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Acting on the suspicions of his family who believe he was murdered, the body of late President Turgut Ozal of Turkey is set to be exhumed from his tomb at the request of Turkey's State Audit Board.
Ozal died on April 17, 1993 of a heart attack in his office in Ankara.
There have been doubts cast over the cause of his death with his widow claiming that her husband was assassinated by heavy metal poisoning.
The reasons for the autopsy include facts that his death was not investigated, no autopsy was performed and no evidence was collected at his home or office.
Also Ozal had no history of chronic or serious illness and died unexpectedly while still on the job.
An order for the exhumation has been forwarded it to the prosecutor's office in Istanbul, where Ozal's grave is located.
At the time of his death family members said they wanted no autopsy because of religious reasons.
Ozal's family has also expressed opposition to the exhumation because of religious concerns.
A mysterious seed fern, Lepidopteris, discovered from the Upper Permian of ChinaPublic release date: 30-Sep-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Zhang Yi zhangyihzlmh@synu.edu.cn Science in China Press
Recently, a mysterious seed fern, Lepidopteris baodensis sp. nov., dating to more than 251 million years ago (Ma), was discovered at the Baijiagou of Baode, Shanxi, China, from the Upper Permian Sunjiagou Formation. This discovery completely changed the understanding of the stratigraphic distribution of the genus Lepidopteris in China and promoted the taxonomic study of late Paleozoic plants.
Since Schimper erected the genus Lepidopteris in 1869, its epidermal structure of subepidermal swellings (formerly called "blisters") had long been an unsolved mystery. Excitingly, we found subepidermal swellings not only on the lower surfaces of the ultimate rachis and midrib, but also on the lower surfaces of secondary veins. In addition, the unique epidermal structures of subepidermal swellings on the ultimate rachis, midrib and secondary veins were revealed. The epidermis of a subepidermal swelling on an ultimate rachis was composed of ordinary epidermal cells and stomatal apparatuses forming longitudinal rows and numerous groups. The epidermal cells and stomatal apparatuses in each group were set in a concentric pattern. The epidermis of a subepidermal swelling on the midrib was also composed of ordinary epidermal cells and stomatal apparatuses that formed only 3? groups, and were set in a concentric pattern. The epidermis of a subepidermal swelling on a secondary vein was composed of ordinary epidermal cells and stomatal apparatuses, forming a concentric pattern. Because, unlike the lower surface, the upper surface lacked subepidermal swellings, the difference in epidermal structures between the upper and lower surfaces is remarkable. This situation is very rare in plants.
This research was carried out by Dr. Zhang Yi, Associate Professor at the College of Paleontology, Shenyang Normal University, Mr. Zheng Shaolin, Adjunct Professor at the College of Paleontology, Shenyang Normal University, and Dr. Naugolnykh, Professor at the Geological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences. This article was published as a cover article on Chinese Science Bulletin (Chinese Edition) 2012, 57(24) and Chinese Science Bulletin (English Edition) 2012, 57(27).
In 2004, the noted paleontologists and biostratigraphers Rong Jiayu (Academician Professor of NIGPAS) and Fang Zongjie (Professor of NIGPAS) pointed out in the book "Mass Extinction and Recovery" that the Earth experienced a mass extinction and recovery between the Late Permian and the Triassic, traced back to 260 Ma. The climate became extremely hot and arid at the end of the Permian. The mass extinction, which was the largest in Earth's history, destroyed most terrestrial and marine ecosystems. On land, coal-forming floras, represented by Lepidodendron and Cordaites, went extinct. The Euramerican, Cathaysian, Gondwanan and Angaran floras disappeared, and a new flora, represented by Pleuromeia, flourished after the disaster. The recovery of coal-forming floras on a large scale did not begin until the Late Triassic.
Although the terrestrial and marine ecosystems of the Earth experienced their largest mass extinction in the Late Permian, the seed fern Lepidopteris became an important element of remnant vegetation and persisted through the Triassic. Thus, the study of Lepidopteris plays a very important role in understanding this mass extinction and recovery.
Which adaptations allowed Lepidopteris to survive the harsh environment? The authors believe its persistence was probably related to the subepidermal swellings, which were special tissues unique to Lepidopteris. Based on analysis of the cuticle, the lower surfaces of the ultimate rachis, midrib and secondary veins, which are related to conducting tissues, were covered with subepidermal swellings. These subepidermal swellings were probably small water storage features that absorbed water during high flows in conducting tissues and released it during low flows, like an irrigation system. In this way, Lepidopteris, a seed fern that originally needed much water to live, probably survived the hot and arid environment. Of course, subepidermal swellings are likely to have had other functions as well.
Although Lepidopteris was a typical element of the Late Permian Euramerican flora, the species L. ottonis was considered to be an index fossil for the Upper Triassic in China. As a result, the stratigraphic distribution of this very important genus in the Upper Permian of China was long neglected. The new species L. baodensis not only expands our knowledge of the biology and taxonomy of Lepidopteris and the stratigraphy of the Upper Permian of China, but also provides an opportunity to understand the relationship between Euramerican and Cathaysian floras in a paleoclimatic, paleoenvironmental and paleogeographic context.
The experimental works were accomplished in the newly established laboratory of the College of Paleontology, Shenyang Normal University, Liaoning Province, China. Specimens are housed at the College of Paleontology, Shenyang Normal University. The Baijiagou of Baode, Shanxi, China, the locality where Lepidopteris baodensis was discovered, has become an area of intense research for Chinese and foreign geologists.
###
This study was supported by the Project 111 of China (B06008), the Scientific Research Operating Expenses, Jilin University Base Platform Construction Project, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (40972001), and RFBR No. 11-05-92692-Ind_a.
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.
A mysterious seed fern, Lepidopteris, discovered from the Upper Permian of ChinaPublic release date: 30-Sep-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Zhang Yi zhangyihzlmh@synu.edu.cn Science in China Press
Recently, a mysterious seed fern, Lepidopteris baodensis sp. nov., dating to more than 251 million years ago (Ma), was discovered at the Baijiagou of Baode, Shanxi, China, from the Upper Permian Sunjiagou Formation. This discovery completely changed the understanding of the stratigraphic distribution of the genus Lepidopteris in China and promoted the taxonomic study of late Paleozoic plants.
