Saturday, June 22, 2013

Kim Kardashian, Baby Ditched By Kanye Again?!

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IKY scholarships FOR FURTHER EDUCATION/POSTGRADUATE ...

The Greece State Scholarships Foundation (?.?.?.) announces that it will offer up to fifteen (15)?scholarships to nationals (foreigners or of Greek origin) of Balkan and Eastern European?countries (non-member states of the European Union), Asia, Africa and Latin America and?fifteen (15) scholarships to nationals (foreigners or/of Greek origin) of the European Union?Member States, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, U.S.A., Canada, Japan and Oceania, for studies?in Greece, beginning in the academic year 2013-2014.

  • 15 SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED TO NATIONALS OF BALKAN AND EASTERN ?COUNTRIES (NON-MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION), ASIA, AFRICA ?LATIN AMERICA
  • 15 SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED TO NATIONALS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION MEMBER STATES,ICELAND, NORWAY, SWITZERLAND, U.S.A., CANADA, JAPAN AND OCEANIA

CATEGORIES AND DURATION OF THE SCHOLARSHIPS:

a. Postgraduate studies in combination with Modern Greek Language courses in a school?of Modern Greek Language, at a state Greek University only during the first year of the?scholarship. These courses are optional, unless otherwise stipulated by the Regulations?of the relevant University Department.

i) Master?s Degree (one (1) year up to two (2) years).
ii) Doctorate (PhD) (one (1) year up to three (3) years). Under exceptional circumstances?an additional year may be granted for those PhD students who are on the writing phase?of their thesis, with no additional expenses from the I.K.Y., but with an extended by one?year residence permit given for this purpose.

2 b. Postdoctoral research (six (6) months up to one (1) year) in combination with optional?Modern Greek Language courses in a School of Modern Greek Language, at a state Greek ?University.

c. Further education in the following subject areas: Greek Language, Literature, Philosophy,?History and Art aimed for professors of Greek studies at Universities abroad (six (6)?months up to one (1) year).

d. Specialisation in Fine Arts (attendance of seminars) ? one (1) year in combination with?optional Modern Greek Language courses in a School of Modern Greek Language, at a?state Greek University.

e. Collection of research data for applicants who are conducting PhD studies in their?country, (one (1) year).

Please note that only the scholarships of the category a. do lead to a degree award.Applicants may apply to study any subject area currently available at the Greek Universities?but may only choose one category of scholarship.

The subject area selected by the candidate to be followed must be part of the study?programme in the host university.

  1. NUMBER OF SCHOLARSHIPS
    For target group I:
    2 scholarships for a Master?s Degree
    2 scholarships for a PhD
    5 scholarships for a Postdoctoral Research
    2 scholarships for Further Education
    1 scholarship for Fine Arts
    3 scholarships for Research DataFor target group I I:
    2 scholarships for a Master?s Degree
    2 scholarships for a PhD
    5 scholarships for a Postdoctoral Research
    2 scholarships for Further Education
    1 scholarship for Fine Arts
    3 scholarships for Research Data? ??B. REQUIREMENTS FOR ELIGIBILITYApplicants should:
    1. Be foreign nationals.
    2. Hold only foreign citizenship (not both foreign and Greek).
    3. Not exceed the age limit by the application deadline as follows: a., d. and e.

    categories of scholarships: are aged 35 years (year of birth after 1978 and?onwards)
    category of scholarships: are aged 40 years (year of birth after 1973 and onwards)
    category for medical doctors: are aged 40 years (year of birth after 1973 and onwards)
    category of scholarships: are aged 55 years (year of birth after 1958 and onwards)

    4. Hold a graduate degree from a foreign recognised higher education institute.

    5. Hold a postgraduate degree (Master?s or equivalent) from a foreign or a Greek University for prospective PhD applicants. This postgraduate degree is not a prerequisite for the following categories:

    specialisation in the Fine Arts (d. category)
    collection of research data (e. category) those who are legally residents in Greece whilst undertaking PhD studies.

    Applicants for postdoctoral research studies must hold a doctoral degree (PhD) completed?at a foreign or a Greek University. However, their graduate degree (Bachelor) should be from a foreign University.

    - For further education (in the following specific subject areas of study: Greek Language,?Literature, Philosophy, History and Art), applicants should be professors in a Department of Greek studies at a foreign University. A certified document from this Department showing their employment must also be submitted along with all relevant documentation.

    - Medical doctors should have either completed their specialty or hold a postgraduate ?degree (equivalent to Master?s).

    The scholarship is strictly offered for postgraduate/doctoral studies and not for work or internship in a state hospital.

    6. Have a very good command of English or French.

    7. Have never been on a scholarship from the I.K.Y. (those who have been granted a scholarship for the IKY Programme ?Greek Language and Culture? are entitled to apply).

    8. Have not undertaken studies in Greece on a scholarship provided by any Greek authority

    II.??? Priority will be given to applicants who:

  1. i) have already established a contact with a Greek University / potential academic prior to their application.
  2. ii) have a knowledge of the Greek language.
  3. iii) have acquired all their Degrees outside Greece.
  4. For all the above-mentioned, applicants are required to provide supporting documentation.?

    C. DOCUMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED/Application ProcedureApplicants meeting the above requirements by the application deadline should submit through the Greek Diplomatic Authorities in their country of residence (or in a neighbouring??country in case of absence of a Greek Embassy or Consulate in their country) the following documents:

  1. 1. An application form (available from the Greek Diplomatic Mission, or the I.K.Y., or?downloaded copy from the I.K.Y. website at: www.iky.gr) duly completed, signed and with?one recent photograph attached.
  2. 2. An up-to-date curriculum vitae.
  3. 3. Transcripts of previous University studies (undergraduate and postgraduate) and certified?copies of the degrees obtained. Please ensure that all qualifications gained at degree (i.e?university) level and above are included.
  4. ?A document from the University where they have completed their Master?s Degree (or?equivalent), stating the duration of their studies.
  5. . A formal letter (or relative certificate) indicating the very good command -both written?and oral- of English or French (in case of non native speakers).
  6. Two (2) letters of reference, of two (2) academics (who are familiar with the area of?research and explaining how the qualification aimed at would benefit the candidate?s?research career) from a Greek or foreign university. References must only be submitted in?Greek, English or French.
  7. A research proposal with the topic (for doctoral and postdoctoral candidates).8. A formal letter from a foreign University Department (for those conducting a PhD in their?country ? e. category), certifying that part of their doctoral research has to be undertaken?at a Greek University, and the proposal for their doctoral research.9. A formal letter from a Faculty or Department of a state University or Research Centre?based in Greece certifying their undertaking of a research project signed by the supervisor?appointed.10. A formal letter from a Greek University Department (for those already conducting a PhD?at a Greek University) and who are legally residents in Greece), certifying their doctoral?status.

