The histological growth pattern of colorectal cancer liver metastases ...

Van den Eynden GG, Bird NC, Majeed AW, Van Laere S, Dirix LY, Vermeulen PB.

Clin Exp Metastasis. 2012 Aug;29(6):541-9.

Translational Cancer Research Unit, Augustinus Hospital, Oosterveldlaan 24, 2610, Wilrijk, Antwerp, Belgium. Gert.vandeneynden@gza.be

Abstract

Little is known about the biological characteristics that determine the prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) liver metastases. In previous work we reported three different histological patterns of the tumour-liver interface of CRC liver metastases, termed the pushing, replacement and desmoplastic growth pattern (GP). The purpose of this study was to confirm differences in angiogenic and hypoxic properties of CRC liver metastases with different GPs in a large data set and to study the value of the GP as a prognostic factor. In 205 patients undergoing a resection of CRC liver metastases, the GP of the metastasis was determined using haematoxylin-eosin and Gordon Sweet?s silver staining. The tumour cell proliferation fraction (TCP%), endothelial cell proliferation fraction (ECP%) and carbonic anhydrase 9 (CA9) expression were determined using immunohistochemistry. Standard clinicopathological data and overall survival were recorded. 27.8, 15.6, 34.6 and 17.6 % of liver metastases had a replacement, pushing, desmoplastic and mixed GP, respectively. Analyses of TCP%, ECP% and CA9 expression demonstrated that CRC liver metastases with a replacement GP are non-angiogenic, while the ones with a pushing GP are the most angiogenic with angiogenesis being, at least partially, hypoxia-driven. GP (pushing or not) was the only independent predictor of survival at 2 years. CRC liver metastases grow according to different GP patterns with different angiogenic properties. At 2 years of follow-up a GP with a pushing component was an independent predictor of poor survival, suggesting that the pushing GP is characterized by a more aggressive tumour biology. Further elucidation of the mechanisms and biological pathways involved in and responsible for the differences in GP between CRC liver metastases in different patients might lead to therapeutic agents and strategies taking advantage of this 2 year ?window of opportunity?.

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Additional Information:

Liver metastases of solid tumors are a heterogeneous disease that is difficult to manage with current treatment strategies. The underlying biology of this heterogeneity is poorly understood. However, differences in the interaction between tumor cells and several components of the liver microenvironment seem to play an important role.

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Earlier, we described 3 different histological growth patterns of liver metastases of solid tumours in general and of colorectal cancer in particular, based on the microscopical appearance and composition of the tumor-liver interface. It is a robust, easy-to-assess and reproducible histopathological parameter. These growth patterns are the obvious result of heterogeneity in tumor-stroma interactions and several lines of evidence have shown differences in hypoxia and vascularisation, inflammatory infiltrate and proteinase expression between different growth patterns (1-4). Our current paper describes the first evidence that the histological growth pattern of colorectal cancer liver metastases has prognostic value and as such also mirrors (part of) the clinical heterogeneity of the disease.

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On the one hand, our future research will now focus on the underlying biology of these growth patterns. Further insights in how heterogeneity of tumor-stroma interactions of liver metastases causes a different growth pattern, might lead to the discovery of new therapeutic targets. On the other hand, we will further investigate the role of the histological growth pattern in clinical disease management of patients with liver metastases: for this purpose the development of powerful imaging techniques to predict the growth pattern non-invasively is essential.

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References

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1.???? Vermeulen PB, Colpaert C, Salgado R, Royers R, Hellemans H, Van Den Heuvel E, et al. Liver metastases from colorectal adenocarcinomas grow in three patterns with different angiogenesis and desmoplasia. J. Pathol. 2001Oct.;195(3):336?42.

2.???? Stessels F, Van den Eynden G, Van der Auwera I, Salgado R, Van Den Heuvel E, Harris AL, et al. Breast adenocarcinoma liver metastases, in contrast to colorectal cancer liver metastases, display a non-angiogenic growth pattern that preserves the stroma and lacks hypoxia. Br. J. Cancer. 2004Apr.5;90(7):1429?36.

3.???? Illemann M, Bird N, Majeed A, Laerum OD, Lund LR, Dan? K, et al. Two distinct expression patterns of urokinase, urokinase receptor and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in colon cancer liver metastases. Int. J. Cancer. 2009Apr.15;124(8):1860?70.

4.???? Eefsen RL, Van den Eynden GG. Histopathological growth pattern, proteolysis and angiogenesis in chemonaive patients resected for multiple colorectal liver metastases. Journal Of Oncology. 2012;In press: 907971.

Source: http://globalmedicaldiscovery.com/key-scientific-articles/the-histological-growth-pattern-of-colorectal-cancer-liver-metastases-has-prognostic-value/

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Did Dan Savage?s marriage cause Mormon GOP Sen. Crapo?s DUI? (Americablog)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, News Feeds and News via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/272898081?client_source=feed&format=rss

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rosetrimble23: humus arbores: candida carnation: Biology Syllabus ...

If you?re encountered with biology syllabus assessment in that case he/she really needs to fully grasp the exact objectives to make sure that he/she are able to comprehend the objective. There are 3 well-known objectives concerning learning the field of biology which generally are to have practical knowledge with understanding, ability to actually deal with important information and resolve issues in conjunction with learning experimental skillsets as well as inspections.

The actual Biology Syllabus entails of scientific phenomena specifics hence these particular 3 important objectives are crucial for the main assessment procedure. A few other reasons for assessment are to be capable of making predictions, address issues, manipulate data and locate ideal sources to get knowledge acquisition.

19 December 2012 | Reference and Education

Source: http://www.apodimosstudents.com/reference-and-education/biology-syllabus-so-what-does-the-subject-focused-on/

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Source: http://candida-carnation.blogspot.com/2012/12/biology-syllabus-so-what-does-subject.html

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Source: http://humus-arbores.blogspot.com/2012/12/candida-carnation-biology-syllabus-so.html

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Source: http://rosetrimble23.blogspot.com/2012/12/humus-arbores-candida-carnation-biology.html

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Having A Great Commercial Real Estate Agent Is ... - Maynas Eric

Commercial property is similar to a double-edged sword. It can make you big profits, but it may also be financially devastating. The trick is to choose wisely, know what property is marketable, and have the means to get the money for the transaction. This article can provide you with some of the information that you need to succeed in real estate.

Think about any environmental concerns that the property poses. A thing that people are often worried about is that your commercial property may have hazardous waste problems. Regardless of whether or not you caused the problem, as the landowner it is your responsibility to fix it.

You should go ahead and advertise any commercial property for both far and local people. Many make a mistake in assuming that the only people who want to buy their commercial real estate property are those who are local buyers. There are many private investors who will buy affordable priced property in any area.

TIP! Unlike a home loan, you will need a higher percentage down payment for a commercial real estate loan. Looking for good lenders and great investments through the resources you can utilize will help you qualify for the loans you seek.

