to curb CO2 emissions are unfeasible. CCS technologies are attractive because they can prevent climate change while protecting current investments.

Already, commercial-scale CCS technologies are in operation, but not at the scale of a large coal power plant. Its market-readiness for mass-adoption is complicated by two broad issues. The first issue is related to the tremendous rate of CO2 emissions. A back-of-the-envelope calculation reveals that the US alone releases from its coal-burning power plants enough CO2 to fill the Empire State Building 300 times every hour. Even given the magic chemical or material that captures CO2 from the flue gas, imagine how much of it we would need. The second issue is that the CCS process places a parasitic energy load on the plant, and that is the focus of this article. The most energetically intensive part of the CCS scheme is capturing the CO2 from the flue gas, separating it from the other components (mainly nitrogen ? then why even separate the CO2? ? see Note below) Capture technologies at present are estimated to cost 25-30% of a plant?s power output, driving up the price of electricity by around 80%.

Fig 1: The minimum energy to separate the CO2 per mole of CO2 from an ideal gas mixture at room temperature. The minimum energy requirement depends on the concentration of CO2 in the starting mixture.

Can we improve capture technologies to reduce the energy costs for separating CO2 from the flue gas? The laws of thermodynamics allow us to calculate the minimum theoretical energy requirement for the separation of the CO2 from the flue gas. That is, the same thermodynamic laws that preclude the construction of a perpetual motion machine say that, no matter how ingenious of a capture process we design, there will always be an energy cost for separating the CO2 from the flue gas. Fig 1 shows a plot of the minimum energy required (per mole of CO2) to separate the CO2 from an ideal gas mixture as a function of the CO2 concentration in the starting mixture. As a sanity check, note that a mixture that is already pure CO2 takes zero energy to separate. For the flue gas from a coal-burning power plant, the CO2 concentration is ~13 mol %, and the minimum theoretical energy requirement from the graph (green dot) turns out to be ~5% of the output of the coal power plant, suggesting that there is room for improvement in current carbon capture technologies.

One might ask, instead, why not just capture CO2 from the very air we breathe? Fig 1 shows that, as the fraction of CO2 in the mixture decreases, we need more and more energy to separate it from the mixture. The CO2 concentration in the air is a measly 0.039 mol % (red dot), rendering energy costs for a separation from air four times that of a separation performed on the flue gas from a coal power plant? even if we were to develop the most efficient separation process nature allows. Another reason to avoid separating CO2 from air is that, for every liter of CO2 to be recovered from the atmosphere, 2500 liters of air must be processed. This excessive air flow rate through a capture process and the increased separation energy costs for such a small CO2 concentration in the air lead to the following conclusion. Procrastinating CCS on coal power plants and instead resolving to capture CO2 out of the the air we breathe? after the flue gas mixes with the atmosphere? will lead to larger separation costs in the future. This is important to consider given that a CO2 molecule released today will stay in the atmosphere for a time comparable to our life span, absorbing sunlight and warming our planet throughout the entire duration.

Fig 2: The entropy of mixing for a system at constant temperature and pressure is the entropy change going from state 1 to state 2. In carbon capture, we want to go from state 2 to state 1, where the red spheres represent CO2 molecules and the blue spheres represent all other molecules in the flue gas. State 1 and 2 are at the same temperature and pressure.

The separation energy requirement stems from the tendency of all physical systems to increase a mathematical quantity called entropy; an intuitive, qualitative definition of entropy is ?disorder?. The second law of thermodynamics states that an isolated system will maximize its disorder. Fig 2 shows an isolated system (the black box) containing the flue gas in two disparate states (both at the same temperature and pressure). CO2 molecules are depicted as red spheres, whereas all other components of the flue gas are depicted as blue spheres. In state 1, a barrier exists that separates CO2 molecules from the rest. If we remove the barrier, the second law tells us that CO2 will spontaneously mix with the other components, entering state 2, without the help of some outside influence. Because each of the molecules can now explore a greater volume, the disorder of the system has increased, as nature prefers.

