Let the title sink in for a moment. A 4-inch smartphone, with dual-SIM capabilities, for only a peso less than Php3,000? That?s the Cherry Mobile Sonic. Sounds good right? And it looks very decent as well.
Photo courtesy of Unbox.PH
Well those are just the good stuff for this 4-inch budget Android phone. First, the screen size may be the same as that of the iPhone 5, but it? has a sub-par resolution of just 320 x 480 for a measly 144 ppi pixel density.
Next, it?s only powered by a 1GHz single-core processor considering we?re already in the world of dual-core Androids minimum as far as Cherry Mobile is concerned. RAM is just 256MB and internal storage is limited to 512MB, with microSD support. It also runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread which is good and bad at the same time. Good because you can install your apps to your microSD card but bad because some apps don?t run on Gingerbread anymore.
To keep things uninteresting, there?s a 2-megapixel fixed focus rear camera without any flash, and a VGA front-facing one. This phone also lacks 3G connectivity so I won?t suggest using it as a WiFi hotspot even if it can. Finally, its battery is rated at 1,200mAh.
Clearly, this phone is aimed at those who just want a super-basic smartphone that they can use for call and text, and maybe as an FM radio. It?s not meant for playing games nor surfing the net but it?s there just in case. A raffle fodder for parties perhaps?
For Php2,999 I would just choose the smaller but more powerful Cherry Mobile Click instead, or add a thousand more for the Cherry Mobile Flare.
Cherry Mobile Sonic Specs:
4-inch HVGA (320?480) capacitive display, 144ppi
1GHz single-core MediaTek MT6515 processor
PowerVR SGX531 GPU
256MB RAM, 256 MB internal storage, microSD up to 32GB
Android 2.3.5 Gingerbread
Dual SIM / Dual Standby
2 MP fixed focus rear camera, no LED flash
VGA front-facing camera
2G, Bluetooth 2.1, GPS/A-GPS, WiFi, WiFi Hotspot (no 3G)
Estimates reveal low population immunity to new bird flu virus H7N9 in humansPublic release date: 21-May-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Jen Middleton j.middleton@wellcome.ac.uk 44-207-611-7262 Wellcome Trust
The level of immunity to the recently circulating H7N9 influenza virus in an urban and rural population in Vietnam is very low, according to the first population level study to examine human immunity to the virus, which was previously only found in birds. The findings have implications for planning the public health response to this pandemic threat.
The study used a new, high throughput method that allows blood samples to be analysed for antibodies to multiple human and animal influenza viruses at the same time and is easier to standardise than previous techniques. However, the assay is yet to be validated clinically for the H7N9 virus, and the researchers caution that the results must be interpreted with care.
Since the first case of H7N9 infection in humans was reported in February 2013, there have been 131 confirmed cases and 36 deaths, all in China apart from one case in Taiwan. All of the infections seem to have come from infected poultry and there is no evidence of sustained transmission between people. One of the first key pieces of information that officials need when considering how best to respond to the threat of a pandemic is how much, if any, immunity the human population has to this virus. This helps to predict where the virus is likely to affect first and how likely it is that the virus will spread further. Having this knowledge also helps to understand the risks of severe infection, as well as helping to target protective measures such as where to direct antiviral medication.
Researchers at the Wellcome Trust Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) in Vietnam tested 1723 blood samples collected in southern Vietnam for the presence of antibodies to five different bird flu viruses, including one from the H7 sub type. The presence of antibodies would be an indication of past exposure to these particular strains of flu. They used a new technique that was developed by their research collaborators at the National Institute of Public Health of The Netherlands that is faster and easier to use than previous methods.
The results reveal that although the level of antibodies to the H7 sub-type of flu virus are higher than any of the H5 sub-types tested, levels of antibodies to all five bird flu viruses are much lower than to human flu viruses. This suggests that people living in this particular area of Vietnam have had very little or no exposure to the H7 sub-type of virus, similar to other bird flu viruses. As this population of people would be expected to be among the first to be affected in the event of a pandemic, these findings have important implications for pandemic preparedness plans in this area.
Dr Maciej Boni, a Sir Henry Dale Fellow at the OUCRU and first author of the study, explains: "H7N9 is a virus that until now has only infected birds so it's not surprising that we don't find much evidence of humans having been exposed to it. It is reassuring that in Vietnam we don't see any evidence that the current outbreaks represent a tip-of-the iceberg observation of widespread H7N9 infection in people. On the other hand, the low antibody levels indicate that there is likely to be very little immunity to this virus."
Around half of the samples were taken from an urban environment, Ho Chi Minh City, and half from a rural area, the nearby Khanh Hoa province. The team found no difference in the level of immunity to bird flu viruses between these two populations, even though people living in rural areas are more likely to live in close proximity to poultry.
"It has been suggested that people who live in closer proximity to chickens and other birds will have higher levels of immunity to bird flu viruses simply because their exposure is likely to be greater. However we find no evidence for this. Our findings would suggest that both rural and urban populations should be treated the same when considering how best to respond to the threat of an outbreak," added Dr Boni.
Professor Jeremy Farrar, Director of the Wellcome Trust Major Overseas Programme in Vietnam and the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit Hospital for Tropical Diseases, explains: "This is the first study to give us information about the level of antibodies and potentially human immunity to this new bird flu virus, H7N9 in the region. But we need to interpret the findings cautiously, these assays are relatively new and we need to understand how they correspond to existing assays and how they reflect past infection and true human immunity.
"We know that antibodies are very important for immunity to other flu viruses but at this stage, we still don't know what level of antibody measured using this assay would provide protection against this novel strain. Further studies will be needed to understand the clinical relevance of these new assays, how they compare with classic techniques and what the apparent absence of antibodies to these viruses in the human population means. However these new techniques do allow for much higher throughput of samples, ease of use and once validated may allow much more rapid assessment of the spread of infection and levels of population immunity than do traditional assays."
The study, which was carried out in collaboration with scientists at the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) in the Netherlands, is published online this week in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.
