North Korea can't ensure diplomats' safety if conflict erupts - UK

DEAR ABBY: My husband, "Wade," and I went into a convenience store near our home that we frequent regularly. A new employee -- a pretty, much younger girl -- stared at Wade with an expression of recognition and surprise on her face. When I asked him what that was about, he laughed it off and said I was "imagining things."The next time we saw her, Wade acted nervous and started talking fast, as if trying to distract me. He seemed to be avoiding eye contact with her. She ignored me while obviously trying to lock eyes with Wade. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/north-korea-cant-ensure-diplomats-safety-conflict-erupts-133655027.html

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U.S. says following new bird flu closely, preparing vaccine

By Julie Steenhuysen

CHICAGO (Reuters) - The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Thursday it was monitoring a new strain of bird flu and has started work on a vaccine just in case it is needed.

So far, the strain known as avian influenza A (H7N9) has only been found in China and does not appear to be capable of being passed from person to person.

The strain has killed five people, and global health officials are discussing if and when it may be necessary to start producing a vaccine.

The infections in China mark the first time humans have been afflicted by this new strain of bird flu, which causes severe respiratory illness.

CDC spokesman Tom Skinner said the agency is monitoring the situation closely and working with its domestic and international partners.

The CDC has begun reviewing genetic sequence information on the strain and started the process of making a "seed" virus, a genetically modified version of the virus that could be used by manufacturers to make a vaccine. Because the agency is using artificial or synthetic DNA for this step, Skinner said the seed virus may be available within the next few weeks.

Then, several weeks of testing the seed virus in ferrets would be required to determine if it can be used to make a vaccine. If the answer is yes, then ramping up production would take several months. All told, said Skinner, production of a vaccine against the new strain - should one be needed - would not be underway for five to six months.

Before full-scale production of a vaccine begins, however, there are several questions that must be addressed, especially whether the virus is being transmitted from person to person.

"Right now there is no evidence to suggest that is the case," Skinner said in a telephone interview.

CDC labs will also be conducting tests to see if the virus is susceptible to current antiviral drugs used to treat flu, such as Roche Holding AG's Tamiflu, he said.

However, Skinner stressed that the steps the CDC is taking are routine preparedness measures that often apply when a new flu virus is detected in people.

Most conventional flu vaccines in the United States are still made using a 60-year-old process in which the vaccine is grown in fertilized chicken eggs. That method can take several months to complete, but it is changing.

In November, Novartis won U.S. regulatory approval to sell its cell-based flu vaccine, which uses a speedier manufacturing process.

In January, privately held Protein Sciences Corp won U.S. approval to develop the first gene-based flu vaccine, which uses genetic engineering to grow portions of the virus in insect cells rather than eggs.

Other U.S. flu vaccine makers include Sanofi SA, AstraZeneca Plc and GlaxoSmithKline.

(Additional reporting by Sharon Begley in New York; Editing by Xavier Briand, Christopher Wilson and Eric Beech)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/u-says-following-bird-flu-closely-preparing-vaccine-203807377.html

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Economic indicators: Sales of cars, trucks and ... - Automotive News

LARRY P. VELLEQUETTE

April 3, 2013 - 1:47 pm ET

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Economists have long known that certain retail-level transactions -- such as the number of packages handled by UPS or FedEx -- are good indicators of the economy's overall strength or weakness.

But does the same hold true for branded automotive tchotchkes?

Last year, Chrysler Group's Mopar parts and service brand sold more than $50 million worth of licensed neon signs, pens, clothing, calendars, bar stools, clocks, tables and even remote-controlled toy trucks.

The 2012 sales were nearly triple the amount of similar branded goods Mopar sold in 2011 and included everything from a $2.50 toy metal car to a home garage storage cabinet system that cost $11,500.

In all, Mopar has developed more than 200 of such branded items that it now sells on the Internet but mainly at kiosks in dealer service areas.

Mopar's branded trinket sales pale in comparison with the merchandising juggernaut that is Jeep and the automaker's other brands, which together racked up $1.3 billion in merchandise sales last year, according to a Chrysler Group spokeswoman.

Yes, that's billion with a "b."

The biggest chunk of that dough comes from Jeep, which grabs consumers fresh from the womb with Jeep-labeled strollers and infant seats and holds them -- and their pets -- for life with a plethora of clothing, key chains, dog leashes and camping equipment.

I haven't found a Jeep-branded casket yet, but I'm sure there's one out there somewhere.

That kind of money makes it clear that there was more than one reason why Jeep was widely considered Chrysler's most valuable asset during bankruptcy proceedings.

Which brings me back to Mopar.

Unlike Jeep, Chrysler's parts and service brand doesn't have a natural fan base to sell to except as a common identity for all of Chrysler Group's brands -- "Ma Mopar," as the automaker is sometimes called.