    11. A recent national hospital certificate or a certificate from the relevant health service?stating that the applicant does not suffer from any infectious diseases.

    12. A copy of a valid passport/identity card (those legally residents in Greece are exempted?from this validation).?Please consult the http://www.gunet.gr/02en.php for detailed information about Greek?Universities. If documentation is not in English, French or Greek, a certified translation into Greek or English must be supplied.

    In addition, documents numbered 3, 4, 8 and 11 should be certified?by the Greek Diplomatic Authorities (the Greek Embassy or Consulate), only in cases where the candidate?s state of origin is not a member of the Hague Convention (Apostille) of 5 October 1961 abolishing the requirement of legalisation for foreign public documents.

Applicants must already hold their degrees at the time of submission of their application?files. Expected degrees not awarded by the specified deadline will not be taken into?consideration.

Only complete documentation requested will be processed. (Incomplete, inadequate or?illegible application files will not be taken into consideration). Applicants must only submit?certified copies of original documents as these will not be returned. Please note that only the

letters of reference may be submitted at a later date, and in any case no later than July 31,?2013 directly to the I.K.Y.

Applicants who are legally in Greece and hold a residence permit card may only submit?directly to the I.K.Y. all the above?mentioned documents, along with a photocopy of their?residence permit card.

D. APPLICATION DEADLINE

The application deadline is July 26, 2013. You will be notified about the outcome of your?application by September 2013.

E. GENERAL SELECTION CRITERIA

1. A complete file documentation.

2. Acceptance by a Greek State University or Research Institution (for Postdoctoral?candidates) or Academic Staff.

3. Knowledge of the Greek language (and other languages).

4. Final grade of the degree(s) obtained.

5. Letters of reference.

6. Title and research proposal (where applicable).

?

G. FINANCIAL SUPPORT/Scholarship Worth

All scholarships include:

a. 600,00? (net amount ? taxes are excluded which are paid by this Foundation) as a fixed?contribution for initial expenses.
b. Free cost emergency medical treatment under the National Health Service (in public?hospitals). European citizens should have the European Insurance ? Illness Card from their?insurance agency of their country.

The scholarships for postgraduate, doctoral studies, specialisation in the Fine Arts and?collection of research data include a monthly allowance of 600,00? (net amount ? taxes are?excluded which are paid by this Foundation) for living expenses, whereas for postdoctoral and?further education studies (in the Greek Language, Literature, Philosophy and Art), a monthly?allowance of 800,00? (net amount ? taxes are excluded which are paid by this Foundation).

c. The full cost of tuition fees (net amount ? taxes are excluded which are paid by this?Foundation) to attend courses in a state School of Modern Greek Language at a Greek?University, provided only during the first year of the scholarship (where applicable).

The scholarships for doctoral studies include as well: a) up to 300,00? (net amount ? taxes?are excluded which are paid by this Foundation) to cover binding and printing costs of the PhD?thesis at the end of the scholarship and b) up to 300,00? (net amount ? taxes are excluded?which are paid by this Foundation) to cover research costs (e.g. consumables) if such expenses?are required by the programme of studies.

- Grants are not available to fund travel expenses and attendance at conferences,?seminars, symposia or research activities.

- No additional assistance or funds are provided for the spouse or other dependants of the?scholarship holder (if you plan to bring your family with you, you will need to consider cost?issues carefully).

- The scholarship will be withheld for periods spent outside Greece without the prior?permission of this Foundation.

?

Click Here to Download the Scholarship Brochure and Application Procedure

Application Form for the IKY Scholarship in Greece 2013/2014

Letter of Reference Form for the IKY Scholarship to Study in Greece

Source: http://www.opportunitiesforafricans.com/the-greece-state-scholarships-foundation-%CE%B9-%CE%BA-%CF%85-for-further-educationpostgraduate-studiespostdoctoral-research-in-greece-20132014/

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Friday, May 17, 2013

Scott Alario Photographs Tender Moments Relating to Fatherhood ...

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We are on a search for the spiritually significant, the magic in every day. What will we find that?s worth passing down? What will we conjure??Scott Alario

Photographer Scott Alario is based in Providence, Rhode Island. His series What We Conjure was made with an 8?10 view camera, and adds to the great lineage of photographers like Emmet Gowin and Nicholas Nixon who have documented those most dear to them. Alario explores his role as a father by making these pictures, occasionally appearing in them himself.

Alario has written a poem that serves as a fitting accompaniment to the images.

I don?t believe that the universe had a beginning, and nor will it have an end.
Both beginnings and ends speak of time, and time is a construct that will fail when our ability to communicate it does.

Energy moves in circles, time?s last moment stands closely to its first.
So how can it be said that we came to be, or came to be wondering about such things as the beginning of it all?

I saw you gain consciousness. It happened.
One day you weren?t, and then you were.
It was something about the sheen in your eyes, lasers:
that day they pierced me.

That?s how it must have been.?One day there was just consciousness.
I like to think it was a family, all together at once, urgently, or it could have been a slowly building sense, an awareness growing a mutually shared question, or an endless list of questions.

We will live our lives wondering, and won?t ever know.
In wondering is joy, and wondering together is an ecstatic experience that makes the going in circles part seem worth it.

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Feature Shoot Contributing Editor Matthew Leifheit is an independent writer, curator, and photographer based in New York City.

Source: http://www.featureshoot.com/2013/05/scott-alario-photographs-tender-moments-relating-to-fatherhood-and-family-life/

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Wednesday, May 1, 2013

GM says U.S. auto sales pace at lowest level since October

LONDON, April 30 (Reuters) - For Rafael Nadal to bridge a 7,000-point gap with Novak Djokovic in the ATP rankings looks like a tall order, even for a player of his qualities, yet he could still threaten the Serb's hopes of ending 2013 as world No.1. With the French Open looming large on the horizon, Nadal is back in the claycourt groove as he continues his comeback from a knee injury that sidelined him for seven months. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/gm-says-u-auto-sales-pace-lowest-level-152832462.html

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Monday, April 29, 2013

Owner arrested as Bangladesh building toll reaches 372

By Serajul Quadir and Ruma Paul

DHAKA (Reuters) - Hope for survivors under the rubble of a building that collapsed outside the capital of Bangladesh faded on Sunday, and with more than 900 people still counted as missing fears grew that the death toll could rise far beyond the latest figure of 363.