Professor Marion Koopmans, who is Head of Virology at the RIVM and senior author of the study, said: "We developed this technique exactly to be used in the current situation: we wanted a standardised test that allowed us to rapidly compare antibodies to the new virus with those to influenza viruses that we already know are common in people. The level of immunity to a new virus is one of the important questions during any emerging disease outbreak. We need only one drop of blood, so that tests can also be run when only small sample volumes are available, for instance when testing children. For outbreak investigations, testing of animals may be needed, and we are currently working on that. To do the clinical validation studies, we need blood samples from patients (and animals) with confirmed H7N9, and we hope to be able to do that soon through collaborations with other groups working on H7N9."
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Estimates reveal low population immunity to new bird flu virus H7N9 in humansPublic release date: 21-May-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Jen Middleton j.middleton@wellcome.ac.uk 44-207-611-7262 Wellcome Trust
The level of immunity to the recently circulating H7N9 influenza virus in an urban and rural population in Vietnam is very low, according to the first population level study to examine human immunity to the virus, which was previously only found in birds. The findings have implications for planning the public health response to this pandemic threat.
The study used a new, high throughput method that allows blood samples to be analysed for antibodies to multiple human and animal influenza viruses at the same time and is easier to standardise than previous techniques. However, the assay is yet to be validated clinically for the H7N9 virus, and the researchers caution that the results must be interpreted with care.
Since the first case of H7N9 infection in humans was reported in February 2013, there have been 131 confirmed cases and 36 deaths, all in China apart from one case in Taiwan. All of the infections seem to have come from infected poultry and there is no evidence of sustained transmission between people. One of the first key pieces of information that officials need when considering how best to respond to the threat of a pandemic is how much, if any, immunity the human population has to this virus. This helps to predict where the virus is likely to affect first and how likely it is that the virus will spread further. Having this knowledge also helps to understand the risks of severe infection, as well as helping to target protective measures such as where to direct antiviral medication.
Researchers at the Wellcome Trust Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) in Vietnam tested 1723 blood samples collected in southern Vietnam for the presence of antibodies to five different bird flu viruses, including one from the H7 sub type. The presence of antibodies would be an indication of past exposure to these particular strains of flu. They used a new technique that was developed by their research collaborators at the National Institute of Public Health of The Netherlands that is faster and easier to use than previous methods.
The results reveal that although the level of antibodies to the H7 sub-type of flu virus are higher than any of the H5 sub-types tested, levels of antibodies to all five bird flu viruses are much lower than to human flu viruses. This suggests that people living in this particular area of Vietnam have had very little or no exposure to the H7 sub-type of virus, similar to other bird flu viruses. As this population of people would be expected to be among the first to be affected in the event of a pandemic, these findings have important implications for pandemic preparedness plans in this area.
Dr Maciej Boni, a Sir Henry Dale Fellow at the OUCRU and first author of the study, explains: "H7N9 is a virus that until now has only infected birds so it's not surprising that we don't find much evidence of humans having been exposed to it. It is reassuring that in Vietnam we don't see any evidence that the current outbreaks represent a tip-of-the iceberg observation of widespread H7N9 infection in people. On the other hand, the low antibody levels indicate that there is likely to be very little immunity to this virus."
Around half of the samples were taken from an urban environment, Ho Chi Minh City, and half from a rural area, the nearby Khanh Hoa province. The team found no difference in the level of immunity to bird flu viruses between these two populations, even though people living in rural areas are more likely to live in close proximity to poultry.
"It has been suggested that people who live in closer proximity to chickens and other birds will have higher levels of immunity to bird flu viruses simply because their exposure is likely to be greater. However we find no evidence for this. Our findings would suggest that both rural and urban populations should be treated the same when considering how best to respond to the threat of an outbreak," added Dr Boni.
Professor Jeremy Farrar, Director of the Wellcome Trust Major Overseas Programme in Vietnam and the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit Hospital for Tropical Diseases, explains: "This is the first study to give us information about the level of antibodies and potentially human immunity to this new bird flu virus, H7N9 in the region. But we need to interpret the findings cautiously, these assays are relatively new and we need to understand how they correspond to existing assays and how they reflect past infection and true human immunity.
"We know that antibodies are very important for immunity to other flu viruses but at this stage, we still don't know what level of antibody measured using this assay would provide protection against this novel strain. Further studies will be needed to understand the clinical relevance of these new assays, how they compare with classic techniques and what the apparent absence of antibodies to these viruses in the human population means. However these new techniques do allow for much higher throughput of samples, ease of use and once validated may allow much more rapid assessment of the spread of infection and levels of population immunity than do traditional assays."
The study, which was carried out in collaboration with scientists at the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) in the Netherlands, is published online this week in the Journal of Infectious Diseases.
Professor Marion Koopmans, who is Head of Virology at the RIVM and senior author of the study, said: "We developed this technique exactly to be used in the current situation: we wanted a standardised test that allowed us to rapidly compare antibodies to the new virus with those to influenza viruses that we already know are common in people. The level of immunity to a new virus is one of the important questions during any emerging disease outbreak. We need only one drop of blood, so that tests can also be run when only small sample volumes are available, for instance when testing children. For outbreak investigations, testing of animals may be needed, and we are currently working on that. To do the clinical validation studies, we need blood samples from patients (and animals) with confirmed H7N9, and we hope to be able to do that soon through collaborations with other groups working on H7N9."
###
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?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
LFC Connect (Liverpool Football Club) will pretty much be mainly of interest to UK football fans but considering the BlackBerry subscriber base we have here in Great Britain I thought this one was well worth sharing.
The application has been natively built by Liverpool Football Club for BlackBerry 10 so I expect to see many more of the premiership teams to follow suit. Anyway, on to the good stuff. The LFC Connect app is more than just about news. Once the app opens it will automatically load the social page. At the base of the dispaly are two tabs - Twitter and Facebook. So while on the Twitter tab the application pulls in associated Tweets regarding the club to keep you up to date with the latest gossip. You can compose a tweet from within the app using the third tab at the base of the screen - easy peasy.
Jumping into the main menu gives you a selection of other options. First up is 'The Kop' where you can view videos and photos as well as access blogs related to LFC.
Then comes "Passport'. Here you can view past matches and selecting one will give you not only the final result but also a detailed view of the important parts of the match and at which minute they happened.
There is also a fan finder which will use your GPS to locate fellow Liverpool FC buddies that are using the app. As you will see in the video - there wasn't many so hopefully after this post goes live things should improve a wee bit.?