Since Schimper erected the genus Lepidopteris in 1869, its epidermal structure of subepidermal swellings (formerly called "blisters") had long been an unsolved mystery. Excitingly, we found subepidermal swellings not only on the lower surfaces of the ultimate rachis and midrib, but also on the lower surfaces of secondary veins. In addition, the unique epidermal structures of subepidermal swellings on the ultimate rachis, midrib and secondary veins were revealed. The epidermis of a subepidermal swelling on an ultimate rachis was composed of ordinary epidermal cells and stomatal apparatuses forming longitudinal rows and numerous groups. The epidermal cells and stomatal apparatuses in each group were set in a concentric pattern. The epidermis of a subepidermal swelling on the midrib was also composed of ordinary epidermal cells and stomatal apparatuses that formed only 3? groups, and were set in a concentric pattern. The epidermis of a subepidermal swelling on a secondary vein was composed of ordinary epidermal cells and stomatal apparatuses, forming a concentric pattern. Because, unlike the lower surface, the upper surface lacked subepidermal swellings, the difference in epidermal structures between the upper and lower surfaces is remarkable. This situation is very rare in plants.
This research was carried out by Dr. Zhang Yi, Associate Professor at the College of Paleontology, Shenyang Normal University, Mr. Zheng Shaolin, Adjunct Professor at the College of Paleontology, Shenyang Normal University, and Dr. Naugolnykh, Professor at the Geological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences. This article was published as a cover article on Chinese Science Bulletin (Chinese Edition) 2012, 57(24) and Chinese Science Bulletin (English Edition) 2012, 57(27).
In 2004, the noted paleontologists and biostratigraphers Rong Jiayu (Academician Professor of NIGPAS) and Fang Zongjie (Professor of NIGPAS) pointed out in the book "Mass Extinction and Recovery" that the Earth experienced a mass extinction and recovery between the Late Permian and the Triassic, traced back to 260 Ma. The climate became extremely hot and arid at the end of the Permian. The mass extinction, which was the largest in Earth's history, destroyed most terrestrial and marine ecosystems. On land, coal-forming floras, represented by Lepidodendron and Cordaites, went extinct. The Euramerican, Cathaysian, Gondwanan and Angaran floras disappeared, and a new flora, represented by Pleuromeia, flourished after the disaster. The recovery of coal-forming floras on a large scale did not begin until the Late Triassic.
Although the terrestrial and marine ecosystems of the Earth experienced their largest mass extinction in the Late Permian, the seed fern Lepidopteris became an important element of remnant vegetation and persisted through the Triassic. Thus, the study of Lepidopteris plays a very important role in understanding this mass extinction and recovery.
Which adaptations allowed Lepidopteris to survive the harsh environment? The authors believe its persistence was probably related to the subepidermal swellings, which were special tissues unique to Lepidopteris. Based on analysis of the cuticle, the lower surfaces of the ultimate rachis, midrib and secondary veins, which are related to conducting tissues, were covered with subepidermal swellings. These subepidermal swellings were probably small water storage features that absorbed water during high flows in conducting tissues and released it during low flows, like an irrigation system. In this way, Lepidopteris, a seed fern that originally needed much water to live, probably survived the hot and arid environment. Of course, subepidermal swellings are likely to have had other functions as well.
Although Lepidopteris was a typical element of the Late Permian Euramerican flora, the species L. ottonis was considered to be an index fossil for the Upper Triassic in China. As a result, the stratigraphic distribution of this very important genus in the Upper Permian of China was long neglected. The new species L. baodensis not only expands our knowledge of the biology and taxonomy of Lepidopteris and the stratigraphy of the Upper Permian of China, but also provides an opportunity to understand the relationship between Euramerican and Cathaysian floras in a paleoclimatic, paleoenvironmental and paleogeographic context.
The experimental works were accomplished in the newly established laboratory of the College of Paleontology, Shenyang Normal University, Liaoning Province, China. Specimens are housed at the College of Paleontology, Shenyang Normal University. The Baijiagou of Baode, Shanxi, China, the locality where Lepidopteris baodensis was discovered, has become an area of intense research for Chinese and foreign geologists.
###
This study was supported by the Project 111 of China (B06008), the Scientific Research Operating Expenses, Jilin University Base Platform Construction Project, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (40972001), and RFBR No. 11-05-92692-Ind_a.
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.
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How to Block Spam on WordPress
Spam is the scourge of the internet. No one wants to have spam comments filling up their WordPress website. It reflects poorly on you as a site owner, and this is especially true if you WordPress site represents your business! Fortunately there are some great tools available to make eradicating spam on your WordPress site a piece of cake.
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Experts Blame IT Spoofing on Lack of Awareness About Digital Security
RIYADH, 23 April ? Inadequate knowledge of firewalls and other elements of the data security system is rendering some of the Kingdom?s major organizations vulnerable to cyber attacks. ?One of the problems we have faced ?
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) ? Republican vice-presidential nominee Paul Ryan is telling a national sportsmen group that he and Mitt Romney would work to prevent any more restrictions on hunting and gun ownership.
Speaking to around 1,000 members of the the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance at a rally on Saturday night, Ryan said he will fight any more restrictions to public lands access for hunters.
The Wisconsin congressman, a hunting enthusiast, says he will also fight encroachments on individual's right to bear arms.
Ryan's speech brought him back to Ohio after campaigning earlier this week in Lima, Cincinnati and the Dayton area. He spoke earlier in the day to supporters in another swing state, New Hampshire.
Hooray! Today is National Coffee Day! We love Coffee in my family. I wanted share with everyone some info on the language of coffee and how to make some drinks.
In honor of National Coffee Day on September 29th, Eight O?Clock Coffee, America?s Original Gourmet Coffee,is demystifying coffee jargon?and explaining how to make a great-tasting specialty coffee drink at home, no fancy machines needed. Behold, your guide to creating a caf?coffee experience right in your own kitchen, courtesy of Eight O?Clock Coffee! Latte- Traditionally, this is made using espresso and foamed milk. The milk to coffee ratio is 3:1.