Four people were pulled alive from the wreckage of the Rana Plaza, which housed several factories making low-cost garments for Western retailers, four days after the country's worst-ever industrial accident.

Rescuers worked frantically through the morning to release several others who fire service Deputy Director Mizanur Rahman said were trapped under the mound of broken concrete and metal.

"The chances of finding people alive are dimming, so we have to step up our rescue operation to save any valuable life we can," said Major General Chowdhury Hassan Sohrawardi, coordinator of the operation at the site.

About 2,500 people have been rescued from the remains of the building in the commercial suburb of Savar, about 30 km (20 miles) from the capital, Dhaka.

Officials said the eight-storey tower had been built on spongy ground without the correct permits, and more than 3,000 workers - mainly young women - had been sent in on Wednesday morning despite warnings that it was structurally unsafe.

Police said one factory owner gave himself up following the detention of two plant bosses and two engineers the day before.

The owner of the building, identified by police as Mohammed Sohel Rana, a leader of the ruling Awami League's youth front, was still on the run. Airport and border authorities have been alerted to prevent Rana from fleeing the country.

Police have also detained several of his relatives to compel him to surrender and to find out where he might be. Local news reports said his mother, who was not being held, died of a heart attack on Saturday evening.

Anger at the negligence sparked days of protests and clashes, with police using tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets to quell demonstrators who set cars ablaze. On Sunday, however, the roads were quiet.

The main opposition, joining forces with an alliance of leftist parties which is part of the ruling coalition, called for a national strike on May 2 in protest over the incident.

BUILT ON A FILLED-IN POND

Wednesday's collapse was the third major industrial incident in five months in Bangladesh, the second-largest exporter of garments in the world behind China. In November, a fire at the Tazreen Fashion factory in a suburb of Dhaka killed 112 people.

Such incidents have raised serious questions about worker safety and low wages, and could taint the reputation of the poor South Asian country, which relies on garments for 80 percent of its exports. The industry employs about 3.6 million people, most of them women, some of whom earn as little as $38 a month.

Emdadul Islam, chief engineer of the state-run Capital Development Authority (CDA), said on Saturday that the owner of the building had not received the proper construction consent, obtaining a permit for a five-storey building from the local municipality, which did not have the authority to grant it.

"Only CDA can give such approval," he said. "We are trying to get the original design from the municipality, but since the concerned official is in hiding we cannot get it readily."

Furthermore, another three storeys had been added illegally, he said. "Savar is not an industrial zone, and for that reason no factory can be housed in Rana Plaza," Islam told Reuters.

Islam said the building had been erected on the site of a pond filled in with sand and earth, weakening the foundations.

Since the disaster, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has asked factory owners to produce building designs by July in a bid to improve safety.

(Writing by John Chalmers)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/hope-survivors-fades-bangladesh-building-toll-reaches-363-082504472.html

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Success in observation of swelling of single-particle of silicon electrode for lithium ion batteries during charging reaction

Apr. 26, 2013 ? The NIMS Global Research Center for Environment and Energy based on Nanomaterials Science (GREEN) and Tokyo Metropolitan University have measured the volumetric expansion of single particles of silicon accompanying the charging reaction. This finding demonstrated the importance of electrode design from the viewpoint of volumetric energy density.

The NIMS Global Research Center for Environment and Energy based on Nanomaterials Science (GREEN) and a research group at Tokyo Metropolitan University succeeded in measuring the volumetric expansion of single particles of silicon, which is a negative electrode material for lithium ion batteries, accompanying the charging reaction, and demonstrated the importance of electrode design from the viewpoint of volumetric energy density based on this finding.

A research group headed by Dr. Kiyoshi Kanamura (NIMS Special Researcher) and Dr. Kei Nishikawa (Postdoctoral Researcher) at the Global Research Center for Environment and Energy based on Nanomaterials Science (GREEN) of the National Institute for Materials Science (President: Sukekatsu Ushioda), in joint research with Tokyo Metropolitan University (President: Fumio Harashima), succeeded in measuring the volumetric expansion of single particles of silicon, which is a negative electrode material for lithium (Li) ion batteries, accompanying the charging reaction, and demonstrated the importance of electrode design from the viewpoint of volumetric energy density.

Li-ion batteries are a type of secondary cell in which a Li-containing transition metal oxide is used as the positive electrode and graphite is used as the negative electrode. Because Li-ion batteries have high energy density in comparison with other secondary cells, such as nickel-metal hydride (NIMH) batteries, etc., they are widely used as a power source for mobile electronics, and are also considered promising for electric vehicle (EV) and stationary power storage applications. At present, graphite is used as the negative electrode material, but in order to achieve higher energy density, materials which utilize the alloying reaction with lithium, represented by silicon, have attracted attention as next-generation negative electrode materials. The most important issues for practical application are elucidation of the mechanism of the large volume change which occur in the charging and discharging reactions, and control of those changes.

Researchers at Tokyo Metropolitan University established the technology of a single-particle measurement system to investigate the intrinsic electrochemical properties of single particles of electrode materials for Li-ion batteries. In the present research, this system was introduced in the ultra-dry room at the NIMS Global Research Center for Environment and Energy based on Nanomaterials Science (GREEN), and was used to perform electrochemical measurements of single particles (10-20?m) of silicon, which is seen as a next-generation negative electrode material. To date, the expansion ratio, etc. of single particles of silicon had been estimated from the theoretical crystal size, and volumetric changes accompanying the charging and discharging reactions had not been evaluated quantitatively. This research result was the world's first example of successful measurement of volumetric expansion of a single particle of silicon accompanying the charging reaction.

