Studying everyday eye movements could aid in diagnosis of neurological disorders

ScienceDaily (Aug. 30, 2012) ? Researchers at USC have devised a method for detecting certain neurological disorders through the study of eye movements.

In a study published August 30 in the Journal of Neurology, researchers claim that because Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and Parkinson's Disease each involve ocular control and attention dysfunctions, they can be easily identified through an evaluation of how patients move their eyes while they watch television.

"Natural attention and eye movement behavior -- like a drop of saliva -- contains a biometric signature of an individual and her/his state of brain function or dysfunction," the article states. "Such individual signatures, and especially potential biomarkers of particular neurological disorders which they may contain, however, have not yet been successfully decoded."

Typical methods of detection -- clinical evaluation, structured behavioral tasks and neuroimaging -- are costly, labor-intensive and limited by a patient's ability to understand and comply with instructions.

To solve this problem, doctoral student Po-He Tseng and Professor Laurent Itti of the Department of Computer Science at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, along with collaborators at Queen's University in Canada, have devised a new screening method.

Participants in the study were simply instructed to "watch and enjoy" television clips for 20 minutes while their eye movements were recorded. Eye-tracking data was then combined with normative eye-tracking data and a computational model of visual attention to extract 224 quantitative features, allowing the team to use new machine-learning techniques to identify critical features that differentiated patients from control subjects.

With eye movement data from 108 subjects, the team was able to identify older adults with Parkinson's Disease with 89.6 percent accuracy, and children with either ADHD or FASD with 77.3 percent accuracy.

Providing new insights into which aspects of attention and gaze control are affected by specific disorders, the team's method provides considerable promise as an easily deployed, low-cost, high-throughput screening tool, especially for young children and elderly populations who may be less compliant to traditional tests.

"For the first time, we can actually decode a person's neurological state from their everyday behavior, without having to subject them to difficult or time-consuming tests," Itti said.

Funding for the research came from the National Science Foundation, the Army Research Office, the Human Frontier Science Program and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Southern California. The original article was written by Katie Dunham.

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

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Journal Reference:

1. Po-He Tseng, Ian G. M. Cameron, Giovanna Pari, James N. Reynolds, Douglas P. Munoz, Laurent Itti. High-throughput classification of clinical populations from natural viewing eye movements. Journal of Neurology, 2012; DOI: 10.1007/s00415-012-6631-2

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/mind_brain/child_development/~3/mrlATEmDD9U/120830135310.htm

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AMISOM TROOPS KILL 42 AL-SHABAAB FIGHTERS IN SOMALIA..23 AK47 RIFLES, RPGs SEIZED

Kenya Army trucks and OTT Puma M26 MRAPs

NAIROBI, Aug. 29
(Xinhua)

Troops of the African Union Misson in Somalia (AMISOM) who are battling in Somalia on Wednesday killed 42 Al-Shabaab militants while scores escaped with multiple injuries as military operation to flush out insurgents intensifies in the Horn of Africa nation.

Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) spokesman Major Emmanuel Chirchir said the battle which took place in Aglibah area near Beles Qooqani in southern Somalia early on Wednesday saw AMISOM forces recover 23 AK 47 rifles, six rocket propelled grenades, 428 rounds of ammunition and other assorted weapons.

?AMISOM forces together with TFG soldiers in sector two conducted a raid at an Al-Shabaab stronghold base in Aglibah area near Beles Qooqani on Aug. 29. The raid neutralized 42 Al-Shabaab militias with scores of others escaping with multiple injuries,? Chirchir said in a statement released in Nairobi. Chirchir said four Al-Shabaab technical vehicles, one water bowser, one lorry and logistic supplies were destroyed as the war against al Qaida-allied terror group continues in the Horn of African nation.

?One TFG soldier sustained minor injuries and was flown to Dobley for medical attention. The joint forces have since occupied the area and are carrying out pacification operations,? Chirchir said. The development comes as the military has stepped up security along the common border with Somalia as the AU forces extend their major onslaught on the insurgents blamed for bomb and
grenade attacks in Kenya?s territory.

