Nokia aims to take the drudgery out of concalls with its Conference app

Is your organization still on the fence about BB10 and casting around for alternatives? Then here's a little first-party business app for Nokia Windows Phones that might be worthy of some evidence-based evaluation. It's called Conference and it's only at the beta stage, but it's already able to serve its primary purpose: namely, letting you join a conference call on your Lumia without needing to grab details out of your calendar and key them in. The app receives the invite, with the necessary ID/PIN details supplied by the sender, and then lets you join a call with a single tap -- or a voice instruction if you're on a WP8 handset. It also integrates with Lync and vibrates whenever someone uses corporatese in lieu of gravitas.

Filed under: Cellphones, Internet, Software, Mobile, Nokia

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Source: Nokia Beta Labs

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/B8cBKAE4NxM/

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Stem cell transplant restores memory, learning in mice

Apr. 21, 2013 ? For the first time, human embryonic stem cells have been transformed into nerve cells that helped mice regain the ability to learn and remember.

A study at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is the first to show that human stem cells can successfully implant themselves in the brain and then heal neurological deficits, says senior author Su-Chun Zhang, a professor of neuroscience and neurology.

Once inside the mouse brain, the implanted stem cells formed two common, vital types of neurons, which communicate with the chemicals GABA or acetylcholine. "These two neuron types are involved in many kinds of human behavior, emotions, learning, memory, addiction and many other psychiatric issues," says Zhang.

The human embryonic stem cells were cultured in the lab, using chemicals that are known to promote development into nerve cells -- a field that Zhang has helped pioneer for 15 years. The mice were a special strain that do not reject transplants from other species.

After the transplant, the mice scored significantly better on common tests of learning and memory in mice. For example, they were more adept in the water maze test, which challenged them to remember the location of a hidden platform in a pool.

The study began with deliberate damage to a part of the brain that is involved in learning and memory.

Three measures were critical to success, says Zhang: location, timing and purity. "Developing brain cells get their signals from the tissue that they reside in, and the location in the brain we chose directed these cells to form both GABA and cholinergic neurons."

The initial destruction was in an area called the medial septum, which connects to the hippocampus by GABA and cholinergic neurons. "This circuitry is fundamental to our ability to learn and remember," says Zhang.

The transplanted cells, however, were placed in the hippocampus -- a vital memory center -- at the other end of those memory circuits. After the transferred cells were implanted, in response to chemical directions from the brain, they started to specialize and connect to the appropriate cells in the hippocampus.

The process is akin to removing a section of telephone cable, Zhang says. If you can find the correct route, you could wire the replacement from either end.

For the study, published in the current issue of Nature Biotechnology, Zhang and first author Yan Liu, a postdoctoral associate at the Waisman Center on campus, chemically directed the human embryonic stem cells to begin differentiation into neural cells, and then injected those intermediate cells. Ushering the cells through partial specialization prevented the formation of unwanted cell types in the mice.

Ensuring that nearly all of the transplanted cells became neural cells was critical, Zhang says. "That means you are able to predict what the progeny will be, and for any future use in therapy, you reduce the chance of injecting stem cells that could form tumors. In many other transplant experiments, injecting early progenitor cells resulted in masses of cells -- tumors. This didn't happen in our case because the transplanted cells are pure and committed to a particular fate so that they do not generate anything else. We need to be sure we do not inject the seeds of cancer."

Brain repair through cell replacement is a Holy Grail of stem cell transplant, and the two cell types are both critical to brain function, Zhang says. "Cholinergic neurons are involved in Alzheimer's and Down syndrome, but GABA neurons are involved in many additional disorders, including schizophrenia, epilepsy, depression and addiction."

Though tantalizing, stem-cell therapy is unlikely to be the immediate benefit. Zhang notes that "for many psychiatric disorders, you don't know which part of the brain has gone wrong." The new study, he says, is more likely to see immediate application in creating models for drug screening and discovery.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Wisconsin-Madison. The original article was written by David Tenenbaum.

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

---

Journal Reference:

1. Yan Liu, Jason P Weick, Huisheng Liu, Robert Krencik, Xiaoqing Zhang, Lixiang Ma, Guo-min Zhou, Melvin Ayala, Su-Chun Zhang. Medial ganglionic eminence?like cells derived from human embryonic stem cells correct learning and memory deficits. Nature Biotechnology, 2013; DOI: 10.1038/nbt.2565

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

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/Dn4FJ19YaLw/130421151613.htm

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Diamond, Ortiz lift spirits after bombing, manhunt

BOSTON (AP) ? A defiant David Ortiz stood on the Fenway Park infield and told the crowd to "stay strong," bringing a rousing cheer from Bostonians weary from a week of bombings, stay-at-home orders and a manhunt that locked down the city for a day.

Playing at home for the first time since two explosions at the Boston Marathon finish line killed three people and wounded more than 180 others, the Red Sox honored the victims and the survivors with a pregame ceremony and an emotional video of scenes from Monday's race.

"This past week, I don't think there's one human being who wasn't affected by what was going on down here," Ortiz said after the Red Sox beat the Kansas City Royals. "I was emotional, very angry about the whole situation. ... Everybody was hurting. I know it's going to take some time to heal up, but the one thing everybody's got to remember is that everybody supports each other."