That sales of Mopar's branded merchandise have climbed so fast is a testament that the Mopar brand itself is valued again by consumers. That this is happening less than four years after the automaker's very existence remained in doubt is no small thing.

But no matter what the brand is, if consumers are willing to spend their hard-earned money in the service line to buy a hat or a T-shirt or a penknife just because of what it says, that's something dealers need to notice.

It's an indicator, as economists say, that perceptions may be shifting.

You can reach Larry P. Vellequette at lvellequette@crain.com.

Source: http://www.autonews.com/article/20130403/BLOG06/130409946/economic-indicators-sales-of-cars-trucks-and-tchotchkes

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BracketRacket: Steve Kerr, Superman and Wheatlanta

Welcome back to BracketRacket, the one-stop shopping place for all your NCAA needs.

In this pre-Final Four edition, we've got Steve Kerr reminiscing and breaking down the national semifinals, Superman as a super fan, the missing power schools, the Big East's two-step and early odds to win the 2014 NCAA tournament.

There's also some bracket bits that include Ron Baker's 'do and Wheatlanta T-shirts.

___

Steve Kerr was a member of what may be the most cherished team in Arizona history, the 1988 Wildcats that reached the Final Four.

It's been 25 years since that magical run, but the memory of the way it ended still sticks with him.

Arizona's best perimeter shooter, he went 2 for 12 from the field and scored six points in the Wildcats' 86-78 loss to Oklahoma.

"That was very painful ? we lost and I had a lousy game," Kerr said. "It was my worst game of the season. You see the teams that lose the championship and see the tears, you understand the disappointment."

Kerr's one trip as a player didn't go so well, but he still gets excited about the NCAA tournament as he prepares for his third straight Final Four as an analyst for Turner/CBS.

"I love it," Kerr said. "It's such an incredible event and to be part of it in the broadcasting booth is amazing. I think about all the broadcasters who were never lucky enough to do a Final Four and the fact I'm able to do this three years in a row is pretty amazing."

So what does Kerr think about the matchups in this year's Final Four?

Start with Wichita State and Louisville. Do the Shockers have a shot?

"You always have to take care of the ball and I think they're going to have to adjust to the speed of the game quickly," Kerr said. "Where Louisville beats you, it's not just forcing turnovers, it's getting into your legs, they wear you down. And when you look like you've got an open shot and they're flying at you, they make you rush a little bit. You deal with all that pressure until your body wears down and you miss shots you would probably normally make, so they're going to have to adapt to speed and strength of the game itself."

Now Michigan and Syracuse.

"Michigan has small guards, but they're very capable; they have four NBA players on their roster," he said. "They're really well-coached and rarely turn the ball over. Syracuse is playing at a really high level, so I think that's a great matchup."

___

SUPERMAN'S A SUPER FAN

Actor Dean Cain grew up playing sports, earning multiple scholarship offers out of high school and a free agent contract with the Buffalo Bills before injuring his knee.

So when it comes to the NCAA tournament, it's no surprise the man who's best known for playing Superman is a super fan.

"I'll go into a pool with anyone, literally. Anything I can do," Cain told AP Entertainment Producer Nicole Evatt. "I wanted to go to Vegas with my buddies. I couldn't go, they went. ... (looking into the camera) I'm not going to forgive you guys. They all went and had a great time."

As for Cain's picks, he's from Michigan and is pulling for the Wolverines, but he lost out on getting two Final Four teams when Louisville beat Duke.

He's also a big fan of the little guys.

"I love watching the underdogs," Cain said. "I love watching teams match up that have never matched up before."

___

SOMETHING'S MISSING

This year's Final Four has some familiar teams in it with former national champions Louisville, Michigan and Syracuse all getting through to Atlanta.

There will be something missing, too.

For the first time since 1985, the Final Four will be missing the six teams with the most national championships: UCLA, Kentucky, Indiana, North Carolina, Duke and Kansas.

The six power schools, which have combined for 36 national championships, have been regulars in the national semifinals, with three of the teams making it in the same year three times and two schools getting in eight other times in the past 28 years, including Kentucky and Kansas last season.

The 1985 Final Four ? the last without the six power schools ? included Villanova, Georgetown, Memphis State and St. John's.

___

BIG EAST TWOSOME

The Big East was considered one of the toughest conferences in college basketball and came through with two teams in the Final Four: Louisville and Syracuse.

It marks the first time in four years that a conference has gotten two teams through to the Final Four. The Big East, which will be dramatically altered after realignment next season, had two in the national semifinals in 2009, too, when Connecticut and Villanova made it.

In all, it's happened 22 times since 1976, though it doesn't always increase the odds of the conference winning a championship.