The Kenyan forces currently under the command of AMISOM are dealing with specific targets against the Al-Shabaab, but security has been stepped on the Kenyan side of the border. Al-Shabaab has vowed reprisal attacks in the country, mainly targeting security forces in border towns of northern Kenya where dozens of people have been killed in landmine and grenade attacks blamed on the militant group.

Al-Shabaab has said it views the presence of Kenyan troops in southern Somalia as an act of war. The group which has teamed up with global terror network al Qaida is now vowing an all-out war in Kenya, in protest against the military incursion ?against our brothers in Somalia.?

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Source: http://beegeagle.wordpress.com/2012/08/30/amisom-troops-kill-42-al-shabaab-fighters-in-somalia/

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Choosing the Right Remodeler? Consider Your New-Home Builder ...

You might find it a little odd to consider hiring a new-home builder for your remodeling project, but organizations like ours can oftentimes deliver a better project than a traditional remodeling company that focuses on a range of home improvement projects.

For room additions and major renovations that require structural work and a significant amount of new construction, professional home builders are already equipped to deliver a high level of quality and owner satisfaction.

Consider?large-scale projects are often very similar to our new-home building work. A room addition, for instance, is really not much different from a new home project, encompassing the full range of construction phases and materials from the foundation and structural frame through all of the exterior and interior finishes.

Because of our experience in building new homes, we are accustomed to delivering a high level of finish and are skilled at working closely with our clients to develop, refine, and execute a quality job. We?re also used to working under tight deadlines and budgets, giving us a perspective ? and skill set ? that few remodeling contractors can match.

Our new-home work often affords us greater leverage than a remodeling contractor to negotiate prices for materials and labor with our suppliers and trade partners. We enjoy long-term relationships with our team of trade partners and they know we?ll have more work for them down the road, whether it?s a new house or a large-scale remodeling project.

In addition to those cost-saving strategies, we value engineer every project. This process identifies and reduces unnecessary or redundant costs for materials and labor. Unlike a typical remodeling operation, we employ staff with the experience and expertise to recognize and rework your project early in the process. We also order materials as we need them, rather than all at once, which can cut down on theft, damage and eliminate the need to reorder.

Finally, professional homebuilding companies like ours typically utilize more sophisticated and reliable business practices than an average remodeling contractor. And, because of our new-home work, we usually have a greater pool of financial resources that keep headaches and cost overruns in check.

Those combined savings help us to ensure that we meet your budget or align your project with a budget that you can afford. In some cases, the money we save through negotiation, value engineering, and a streamlined operation may allow us to expand your project or upgrade the level of finish.

No doubt, there are some great remodeling contractors out there. But for large-scale room additions and major home renovations, consider the skills a professional builder brings to the table.

Warm regards,

Todd Allen Miller, AIA

QMA Design+Build, LLC
5000 Boardwalk, Suite 2
Ventnor, NJ 08406

NJ New Home Builder License #037561
NJ Home Improvement Contractor #13VH01107300

(609) 822-4949 ? phone
(609) 822-4429 ? fax

todd@QMAdesignbuild.com
www.QMAdesignbuild.com

c. 2010 All rights reserved.

Source: http://qmadesignbuild.wordpress.com/2012/08/30/choosing-the-right-remodeler-consider-your-new-home-builder/

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Myth Busted: Does the Blue Moon Make Us Crazy?

With two full moons in August, the month would seem ripe for lunacy. But the idea that the moon contributes to madness is, fortunately, a myth.

Friday, Aug. 31 will feature a blue moon, the second full moon of the month, an event that happens every 2.7 years, on average. (The next blue moon won't occur until 2015.) This double full moon might seem like good reason to stay indoors, given that the full moon has been linked to odd behavior in legends both old (werewolves, anyone?) and new (cops and emergency room staff have been known to blame the full moon for wild nights). In fact, scientists have looked into the connection between lunacy and the moon, and they've found very little evidence to back it up.

