Monday, October 31, 2011

Qantas Airways grounds all flights

Australia's Qantas Airways grounded its global fleet on Saturday over a bitter labor dispute in an unprecedented move, with the government asking a tribunal to stop the conflict which it worries is putting both the airline and the economy at risk.

Tens of thousands of passengers, including 17 world leaders, were affected by the abrupt decision, which clearly took the government by surprise.

When the grounding was announced, 36 international and 28 domestic Australian flights were in the air, said a Qantas spokeswoman, who declined to be named citing company policy. At least one taxiing flight stopped on the runway, a flier said.

Qantas said 108 airplanes were grounded. The spokeswoman could not confirm an Australian Broadcasting Corp. television report that 13,305 passengers were booked to fly Qantas international flights within 24 hours of the grounding.

It came as an embarrassment for Prime Minister Julia Gillard who was hosting a Commonwealth leaders summit in the remote city of Perth, 17 of them booked to fly out on Sunday with Qantas.

'I'm stunned'
British tourist Chris Crulley, 25, said the pilot on his Qantas flight informed passengers while taxiing down a Sydney runway that he had to return to the terminal "to take an important phone call." The flight was then grounded.

"We're all set for the flight and settled in and the next thing ? I'm stunned. We're getting back off the plane," the firefighter told The Associated Press from Sydney Airport by phone.

Unions, from pilots to caterers, have taken strike action since September over pay and opposing Qantas plans to cut its soaring costs, as it looks at setting up two new airlines in Asia and cutting back financially draining long-haul flights.

It plans to cut 1,000 jobs and order $9 billion of new Airbus aircraft as part of a makeover to salvage the loss making international business.

"They are trashing our strategy and our brand. They are deliberately destabilizing the company. Customers are now fleeing from us," Qantas Chief Executive Alan Joyce said.

"(The unions) are sticking by impossible claims that are not just to do with pay, but also to do with unions trying to dictate how we run our business," said Joyce, who estimated the latest move would cost the airline $21.4 million a day.

The move came a day after shareholders backed hefty pay rises to senior Qantas executives.

"It (the grounding) is partially designed to get the government involved," Australian aviation analyst Tom Ballantyne said on ABC Television. "The airline will be irretrievably damaged if it goes on for more than a month."

Gillard said the escalating dispute could hit the economy. "I believe Australians want to see this sorted out."

'Bizarre, unwarranted and unfair'
Qantas said it would lock out all employees from Monday night in the dispute which has affected 70,000 passengers and 600 flights on one of the country's biggest travel weekends. The grounding does not affect Qantas' budget airline Jetstar.

"To resolve this at the expense of paying customers on one of the biggest flying days in Australia is quite frankly...bizarre, unwarranted and unfair to the loyal customers that Australia has," a businessman, who only gave his name as Barry, told Sky TV at Melbourne airport after he was stranded.

Qantas' Facebook page was inundated with angry passengers. "Stranded in Sydney Airport...because QANTAS are useless idiots," wrote Lyn Haddon.

Zoe Johnson, an Australian living in Switzerland, said: "I'm proudly Australian but it just leaves a really bad taste in your mouth. So many people say, 'I'm never going to fly Qantas again,' and from my point of view its just feels like a kind of bullying tactic really."

Adding to travelers' problems, Air France has canceled about one in five flights and warned of wider disruption as a five-day strike by flight attendants over employment terms began on Saturday.

The dispute is the worst Qantas has faced since 2008, when industrial action by engineers cost it $133 million, according to local media.

"I'm extremely disappointed. What's more, I indicated very clearly to Mr. Joyce that I was disturbed by the fact that we've had a number of discussions and at no stage has Mr. Joyce indicated to me that this was an action under consideration," said Transport Minister Anthony Albanese.

The government had asked for a special labor tribunal hearing to end the industrial action by both unions and Qantas.

The tribunal adjourned its hearing briefly and was due to resume later on Saturday evening. If it orders an end to the industrial action Qantas is expected to be flying again on Sunday.

"The Qantas dispute escalated today and I am concerned about that for the national economy ... it could have implications for our national economy," Gillard told reporters.

Passengers stranded
Qantas' decision to halt flights comes during one of Australia's busiest travel weekends, with tens of thousands traveling to the hugely popular Melbourne Cup horse race on Tuesday, dubbed "the race that stops the nation."

Many passengers were stranded on aircraft waiting to take off on Saturday when the grounding announcement was made.

"Alan Joyce is holding a knife to the nation's throat," said Captain Richard Woodward, vice-president of the Australian and International Pilots Association.

An extended grounding would benefit domestic rival Virgin Australia and others such as Singapore Airlines, British Airways and Chinese carriers on international routes.

Virgin Australia said it would accommodate Qantas passengers where possible and was looking at adding more services in response to Qantas grounding its fleet over labor dispute.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45087583/ns/business-world_business/

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Football: Fork Union 20, Benedictine 14

FORK UNION 20, BENEDICTINE 14

FORK UNION Jay Gafford had 175 yards of total offense and two touchdowns to lead the Blue Devils past the Cadets. Gafford ran for 121 yards and added 54 yards receiving.

Corey Downey ran for 79 yards and put Benedictine (5-4) ahead with a 2-yard plunge in the first quarter. After Gafford scored his first touchdown, Fork Union (4-5) grabbed the lead for good when Christian Hackenberg hit Tyrone McDade for a 6-yard TD pass. Hackenberg's 8-yard connection with Gafford sealed the win for the Blue Devils.

Hackenberg finished 16 of 29 for 179 yards with two interceptions.

Benedictine

7

0

0

7

?

14

Fork Union

6

6

0

8

?

20

B ? Downey 2 run (Geary kick)

F ? Gafford 24 run (kick failed)

F ? McDade 6 pass from Hackenberg (kick failed)

F ? Gafford 8 pass from Hackenberg (Roach pass from Hackenberg)

B ? Geary 7 run (Geary kick)

Source: http://www2.timesdispatch.com/sports/2011/oct/29/football-fork-union-20-benedictine-14-ar-1420567/

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Sunday, October 30, 2011

Coldplay keeps 'Mylo Xyloto' off streaming plans (AP)

LOS ANGELES ? British band Coldplay is withholding its latest album, "Mylo Xyloto," from all-you-can-listen streaming services such as Spotify and Rhapsody ? making it the biggest band yet to express reservations about a system that pays artists a fraction of a penny every time someone listens to a song.

The decision for the hot-selling album, released Tuesday, is a blow to such services, which have millions of tracks available but rely on new tunes to keep listeners interested.