Last but not least is the BBM integration. You can see which of your BBM friends have the app installed or you have the option to invite others to download it. With the LFC Connect app being free you Liverpool fans have no reason to not grab this one from BlackBerry World.
More information/Download LFC Connect for BlackBerry 10
Musicals have sometimes had a rough ride when it comes to movie adaptions. They can become shells of their former selves, or more usually, simply a glorified version of the stage version, with very little extra setting, just an increased stage area. Gale Edward?s Jesus Christ, Superstar from 2000 is one such movie, where a stage production was quite successfully captured on video. I only mention it, as a new cinematic version is due out in 2014 and no doubt will be compared to this production of Les Miserables. Boy, it had better be good, because this one is a stunner.
For those that missed it at the cinema or have never seen a live production, the story is set in Post-revolutionary France. Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) is a prisoner, released on parole and who then absconds. He is pursued by Javert, (Russell Crowe), but escapes justice long enough to become a wealthy philanthropic man. Valjean fires Fantine, (Anne Hathaway) a troubled young woman from his...
[Read the complete movie review]
Picture
Unusually for 2012, the movie was shot entirely on 35mm, with a 2K intermediate. The AVC-MPEG transfer is very good, but the camerawork not perfect. Dealing with the picture quality first, the picture does not have the icy crispness of The Hobbit, feeling a little softer and with a significantly smaller colour palette and dynamic range. To be honest, this is a good thing, as it entirely fits the piece, adding a gentle muted look to the grimy sets.
The main issue however is the frequent focus issues on some of the close up shots. The depth of field is in some cases no more than a few cm, with actor?s hair and clothing being much softer focus compared to their faces. As the camera is often handheld, this means any movement affects the focus and needs to be corrected. On a film camera, neither the viewfinder nor video assist is good enough to set focus, so the focus puller relies on their skills and digital measuring aids to assess the focal distance and maintain a sharp picture. With so much movement, not even the best focus puller can keep up, so there are quite evident focus shifts and corrections. Such is the power of the performance, that Director and quite often camera operator Tom Hooper is not going to insist on a retake over such issues, but it is distracting nonetheless. As with most film transfers, absolute black level is not as good as a direct to digital movie, and detail is a little lacking at times, with the hugely detailed sets feeling a little wasted on occasions. Film grain is generally quite low and certainly does not intrude.
The hand held camera work and plenty of intense close ups can feel a bit strained at times and it occasionally feels like tension is being built up artificially. I can understand why it was done and on a reasonable size screen it works OK, but sit too close to an oversized plasma and sea sickness might just set in.
The CGI is excellent and generally seamless, with the digitally created ship fitting into the dry dock and the backdrops and French roofs grafted nicely onto the practical sets. The use of real locations helps a lot, but plenty of tidying up and addition of depth has been employed.
There are no brightness, solarising or edge enhancement issues though, so it still deserves a very high mark. It just loses a point for the focus issues, occasionally wayward camerawork and a lack of ultimate detail.
Picture score : 9
Sound
The DTS-HD MA 7.1 stream is simply stunning. A tip here though, if your surround system has weaker surround speakers ? IE: satellites for the surrounds with bigger mains or a lesser centre speaker, have a listen in stereo as well as full surround. I am not suggesting the movie sounds better like this, but the stereo is every bit as good as the full surround mix and any mismatch in your system will disturb the fine balance the sound team have created and you may actually find it more intimate and immersive in stereo.
The LFE is powerful and impactful where required and the surround channels carry a wonderfully ambient and spacious track, with plenty of dynamic range and power. Effects are accurately located and vocals clear and well placed in the sound field, not locked to the centre channel.
The use of live radio mics and virtually no over-dubs or lip syncing gives this movie an intimacy that I have not heard before. The sound team were juggling just as many radio mics as a full on West End show, but also had all the noise of a conventional film set to contend with. The performers all wore discrete earpieces (undetectable in the movie) and sang to a live piano track throughout. This was then replaced with the full orchestra, who had to track the tempo changes and pauses from the original vocal performances and give a powerful performance without destroying the vocal tracks. In some cases, this movie will sound significantly better on a home theatre system than at the cinema, the closer proximity to the speakers playing dividends here.
In all respects, this truly is an awesome and detailed sound mix. Ultimately slightly limited in dynamics, but this is a musical, not a blockbuster action movie and so this is entirely acceptable. I have no hesitation in giving it a 10.
Sound score : 10
Extras
As you might expect for a major release, plenty of time has been spent getting the extras and menus to look as good as possible. Universal have done a great job, but then allowed the marketing team to flush it all down the toilet by shoehorning in getting on for seven minutes of trailers, including one for a TV box set of Mr Selfridge! It smacks of over commercialisation and annoys me on a disc that will sell so well.
So having skipped through the trailers and selected the correct language, we arrive at a very nice main menu. As with most Universal releases, this allows you to save your own bookmarks, as well as using the scene selection. You can choose your listening and subtitle language and also turn Tom Hooper?s commentary on and off. To be honest, if you have watched the extras, then you do not need to listen to him, as very little of what he says cannot be gleaned from the various production shorts.
The extras can be split into two categories, the first being a look at the original book and author, while the majority concentrate on the movie itself, coming together to form an extended making of documentary. Nicely made in HD, this highlights various aspects of the production, including casting, singing, set design and also a tribute to the various stage performers who appeared alongside the established film actors. In all, almost an hour of material and well worth watching.
Extras score : 8
Verdict
Described as the first of a new genre, this film is without doubt a stunning production of the musical phenomenon that is Les Miserables. If the performances do not blow you away, then I am not sure what will. Some have complained it feels over-long, but I would disagree. There is little in the way of padding and indeed, some parts of the musical have been truncated to keep running time to a quite reasonable 2 hours and 38 minutes. Jackman and Hathaway might steal the show, but the rest of the cast put in equally fine performances, making this a truly compelling film to watch.
Technically, the music leads the plaudits, being both intimate and powerful in equal measure. The picture just about lives up to the standards expected, but it does feel secondary to the sound at times, with quite a few noticeable focus issues and limited colour gamut.
Truly a must-have disc for any lovers of musical theatre, but even if you think that sad musicals about love and compassion during the French revolution are not your thing, this disc might just surprise you.
