FINDING An INEXPENSIVE AUTO INSURANCE POLICY IN ...

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Source: http://www.unmillenniumproject.com/2011/08/finding-an-inexpensive-auto-insurance-policy-in-california.html

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Apple Had A Better Black Friday Than It Expected

The Black Friday madness has finally come to a close. Well, almost. We all still need to live through Cyber Monday — a much safer version of our public displays of consumerism — but for the most part Black Friday is behind us. People camped out all night, were pepper-sprayed, and hopefully walked away with some new gear for a cheap price. Apple, which seemed to have the weakest discounts of almost any gadgets retailer, posted some strong numbers from its Black Friday one-day sale.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/Pc_2E2046Io/

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Pope: sex abuse 'scourge' for all society (AP)

VATICAN CITY ? Pope Benedict XVI insisted on Saturday that all of society's institutions and not just the Catholic church must be held to "exacting" standards in their response to sex abuse of children, and defended the church's efforts to confront the problem.

Benedict acknowledged in remarks to visiting U.S. bishops during an audience at the Vatican that pedophilia was a "scourge" for society, and that decades of scandals over clergy abusing children had left Catholics in the United States bewildered.

"It is my hope that the Church's conscientious efforts to confront this reality will help the broader community to recognize the causes, true extent and devastating consequences of sexual abuse, and to respond effectively to this scourge which affects every level of society," he said.

"By the same token, just as the church is rightly held to exacting standards in this regard, all other institutions, without exception, should be held to the same standards," the pope said.

An official of a U.S. group advocating for victims of clergy abuse lamented that Benedict, with his remarks, was setting a "terrible example" for bishops.

"No public figure talks more about child safety but does little to actually make children safer than Pope Benedict," David Clohessy, national director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, told The Associated Press in an emailed statement.

"The pope would have us believe that this crisis is about sex abuse. It isn't. It is about covering up sex abuse," Clohessy said. "And while child sex crimes happen in every institution, in no institution are they ignored or concealed as consistently as in the Catholic church."

The pedophile scandal has exploded in recent decades in the United States, but similar clergy sex abuse revelations have tainted the church in many other countries, including Mexico, Ireland, and several other European nations, including Italy.

But the most high-profile sex abuse case in the United States at the moment doesn't involve the church. Penn State university's former defensive football coordinator Jerry Sandusky has been charged with sexually abusing eight boys, and the fallout has led to the firing of longtime coach Joe Paterno and the departure of university president Graham Spanier.

College football in the U.S. is highly popular. The scandal has shaken the reputation of a college program that long had prided itself on integrity.

Benedict didn't address accusations by many victims and their advocates that church leaders, including at the office in the Vatican that Benedict headed before becoming pontiff, systematically tried to cover up the scandals, and that they have rarely been held accountable for that.

Investigations, often by civil authorities, revealed that church hierarchy frequently transferred pedophile priests from one parish to another.

Benedict told the bishops that his papal pilgrimage to the United States in 2008 "was intended to encourage the Catholics of America in the wake of the scandal and disorientation caused by the sexual abuse crisis of recent decades."

Echoing sentiment he has expressed in occasional meetings with victims of the abuse on trips abroad, Benedict added: "I wish to acknowledge personally the suffering inflicted on the victims and the honest efforts made to ensure both the safety of our children and to deal appropriately and transparently with allegations as they arise."

Benedict seemed to be reflecting some churchmen's contentions that the church has wrongly been singled out as villains for the abuse, a view that angered victims' advocates.

"The pope is again setting a terrible example for the world's bishops, echoing the claim by some of them that the church hierarchy is somehow being picked on by the public, the press and their parishioners," Clohessy said .

Despite criticism over U.S. bishops' handling of the abuse scandals, Benedict exhorted the churchmen to be moral compasses for U.S. society. The bishops, in Rome for consultations with the pope that are scheduled every five years, were urged to speak out "humbly yet insistently in defense of moral truth."

Benedict lamented what he called efforts to stop the church from speaking out publicly.

Earlier this month, U.S. Roman Catholic bishops vowed to defend their religious liberty in the face of growing acceptance of gay marriage and what they called attempts by secularists to marginalize faith.

In Illinois, for example, government officials ceased working with Catholic charities on adoptions and foster-care placement because the religious agencies refuse to recognize a new civil union law. Illinois bishops are suing the state.

Bishops have also pressed federal officials for broader religious exception to U.S. President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, which mandates that private insurers to pay for contraception.

"Despite attempts to still the church's voice in the public square, many people of good will continue to look to her for wisdom, insight and sound guidance in this far-reaching crisis," Benedict said, citing what he called a "growing sense of dislocation and insecurity" in the face of economic woes.

But he acknowledged that some of the bishops' own flock are turning away from the church, which he blamed on effects of a "secularized culture." Many U.S. Catholics shun Sunday Mass attendance or disregard such Vatican positions against contraception and divorce.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/europe/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111126/ap_on_re_eu/eu_vatican_sex_abuse

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Egypt's military ruler warns crisis must end

Egyptian protesters shout anti-military ruling council slogans during their protest at Tahrir Square, the focal point of Egyptian uprising, in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011. Egypt's activists are staging a massive protest in the square to press demands for the country's military rulers to step down. The Sunday rally, dubbed "Legitimacy of the Revolution," comes following nine days of continued protest in Tahrir. The planned rally comes one day before the start of voting in the first parliamentary elections since the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak. The elections will be held over a three-month period. Arabic reads: "Square of the Egyptian revolution." (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