Consumers typically pay $10 a month for the right to pick any track or album from a library of millions and listen on demand via online streaming. Users can also download songs to mobile devices. Some services offer lengthy trials or free options with ads.

Usually, new tracks are available on the services on Tuesday, the same day they are released for sale.

The lack of availability of Coldplay's fifth album on subscription plans could push consumers to buy the album outright.

Coldplay's recording company, EMI, said in a statement "We always work with our artists and their management on a case by case basis to deliver the best outcome for each release."

Rhapsody president Jon Irwin said he respects the band's decision and needs to do a better job explaining the benefits of the subscription system to artists.

In an editorial he wrote for Billboard magazine on Monday, Irwin said he agreed that some reported royalties paid to artists ? as low as 0.015 cents per play on Spotify and 0.91 cents on Rhapsody ? "seem awfully small."

By comparison, recording labels and artists share about 70 percent of the $1.29 per track or $9.99 per album when music is bought on Apple Inc.'s iTunes.

Irwin argued that royalties from subscription music plans are recurring, not one-time as is the case with iTunes sales. Thus, he said, revenue will build over time.

And in any case, he said it is better than what artists get paid for pirated songs ? zero.

"Those plays for that artist, they're going to get compensated by it," he said in an interview Thursday. "That goes on forever, and it doesn't end with the sale of an MP3" song file.

Spotify said in a statement that it also respects the decision of any artist regarding where their songs are made available.

But the company pointed out that its service has "convinced millions of consumers to pay for music again." Spotify said it has paid $150 million to recording companies, artists and publishers since its launch three years ago.

Spotify has said it has more than 2 million paying customers globally, while Rhapsody is the leading service in the U.S. with more than 800,000 subscribers. Other popular subscription services include MOG and Rdio.

Early indications are that "Mylo Xyloto" will be one of the top-selling albums of the year. Its debut single "Paradise" has racked up sales of 425,000 so far, according to Nielsen SoundScan, and Billboard estimates between 440,000 and 450,000 copies of the album will be sold through Sunday.

Coldplay's managers did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/digitalmusic/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111027/ap_on_hi_te/us_coldplay_online_music_streaming

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Storm weakens after Cancun area sees outages

Rina weakened to a tropical depression on Friday after knocking out power and downing trees in some areas of Mexico's Caribbean coast, but sparing the resort-studded region the major hurricane that many had feared.

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Thousands of tourists had left Cancun and the Mayan Riviera ahead of the storm's late Thursday arrival, worried by early forecasts that Rina could arrive as a Category 3 hurricane. But it weakened before nearing land and its maximum sustained winds were down to about 35 mph? Friday. They had hit 110 mph at Rina's peak.

There were no immediate reports of injuries, but most businesses remained closed and officials warned people to be cautious. Police said at least one convenience store was looted of liquor overnight in Cancun, where authorities had banned the sale of alcohol during the emergency.

Playa de Carmen, a resort town across from the island of Cozumel, was left without electricity and streets were largely empty as Rina swept along the coast.

The Mexican Navy sent boats to Holbox island, off the northeastern tip of the Yucatan Peninsula, to forcibly remove about 80 people who had balked at leaving the island during an earlier evacuation of about 2,300 people.

Lines snaked from ticket counters in Cancun's crowded airport as airliners heading to Canada and Europe waited in pouring rain. State Tourism Director Juan Carlos Gonzalez Hernandez estimated 10,000 tourists had left by Wednesday night, though thousands of others remained.

NASA cut short an undersea laboratory mission near Key Largo, Florida, bringing the crew back to land, and schools were closed in communities along the coast, as were ports.

But some decided to ride out the weakened storm.

"We would prefer to lie on the beach and get in the ocean, but right now all we can do is walk around and go shopping," said Vera Kohler, a 27-year-old tourist from Frankfurt, Germany, who arrived Wednesday and planned to stay in the area until Sunday.

Domenico Cianni, a retired restaurateur from Vancouver, Canada, said he also prepared for a hurricane by buying extra food and beer and putting shutters on the windows of his rental home. But after hearing Rina had been downgraded to a tropical storm he decided to join tourists at Playa del Carmen's pier.

"We were curious about what's happening. We wanted to be part of the action," Cianni said.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said the storm was likely to keep bringing rains across the region for days. It was centered about 20 miles north of Cancun and was moving to the north-northeast at 4 mph Friday morning, but was expected to double back to the south and move along the coast toward Central America while weakening further.

? 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45073311/ns/weather/

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Saturday, October 29, 2011

Cards win World Series, beat Texas 6-2 in Game 7

St. Louis Cardinals' Albert Pujols reacts as he scores during the first inning of Game 7 of baseball's World Series against the Texas Rangers Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Ezra Shaw, Pool)

St. Louis Cardinals' Albert Pujols reacts as he scores during the first inning of Game 7 of baseball's World Series against the Texas Rangers Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Ezra Shaw, Pool)

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina celebrates after Game 7 of baseball's World Series against the Texas Rangers Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, in St. Louis. The Cardinals won 6-2 to win the series. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

St. Louis Cardinals' David Freese hits a two-run double off Texas Rangers starting pitcher Matt Harrison during the first inning of Game 7 of baseball's World Series Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Chris Carpenter throws during the first inning of Game 7 of baseball's World Series against the Texas Rangers Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Ezra Shaw, Pool)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Matt Harrison throws during the first inning of Game 7 of baseball's World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

(AP) ? Allen Craig drifted back, reached up and made the catch, setting off a stampede from the dugout.

The St. Louis Cardinals, the team that wasn't even supposed to be here, had won a most remarkable World Series.

A day after twice being down to their last strike, the Cardinals became champions by beating the Texas Rangers 6-2 in Game 7 on Friday night, boosted by another key hit from hometown MVP David Freese and six gutty innings by Chris Carpenter.

"It's hard to explain how this happened," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said.

Beyond that final boxscore, that is.

Pushed to the brink, the Cardinals kept saving themselves. A frantic rush from 10? games out in late August to reach the postseason on the final day. A nifty pair of comebacks against Philadelphia and Milwaukee in the playoffs. And then two desperate rallies in Game 6.

"This whole ride, this team deserves this," said Freese, who added more hardware to the trophy he won as the NL championship series MVP.

But how? How did they do it?

"It's a long season. If you watch the history of baseball, teams come back. And sometimes they could have come back but they give in or give up," La Russa said.

"Started winning some games so we can regain some respect, and then it got better," he said. "Play every game like it's the last game."