Take, for example, emergency room visits. In 1996, researchers examined the history of more than 150,000 emergency room visits to a suburban hospital. They found no difference between full-moon nights and every other night of the month, they reported in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine. Other studies have tried and failed to find a link between the full moon and psychiatric emergency visits, epilepsy seizures and surgery outcomes. [Gallery: The Fantastic Full Moon]

Most likely, the urban legends that spring up about illness, madness and the moon are examples of what psychologists call confirmation bias ? the very human tendency to remember information selectively. If you're an emergency room nurse having a busy night and you happen to notice that the moon is full, you're more likely to remember the link than on a busy night when the moon is waxing or waning.

So if humans aren't affected, how about animals? A 2007 study in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association did find that more cats and dogs arrive at the veterinary emergency room at Colorado State University on full-moon nights. Cats had a 23 percent greater chance of requiring an emergency vet visit under a full moon than during other moon phases, while dogs had a 28 percent greater chance. The researchers couldn't say why the link existed, though it's possible that the full moon's brightness means more people are out and about with their pets on those evenings, increasing the risk of injury.

Other animal studies have been similarly confounding. A study published in the British Medical Journal in December 2000 found that one emergency room in Great Britain saw more animal bites on or around full-moon nights, but a study in the same issue of the journal that focused on Australia found no such link. Perhaps the werewolves of London haven't made it to Sydney.

Follow Stephanie Pappas on Twitter @sipappas or LiveScience @livescience. We're also on Facebook & Google+.

Copyright 2012 LiveScience, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/myth-busted-does-blue-moon-us-crazy-192444799.html

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Texas high school to open $60M football stadium

Allen (Texas) High has opened a new $60 million, 18,000-seat football stadium.

AP

ALLEN, Texas (AP) -- Call it the palace of high school football: A gleaming $60 million facility with seats for 18,000 roaring fans, a 38-foot-wide high-definition video screen, corporate sponsors and a towering upper deck.

Welcome to the new home of Eagles Football.

As school districts across the country struggle to retain teachers, replace outdated textbooks and keep class sizes from ballooning, the wealthy, burgeoning Dallas suburb of Allen is preparing to christen its new stadium with a sold-out Friday night matchup against defending state champions Southlake Carroll.

It's not the biggest high school stadium in football-mad Texas, but Eagle Stadium is the grandest, with a spacious weight room for the players and practice areas for Allen High School's wrestling and golf teams. The school district decided to build it in a down economy, knowing full well it will never recoup the costs.

It's a decision that local officials and team supporters defend, saying the stadium will serve as a community centerpiece and source of pride for years to come and will more than pay the costs of operating it.

"There will be kids that come through here that will be able to play on a field that only a few people will ever get the chance to play in," said Wes Bishop, the father of a junior linebacker on the team and head of the local booster club.

For longtime Allen fans, it's a giant step forward from a facility that district spokesman Tim Carroll called "inadequate in almost every way."

The old building opened in 1976, when Allen had fewer than 8,000 residents, with 7,000 permanent seats, one concession stand and one set of bathrooms. As the town grew to its current population of 87,000, the school had to add portable toilets and rent temporary bleachers, which added 7,000 seats at a cost of $250,000 a year, Carroll said.

Today, the high school has 4,000 students enrolled and a 700-member band that's among the biggest in the country. Collin County, which includes Allen and other Dallas suburbs, is one of the wealthiest areas of Texas - and home to some of the state's top football teams.

About 63 percent of voters supported a $119 million bond package in 2009. Construction on the stadium began a year later. District officials went with more expensive concrete seating over all-aluminum benches, adding perhaps $4 million more to the cost, according to officials. But they said they expected this stadium to last decades.

"Our intention is not to recoup the money it cost to build the stadium," Carroll said. "It's not practical to say we'll get that money back. (But) the revenue we receive from the stadium will far exceed the cost of operating it."

While the district did not have estimates, Carroll said he expects the stadium to be competitive in hosting high school playoff games and other events. The school has also sold six sponsorships for about $35,000 a year, he said.

The new stadium revives an old argument in Texas about whether communities and their schools have their priorities straight.