Egyptian protesters shout anti-military ruling council slogans during their protest at Tahrir Square, the focal point of Egyptian uprising, in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011. Egypt's activists are staging a massive protest in the square to press demands for the country's military rulers to step down. The Sunday rally, dubbed "Legitimacy of the Revolution," comes following nine days of continued protest in Tahrir. The planned rally comes one day before the start of voting in the first parliamentary elections since the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak. The elections will be held over a three-month period. Arabic reads: "Square of the Egyptian revolution." (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

Protesters walk next to a poster against Egypt's military ruler, Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, the head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, at Tahrir Square, the focal point of Egyptian uprising, in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011. Egypt's activists are staging a massive protest in the square to press demands for the country's military rulers to step down. Sunday's rally, dubbed "Legitimacy of the Revolution" comes following nine days of continued protest in Tahrir. The planned rally comes one day before the start of voting in the first parliamentary elections since the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak. The elections will be held over a three-month period. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

An effigy representing Egypt's military ruler, Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, the head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, is hanged at at Tahrir Square, the focal point of Egyptian uprising, in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011. Egypt's activists are staging a massive protest in the square to press demands for the country's military rulers to step down. Sunday's rally, dubbed "Legitimacy of the Revolution," comes following nine days of continued protest in Tahrir. The planned rally comes one day before the start of voting in the first parliamentary elections since the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak. The elections will be held over a three-month period. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)

Pictures of international political and religious figures, including a caricature of ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, center, with Arabic writing that reads, "check me, check me," are displayed for sale in Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011. Egypt's activists are staging a massive protest in Cairo's Tahrir Square to press demands for the country's military rulers to step down. The Sunday rally, dubbed "Legitimacy of the Revolution," comes following nine days of continued protest in Tahrir. The planned rally comes one day before the start of voting in the first parliamentary elections since the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak. The elections will be held over a three-month period. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

A child with the colors of the Egyptian flag painted on her face walks around Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011. Egypt's activists are staging a massive protest in Cairo's Tahrir Square to press demands for the country's military rulers to step down. The Sunday rally, dubbed "Legitimacy of the Revolution," comes following nine days of continued protest in Tahrir. The planned rally comes one day before the start of voting in the first parliamentary elections since the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak. The elections will be held over a three-month period. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

CAIRO (AP) ? Egypt's military ruler warned of "extremely grave" consequences if the turbulent nation does not pull through its current crisis and urged voters to turn out for landmark parliamentary elections starting Monday.

Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi claimed "foreign hands" were behind the latest wave of unrest, an assertion similar to those made by Hosni Mubarak in his final days in power before he was ousted in a popular uprising in February. Tantawi was Mubarak's defense minister for 20 years.

In comments carried by the nation's official news agency, Tantawi rejected calls for him and other generals on the ruling military council he heads to immediately step down.

The warning came as thousands of protesters were filling Cairo's Tahrir Square for another massive demonstration to push for him and the other generals to immediately return to their barracks in favor of a civilian presidential council and a "national salvation" government to run the country's affairs until a president is elected. It was the ninth straight day of a revival of the protest movement that toppled Mubarak. At least 41 protesters have been killed in and more than 2,000 have been wounded, most of them in Cairo.

The military took the reins of power when Mubarak was ousted. But it has come under intense criticism for most of the past nine months for its failure to restore security, stop the rapid worsening of the economy or introduce the far-reaching reforms called for by the youth groups behind Mubarak's fall and the ongoing protest movement.

Tantawi said the military will follow through with its somewhat vague road map for handing over power. The ruling council never set a precise date for transferring authority to an elected civilian administration, only pledging that presidential elections ? the last step in the handover process ? will be held before the end of June, 2012.

"We will not allow troublemakers to meddle in the elections," he said. "Egypt is at a crossroads ? either we succeed politically, economically and socially or the consequences will be extremely grave and we will not allow that."

Tantawi also accused foreign powers he did not name of meddling in Egypt's affairs.

"None of this would have happened if there were no foreign hands," he said. "We will not allow a small minority of people who don't understand to harm Egypt's stability," he said, apparently alluding to the protesters in Tahrir, epicenter of the 18-day uprising that toppled Mubarak.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2011-11-27-ML-Egypt/id-01ad8bc6dce0433ba63fad719467c073

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Retail stocks up after strong holiday weekend (Reuters)

(Reuters) ? After a blockbuster performance over the long Thanksgiving weekend, risk-taking retailers such as Macy's Inc (M.N) and Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) were rewarded with big gains in their shares, while chains that are still tinkering with their strategies reaped smaller rewards.

The majority of retailers saw their shares rise on Monday, along with the broad stock market.

Macy's, Best Buy Co Inc (BBY.N) and others opened their stores and pushed big discounts hours earlier than many competitors, strategies that appeared to pay off with shoppers and investors. Amazon.com, meanwhile, saw success in its new Kindle Fire tablet.

J.C. Penney Co Inc (JCP.N) and Sears Holdings Corp (SHLD.O), two chains that kept their early morning Black Friday openings rather than holding sales late on Thanksgiving Thursday or at midnight, were among the laggards in the stock market on Monday.

Overall, the Standard & Poor's retail index (.RLX) was up 3.3 percent in midafternoon, outpacing the 2.9 percent increase in the Standard & Poor's 500 (.SPX).

Now, retailers must do what they can to see profitable gains for the rest of the holiday season -- a difficult task as many industry watchers expect that shoppers under financial stress will hold back after their weekend binge.

Special days, such as Memorial Day and Labor Day, drew in shoppers this year and this past weekend was no different.

"Consumers have been waiting for sale days," said Fiona Dias, chief strategy officer at ShopRunner, a consortium of online retailers that offers members free shipping and returns. "So the peaks have gotten higher and the valleys have gotten lower."

Nice weather across much of the country also helped. It was the warmest Black Friday weekend in five years, with less rain and snow than usual, according to Planalytics.