Following that comeback in Game 6 that resulted in a 10-9 win in 11 innings, the Cardinals captured their 11th World Series crown. Only the New York Yankees own more with 27.

After a whole fall on the edge, the Cardinals didn't dare mess with Texas, or any more drama in baseball's first World Series Game 7 since the Angels beat the Giants in 2002.

Freese's two-run double tied it in the first, with star Albert Pujols thrusting his arms in the air as he scored. Craig reprised his role as good-luck charm, hitting a go-ahead homer in the third.

Given a chance to pitch by a Game 6 rainout and picked by La Russa earlier in the day to start on three days' rest, Carpenter improved to 9-2 lifetime in the postseason. The tireless St. Louis bullpen closed it out.

No Rally Squirrel needed on this night, either. Fireworks and confetti rang out at Busch Stadium when Jason Motte retired David Murphy on a fly ball to Craig to end it.

The Rangers, meanwhile, will spend the whole winter wondering how it all got away. Texas might dwell on it forever, in fact, or at least until Nolan Ryan & Co. can reverse a World Series slide that started with last year's five-game wipeout against San Francisco.

"We were close. Two times. Game 6. That's it," Texas pitcher Colby Lewis said. "Two years in a row we feel like we were the best team but we haven't won the game we needed to win."

"You study all year long, get straight As and then you have to pass the one test to pass the course. We didn't pass each time."

Ryan left tightlipped. When a reporter tried to ask the Rangers president and part-owner a question, someone in his entourage said: "He's not talking."

Texas had not lost consecutive games since late August. These two defeats in St. Louis cost manager Ron Washington and the Rangers a chance to win their first title in the franchise's 51-year history.

Instead, Texas became the first team to lose the Series two straight years since Atlanta in 1991-92.

"Sometimes when opportunity is in your presence, you certainly can't let it get away because sometimes it takes a while before it comes back," Washington said. "If there's one thing that happened in this World Series that I'll look back on is being so close, just having one pitch to be made and one out to be gotten, and it could have been a different story."

Added Texas third baseman Adrian Beltre: "We tried to come back today, but the momentum just took them."

"It's not a nice feeling, you know, being one strike away twice. I guess it's probably easier to lose four games in a row in a World Series, but being a strike away it's something that will be hard to forget," he said.

This marked the ninth straight time the home team had won Game 7 in the World Series. The wild-card Cardinals held that advantage over the AL West champions because the NL won the All-Star game ? Texas could blame that on their own pitcher, C.J. Wilson, who took the loss in July.

A year full of inspiring rallies and epic collapses was encapsulated in Game 6. Freese was the star, with a tying triple in the ninth and a winning home run in the 11th. His two RBIs in the clincher gave him a postseason-record 21.

The Cardinals won their first championship since 2006, and gave La Russa his third World Series title. They got there by beating Philadelphia in the first round of the NL playoffs, capped by Carpenter outdueling Roy Halladay 1-0 in the deciding Game 5, and then topping Milwaukee in the NL championship series.

"I think the last month of the season, that's where it started," Pujols said. "Different guys were coming huge, getting big hits, and we carried that into the postseason and here we are, world champions."

By the time Yadier Molina drew a bases-loaded walk from starter Matt Harrison in the fifth and Rafael Furcal was hit by a pitch from Wilson in relief to force home another run that made it 5-2, the crowd began to sense a championship was near. Molina added an RBI single in the seventh.

The Cardinals improved to 8-3 in Game 7s of the Series, more wins than any other club. Yet fans here know their history well, and were aware this game could go either way ? Dizzy Dean and the Gas House Gang won 11-0 in 1934, but Whitey Herzog and his Cardinals lost 11-0 in 1985.

On this evening, all the stars aligned for St. Louis.

Starting in place of injured Matt Holliday, Craig hit his third homer of the Series and made a leaping catch on a fly by Nelson Cruz at the top of the left field wall. Molina made another strong throw to nail a stray runner. And Carpenter steeled himself to pitch into the seventh, every bit an ace.

Pujols went 0 for 2, walked and was hit by a pitch in what could have been his last game with the Cardinals. Many think the soon-to-be free agent will remain in St. Louis.

"You know what? I'm not even thinking about that. I'm thinking about, you know, we're the world champions and I'm going to celebrate and whenever that time comes, you know, then we'll deal with it," he said.

Pujols did plenty of damage. His three-homer job in Game 3 was the signature performance of his career and perhaps the greatest hitting show in postseason history.

Dismissed by some as a dull Series even before it began because it lacked the big-market glamour teams, it got better inning by inning. Plus, a postseason first: A bullpen telephone mixup played a prominent part.

"I told you it was going to be a great series, and it was," Texas slugger Josh Hamilton said.

"I don't care what other people remember. We fell a little bit short," he said. "Hats off to the Cards, they did a great job, especially last night. It was actually fun to watch and fun to see. You hate it but it happened."

Carpenter wasn't sharp at the outset. All over the strike zone, he started seven of the first 10 batters with balls. Hamilton and Michael Young hit RBI doubles in the first and pitching coach Dave Duncan visited the mound in the second to check on Carpenter, lingering for a few extra words.

Carpenter left after Murphy doubled to start the seventh, tipping his cap as he walked off. The 36-year-old righty became the first pitcher to start three times in a Series since 2001, and went 2-0 with a 2.84 ERA in those games.

Overall, Carpenter was 4-0 in this postseason.

"I was hoping to have an opportunity to go ahead and pitch in that game and fortunately it worked out," Carpenter said. "It started off a little rough in the first. But I was able to collect myself, make some pitches and our guys did an awesome job to battle back. And I mean, it's just amazing."

NOTES: Texas set a Series record by walking 41 batters, one more than Florida in 1997. Of the 34 runs the Cardinals scored, 11 reached on walks and two more on hit batters. ... Carpenter's nine postseason wins are the most among active pitchers. ... The crowd of 47,399 was the largest at 6-year-old Busch. ... The Cardinals will play the first game of the 2012 season in North America, opening the Miami Marlins' new ballpark on April 4.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2011-10-29-BBO-World-Series/id-d50184f8877a4f1cb48077a504b4303a

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Friday, October 28, 2011

Dinosaur may have migrated seasonally

North American dinosaurs may have migrated well over a hundred miles with the seasons, scientists have discovered after a close look at the ancient reptiles' teeth.