Starting with a video, alternating between celebratory and somber and accompanied by Jeff Buckley's "Hallelujah," the tributes continued with a first-pitch ceremony that honored a first responder, a victim of the blast, and a marathon institution: Dick and Rick Hoyt, who have participated in the race for more than 20 years.

Then Ortiz took the microphone and, in what he later said was an unplanned outburst, let loose with an expletive that drew a huge cheer from the 35,152 who managed to make it through the beefed-up security and into their seats on time.

"This is our (expletive) city, and nobody is going to dictate our freedom," he said. "Stay strong."

Neil Diamond, who flew into town on his own and asked if he could sing, gave a live performance in the eighth inning of "Sweet Caroline," the Fenway staple that has been adopted by opposing ballclubs to show their support for the city.

As Diamond, a New York native who wore a Red Sox cap, left the field, fans chanted "U.S.A.! U.S.A.!" In the bottom half of the inning, Daniel Nava hit a three-run homer to give the Red Sox the lead, and they held on to win 4-3.

"You give people hope," Ortiz said. "We wanted to let them know we're here for them."

Across town, the Bruins also returned to the ice after postponing their game against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday night, when a manhunt for the bombing suspects led to a "shelter-in-place" order that locked down the city. One suspect died and the other was captured, hiding in a dry-docked boat in a Watertown backyard.

"At least we could all breathe a little easier and sleep a little easier," coach Claude Julien said after the Bruins lost 3-2. "And now it's, hopefully, time to work ourselves into trying to get things back to normal again. But it will always leave a scar somewhere."

Penguins coach Dan Bylsma met with reporters before the game wearing a black T-shirt with words "Boston Strong" over his shirt and tie.

"I feel like we're playing with the Bruins today, not against them," Bylsma said before the game. "I know I share their pride yesterday in their city and their people and certainly their law enforcement yesterday. I'm certainly not a Bostonian, but I certainly share in that pride and hope to today with them as well."

The Bruins took the ice for their pregame warmup wearing baseball caps for the Boston and state police, along with one for the police in Watertown featuring the Bruins' "Spoked B" logo and the word "Strong" on the back.

Security was tight at both games, as it was when the Bruins made their emotional return after the bombing on Thursday night.

A SWAT team member with a German shepherd stood guard at the doorway to the tunnel leading to Royals dugout about 2? hours before game time. A man in military fatigues checked all of the players' lockers and the many cracks in the ceiling tiles with a flashlight.

Outside, fans milled around, waiting for the gates to open. Several of them were wearing Boston Marathon jackets dating back as long as a decade. Long lines of fans waited to be scanned by metal-detecting wands; many were still waiting to get in when the Red Sox and Royals lined up along the base-lines for the pregame ceremony.

With Boston Athletic Association volunteers in their yellow and blue jackets lined up in front of the Green Monster and police and public officials encircling the mound, ballpark organist Josh Kantor played The Star-Spangled Banner, with the crowd singing along. A giant U.S. flag was draped over the 37-foot-high Green Monster left-field wall, temporarily covering the "B Strong" logo newly painted in left-center field.

Pictures of the victims, including Massachusetts Institute of Technology police officer Sean Collier, were shown on the scoreboard, along with pictures from the marathon and the aftermath. Some of the biggest cheers were for the police who tracked down the suspects.

Gov. Deval Patrick and Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis, along with other law enforcement officials and rank-and-file, circled the mound for the ceremonial first pitches from firefighter Matt Patterson, who rushed to the site of the bombings; from Steven Byrne, who was injured in the explosions, and from Dick Hoyt, accompanied by his son Rick, who has cerebral palsy.

Ortiz, who had been on the disabled list all season, took the microphone and showed fans the specially designed uniforms saying "Boston" on the front instead of the "Red Sox" they have worn for decades. Both teams wore patches with the "B Strong" logo.

The Red Sox said their uniforms would be autographed and auctioned off to raise money for the One Fund Boston, the charity established to help the victims. The Boston Celtics, who opened their playoff series against the Knicks with a loss in New York on Saturday, said they would donate $100,000 to the charity, with another $100,000 to come from fundraisers.

The team said fans would be given the option to donate their refund from the canceled April 16 game against Indiana to One Fund Boston.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/diamond-ortiz-lift-spirits-bombing-manhunt-222310137--mlb.html

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Lawmakers Question FBI's Tactic in Case (WSJ)

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Top 10 Awesome MacGyver Tricks That Speak For Themselves

Some life hacks require a complete how-to guide just to understand. Others are so genius in their simplicity that they speak for themselves. Here are ten of our favorite self-explanatory MacGyver tricks.

10. Make Perfect Pancakes with a Squeeze Bottle

It doesn't have to be a ketchup bottle, any kind of squeeze bottle will work?including the kind you buy empty from the store.

9. Use a Post-It Note to Avoid a Drilling Mess

8. Seal Plastic Bags with Old Bottle Caps

7. Remove a Stripped Screw with a Rubber Band

Then fix the hole with toothpicks.

6. Organize Anything with an Over-the-Door Shoe Holder

This works with anything from pantry items to cleaning products to gadgets, game controllers, and even cables.