Investors will get a more detailed reading of results later this week, when chains including Costco Wholesale Corp (COST.O), Macy's and Target Corp (TGT.N) issue their monthly sales tallies.

"I presume we're going to see strong numbers for November," said Sterne, Agee & Leach analyst Kenneth Stumphauzer.

Analysts expect November sales at stores open at least a year, or same-store sales, to rise 3.3 percent among 23 U.S. chains that issue tallies, according to Thomson Reuters. That would mark a decline from a 5.5 percent rise in November 2010.

Still, Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT.N), Best Buy and other big players do not issue monthly reports, so those numbers will tell just part of the story.

( Click here for a same-store sales graphic:http://link.reuters.com/men35s)

On Monday, the spotlight shines on online sales. "Cyber Monday" is the biggest online shopping day of the year. Based on the growth seen over the weekend, especially among shoppers using their Apple Inc (AAPL.O) iPads to make purchases, it is expected to be another banner year online. Through 12 p.m. EST, online sales were up 20 percent versus the same time last year, according to International Business Machines Corp (IBM.N).

PEAKS AND VALLEYS

Overall, Thanksgiving weekend sales soared 16.4 percent to $52.4 billion, the National Retail Federation, an industry trade group, said on Sunday.

The number of transactions at U.S. merchants jumped 17 percent on Black Friday, after 5 percent rises in the prior two years, according to data from MasterCard Inc's (MA.N) network.

Discounts were the name of the game, and analysts cautioned that there could be a prolonged lull in sales until closer to Christmas.

Sixteen out of 29 specialty apparel chains tracked by Goldman Sachs used aggressive storewide percentage discounts on Black Friday.

That tactic can be costly "as shoppers can use the discount for best-selling items," Goldman analysts noted, adding that 14 chains had notably deeper discounts than in 2010.

Stores with steeper discounts than last year included Abercrombie & Fitch Co's (ANF.N) namesake chain and its Hollister chain, American Eagle Outfitters Inc (AEO.N) and Talbots Inc (TLB.N), according to Goldman Sachs.

Brian Sozzi, an independent analyst who follows retail stocks, warned that discounts could come at a price for retailers.

Wal-Mart was one of the clear winners, he said, along with Best Buy and even Wal-Mart rival Target.

"It's not an all Wal-Mart kind of world," Sozzi said.

Sozzi said he is looking beyond chains to other companies that likely benefited from retailers' sales, such as underwear and T-shirt maker Hanesbrands Inc (HBI.N).

"If Wal-Mart had such a strong performance in basic apparel ... you look at something like a Hanesbrands."

Black Friday deals are meticulously planned for months, but extended discounts were found across a wide range of apparel chains, which may suggest that early sales were coming in below plan, said Janney Capital Markets analyst Adrienne Tennant.

Chains such as Aeropostale Inc (ARO.N), Gap Inc's (GPS.N) Banana Republic, bebe stores inc (BEBE.O), Charlotte Russe Holding Inc, Children's Place Retail Stores Inc (PLCE.O), New York & Co Inc (NWY.N), Pacific Sunwear of California Inc (PSUN.O) and Chico's FAS Inc's (CHS.N) White House Black Market pushed their early deals throughout Friday, Tennant said.

At 9:30 a.m. EST on Friday, the Aeropostale store at Pennsylvania's big King of Prussia mall gave out makeshift coupons on paper, extending a 1:00 p.m. deadline for an additional 20 percent off until 5:00 p.m. -- and then that deadline was extended for the remainder of the day, Tennant noted.

The NRF expects sales for the November-December holiday shopping season to rise 2.8 percent, slower than the 5.2 percent jump seen in 2010 and roughly in line with the average growth of 2.6 percent seen over the past decade.

(Reporting by Jessica Wohl and Brad Dorfman in Chicago, with reporting by Phil Wahba in New York and Alistair Barr in San Francisco; editing by John Wallace, Dave Zimmerman)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/stocks/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111128/bs_nm/us_usa_retail

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Moroccans vote in modest numbers for elections

RABAT, Morocco?? Morocco's Arab Spring-inspired parliamentary elections saw a 45 percent turnout rate on Friday in the face of a boycott called by democracy activists who say the ruling monarchy isn't committed to real change.

A moderate Islamist party and a pro-palace coalition led by the finance minister are competing for the top spot, but the key test for authorities' legitimacy was how many voters cast ballots.

While the turnout, announced by the Interior Ministry is an improvement over 2007's 37 percent, it is still less than the rates predicted by officials who maintained the population has been galvanized by the king's reform efforts.

Since the last election, however, the number of registered voters has shrunk from 15 million to 13.5 million ? despite the increase in population ? which may also have brought up the participation rate.

Interior Minister Taieb Cherqaoui said the vote took place in an atmosphere of "calm and a spirit of responsibility," though opposition members alleged there were irregularities.

"We have spoken with our offices in every region and there was a lot of vote buying and the Interior Ministry mobilized transportation to bring voters to polling stations like animals," Lahcen Daoudi, a top official with the Islamist Justice and Development Party, told The Associated Press

In response to pro-democracy protests, the king amended the constitution over the summer giving the prime minister new powers, including the ability to dissolve parliament and make certain appointments. But the ultimate authority remains with the monarch.

As the polls closed Friday night and the counting of ballots began, Morocco's U.S. and other Western allies were closely watching for the results to see how the North African kingdom is navigating its own Arab Spring.

"I've always voted, but this time it is more important," said Dr. Mohammed Ennabli, as he cast his ballot early in the morning in the affluent Agdal neighborhood. "Before it was the king who chose, now it is the people who choose."

Results in one voting booth in the area after polls closed had the Islamist Party, known by its French initials PJD, taking nearly 40 percent of the votes.