Overall score : 9
1,182 word review written by Matthew Jarvis.
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May 20, 2013 ? Earthquakes that last minutes rather than seconds are a relatively recent discovery, according to an international team of seismologists. Researchers have been aware of these slow earthquakes, only for the past five to 10 years because of new tools and new observations, but these tools may explain the triggering of some normal earthquakes and could help in earthquake prediction.
"New technology has shown us that faults do not just fail in a sudden earthquake or by stable creep," said Demian M. Saffer, professor of geoscience, Penn State. "We now know that earthquakes with anomalous low frequencies -- slow earthquakes -- and slow slip events that take weeks to occur exist."
These new observations have put a big wrinkle into our thinking about how faults work, according to the researchers who also include Chris Marone, professor of geosciences, Penn State; Matt J. Ikari, recent Ph.D. recipient, and Achim J. Kopf, former Penn State postdoctural fellow, both now at the University of Bremen, Germany. So far, no one has explained the processes that cause slow earthquakes.
The researchers thought that the behavior had to be related to the type of rock in the fault, believing that clay minerals are important in this slip behavior to see how the rocks reacted. Ikari performed laboratory experiments using natural samples from drilling done offshore of Japan in a place where slow earthquakes occur. The samples came from the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program, an international collaborative. The researchers reported their results recently in Nature Geoscience.
These samples are made up of ocean sediment that is mostly clay with a little quartz.
"Usually, when you shear clay-rich fault rocks in the laboratory in the way rocks are sheared in a fault, as the speed increases, the rocks become stronger and self arrests the movement," said Saffer. "Matt noticed another behavior. Initially the rocks reacted as expected, but these clays got weaker as they slid further. They initially became slightly stronger as the slip rate increased, but then, over the long run, they became weaker."
The laboratory experiments that produced the largest effect closely matched the velocity at which slow earthquakes occur in nature. The researchers also found that water content in the clays influenced how the shear occurred.
"From the physics of earthquake nucleation based on the laboratory experiments we would predict the size of the patch of fault that breaks at tens of meters," said Saffer. "The consistent result for the rates of slip and the velocity of slip in the lab are interesting. Lots of things point in the direction for this to be the solution."
The researchers worry about slow earthquakes because there is evidence that swarms of low frequency events can trigger large earthquake events. In Japan, a combination of broadband seismometers and global positioning system devices can monitor slow earthquakes.
For the Japanese and others in earthquake prone areas, a few days of foreknowledge of a potential earthquake hazard could be valuable and save lives.
For slow slip events, collecting natural samples for laboratory experiments is more difficult because the faults where these take place are very deep. Only off the north shore of New Zealand is there a fault that can be sampled. Saffer is currently working to arrange a drilling expedition to that fault.
The National Science Foundation and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft supported this work.
Immune protein could stop diabetes in its tracksPublic release date: 19-May-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Liz Williams williams@wehi.edu.au 61-405-279-095 Walter and Eliza Hall Institute
Melbourne researchers have identified an immune protein that has the potential to stop or reverse the development of type 1 diabetes in its early stages, before insulin-producing cells have been destroyed.
The discovery has wider repercussions, as the protein is responsible for protecting the body against excessive immune responses, and could be used to treat, or even prevent, other immune disorders such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Professor Len Harrison, Dr Esther Bandala-Sanchez and Dr Yuxia Zhang led the research team from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute that identified the immune protein CD52 as responsible for suppressing the immune response, and its potential for protecting against autoimmune diseases. The research was published today in the journal Nature Immunology.
So-called autoimmune diseases develop when the immune system goes awry and attacks the body's own tissues. Professor Harrison said CD52 held great promise as a therapeutic agent for preventing and treating autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes.
"Immune suppression by CD52 is a previously undiscovered mechanism that the body uses to regulate itself, and protect itself against excessive or damaging immune responses," Professor Harrison said. "We are excited about the prospect of developing this discovery to clinical trials as soon as possible, to see if CD52 can be used to prevent and treat type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune diseases. This has already elicited interest from pharmaceutical companies."
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that develops when immune cells attack and destroy insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Approximately 120,000 Australians have type 1 diabetes and incidence has doubled in the last 20 years. "Type 1 diabetes is a life-long disease," Professor Harrison said. "It typically develops in children and teenagers, and it really makes life incredibly difficult for them and their families. It also causes significant long-term complications involving the eyes, kidneys and blood vessel damage, and at great cost to the community."
Professor Harrison said that T cells that have or release high levels of CD52 are necessary to maintain normal balance in the immune system. "In a preclinical model of type 1 diabetes, we showed that removal of CD52-producing immune cells led to rapid development of diabetes. We think that cells that release CD52 are essential to prevent the development of autoiummune disease, and that CD52 has great potential as a therapeutic agent," he said.
CD52 appears to play a dominant role in controlling or suppressing immune activity in the early stages of the immune response, Professor Harrison said. "We identified a specialised population of immune cells (T cells) that carry high levels of CD52, which they release to dampen the activity of other T cells and prevent uncontrolled immune responses," Professor Harrison said. "The cells act as an early 'braking' mechanism."
Professor Harrison said his goal is to prevent and ultimately cure type 1 diabetes. "In animal models we can prevent and cure type 1 diabetes," Professor Harrison said. "I am hopeful that these results will be translatable into humans, hopefully in the not-too-distant future."
###
The research was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia and the Victorian Government.
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Immune protein could stop diabetes in its tracksPublic release date: 19-May-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Liz Williams williams@wehi.edu.au 61-405-279-095 Walter and Eliza Hall Institute
Melbourne researchers have identified an immune protein that has the potential to stop or reverse the development of type 1 diabetes in its early stages, before insulin-producing cells have been destroyed.
The discovery has wider repercussions, as the protein is responsible for protecting the body against excessive immune responses, and could be used to treat, or even prevent, other immune disorders such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Professor Len Harrison, Dr Esther Bandala-Sanchez and Dr Yuxia Zhang led the research team from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute that identified the immune protein CD52 as responsible for suppressing the immune response, and its potential for protecting against autoimmune diseases. The research was published today in the journal Nature Immunology.
So-called autoimmune diseases develop when the immune system goes awry and attacks the body's own tissues. Professor Harrison said CD52 held great promise as a therapeutic agent for preventing and treating autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes.