5. Create an Instant Snack Bowl from Any Snack Bag

S

Then eat the snacks with chopsticks to avoid getting the mess on your fingers, too.

4. Create Extra Shelf Space with a Tension Rod

Tension rods are great for oh-so-many things.

3. Organize Cables with Toilet Paper Tubes

It ain't pretty, but what cable organization system is?

2. Use Soda Can Tabs to Save Closet Space

You can use them to hang pictures, too.

1. Use Binder Clips as Cable Catchers

Really, binder clips are just a MacGyver hacker's dream.

---

We know there are a ton of others out there, so if you've got your own favorites, share them below!

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/BNLikoqIsOc/top-10-awesome-macgyver-tricks-that-speak-for-themselve-476433796

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Box office out of this world for Cruise's 'Oblivion'

By Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter

Tom Cruise's sci-fi pic "Oblivion" opened to $38.2 million at the domestic box office to come in No. 1 after a better-than-expected performance and despite a B- CinemaScore. Overseas, the Universal pic continued to please, grossing $33.7 million in its second weekend for an international cume of $112 million and worldwide total of $150.2 million.

The movie marks the actor's best North American opening outside of the "Mission: Impossible" franchise, not accounting for inflation.

Directed by Joseph Kosinski ("Tron: Legacy"), "Oblivion" co-stars Morgan Freeman, Olga Kurylenko, Andrea Riseborough, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Melissa Leo. Peter Chernin and Dylan Clark produced. The pic cost Universal and Elliot Inc. at least $120 million to produce.

Adult male moviegoers fueled "Oblivion," making up 57 percent of the audience.

Cruise's track record domestically has been mixed. "Jack Reacher" debuted to $15.2 million in December on its way to earning a so-so $80 million in North America. Conversely, "Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol," opening to $29.6 million in December 2011, turned into a box-office monster, grossing nearly $700 million worldwide.

PHOTOS: 30 groundbreaking sci-fi films

Sci-fi is a familiar genre for Cruise, who starred in "War of the Worlds" and "Minority Report," both directed by Steven Spielberg.

Set in 2077, 60 years after Earth has been destroyed by aliens, "Oblivion" follows one of the last humans stationed on the planet as he uncovers a troubling secret.

Universal decided to get a jump on the beginning of the crowded summer box office by opening "Oblivion" now. The studio has gone aggressively after males by advertising during major sporting events including the NCAA's March Madness.

Speaking of sports, Legendary and Warner Bros.' Jackie Robinson biopic "42" continued to score strong numbers in its second weekend, declining a slim 34 percent to come in No. 2 with $18 million. The baseball drama's 10-day domestic total is $54.1 million.

Paramount's "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" jumped the $300 million mark in its fourth weekend, thanks to stellar $33 million opening in China. The sequel has grossed $111.2 million domestically and $211.7 million internationally for a worldwide cume of $322.9 million. In China, the pic outpaced the first film by a four-to-one margin.

Expanding nationwide over the weekend, Derek Cianfrance's indie drama "The Place Beyond the Pines," starring Bradley Cooper and Ryan Gosling, placed No. 6 in North America. The film, from Focus Features and Sidney Kimmel, took in $4.7 million for a total $11.4 million.

PHOTOS: Tom Cruise, Morgan Freeman at "Oblivion" premiere

Below are the top 10 estimates for the April 12-14 weekend at the domestic box office.

Title, weeks in release/theater count, studio, three-day weekend total, cume.

1. "Oblivion," 1/3,783, Universal, $38.2 million
2. "42," 2/3,250, Warners/Legendary, $18 million, $54.1 million
3. "The Croods," 5/3,435, Fox/DreamWorks Animation, $9.5, $154.9 million
4. "Scary Movie 5," 2/3,402, The Weinstein Co., $6.3 million, $22.9 million
5. "G.I. Joe: Retaliation," 4/3,175, Paramount, $5.8 million, $111.2 million
6. "The Place Beyond the Pines," 4/1,542, Focus/Sidney Kimmel, $4.7 million, $11.4 million
7. "Evil Dead," 3/2,823, Sony/TriStar/FilmDistrict, $4.1 million, $48.5 million
8. "Olympus Has Fallen," 5/2,638, FilmDistrict, $4.5 million, $88.1 million
9. "Jurassic Park," 3/2,330, Universal, $4 million, $38.5 million
10. "Oz The Great and Powerful," 7/2,504, Disney, $3 million, $223.8 million

Related content:

Source: http://entertainment.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/04/21/17849781-tom-cruises-oblivion-obliterates-competition-with-38-milllion-box-office?lite

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Samsung explores touchless tablet interaction with brainwave technology

Try and wrap this one around your noggin. Samsung is currently working with researchers at the University of Texas on a project involving EEG caps that harnesses the power of one's mind to control tablets and smartphones, and if that weren't enough, the company's actually hoping to take it mainstream. Now, before we get too far ahead of ourselves, let's be clear: in its current stage, the system is cumbersome and aimed at those with disabilities, but Samsung's already proven that it's interested in alternative input methods, and this could certainly be the logical conclusion.