Many people, however, scorned a process they say has been going on for decades without any tangible effect on their lives.

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"I won't vote, the promises are never kept ? with or without the new constitution, it is the same," said Abdallah Cherachaoui, an unemployed 45 year old in the lower income district of Akkari. "They are laughing at us."

In the working class city of Sale, across the river from the capital Rabat, there was a steady trickle of voters to the school acting as a polling station, but some stayed outside.

"I voted in 2007 because the candidate was a member of my family, but he also disappointed me and as soon as the elections were over, I never saw him again, so I'm not making that mistake again," said Brahim Errami, 25, from his seat in a nearby cafe. "I pity the people going in and out of that school."

Morocco's reputation as a stable kingdom in North Africa has taken a hit with this year's protests over government corruption and heavy handed security forces. And its once-steady economy is creaking from the amount of money the government has pumped into raising salaries and subsidies to keep people calm amid the Arab world turmoil.

The election campaign has been strangely subdued, unlike the lively politicking in nearby Tunisia when it held the first elections prompted by the Arab uprisings last month.

Morocco with its many political parties and regular elections under the tight control of an all-powerful monarch was once the bright star in a region of dictatorships.

But all that has changed with the Arab uprisings that toppled dictators in Tunisia, Libya and Egypt. Now a political system that holds elections but leaves all powers in the hands of a hereditary king does not look so liberal.

Around 30 political parties are fielding more than 5,000 candidates to compete for 395 seats in parliament, including 60 set aside for women and 30 for "youth," under 40. A complex proportional system of representation means no party is likely to take more than 20 percent of the seats.

Under the new constitution, the king asks the party with the most seats to form the government, which could well be the PJD ? if it can find parties willing to ally with it in a coalition.

The Islamists' biggest rival for the top spot is Finance Minister Salaheddine Mezouar's Rally of Independents, which leads an alliance of seven other pro-palace parties.

"This is a very important election for the Moroccan people and it confirms the choice made for an open process of democratization that is being consolidated by this election," he told the AP after voting. "This is really a moment of great emotion."

Like elsewhere in the Arab world, Moroccans hit the streets in the first half of 2011 calling for more democracy, and King Mohammed VI responded by amending the constitution and bringing forward elections.

But since then, the sense of change has dissipated, and while the king remains a respected figure, few have much confidence in parliament or the politicians in it.

"I voted because we need to elect a new parliament, but I voted blank for the simple reason that there is no one I can trust from the people that are being elected," said Chamseddin Baba, the manager of an IT company who voted in the wealthy suburb of Souissi. "I would like to vote for the best, but the best are not there."

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

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45432955/ns/world_news-africa/

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PFT: Lions condemn Suh's stomp; he apologizes

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The NFL?s fairly recent push to prevent concussions and, more importantly, to ensure that players who have concussions are prevented from playing until healthy, has created an odd tension for many players.

Men who choose to play football and who choose to accept the risks inherent to the sport often don?t want to be prevented from assuming those risks, especially when absence from the place where those risks are taken could result in someone else taking their job.? No current situation better exemplifies that than the case of Lions running back Jahvid Best, who has landed on injured reserve more than a month after suffering his latest concussion via helmet-ground contact that didn?t appear at first blush to be particularly serious.

When Best returns in 2012, assuming he?s able, any given snap could result in Best missing another extended stretch of the season.? At some point, then, the Lions will look for someone who has no history of concussions to be their top tailback.? Otherwise, the Lions constantly will risk putting themselves in the position of having to rely on an assortment of second-tier guys after Best has his next concussion, forced to hope that they can get a random big game from a guy like Kevin Smith.

In hindsight, even Matt Millen wouldn?t have traded back into the bottom of round one with the Vikings to get Best in 2010.? When he?s available to play, he plays well.? But coaches want players who?ll be available to play, and the practical consequence of the new sensitivity to concussions is that it makes players who are otherwise willing to play unavailable, and thus unattractive.

As a result, more running backs with a history of concussions at lower levels of the sport will slide in the draft, absent true gamebreaking skill that justifies taking the chance.? And more running backs will be run out of the game prematurely, with coaches drawn to players who either have had no concussions or who have been able to hide them.

That?s where this is headed.? Especially at running back, players will try harder and harder to hide concussions, because the diagnosis and treatment and unavailability that comes from having concussions will end careers prematurely.

Somewhere, there?s a proper balance between protecting men from themselves and allowing men to exercise their inalienable right to risk their health, safety, and well-being.? We are a nation that was founded and fueled by risk-takers.? At some point, men need to be permitted to pursue their chosen profession, even if the profession entails risk.? Plenty of men (and women) make a lot less money at jobs that entail far more risk than playing tackle football.

That doesn?t mean we should quit applying skepticism when it appears that players and teams hide concussions.? It?s a serious medical condition that needs to be properly evaluated and treated.? At some point, however, after the player has regained basic functions and is capable of understanding and accepting the risks, he should have the ability to choose to take that risk.

Anything else would be, at a certain level, un-American.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/11/25/lions-say-suh-failed-to-meet-the-level-of-sportsmanship-we-expect/related

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Report: Millions of birds killed by power lines

Tens of millions of flamingos, storks, pelicans and other migratory birds are being killed across the world when they fly into power lines, according to a new study.

The AFP news agency reported that wildfires had been caused in dry areas of the United States and Eastern Europe by birds hitting power lines, then falling to the ground in flames.

The study was published at Convention on Migratory Species in Bergen, Norway, according the news agency.

Tens of millions of birds are killed in collisions and hundreds of thousands are electrocuted in Africa and Eurasia, the study said.