The results of this experiment clarified the fact that the volumetric expansion of silicon in the charging reaction is larger than the value estimated theoretically. Although this is thought to be due to the formation of an amorphous phase, etc. as the alloying reaction between the lithium and silicon proceeds, further study will be necessary in order to elucidate the detailed mechanism. Standards have now been established for Li-ion batteries for electric vehicle (EV) and cellphone applications. Conventionally, evaluations of material performance had centered on energy density per unit of mass. However, volumetric energy density is increasingly considered more important than mass energy density. As the present research showed, silicon displays larger volumetric expansion than the predicted value, which results in a decrease in real energy density. Thus, this research demonstrated the importance of actual measurement of volumetric expansion in the search for candidates for next-generation battery materials.

As described above, this research showed the importance of measuring the actual volumetric energy density when adopting a material that displays volumetric changes during charging/discharging in the electrodes of Li-ion batteries. Based on this result, electrode design guidelines which also consider volumetric changes are necessary in research and development in the search for next-generation materials for Li-ion batteries.

These research results was presented at the 80th Spring Meeting of the Electrochemical Society of Japan, which was held at Tohoku University on March 29.

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Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/NUozUQZsaUY/130428144958.htm

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The iTunes Store Is A Decade Old Today

For better or worse, Apple has been peddling digital wares for ten years through its iTunes store. What started as a 99 cent, iPod-centric music seller has evolved into the billion dollar behemoth we know today.

iTunes sells 35 million songs in 119 countries, movies in 109 countries and 850,000 iOS apps in 155 countries. After launching iTunes in 2003, Apple added podcasts in 2005, movies in 2006, and the App Store in 2008, along with iTunes U. It's not the most navigable or inexpensive place to shop for media, but the iTunes store is deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem.

Tomorrow will be just another day of downloads and syncing, but today you can reminisce about the top albums and songs from every year that iTunes has been around, and continue to be nonplussed by the fact that the iTunes store eventually got to sell Beatles music. [MacRumors, AppAdvice]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5995481/the-itunes-store-is-a-decade-old-today

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Obama pokes fun at critics, media at annual press dinner

By Jeff Mason

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama poked fun at the media, his critics and himself on Saturday at the annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner, a star-filled event where journalists and celebrities mixed with the Washington elite.

Joined at the dinner by his wife, first lady Michelle Obama, the president gently knocked Republicans for not working with him on policy priorities and made a rare reference to his race when urging the opposition party to be cooperative.

"I know Republicans are still sorting out what happened in 2012, but one thing they all agree on is they need to do a better job reaching out to minorities," Obama said.

"And look, call me self-centered, but I can think of one minority they could start with. Hello? Think of me as a trial run, you know?" he said.

Obama, a Democrat and the first black U.S. president, won re-election in November with overwhelming support from minority voters including blacks and Hispanics.

He took a swipe at people who have doubted his religion and accused him of being a radical leftist, while he made light of his graying hair.

"These days, I look in the mirror and I have to admit, I'm not the strapping young Muslim socialist that I used to be," Obama said. "Time passes. You get a little gray."

The president is a Christian who was born in Hawaii, but he included some material for so-called "birthers" who falsely assert he was born abroad.

"I'm also hard at work on plans for the Obama Library, and some have suggested that we put it in my birthplace, but I'd rather keep it in the United States," he said.

Obama made light of his own rapid rise to power by comparing himself to Republican Senator Marco Rubio, a Hispanic from Florida who is touted as a potential presidential candidate in 2016.

"One senator who has reached across the aisle recently is Marco Rubio, but I don't know about 2016. I mean, the guy has not even finished a single term in the Senate and he thinks he's ready to be president," Obama joked. "Kids these days."

Obama began running for president during his first term as a U.S. senator from Illinois.

In a room filled with journalists, the president saved some of his most biting jokes for the press.

"I know CNN has taken some knocks lately, but the fact is I admire their commitment to cover all sides of a story, just in case one of them happens to be accurate," he said, drawing applause.

"Some of my former advisors have switched over to the dark side. For example, David Axelrod now works for MSNBC, which is a nice change of pace since MSNBC used to work for David Axelrod."

Axelrod was the chief strategist for Obama's re-election campaign and a former White House adviser. MSNBC is considered to be a liberal-leaning television network.

Obama also made light of his wife's new bangs, drawing laughter from her when he showed mock pictures of himself with the same hairdo.

(Additional reporting by Elwina Nawaguna and Peter Cooney; Editing by Paul Simao)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-pokes-fun-critics-media-annual-press-dinner-042458410.html

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Sunday, April 28, 2013

NATO crash kills 4; Taliban begin spring offensive

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) ? A NATO plane crash in southern Afghanistan killed four international troops on Saturday, the same day the Taliban announced its spring offensive and said it will target military and diplomatic sites with suicide bombers and infiltrate enemy forces to conduct deadly insider attacks.

April already has been the deadliest month so far this year across the country where Afghan security forces are increasingly taking the lead on the battlefield of the more than 11-year-old war.

The Afghan Defense Ministry said its security forces were prepared for the Taliban's new campaign, which was to start on Sunday. "The Afghan National Army is ready to neutralize the offensive," the ministry said.

Insurgents have escalated attacks to gain power and influence ahead of next year's presidential election and the planned withdrawal of most U.S. and other foreign combat troops by the end of 2014. And U.S.-backed efforts to try to reconcile the Islamic militant movement with the Afghan government are gaining little traction.

The Taliban did not immediately claim responsibility for the plane crash. NATO said initial reports indicated no enemy activity in the area where the plane went down. Coalition personnel secured the site and were investigating the cause of the crash.

The brief NATO statement did not identify the victims, or say exactly where the crash occurred in Afghanistan. However, Mohammad Jan Rasoulyar, deputy governor of the southern province of Zabul, said an aircraft belonging to foreign forces crashed Saturday afternoon in Shah Joy district.

In their announcement on Saturday, the Taliban vowed to step up violent attacks now that winter was over and warmer weather has made travel and fighting easier. The militant group said it would use every possible tactic to "detain or inflict heavy casualties on the foreign transgressors."

Taliban fighters, who seek to replace the elected Afghan government with one promoting a stricter interpretation of Islamic law, named their offensive after a legendary Muslim military commander, Khalid ibn al-Walid. Also known as the "Drawn Sword of God," he was a companion of Islam's Prophet Muhammad.

The Taliban threatened to infiltrate the Afghan security forces and conduct more attacks on Afghan policemen and soldiers as well as foreign troops.