As is, participants are asked to wear EEG caps that measure the electrical activity along their scalp. Then, they're able to make selections by focusing on an icon that flashes at a distinct frequency from others, which the system recognizes as a unique electrical pattern. Overall, the accuracy of the system is in the ballpark of 80 to 95 percent, and users are able to make selections on average of every five seconds. In order to make the system more approachable, the researchers hope to develop EEG hats that are more convenient and less intrusive -- in other words, ones that people can wear throughout the day. We can't promise this type of futuristic tech will come anytime soon, but for a closer peek, hit up the source link for a peek at Samsung's next wild idea.

Filed under: Science, Samsung

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Via: BGR

Source: MIT Technology Review

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/20/samsung-explores-touchless-interaction/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

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Simple Saturday Morning Delights: Potato and Goat Cheese Frittata ...

Posted by MOMeo Picks on April 19, 2013 ? Leave a Comment?

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Saturday mornings are sacred time in our family, one that we collectively look forward to all week (perhaps some more than others). It?s often the only day mom and dad get to sleep in, the first day of downtime after a hectic week, the start of a whole weekend filled with possibilities?and it?s when dad usually cooks up one of his amazing breakfasts.

The best part about our Saturday morning ceremony is it doesn?t really matter what we cook ? sometimes it?s crepes with brown sugar and orange juice, other times it?s the traditional bacon and eggs, and other times it?s a surprise creation that we make up as we go. That?s what lead to the creation of one of our new favorites: Potato and Goat Cheese Frittata!

Potato and Goat Cheese Frittata

What makes frittatas so wonderful is that they are so flexible. Don?t have goat cheese? Substitute whatever you have in the fridge. Don?t like potatoes? Try it with red peppers instead. Once you have mastered the technique, you take any combination of ingredients and throw together a frittata!

Serves 4

Ingredients:

8 eggs

3 potatoes

1 onion

Half a pound of bacon, optional

Quarter pound of goat cheese

Half a cup of milk

Cooking Method:

Make sure to allow the eggs to come to room temperature.

Cook bacon to crispy, reserve.

Caramelize onion, reserve.

Microwave potatoes (or use left over boiled or baked potatoes).

Cut up potatoes into half inch cubes and fry in butter until brown, reserve.

Mix fried ingredients.

Beat 8 eggs add milk and mix.

On medium low heat pour egg and milk mixture into a 12 inch frying pan after one minute add the fried ingredients and distribute evenly.

Cook one more minute.

Add one inch cubes of goat cheese and cover the pan.

Cook approximately 10 minutes. Until the eggs are cooked.

Slice into pizza style wedges and serve with fresh fruit.

?

?

About MOMeo Picks

Source: http://www.momeomagazine.com/simple-saturday-morning-delights-potato-and-goat-cheese-frittata-recipe/

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It?s Over! Kim Kardashian & Kris Humphries Officially Divorced!

It’s Over! Kim Kardashian & Kris Humphries Officially Divorced!

Pregnant reality star Kim Kardashian has finally ended her bitter court battle with Kris Humphries. Kris Humphries and Kim Kardashian reached an agreement on a divorce settlement that was finalized this morning! Humphries, the Nets forward, won’t have to miss practice or a playoff game as the team prepares to play against the Bulls. Kris, ...

It’s Over! Kim Kardashian & Kris Humphries Officially Divorced! Stupid Celebrities Gossip Stupid Celebrities Gossip News

Source: http://stupidcelebrities.net/2013/04/its-over-kim-kardashian-kris-humphries-officially-divorced/

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Fossils provide insight into origin of unique Antarctic ecosystem

Public release date: 18-Apr-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Joerg Pross
joerg.pross@em.uni-frankfurt.de
49-069-798-40181
Goethe University Frankfurt

Sea-ice ecosystem possibly triggered evolution of baleen whales and penguins

Frankfurt/Main, Germany, April 18, 2013. The circum-Antarctic Southern Ocean is an important region for global marine food webs and carbon cycling because of sea-ice formation and its unique plankton ecosystem. The origin of its ecosystems can be traced back to the emergence of the Antarctic ice sheets approximately 33.6 million years ago. This discovery was made by an international team including scientists from the Goethe University and the Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre in Frankfurt, Germany. Their study, published today in Science, shows that the development of the sea-ice ecosystem possibly triggered further adaptation and evolution of larger organisms such as baleen whales and penguins.

The scientists analysed sediment samples from drill cores on the seafloor, which were obtained in 2010 off the coast of Antarctica, as part of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP). The cores reach nearly 1000 meters beneath the seafloor and provide new insights into a long gone past.

A study published in 2012 demonstrated that subtropical plants covered Antarctica about 53 million years ago. In the course of the following 20 million years, the global climate cooled continuously. The new study focuses on the interval 33.6 million years ago when within a short time an enormous ice sheet covered Antarctica. This changed the life conditions and the ecosystems on the Antarctic continent and the surrounding Southern Ocean dramatically.

Tiny witnesses: Dinoflagellates

The ocean plankton mainly consist of algae, most of which are not preserved in sediment samples from drill cores. In contrast, single-celled dinoflagellates, a group of algae containing organic fossilizable substance, do preserve in sedimentary sequences over millions of years. This makes them a valuable tool to reconstruct environmental.