"Immune suppression by CD52 is a previously undiscovered mechanism that the body uses to regulate itself, and protect itself against excessive or damaging immune responses," Professor Harrison said. "We are excited about the prospect of developing this discovery to clinical trials as soon as possible, to see if CD52 can be used to prevent and treat type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune diseases. This has already elicited interest from pharmaceutical companies."
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that develops when immune cells attack and destroy insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Approximately 120,000 Australians have type 1 diabetes and incidence has doubled in the last 20 years. "Type 1 diabetes is a life-long disease," Professor Harrison said. "It typically develops in children and teenagers, and it really makes life incredibly difficult for them and their families. It also causes significant long-term complications involving the eyes, kidneys and blood vessel damage, and at great cost to the community."
Professor Harrison said that T cells that have or release high levels of CD52 are necessary to maintain normal balance in the immune system. "In a preclinical model of type 1 diabetes, we showed that removal of CD52-producing immune cells led to rapid development of diabetes. We think that cells that release CD52 are essential to prevent the development of autoiummune disease, and that CD52 has great potential as a therapeutic agent," he said.
CD52 appears to play a dominant role in controlling or suppressing immune activity in the early stages of the immune response, Professor Harrison said. "We identified a specialised population of immune cells (T cells) that carry high levels of CD52, which they release to dampen the activity of other T cells and prevent uncontrolled immune responses," Professor Harrison said. "The cells act as an early 'braking' mechanism."
Professor Harrison said his goal is to prevent and ultimately cure type 1 diabetes. "In animal models we can prevent and cure type 1 diabetes," Professor Harrison said. "I am hopeful that these results will be translatable into humans, hopefully in the not-too-distant future."
###
The research was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia and the Victorian Government.
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
YouLike describes itself as?an interest-based social network and dating site that takes into account a user's?dislikes, as much as what they do like, when helping to find like-minded people to friend or date.
Jimmie Johnson celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series All-Star auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., Sunday, May 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Jimmie Johnson celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series All-Star auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., Sunday, May 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Jimmie Johnson (48) does a burnout after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series All-Star auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., Saturday, May 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Jimmie Johnson (48) takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series All-Star auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., Saturday, May 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Jimmie Johnson celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series All-Star auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., Sunday, May 19, 2013. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Jimmie Johnson (48) drives his car along the front stretch during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series All-Star auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., Saturday, May 18, 2013. Johnson won the race. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) ? Cross another milestone off of Jimmie Johnson's list. He stands alone in All-Star history.
"Five-time" became the first four-time winner of NASCAR's annual All-Star race, breaking a tie with the late Dale Earnhardt and teammate Jeff Gordon on Saturday night.
"To beat Jeff and Earnhardt, two guys that I have looked up to my whole life, two massive icons of our sport, this means the world to me," Johnson said.
It was fitting that he did it at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the track Johnson, the five-time NASCAR champion, has dominated since his 2002 rookie season.
This win in the $1 million Sprint All-Star Race was his second straight and fourth in 12 years. He also won in 2003 and 2006.
"The only four-time All-Star champion ? I am very proud of you," crew chief Chad Knaus radioed after Johnson took the checkered flag.
A day after Johnson overshot his pit stall during qualifying to earn a poor starting spot, his Hendrick Motorsports crew changed four tires in 11 seconds on the mandatory final spot to send Johnson back onto the track in second place for the final restart.
He lined up inside of teammate Kasey Kahne for the final 10-lap sprint to the cash, and the two battled side-by-side for a little more than a lap before Johnson cleared Kahne completely. He then sailed away to an easy victory.
Joey Logano finished second and Kyle Busch, who won two of the first four segments, was third as neither had a shot at running down Johnson once he got his No. 48 Chevrolet out front.
"The 48, once he got that clean air, he was gone," Logano said. "Second isn't anything to hang your head, but it's about the million bucks tonight."
Kahne faded to fourth and Kurt Busch, who also won two segments to give the Busch brothers a sweep, was fifth.
It was disappointing for both Busch brothers, who had the cars to beat through the first 80 laps. New scoring rules designed to stop sandbagging sent the drivers onto pit road for the mandatory final stop in order of their average finish in the first four segments.
The Busch brothers tied with an average finish of 2.0, and Kurt went down pit road as the leader based on the tiebreaker of winning the final segment.
But the two Hendrick cars beat everybody off pit road, Kyle Busch exited in third and a poor final pit stop dropped Kurt to fifth.
"Ultimately, it came down to pit road, where my guys always prove their worth," Kyle Busch said. "Unfortunately, we didn't have the best of stops and to come out third, well, that was the race right there. You have to be on the front row if you're going to win this thing."
Johnson didn't think he had a shot at winning the All-Star race after botching his qualifying run and starting 20th in the 22-car field. By staying patient through the four 20-lap segments, he was in position at the end to make his move.
"Worked our way through there and got the job done," Johnson said. "It's just dedication and drive from every member of this Hendrick Motorsports team."
Glass octopus courtesy of R. Larsen/Fish and Wildlife Service/R. Harbison, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution/YouTube
Octopuses that live in the deep open ocean are difficult enough to find. But try locating a ?glass? octopus, which isnearly transparent. Floating in the dim midwaters, this gelatinous octopod looks almost like a be-suckered jellyfish.
Rather than camouflaging like most known octopus species, the Vitreledonella richardi has taken this alternative approach to hide from potential predators?and perhaps from prey as well. Its translucent body helps it remain less visible, especially when it is near the upper reaches of its habitat, around 300 meters, where some light still penetrates. (Some specimens, however, have been caught nearly 1,000 meters below the surface.) Only sparse red chromatophores (which appear black in such dark environments) color their flesh.
The glass octopus?s unusual appearance makes for a rare view inside these elusive animals. Photos taken from the deep show the opaque digestive organs and optic nerves. Its small suckers stand out as white adornments in the bright light used to film them.
Many octopus species have large, round eyes, which help increase their field of vision. The glass octopus, however, has oddly elongated eyes. This tubelike structure shrinks their peripheral vision, but it might keep them from being spotted from below, according to research published in the Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. The tradeoff must be worth it. The eyes also seem to be pointed perpetually upward, toward the dim light above, according to vision researcher Michael Land, of the University of Sussex.