Make It At Home! Use a strong coffee, like Eight O?Clock Coffee?s Dark Italian Roast, and brew regularly. Pour some milk into a saucepan and place over medium heat. Whisk milk as it heats to make it frothy. Pour some of the coffee into a mug, add some hot liquid milk and spoon the foamed milk on top.
Caf? Mocha-This is simply a latte with some type of chocolate flavor added in.
Make It At Home! Prepare using the latte instructions. Before adding the coffee and milk, pour 2/3 cup of hot chocolate mix into the bottom of the mug, add coffee and milk and stir until the mix has dissolved.
Caf? au Lait- Similar to a latte, but usually uses strong brewed coffee instead of espresso and has a 1:1 ratio of coffee to milk.
Make It At Home! Brew Eight O?Clock Coffee?s Dark Italian Roast, steam the milk and add equal parts milk (add this first) and coffee to your mug.
Cappuccino-Usually made with equal parts espresso, steamed milk and frothed milk.
Make It At Home! Follow the same instructions as the latte, but pour equal parts coffee and steamed milk into the mug and top with frothed milk. It?s great with cinnamon or chocolate sprinkled on.
Macchiato-A traditional macchiato is a shot of espresso with a bit of milk foam. We usually think of the caramel macchiato, which is very popular at coffee shops in the US.
Make It At Home! Make a tasty caramel macchiato using Eight O?Clock Coffee Dark Italian Roast. Heat milk in a saucepan and whisk until frothy, add a few pumps of vanilla syrup to your cup of coffee, top with milk froth and drizzle with caramel syrup.
Frappe-A frappe is a cold blended coffee drink with chilled coffee, sugar, milk or cream and ice blended together.
Make It At Home! All you need is 6-8 ounces of cold coffee (we like Eight O?Clock Coffee Original Blend), 2 Tbsp milk, 3/4 cup crushed or cubed ice and sugar to taste. Combine ingredients in a blender. You can also add 2 Tbsp of your favorite syrup?caramel, chocolate, vanilla?some people even add ice cream to make it thicker. The possibilities are endless, so get creative!
Pumpkin Coffee-Virtually every coffee shop has some kind of limited-time-only pumpkin coffee, a delicious fall flavor.
Make It At Home! Brew your own pumpkin coffee this fall or any other time of year you feel a craving coming on. Use 2 tsp of pumpkin spice for every 3 Tbsp of Eight O?Clock Coffee Original Blend. Combine the pumpkin spice with the coffee grounds and brew. Sweeten to your desire.
Espresso:A concentrated coffee brewed by forcing a small amount of nearly boiling water under pressure through finely ground coffee beans.
Make It At Home! ?Espresso machines are typically very expensive, but you can come close to the real deal with your regular coffee pot. Choose a dark roast, like Eight O?Clock Coffee?s Dark Italian Roast, and grind the beans as finely as possible. Double the coffee filter, and pack down the coffee grounds into the filter (use 1 tbsp for every 1/4 cup of espresso). It?s a great option that replicates the strong, bold flavor espresso and cappuccino aficionados love.
*I was not paid for this information post. The opinions on this item are 100% mine and may vary from others.I was sent samples of coffee.
Facebook (FB) announced a major new feature Thursday: "Gifts."
The company will be working with partners to allow Facebook users to send cookies, chocolate, socks, and other types of gifts to other Facebook users, simply by clicking a small "gift" icon.
The service will keep track of special dates, like birthdays, and ask a user's friends whether they want to send something. The gift will consist of a coupon or physical item: Your friends will be prompted to enter the address to which they want the gift shipped, and then you'll be asked for a credit or debit card to pay for it. According to Facebook, you can pay with a Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover branded credit or debit card.
Related: Will Groupon's Move into Mobile Payments Revitalize the Daily Deals Company?
Facebook has tried other eCommerce features before, but they've mostly failed. People go to Facebook to hang out and share things with friends, not to shop. One merchant recently said that trying to sell things on Facebook was like trying to sell things in a bar--namely, futile.
That said, this feature takes advantage of what Facebook is best at, which is relationships between friends. Assuming the gift service is convenient and easy to use, it might well work.
Of course, no sooner had the idea of a Facebook commerce service hit the wires than people began worrying about the risk of sharing credit-card and shipping information with Facebook. Many privacy advocates say Facebook already has way too much information about its users, and the addition of credit cards and addresses could compound that concern.
Related: Facebook Privacy Concerns: Majority of Facebook Users Don't Trust It
That said, although some people do tend to be freaked out about privacy concerns, most people aren't. If Facebook's gift service is simple, convenient, and helpful, most people will likely get over any privacy fears, the same way they have long since gotten over them with eCommerce companies like Amazon (AMZN).
According to Facebook's website, "when you pay for a Facebook Gift, we store your credit card for future use. If you don't want to have your credit card information stored on your account, you can remove it after making a purchase."
Related:Facebook Insider Tells All In "The Boy Kings"
(Believe it or not, back in the 1990s, there were briefly similar concerns about Amazon.)
The true test for Facebook's gift service will merely be whether people have an interest in using it. If it's easy and helpful, they probably will. If it isn't--or if Facebook users simply can't be bothered to send gifts--they won't.
SEE ALSO: Apple Apologizes For Blowing It On "Maps"
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Job Category: Software Engineering: Test Location: Redmond, WA, US Job ID: 810995-93699 Division: Windows Phone Division
The Windows Phone Developer Platform team is looking for a Senior SDET with a strong passion for UI Frameworks that can help us deliver the next generation application development platform for Windows Phone.