The researchers found that when Antarctica was sub-tropical and ice-free, the surrounding seas were inhabited by a diverse array of dinoflagellates characteristic for relatively warm climates. However, from the moment that the ice cap formed, the diversity suddenly collapsed, and from that moment, only species occurred that are adapted to temporary sea-ice cover and characterize modern sea-ice environments around Antarctica. They are present in high numbers only when the sea ice melts in spring and summer, and therefore are available as a food source for higher organisms only during a short period of the year.

New species due to food shortage

The seas around Antarctica play a critical role in the food web of the ocean. Algal blooms only occur in summer, when the sea ice melts. These blooms are a key food source for both small single-cell organisms such as certain species of dinoflagellates and for larger organisms.

"The sudden turnover in the dinoflagellate assemblages indicates clearly that the entire plankton ecosystem of the Antarctic waters had changed", explains Prof. Jrg Pross, co-author of the study and paleoclimatologist at the Goethe University and the Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F) in Frankfurt, Germany. "The explosion of dinoflagellates adapted to a temporary sea-ice cover testifies to an in-depth reorganization of the food web in the Southern Ocean."

Larger animals higher up in the ocean's food chain probably adapted their diet because the algal growth season became shorter and more intense. Jrg Pross sums up: Our data suggest that this change may have promoted the evolution of modern baleen whales and penguins". These results stress that major climate change is often accompanied by particularly rapid biological evolution.

###

---

[ | 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: 18-Apr-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Joerg Pross
joerg.pross@em.uni-frankfurt.de
49-069-798-40181
Goethe University Frankfurt

Sea-ice ecosystem possibly triggered evolution of baleen whales and penguins

Frankfurt/Main, Germany, April 18, 2013. The circum-Antarctic Southern Ocean is an important region for global marine food webs and carbon cycling because of sea-ice formation and its unique plankton ecosystem. The origin of its ecosystems can be traced back to the emergence of the Antarctic ice sheets approximately 33.6 million years ago. This discovery was made by an international team including scientists from the Goethe University and the Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre in Frankfurt, Germany. Their study, published today in Science, shows that the development of the sea-ice ecosystem possibly triggered further adaptation and evolution of larger organisms such as baleen whales and penguins.

The scientists analysed sediment samples from drill cores on the seafloor, which were obtained in 2010 off the coast of Antarctica, as part of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP). The cores reach nearly 1000 meters beneath the seafloor and provide new insights into a long gone past.

A study published in 2012 demonstrated that subtropical plants covered Antarctica about 53 million years ago. In the course of the following 20 million years, the global climate cooled continuously. The new study focuses on the interval 33.6 million years ago when within a short time an enormous ice sheet covered Antarctica. This changed the life conditions and the ecosystems on the Antarctic continent and the surrounding Southern Ocean dramatically.

Tiny witnesses: Dinoflagellates

The ocean plankton mainly consist of algae, most of which are not preserved in sediment samples from drill cores. In contrast, single-celled dinoflagellates, a group of algae containing organic fossilizable substance, do preserve in sedimentary sequences over millions of years. This makes them a valuable tool to reconstruct environmental.

The researchers found that when Antarctica was sub-tropical and ice-free, the surrounding seas were inhabited by a diverse array of dinoflagellates characteristic for relatively warm climates. However, from the moment that the ice cap formed, the diversity suddenly collapsed, and from that moment, only species occurred that are adapted to temporary sea-ice cover and characterize modern sea-ice environments around Antarctica. They are present in high numbers only when the sea ice melts in spring and summer, and therefore are available as a food source for higher organisms only during a short period of the year.

New species due to food shortage

The seas around Antarctica play a critical role in the food web of the ocean. Algal blooms only occur in summer, when the sea ice melts. These blooms are a key food source for both small single-cell organisms such as certain species of dinoflagellates and for larger organisms.

"The sudden turnover in the dinoflagellate assemblages indicates clearly that the entire plankton ecosystem of the Antarctic waters had changed", explains Prof. Jrg Pross, co-author of the study and paleoclimatologist at the Goethe University and the Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BiK-F) in Frankfurt, Germany. "The explosion of dinoflagellates adapted to a temporary sea-ice cover testifies to an in-depth reorganization of the food web in the Southern Ocean."

Larger animals higher up in the ocean's food chain probably adapted their diet because the algal growth season became shorter and more intense. Jrg Pross sums up: Our data suggest that this change may have promoted the evolution of modern baleen whales and penguins". These results stress that major climate change is often accompanied by particularly rapid biological evolution.

###

---

[ | 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/2013-04/guf-fpi041813.php

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U.N. nuclear watchdog team on Iran faces reshuffle

By Fredrik Dahl

VIENNA (Reuters) - Two senior U.N. nuclear watchdog officials who have been leading talks with Iran will leave this year, potentially robbing it of experience and expertise in dealing with Tehran over its disputed atomic program.

The management reshuffle coincides with apparent deadlock in the agency's push since early last year to coax Iran into allowing its inspectors to restart a long-stalled investigation into suspected atomic bomb research by the Islamic Republic.

Western diplomats blame Iranian stonewalling for the failure to come to an agreement, a charge Tehran denies, and some say the U.N. agency may soon need to reconsider its tactics. A new round of talks could be held in May.

"I think that we were approaching a potential re-set anyway. It is clear that Iran has been able to stall the process," a diplomat in Vienna said.