A team led by Henry C. Fricke, a geochemist at Colorado College in Colorado Springs, studied the tooth enamel of Camarasaurus, a long-necked vegetarian sauropod that was common in western North America during the late Jurassic period, about 150 million years ago.

The animals, which were up to 50 feet long, would have had to eat constantly to sustain their large size, and some dinosaur researchers had suspected that they would have had to migrate to find sufficient food and water, Fricke said. But evidence for that had been lacking.

Fricke and two former students, Justin Hencecroth and Marie E. Hoerner, drilled into 32 fossilized teeth found at Dinosaur National Monument in Utah and Thermopolis, Wyo. They compared the ratios of oxygen isotopes within the enamel to that of soil samples near where the teeth were found.

The isotope ratios in the enamel should match that of the vegetation eaten by the dinosaurs ? which, in turn, would match that of the soil it had grown in.

The scientists found that the ratios of the isotopes oxygen-16, found in highlands, and the slightly heavier oxygen-18 from the lowlands varied from layer to layer in the tooth enamel, indicating that the source of the vegetation and water had varied at different times of the teeth's ? and the dinosaur's ? growth.

The findings, published in the journal Nature, indicated that the dinosaurs had roamed within about a 185-mile range from the site where the fossils were found, Fricke said.

Though the findings do suggest that the dinosaurs traveled somewhere, it doesn't specify for how long, or how often. That's because the teeth had taken less than five months to grow, permitting only a five-month period in the animal's life to be examined.

Luis Chiappe, director of the Dinosaur Institute at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, said the findings, though intriguing, might not be enough to prove that camarasaurs underwent formal migrations.

"It doesn't necessarily mean they moved in gigantic herds like on the Discovery Channel or NatGeo showing wildebeests or caribous migrating in herds," he said.

A trek of up to 185 miles for food isn't very significant for such a large animal, he said, and the isotopic variations in the teeth could easily mean the reptiles moved in a more casual way between the highlands in warmer months and lowlands during the wet season, following the food.

But Fricke said migrations would make sense.

"Camarasaurs had to obtain their big size fast. We're assuming they were constantly eating. ? They would probably have had to move in some way to keep getting trees that still had leaves on them."

dalina.castellanos@latimes.com

Source: http://feeds.latimes.com/~r/latimes/news/science/~3/QStpxJZHWeQ/la-sci-dinosaur-migration-20111027,0,841726.story

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Clinical Trial Shows First Evidence That Anal Cancer is Preventable ...

Source:
Jason Bardi

415-502-6397

October 27, 2011

A large, international clinical trial led by doctors at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) indicates that a vaccine to prevent anal cancer is safe and effective, according to a study reported in the Oct. 27, 2011 issue of New England Journal of Medicine.

Though anal cancer is less common than other forms of the disease in the United States, the number of cases has increased in recent years, and is particularly common among men who have sex with men and HIV-infected individuals.?

Anal cancer is caused by infection with human papilloma virus (HPV), the most common sexually-transmitted pathogen in the United States. The virus also causes cervical cancer in women, and the vaccine is already approved and routinely recommended to prevent this condition. The new clinical trial suggests that the same vaccine would also protect men, and likely women, against anal cancer.

In the 1990?s, UCSF established the Anal Neoplasia Clinic at the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, the world?s first clinic devoted to promoting research, awareness, screening and prevention of anal cancer. UCSF professor Joel Palefsky, MD, FRCPC, who founded and directs the clinic, led the clinical trial, and has recently founded a new professional society devoted to the study of the disease.

"Almost six thousand people every year in this country are diagnosed with anal cancer, and more than 700 people die from the disease," said Palefsky. "What this trial showed is that those cancers and deaths could be prevented."

The trial involved a group of 602 men who have sex with men from Australia, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Germany, Spain and the United States all of whom had at least one, but no more than five, sexual encounters and who were between the ages of 16-26 years. All were randomized into groups that either received a placebo or a three-shot injection of the vaccine Gardasil, which protects against HPV 16 and 18, the most common HPV types involved in anal cancer, and HPV 6 and 11, the most common types in anogenital warts. The patients were enrolled in the trial from 2006-2008, and they were followed for three years after their last shot.

As described in the paper, the vaccine proved effective at reducing anal infections with HPV and precancerous lesions known as high-grade anal intraepithelial neoplasia, which are anal cancer precursors. The trial showed that the vaccine reduced the incidence of these cancer precursors by nearly 75 percent among those who had not been previously exposed to any of the HPV types in the vaccine. Among those who were previously exposed to one or more of the types in the vaccine, the vaccine reduced the incidence of the precancerous lesions by 54 percent.

"Based on these data, the vaccine works well to prevent HPV infection and precancerous anal disease, and will likely prevent anal cancer in men," said Palefsky. ?The ideal time to begin vaccination would be before initiation of sexual activity, but vaccination may also be useful after initiation of sexual activity.?

An earlier study led by Palefsky?s coauthor Anna Guiliano at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa, FL showed that the HPV vaccine effectively protects both heterosexual men and men who have sex with men against external genital warts.? The new study adds to the body of evidence supporting routine HPV vaccination of young males, said Palefsky.?

This week, a group known as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which is convened by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, met in Washington, D.C. to consider how it recommends HPV vaccine for men.

On Tuesday, the ACIP group voted to change their policy on the vaccine, which they previously "recommended," which means that it was approved and available to people if they want it. Individuals could order it, but it would have been up to insurance companies if they wanted to reimburse for the vaccine or not.

After weighing the clinical evidence, including the data presented in the New England Journal of Medicine paper this week, ACIP voted to make HPV vaccinations "routine" for boys up to the age of 21 years.

The study was funded by Merck and Co.

The article, "HPV Vaccine against Anal HPV Infection and Anal Intraepithelial Neoplasia" by Joel M. Palefsky, Anna R. Giuliano, Stephen Goldstone, Edson D. Moreira, Jr., Carlos Aranda, Heiko Jessen, Richard Hillman, Daron Ferris, Francois Coutlee, Mark H. Stoler, J. Brooke Marshall, David Radley, Scott Vuocolo, Richard M. Haupt, Dalya Guris, and Elizabeth I.O. Garner appears in the Oct. 27, 2011 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

In addition to UCSF, authors on the study are affiliated with the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa, FL; Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York; Associac?a?o Obras Sociais Irma? Dulce and Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Bahia, Brazil; the University Medical Center, National Public Health Institute, Morelos, Mexico; J2: Private Clinic for Infectious Diseases, Berlin Germany; the University of Sydney in Australia; the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia; the Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l?Universite? de Montre?al, in Montreal, Canada; the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA; and Merck, located in North Wales, PA.