Such attacks threaten the strength of the Afghan forces as they work to take over responsibility from coalition forces. The latest one occurred in March, when a member of a government-backed village defense unit shot and killed five of his colleagues in Badghis province in northwest Afghanistan.

April has already been the worst month for combat deaths so far this year. According to an Associated Press tally, 261 people ? including civilians, Afghan security forces and foreign troops ? have been killed in violence around the nation. During that time 217 insurgents have died.

Last year during the month of April, 179 civilians, foreign troops and Afghan security forces were killed and 268 insurgents.

Still, U.S. Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford, the top commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, said Wednesday that the security situation had improved across the country, with Afghan forces now leading 80 percent of all conventional operations.

As the traditional fighting season begins, the insurgents will face a combined Afghan force of 350,000 soldiers and police, he said.

"The insurgency can no longer use the justification that it is fighting foreign occupiers ? that message rings hollow," Dunford said in a statement.

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid disagreed with that assessment.

"The foreign forces will be our primary targets. The second target will be the government of Kabul. The third one will be the other foreign countries who are acting against our mujahedeen," or holy warriors, he said in an interview with AP Television News.

___

AP writer Rahim Faiez in Kabul contributed to this report.

___

Follow Thomas Wagner on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/tjpwagner.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/nato-crash-kills-4-taliban-begin-spring-offensive-192037084.html

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Conversion from 'bad' fat to good fat

Apr. 28, 2013 ? Scientists from ETH Zurich have shown for the first time that brown and white fat cells in a living organism can be converted from one cell type to the other. Their work, using mice as a model organism, provides important new insights into the origin of brown fat cells, which is a prerequisite for the development of successful anti-obesity therapies.

Two types of fat cells can be found in mammals and hence in humans: White fat cells function mainly as highly flexible energy stores which are filled in times of calorie abundance. The fat is stored in the form of lipid droplets, which are mobilized when energy is needed. Diametrically opposed in function are the so-called brown adipocytes: These cells specialize in burning energy in the form of fat and sugar to produce heat. New-born babies possess substantial amounts of brown fat and utilize it to maintain body temperature. Since it was recently shown that brown adipocytes also exist in adult humans, research has focused on understanding how brown adipocytes are formed. The ultimate goal of these efforts is to increase brown adipocyte number and activity in obese humans, allowing them to burn excess calories and thus reduce weight.

Against the current belief

It is known that both humans and mice can adapt to cold temperatures by forming brown fat cells within their white fat depots. These cells are called "brite" fat cells (brown-in-white) and are less common at warmer versus colder temperatures. However, the origin of these special brown adipocytes has remained a matter of debate. The prevalent hypothesis was that brite cells are formed from special precursor cells and are removed when no longer needed. The alternate idea of a direct interconversion between white and brown fat cells gained less attention. By demonstrating that this interconversion does occur and is one of the main contributors to brite fat cell formation, the current belief has been challenged.

Genetically labelled fat cells

To demonstrate how brite fat cells are formed the researchers in the laboratory of Christian Wolfrum, a professor at the Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, generated mice that allowed them to genetically label specific fat cells. These animals were kept in a changing environment: starting at 8?C for a week and for several weeks afterwards at normal room temperature. During the cold exposure, the mice formed brown adipocytes in their white fat depots -- a process called "britening." After warm adaptation the fat tissue turned white again. Using the genetic markers the scientists concluded from these experiments that white fat cells can convert into brown fat cells and vice versa. As humans have the same type of cells as mice it is likely that the same process occurs in humans upon cold stimulation.

Treatments against obesity

"To develop new treatment strategies we need to find ways to convert white into brown adipocytes," says Wolfrum. Most of the research has focused on identifying the precursor cells for brown fat cells, an approach that may be insufficient. Future work will address the question of how to manipulate this interconversion process either by pharmacological or by nutritional means.

This approach would represent a novel strategy. "Current anti-obesity therapies target the energy intake side of the equation by controlling appetite and the uptake of nutrients," says Wolfrum. The pharmacological treatments that are available are not very efficient and usually are associated with side effects. In contrast, this novel approach to treat obesity would target the energy expenditure side of the equation by promoting brown fat formation.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by ETH Zurich, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

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


Journal Reference:

  1. Matthias Rosenwald, Aliki Perdikari, Thomas R?licke, Christian Wolfrum. Bi-directional interconversion of brite and white?adipocytes. Nature Cell Biology, 2013; DOI: 10.1038/ncb2740

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/3LfJOKXIqoE/130428144925.htm

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Insurance Cards Could Go Digital Under Missouri Bill ? CBS St. Louis

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) ? The smartphone era could spare Missouri motorists from digging through their glove boxes for their insurance cards when they?re stopped by law enforcement.

State senators passed legislation (SB317) Thursday that would authorize drivers to show digital images of their proof-of-insurance cards to law enforcement officers or state licensing clerks instead of having to present a piece of paper. The bill now goes to the House.

The legislation is sponsored by Republican Sen. Gary Romine, of Farmington. He says paper insurance cards easily get lost in vehicle glove boxes. But he says many people now have a smartphone readily available at their side.

The bill says police and licensing clerks cannot be held liable if they accidentally drop a person?s smartphone while verifying vehicle insurance.

? Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2013/04/26/insurance-cards-could-go-digital-under-missouri-bill/

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Saturday, April 27, 2013

Red panda shows off its strength with pullups

* Lewandowski scored four goals against Real Madrid * Poland international refuses contract extension (adds details, background) BERLIN, April 26 (Reuters) - Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski have not signed a deal, the newly-crowned champions said on Friday, shooting down widespread speculation of another imminent surprise transfer. "Bayern, as opposed to some reports, has no contract with Robert Lewandowski," the Bavarian Champions League semi-finalists said in a brief statement. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/red-panda-bear-shows-off-strength-pull-ups-155523646.html

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'One Life to Live' divas will duke it out

By Michael Maloney, TODAY contributor

Just like a phoenix -- and Victor Lord, more than once -- "One Life to Live" is rising from the ashes. The axed ABC serial returns Monday, April 29 as a Web soap on The Online Network -- and on Hulu and iTunes, too. The show's revival came as a pleasant surprise not only to fans but also the actors on the show.

David M. Russell

Erica Slezak and Corbin Bleu on "One Life to Life."

Fan favorite Erika Slezak, who's re-creating her role as Victoria Lord Buchanan on the Internet venture, told TODAY.com, "I always kind of hoped we'd be back, but we had our doubts."