In carbon capture, we are starting off in state 2, and we desire to move to state 1. Unfortunate for CCS, going from state 2 to state 1 involves a decrease in disorder (entropy), and this will not happen spontaneously without some outside influence. That is, isolated physical systems tend to maximize their entropy, and if we want to decrease a system?s entropy, we must input energy into the system. In the context of carbon capture, if we want to separate the CO2 from the flue gas, it is inevitably going to cost energy. The laws of thermodynamics allow us to calculate the minimum energy requirement by considering a reversible process from state 2 to state 1, and this is a lower bound? for the most efficient, ingenious process yet-to-be-discovered.

The utility of the entropy of mixing concept is to check how much more progress we can possibly make with capture technology and set realistic targets. The conclusion is that there is room for improvement, but CCS technologies will inevitably incur a sizeable parasitic energy cost on a coal-fired power plant. Since the energy cost is a decreasing function of the concentration of CO2 in the starting mixture (Fig 1), we see the energetic benefits of capturing CO2 from coal power plants now, rather than later, after it mixes in the air.

??- The math behind the generation of Fig 1 for those interested ?-

~~~~~

** The idea for this blog post came from a course I am taking at Berkeley titled ?Carbon Capture and Sequestration?. An interactive iBook is coming soon: Berkeley Lectures on Energy: Carbon Capture and Sequestration by Berend Smit, Jeffrey Reimer, Curt Oldenburg, and Ian Bourg.

Sources:
A Brown and B Freeman. Analysis and Status of Post-Combustion Carbon Dioxide Capture Technologies. Environmental Science and Technology. (2011) 45 (20), pp 8624?8632.

Smith, Van Ness, and Abbott. Introduction to Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics.

Sponge analogy for a geological formation: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROEFaHKVmSs

Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=e45f1767418ed2b3eb44dd59f290357e

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10 Things to Know for Thursday

Demonstrators, one holding a sign with an image of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez, participate in a rally honoring him in Guatemala City, Wednesday, March 6, 2013. Many Latin Americans mourned the Tuesday death of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, leaders in Europe and Asia sent condolences, and Iran's president predicted great works in the afterlife. The sign reads in Spanish "Thank you for your example, commander. Hugo Chavez lives!!!" (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

Demonstrators, one holding a sign with an image of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez, participate in a rally honoring him in Guatemala City, Wednesday, March 6, 2013. Many Latin Americans mourned the Tuesday death of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, leaders in Europe and Asia sent condolences, and Iran's president predicted great works in the afterlife. The sign reads in Spanish "Thank you for your example, commander. Hugo Chavez lives!!!" (AP Photo/Moises Castillo)

FILE - In this Feb. 26, 2013 file photo, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush speaks in Austin, Texas. Jeb Bush has long resisted pressure from supporters to run for president. Now the former Florida governor is signaling that he?s at least open to the idea, a shift that comes as he promotes a new book and as a divided Republican Party struggles to right itself. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

FILE - In this Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012 file photo, Russian dancer Pavel Dmitrichenko, as Ivan the Terrible, is pictured after a dress rehearsal of Ivan the Terrible (Russian Tsar Ivan the Terrible) in the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, Russia. The Russian Interior Ministry says police are searching the home of a star of the Bolshoi Ballet, Pavel Dmitrichenko, known for his role as tsar Ivan the Terrible, the Interior Ministry said Tuesday March 5, 2013, in connection with the acid attack on the company's artistic director, and have detained another man on suspicion of carrying out the attack. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, file)

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

1. HOW OBAMA IS WOOING THE GOP

His latest tactic in the budget battle: invite key senators over for dinner.

2. VENEZUELAN LEADER MOURNED

Tens of thousands turn out as Chavez's casket is carried on an hours-long procession through the streets.

3. WORKER KILLED AT REFUGE FOR BIG CATS

A female intern-volunteer at a private wild animal park in California is fatally mauled by a lion.