UCSF is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care.

Source: http://www.ucsf.edu/news/2011/10/10844/clinical-trial-shows-first-evidence-anal-cancer-preventable

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Thursday, October 27, 2011

How Much the iPhone Camera Has Improved [IPhone]

When the first iPhone came out, the camera was an afterthought, only tossed in to feature match its competitors. Fast forward four years and it's an entirely different story, Apple has made it a point of emphasis and the camera in the iPhone 4S sh-sh-sh-shines. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/ekx5WuNlX14/

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Wednesday, October 26, 2011

China vows stricter controls on social media (Reuters)

BEIJING/SHANGHAI (Reuters) ? China will intensify controls of online social media and instant messaging tools, the ruling Communist Party said in an agenda-setting document that marks the government's highest-level reaction so far to the explosive growth of microblogs.

Beijing's vow to strengthen Internet administration and promote content acceptable to the ruling party appeared in the communique of a recent party leadership conclave published in the official People's Daily on Wednesday.

Communiques from the Communist Party's Central Committee, which held an annual meeting that ended last week, set the broad direction for policy.

This one made clear that leaders are looking for ways to better control, but not snuff out, the microblog services that have become popular channels for spreading news and opinion that can unsettle the government.

"Strengthen guidance and administration of social Internet services and instant communications tools, and regulate the orderly dissemination of information," said the communique, which made no reference to microblogs as such.

"Apply the law to sternly punish the dissemination of harmful information," added the document. It did not give details of what form firmer regulation may take.

The announcement from the Party meeting builds on a stream of warnings in state media that has shown Beijing is nervous about the booming microblogs, called "weibo" in Chinese, and their potential to tear the seams of censorship and controls.

"Putting words like that in a document like that shows that they're taking this issue very seriously," said Li Yonggang, an expert on Internet policy at Nanjing University in east China.

"This is a political signal, but it will probably be some time before this results in any new measures or regulations emerge."

Analysts said the business impact was likely to be muted, because investors have already taken into account growing official scrutiny of Chinese Internet companies, and the government is unlikely to shut down what has become an important valve for monitoring and easing social pressures.

"There will be tighter censorship, but the impact on the platforms won't be much," said Hong Kong-based CLSA analyst Elinor Leung.

Most use Sina Corp's "Weibo" service, launched in August 2009, or rival Tencent Holding's "QQ" service.

CRITICISING OFFICIALS, REPORTING UNREST AND ABUSES

Chinese microblogs, especially Sina's dominant "Weibo" service, carry plenty of gossip and harmless fare. But they also offer raucous forums for lambasting officials and reporting unrest or official abuses. It is their potential to stoke popular discontent that most worries Beijing.

Microblogs allow users to issue bursts of opinion -- a maximum of 140 Chinese characters -- that can course through chains of followers who instantly receive messages, challenging censors who have a hard time monitoring the tens of millions of messages sent every day.

Inventive users adopt alternative words to get around censorship filters.

A bullet train crash in Wenzhou this July was a watershed moment for Sina's "Weibo" microblog service as thousands of users expressed anger at the official response and pulled apart official accounts of the crash and rescue response.

More recently, an uproar spread on Sina's Weibo when a two-year-old girl was run over by two trucks and then ignored by passersby as she lay bleeding. She later died.

The number of Chinese users registered on domestic microblog sites reached 195 million by the end of June, a more than threefold increase on the number at the end of 2010, according to the China Internet Network Information Center.

Beijing has repeatedly criticized microblogs for irresponsibility spreading what it calls unfounded rumors.

On Wednesday, the People's Daily kept up those warnings, citing a statement from the State Internet Information Office that it had asked police to punish people responsible for spreading a bogus tax policy announcement and rumors that a fight jet had crashed, killing the pilot.

"The Internet is a microphone that everyone can use, but it is not one that everyone can use well," said the paper.

A State Internet Information Office official this month called for stricter policing of microblogs while encouraging officials to use them, indicating Beijing was looking to better control such services, not shut them down.

Sina and other Chinese microblog operators already deploy technicians and software to monitor content and block and remove comment deemed unacceptable, especially about protests, official scandals and party leaders.

Excessive self-censorship on the microblog platforms risks alienating users by making them bland, analysts said.

"The more important risk we see for Sina Weibo and other Weibos is that they self-regulate out of business," said Michael Clendenin, the managing director of RedTech Advisors.

"And that they self-neuter and that makes the platform so boring no one wants to use it."

(Editing by Ron Popeski and Sugita Katyal)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/tech/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111026/tc_nm/us_china_internet

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Wall Street drives higher on earnings, Europe

By msnbc.com staff and wires

The rally doesn't seem to be over just yet.

U.S. stocks rose Monday, adding to three weeks of gains for the S&P after strong earnings from Caterpillar and some proposed acquisitions boosted investor appetite for risky assets.

Equities have climbed recently as optimism over a possible resolution to Europe's sovereign debt crisis and better-than-expected corporate results and economic data seemed to lessen the probability of another U.S. recession.

Caterpillar Inc shares surged?and led the Dow higher after the heavy equipment maker reported a quarterly profit that topped estimates on record revenues.

"When a big-name company like this reports numbers like these, that will help turn around talk about another recession," said Andrew Bodner, president of Double Diamond Investment Group in Parsippany, New Jersey.

"News like this, along with the turnaround we've seen in some economic indicators, is why the markets have moved up like they have."

Equities were also boosted by a number of proposed acquisitions, with Oracle Corp agreeing to buy RightNow Technologies Inc , which provides cloud-based customer services software, for $43 per share. Also, Cigna Corp will acquire HealthSpring Inc, a Medicare health provider for $55 a share.

The Dow Jones industrial average advanced 101.65 points, or 0.86 percent, at 11,910.44. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index was up 15.56 points, or 1.26 percent, at 1,253.81. The Nasdaq Composite Index put on 54.42 points, or 2.06 percent, at 2,691.88.

The S&P has climbed almost 14 percent since Oct. 3, and recent gains have pushed the broad index to the top of its trading range between 1,230 and 1,250, where it has struggled to advance due to conflicting headlines from Europe.

Many investors looked for progress in Europe before good earnings reports can push equities much higher. Light volume suggested investors weren't entirely convinced of the move as uncertainties related to Europe continued making investors cautious.

By midday, nearly 3 billion shares had traded on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange and Nasdaq, putting the market on track for a lighter-than-average session.