It took Prospect Park, the company that's relaunching both "OLTL" and "All My Children," a while to iron out deals with the unions and get the shows up and running, but their efforts are now paying off. "When they called again last November, I said yes without any hesitation," Slezak said.

While fans will meet new characters and see teens Matthew and Destiny grow up, "OLTL" devotees are most looking forward to their daily dose of core characters like Viki, Clint, Bo, Nora and Dorian.

"I've always said that the dynamic between Viki and (her former stepmother) Dorian is the strongest relationship on the show," Slezak affirmed.

The show's new creative team concurs, which is why the two divas will be squaring off in the premiere episode.

"Dorian's gotten herself into a whole heap of trouble in Washington, D.C.," Slezak said. "Being Dorian, she thought she could just take care of it. Unfortunately, she can't. It comes to Viki's attention at [Llanview's newspaper] The Banner. We have to take care of it and, boy is Dorian unhappy! Day one starts with Dorian yelling at Viki."

The Viki-Dorian feud is an "OLTL" staple -- as is Viki's formal diction.

"That started when I played Miss Ginny in the Old West (storyline)," Slezak explained about Viki's refusal to use contractions. "People didn't say 'can't,' 'won't,' and 'didn't' back then. They'd say 'cannot,' would not,' and 'did not.' Somehow that carried over to Viki."

Viewers will have to tune in to see whether Slezak will also revive any of Viki's alters, including trashy Nikki Smith and calculating Jean Randolph.

"Nobody ever leaves Llanview permanently," Slezak said with a laugh. "If Victor Lord can keep coming back, you learn never to say never!"

Related content:

Source: http://theclicker.today.com/_news/2013/04/25/17915334-one-life-to-live-divas-viki-and-dorian-are-ready-to-duke-it-out?lite

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See Saturn at Its Best In the Weekend Night Sky

In the early hours of Sunday morning (April 28), the planet Saturn reaches opposition. This places it exactly opposite the sun in our sky.

Opposition has several effects on Saturn. Most important, it marks its arrival in the evening sky. It is now visible all night long, a treat for the many people who consider this the most beautiful object in the sky. On Saturday and Sunday night, Saturn can be found in the southeastern sky, weather permitting.

Saturn's opposition also marks the planet's maximum brightness for the year, and the brightest it has been for a number of years. At magnitude 0.2, the ringed planet now outshines the first magnitude star Spica in the constellation Virgo. Astronomers measure the brightness of night sky in terms of magnitude, with lower numbers denoting exceptional brightness. [Photos of Saturn's Dazzling Rings]

You can easily spot Saturn and Spica by following the old rule: "Arc to Arcturus, then speed on to Spica." Start by following the arc formed by the handle of the Big Dipper away from the Dipper's bowl in a broad arc across the sky, first reaching Arcturus in kite-shaped Bo?tes, and then on to Spica and Saturn in Virgo. Sparkling Spica is on the right, steady Saturn on the left. Starlight, coming from a distant point, is deflected by the Earth's atmosphere and twinkles. A planet like Saturn is larger than a star in apparent size, and so is less affected by atmospheric turbulence, so shines with a steady light.

Saturn is most famous for its magnificent set of rings. All the outer planets have rings, but Saturn's are the brightest and most easily seen. Composed of small pieces of rock and ice, these rings are thin and transparent. When the rings pass in front of a star, the star's light shines through undiminished.

How much magnification do you need to see Saturn's rings? Although some people claim to have seen them with their unaided eyes, most people need a magnification of about 25 power to see that Saturn is an oval rather than a disk. For a really good view, 100 power is much better. Even so, Saturn appears much smaller in a telescope than most people expect. Although tiny, Saturn's perfection astounds all first-time viewers.

Besides its rings, Saturn has an amazing collection of moons, 62 in all. Its brightest moons are mostly in orbits in the same plane as the rings, as you can see in the chart. Its largest moon, Titan, is one of the two largest moons in the solar system; Jupiter's Ganymede is the other. These are the only two moons large enough to have extensive atmospheres. Titan is also the farthest object from Earth on which a spacecraft has landed, the unmanned Huygens probe in 2005.

Titan can be seen easily in almost any telescope. Rhea, Tethys, and Dione can be seen with a 90mm telescope. The innermost moons, Mimas and Enceladus, are more challenging because the lie so close to the bright rings.

Iapetus is Saturn's most interesting moon. Its orbit is not in the plane of the rings, but is tilted at a steep angle. Like all large moons in the solar system, it always keeps one face turned towards its planet, but one side of Iapetus is coated with a dark sooty material. This results in Iapetus being much brighter when west of the planet that when it is to the east.

Because Saturn's moons can appear at any angle from the planet, you will need to use a planetarium software program to identify the individual moons and to distinguish them from background stars. Watching them change positions from night to night is fascinating.

Saturn holds something for every skywatcher. Everyone can enjoy spotting it in the sky, and those with telescopes can admire its rings and track the dance of its many moons.

Editor's Note: If you snap an amazing photo of Saturn and its rings and would like to share it with SPACE.com for a story or image gallery, please send comments and images to managing editor Tariq Malik at spacephotos@space.com.

This article was provided to SPACE.com by Starry Night Education, the leader in space science curriculum solutions. Follow Starry Night on Twitter @StarryNightEdu. Original article at SPACE.com.

Copyright 2013 SPACE.com, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/see-saturn-best-weekend-night-sky-161250439.html

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Friday, April 26, 2013

Smithsonian Releases 128-Year-Old Recording of Alexander Graham Bell

Seriously, how f*cking cool is that! Goosebumps and the whole nine yards.

Being able to extract the information from the disc without using its native interpreter in order to preserve it, is just brilliant. Then we just use our smart computrons to simulate it being played and voila.

We're seriously badass... I wonder if Mr. Bell was thinking the same thing!

Source: http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdotScience/~3/D4pb8SbRNt8/story01.htm

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Forced exercise may still protect against anxiety and stress

Apr. 25, 2013 ? Being forced to exercise may still help reduce anxiety and depression just as exercising voluntarily does, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Past studies have shown that people who exercise are more protected against stress-related disorders. And scientists know that the perception of control can benefit a person's mental health. But it has been an open question whether a person who feels forced to exercise, eliminating the perception of control, would still reap the anxiety-fighting benefits of the exercise.