Your investment might prove to be time-consuming in the beginning. First you will need to find a property that you think is worth purchasing, and you may have to remodel or repair it. Do not become discouraged due to the time-consuming nature of this process. Your efforts will be rewarded.

If you are selecting a broker, ascertain the amount of experience they have had within the commercial real estate market. Make sure that they are experts in the area in which you are selling or buying. Also, consider entering into an agreement that will be exclusive between you and that broker.

TIP! You should meet with a tax adviser before you buy anything. A tax adviser can let you know how much money the buildings will cost you, and the amount of your income that will be taxable.

Carefully peruse the disclosure statements issued by the real estate agency you intend to hire. Never neglect the fact that you may be dealing with a ?dual agency.? When dual agency exists, the agency advocates for both parties in the transaction. When dual agency happens the Realtor on behalf of both parties. It should be disclosed if there?s a dual agency, along with an agreement by both parties.

Keep your eyes open for motivated sellers. Finding them should be your goal, particularly the ones most ready to offer you a below market deal. When you find the right deal, it really helps if the seller is motivated to sell quickly.

If inspections are included in your real estate transaction, as they usually are, make a request to see the inspectors? credentials. This guideline is especially important when working with people who deal in pest management; these specific fields are often populated by practitioners who lack proper credentials. By hiring an experienced professional, you?re less likely to run into problems after you buy the property.

TIP! Get yourself set up online before you buy any property. These days, a website is a must as are accounts on professional networking sites like LinkedIn.

Those who invest in commercial real estate should be aware that higher-than-usual inflation can wreck and otherwise-good investment. In the past, most leases had various built-in clauses that had their price adjusted to the CPI, which protected those who signed from inflation. Unfortunately, in today?s market, this practice is very seldom used. This can make you defenseless against the consequences of inflation.

Look for the opportunity to buy something big. Although you may feel overwhelmed by the number of units you will be responsible for in a large building, it actually doesn?t take more work to take care of large buildings successfully. Plus, larger buildings are cheaper in the long run?you pay less for each unit if the building has more units.

Remember that size is everything when you are shopping for a permanent space for a growing business. Purchasing a larger space that can accommodate growth ensures that you are not forced to repeat the shopping process in the near future.

TIP! If you plan to finance your commercial investments, you must first ensure that you are backed by a competent legal adviser. It is best to always be protected by a trustworthy, knowledgeable legal professional who can help you to resolve any issues that may arise.

As mentioned in this article, investing in commercial real estate takes work and should not be considered free money. It takes effort, time, and a lot of money (initially) to be successful. You will also have to take some risks.

Source: http://www.maynaseric.com/having-a-great-commercial-real-estate-agent-is-critical-to-your-purchase-4

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Bethenny Frankel and husband of 2 years separating

FIle - In this March 17, 2011 file photo, reality TV personality Bethenny Frankel poses for a portrait in New York. Frankel released a statement Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012, announcing the split of with husband Jason Hoppy. She and Hoppy married in 2010 and have a daughter, Bryn, who was born that same year. (AP Photo/Jeff Christensen, file)

FIle - In this March 17, 2011 file photo, reality TV personality Bethenny Frankel poses for a portrait in New York. Frankel released a statement Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012, announcing the split of with husband Jason Hoppy. She and Hoppy married in 2010 and have a daughter, Bryn, who was born that same year. (AP Photo/Jeff Christensen, file)

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? Bethenny Frankel and husband Jason Hoppy are separating.

The 42-year-old TV personality, chef, author and entrepreneur told The Associated Press Sunday that the split brings her "great sadness."

"This was an extremely difficult decision that as a woman and a mother, I have to accept as the best choice for our family," Frankel said. "We have love and respect for one another and will continue to amicably co-parent our daughter who is and will always remain our first priority. This is an immensely painful and heartbreaking time for us."

Frankel and Hoppy were married in 2010 and have a daughter, Bryn, who was born that same year. The couple's courtship and marriage were documented in two reality series, "Bethenny Getting Married?" and "Bethenny Ever After..." Frankel gained fame as a star of "The Real Housewives of New York City." Since her stint on the Bravo show, she has written four books, released a fitness video and founded her Skinnygirl line of cocktails, shapewear and nutritional supplements.

She launched a talk show, "Bethenny," over the summer that is set to air nationally on Fox stations in 2013.

___

AP Entertainment Writer Sandy Cohen is on Twitter: www.twitter.com/APSandy .

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2012-12-23-People-Bethenny%20Frankel/id-f3f6e38f63414e49b85717e4182e9a25

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The 10 Leading Sports Gear Stores In The Usa - watchstraps blog ...

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Winter Dining Round the Family Dining Table is back | ArticleBro ...

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The Daily Grind: What gaming-related choice would you have ...

If you're reading this, it's proof that the end of the Mayan calendar did not result in the end of civilization and the world. Shocking, really. But if it had ended yesterday, there are a few things that I really would have been sad about. I can just see myself looking at the rising waves of burning destruction and thinking that now I'd really never get a chance to play WildStar. And I'd be dead, but priorities.

So let's turn this over to you, dear readers. If the world had ended, as everything crumbled to ash, what gaming-related thing would you have regretted? Would you have wished that you had played Tabula Rasa when you had the chance? That you had specced for tanking instead of damage in Star Wars: The Old Republic? That you had waited until The Secret World was buy-to-play before picking up a copy? Or just that you hadn't tried to talk to your guild by voice chat while you were a bit tipsy?

Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!

Source: http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/12/22/the-daily-grind-what-gaming-related-choice-would-you-have-regre/

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Could Climate Change Boost Toxic Algal Blooms in the Oceans?