Because these octopuses are so rarely captured?physically or on film?little is known about their lifecycles and their habits. They seem to grow up to about 45 centimeters in total length from a hatchling size of about 2.2 millimeters.
Many octopuses that have to mate in the open seas have a detachable limb (a hectocotylus) that the males use for fertilizing the female. But the glass octopus is not so gentle. One stunning video, shot off the coast of Hawaii at about 900 meters below the surface, shows two glass octopuses in what is presumed to be a strange mating posture?with one inside the ample web of another.
And because they live in the open water with no burrows, the females seem to carry their hundreds of eggs with them until they hatch.
Video courtesy of R. Larsen/Fish and Wildlife Service/R. Harbison, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution/YouTube
A straw clutch by Mud Pie is among the fashion items available in what had long been just a boating supply store. (Photo by Alexis Orlacchio. Click to enlarge)
By ALEXIS ORLACCHIO
After a rough off-season that included severe damage from Hurricane Sandy, the owners of Sea Bright?s Angler?s Marina & Beach Boutique, Fred Leonardis and his wife, Elizabeth, worked hard to reopen their Ocean Avenue shop.
?My husband has always believed that we are in a service business, a seasonal business, and that we need to be here for our customers,? said Elizabeth. ?So we take that very seriously.?
Perhaps unnoticed by many motorists passing by, however, Leonardis has been developing a side project within the marina store to go along with the boating hardware: a beach-themed accessory shop selling everything from chairs, towels, tote bags and more. Her experience in retail sparked the idea for the accessory shop.
?I said ?We should have beautiful beach bags, and we should have shoes,?? she tells Window Shopping the Green. ?Last year, I brought in jewelry, and it just evolved.?
During the storm, the riverfront marina took on four-and-a-half feet of water; the tide lines can still be seen on outer parts of the building. Leonardis said the shop lost 75 percent of its inventory.
?It became a giant whirlpool. Things stayed, but everything was displaced,? she said. Some of the beach items on the top shelves and second floor of the building were salvageable, however.
The accessory shop is going into its third season, and among the new items that Leonardis has brought in are straw, nautical- medallion clutches by Mud Pie.
?These are great,? she said. ?Think about the person coming from north Jersey or even inland. They?re packing for the day,? she said. ?So if you?re going to the beach club you have a big, straw satchel, you put this inside. And if you?re going out in the evening, you have a nice evening bag.?
The line also includes a series of bangle bracelets coordinated to the clutches and sold separately. ?It?s nice because you can put your really personal belongings in there: your keys, your money, your phone and you?re able to find it easily, too,? she said.
The clutches retail for $36, and the bracelets are $22.
?I don?t want to carry exactly what the mall has,? Leonardis said. ?People are always looking for unusual beach-y items. I generally shop vendors that you won?t see at the mall for that reason.?
The idea for the accessory shop came about when the marina business was slowing down, which she attributed to the economy and high price of fuel.? She previously worked as an assistant buyer, department manager, and window display decorator at Sealfons in Summit.
The introduction of the boutique has ?actually changed our customer base,? she said.
When Window Shopping visited, Leonardis was awaiting delivery of beach towels designed by local artist Jane McNiff and featuring images of beach badges from all over the Jersey Shore. Some of the sale proceeds will go towards helping Hurricane Sandy victims.
The beach boutique also carries typical beach-day items such as sunscreen and sunglasses, as well as beach-themed jewelry, candles, picture frames and more.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican lawmakers on Friday began an investigation into whether the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency greatly favored left-leaning environmentalists over conservative groups when granting fee waivers for requests to access information.
The lawmakers drew a comparison between the actions they say the EPA has taken with the Internal Revenue Service, which is embroiled in controversy over its targeting of conservative groups for extra scrutiny.
Republican Senators David Vitter of Louisiana, Charles Grassley of Iowa and James Inhofe of Oklahoma, and Representative Darrell Issa of California, raised the issue in a letter to the acting administrator of the EPA.
The four lawmakers serve as the top Republicans on the environment, judiciary and House oversight and government reform committees, respectively.
They asked why 92 percent of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) fee waivers were granted to "environmental allies," while just 8 percent were granted to conservative think tanks. The disparity came to light this week in a report by a conservative research group.
Agencies can waive fees for requested information if they determine the information contributes to the public understanding of governmental activities.
"This disparate treatment is unacceptable, especially in light of the recent controversy over abusive tactics at the Internal Revenue Service, which singled out conservative groups for special scrutiny," the lawmakers wrote in a letter to Bob Perciasepe, the EPA's acting administrator.
The Republicans accused the EPA of colluding with groups that share its political agenda and requested that the agency takes steps to ensure this does not happen again.
They requested that the EPA provide a list of all fee waiver decision letters on a monthly basis, make the agency's FOIA officer available for a transcribed interview and provide any materials used to train FOIA officers on how to process fee waiver requests.
Vitter met with Perciasepe earlier in the week and said he made progress with him on five key areas in which the EPA can improve its transparency, including how it handles FOIA requests.
Interest groups, researchers and journalists have filed FOIA requests with the EPA to understand how it goes about its process of writing regulations. Conservative groups have called this process opaque.
Perciasepe is heading the EPA while President Barack Obama's nominee to head the agency, Gina McCarthy, remains in the middle of a tough confirmation process.
McCarthy has had requests to answer more than 1,000 questions by Republicans on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which Democrats have termed a record number.
Her nomination was sent to the full Senate on Thursday after a party line vote in committee. No date has been set for consideration. The first committee vote scheduled on McCarthy was abandoned when Republicans boycotted the meeting.
(Reporting By Valerie Volcovici; Editing by Ros Krasny and Bill Trott)
Although it's possible some providers may try offering inferior plans, the fact that it is still a free market (contrary to the 'socialist' cries from the the fringe elements), any provider offering substandard plans would quickly find themselves left in the dust or heavily penalized if they tried to gouge customers. The affordable health care act requires that all applicants of the same general age and geographical location be offered the same premium costs, meaning any spikes due to pre-existing conditions will be averaged across a large number of individuals, which also includes a large number of health individuals which will balance out those spikes. Providers will also have to reinvest a set amount of profits into consumer benefits rather than profits, meaning the increased customer base doesn't necessarily mean they will get rich. There are indeed some good protections in the act that are consumer friendly.