Rafael Grossi, assistant director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has been named Argentina's envoy to the Vienna-based IAEA, a job he is expected to start in the summer, a diplomatic source said on Friday.

The IAEA last month said a senior Finnish nuclear official, Tero Varjoranta, would succeed Herman Nackaerts when he retires in the autumn as chief nuclear inspector in charge of monitoring Iran's atomic activities and other sensitive issues.

Nackaerts, a Belgian, and Grossi have headed the IAEA's team of experts who have met nine times with Iranian envoys since early 2012 in an attempt - so far in vain - to secure access to sites, documents and officials in the country.

"Their departure deprives the agency of the two officials who have spent the most time in the last two years talking with Iranians at senior levels," said Mark Fitzpatrick of the International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank.

Analysts and diplomats stressed, however, that it is IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano, who steered the agency into a tougher approach to Iran, who decides policy. He secured a second four-year term in March, signaling continuity.

"An administrative reshuffle by the agency below Amano will likely have little impact on the Iran talks," said Mark Hibbs of the Carnegie Endowment think-tank.

The IAEA-Iran talks are separate from, but still closely linked to, broader diplomatic negotiations between Tehran and six world powers aimed at resolving the decade-old dispute peacefully and prevent a new Middle East war.

MILITARY BASE ACCESS

The last round of IAEA-Iran negotiations, in February, yielded no breakthrough. Another session in May is a "possibility," a diplomat in Vienna said on Friday.

Iranian state television, citing a source close to the Iranian negotiating team, denied a media report that the U.N. agency and Tehran had already agreed to meet in mid-May.

Amano this month said that some of the differences between the two sides were still "quite important". He said any deal with Tehran must enable effective IAEA verification work.

In late 2011, the IAEA published a report with a trove of intelligence indicating past research in Iran which could be relevant for nuclear weapons, some of which might still be continuing. Iran dismissed the findings as baseless or forged.

Iran denies Western allegations that it is seeking to develop the capability to build nuclear weapons, saying its atomic activities are aimed at generating electricity.

But its refusal to curb sensitive nuclear work that can have both civilian and military purposes and its lack of openness with IAEA inspectors have drawn tough Western sanctions.

(Additional reporting by Zahra Hosseinian in Zurich; editing by Mark Heinrich)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/u-n-nuclear-watchdog-team-iran-faces-reshuffle-143727730.html

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Stipple Expands Its Shopping Capabilities With Full In-Image Stores

Stipple, a startup that allows publishers to enrich images with additional content and links, is launching a new feature that it says will allow merchants to include a full-fledged online store in an image. Co-founder and CEO Rey Flemings told me that this is powerful because product images will usually get better distribution than a traditional ad ? "More people will see Nike's photos and photos that contain Nike than will watch a Nike ad." With the new feature, merchants can actually monetize those images (if they run on a site that has integrated with Stipple or that added the image using the Stipple embed code).

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/SYP3ylW6kUE/

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BASEBALL Roundup for Wednesday April 17

All Baseball Stories

The Macomb Daily Sports Staff
@MIPrepZoneMD

Step aside, Ronald McDonald and the golden arches. It was the Big Zack attack Wednesday afternoon.

Stevenson?s Zack McGuire not only pitched marvelously during the final 2 2/3 innings to earn a save, he also swatted a grand slam as the Titans defeated L?Anse Creuse North 10-2 in a MAC Red Division game.

When McGuire came in to pitch in the fifth, bases were loaded and his team led 5-2. He proceeded to strike out two consecutive batters to thwart the threat and did not allow a run the rest of the game.

His slam in the sixth put his team up by the final margin, 10-2.

McGuire was not alone in his hitting heroics. Junior outfielder Brandon Hughes continued his absolute tear. He had three more hits including a leadoff home run on the first pitch of the game. Hughes has 11 hits in his last 14 at-bats. Teammate Zak Melcher, a senior outfielder, ripped two doubles and added a single. Sophomore shortstop Riley McCauley ripped a two-run single in the third inning to put the Titans ahead 4-1. He also had a sacrifice fly later in the game.

Winning pitcher Joe Wolf threw 4 1/3 innings.

?I expected us to be solid this year, but we are swinging the bats a lot better than we did last year,? said Joe Emanuele, the Stevenson coach.

Stevenson is 2-0 in division play, 5-0 overall.

MAC RED DIVISION

DAKOTA 14, GROSSE POINTE SOUTH 4: From the Department of Redundancy Department; the Cougars won again.

Winning pitcher Travis Perkola went all six innings, striking out six, as Dakota raised its record to 2-0 in the division, 9-0 overall.

Daniel Herman and Frank Maloney each had three hits and three RBI for Dakota.

MAC WHITE DIVISION

ROMEO 3, FORD 1: Let?s chalk this one up to dogged determination as the unbeaten Romeo Bulldogs bumped their record to 2-0 in the division, 5-0 overall.

Winning pitcher Greg Antoine threw the first five innings. He gave up two hits and fanned four. He also had a hit and knocked in a run. The save went to Eric Shankin, who went the final two innings, allowing two hits but striking out six.

Senior catcher Joey Gardner had two hits and an RBI. Senior outfielder Derek Staelgrave had a hit and an RBI. Ryan Price, a senior third baseman, swatted a hit and scored twice.