In 1799 about a hundred Aleut hunters working for a Russian-American trading group died in Alaska?s Peril Strait only two hours after eating black mussels collected there. Those who survived did so because they threw up after desperately consuming gunpowder, tobacco and alcohol to purge toxin from their bodies. This was the first recorded incidence of paralytic shellfish poisoning on the west coast of North America. The Aleuts were killed by natural poisons known as toxins produced by certain algae that were trapped in the mussels? food-gathering filters. Filter feeders like shellfish, some finned fish and other animals concentrate the toxins present in these algae. Physical and chemical conditions cause populations of algae to wax and wane in cycles. Out of the vast diversity of plankton in the oceans, the worst offenders are a few species of diatoms, dinoflagellates and cyanobacteria, collectively called harmful algae. For example, some diatoms make domoic acid, which causes vomiting, cramping, headache and even seizures and memory loss; some dinoflagellates produce saxitoxin, which causes numbness, staggering and respiratory failure, among other symptoms. Toxic blooms can occur naturally when deep, nutrient-rich water wells up in places like the west coasts of North and South America. They can be amplified by land runoff of fertilizers and other chemicals that provide nutrients such as phosphorus. Algal blooms have been increasing in coastal waters nearly everywhere. In mid-December 2012 recreational mussel harvesting was closed along the entire Oregon coast because the mussels were contaminated with paralytic shellfish toxins. In 2002 razor clam harvesting was prohibited for the full season in Washington State because of high domoic acid levels. Florida?s coastline has frequent outbreaks of the toxic dinoflagellate Karenia brevis, whose toxins can escape into the air and cause severe respiratory distress. Today in the U.S. alone such incidents cause $82 million in public health costs and economic damages to fisheries and tourism annually, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). These costs include emergency room visits and other medical treatment, lost work productivity, and fewer dollars reaching local businesses if beaches and sport or commercial fishing is curtailed. Now scientists are investigating whether climate change could contribute to toxic blooms. As atmospheric carbon dioxide increases, the greenhouse gas is absorbed into ocean water, making it more acidic. The most obvious peril is that marine organisms like clams and sea snails either can?t build their calcium carbonate shells or find their housing harder to maintain. Acidifying ocean conditions could cause toxic algae to become nastier and more abundant. Conversely, the organisms might simply adapt without becoming more poisonous; their numbers could even be reduced. Of course, researchers must assess ocean acidification as one of many simultaneous stressors in the oceanic environment. Scientists don?t fully understand the relationship between growth rates, toxin production and ocean conditions for these algae. Some species are known to ramp-up toxin production as a defense against predators, others in response to low supplies of crucial nutrients. Another possibility is that the toxins are simply a way for a diatom or dinoflagellate to store excess nutrients, such as carbon or nitrogen, rather than a stress response, says microbial ecologist William Cochlan of San Francisco State University. To see how nutrient limitation and acidification interact, Avery Tatters, a graduate student in David Hutchins?s lab at the University of Southern California, cultured the diatom Pseudo-nitzschia fraudulenta taken from southern California waters, where it blooms frequently. The species produces domoic acid. Tatters and colleagues varied the amount of dissolved CO2 and the availability of the silicate the diatoms use to make their shells. In a presentation at a recent ocean acidification conference, Tatters reported that the more CO2 and the less silicate, the higher the diatom?s toxin production?more than doubling at the level of dissolved CO2 scientists expect the oceans to reach by 2100. Earlier research by the Hutchins lab found a fourfold increase in toxicity under limited phosphorus and increased CO2 in a related species. However, Cochlan cautions, what exactly triggers toxic blooms is ?the million-dollar question? that hasn?t been answered. Sometimes algae produce more toxins ?when they are growing very well,? he says. Water temperature may also be a factor. Anke Kremp, a researcher at the Finnish Environment Institute, reported in a January 2012 study that eight strains of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium ostenfeldii grew at very different rates under increased acidity and higher temperatures. The amount of toxin in each cell didn?t always increase, but the composition of the toxic compounds consistently changed as temperature and acidity increased. A. ostenfeldii can make several nasty chemicals, and the overall trend in Kremp?s study was toward more saxitoxin?the most potent compound in its arsenal. Although this may be bad news for the Baltic Sea and other areas plagued by this dinoflagellate, Kremp also noted that the short duration of most lab studies limits what we can know about how toxic algae may evolve over the next century. Further, NOAA researcher Vera Trainer says that although some species may become more toxic, there may not be a net increase in risk to humans and other consumers of seafood. If the more harmful species become less numerous, she says, ?It?s sort of a moot point.? But if they become more toxic and more numerous, she adds, ?you?ve got a double whammy.? These conundrums illustrate how little we know. The different genetic heritages of diatoms, dinoflagellates and cyanobacteria will affect their survival. And in addition to temperature, other physical factors like available light and even large-scale ocean?atmosphere interactions like the El Ni?o?La Ni?a oscillation can affect plankton behavior. ?The work is really at an early stage,? says Ulf Riebesell, a professor of biological oceanography at the Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research in Kiel, Germany. But it is fair to say that as algae and other tiny ocean species solve new survival problems, they may force us to do the same. Follow Scientific American on Twitter @SciAm and @SciamBlogs. Visit ScientificAmerican.com for the latest in science, health and technology news.
? 2012 ScientificAmerican.com. All rights reserved.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/could-climate-change-boost-toxic-algal-blooms-oceans-130000051.html

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Colombia peace talks said advancing, many challenges ahead

HAVANA (Reuters) - Talks to end Colombia's bloody, half-century-long conflict with Marxist-led FARC rebels have made progress, but many challenges lie ahead, the government's top negotiator said on Friday.

Former vice president Humberto de la Calle, speaking after the two sides finished their second round of meetings and broke until January 14, said they had agreed on some "unprecedented mechanisms" for civic input into the peace process.

"Since November 19 when we formally began, we've had 21 sessions and more than 100 hours of intense work, and concrete advances, all as expected," said de la Calle, who read a statement but did not take questions.

"The challenge is great. We have five more points (on the agenda), all sensitive and vital," he said. "We hope to be able to advance with greater celerity and in an expedited way."

The two sides are trying to end a war that dates back to 1964 when the FARC, or Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, was formed as a communist agrarian movement to fight the country's long history of social inequality.

Tens of thousands of people have died and millions have been displaced in South America's last Marxist-led armed rebellion, a vestige of the Cold War.

Three previous peace attempts have failed, but Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos hopes a decade-long, U.S.-backed offensive has weakened the rebels enough that they will want to end the fighting on the best possible terms.

If peace is not achieved, the FARC still has 9,000 troops that can keep inflicting damage on the continent's fourth-largest economy.

The negotiations, which are being held in a Havana convention center in the ritziest part of the Cuban capital, have begun with the topic of rural development, the first of six points to be addressed.

Others range from the rebels' involvement in the illicit drug trade to their future political participation.

De la Calle said so far Colombians, whose opinions are being sought online and in public forums, had provided nearly 3,000 suggestions to aid the peace process, some of which were being closely studied.

He said the negotiators also were receiving ideas from development experts and from peasants about how to improve life for the rural poor in Colombia.

In a joint communique issued on Friday, the two sides said the conversations have been held "in an atmosphere of respect and constructive spirit."

The FARC declared a two-month unilateral ceasefire when the talks began in November in Havana and complained this week that the government had not joined it in laying down arms.

Instead, the government has kept up its offensive, killing at least 20 FARC guerrillas in one attack this month.

Santos has vowed to maintain military pressure instead of allowing the rebels to regroup as they did during previous failed peace talks a decade ago.

He wants to peace process wrapped up by November, 2013, although the rebels said it could take much longer.

FARC negotiators were scheduled to hold a press conference later on Friday.