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Dutch ornithologist Hein Prinsen, who took part in the study, told AFP that "collision and electrocution are among the most important human-related causes for bird mortality," along with hunting.

Solution needed
There are about 43 million miles of power lines in the world, the news agency reported.

"Today, Eastern Europe is a hot spot for problems, for great bustards and birds of prey for example," John O'Sullivan, an ex-member of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, told AFP.

"But the worst situation may well be soon to be found in India and Africa where vast amounts of power lines are being built and where there are very large populations of birds," he added.

O'Sullivan said it "completely makes sense" to try to solve the problem because power outages resulting from collisions had a "high costs for society."

AFP said that 12 percent of blue cranes died annually after flying into power lines in South Africa. The blue crane is that country's national bird.

? 2011 msnbc.com Reprints

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45443549/ns/world_news-world_environment/

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Buying clothes online? New technology may help (Reuters)

TORONTO (Reuters) ? Asaf Moses is in the midst of displaying a new way to measure body dimensions.

A virtual instructor prompts him to turn 90 degrees to the left and adopt various poses such as "The Penguin," aimed at capturing over 20 different measurements using a device that many people have embedded in their laptops -- a simple webcam.

"It's capturing everything that's needed to tailor a shirt to your measurements", said Moses. And it's all online.

Shoppers generally flock to malls during the holidays beginning on Black Friday, although in recent years many have headed to the Internet. A recent survey by analytics firm comScore predicted online shopping would increase 15 percent this current holiday season.

Yet buying apparel from a website can cause problems finding the right size, look and fit for your body type and personal tastes. As a result, several technology companies have created new ways for people to size themselves up at home.

Moses, the co-founder of one such technology company from Germany, UPcload, said his system takes just three minutes and generates measurements as accurate as a tailor.

Once measured, shoppers will be able to access their measurements at supporting retailers' websites so they can see, for example, if a size small-sized t-shirt will fit around their chest or be long enough to drape down their torso.

Fits.me is taking the task of finding the perfect fit a step further by using robotic mannequins with dimensions similar to a shopper's in a sort of virtual fitting room.

"Robots are a fantastic tool to see how garments look on differently sized human bodies", said Heikki Haldre, co-founder and CEO of the Estonia-based company.

Each garment is photographed 2000 times, accounting for the permutations of body measurements that the robots morph into.

"When the customer goes online to see the garment on their body measurements, they are seeing one of those pre-recorded images," said Haldre.

Fits.me's virtual fitting rooms are currently being used by retailers such as Thomas Pink and Ermenegildo Zegna.

Haldre said that users of the technology are almost 10 times more likely to make a purchase.

PERSONALIZING ONLINE SHOPPING

That boost is significant. Forrester Research forecasts that only 10.9 percent of apparel and accessories transactions will be conducted online by the end of 2011, far less than the 25 percent for books and 17 percent for consumer electronics.

"Books and electronics are the most penetrated categories because they're easy to purchase online -- you don't need to touch or feel them," said Sucharita Mulpuru, vice president and principal analyst of eBusiness for Forrester Research.

Mulpuru said the apparel shoppers' online hesitancy is complex, extending beyond finding the perfect fit.

"It's not just a science. A lot of it is personal preference," which is difficult for technology to address.

Moses of UPcload said accounting for people's varying tastes is something the company considered during development.

"When we started, we had this intention to tell you your size ... (but) people's preferences play an enormous role. Some people want their clothing tight, and some want it loose," he explained. Now UPcload just provides details on the fit.

Haldre of Fits.me agrees. "The fitting room looks at size from the perspective that 'it's a matter of a style', he said.

"It's surprising how many people choose a size that is not recommended by the size chart. Almost half would go for a size smaller, or even a couple sizes larger."

Looking ahead, Haldre envisions an online shopping world where people will "see how clothing will look on them -- with their face and other apparel they might be wearing."

For instance, another company, Zugara, lets customers overlay garments on themselves using a webcam.

Haldre predicted the convergence of various technologies would create a big shift in shopping, eventually leading to online making up 30 percent of apparel purchases.

But Mulpuru was more skeptical.

"I don't know that we'll ever get to 30 percent, because ultimately it's a very personal decision," she said.

"So much of what happens in a store is not just about fit. It's also about someone saying 'that looks great on you' and getting social validation for a product -- and that's something that an algorithm definitely can't account for."

(Editing by Bob Tourtellotte and Chris Michaud)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/internet/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111125/wr_nm/us_internetshopping_technology

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Development of the brain network in the fetus now measurable for the first time in the womb

ScienceDaily (Nov. 24, 2011) ? A team of researchers at the MedUni's Clinical Department of Neuroradiology and Musculoskeletal Radiology has demonstrated for the first time ever that there are fetal brain developments that can be measured using functional magnetic resonance tomography in the womb. This means, says study leader Veronika Sch?pf, that pathological changes to brain development will be detectable earlier than they are currently -- and appropriate measures can be taken in good time.

In the study, 16 foetuses between the 20^th and 36^th weeks of pregnancy were measured. Measurements were taken of the brain's resting state networks. These networks remain in a state of readiness at rest and their activity increases after appropriate stimulation. The examinations are completely stress-free for the mothers and extend "normal" MRI scans by just a few minutes.

Functional defects are detected earlier "We have been able to demonstrate, for the first time ever, that the resting state networks are formed in utero and that these can be imaged and measured using functional imaging," explains Sch?pf, who is part of the working group led by Daniela Prayer, Head of the Department of Neuroradiology and Musculoskeletal Radiology and head of the world's leading centre for pre-natal magnetic resonance imaging at the MedUni Vienna.