Romeo welcomes De La Salle Friday.

WARREN-MOTT 4, L?ANSE CREUSE 3: Over six innings, Joey Slivik tossed a complete game, striking out four and giving up four hits and one earned run. On offense, he had two doubles, drove in a run and scored two runs.

Nick Maluchnik went 2-for-3 and had two hits and Pierson Heythaler was 1-for-1 with a walk and an RBI.

In the last inning, second baseman Geoffrey Morrow threw out the tying run at the plate and made a long catch on a foul ball in right field to end the game.

For L?Anse Creuse, Bryton Rohdie went 2-for-2 with a walk and an RBI.

Warren-Mott takes on Chippewa Valley on Thursday.

MAC BLUE DIVISION

ANCHOR BAY 6, PORT HURON NORTHERN 5: Gary Landles got the win on the mound, he also had three hits and two RBI.

Connor Kost and Austin Tosto each had two hits, and Craig Black drove in the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Anchor Bay is 4-3 overall and 2-0 in the division.

CATHOLIC LEAGUE CENTRAL DIVISION

DE LA SALLE 11, DIVINE CHILD 4: Pitchers Brent Morris and Hosea Nelson combined to toss a three-hitter as the Pilots evened their record at 5-5.

Morris started the game and went the first 3 2/3 innings before being sidelined by a 90-minute rain delay. Nelson closed out the game.

Nelson also had two rips at the plate including a triple and four RBI. Senior outfielder Cole Clifton had three hits including a double and two RBI. Junior second baseman Dominic DiPuma went 3-for-4 and knocked in two runs. Sam Badalamenti, a junior centerfielder, went 3-for-5.

De La Salle (3-4 in the Central Division) travels to Romeo Friday.

Last Updated: 4/17/2013 10:27:01 PM EST

Source: http://miprepzone.com/macomb/results.asp?ID=4527

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Dungeon Dice Let You Roll an Imaginary Adventure

Role-playing board games like Dungeons & Dragons are known for their overly complicated multi-sided die. But this particular set turns the dice into the actual dungeon, letting players discover a new random challenge every time they roll. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/763mk8Pp7ec/dungeon-dice-let-you-roll-an-imaginary-adventure

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More than 170 injured in Boston blasts

BOSTON?Police raided an apartment in Boston Monday night in connection to the Copley Square bombings that left more than 170 people injured and three dead near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Seventeen of the injured are in critical condition, officials said Tuesday.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Gov. Deval Patrick?on a podium crowded with officials and politicians?said that no additional explosive devices were found in the area during the FBI's sweep, refuting reports that as many as five were found and deactivated.

Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis said no one is in custody for the crime, but that law enforcement are interviewing witnesses.

Officials also made a plea to the public to turn in any photographic or digital evidence they have from the scene. "There have to be hundreds if not thousands of photographs or videos or observations there were made at the finish line yesterday," Massachusetts State Police Superintendent Timothy Albert said. "I would encourage you to bring [it] forward." They directed people with information to call 1-800-494-TIPS.

FBI Special Agent in Charge Richard DesLauriers said they are "just beginning upon that path" of of processing the crime scene and following up on leads from the public.

The injuries from the explosions include dismemberment and local hospitals say they are treating shrapnel wounds, open fractures and limb injuries. At Massachusetts General Hospital, doctors performed four amputations, and two more patients are at risk for needing amputations. Dr. Ron Walls, chair of emergency medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital, said at a press conference that the bombs appeared to have been stuffed with nails to cause maximum harm. An 8-year-old boy from Dorchester is one of the three known dead, and several of the injured are also children.

"Yesterday, terror was brought to the city of Boston," Mayor Tom Menino, recovering from a broken leg, said from a wheelchair.

On Tuesday morning, Boylston Street remained closed, but Boston officials reopened some of the perimeter around the site of the explosions. Davis called the area "the most complex crime scene we've dealt with in the history of our department." A 12-block area remains closed to the public.

There were still signs of the former chaos that blanketed the area after the explosions went off at 2:50 p.m. Along Huntington Avenue, a stretch packed with hotels where many Boston Marathon runners stayed Monday night, dozens of SWAT vehicles were positioned in spaces where tourists usually board the city?s famous Duck Boat tours. And the side streets leading to Boylston were cordoned off with police tape, as investigators waved off bystanders trying to take photos of the scene.

The shopping mall at the Prudential Center, one of the city?s busiest tourist spots, was reopened but was eerily empty?absent of the usual stream of workers who use the mall to commute to their offices at the Prudential Tower, one of the city?s tallest buildings.

Along side streets, runners still dressed in their blue and yellow Boston Marathon jackets wandered the streets?some with their suitcases, as they tried to figure out a way to get to the airport, others trying to get in a daily run.

?You?re supposed to keep moving after running a marathon,? said Kathi Russo, a runner from Salisbury, N.C., who had crossed the finish line about 20 minutes before the first blast went off.

Russo, who was running her sixth Boston Marathon, spent hours Monday night trying to get back to her hotel, which was about two blocks from the second bombing site. She described a scene of ?chaos? as hundreds of runners were pushed away from the blast site, not quite aware of what had happened.