Opportunities for you in this position: Become a technical leader working on the next generation application development platform for Windows Phone Contribute to the platform from the early planning stages to a successful release Collaborate with several key partner teams within Microsoft to achieve the common goals for our development platform Work on cutting edge technology and lead the innovation of test automation for the new platform
Responsibilities include: Provide technical leadership in designing and implementing test systems across the developer platform team Own and drive the quality of key features in our platform and tools Help build the right set of QA tools, frameworks, methodologies and infrastructure to test these efficiently Collaborate closely with a talented PM and Dev team, as well as cross-divisional partner teams
Qualifications: Deep knowledge in test processes and design and development of efficient test infrastructure Strong coding and debugging skills (C# or C++) Proven track record in delivering great results via cross-discipline and cross-group collaboration Knowledge of XAML, Silverlight or WPF Experience in testing UI Frameworks, graphics, media or networking APIs is a big plus 5+ years software industry experience with end-to-end product testing
Neil Young isn't shy when it comes to embracing new technology, something he put beyond question with his latest appearance on The Late show with David Letterman. The artist took the opportunity to reveal plans for his high-fidelity Pono music service. The aim is to tackle the poor quality in which he believes most people receive their music these days -- the humble MP3. Young's offering would comprise a three-pronged approach, including a music store with high-resolution recordings, a digital-to-analog style conversion technology, and portable hardware to listen to it all with. The simple intention is to offer music as it was originally intended to be heard, but at this time there's no detail as to what this actually entails (sorry specification fans).
According to Rolling Stone, the big three labels are interested, and the goal is to unify, rather than diversify, the quality of recorded content. The Pono players (that yellow wedge you see above) will serve up your existing catalog, but you'll likely need to re-buy some of your collection if you want the holistic experience. With no cards fully on the table, we're at the ransom of Young's celebrity endorsements, which all claim that the benefits are tangible. Young, of course, says "You can't get better than this, this is what they do in the studio," but until we get some details, or ears on, everybody knows this is nowhere.
Among the many social problems the growing lake Norman area faces is one that often hides beneath the surface: domestic violence. But even if you can?t see it, don?t get the idea it?s not there, says Janice, a survivor who now speaks to others about her experience, and where they can find help.
WANT TO HELP? Lake Norman Cruise for Change Oct. 6 raises money for United Family Services and domestic violence programs. See below.
?It?s very easy for people to think it?s an issue that doesn?t affect Lake Norman,? said Janice, who asked that her real name not be used. But, she says, it?s a ?myth? that verbal or physical abuse in relationships doesn?t happen here. ?Nothing in the statistics suggests that is true.?
Janice didn?t really understand she was in an abusive marriage until she was referred to a domestic violence counselor at the nonprofit United Family Services, which has a Lake Norman office in Cornelius.
She thought her husband?s drinking as the problem. ?I thought I had diagnosed him as an alcoholic. .. I was always trying to fix it,? she said in an interview.
She suggested he go to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, which he did, but that had the opposite effect. ?It just made everything worse.?
Her husband became increasingly controlling, verbally intimidating, and physically abusive, especially in bed. ?He started harassing me 24/7,? she recalled. At times, ?I felt like driving my car off the bridge.?
She changed jobs several times, and just ?shut down emotionally.? She?d work long hours to avoid coming home.
As the abuse worsened, she found she needed help. ?I had been to other counselors, but they couldn?t figure it out,? Janice said.
Kathryn Firmin-Sellers, Lake Norman region director for UFS, said it?s not unusual for counselors to miss the signs of domestic abuse.
At United Family Services, Janice found help. She started with a group meeting with a half-dozen other women. When she tried to talk to other counselors and other people about her problem, ?It was like speaking Russian and never meeting another Russian.? At the United Family Services group, ?I was in a room with people who spoke my language.?
Her husband ?made me think that I was crazy,? she said. But now, three years after she left and got help, she now understands she?s not alone, and help is available.
And now that she?s out speaking to others, she wants people to know that domestic violence is a real problem ? not one to be hidden or dismissed. Nationally, she said, it is estimated that 1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 boys are victims of sexual assault or intimate partner violence, she says, rattling off statistics.
About 75 percent of women are victimized before they graduate from high school, she said.
In the Lake Norman area, United Family Services and the towns of Davidson, Cornelius and Huntersville have joined forces to hire a domestic violence victim advocate. In the first year, according to Ms. Firmin-Sellers, the advocated helped just under 200 people. About half were domestic violence cases, one-quarter sexual assaults, and one-quarter child abuse.
?It?s among the most underreported crimes,? Ms. Firmin-Sellers said.
United Family Services is joining the nationwide effort to spread the word during Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October. The Cruise for Change on Oct. 6 is part of that work, as well as a way to help pay for the services UFS provides.
Meanwhile, town boards throughout the area are issuing their own proclamations recognizing the month and promoting greater awareness.
WHERE TO GET HELP
If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship, you can find support at United Family Services. The nonprofit organization offers counseling, a battered women?s shelter, and domestic violence victim services ? to help navigate the legal system. This year, UFS started a Domestic Violence Support Group. Find out more at www.unitedfamilyservices.org/ For specific information about the organization?s Lake Norman area services, visit http://www.unitedfamilyservices.org/mooresville-lake-norman/
HOW YOU CAN HELP?
United Family Services, which is based in Charlotte and has an office Cornelius, will host its annual Cruise for Change on Saturday, Oct. 6, to raise money for its domestic violence programs. The cruise is 6:30 to 10 p.m., departing from Queens Landing in Mooresville. The cost is $60 per person, including heavy hors d?oeuvres, a 1-hour open bar, dancing, a silent auction and a drawing for an iPad. Buy tickets at unitedfamilyservices.org. See also Facebook, www.facebook.com/CruiseForChange
ScienceDaily (Sep. 27, 2012) ? Physicians and environmentalists alike could soon be using a new class of electronic devices: small, robust and high performance, yet also biocompatible and capable of dissolving completely in water -- or in bodily fluids.
Researchers at the University of Illinois, in collaboration with Tufts University and Northwestern University, have demonstrated a new type of biodegradable electronics technology that could introduce new design paradigms for medical implants, environmental monitors and consumer devices.