Those who try to gouge customers will also be barred from getting into the healthcare exchanges and the customers that those exchange will provide. Such companies will also be monitored by the HHS, DOJ and FTC, who will in turn report such gouging to the local states to see if the price hikes were 'justified', and can have penalties levied against them if they are found to be gouging. The information will also be published to the public. Such information would create a very black eye for any reputable company. Pharma and medical equipment manufacturer's are also covered under that provision.
In short, gouging from the insurance industry is not very likely, and can be promptly addressed at the federal and state level if needed.
Those who fall into poverty ranges (up to 138% of the poverty level) will receive assistance in paying for premiums, although they will have to contribute within their means. It's a fair system IMO.
The act also makes it easier for smaller businesses (50 employees) to offer health care coverage via the same exchanges as well as help wit subsidies from the government to help reduce their premium costs), where previously they had no such option (all or nothing type of situation).
As to Larry, his statement speaks volumes about the disconnect of the rich from the poor. Prior to health care reform, admitting you had a pre-existing condition virtually guaranteed you would never find coverage, or that such coverage would be excluded with a rider to your policy, making coverage largely pointless for those with a condition requiring regular treatment.
Many love riding in limousines. This would hardly be surprising as these vehicles can really give comfort, luxury, and convenience for people. You can choose to rent one for weddings, birthdays, or bridal showers. You can also get one for airport transfers, special meetings, or proms. You would get much comfort with its big size, comfortable interiors, and ambient temperatures. You can also enjoy various amenities like plasma televisions, theater quality speakers, and mini bars. You would also get your own personal chauffeur. You would then enjoy safety. You should be careful however when choosing your limousine. You should only choose a good deer valley limo service. Learn then some tips in choosing a good one.
One must acquire options first. It will be preferable to acquire referrals from colleagues, friends, or relatives. One could acquire nice options through them. One could perform research too. They will find varied lists through the web. One must check out each then. They must make sure that they will have the apt kind of credentials. They must have proper license. They must pick experienced companies only too. For this reason, one must ask regarding length of experience. One could acquire information regarding the company through complaints, testimonials, and feedback about them too.
One must check out also their fleet. One must not base their decisions only in fleet size. Some nice companies could have small fleets, yet will provide detailed, exceptional, and personalized services. One must check the sizes, brands, and models instead. They must offer something which will cater to one's wants, preferences, and needs.
One must make sure that their cars will be in nice conditions. They must check such cars personally if they could. However, if one is booking online, they could only ask for photos. One must scrutinize those photos carefully too. The company must offer only well maintained, updated, and functional vehicles. It will be essential for safety, comfort, and convenience.
Booking limousine services would allow you to obtain a personal driver. However, your safety should not be entrusted to just anyone. The company should also be asked about the screening procedures they use. Drivers should be subjected to personal, drug, and criminal screening procedures. Training should be also undergone. Only reliable, professional, and expert drivers would then be driving clients around.
You should also ask about the various costs involved. You should know how they would charge. Some would ask flat rates. Most would ask hourly rates. You should ask about discounts too, especially when you would be hiring them for a long period. You should compare costs properly. Ask if prices would already include gratuity.
The company should also have proper insurance. The type, capacity, and model of car would determine insurance coverage. You should ensure that the car you would hire would have enough coverage.
The company must be always available too. Most needs, events, and airport transfers will be beyond business hours. Customer service, emergency numbers, and 24/7 dispatchers must be readily available as well.
One must consider such factors in picking. They will aid in selecting the apt deer valley limo service. One could enjoy luxurious, classy, and safe limousine services without hitches then.
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Kree Harrison is the runner-up on season 12, which ended with tons of celebrity performances and a tribute to departing judge Randy Jackson. By Adam Graham
A new species of green palm-pitviper of the genus Bothriechis is described from a seriously threatened cloud forest reserve in northern Honduras. Because of similarity in color pattern and scalation, the new species (Bothriechis guifarroi) was previously confused with other Honduran palm pitvipers. Genetic analysis revealed that the closest relatives of the new species are actually found over 600 km to the south, in the mountains of Costa Rica. The study was published in the open access journalZookeys.
The gorgeous new species was discovered by scientists during two expeditions in 2010 aimed at studying the fauna of Texiguat Wildlife Refuge, one of the most endemism-rich and diverse highland forests in Mesoamerica. This beautiful, but highly toxic, snake represents the 15th endemic species occurring in the region. Texiguat Wildlife Refuge was created in 1987 to protect populations of wildlife such as the famous but elusive jaguar and Central America tapir, as well as howler and white-faced monkeys, sloths, and a variety of endemic amphibians, reptiles, and plants.
To draw attention to the dedication and sacrifice of many grassroots conservationists in Honduras and Central America, the new species was named in honor of Mario Guifarro of Olancho. Guifarro was a former hunter and gold miner who became an outspoken conservationist when he saw the vast rainforests of eastern Honduras being destroyed and converted to cattle ranches. After years of threats and multiple attempts on his life, Guifarro was ambushed and murdered on 15 September 2007 while on a mission to delimit a biosphere reserve for the indigenous Tawahka.
The lead author of the study Dr Josiah Townsend, Department of Biology, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, comments on the importance of the discovery and conservation status of the new species: "The description of Bothriechis guifarroi has important implications for Central American biogeography as well as conservation. We recommend that B. guifarroi be immediately classified as Critically Endangered due to its limited known area of occurrence and the potential for anthropogenic damage to its habitat. We also consider that this species warrants immediate consideration for protection under CITES, given its striking appearance and high potential for exploitation in the pet trade."
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Townsend JH, Medina-Flores M, Wilson LD, Jadin RC, Austin JD (2013) A relict lineage and new species of green palm-pitviper (Squamata, Viperidae, Bothriechis) from the Chort?s Highlands of Mesoamerica. ZooKeys 298: 77, doi: 10.3897/zookeys.298.4834
Pensoft Publishers: http://www.pensoft.net
Thanks to Pensoft Publishers for this article.