(Reporting By Jeff Franks, Nelson Acosta and Rosa Tania Valdes; Editing by David Gregorio)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/colombia-peace-talks-said-advancing-many-challenges-ahead-195533175.html

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How You Can Begin A Effective Online Small Business

You must make a decision as to how much you will charge for your merchandise. You have to figure in the cost of the product in order to know how much you will make from selling your product. A general rule of thumb is to double the price it costs to produce. This is the standard wholesale rate for most goods. To determine the retail price, you should figure: COST X 3.

What type of company do you uncover most eye-catching? Think of your talents, desires, interests and targets. For instance, you may mix your interests in music gear and carpentry into a speaker cabinet manufacturing business enterprise. What exactly is most important, is the fact that you definitely delight in what you do. The a lot more passion you really feel, the much more prosperous it is possible to turn into along with your entrepreneur ideas, for more incentives http://le-g.com/.

Write a business objective. It needs to be short and concise but should thoroughly describe what your business is going to do. Be sure to keep this idea in mind, especially when you talk to someone about your company. This will help you sound confident when you are talking about your company, and this confidence will be apparent to your customers.

Seek strength in numbers by joining an online forum comprised of members that are home business owners just like you. There are countless forums and websites dedicated to the owners of home businesses, and the information and support that can be gained there can be invaluable. You will find many sympathetic ears in these forums, and they are normally happy to provide you with their proven suggestions to help you with any issues.

If appropriate, one way to earn profits is through membership fees. Subscribers will provide a steady stream of income on a regular basis and it is not difficult to figure out a way to integrate this profit model into your website.

Start a daycare, open a local delivery service, offer landscaping help, or even create a new grocery buying/delivering business. Find a service that you can offer that makes other people's lives easier and is in demand.

You should be honest and realistic about your expectations with your online business. Is your product excellent, and will it continue to gather interest? Do you have good business ethics?

Always save receipts if you work for your business through home. When you own a business, everything that you use for business, including costs for vehicles, is tax deductible. File all your receipts. When tax time rolls around you can determine which are eligible. If you fail to save these items you might burden yourself with more tax than you need.

Treat your clients to meals and entertainment, and you may receive tax breaks. The expense of taking clients out for meals can be used as a tax deduction. It is crucial that you keep the receipts from these dinners for proof.

Keep all of the contracts you make with your clients together, so that they are easily accessible in case of a dispute. Keep your phone and internet contracts in the same location in case you need to argue with these companies over their service.

Banner pages can be a valuable tool for your business website. This will enable you to swap banner links with different webmasters that you know. This will make your website easier to find by customers because it will improve your ratings with search engines.

Find out what people are saying about your business, product, and website. Do some research to find out what others have to say. You can ask others, read reviews and look at customer feedback. This feedback, whether negative or positive, will give you priceless insight on moving your business to where you want it to be.

If you want to save money, your business expenditures must be documented. Included business expenses are things such as Internet service and car mileage related to your work. You can receive tax deductions for many of these expenses. Small things can add up, so make sure you ferret out all the deductions you can.

It's very easy to immerse yourself within work when you work from home. You need to have a designated area where you run your business and have an area in your house that is spent just for family and friends.

When you are working, make sure your friends and family know that they should not bother you. Politely inform uninvited or early guests that you must finish your work. If you have an unexpected visitor while you are working, ask them to sit in a different room and watch a little tv or read a magazine, while you finish up what you are doing.

If you can, try and increase your income by establishing membership fees. Your site could probably set up a membership subscription to increase your profits.

Define a specific spot in your home for use as a work space. Make sure that your work space has room to organize the supplies you need. You will become more focused by doing so. Organization is one of the most important aspects of a home business.

Only log into social media sites during the day to post messages and other content that promotes your business, and save the socializing for later. These sites can cause you to waste much of your day getting caught up in things that will not help your business. Socialize at a more appropriate time, like after work.

Very first you'll want to explore the kind of business which would appeal to you most. Assess your targets, interests, and capabilities. The most vital aspect is the fact that you will need to appreciate what you're performing day in and day out. Productive entrepreneurs are the ones who feel passionate concerning the small business they personal. An entrepreneur cannot feel passionate and driven to good results if they do not appreciate what they do!

As you can see, it will require a little bit of work and dedication to make the jump. If you can manage to pull through and stick to the plan, you will be able to accurately represent your dream in the company's image and create something that is long-lasting and profitable over the years

Source: http://subaru-forester-repair.10w40.com/questions/how-you-can-begin-a-effective-online

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Once Extinct in the Wild, Kihansi Spray Toad Returns to Tanzania (by Way of the Bronx and Toledo)

Two American zoos have helped to save an African amphibian from extinction. The Kihansi spray toad (Nectophrynoides asperginis) was declared extinct in the wild in 2009 after its only habitat, the waterfalls of Kihansi Gorge in Tanzania, dried up following the establishment of a nearby hydroelectric dam. But this month 2,000 toads returned to Kihansi, courtesy of scientists at the Wildlife Conservation Society?s (WCS) Bronx Zoo and at the Toledo Zoo. The achievement marks the first time that an extinct-in-the-wild amphibian has been returned to its native habitat.

The tiny yellow toads?which reach a length of 2.9 centimeters at their largest?were first described by scientists in 1999, the year before the Kihansi Dam went online. The hydroelectric facility now generates nearly a quarter of Tanzania?s electric supply, but it also reduced the flow of water going over the Kihansi Gorge waterfalls by 90 percent. Before that happened, the waterfalls produced a mist zone that created the toads? unique habitat, just 20,000 square meters of wet vegetative territory?the smallest known range for any known vertebrate species. After the dam was completed, the waterfall no longer produced the mists on which the toads depended.

As the mist zone disappeared, so did the toads, which were also starting to suffer from the dreaded chytrid fungus, the rapidly spreading blight that has already been responsible for dozens of amphibian extinctions around the globe. The last wild toads were observed in 2005, and the species was declared extinct in the wild in 2009.

Luckily scientists saw this disappearance coming. In 2000, at the invitation of the Tanzanian government, the Bronx Zoo collected 499 toads from the gorge to create a captive assurance population. Some of those toads were later transferred to the Toledo Zoo. After more than a decade of breeding efforts, each zoo contributed 1,000 toads toward this month?s reintroduction effort.

The revitalized Kihansi Gorge

Getting to this point was a long journey that required work in Tanzania and in the U.S. One challenge was repairing the toads? habitat at Kihansi Gorge. The World Bank funded the installation and refinement of a gravity-fed misting system that replicated the original habitat conditions. The Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (TANESCO), which operates the dam, monitors the system to make sure it receives the water it needs, and the Tanzanian government has committed to maintaining the misting system.