"We refer to this type of technology as transient electronics," said John A. Rogers, the Lee J. Flory-Founder Professor of Engineering at the U. of I., who led the multidisciplinary research team. "From the earliest days of the electronics industry, a key design goal has been to build devices that last forever -- with completely stable performance. But if you think about the opposite possibility -- devices that are engineered to physically disappear in a controlled and programmed manner -- then other, completely different kinds of application opportunities open up."
Three application areas appear particularly promising. First are medical implants that perform important diagnostic or therapeutic functions for a useful amount of time and then simply dissolve and resorb in the body. Second are environmental monitors, such as wireless sensors that are dispersed after a chemical spill, that degrade over time to eliminate any ecological impact. Third are consumer electronic systems or sub-components that are compostable, to reduce electronic waste streams generated by devices that are frequently upgraded, such as cellphones or other portable devices.
Transient electronic systems harness and extend various techniques that the Rogers' group has developed over the years for making tiny, yet high performance electronic systems out of ultrathin sheets of silicon. In transient applications, the sheets are so thin that they completely dissolve in a few days when immersed in biofluids. Together with soluble conductors and dielectrics, based on magnesium and magnesium oxide, these materials provide a complete palette for a wide range of electronic components, sensors, wireless transmission systems and more.
The team has built transient transistors, diodes, wireless power coils, temperature and strain sensors, photodetectors, solar cells, radio oscillators and antennas, and even simple digital cameras. All of the materials are biocompatible and, because they are extraordinarily thin, they can dissolve in even minute volumes of water.
The researchers encapsulate the devices in silk. The structure of the silk determines its rate of dissolution -- from minutes, to days, weeks or, potentially, years.
"The different applications that we are considering require different operating time frames," Rogers said. "A medical implant that is designed to deal with potential infections from surgical site incisions is only needed for a couple of weeks. But for a consumer electronic device, you'd want it to stick around at least for a year or two. The ability to use materials science to engineer those time frames becomes a critical aspect in design."
Since the group uses silicon, the industry standard material for integrated circuits, they can make highly sophisticated devices in ways that exploit well-established designs by introducing just a few additional tricks in layout, manufacturing and supporting materials. As reported in the Sept. 28 issue of the journal Science, the researchers have already demonstrated several system-level devices, including a fully transient 64-pixel digital camera and an implantable applique designed to monitor and prevent bacterial infection at surgical incisions, successfully demonstrated in rats.
Next, the researchers are further refining these and other devices for specific applications, conducting more animal tests, and working with a semiconductor foundry to explore high-volume manufacturing possibilities.
"It's a new concept, so there are lots of opportunities, many of which we probably have not even identified yet" Rogers said. "We're very excited. These findings open up entirely new areas of application, and associated directions for research in electronics."
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency supported this work. The Tufts University team was led by Fiorenzo Omenetto; the Northwestern University team was led by Youggang Huang. Rogers is affiliated with the departments of materials science and engineering, of chemistry, of mechanical science and engineering, of bioengineering and of electrical and computer engineering, and with the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology and the Frederick Seitz Materials Research Laboratory at the U. of I.
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
Journal Reference:
Suk-Won Hwang, Hu Tao, Dae-Hyeong Kim, Huanyu Cheng, Jun-Kyul Song, Elliott Rill, Mark A. Brenckle, Bruce Panilaitis, Sang Min Won, Yun-Soung Kim, Young Min Song, Ki Jun Yu, Abid Ameen, Rui Li, Yewang Su, Miaomiao Yang, David L. Kaplan, Mitchell R. Zakin, Marvin J. Slepian, Yonggang Huang, Fiorenzo G. Omenetto, and John A. Rogers. A Physically Transient Form of Silicon Electronics. Science, 2012; 337 (6102): 1640-1644 DOI: 10.1126/science.1226325
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
A doting dad who showered his teenage daughter with thousands of pounds worth of luxuries has been spared jail after she begged a judge to free him.
Harby Panesar's company went bust after he lavished a fortune on daughter, Anysha, who is now 19, so she could live her teenage dreams.
He spent ?20,000 on a Super Sweet 16 birthday party where Tulisa performed, with a personal video from Hollywood star Nicole Kidman as part of a Moulin Rouge-themed party.
He bought his daughter a Gucci handbag for her birthday, along with a ?1,500 personalised mobile phone and a pair of ?400 sunglasses.
The 45-year-old then bankrolled her dream to be a top teenage model and beauty queen, and she went on to be crowned America's Perfect Teen, becoming the first international cover girl on SuperModels magazine.
But he got into so much debt, his finance business collapsed. He was warned by the courts not to set up another business ? but he defied the orders and was caught and sentenced to nine months in prison.
However, the Appeal Court released the father after Anysha wrote to the judge. Lord Justice Rix allowed the appeal at the Civil Appeal Court and suspended his sentence for two years.
The court was told that he is now 'far removed from his once luxurious life' - and is 'financially ruined and bankrupt.'
Lord Rix said: "The public interest will be sufficiently vindicated by suspending the term."
Panesar made his money through his insurance company Motorcare Warranties which has collapsed.
An investigation by the Financial Services Authority found that the company left a trail of victims whose motor insurance policies were worthless.
A bankruptcy hearing in the High Court banned Panesar from setting up a new business. But Panesar was found in contempt of court by launching up a new insurance company called Motorcare Warranties.
Panesar, 45, and his wife Caroline, 43, now face losing their luxury ?500,000 home and their six-acre estate in the Vale of Glamorgan.