People who may feel forced to exercise could include high school, college and professional athletes, members of the military or those who have been prescribed an exercise regimen by their doctors, said Benjamin Greenwood, an assistant research professor in CU-Boulder's Department of Integrative Physiology.

"If exercise is forced, will it still produce mental health benefits?" Greenwood asked. "It's obvious that forced exercise will still produce peripheral physiological benefits. But will it produce benefits to anxiety and depression?"

To seek an answer to the question Greenwood and his colleagues, including Monika Fleshner, a professor in the same department, designed a lab experiment using rats. During a six-week period, some rats remained sedentary, while others exercised by running on a wheel.

The rats that exercised were divided into two groups that ran a roughly equal amount of time. One group ran whenever it chose to, while the other group ran on mechanized wheels that rotated according to a predetermined schedule. For the study, the motorized wheels turned on at speeds and for periods of time that mimicked the average pattern of exercise chosen by the rats that voluntarily exercised.

After six weeks, the rats were exposed to a laboratory stressor before testing their anxiety levels the following day. The anxiety was quantified by measuring how long the rats froze, a phenomenon similar to a deer in the headlights, when they were put in an environment they had been conditioned to fear. The longer the freezing time, the greater the residual anxiety from being stressed the previous day. For comparison, some rats were also tested for anxiety without being stressed the day before.

"Regardless of whether the rats chose to run or were forced to run they were protected against stress and anxiety," said Greenwood, lead author of the study appearing in the European Journal of Neuroscience in February. The sedentary rats froze for longer periods of time than any of the active rats.

"The implications are that humans who perceive exercise as being forced -- perhaps including those who feel like they have to exercise for health reasons -- are maybe still going to get the benefits in terms of reducing anxiety and depression," he said.

Other CU-Boulder authors include Katie Spence, Danielle Crevling, Peter Clark and Wendy Craig. All the authors are members of Monika Fleshner's Stress Physiology Laboratory in the Department of Integrative Physiology.

The research was funded by the National Institutes of Mental Health and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Colorado at Boulder, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

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


Journal Reference:

  1. Benjamin N. Greenwood, Katie G. Spence, Danielle M. Crevling, Peter J. Clark, Wendy C. Craig, Monika Fleshner. Exercise-induced stress resistance is independent of exercise controllability and the medial prefrontal cortex. European Journal of Neuroscience, 2013; 37 (3): 469 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.12044

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/mind_brain/depression/~3/t1WiQj6G-qk/130425160212.htm

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First Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera footage flaunted (video)

John Brawley flaunts first Blackmagic Pocket Cinema camera video footage video

Noted Blackmagic Design shooter John Brawley has released the first footage from the company's upcoming $995 Pocket Cinema Camera that might leave your DSLR green with envy. Though it's always tough to judge compressed web footage, to our eyes it looks completely untouched by the moire, aliasing and compression artifacts that tends to plague other digital cameras. While not specifying whether he used the compressed RAW setting or not, Brawley said he shot it using a Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 Micro Four Thirds lens with image stabilization turned on, meaning that feature's likely to be enabled on the camera when it arrives in late July. He also said he was "literally grabbing shots whilst I was shopping," which bodes well for serious filmmakers with a bit more time to spare. Head past the break to admire the video.

Filed under:

Comments

Via: DVXUser

Source: John Brawley

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

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Monday, March 25, 2013

Dell board considers 2 new buyout offers

(AP) ? Dell plans to negotiate with Blackstone Group and investor Carl Icahn over new acquisition bids for the computer maker that rival an offer of more than $24 billion from investors led by founder Michael Dell.

Dell Inc. says a special committee of board members has determined the bids from buyout specialist Blackstone and Icahn could be superior to a proposal from Dell and Silver Lake Partners to buy the Round Rock, Texas, company for $13.65 per share.

The company says Michael Dell is willing to work with third parties on alternate acquisition proposals.

Blackstone is proposing to buy the company for $14.25 per share. Icahn wants to buy up to 58 percent of Dell's shares for $15 each.

Icahn and other investors have criticized Michael Dell's bid as too low.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2013-03-25-Dell-Acquisition/id-17cc99a79c3a4cb7bab222cbeefacefc

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Thursday, March 14, 2013

Small biz confidence up, not enough to boost hiring

Small-business owners' confidence improved a bit in February, but entrepreneurs still aren't feeling a surge of optimism ? or hiring.

That's the finding of a monthly survey by the National Federation of Independent Business. The group said Tuesday that its small-business optimism index edged up 1.9 points to 90.8 points from 88.9 points in January.

"While the Fortune 500 are enjoying record high earnings, Main Street earnings remain depressed," said NFIB chief economist Bill Dunkelberg in a prepared statement. "Far more firms report sales down quarter over quarter than up."

"Until owners' forecast for the economy improves substantially, there will be little boost to hiring and spending from the small business half of the economy," he said.

The sentiment's slight increase follows a buoyant mood on Wall Street last week as the Dow Jones industrial average reached new all-time highs. A strong employment report helped. The economy created a net 236,000 new jobs and the unemployment rate fell to 7.7 percent.

But Main Street for the most part isn't celebrating just yet. Why?

For one thing, budget cuts related to the sequester are likely to have a rolling, accumulated impact on small business. Companies with U.S. government contracts must decide which workers will likely be laid off as funds to keep them on payroll evaporate. Nervous about fallout from Washington, many small- to mid-sized employers remain cautious on spending and hiring.

Expenses associated with the Affordable Care Act are another reason why small businesses are reluctant to turn temporary workers into full-time, permanent employees.

Under the act, "full-time" is defined as averaging 30 hours per week. Small companies with 50 or more workers will need to provide full-time workers with health insurance or face a fine.

Read more: Who's Hiring: Health Care, Yes; Wall Street, No

Traditional lending options for small-business owners also remain closed. Entrepreneurs are even getting squeezed by tighter restrictions for both credit cards and home equity lines of credits, which small-business owners often fall back on to keep businesses open.

"It's a real struggle for them due to lack of access of capital," said Rohan Mathew, co-founder of the Intersect Fund, a New Brunswick, N.J.-based nonprofit that supports low-income entrepreneurs in the region.

Founded in 2008 when Mathews was a Rutgers University student, Intersect Fund connects newbie upstarts with basic entrepreneurial skills such as registering as a limited liability company or LLC, implementing a bookkeeping system, crafting a marketing plan and creating a website.