European policymakers deferred a final decision on a strategy to fight a sovereign debt crisis as they neared agreement on bank recapitalization and on how to leverage a rescue fund to try to stop bond market contagion. The leaders were due to meet again Wednesday.

Google Inc has spoken to at least two private equity firms about help in financing a deal to buy Yahoo Inc's core business, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing a source.

The world's largest heavy machinery manufacturer crushes expectations on the Street, with Adam Fleck, Morningstar stock analyst.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Source: http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/10/24/8467409-wall-street-drives-higher-on-earnings-europe

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Monday, October 24, 2011

Obama touts foreign policy successes in Iraq, Libya (reuters)

Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories News, News Feeds and News via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/151830559?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Cate Edwards and Trevor Upham: Married!


Cate Edwards, the daughter of former presidential candidate John Edwards and the late Elizabeth Edwards, married college sweetheart Trevor Upham yesterday.

The couple wed beside an altar candle lit in her mother's memory.

After the ceremony, they welcomed friends and family into the sprawling Edwards home in Chapel Hill, N.C., where they mourned Elizabeth's death from breast cancer 10 months ago. John Edwards hosted the reception on the lawn.

Cate Edwards and Trevor Upham Picture

"We want this to be really happy and joyous; that's what my mother would want," Cate Edwards said before the wedding at the Chapel Hill United Methodist Church.

"There are a lot of sort of small ways that she's infused into the day," added Cate, 29, who got engaged to Upham, 30, her boyfriend at Princeton, late last year.

For Mr. and Mrs. Trevor Upham, the day was one they will never forget, and came as a welcome respite from the turmoil her life has seen over the past few years.

First, her mother's breast cancer returned and spread, and then her father was forced to admit an affair with Rielle Hunter that produced a daughter, Quinn, now 3.

The  cover-up of that affair with campaign money during John Edwards' presidential run led to criminal charges; he has pleaded not guilty in federal court.

But Saturday was for celebration and Cate's young siblings - Emma, 13, and Jack, 11, who still live with their father - were given prominent roles in the event.

Emma was maid of honor, while Jack, in a tux his father took him to rent, was a groomsman. "They had a tough year, but they're doing well," says Cate.

Cate's brother Wade died in an accident at age 16 in 1996.

Meanwhile, close friend Jennifer Palmieri said the whimsical and sentimental Elizabeth could be felt everywhere in her elder daughter's and Trevor's shining day:

"It's like every song is Elizabeth's song, every flower is Elizabeth's flower."

A licensed attorney, Cate left her Washington, D.C., law firm earlier this year to launch an educational nonprofit, the Elizabeth Edwards Foundation.

Trevor is a surgical oncology fellow at the National Cancer Institute. After a two-week tropical honeymoon, they will continue to reside in Washington, D.C.

Congratulations to the happy couple!!

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2011/10/cate-edwards-and-trevor-upham-married/

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Sunday, October 23, 2011

Doctors slap down claim Chavez to die in 2 years (Reuters)

CARACAS (Reuters) ? Physicians treating Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez disputed on Saturday claims made by a former doctor of the socialist leader that he would die within two years from his undisclosed cancer.

In the first official public comments on Chavez's health, three physicians dressed in laboratory coats at Venezuela's main military hospital said Salvador Navarrete was uninformed and had just minimal contact with the leader a decade ago.

"The President, from the standpoint of cancer has been diagnosed and treated early. Subject to the appropriate follow-up treatments, the current status is quite satisfactory with an excellent prognosis," Dr. Fidel Ramirez said in a televised midday press conference.

"Navarrete was not Chavez's physician, a trusted party or his family," Ramirez said, adding that Navarrete had no scientific evidence or understanding of Chavez's condition.

Navarrete, in an open letter published by local media on Friday, said he has since fled the country, fearing for his safety after an interview published a week ago quoted him saying Chavez would be dead in two years.

Navarrete attended to Chavez a decade ago and claims he is in touch with some relatives and members of his medical team.

In his letter, Navarrete said the interview with Mexico's Milenio Semanal magazine was intended to combat official secrecy over Chavez's condition. He stood by his original prognosis of Chavez, which caused an uproar.

Chavez's health is the all-consuming issue for the South American OPEC member nation of 29 million people, one year ahead of a presidential election where he wants to be re-elected.

Chavez, 57, returned on Thursday from Cuba where he has received cancer treatments, declaring himself cancer-free in an event that included an open-top caravan to a regional Catholic shrine where he prayed and gave thanks for his recovery.

The three doctors on Saturday still would not disclose the type of cancer Chavez has, four months after surgery to remove a malignant tumor from his pelvis. This was followed by four cycles of chemotherapy treatment.

Experts say it is possible for a patient to be considered cancer free at the time of testing if no cancer cells are found, but that typically no one is considered cured of the disease unless tests are negative for a number of years.

By common convention, oncologists say a person can be considered cured after two to five years of clean tests.

Dr. Earle Siso Garcia, director of the military hospital, disputed claims that Chavez was having kidney problems.

Navarrete mentioned again in his open letter Chavez has seen a psychiatrist. However, this claim was denied as well.

"The president never ever had psychiatric treatment. This is a total fallacy," said Dr. Rafael Vargas.

(Editing by Vicki Allen)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/latam/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111022/wl_nm/us_venezuela_chavez_doctors

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Kim Kardashian's Sexiest Costumes (omg!)

DirecTV says may pull the plug on Fox TV shows Sakthi Prasad in Bangalore - Reuters - 9 hours ago

(Reuters) - A dispute has broken out between News Corp owned Fox Networks and DirecTV Group, the largest U.S. satellite TV provider, over carriage fees that could potentially?? More??DirecTV says may pull the plug on Fox TV shows

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/entertainment/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/omg_rss/rss_omg_en/http___omg_yahoo_com_news75119/43339872/*http%3A//omg.yahoo.com/news/kim-kardashians-sexiest-costumes/75119

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Saturday, October 22, 2011

Roommate in Rutgers suicide says no to plea deal

Dharun Ravi appears in court at the Middlesex County Courthouse during a hearing in the webcam-spying case involving the suicide of Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi, Thursday, Oct. 20, 2011, in New Brunswick, N.J. Ravi is one of two former Rutgers students accused of spying on Clementi's intimate encounter with another man days before the classmate committed suicide. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Dharun Ravi appears in court at the Middlesex County Courthouse during a hearing in the webcam-spying case involving the suicide of Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi, Thursday, Oct. 20, 2011, in New Brunswick, N.J. Ravi is one of two former Rutgers students accused of spying on Clementi's intimate encounter with another man days before the classmate committed suicide. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Dharun Ravi, second from left, walks out of the Middlesex County Courthouse with his attorneys after a hearing in the webcam-spying case involving the suicide of Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi, Thursday, Oct. 20, 2011, in New Brunswick, N.J. Ravi is one of two former Rutgers students accused of spying on Clementi's intimate encounter with another man days before the classmate committed suicide. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

(AP) ? A former Rutgers University student accused of using a webcam to spy on his roommate's intimate encounter with another man turned down a plea deal Thursday that would have limited his time behind bars to five years and could have kept him out of prison altogether.