Tori Spelling's daughter gets life-sized Barbie cake
<p> 90210 star Tori and husband Dean are no strangers to epic children’s birthday parties (and the photo shoot opportunities they come with), but they well and truly took the cake in 2010, when they threw daughter Stella a bumper Barbie themed party for her second birthday. The birthday girl wore a pink tutu and guests tucked into a life-sized Barbie cake (double the size of poor Stella), complete with additional pink cupcakes, pink icing and pink lemonade. Unconfirmed reports say every guest went home with sore eyes and a migraine. </p>
Kai Rooney parties with llamas and horses
<p> Wayne and Coleen pulled out all the stops for son Kai’s <a href="http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2011/11/07/kai-rooney-and-100-guests-party-with-llamas-and-horses-for-his-second-birthday/" target="_blank">second birthday bash</a> - horses, llamas and, er, staff dressed as cows were all in attendance. The celebrity pair hired several animals and entertainers for Kai and his 100 (!) party guests, with one perplexed insider saying: “It looked amazing. There were balloons twisted into the shape of tractors, and animals everywhere. Then somebody who looked like Snow White walked in with a goat!” Brilliant. </p>
Angelina and Brad take Pax on a river cruise
<p> Brangelina know exactly how to par-tay with a seven-year-old in the house - they organised a luxury river cruise on the Seine in France for birthday boy Pax. The whole clan - Brad, Ange, Maddox, Zahara and Shiloh - were aboard (minus little ‘uns Knox and Vivienne who were presumably not up for the way too grown up boat bash). At least balloons and cake made an appearance. </p>
Gwen spends $15,000 on Kingston's fourth birthday
<p> Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale didn’t spare the pennies when their son Kingston turned four - they apparently splashed out on a party costing $15,000. Given that the party was actually held at their LA home, the couple had plenty of cash available to hire bouncy castles, actors dressed as superheroes, a luxury lemonade stand and a candy floss machine. Guests in attendance included the Beckham boys and Kate Beckinsale. </p>
Kourtney Kardashian gets a petting zoo for Mason's first birthday
<p> When you’re turning one, what more do you need in your life than a petting zoo and an OK! magazine exclusive? Step forward Mason Disick, whose parents, Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick, threw a bumper bash with a circus and carnival theme for added effect and photo opps. The whole Kardashian clan were in attendance for the party (and magazine photos, of course…).</p>
The Wanted play for Romeo Beckham
<p> The Beckhams' middle son got exactly what he Wanted for his 10<sup>th</sup> birthday - his favourite band, The Wanted, <a href="http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2012/09/04/top-boy-band-play-the-wanted-play-for-romeo-beckham-10th-birthday-party/" target="_blank">played exclusively for him and pals at his party</a>. Posh showed her appreciation afterwards, albeit very smugly, tweeting the boys with the message: “The <a href="https://twitter.com/thewantedmusic" target="_blank">@thewantedmusic</a> boys, the coolest boys in music!!! Thank you for making Romeo's 10th birthday so special!!!! X vb.”</p>
Suri Cruise has a circus party
<p> Rumour has it Princess Suri had a fancy pants <a href="http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2011/04/06/suri-cruise-birthday-13-000-circus-party/" target="_blank">fifth birthday party</a> to the tune of £13,000! Pre-split, Tom and Katie hired professional actors to dress up as children’s characters, and ordered a whole load of animals, including giraffes and elephants for Suri and her pals to marvel over. Any bets on what she’ll be getting for her next birthday, post-TomKat break up?</p>
Britney hires trampoline park for boys' birthday bash
<p> Brit hired an entire trampoline park for her boys to enjoy for a joint birthday party this year, when Sean Preston turned seven and Jayden James celebrated being six. Britney kept it small by celeb standards, with 20 of the boys’ friends invited to enjoy the park, eat cake (and then trampoline? Rather you than us, Brit…), and play party games before heading back home to open presents. </p>
Harper has a ball with pink party rabbits
<p> Harper Beckham’s <a href="http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2012/07/09/happy-birthday-harper-seven-beckham-victoria-david-daughter-turns-one/" target="_blank">first birthday</a> was always going to be a party to write home about, and according to reports by Closer magazine, Posh and Becks didn’t disappoint, spending a whopping £50,000 on their little’s girl’s celebrations. After years hankering for a girl to join the family, it’s no surprise the party was out-of-this-world girlie, with pink cuddly toys, pony rides, cupcakes and even pink rabbits roaming around. We feel for the cleaner…</p>
P. Diddy's son gets a trip to Vegas
<p> P. Diddy’s little boy got a trip of a lifetime for his 12<sup>th</sup> birthday. He was whisked away to Vegas in a fancy black tour bus for a three day break with friends. The gang saw the sights, ate a lot of pizza and tucked into a custom cake which was as tall as the birthday boy.</p>
Mariah Carey's twins get mini Ferrari for their first birthday
<p> Mariah was always going to go all out for dem babies’ first birthday, but twins Moroccan and Monroe really did get everything and more when they turned one - a mini Ferrari, rocking horse, dolls’ house and miniature white piano. The one-year-olds were dressed to impress for their party, with Monroe in a fancy white frock and Moroccan suited and booted in a mini tux (we’re guessing they weren’t allowed to eat!). Mariah and husband Nick Cannon shared a whole heap of party snaps from the big day, you can <a href="http://www.parentdish.co.uk/2012/05/14/happy-birthday-to-dem-babies-mariah-carey-shows-off-twins-moroccan-monroe-first-birthday-party-presents/" target="_blank">take a look in our gallery (you know you want to…).</a></p>
>>>meanwhile, on the campaign trail, the candidates were shadowing each other in a crucial
swing state
, this time,
virginia
, chief correspondent
chuck todd
has more.
>> reporter: good evening, savannah, the
presidential campaign
, of course is focused on nine states where the polls are close. and every year, one state stands out from the rest, in
2004
, it was florida, ohio, more and more, it looks like
virginia
. and that was where both candidates were today. for the president his 13th campaign stop in the state.
>>how is it going,
virginia beach
?
>> reporter: rallying thousands in
virginia beach
with a new line.
>>it is time for a new economic patriotism, one rooted in the belief that growing our economy begins with a strong
middle class
.
>> reporter: mr. obama's idea includes tax hikes on the wealthy and more government spending on infrastructure. he is making it the new center piece of a
tv ad
for the closing argument.
>>if i could sit down with you at the table or in the living room, here is what i would say.
>> reporter: mitt romney
focused on the deep ties to the military, warning that devastating job losses are coming up congress and the president went through with potential defense cuts.
>>the impact will be immediate and significant right here in
virginia
. 136,000 jobs will be lost in
virginia
as a result of this move.