4. BLOCK THAT PICK

Sen. Rand Paul filibusters the president's choice to lead the CIA, demanding drones never be used in the U.S. to kill American terrorism suspects.

5. PEACEKEEPERS SWEPT UP IN SYRIA'S CIVIL WAR

Twenty members of a U.N. peacekeeping team are detained by armed fighters linked to the opposition.

6. JEB BUSH'S 'NO WAY' BECOMES 'MAYBE'

The ex-Florida governor signals that he might run for president in 2016 after all.

7. IN BIRTHPLACE OF CHRISTIANITY, FAITH DYING

Across the Holy Land, hospitals, schools and charities are feeling the effects of a dwindling population of Catholic monks and nuns to run them.

8. BUSINESSES COURT GAY CLIENTELE

More gay ads are appearing, nearly two decades after Ikea's TV spot featuring a gay couple prompted bomb threats.

9. WHERE A RUSSIAN BALLET STAR IS APPEARING NEXT

Pavel Dmitrichenko is due in court Thursday, accused of masterminding an acid attack that burned the Bolshoi Theater's artistic director.

10. NYC SENDS A WARNING, LOUD AND CLEAR

City's latest public health campaign focuses on the hazards of cranked-up earphones.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-03-06-10%20Things%20to%20Know-Thursday/id-70ee37e22b8d4de580c85eadfc56b821

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Q&A: Mark Shimahara, Online Marketing Manager, Patagonia ...

Mark Shimahara, is the Online Marketing Manager at Patagonia ? a retailer and manufacturer?of quality outdoor products with a focus on environmental and social responsibility. ?Shimahara is a key speaker at the?eCommerce Conference & Expo in Melbourne, below we ask him a few questions about the eCommerce industry.

What will be the main challenge in the e-commerce world in 2013?

Initially the beauty of the web was the ease in creating a word class presence, then it was about serving unique and dynamic content. ?Now the challenge is to serve personalised and engaging content to the customer.

What e-commerce trends will be big in 2013?

There are 3 things:

1. Social Media Integration ? It is important that social media be integrated into your website
2. Paid / Natural Search Evaluation ? These should be evaluated as a whole instead of siloed entities
3. Internationalisation ? Identifying the most effective way to expand your global online presence

Who do you see as doing e-commerce well and why?

• Amazon ? They are one of the early adopters and the biggest. ?No matter who you are, they are a legitimate competitor in your marketplace.
• eBay ? Continually redfining the bounds of traditional commerce and making retailers rethink how to approach it
• Backcountry.com ? Both a competitor and customer of Patagonia, this company has highly innovative in house solutions for such things as reviews and loyalty, which challenge us to be more competitive in the market place.

What will you be talking about at eCommerce Conference & Expo Melbourne?

At the event I will talk about how loyal customers can be your company?s greatest resource. How you can harness the power of your fans to celebrate your brand; what database analysis revealed about Patagonia?s customers, who we identified as our fans, and how we communicate to spread our brand message.

How did you get into e-commerce and get to where you are now?

Before I worked in Internet Marketing ?I was in banking.? My banking client called me out of the blue to tell me he was surprised my first Google result was a testimonial I did for ?sensual massage oils?. ?I race bikes and in fact wrote a testimonial on behalf of one of my bike sponsors who made sports massage oils. I was so upset by the whole incident I promised myself I would learn as much as I could about search engine marketing.

Name your top three practical tips for someone looking to boost their e-commerce business

1. Listen and understand your customers. ?Always.
2. Be authentic. ?It will help you be heard and have a unique voice.
3. Personalise and engage messages to your customers.

To hear more from Mark Shimahara, attend the eCommerce Conference & Expo in Melbourne, 17-18 April 2013. ?With a conference stream and workshops that include topics;?eCommerce Essential, SEO & SEM and Web Design & Usability. ?Each part of the conference and event is designed to help you find customers, increase loyalty and increase profits.

Get your early bird tickets if you book before 20th March 2013. ?Invest in the future of your business and reap the rewards of being the best.? Book early bird tickets now.

Also come and say hi to the Netregistry team at stand #2010.?We really look forward to seeing you at eCommerce Conference & Expo Melbourne 2013.

Source: http://www.netregistry.com.au/blog/ecommerce/qa-mark-shimahara-online-marketing-manager-patagonia/

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