Conferences that have gotten two teams into the Final Four have produced the champion 10 times, most recently Florida in 2006, when LSU also made it.

___

2014 ODDS

The 2013 NCAA tournament isn't over yet, but there are already odds on next year's bracket.

And the favorite probably won't come as a surprise after John Calipari pulled together another top-rated recruiting class: Kentucky.

According to The Greek Sports Book, Coach Cal and the Wildcats, despite missing this year's tournament, are 3-1 favorites to cut down the nets at Cowboys Stadium in North Texas next year.

Next in line is Duke at 5-1, Florida and North Carolina at 8-1, then Louisville and Memphis at 12-1.

Among the other 2013 Final Four teams, Syracuse is 15-1, while Michigan and Wichita State are 30-1.

___

BRACKET BITS

Louisville's range of emotions after Kevin Ware broke his leg, in photos: http://bit.ly/103nZ0T

Andrew Wiggins has nothing to do with this year's NCAA tournament, but he could next year for whatever school he picks. See what we mean with this spectacular dunk: http://bit.ly/12cl8CS

Check out Wichita State guard Ron Baker's 'do from his university photo. Has an 80s perm vibe to it, though we're pretty sure those curls are natural: http://bit.ly/17b9zj7

This graph of our March Madness watching habits isn't exactly scientific, but seems pretty close to us: http://bit.ly/XGqw2w

Get your Wheatlanta T-shirts here! http://bit.ly/YtxSWB

___

STAT OF THE DAY

This from our friends at STATS:

The national semifinals have historically been much kinder to Michigan teams than Louisville teams.

The Cardinals are just 2-7 all-time with a berth in the title game at stake, worst among all schools that have reached the Final Four at least six times.

Michigan, on the other hand, is 5-1 in national semifinals, the best record among the 33 schools that have appeared in that round at least three times.

___

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"Cinderella found one glasses skipper. We won four games. I don't think she found four glass slippers. Cinderella usually wins a game or two, much like Butler a couple seasons ago. When you get to this point, you're good enough to win it all." ? Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall on being a Cinderella team.

___

Follow John Marshall on Twitter at http://twitter.com/johnmarshallap

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/bracketracket-steve-kerr-superman-wheatlanta-073425566--spt.html

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Vanessa Hudgens Releases $$$ex Video

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/04/vanessa-hudgens-releases-$$$ex-video/

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Geckos keep firm grip in wet natural habitat

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Geckos' ability to stick to trees and leaves during rainforest downpours has fascinated scientists for decades, leading a group of University of Akron researchers to solve the mystery.

They discovered that wet, hydrophobic (water-repellent) surfaces like those of leaves and tree trunks secure a gecko's grip similar to the way dry surfaces do. The finding brings UA integrated bioscience doctoral candidate Alyssa Stark and her research colleagues closer to developing a synthetic adhesive that sticks when wet.

Principal investigator Stark and her fellow UA researchers Ila Badge, Nicholas Wucinich, Timothy Sullivan, Peter Niewiarowski and Ali Dhinojwala study the adhesive qualities of gecko pads, which have tiny, clingy hairs that stick like Velcro to dry surfaces. In a 2012 study, the team discovered that geckos lose their grip on wet glass. This finding led the scientists to explore how the lizards function in their natural environments.

The scientists studied the clinging power of six geckos, which they outfitted with harnesses and tugged upon gently as the lizards clung to surfaces in wet and dry conditions. The researchers found that the effect of water on adhesive strength correlates with wettability, or the ability of a liquid to maintain contact with a solid surface. On glass, which has high wettability, a film of water forms between the surface and the gecko's foot, decreasing adhesion. Conversely, on surfaces with low wettability, such as waxy leaves on tropical plants, the areas in contact with the gecko's toes remain dry and adhesion, firm.

"The geckos stuck just as well under water as they did on a dry surface, as long as the surface was hydrophobic," Stark explains. "We believe this is how geckos stick to wet leaves and tree trunks in their natural environment."

The discovery, "Surface Wettability Plays a Significant Role in Gecko Adhesion Underwater," was published April 1, 2013 by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The study has implications for the design of a synthetic gecko-inspired adhesive.

###

University of Akron: http://www.uakron.edu/

Thanks to University of Akron for this article.

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

This press release has been viewed 26 time(s).

Source: http://www.labspaces.net/127550/Geckos_keep_firm_grip_in_wet_natural_habitat

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Supernova remnant 1987A continues to reveal its secrets

Public release date: 2-Apr-2013
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Contact: Pete Wheeler
pete.wheeler@icrar.org
International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research

A team of astronomers led by the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) have succeeded in observing the death throws of a giant star in unprecedented detail.