>> reporter: this new feeling reflects the idea that many have voted. this year the number could grow to 40%, but in some of the key
swing states
the number could even be higher, more than half of all voters in colorado, florida, nevada and
north carolina
cast their ballots early four years ago. voting is under way in
virginia
, which could be the new political bellwether, mr. obama won there earlier, identical to his nationwide
popular vote
. the two have strong bases, for democrats, minority voters and federal workers. for republicans,
christian conservatives
and
military veterans
. and in the middle, a stubborn independent vote.
>>in a way, people in
virginia
are less partisan, we don't have party ideas in our elections, we're interested in people who get stuff done.
>> reporter: now in the last two weeks we released new numbers, in
north carolina
, new hampshire,
ScienceDaily (Sep. 27, 2012) ? NASA's Curiosity rover mission has found evidence a stream once ran vigorously across the area on Mars where the rover is driving. There is earlier evidence for the presence of water on Mars, but this evidence -- images of rocks containing ancient streambed gravels -- is the first of its kind.
Scientists are studying the images of stones cemented into a layer of conglomerate rock. The sizes and shapes of stones offer clues to the speed and distance of a long-ago stream's flow.
"From the size of gravels it carried, we can interpret the water was moving about 3 feet per second, with a depth somewhere between ankle and hip deep," said Curiosity science co-investigator William Dietrich of the University of California, Berkeley. "Plenty of papers have been written about channels on Mars with many different hypotheses about the flows in them. This is the first time we're actually seeing water-transported gravel on Mars. This is a transition from speculation about the size of streambed material to direct observation of it."
The finding site lies between the north rim of Gale Crater and the base of Mount Sharp, a mountain inside the crater. Earlier imaging of the region from Mars orbit allows for additional interpretation of the gravel-bearing conglomerate. The imagery shows an alluvial fan of material washed down from the rim, streaked by many apparent channels, sitting uphill of the new finds.
The rounded shape of some stones in the conglomerate indicates long-distance transport from above the rim, where a channel named Peace Vallis feeds into the alluvial fan. The abundance of channels in the fan between the rim and conglomerate suggests flows continued or repeated over a long time, not just once or for a few years.
The discovery comes from examining two outcrops, called "Hottah" and "Link," with the telephoto capability of Curiosity's mast camera during the first 40 days after landing. Those observations followed up on earlier hints from another outcrop, which was exposed by thruster exhaust as Curiosity, the Mars Science Laboratory Project's rover, touched down.
"Hottah looks like someone jack-hammered up a slab of city sidewalk, but it's really a tilted block of an ancient streambed," said Mars Science Laboratory Project Scientist John Grotzinger of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.
The gravels in conglomerates at both outcrops range in size from a grain of sand to a golf ball. Some are angular, but many are rounded.
"The shapes tell you they were transported and the sizes tell you they couldn't be transported by wind. They were transported by water flow," said Curiosity science co-investigator Rebecca Williams of the Planetary Science Institute in Tucson, Ariz.
The science team may use Curiosity to learn the elemental composition of the material, which holds the conglomerate together, revealing more characteristics of the wet environment that formed these deposits. The stones in the conglomerate provide a sampling from above the crater rim, so the team may also examine several of them to learn about broader regional geology.
The slope of Mount Sharp in Gale Crater remains the rover's main destination. Clay and sulfate minerals detected there from orbit can be good preservers of carbon-based organic chemicals that are potential ingredients for life.
"A long-flowing stream can be a habitable environment," said Grotzinger. "It is not our top choice as an environment for preservation of organics, though. We're still going to Mount Sharp, but this is insurance that we have already found our first potentially habitable environment."
During the two-year prime mission of the Mars Science Laboratory,esearchers will use Curiosity's 10 instruments to investigate whether areas in Gale Crater have ever offered environmental conditions favorable for microbial life.
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of Caltech, built Curiosity and manages the Mars Science Laboratory Project for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington.
For more about Curiosity, visit: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/msl , http://www.nasa.gov/msl and http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl .
You can follow the mission on Facebook and Twitter at: http://www.facebook.com/marscuriosity and http://www.twitter.com/marscuriosity .
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.
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Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
An employee adjusts copies of "The Casual Vacancy" by author J.K. Rowling at a book store in London, Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012. British bookshops are opening their doors early as Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling launches her long anticipated first book for adults. Publishers have tried to keep details of the book under wraps ahead of its launch Thursday, but "The Casual Vacancy" has gotten early buzz about references to sex and drugs that might be a tad mature for the youngest "Potter" fans. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
An employee adjusts copies of "The Casual Vacancy" by author J.K. Rowling at a book store in London, Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012. British bookshops are opening their doors early as Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling launches her long anticipated first book for adults. Publishers have tried to keep details of the book under wraps ahead of its launch Thursday, but "The Casual Vacancy" has gotten early buzz about references to sex and drugs that might be a tad mature for the youngest "Potter" fans. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Copies of the "The Casual Vacancy" by author J.K. Rowling stand on a trolley ready to go on the shelves at a book store in London, Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012. British bookshops are opening their doors early as Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling launches her long anticipated first book for adults. Publishers have tried to keep details of the book under wraps ahead of its launch Thursday, but "The Casual Vacancy" has gotten early buzz about references to sex and drugs that might be a tad mature for the youngest "Potter" fans. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Copies of the "The Casual Vacancy" by author J.K. Rowling rest on a chair behind the sales counter to go on the shelves at a book store in London, Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012. British bookshops are opening their doors early as Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling launches her long anticipated first book for adults. Publishers have tried to keep details of the book under wraps ahead of its launch Thursday, but "The Casual Vacancy" has gotten early buzz about references to sex and drugs that might be a tad mature for the youngest "Potter" fans. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Copies of the "The Casual Vacancy" by author J.K. Rowling are displayed on shelves at a book store in London, Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012. British bookshops are opening their doors early as Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling launches her long anticipated first book for adults. Publishers have tried to keep details of the book under wraps ahead of its launch Thursday, but "The Casual Vacancy" has gotten early buzz about references to sex and drugs that might be a tad mature for the youngest "Potter" fans. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
A light from a video camera shines on copies of the "The Casual Vacancy" by author J.K. Rowling displayed on shelves at a book store in London, Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012. British bookshops are opening their doors early as Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling launches her long anticipated first book for adults. Publishers have tried to keep details of the book under wraps ahead of its launch Thursday, but "The Casual Vacancy" has gotten early buzz about references to sex and drugs that might be a tad mature for the youngest "Potter" fans. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
LONDON (AP) ? British bookshops opened their doors early Thursday and some grown-up Harry Potter fans lined up overnight as J.K. Rowling launched her long-anticipated first book for adults, "The Casual Vacancy."