The other challenge was getting the frogs to breed and thrive in the U.S. ?No facilities were keeping spray toads in captivity?and this is a species with very specific needs?so Bronx Zoo staff had to figure it out,? says Don Boyer, the zoo?s herpetology curator. Both zoos built bio-secure facilities that replicated the unique microhabitat at Kihansi. ?The best husbandry practices including physical enclosure design, spray systems, water quality, health monitoring, disease-preventative measures, diet and stocking densities all had to be established.? Boyer says the team faced many challenges along the way, such as making sure the toads had the right food and, amazingly, the right diseases. ?The wild toads did have parasites and the goal of the captive colony was not to eliminate all disease and thereby make them vulnerable when they were repatriated but to maintain parasite levels comparable to the wild populations.? Each zoo now has several thousand toads in their collections.

The first 100 Kihansi spray toads from the U.S. captive assurance population returned to Tanzania in 2010, where the University of Dar es Salaam has now created its own assurance population. A few dozen of those toads made their way to Kihansi Gorge earlier this year in a closely monitored situation to see if they would be safe in the revived habitat. ?Experiments were done to see if the captive toads would be a source for chytrid infections, and could captive toads survive if exposed to water, plant and amphibians still living in the gorge,? Boyer says. ?Those results were very promising and indicated there was a very low risk. The next stage was actual soft-release experiments where captive-born spray toads were placed into screened enclosures in the upper-gorge wetlands.? The results of that experiment were encouraging enough to move forward with the full-scale reintroduction.

That reintroduction, which took place on December 11, was a full-scale event, attended by representatives from the WCS, Toledo Zoo, World Bank, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Tanzania Wildlife Research Institute, the University of Dar Es Salaam, Sokoine University of Agriculture, and local Tanzanian villagers.

In a press release, WCS president and CEO Cristi?n Samper called the reintroduction ?a momentous achievement in conservation. It clearly shows how zoos can play an important role in conservation. This has been a truly global effort to save a species.?

Now that the toads have returned, Tanzanian biologists will take up the task of monitoring the population. ?They will continue to visit the wetlands on a regular basis and conduct survey work,? Boyer says. Meanwhile, the populations at the Bronx and Toledo zoos continue to grow, as does the collection at the University of Dar es Salaam, which might also be used for future reintroductions.

Photos by Alyssa Borek courtesy of the Wildlife Conservation Society

Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=c22e41245cd22989fec97a2d5073ac9a

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#26acts: Neb. woman gives a dollar at a time

Shauna Groenewold

By Courtney Hazlett, NBC News

After covering the tragedy in Newtown, Conn., NBC News? Ann Curry wondered what could be done to ease the national suffering over the loss of 26 children and teachers at Sandy Hook Elementary. Why not, she tweeted, commit to doing one act of kindness for every child killed there? People responded ? and wanted to up that to 26 acts of kindness for every child and adult lost at the school. Now people around the country are committing random acts of kindness ? connected?through the hashtag #26Acts?(#20Acts and others are also trending). Get inspired: You can start your own acts of kindness right now.

Shauna Groenewold, the Web administrator for the state Department of Education in Lincoln, Neb., found out about #20 acts on Twitter, where she says she gets most of her news. Not knowing what she could do to help victims of Sandy Hook, it seemed like a great way to spread some good.

?I noticed that Ann Curry offered a challenge for these acts of kindness, and I think everybody feels helpless, and it feels like something you can actually do to make you feel not so helpless,? Groenewold said of wanting to participate in #20acts.

---

And the gesture Groenewold settled upon was a simple one: Attach a Post-it note with a victim?s name and #20acts to a one-dollar bill and distribute them to various charities.

?I could go around to my local community to the different buckets we have and give a dollar and it would make me think about that one person, even if just for a little bit. My goal is every place I see one, stop and put the dollar in, and focus on something good and not bad,? Groenewold explained.

And like so many people hoping to help any way they can, Groenewold didn?t set out to do her random acts of kindness in the hopes of getting any recognition. ?I don?t know if the people who count the money will notice it (the Post-It) but it was kind of more for me. The money will help them some, but it was more for me to take a moment and think about every individual person that was a victim.?

Already, Groenewold?s kindness is paying off, and spreading smiles at a time when it?s been tough to find things to smile about.

?I put a dollar in a bucket last night, and I thought I?d be really sad, but I was happy,? she said. ?The guy who was the ringer at the bucket said to me, ?You have the most beautiful Christmas smile!? I thought I could tell him what I was doing ?I didn?t. But I?ve never had anyone react to me putting a dollar in a bucket before like that. So it?s already been a cool experience.??

Related stories:
#26Acts of kindness you can do right now
Inspired to act: #26Acts of kindness to honor those lost in Newtown, Conn.

There are many questions about Friday's shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, but one being asked by just about everyone is how to best honor the victims. In Newtown and across the country, random acts of kindness are being performed in the memory of each person lost. NBC's Andrea Canning reports.

More content from NBCNews.com:

Follow US news from NBCNews.com on Twitter and Facebook

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Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/19/16024526-26acts-of-kindness-nebraska-woman-spreads-good-will-one-dollar-at-a-time?lite

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Photos: Final Capitol tribute to late Sen. Inouye

Baby, it's cold outside. And to prove it, we offer up this video shot by a man in Siberia in -41 degrees Celsius weather. The man boiled water and then tossed it over the balcony of his apartment. Normally, that sort of thing would get you arrested. But in arctic-like temperatures, the result is quite [...]

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/photos/senator-daniel-inouye-dies-at-88-slideshow/

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'Gossip Girl's' blogger revealed in series finale

By Jesse Spero, Access Hollywood

Kristen Bell might have voiced ?Gossip Girl?s? iconic ?XOXO? voiceover for the past six years on the CW series, but who was actually the writer behind the juicy dirt that wreaked havoc on the Upper East Side?

Giovanni Rufino / The CW

From left, Penn Badgley as Dan Humphrey, Michelle Trachtenberg as Georgina Sparks, Leighton Meester as Blair Waldorf, Chace Crawford as Nate Archibald and Ed Westwick as Chuck Bass on "Gossip Girl."

(SPOILER ALERT!)?

---

Photos from AH: Blake Lively: From Hollywood To The Upper East Side!?

Monday?s series finale was filled with a slew of major events, including two weddings: Blair (Leighton Meester) married Chuck (Ed Westwick) and Serena (Blake Lively) married Dan (Penn Badgley) ? but the biggest twist happened when we learned that Gossip Girl actually turned out to be a Gossip Guy!?

Penn Badgley?s Dan Humphrey character (AKA Lonely Boy) was the person behind the blog.?

Photos from AH: Penn Badgley: From ?Gossip Guy? To Big Screen Star?

?The Upper East Side was like something from Fitzgerald or Thackeray ? teenagers acting like adults, adults acting like teenagers, guarding secrets, spreading gossip all with the trappings of truly opulent wealth. And membership into this community was so elite you couldn?t even buy your way in. It was a birthright ? a birthright that I didn?t have. And my greatest achievements would never earn it,? Dan is heard saying in a voiceover.?