The nonprofit also offers loans of up to $25,000 for, say a car, or needed repairs after Super Storm Sandy.

Read more: Youngstown's Story: Rust Belt Turns to 'Tech Belt' in the Name of Jobs

Mathew said many who reach out to the Intersect Fund have lost a wage job and have been without work for months ? even a year or more.

A separate unemployment measure that includes workers no longer looking for jobs and those working part-time for economic reasons hovers at 14.3 percent.

With limited work options and competition fierce, micro small-business owners are hoping to turn a passion ? food catering, styling hair, landscaping, tailoring clothes ? into a micro business, usually with five employees or less.

"They're not going to turn into Google or a billion-dollar business. That's not the point," Mathew said. "If they hire one to two people, that's a success."

The bottom line is support small upstarts, which generate meaningful locals jobs that are an alternative to working at a big-box retailer or fast-food restaurant in the neighborhood, Mathew said.

Looking ahead, few small-business owners anticipate conditions to improve. Three-quarters of small-business owners think business conditions will be the same or worse in six months.

? 2013 CNBC LLC. All Rights Reserved

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/economywatch/small-business-confidence-not-enough-boost-hiring-1C8823619

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Attacks on Albinos Surge in Tanzania (Voice Of America)

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/290876927?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Tuesday, March 12, 2013

COLUMBIA, S.C.: Researcher: Zombie fads peak when society ...

Source: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2013/03/11/2486318/researcher-zombie-fads-peak-when.html

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Lunar impacts created seas of molten rock

Mar. 11, 2013 ? A new analysis of data from NASA's Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) shows that molten rock may have been present on the Moon more recently and for longer periods than previously thought. Differentiation -- a settling out of rock layers as liquid rock cools -- would require thousands of years and a fluid rock sea at least six miles deep.

Early in the Moon's history an ocean of molten rock covered its entire surface. As that lunar magma ocean cooled over millions of years, it differentiated to form the Moon's crust and mantle. But according to a new analysis by planetary scientists from Brown University, this wasn't the last time the Moon's surface was melted on a massive scale.

The research, led by graduate student William Vaughan, shows that the impact event that formed the Orientale basin on the Moon's western edge and far side produced a sea of melted rock 220 miles across and at least six miles deep. Similar seas of impact melt were probably present at various times in at least 30 other large impact basins on the Moon.

The research is published in the April issue of the journal Icarus.

Vaughan and his colleagues show that as these melt seas cooled, they differentiated in a way that was similar to the lunar magma ocean. As a result, rocks formed in melt seas could be mistaken for "pristine" rocks formed very early in the Moon's history, the researchers say.

"This work adds the concept of impact melt magma seas to the lexicon of lunar rock-forming processes," said planetary geologist James W. Head III, the Scherck Distinguished Professor of Geological Sciences and the senior researcher involved in the study. "It emphasizes that one must consider the detailed point of origin of the rocks in order to interpret them correctly."

That includes rocks brought back during the Apollo program and Russia's Luna missions. It's quite possible, the researchers say, that impact melt material is present in lunar samples thought to be representative of the early formation of the lunar crust. The amount of rock formed in melt seas is far from trivial. Vaughan and his colleagues estimate that impacts forming the Moon's 30 large basins produced 100 million cubic kilometers of melt, enough to make up 5 percent of the Moon's crust.

If lunar samples do include melt material, it would help to explain some puzzling findings from lunar samples. For example, in 2011 an analysis of a sample assumed to have originated in the early lunar crust suggested that the sample was 200 million years younger than the estimated time when the lunar magma ocean solidified. That led some researchers to conclude either that the Moon is younger than previously estimated or that the lunar magma ocean theory was flawed. But if that sample actually originated from a melt sea, its young age could be explained without rewriting the history of the Moon.

The melt sea at Orientale

The Orientale basin is only partly visible from Earth on the western edge of the Moon's near side. Because it's one of the few basins on the Moon that hasn't filled in with volcanic basalt, it provides a great place to investigate the geology of melt seas and to test whether they differentiate as they cool.

For the Orientale melt sea to have differentiated, it must have been liquid for a long time -- thousands of years. To be liquid that long, it must have been quite thick. That left the researchers with a question that wasn't easy to answer: How thick was the Orientale melt?

"In pictures, you're just seeing the top of an impact melt body, so we have to find a way to infer how thick it was," Vaughan said.

To do that, Vaughan and his colleagues took advantage of the fact that a liquid shrinks when it cools and solidifies. Data from the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA) showed that the sheet had subsided by about two kilometers from the surrounding rock, giving the researchers an idea of how much the sea shrank. With that data, they could calculate its volume and infer its depth.

According to the calculations, the Orientale melt sea must have been at least 10 kilometers thick. Far shallower melt sheets from impacts on Earth are known to have differentiated, so it's a safe bet that Orientale was thick enough to differentiate.

The next question was what that differentiation might look like. Based on the compositions of the lunar crust and mantle material melted, Vaughan could determine the composition of the impact melt sea. From there, he could make a model of what rocks would have formed as the melt sea cooled. According to the model, thick layers of rocks like dunite and pyroxenite form at the base of the melt sea from dense, early crystallizing minerals that sink through the melt. Other minerals float up through the melt to form layers of rocks such as norite at the top of the melt sea -- very similar to differentiation processes in the lunar magma ocean.

Vaughan's model is supported by remote sensing data from the Maunder crater, the remnant of an impact that excavated material from the melt sheet after it cooled. The data confirm a noritic composition at least four kilometers deep in the melt sheet.

Taken together, the findings suggest that impact melt seas produce rock in a way that's very similar to the lunar magma ocean. And that could help to clear up some lingering questions about the magma ocean paradigm.

"This is a mechanism by which the Moon was later modified to add petrologic complexity," Vaughan said. "It helps make sense of mineralogical data that doesn't always fit in this lunar magma ocean idea."

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Brown University.

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


Journal Reference:

  1. William M. Vaughan, James W. Head, Lionel Wilson, Paul C. Hess. Geology and petrology of enormous volumes of impact melt on the Moon: A case study of the Orientale basin impact melt sea. Icarus, 2013; 223 (2): 749 DOI: 10.1016/j.icarus.2013.01.017

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

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_science/~3/3YZ_LnhkiMc/130311151257.htm

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