Dharun Ravi, 19, affirmed his decision to go to trial, at which a conviction could mean 10 years or more in prison. A judge set a trial date of Feb. 21 for the case, which helped set off a national conversation about bullying of young gays and lesbians.

Tyler Clementi, an 18-year-old violinist in his first weeks at Rutgers, killed himself in September 2010, just days after the alleged spying. Ravi faces 15 criminal counts in all, including invasion of privacy and bias intimidation, a hate crime.

In the pretrial hearing Thursday to settle several issues about evidence, he remained silent, other than to say "yes" when New Jersey Superior Court Judge Glenn Berman asked him whether he understood the risks he faces by appearing in court.

Berman ruled that Ravi's lawyer should not have access to his personal writings, including documents found on his computer. Berman also ruled against a defense motion that he recuse himself because a distant relative who is a television producer told a New York Times reporter last month that she was interested in the case.

One key issue may not be resolved.

Berman reiterated his ruling of six months ago that Ravi, his lawyer and his lawyer's investigator should be given the name and birth date of the man who had the encounter with Clementi ? but with the caveat that they not give that information to anyone else.

Prosecutors objected to the disclosure requirement last month and asked Berman to reconsider.

On Thursday, the man, identified in court papers only as M.B., was represented in court by Richard Pompelio, a victims' rights lawyer who argued that his right to privacy outweighs Ravi's need to have information to defend himself.

Ravi's lawyer, Steven Altman, contended that the name of the man ? who is considered both a victim and a witness in the case ? is necessary for his client, even though the man has said he does not want to speak with defense lawyers.

"If you were standing where I am, wouldn't you want to learn what was in the mind of T.C.?" he asked Berman. "And what did M.B. know, what was he told, what wasn't he told? Who is he? Where is he from? Wouldn't you want to proceed to try to get that information?"

Pompelio argued that media exposure would harm M.B.

"Once they find out who he is, they find out his face," he said. "As the defendant knows, he has family and a web of relationships that are impacted by anything that happens to him. If his name gets out, it's out and it's out forever."

After court, Pompelio said he would not disclose any information about his client, including his age or occupation.

Berman said he was sensitive to M.B.'s right to privacy, but believes that Ravi should know who his accuser is.

"He'll never be stigmatized by any person who's thoughtful, balanced and fair," Berman said.

Julia McClure, a Middlesex County prosecutor, and Pompelio both said they intend to appeal that ruling.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2011-10-20-Rutgers%20Suicide/id-8933dbe3a6b4484d98fa657fa502baba

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Friday, October 21, 2011

Ten Auto Insurance Myths Debunked | AutoInsuranceQuote.com

People believe many myths about auto insurance and auto insurance rates. It is important to know which myths hold some truth, in order to make informed and adequate personal choices.

One common auto insurance myth focuses on the price. Many people believe that less expensive options are always better, but on the contrary, insurance rates have their specific prices for a reason. More expensive insurances provide coverage for higher number of incidents and damages.

Another myth focuses on the age and experience of drivers. Auto insurance rates take various factors under consideration. The experience of the driver is just one such factor. Many insurance companies offer young people a discount.

One of the biggest problems that many people face is their belief that a car insurance will provide coverage for nearly any occurrence, including theft or vandalism. The two types of coverage needed to give the car owner security in all instances are collision and comprehensive insurance policy.

Drivers of sports cars and the ones that love high speeds are usually considered to be high-risk drivers. These people get stopped and inspected by police more often, which in turn affects their car insurance. This is another myth. On the average, owners of sports cars commit the same amount of violations as other drivers.

A number of car owners feel certain that they can contact the insurance company during any day and any hour. When an accident happens, however, they discover that the insurance company will accept a claim solely during office hours. Knowing this fact is of essential importance.

Car owners have some rights, once they have signed the policy. Some believe that the insurance company can terminate the contract or modify its terms during any given time period. This myth holds no truth. A contract gives the vehicle owner some rights as well. The policy can be discontinued once the term ends. Even if the company decides to do so, it must give the vehicle owner a 30-day notice.

Old cars are more inexpensive, which means that getting cheap insurance for them is easier. Forget about this myth. The older the car is, the higher the risk for the insurance company. Auto insurance rates for old vehicles tend to be more expensive since these cars will require regular repairs. In addition, they lack various of the safety features that new cars are equipped with.

Many other auto insurance myths exist, as well. People believe that if someone is driving their car, the insurance company will provide coverage for an accident. Other common myths include the belief that insurance companies provide rental cars in the case of theft and that credit fails affecting insurance premiums.

Source: http://www.autoinsurancequote.com/articles/ten-auto-insurance-myths-debunked.html

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Start HIV Drug Treatment Early in Patients With TB: Studies (HealthDay)

WEDNESDAY, Oct. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Three new studies provide insight into the best time to begin AIDS drug treatments in HIV-positive patients who are also infected with tuberculosis, a double whammy common in Africa. Starting the drugs earlier, even by a few weeks, could make a big difference for patients who are very sick, the research suggests.

The cost of earlier treatment isn't much higher, and the drugs pay big dividends, said Dr. Diane V. Havlir, lead author of one of the studies. Her study found that starting the drugs within two weeks of diagnosis rather than eight weeks reduced the death rate or progression to more severe HIV by almost 40 percent in the sickest patients.

"This is fabulous news. It's amazing that starting it at two weeks versus eight weeks makes such a difference," said Havlir, professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, and head of the AIDS division at San Francisco General Hospital.

HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, and tuberculosis frequently strike people in less developed regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, Havlir said. HIV disrupts the immune system, she said, making it easier for people to get tuberculosis.

"These two diseases go hand in hand," she said. "They're synergetic, they're partners."