?All I had to compare it to was what I read in books. But that gave me the idea: I wasn?t born into this world ... maybe I could write myself into it. I overheard enough conversations to mimic the voice of the Constance girls, but every writer needs his muse and it wasn?t until that photo of Serena in the white dress that I knew I had something strong enough to actually create a legend and launch a website.?

?Within weeks I was getting dozens of emails with stories about Upper East Siders, so I posted them anonymously. And then I got more. Before long it was a monster. Everyone was sending tips ... When Serena came back from boarding school, I wrote my first post about me, Lonely Boy, the outsider, the underdog. I might have been a joke but at least people were talking about me.??

Photos from AH: ?Gossip Girl? Bad Boy Ed Westwick?

The news was met with some of the show?s trademark drama.?

?Gossip Girl ruined our lives,? Blair said. ?He schemed and lied and spread horrible stories.??

Photos from AH: ?Gossip? Guy Chace Crawford?

Serena appeared at peace with the revelation, saying, ?What he did was ? write a love letter and not just to me, to all of us. It made me realize that I don?t want to run away, that you guys are my family. I belong here. And so does Dan.??

?I guess that means it?s all over now,? Blair added. ?That we can all grow up and move on.??

?Yeah,? Dan said. ?Gossip Girl?s dead.??

Dan?s version of Gossip Girl might be over, but is there a new blogger just waiting to dish the dirt??

As the viewers saw a crop of new high-school students, Kristen Bell?s voiceover returned, saying, ?You may be rid of Dan Humphrey, but you?ll never be rid of me. There?s always someone on the outside. ... Who am I now? That?s one secret I?ll never tell.??

Were you surprised that Dan was the blogger? What did you think of the finale overall? Tell us on our Facebook page!

More in The Clicker:

Source: http://theclicker.today.com/_news/2012/12/18/15997286-gossip-girls-blogger-revealed-in-series-finale?lite

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After 3 Million Downloads, CloudOn 3.0 Now Brings Microsoft Office To iPhone, iPad Mini & Nexus 7

CloudOn, the popular free productivity service that brings the power of Microsoft Office to mobile devices, just launched version 3.0 of its mobile app. With this launch, CloudOn is bringing its service to the iPhone, iPad Mini and Nexus 7. This means CloudOn is now available on all of Apple's mobile devices, as well as on Android tablets running Honeycomb and Ice Cream Sandwich version 3.1 or higher, as well as Jelly Bean tablets running Android 4.1 or higher. A version for the new Kindle Fire HD 7 should also be available shortly.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/-VqGdc1gi8I/

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Coffee Lovers Mag Brings The Experience And Love Of Coffee to The iPad

WEBWIRE ? Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Coffee Lovers Mag is now on the iTunes store exclusive to the iPad.? It is a magazine style periodical which shares the love and experience of coffee through awesome videos, how-tos, insights into the coffee industry, and interviews with experts. Coffee Lovers Mag is for those who love coffee and want to expand their experience with the world of coffee - the magazine also aims to bring light to aspects of the coffee industry which go unnoticed - such as what it takes to bring the coffee to your cup.

Customers have been saying...
?Love Coffee - Great mag. Love coffee. The coffee madness seems to be getting bigger each day. Now there?s a magazine devoted to it. Got to love that!? - Stan W.
?CoffeeHolic Must Read! - And there I was thinking I was the only CoffeeHolic! PHEW! What a relief! This magazine means I can now resign from CoffeeHolics Anonymous. Easy to read, great functionality too. Recommended. (But without milk...)? - Norrimac

Coffee Lovers Mag is available on the iTunes Store exclusively for iPad - single issues are available at $5.99, and a monthly subscription is available for $3.99/mo.?
Coffee Lovers Mag on iTunes: http://www.coffeeloversmag.com/theMagazine

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News Release Distribution and Press Release Distribution Services Provided by WebWire.

Source: http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=167453

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A 'turbo' for solid oxide fuel cells

Public release date: 13-Dec-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Andr Heel
andre.heel@empa.ch
41-587-654-199
Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA)

HITTEC -- from waste heat to electricity

This press release is available in German.

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) directly convert chemical energy into electrical energy. Although an overall efficiency above 95 per cent can be achieved at an operating temperature of nearly 900 degrees Celsius, a certain amount thereof is waste heat and can currently only be used for domestic hot water supply or heating purposes. Andre Heel, chemical engineer and research coordinator of the strategic partnership between Empa and Hexis AG, has something else in mind. He wants to "upgrade" it into electricity using thermoelectric converters (TECs). "This will not only increase the efficiency of the fuel cell system", says Heel. "Highly efficient energy conversion technologies are also the most effective way to conserve valuable resources."

Like adhesive plasters, TECs which are already commercially available are stuck to the walls of motors, industrial ovens and other heat sources. They consist of two different types of semiconducting materials on either side. If there is a temperature gradient between the two sides, electrons are transferred from one side to the other, i.e. an electric current is induced, which can be "harvested".

Under Heel's leadership, Empa kicked-off the four-year "HITTEC" project this summer (HIgh Temperature ThermoElectric Converters). Its aim is to develop and optimize materials for TECs that can withstand elevated temperatures. Not a small feat, given that current TECs can only be operated at temperatures below 300 degrees. What's more, HITTEC materials also have to combine seemingly contradicting properties. They should, for instance, be both highly electrically conductive and at the same have a poor thermal conductivity.

A team led by Anke Weidenkaff, head of Empa's Laboratory for Solid State Chemistry and Catalysis and professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Berne, has set its sights on perovskite-type oxides. These compounds exhibit interesting properties: they are chemically and thermally stable, non-toxic, and can be produced at low cost in large volumes. A particularly promising candidate, it turned out, is tungsten-substituted calcium manganate.

In order to properly evaluate the power output of their novel high-temperature thermoelectric converters at high temperatures, Weidenkaff's team has developed unique equipment capable of faithfully replicating the extreme operating conditions experienced by HITTEC modules. But the researchers are also developing new concepts to overcome challenges in the design of the HITTEC modules. "We are not simply going to stick our converter onto an SOFC", says Weidenkaff. Instead, her team wants to integrate fuel cell and thermoelectric converters in an entirely new way, by directly using thermoelectric converters as fuel cell electrodes, that is, the site of the chemical reaction. "An ambitious idea", admits Weidenkaff. But one with a huge potential because the high-temperature ceramic materials of the SOFC conductor system are not unlike perovskite-type oxides used for HITTECs.

The project relies on a highly multidisciplinary team; Heel and Weidenkaff are cooperating with colleagues from ETH Zurich, EPF Lausanne and the Zurich University of Applied Science (ZHAW). The team's combined efforts will lead to prototypes constructed together with Hexis. Heel estimates that SOFC systems could generate up to 10 per cent extra electric power by using thermoelectric converters thus conserving a significant amount of valuable energy resources.