Russo?s friend, Dianne Allen, was running in a later wave about half a mile away from the site when officials began to stop runners. She said people had no idea what happened until word of the bombings began trickling through the crowd, thanks to the few runners who had been carrying their cell phones.

It took Allen several hours to get back to their hotel, where she and Russo were reunited. They said several members of the group they were traveling with had been standing near the finish line and were injured?including a 16-year-old girl, who had a broken fibula, and a husband and wife, who suffered broken legs and burns.

?We don?t know a whole lot more about that,? Allen said. ?It?s been hard to get information.?

Back in Washington, the White House released a statement saying that President Barack Obama had been briefed overnight about the explosions, and that later this morning he would receive a briefing from Assistant for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism Lisa Monaco, FBI Director Robert Mueller and other senior members of his team. The president ordered that all flags at public buildings be flown at half staff.

The race draws many runners from overseas?potentially part of its appeal as a target. Some foreign consulates in Boston urged visitors from abroad to reach out to their families to let them know whether they were safe. Some also updated their social media?notably their Twitter feeds?with the latest from the investigation and useful telephone numbers or other resources.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/fbi-holds-news-conference-marathon-bombings-133152749.html

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Confirmed: Red-Hot Gaming Startup Supercell Raised $130M ...

Last month, we posted a bit of a rumor: that Finland?s Supercell ? likely the most lucrative iOS gaming company in the world ? had raised about $100 million in funding in a round led by Index Ventures, Atomico Partners and Institutional Venture Partners.

Now we have confirmation today that the deal did happen, according to a flashy Forbes feature.

The tiny Helsinki-based company, which is about 100-people strong, did in fact raise $130 million on a $770 million valuation from Index, Atomico and IVP. Like we said, the round was secondary: all shareholders, including early investor Accel Partners, sold 16.7 percent of their holdings in the company to the newer investors. Index took $52.5 million of the round.

Not only that, Supercell shared some revenue figures, (and holy crap, are they bigger than I thought they would be). Last quarter, Supercell made $179 million and netted $104 million of that after expenses and Apple?s 30 percent cut. Last year, they grossed $100 million.

Today, they?re making $2.4 million a day ? which is about double the rumor figures I had heard from numerous sources in the industry. They also have about 8.5 million daily active users, which is actually lower than comparable companies like King or Zynga.
So they monetize their existing players well.

Why share these numbers now? It?s likely because Finland has some unusual rules around financial disclosures for privately held companies. Even privately-backed companies have to share the the split of their equity holdings. Angry Birds-maker Rovio reported earnings a few weeks ago, saying they doubled revenue and made about $195 million last year.

Supercell?s CEO Ilkka Paananen said in the Forbes story that they took the funding to give early shareholders a payout, give a ?thank you? to employees and avoid pressure to go public.

Finnish business magazine Talousel?m? has more details on how the round was structured. Apparently, all shareholders, including employees, were given the choice to sell 16.7 percent of the holdings, and all did. It?s equitable of them, in the sense that it wasn?t just executives that got to take cash off the table.

Clearly, Supercell didn?t need the capital. But $770 million is a steep bar to clear and they?ll now have pressure to prove that they?re worth several times that.

As for Index, which is effectively betting that Supercell will become a multi-billion dollar gaming company, one of their partners, Neil Rimer, posted an explanation of the deal earlier today. They were enamored of Supercell?s culture:

The founders had witnessed the downfall of too many companies that had turned into bloated, bureaucratic behemoths with many design studios in multiple time zones requiring massive management overhead and crushing hierarchies and to coordinate.

As its name implies, Supercell is organized as a collection of small, independent teams called cells tasked with developing new games or building new deep features for existing games. Cells are given complete autonomy in terms of how they organize themselves, prioritize ideas, distribute work and determine what they ultimately produce. Describing himself as the ?world?s least powerful CEO?, Ilkka encourages cells to exercise extreme independence and prides himself on having no creative control over them once they are constituted. The company as a whole is merely an aggregation of these cells; a Supercell.

With only 100 employees compared to 3000 at Zynga and almost 10,000 at EA, Supercell offers a radically new model for agile content development that has made it the highest grossing iOS game developer with only 2 game titles (versus EA?s 970).

Source: http://techcrunch.com/2013/04/17/supercell-round/

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'Injustice: Gods Among Us' a dream come true for comic fans

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Source: http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/653377/s/2accc386/l/0Lvideo0Bmsnbc0Bmsn0N0Cid0C51562598/story01.htm

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Miss Russia Haters: Elmira Abdrazakova "Not Russian Enough"

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Google Glass Explorer now ready to ship says Google in letter to participants

Google Glass units will soon be in the hands of developers who signed up for the project last year

Google has sent out an email to folks who are part of the Google Glass Explorer project, and the units themselves are ready to begin shipping. The devices will ship in waves, as not all the units are off the assembly line just yet.

This meshes well with the news we heard a couple weeks ago, where it was expected for all participants to have received their gear by the time Google I/O rolls around. We expect to see plenty of folks sporting them in San Francisco for the annual developers conference, and hopefully the actual developers who expressed interest will have some great ideas for apps. We also expect to hear even more about Google Glass during the keynotes and developer sessions. Hit the break to see the message that was sent.

Via: @nerdtalker

read more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/Pmo2ozultUU/story01.htm

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