This discovery means that, in future, the developmental progress of brain activity in the fetus can be measured and other findings and prognoses made regarding possible malfunctioning processes. As a result, functional defects, such as of the optic nerves or motor system, can be detected while the fetus is still in the womb -- an achievement that was previously impossible -- so that parents can be offered more informed advice and counselling, for example.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Medical University of Vienna, via AlphaGalileo.

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

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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://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111124150233.htm

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Crowds hit stores for "Black Friday" deals (Reuters)

(Reuters) ? Retailers may not reap hefty gains from the longer lines of shoppers snaked around malls across the U.S. at the traditional post-Thanksgiving start of the holiday shopping season; broader bargain hunting driven by budgetary fears may depress overall holiday spending.

Eager shoppers hunted for bargains on big-screen televisions, video games and toys while fretting about their own shaky economic well-being, suggesting they may pull out their wallets for bargains but not for much else.

Some stores pushed their openings and specials up to Thanksgiving night, hoping to get a jump-start on the busiest day of their year.

The chains are trying to win big on "Black Friday," the day after the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday.

Shoppers trending younger: http://link.reuters.com/tag35s

While Black Friday has been the busiest day for years in terms of traffic at stores, it does not always mean that sales will soar for the season. Despite brisk sales right after Thanksgiving, total holiday season sales fell in both 2008 and 2009 when the recession took its hold on America's wallets.

The National Retail Federation, an industry trade group, expects 152 million people to hit stores this weekend, up 10.1 percent from last year. Yet it only expects sales for the full November-December holiday season to rise 2.8 percent, after climbing 5.2 percent in 2010.

Luxury chains, such as Saks Inc, and those catering to lower-income shoppers, such as dollar stores, are seen as the big winners this season, while mid-market retailers are expected to have a tough time winning over shoppers without the cache of the high-end set or the deep discounts others offer.

Opening early appeared to work, judging from the long lines at stores such as Toys R Us, Best Buy, Walmart and Target.

Even after a Toys R Us in New Jersey had been open for nearly an hour, at 9:50 p.m. EST on Thursday night, there was still a line of about 300 people waiting to get inside.

"It was like 'Club Toys R Us' -- one cart out, one cart in," said Charlie O'Shea, a senior retail analyst at Moody's.

After a woman walked out of the store with a large Little Tikes toy in her cart, the man waiting for her outside gave her a high-five, O'Shea said.

"People are looking for the big ticket item which is where they're going to get the most bang for their buck," said O'Shea, who also saw "a smattering of carts" with small goods.

Retail executives and analysts are predicting a more competitive season than 2010. U.S. unemployment still remains at 9 percent, European debt woes are weighing on the stock market and consumer confidence remains spotty.

This year there appeared to be some rough going, with reports of a shopper at a Los Angeles-area Walmart spraying pepper spray at a throng of shoppers to keep them away from the items she wanted. In 2008, a security officer working at a Walmart on Black Friday was trampled to death by a crowd.

EARLY START

Wal-Mart Stores Inc, Old Navy, which is part of Gap Inc, and Kmart, owned by Sears Holdings, were among the few retailers open on Thanksgiving.

Walmart began offering Black Friday deals at 10 p.m. on Thursday, while Target Corp, electronics chain Best Buy and department store chains Macy's Inc and Kohl's Corp opened at midnight - their earliest starts ever.

Other retailers, including J.C. Penney Co Inc, opened early Friday morning as they did last year.

Nelson Sepulveda, a building superintendent from Manhattan, was the first person in line at the Best Buy in Union Square, having queued up at 8 p.m. on Wednesday -- 28 hours before the store opened -- to get the $200 Sharp 42-inch LCD television, Play Station 3 games and other items he wanted.

This year, the heavy push got an even earlier start, as retailers such as Walmart and Toys R Us started offering holiday layaway programs as early as October.

Retailers from Amazon.com to Walmart were also offering online deals as Thanksgiving has become one of the biggest online shopping days of the year.

Some shoppers said that they feel as if the economy is back in a recession, leading them to change their shopping habits.

"Because of the recession, we are not going to shop as much," said Desiree Schoolfield, 49, a public service professional from Queens, who was shopping at the Toys R Us in Times Square.

About 1,000 people were waiting in line at the opening of the Target in Farmingdale, New York.

Those midnight openings drew online petition protests from store workers, and some shoppers also did not like the early openings.

Dwayne Dickson, a 19-year-old college student who works part time at Target, decided to stand in line to try to snag some small items, such as jewelry and clothing, before his Black Friday shift began.

"I will probably accidentally spend more this year on the holidays than I did last year," said Dickson, who, as a Target employee, gets an extra 10 percent discount.

For some shoppers, staying up late beat waking up for a 4 a.m. or 5 a.m. opening.

"Nobody really has to be out so early to come into the store. I really feel like that's better," Tosha Smith, a 21-year-old hotel attendant from Queens, said while shopping at Macy's.

At Macy's in Herald Square, four Occupy Wall Street activists chanted "boycott Macy's" and "stop supporting big corporations" even as about 9,000 people lined up to shop at the store.

The knock-down-drag-out fight comes as the rebound in sales cooled in October, when many top chains like Macy's and Saks reported disappointing sales.

It will be even tougher for chains that have struggled with sales declines lately, like Gap and J.C. Penney.

(Reporting by Dhanya Skariachan, Liana B. Baker and Phil Wahba in New York, Jessica Wohl in Chicago and Mihir Dalal in Jersey City, NJ; Writing by Brad Dorfman in Milwaukee and Jessica Wohl in Chicago; Editing by Jon Loades-Carter, Phil Berlowitz)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/videogames/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111125/bs_nm/us_usa_retail_thanksgiving

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Spider Spins Ant-Repellent Silk

Is that spider a picky eater? Spiders will eat ants; I used to drop big black ants into spider webs as a child to watch the mayhem. Ants panic when they find themselves in the middle of a spider web, it's almost instinctual that they are in serious trouble. The spider wakes up and is like "WTF?" and will dart out and put some serious bites to it.