###

---

[ | 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: 13-Dec-2012
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Andr Heel
andre.heel@empa.ch
41-587-654-199
Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA)

HITTEC -- from waste heat to electricity

This press release is available in German.

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) directly convert chemical energy into electrical energy. Although an overall efficiency above 95 per cent can be achieved at an operating temperature of nearly 900 degrees Celsius, a certain amount thereof is waste heat and can currently only be used for domestic hot water supply or heating purposes. Andre Heel, chemical engineer and research coordinator of the strategic partnership between Empa and Hexis AG, has something else in mind. He wants to "upgrade" it into electricity using thermoelectric converters (TECs). "This will not only increase the efficiency of the fuel cell system", says Heel. "Highly efficient energy conversion technologies are also the most effective way to conserve valuable resources."

Like adhesive plasters, TECs which are already commercially available are stuck to the walls of motors, industrial ovens and other heat sources. They consist of two different types of semiconducting materials on either side. If there is a temperature gradient between the two sides, electrons are transferred from one side to the other, i.e. an electric current is induced, which can be "harvested".

Under Heel's leadership, Empa kicked-off the four-year "HITTEC" project this summer (HIgh Temperature ThermoElectric Converters). Its aim is to develop and optimize materials for TECs that can withstand elevated temperatures. Not a small feat, given that current TECs can only be operated at temperatures below 300 degrees. What's more, HITTEC materials also have to combine seemingly contradicting properties. They should, for instance, be both highly electrically conductive and at the same have a poor thermal conductivity.

A team led by Anke Weidenkaff, head of Empa's Laboratory for Solid State Chemistry and Catalysis and professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Berne, has set its sights on perovskite-type oxides. These compounds exhibit interesting properties: they are chemically and thermally stable, non-toxic, and can be produced at low cost in large volumes. A particularly promising candidate, it turned out, is tungsten-substituted calcium manganate.

In order to properly evaluate the power output of their novel high-temperature thermoelectric converters at high temperatures, Weidenkaff's team has developed unique equipment capable of faithfully replicating the extreme operating conditions experienced by HITTEC modules. But the researchers are also developing new concepts to overcome challenges in the design of the HITTEC modules. "We are not simply going to stick our converter onto an SOFC", says Weidenkaff. Instead, her team wants to integrate fuel cell and thermoelectric converters in an entirely new way, by directly using thermoelectric converters as fuel cell electrodes, that is, the site of the chemical reaction. "An ambitious idea", admits Weidenkaff. But one with a huge potential because the high-temperature ceramic materials of the SOFC conductor system are not unlike perovskite-type oxides used for HITTECs.

The project relies on a highly multidisciplinary team; Heel and Weidenkaff are cooperating with colleagues from ETH Zurich, EPF Lausanne and the Zurich University of Applied Science (ZHAW). The team's combined efforts will lead to prototypes constructed together with Hexis. Heel estimates that SOFC systems could generate up to 10 per cent extra electric power by using thermoelectric converters thus conserving a significant amount of valuable energy resources.

###

---

[ | 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/2012-12/sflf-af121312.php

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Bloggings: Human Rights: A Neglected Concept In Immigration Law ...

My distinguished colleague and fellow-blogger,?Danielle L.C. Beach-Oswald, has called attention to Human Rights Day, which we celebrated last Monday as mentioned in her comment: Make Human Rights Day Last All Year 'Round. Human Rights are rarely mentioned in discussions about immigration policy.

At least this is the case compared to economics (the main argument of immigration supporters in both parties) and, especially after the 2012, demographics (now that the Republicans have discovered that Latino and other ethnic minority US citizens actually vote in presidential elections, no matter how many attempts are made to stop them from coming to the polls).

Immigration opponents, on the other hand, tend to look at immigration mainly as a law enforcement and "national sovereignty" issue; but they also try to muster other arguments, including economic ones (such as that immigrants allegedly "steal jobs" and "lower wage levels", not to mention "overcrowded schools and emergency rooms"). Supposed environmental concerns are another favorite, as well as the??"cultural" (i.e. race) argument against immigration, which has been around ever since the time of Benjamin Franklin.?

In order to combat anti-immigrant racism and prejudice, as well as abuses in connection with overzealous immigration enforcement, immigration supporters have no hesitation in relying on the concept of Constitutional rights, but as we all know, this can be a very limited tool in protecting vulnerable people, including immigrants, against abuse. Anyone who has doubts on this point can read the majority opinion in last June's decision in?Arizona v. US, 567 US? ? ? ??(2012)?not to mention Justice Scalia's dissent in the same case, referred to in my December 12 blogging.

Does Human Rights Law have the potential to provide a broader and more reliable framework for protecting immigrant rights? If so, are there mechanisms for making at least the basic concepts of Human Rights Law part of America's immigration law and practice? The starting point for this discussion is to define what Human Rights Law is and how it applies specifically to immigration.

The UN Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants and the Committee on Migrant Workers have stated that although countries have a sovereign right to determine conditions of entry and stay, they also have an obligation to respect, protect and fulfill the human rights of all individuals under their jurisdiction, regardless of their nationality or origin and regardless of their immigration status. (See, United Nations, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights).

Is America now adhering to this standard? Not according to the ACLU, which has, with a great deal of justicification, criticized the Obama administration's enforcement policies on human rights grounds. See: The Truth about the Current State of Immigration Enforcement, ACLU, December 12.?

Perhaps the best way to look at the connection between Human Rights Law and immigration would be through The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. I will discuss this in future comments.

Source: http://blogs.ilw.com/immigrationlawblogs/2012/12/bloggings-human-rights-a-neglected-concept-in-immigration-law-by-roger-algase.html

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Is Ex-Gay Therapy A Free Speech Issue? | Care2 Causes

The simple answer to whether there is a First Amendment right to offer ex-gay therapy should, of course, be no. The long answer is that a California judge is going to put the idea on trial because he believes there may be unintended consequences from California?s ban on ex-gay therapy for under 18?s.

Federal Judge: Banning Ex-Gay Therapy May Violate the 1st Amendment

When earlier this year California passed a ban on exposing minors to ex-gay therapy the law was hailed as a landmark. For the first time in the US a state had made provisions to protect children from efforts to change their sexuality. However, ex-gay therapists soon brought legal suits to try and block the law from coming into effect on January 1, saying that it violates their freedom of speech and the right for parents to decide what is best for their children. Gay rights groups assumed these cases would get thrown out without much trouble. They were wrong.

Federal District Judge William Shubb, on Monday,?enjoined the law from going into effect, but only where it applies to the three plaintiffs in the ex-gay therapy ban challenge ? two therapists and another man who, having been subjected to the therapy when young, now wishes to become a therapist himself ? because the judge found there was cause to believe that at trial, the law would not pass muster against the First Amendment.