The studies are published in the Oct. 20 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

The HIV-tuberculosis combo is less common in richer areas of the world, such as the West, said Dr. Jeremy Farrar, co-author of a commentary accompanying the studies. He is director of the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

It hasn't been clear how to treat patients who have both diseases. Among other things, doctors worried about adding HIV drugs to tuberculosis drugs because of concerns about side effects, including those from drug interactions, Havlir said.

The three new studies looked at the problem from different perspectives. In Havlir's study of 806 patients who were assigned to different treatments, 13 percent who received earlier HIV treatment got worse on the AIDS front or died within 48 weeks compared to 16 percent of those who started the drugs later.

But there was a much bigger difference in patients in the worst shape in terms of HIV: 16 percent of those who received earlier treatment got worse or died, compared to 27 percent of those who received later treatment.

The finding suggests that "very sick patients must be started (on HIV drugs) immediately and early," Havlir said, but those who are doing better can wait eight weeks.

Farrar supported the findings of the studies and agreed that it's a good idea to start HIV treatment early in the patients whose HIV is most severe. It will save lives and could reduce transmission, he said.

But culture tests for TB are rare in areas lacking state-of-the-art medical resources, so diagnoses are often based on clinical observation of symptoms, Farrar said. Also, he noted that most of the patients in the studies had pulmonary tuberculosis, which is rarely life-threatening. Death rates are much higher for more severe forms, such as tuberculous meningitis.

Farrar also acknowledged other caveats. A regimen of many pills might lead to noncompliance among some patients, he said. For patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis, the medication schedule is even more daunting.

The possibility also exists of "complex interactions between the drugs for TB and HIV and other conditions the patients have," he said.

"We need a much greater understanding of this interaction and work to help deliver these crucial drugs in a better way," Farrar stated.

More information

For more about tuberculosis, see the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/aids/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20111019/hl_hsn/starthivdrugtreatmentearlyinpatientswithtbstudies

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Thursday, October 20, 2011

A.I. type Keyboard out of beta with more features, still predicts like a psychic

ai type

Back in April we wrote about an innovative keyboard called A.I. type that really impressed us with its ability to predict text. It was in beta back then but has graduated recently with some exciting new features, including customization of the bottom row keys and improvements to the prediction engine.

If you're not one of the 100,000 beta testers, A.I. type is a keyboard that specializes in contextual text prediction to make your mobile experience smoother. It learns your writing style and most used words so the more you use it, the better it will be.

Here are some of the key features:

  • Suggests your next word
  • Completes your current word
  • Corrects your spelling as you type
  • Auto-corrects typos when you hit the spacebar
  • Automatically learns your most-used words and writing style
  • Supports skins and allows for individual skin customization
  • Includes a layout for undo/redo/copy/paste/navigation

There is a free version that allows you to take advantage of their text prediction for 10 days. If you find that you can't live without it, upgrade to the Pro version for $4.82. Please find links to both versions after the break. The developers are always working on new features and would love to hear any kind of feedback you may have.

Have you used A.I. Type keyboard before? If you would like to sing out how much you like it or suggest a feature, check out our Android App Forum.

read more


Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/KtOIy5VEY9c/ai-type-keyboard-out-beta-still-predicts-pychic

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Wednesday, October 19, 2011

One size does not fit all for knee replacements and other medical devices, expert says

ScienceDaily (Oct. 19, 2011) ? Undergoing a knee replacement involves sophisticated medical equipment, but innovative prosthetic design may not offer the same benefits for all knee replacement recipients, Yale School of Medicine researchers report in a perspective article in the Oct. 20 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Devices like pacemakers, artificial joints, and defibrillators have extended lives and improved the quality of life for countless people. Medical device manufacturing has turned into a multi-billion dollar industry, with the United States spending an estimated $95 billion on these devices last year alone, according to the article, which also noted that oversight of device innovation is under scrutiny for safety issues.

The current expedited approval process for low-risk medical devices is based on claims of similarity to previously approved devices, and as such may encourage development of devices that provide only small improvements at higher cost than their predecessors, note the researchers.

To assess whether the addition of a new medical devices to market would yield a greater benefit than using an older version, first author Dr. Lisa G. Suter, assistant professor of internal medicine at Yale School of Medicine, and colleagues used a mathematical model to simulate the consequences of undergoing total knee replacement for end-stage knee osteoarthritis with both standard and innovative implants. Knee osteoarthritis is a frequent and costly cause of disability in the United States.

The researchers used the Osteoarthritis Policy Model, a validated computer simulation model of knee osteoarthritis natural history and management, to project life expectancy and implant survival associated with using standard and innovative implants for both young and older total knee replacement recipients with and without illness.

Suter and her team found that older patients or those with multiple co-existing conditions may not live long enough to benefit from small, incremental gains in the durability of the implant.

"Patients, physicians, device manufacturers, and policymakers should be aware that innovative medical devices may not offer equal value in all patients," said Suter, who added that mathematical models may improve medical device development, evaluation and monitoring.

Other authors on the perspective article include A. David Paltiel, Benjamin N. Rome, Daniel H. Solomon, M.D., Ilya Golovaty, Hanna Gerlovin, Jeffrey N. Katz, M.D., and Elena Losina, from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Yale University. The original article was written by Karen N. Peart.

Note: ScienceDaily reserves the right to edit materials for content and length. For original reprint permissions, please contact the source cited above.


Journal Reference:

  1. Lisa G. Suter, A. David Paltiel, Benjamin N. Rome, Daniel H. Solomon, Ilya Golovaty, Hanna Gerlovin, Jeffrey N. Katz, Elena Losina. Medical Device Innovation ? Is ?Better? Good Enough? New England Journal of Medicine, 2011; 365 (16): 1464 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMp1109285

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/~3/XJGV9J016D0/111019205622.htm

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Motorola Motoactv hands-on (update: video with Dean Karnazes!)

So when Motorola teased its "faster, thinner, smarter, stronger" event we were pretty sure that was a not-so-subtle reference to the 7mm-thick Droid RAZR. As it turns out, the company was also being quite literal. Instead of a Xoom 2, the outfit rounded out its New York City presser with Motoactv, an iPod Nano-like touchscreen device that plays music and keeps track of your various fitness vitals. While we couldn't take it more than a few feet away from the pedestal where it was on display, we did get to poke around its UI for a few minutes and put that 600MHz processor to the test. You know the drill: hands-on photos below, along with impressions and a short vid after the break.

Continue reading Motorola Motoactv hands-on (update: video with Dean Karnazes!)

Motorola Motoactv hands-on (update: video with Dean Karnazes!) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Oct 2011 13:18:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/18/motorola-motoactv-hands-on/

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