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May 15 (Reuters) - Result from the Europa League final at the Amsterdam Arena on Wednesday Benfica 1 Oscar Cardozo 68 (pen) Chelsea 2 Fernando Torres 59, Branislav Ivanovic 90+3 Halftime: 0-0 Attendance: 46,163 Teams: Benfica: 1-Artur; 34-Andre Almeida, 4-Luisao, 24-Ezequiel Garay (33-Jardel 78), 25-Melgarejo (15-Ola John 66); 35-Enzo Perez, 21-Nemanja Matic, 19-Rodrigo (11-Lima 66); 20-Nicolas Gaitan, 18-Eduardo Salvio; 7-Oscar Cardozo. ...
This is awkward, to say the least. Columbia University offers a fellowship, launched in 1920, that can only be awarded to someone from Iowa?someone white from Iowa.
To rectify this, the university is finally making changes to the Lydia C. Roberts graduate and traveling fellowship, which limits its recipients to the categories of Iowan and "Caucasian."
According to the New York Daily News, Columbia filed an affidavit with Manhattan?s supreme court to get the restriction lifted. "Circumstances have so changed from the time when the Trust was established" that complying with the restrictions is "impossible," the Daily News writes, quoting the filing. "Columbia University is now prohibited by law and University policy from discriminating on the basis of race."
The money was left to Columbia by Iowa native Lydia C. Chamberlain, who died in 1920. The fund's administrator is now JP Morgan Chase. The fellowships have not been awarded since 1997, according to the Daily News, although it's unclear why.
The white-only rule may violate the U.S. Constitution, adds the New York Post. But the fund, now up to $800,000, cannot be changed without going to court.
The Post also notes that when the NAACP complained about the "whites only" clause in 1949, the provost at the time, Grayson L. Kirk, defended it as helpful to those who qualify. ?We do not feel we are justified in depriving some of our students of the benefits of restricted grants simply because they are not available to everyone,? he said, according to the paper.
The Post also writes that when the scholarship was first awarded in 1920 it was for $750, easily covering the annual $180 tuition. In 2013, that same annual tuition is north of $50,000.
The trust's bizarre restrictions aren?t limited to race and place, by the way.
The Post adds that fellows ?must not study law or several other fields, and must return to Iowa for two years after graduating.?
Stocks paused on Wall Street Monday as investors assessed whether stock valuations were overstating the recent improvement in the economy.?Stocks have surged this year, boosted by an improving economy, Federal Reserve stimulus and record corporate earnings.
By Steve Rothwell,?AP Markets Writer / May 13, 2013
Traders work on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange Monday. Stocks ended flat on Monday, pausing after hitting record highs last week, but strength in healthcare issues helped to keep declines in check.
Brendan McDermid/Reuters
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A record-breaking rally in?stocks?paused Monday as investors assessed whether?stockvaluations were overstating the recent improvement in the economy.
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The latest positive data, out Monday, showed that Americans increased spending at retailers last month. That suggests that consumers may boost economic growth in the current quarter ending June 30. Still, that wasn't enough to lift shares.
"What we have seen is a huge rally, and there aren't any stones unturned at this point," said Alec Young, global equity strategist at S&P Capital IQ. "You reach a point where investors aren't willing to bid things up any more."
The Dow fell 26.81 points, or 0.2 percent, to 15,091.68. The S&P 500 index was little changed at 1,633.77. The Dow is up 15.1 percent this year, and the S&P 500 is 14.6 percent higher.
The Nasdaq composite rose 2.21 points, 0.1 percent, to 3,438.79.
Stocks?have surged this year, boosted by an improving economy, Federal Reserve stimulus and record corporate earnings. Signs that the housing market is reviving are also supporting?stocks. The Dow Jones industrial average and the Standard and Poor's 500 index both closed at record highs Friday.
Oil fell 87 cents, or 0.9 percent, to $95.17 a barrel. Gold dropped $2.30, or 0.2 percent, to $1,434.30 an ounce. The U.S. dollar was little changed against the Japanese yen at 101.83 and gained against the euro.
Retail sales increased 0.1 percent in April from March, the Commerce Department said Monday. That's an improvement from the 0.5 percent decline in March, which was the largest drop in nine months. Economists had forecast that sales declined by 0.3 percent.
Consumer sentiment is improving as the housing market recovers, which is giving people the confidence to spend more, said Doug Cote, chief market strategist at ING Investment Management.
"If housing continues its upward trajectory, the animal spirits of the consumer will continue to be bolstered," said Cote.
On Monday,?stocks?started lower before paring some of those losses throughout the day.
Telecommunications companies dropped the most of any industry group in the S&P 500 index, falling 0.83 percent. Health care companies advanced the most, rising 0.7 percent.
Health care companies have risen 21.4 percent this year, the most of any of the 10 industry groups in the S&P 500. Investors have been buying the?stocks?because they offer some growth prospects and also pay large dividends.
More than 90 percent of companies in the S&P 500 have reported earnings for the first quarter, and corporate earnings are projected to grow by an average of 5 percent for the period, according to data from S&P Capital IQ. While earnings growth has slowed from the previous quarter, it is forecast to end the year at 11.6 percent.
Among?stocks?making big moves:
? Yum Brands fell $1.44, or 2 percent, to $68.92 after the owner of Kentucky Fried Chicken reported that sales in China fell 29 percent last month, driven by concerns about Avian flu.
? Theravance, a biopharmaceutical company, surged $6.26, or 18 percent, to $41.20. Irish drugmaker Elan Corp. plans to pay $1 billion for the right to future royalties from respiratory treatments being developed by Theravance and GlaxoSmithKline.
? Autozone, a retailer of spare parts for cars, fell $5.19, or 1.2 percent, to $415.76 after Deutsche Bank cut its recommendation on the?stock?from "buy" to "hold."
In government bond trading, the yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 1.92 percent from 1.90 percent. The yield, which moves opposite to the price, has jumped this month as investors sold Treasurys and moved into riskier assets.
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Public release date: 21-May-2013
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A straw clutch by Mud Pie is among the fashion items available in what had long been just a boating supply store. (Photo by Alexis Orlacchio. Click to enlarge)
After a rough off-season that included severe damage from Hurricane Sandy, the owners of Sea Bright?s Angler?s Marina & Beach Boutique, Fred Leonardis and his wife, Elizabeth, worked hard to reopen their Ocean Avenue shop.
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