The basis for this ruling is that, while the APA and in fact all mainstream health practitioners agree that sexual orientation change efforts are unnecessary because being homosexual is not a pathology,?there has been little to no wide-scale clinical trials conducted regarding sexual orientation change efforts ? therefore, he contends, that while?we have plenty of stories that say this therapy is harmful, the evidence may be lacking. Therefore, banning therapists from offering sexual orientation change therapy is, essentially, a ?viewpoint-based restriction.?

In effect, Shubb is arguing this comes down to a matter of a difference of opinion as to what therapy is best for some patients, and therefore the ex-gay therapy ban actually restricts ex-gay therapists from offering change therapy when they sincerely believe there is evidence enough that this therapy can be of benefit to a patient.

Such view-point restrictions must under examination pass a high threshold of government interest to be allowed to stand, and so now it will be up to the state of California to make the case that ex-gay therapy is harmful, and to argue against the free speech angle. State Attorney Gen.?Kamala D. Harris is quoted as saying she will continue to ?vigorously? defend the law at trial.

But, to be clear, Judge Shubb did not say ex-gay therapy isn?t harmful ? by virtue of this proceeding to trial he is requiring both the state to prove that ex-gay therapy is not a valid treatment and that it can be harmful, and also ex-gay therapists to prove their treatment is a viable one.

A Second Federal Judge Refuses to Bar The Ex-Gay Therapy Ban From Going into Effect

The case is made twice as interesting because another judge this week in fact ruled against ex-gay therapists in a separate lawsuit against the new law.

U.S. District Judge Kimberly Mueller on Tuesday refused to block the ban from going into effect on January 1, saying that the Sacramento court finds it unlikely that plaintiffs will be able to prove that the ban limits their civil rights. The groups arguing to block the law ? four counselors, two families, a professional organization representing ex-gay therapists and a Christian therapists group ? all said that they would be liable for court action for recommending the therapy to minors, something they said violates their rights to free speech and to raise children free of government intrusion.

Muller concluded they had failed to demonstrate the merits of their case. They have immediately appealed the ruling to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and are asking for an emergency injunction.

With a number of Jewish men and their parents suing an ex-gay therapy clinic in New Jersey for the harm they say was caused by the therapy and, crucially, by the fact that the therapy was ultimately ineffective and therefore the clinic?s taking money for the therapy amounts to fraud, it seems that at last America finds itself ready to test ex-gay therapy?s claims. And this is why the First Amendment challenge isn?t necessarily a bad thing for gay groups.

A Chance to Clarify Ex-Gay Therapy and First Amendment Rights

While a number of gay rights groups, including the leading ex-gay therapy fighters Truth Wins Out, have said the ruling by Judge Shubb is wrong-headed and that strict scrutiny should not have been applied in this case, they also are hopeful that this provides a platform to spell out exactly the harms of ex-gay therapy and that, as in the Proposition 8 trial, they have the facts on their side and they are willing to use them.

As to the central thesis of whether ex-gay therapy is a free-speech issue, I?ve outlined before why it is not.

Put concisely, however, there is one overriding line of logic that can be established: Were it not for anti-gay discrimination there would likely be no anxiety over being gay. Homosexuality is of itself not harmful, therefore it is not a pathology. Any therapy that attempts to treat homosexuality as if it is a pathology is therefore flawed, based on bad science, and potentially fraudulent. There is an overriding government interest in protecting minors from a flawed therapy that is medically unproven, and this is perhaps the central argument we can expect to hear when this lawsuit comes to trial.

?

Related Reading:

5 Reasons to Support a Ban on?Ex-Gay Therapy

Landmark Lawsuit Puts?Ex-Gay Therapy on Trial

California?s?Ex-Gay Therapy Ban Is Already Under Threat

?

Image credit: Thinkstock.

Source: http://www.care2.com/causes/is-ex-gay-therapy-a-free-speech-issue.html

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Internet Retailing ? Businesses losing customers because their ...

Home ? M-Retailing, Strategy

Some businesses could be losing customers to competitors because they are giving customers a poor mobile web experiences if they do not build mobile strategies that properly addresses changing web access patterns or the many different devices that people use. So says Netbiscuits? quarterly Metrics Report, which shows that even if enterprises design for the top 10 most used devices they still only cover 56% of global traffic.

Mobile web user habits are changing and websites are being accessed through devices rarely covered in enterprise mobile strategies. In 7 out of 8 regional markets studied, more web traffic still comes via feature phones than tablets. This is critical for Enterprise mobile strategies which tend to rely on their PC sites running on tablets, which in itself is also a limited strategy by ignoring features like touch and GPS functionality.

Declining use of Blackberry devices has led some businesses to omit optimising their web experience for these smartphones. The Metrics Report reveals, however, that whilst declining, six Blackberry devices are still among the top 25 devices based on global traffic share, with the Blackberry 8520 in fifth place.

?Unless enterprises embrace changing trends in how people access the web, they could leave the majority of their customers with a slow, limited or even irrelevant experience and ultimately lose customers to competitors with better, more engaging experiences,? says Daniel Weisbeck, CMO, Netbiscuits. ?Enterprises need to ensure that their web app or site adapts for a superior and customised web experience across all devices, browsers and features if they are to have the best chance of engaging and retaining their customers in a highly competitive economy. This is where responsive design is never enough. Responsive design doesn?t help companies adapt the experience through faster image conversion, GPS and touch functions as an example.?

The Metrics Report also reveals the top device categories by global web traffic. The iPhone 3G, 3GS, 4, 4S tops the list with 31% of global traffic share, followed by the Samsung GT-I9100 (Galaxy S2, Galaxy Z) with 6% share and the Samsung GT-I9300 in third with 4%.
The cloud-based Netbiscuits adaptive web development platform enables companies to quickly and easily create rich mobile web experiences customised to every mobile device, whatever its global traffic share.

No related posts.

Source: http://internetretailing.net/2012/12/businesses-losing-customers-because-their-mobile-strategies-dont-cut-the-mustard-in-uk-and-overseas-says-report/

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HSBC settles US money laundering case for $1.9B

HONG KONG (AP) ? HSBC says it's paying $1.9 billion in penalties to settle a U.S. money laundering probe.

The investigation into HSBC has focused on the transfer of billions of dollars on behalf of nations such as Iran and the transfer of money from Mexican drug cartels.

The British bank said in statement Tuesday that the settlement involves a deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice. The bank won't be prosecuted if it meets certain conditions, such as strengthening internal controls to prevent money laundering.

Europe's biggest bank also said it has reached agreements over investigations by other U.S. government agencies. It also expects to sign an agreement with British regulators shortly.

HSBC Chief Executive Stuart Gulliver said the bank accepts responsibility for "past mistakes" and is "profoundly sorry for them."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/hsbc-settles-us-money-laundering-case-1-9b-070327626--finance.html

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