The lines were shorter and the wizard costumes missing, but the book was published to some of the same fanfare that greeted each Potter tome, with stores wheeling out crates of the books precisely at 8 a.m. as part of a finely honed marketing strategy.
Published five years after the release of the last book in the boy wizard saga, "The Casual Vacancy" is already at No. 1 on Amazon's U.S. chart, and bookmaker William Hill put 2-1 odds on it outselling "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," which shifted 2.6 million copies in Britain on its first day.
Many of the early buyers were Harry Potter fans who, like the author, have moved on to more adult fare.
"I just like how much excitement there is about a book," said 23-year-old Grace Proctor, a "massive" Potter fan who was first to buy the book at one London store.
"I think there are going to be people who will hate it just because they can hate it," she said. "But she's such an amazing writer, I don't think she can go wrong."
A story of ambition, envy and rivalry set in the fictional English village of Pagford, the novel recounts the civic warfare sparked when the unexpected death of a town official leaves a vacancy on the governing body. Characters set on a collision course range from the affluent lawyer Miles Mollison to the Weedons, a ramshackle clan living in The Fields, the run-down housing project on the edge of town.
Rowling has said she was aiming for Dickensian sweep in the multi-character saga, whose doses of sex, satire and swearing mark a distinct departure from wholesome Harry.
Reviews have been mixed. The Associated Press judged it a challenging but rewarding read full of emotion and heart. AP's Deepti Hajela said that while its troubled characters mean "this isn't a book that's easy to fall in love with ... But what could have been an unreadable story becomes something else in Rowling's hands, thanks to her gift of being able to make her characters complex and really, just human."
The New York Times' influential critic, Michiko Kakutani, was damning.
"The real-life world she has limned in these pages is so willfully banal, so depressingly cliched that 'The Casual Vacancy' is not only disappointing ? it's dull," she said.
The Guardian newspaper's reviewer, Theo Tait, said it was "no masterpiece, but it's not bad at all: intelligent, workmanlike, and often funny."
The Independent's Boyd Tonkin found the sometimes "long-winded and laborious" writing soared when Rowling focused on her teenage characters.
Others, though, felt the lack of likable characters might alienate readers, and Daily Mail reviewer Jan Moir slammed Rowling's stark focus on Pagford's haves and have-nots as the work of a "left-leaning demagogue" painting "a bleak and rather one-sided vision of life in modern England."
It's likely nothing Rowling publishes will ever match the success of the Potter books, which have sold more than 450 million copies around the world.
But booksellers are confident "The Casual Vacancy" will be one of the year's best-sellers, whatever reviewers say.
"A lot of children have grown up with Harry Potter. They're now adults who love books," Susan Sinclair, divisional manager for the Foyles bookstore chain, said.
"I think it's going to be a really big seller at Christmas. It'll be an easy gift ? but also a good one."
___
Jill Lawless can be reached at http://Twitter.com/JillLawless
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's economy shrank less than previously estimated in the second quarter, data showed on Thursday, providing a somewhat better base for the expected modest recovery in the coming months.
However, figures from the Office for National Statistics also showed that Britain's trading position with the rest of the world worsened massively to show the biggest current account deficit on record.
Britain's gross domestic product (GDP) fell 0.4 percent on the quarter in the three months from April to June. GDP was 0.5 percent lower than in the second quarter of 2011.
Economists had expected both rates to remain unrevised to show a 0.5 percent fall on the quarter and the year.
The British economy slipped into recession in the final quarter of 2011 as the euro zone debt crisis and the government's austerity measures weighed on output.
Despite the slight upward revision, the central bank is widely expected to extend its quantitative easing asset purchases once the current 50 billion pound round of government bond buys is completed in November.
"The Bank of England is less optimistic about the return to a positive growth trend of any size in the second half of this year," said Brian Hilliard, economist at Societe Generale. "I think they're still on track to expand QE by 50 billion in November."
A steep slump of 3.0 percent in construction output remained the main drag on the economy in the second quarter, though manufacturing production also declined by 0.8 percent and services output shrank by 0.1 percent.
The crisis in the euro zone -- Britain's largest export market -- has hurt exporters and business confidence.
Second-quarter current account data showed that Britain's deficit with the rest of the world jumped to a record-high of 20.8 billion pounds or 5.4 percent of GDP, well-above even the most pessimistic forecast.
(Additional reporting by Olesya Dmitracova, David Milliken and Huw Jones; Editing by Toby Chopra)
SACRAMENTO (Reuters) - Californians who use social media like Twitter and Facebook have a little more privacy protection from employers or universities who may want access to usernames or passwords after the governor signed two bills into law on Thursday.
Job applicants and employees will have protection from employers who demand their login credentials to social media platforms or personal e-mail accounts, according to one of the bills, authored by Assembly member Nora Campos, a Democrat from San Jose.
Employers are barred from firing or disciplining those who refuse to give up any information related to their social media accounts.
"The Golden State is pioneering the social media revolution and these laws will protect all Californians from unwarranted invasions of their personal social media accounts," Governor Jerry Brown said in a statement released after he shared the news on Twitter, Facebook, and other social media accounts.
Brown also signed a similar bill by state Senator Leland Yee, a Democrat from San Francisco, prohibiting colleges or universities from demanding user names, passwords, or other identifying information from students, prospective students and student groups.
That bill, according to Brown's office, came in response to a "growing trend" of schools "snooping into student social media accounts, particularly those of student athletes."
Both laws go into effect on January 1.
(Reporting by Mary Slosson; Editing by Cynthia Johnston and Leslie Gevirtz)
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