I don't know about fire ants though, they might be hard to eat, or they might be prime rib for spiders. Just as long as they get the first bite in on them, it's all good.

I think there is more to being "ant repellent" than a chemical, right?

Source: http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdotScience/~3/uuFPv51HcfI/spider-spins-ant-repellent-silk

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US awaits release of 3 students held in Egypt (AP)

PHILADELPHIA ? Three American students arrested during a protest in Cairo and ordered released by an Egyptian court are in the midst of being processed by authorities there, a U.S. Embassy spokeswoman said Friday.

Katharina Gollner-Sweet, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, told The Associated Press that Derrik Sweeney, Luke Gates and Gregory Porter are being processed for their eventual release one day after a court ordered them released from police custody, according to information from Egyptian officials.

"According to the latest information that the Egyptians gave out they were ordered released in the court but they are in an administrative out-processing stage," Gollner-Sweet said.

"We are continuing to provide normal consular situations. I don't know exactly where they are."

The three U.S. college students, who attend the American University in Cairo, were arrested on the roof of a university building near Cairo's iconic Tahrir Square on Sunday. Officials accused them of throwing firebombs at security forces fighting with protesters.

A court in Egypt ordered the release of the students, a lawyer in Philadelphia confirmed Thursday.

Attorney Theodore Simon, who represents Porter, a 19-year-old student at Drexel University in Philadelphia, said he spoke by phone with Porter, describing the student's demeanor as "calm and measured, demonstrating a maturity well beyond his 19 years."

"He was extremely thankful and appreciative for our efforts and the unconditional support of his mother and father," Simon said.

Porter is from Glenside, Pa., a suburb of Philadelphia.

Sweeney's mother, Joy Sweeney, said she is "absolutely elated" at the news of her 19-year-old son's release.

"I can't wait to give him a huge hug and tell him how much I love him," she said, adding that the news of the court order was the best Thanksgiving gift.

The 21-year-old Gates is a student at Indiana University.

His parents released a statement Thursday through the school, saying they were "extremely happy" to hear that their son would soon be released.

"This has been a difficult situation, and while we are disappointed that he will be held a few days longer to complete administrative procedures related to his release, we're confident he will be home soon," Bill and Sharon Gates wrote.

The State Department released a statement saying it was trying to independently confirm the reports of the students' release.

Earlier Thursday, Egypt officials said the Abdeen Court in Cairo had ordered their release. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to the media. They did not say when the students would be released.

Joy Sweeney said she wasn't sure when her son, a student at Georgetown University, would be returning to their home in Jefferson City, Mo.

"If he can find his passport (then he'll leave) tomorrow, if not, it won't be until Monday," she said.

She said the U.S. consul general in Egypt, Roberto Powers, recommended that her son leave Egypt as soon as possible.

"He also conveyed that that was what Derrik had conveyed to him that he wanted to do. He was enjoying his experience but (was) ready to be done with it," Sweeney said.

Derrik Sweeney interned for U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-Mo., earlier this year. Luetkemeyer's spokesman Paul Sloca, said the congressman is "extremely pleased that he's safe and coming home, especially on Thanksgiving."

Sweeney said she had not prepared for a Thanksgiving celebration, although a friend had taken her some food. She said the idea of a Thanksgiving feast had seemed "absolutely irrelevant" before the news of her son's pending freedom.

Asked what she thought her son would take away from his arrest, Sweeney said she thought he would make something useful of it.

"I'm sure that he'll put a life-lesson learning experience into a positive story," Sweeney said. "He's a writer, he will write about this experience."

___

Associated Press reporter Ed Donahue in Washington contributed to this report. Hadeel Al-Shalchi reported from Cairo.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/africa/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111125/ap_on_re_us/egypt_american_students

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Pylonesque [Video]

Reader Stagecraft suggested the band Christ. (with the period) way back in the first Work Sounds, and I've finally got around to listening. They definitely fits the mold of Wednesday's Work Sounds in that their albums are ambient and not too distracting, but otherwise I'm not sure exactly how to describe it. Electronic ambient noise? That's as good as any.

If you find yourself having to work tomorrow and Friday, pull up some Christ. and try and imagine that it's not a holiday.

Rdio | Spotify | Grooveshark | Amazon

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/FPAKGjEdMBA/pylonesque

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Researchers surprised to find fatty liver disease poses no excess risk for death

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common condition associated with obesity and heart disease long thought to undermine health and longevity. But a new study by Johns Hopkins researchers suggests the condition does not affect survival.

A report on the study was published online last week in BMJ, the British medical journal.

"Physicians have considered fatty liver disease a really worrisome risk factor for cardiovascular disease," says study leader Mariana Lazo, M.D., Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine's Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research. "Our data analysis shows this doesn't appear to be the case. We were surprised to say the least because we expected to learn by how much non-alcoholic fatty liver disease increased the risk of death and instead found the answer was not at all."

Using health information collected from 11,371 Americans between 1994 and 1998 and followed for up to 18 years as part of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), the researchers checked liver enzyme levels and ultrasound tests for evidence of NAFLD, and ultimately looked at death rates associated with NAFLD. The participants ranged in age from 20 to 74 during the data collection years. Because the ultrasounds were originally taken to assess gallbladder health, Lazo and colleagues from Johns Hopkins looked at each recording to determine the presence of fat in each person's liver. People whose livers are 5 percent fat or more are considered to have NAFLD.