In February of 1987 astronomers observing the Large Magellanic Cloud, a nearby dwarf galaxy, noticed the sudden appearance of what looked like a new star. In fact they weren't watching the beginnings of a star but the end of one and the brightest supernova seen from Earth in the four centuries since the telescope was invented. By the next morning news of the discovery had spread across the globe and southern hemisphere stargazers began watching the aftermath of this enormous stellar explosion, known as a supernova.

In the two and a half decades since then, the remnant of Supernova 1987A has continued to be a focus for researchers around the world, providing a wealth of information about one of the Universe's most extreme events.

In research published in the Astrophysical Journal yesterday, a team of astronomers in Australia and Hong Kong have succeeded in using the Australia Telescope Compact Array, CSIRO radio telescope in northern New South Wales, to make the highest resolution radio images of the expanding supernova remnant at millimetre wavelengths.

"Imaging distant astronomical objects like this at wavelengths less than 1 centimetre demands the most stable atmospheric conditions. For this telescope these are usually only possible during cooler winter conditions but even then, the humidity and low elevation of the site makes things very challenging," said lead author, Dr Giovanna Zanardo of ICRAR, a joint venture of Curtin University and The University of Western Australia in Perth.

Unlike optical telescopes, a radio telescope can operate in the daytime and can peer through gas and dust allowing astronomers to see the inner workings of objects like supernova remnants, radio galaxies and black holes.

"Supernova remnants are like natural particle accelerators, the radio emission we observe comes from electrons spiralling along the magnetic field lines and emitting photons every time they turn. The higher the resolution of the images the more we can learn about the structure of this object," said Professor Lister Staveley-Smith, Deputy Director of ICRAR and CAASTRO, the Centre for All-sky Astrophysics.

Scientists study the evolution of supernovae into supernova remnants to gain an insight into the dynamics of these massive explosions and the interaction of the blast wave with the surrounding medium.

"Not only have we been able to analyse the morphology of Supernova 1987A through our high resolution imaging, we have compared it to X-ray and optical data in order to model its likely history," said Professor Bryan Gaensler, Director of CAASTRO at the University of Sydney.

The team suspects a compact source or pulsar wind nebula to be sitting in the centre of the radio emission, implying that the supernova explosion did not make the star collapse into a black hole. They will now attempt to observe further into the core and see what's there.

###

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?

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

Contact: Pete Wheeler
pete.wheeler@icrar.org
International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research

A team of astronomers led by the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) have succeeded in observing the death throws of a giant star in unprecedented detail.

In February of 1987 astronomers observing the Large Magellanic Cloud, a nearby dwarf galaxy, noticed the sudden appearance of what looked like a new star. In fact they weren't watching the beginnings of a star but the end of one and the brightest supernova seen from Earth in the four centuries since the telescope was invented. By the next morning news of the discovery had spread across the globe and southern hemisphere stargazers began watching the aftermath of this enormous stellar explosion, known as a supernova.

In the two and a half decades since then, the remnant of Supernova 1987A has continued to be a focus for researchers around the world, providing a wealth of information about one of the Universe's most extreme events.

In research published in the Astrophysical Journal yesterday, a team of astronomers in Australia and Hong Kong have succeeded in using the Australia Telescope Compact Array, CSIRO radio telescope in northern New South Wales, to make the highest resolution radio images of the expanding supernova remnant at millimetre wavelengths.

"Imaging distant astronomical objects like this at wavelengths less than 1 centimetre demands the most stable atmospheric conditions. For this telescope these are usually only possible during cooler winter conditions but even then, the humidity and low elevation of the site makes things very challenging," said lead author, Dr Giovanna Zanardo of ICRAR, a joint venture of Curtin University and The University of Western Australia in Perth.

Unlike optical telescopes, a radio telescope can operate in the daytime and can peer through gas and dust allowing astronomers to see the inner workings of objects like supernova remnants, radio galaxies and black holes.

"Supernova remnants are like natural particle accelerators, the radio emission we observe comes from electrons spiralling along the magnetic field lines and emitting photons every time they turn. The higher the resolution of the images the more we can learn about the structure of this object," said Professor Lister Staveley-Smith, Deputy Director of ICRAR and CAASTRO, the Centre for All-sky Astrophysics.

Scientists study the evolution of supernovae into supernova remnants to gain an insight into the dynamics of these massive explosions and the interaction of the blast wave with the surrounding medium.

"Not only have we been able to analyse the morphology of Supernova 1987A through our high resolution imaging, we have compared it to X-ray and optical data in order to model its likely history," said Professor Bryan Gaensler, Director of CAASTRO at the University of Sydney.

The team suspects a compact source or pulsar wind nebula to be sitting in the centre of the radio emission, implying that the supernova explosion did not make the star collapse into a black hole. They will now attempt to observe further into the core and see what's there.

###

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

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

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-04/icfr-sr032713.php

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