The Johns Hopkins team found no increase in mortality among those with NAFLD, which was identified in approximately 20 percent of the NHANES participants. At the end of the follow-up period, mortality from all causes was 22 percent, or 1,836 individuals. Cardiovascular disease was the cause of death for 716 participants, cancer for 480 and liver disease for 44.

Although the researchers found no increase in deaths, Lazo says further study is needed to determine whether more advanced NAFLD has serious long-term consequences for the liver, a vital organ that turns what we eat and drink into nutrients and filters harmful substances from the blood.

NAFLD, which some researchers have called the nation's next epidemic, is characterized by the liver's inability to break down fats and fatty build up in the organ. Found in roughly one in three Americans, it is most prevalent in those who are obese, and those with diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The spectrum of disease ranges from simple fat build-up to inflammation to the scarring and poor liver function that characterize cirrhosis. Chronic liver disease has long been associated with long-term alcohol consumption, but as the name suggests, NAFLD is found in those who are not heavy drinkers.

"We don't yet know why mortality is not affected or whether there might be some actual protective effect of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease," she says, "but it looks like the liver's ability to accumulate fat may somehow shield the body from the detrimental effects of other health problems such as obesity and diabetes," she says.

There is no treatment for NAFLD, other than lifestyle changes, including weight loss, and only a liver biopsy can determine how serious NAFLD is. Lazo says she hopes new methods are developed that more easily identify more advanced stages of NAFLD, which may not be harmless.

Still, she says, her research suggests that with respect to long-term survival of people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, "it may not matter if you have the disease or not."

###

Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

Thanks to Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions for this article.

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

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/115458/Researchers_surprised_to_find_fatty_liver_disease_poses_no_excess_risk_for_death

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The scoop on the dangers of snow shoveling

Public release date: 23-Nov-2011
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Anne Craig
anne.craig@queensu.ca
613-533-2877
Queen's University

Urban legend warns shoveling snow causes heart attacks, and the legend seems all too accurate, especially for male wintery excavators with a family history of premature cardiovascular disease

Urban legend warns shoveling snow causes heart attacks, and the legend seems all too accurate, especially for male wintery excavators with a family history of premature cardiovascular disease. However, until recently this warning was based on anecdotal reports.

Two of the most important cardiology associations in the US include snow -shoveling on their websites as a high risk physical activity, but all the citation references indicate that this warning was based one or two incidents.

"We thought that this evidence should not be enough to convince us that snow -shoveling is potentially dangerous, " says Adrian Baranchuk, a professor in Queen's School of Medicine and a cardiologist at Kingston General Hospital.

Dr. Baranchuk and his team retrospectively reviewed KGH patient records from the two previous winter seasons and discovered that of the 500 patients who came to the hospital with heart problems during this period, 7 per cent (35 patients) had started experiencing symptoms while shoveling snow.

"That is a huge number," says Dr. Baranchuk. "7 per cent of anything in medicine is a significant proportion. Also, if we take into account that we may have missed some patients who did not mention that they were shoveling snow around the time that the episode occurred, that number could easily double."

The team also identified three main factors that put individuals at a high risk when shoveling snow. The number one factor was gender (31 of the 35 patients were male), the second was a family history of premature coronary artery disease (20 of the 35 patients), and the third was smoking (16 out of 35 patients). The second two factors may carry much more weight than the first, however, since the team could not correct for high rate of snow shoveling among men in their sample.

A history of regularly taking four or more cardiac medications was found to be preventative.

###

Dr. Baranchuk collaborated on this study with Wilma Hopman (Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, KGH Clinical Research Centre), William McIntyre, (Queen's medical resident), and Salina Chan and David Schogstad-Stubbs (Queen's medical students).

These findings were recently published in Clinical Research in Cardiology.

---

[ | 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: 23-Nov-2011
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Anne Craig
anne.craig@queensu.ca
613-533-2877
Queen's University

Urban legend warns shoveling snow causes heart attacks, and the legend seems all too accurate, especially for male wintery excavators with a family history of premature cardiovascular disease

Urban legend warns shoveling snow causes heart attacks, and the legend seems all too accurate, especially for male wintery excavators with a family history of premature cardiovascular disease. However, until recently this warning was based on anecdotal reports.

Two of the most important cardiology associations in the US include snow -shoveling on their websites as a high risk physical activity, but all the citation references indicate that this warning was based one or two incidents.

"We thought that this evidence should not be enough to convince us that snow -shoveling is potentially dangerous, " says Adrian Baranchuk, a professor in Queen's School of Medicine and a cardiologist at Kingston General Hospital.

Dr. Baranchuk and his team retrospectively reviewed KGH patient records from the two previous winter seasons and discovered that of the 500 patients who came to the hospital with heart problems during this period, 7 per cent (35 patients) had started experiencing symptoms while shoveling snow.

"That is a huge number," says Dr. Baranchuk. "7 per cent of anything in medicine is a significant proportion. Also, if we take into account that we may have missed some patients who did not mention that they were shoveling snow around the time that the episode occurred, that number could easily double."

The team also identified three main factors that put individuals at a high risk when shoveling snow. The number one factor was gender (31 of the 35 patients were male), the second was a family history of premature coronary artery disease (20 of the 35 patients), and the third was smoking (16 out of 35 patients). The second two factors may carry much more weight than the first, however, since the team could not correct for high rate of snow shoveling among men in their sample.

A history of regularly taking four or more cardiac medications was found to be preventative.

###

Dr. Baranchuk collaborated on this study with Wilma Hopman (Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, KGH Clinical Research Centre), William McIntyre, (Queen's medical resident), and Salina Chan and David Schogstad-Stubbs (Queen's medical students).

These findings were recently published in Clinical Research in Cardiology.

---

[ | 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/2011-11/qu-tso112311.php

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