In 1982, when the West Texas city of Odessa built a 19,000-seat stadium for a then-unheard-of $5.6 million, it drew scorn from some people who questioned the district's priorities. Odessa would be featured a few years later in the book "Friday Night Lights," a national best-seller that inspired a movie and a TV series.

Ross Perot, the billionaire businessman and former presidential candidate, repeatedly took aim at his home state's football culture as he pushed the state to shed extracurricular activities and increase accountability measures.

"Do we want our kids to win on Friday night on the football field or do we want them to win all through their lives?" Perot said in a 1988 Washington Post column. "That's what we have to start asking ourselves."

Today, neighboring Plano High School's stadium seats more than 14,000 people. Mesquite, about 30 miles away from Allen, has a 20,000-seat stadium. And the Berry Center, a suburban Houston facility with a stadium, an arena and theater, opened in 2006 and cost about $84 million.

"In a couple of years, someone's going to do something that's bigger and bigger," said Robert McSpadden, who runs the high school football site TexasBob.com.

Officials in Allen reject the premise that they're focusing on sports over academics. The bonds approved three years ago also funded a new performing arts center, and Carroll said extra revenue from stadium operations will go into the district general fund. Allen's student test scores are also largely stellar.

But for now, Eagle Stadium is gaining wide notoriety. The No. 8-ranked Eagles' Friday game against Southlake Carroll, which won a state championship last year and is ranked No. 1 in The Associated Press' Class 5A preseason poll this season, sold out in just over a day. More than 2,000 people are expected to watch from standing-room areas.

Bishop's son Zack, a linebacker, said he and his teammates already noticed differences: a more spacious weight room, a softer playing field.

"It's going to be really incredible to step out in front of a full house and a sold-out game," he said.

Chris Wallace, whose oldest son is a senior quarterback, said she had to reassure him when they visited smaller colleges over the summer with older facilities.

"In his mind, this is it," she said. "He can't even believe it's here already."

And there's always room for growth.

Fred Montes, one of the architects of what he called "an incredible project," said the district's master plan left open the possibility for more construction, if needed.

"The end zone that has seats currently can be expanded," he said. "And on the visitors' side, you can always put a deck."

Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Source: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/highschool/08/30/allen-high-football-stadium.ap/index.html?eref=si_latest

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Two Years Post-Acquisition, Ngmoco Axes Bulk Of Staff At iOS Game Studio Freeverse

Mobile gaming outfit Ngmoco has swung the ax on Freeverse, the Mac and iOS game development studio it acquired back in February 2010. Today Ngmoco, which is now owned by Japanese mobile gaming giant DeNA, laid off the bulk of Freeverse's staff, possibly as part of a move to close the studio -- a move that one tipster tells us staffers at the 18-year-old Freeverse "did not see coming." The layoffs come just one week after the departures of Freeverse's co-founders, brothers Ian and Colin Lynch Smith. When contacted for comment, an Ngmoco rep sent the following statement attributed to VP of Studios Clive Downey:

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

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The Way To Get The Shaped Pysique You Possess Always Wanter ...

It will make no big difference regardless of whether you?re seeking to explode some weight or manage a whole marathon, physical fitness is vital. A lot of people aren?t mindful of steps to start getting fit, but luckily this informative article may help.

Your typical drive-ups are perfect for fine-tuning your tricep. Properly, not rather typical. As opposed to the traditional type, a fantastic direction at roughly 45 qualifications together with your hands is much better exercise. This move will tone up your tricep in no time.

Jogging will assist you to improve exercise and is a great work out. Go walking hindfoot to toe by forcing off with your back heel first as well as your toes final, to improve the time and effort being put out from your calves. You can even function the arms by bending your elbows then swinging your arms each time you are taking a step.

It is very important analyze a good work out counter ahead of use. Apply tension along with your palm and hands to view how dense the padding is. When you can experience the metal or timber under the table, then you should attempt and locate one more seat.

Produce a physical fitness plan that the whole family can do. Have individuals your household turn figuring out what exercise the family unit will work this week. Constantly take note of what everybody does and who does it. Every single member of the family should be able to obtain an exercise which they appreciate and therefore are efficient at.

You may gain often from maintaining a workout plan. Getting fit is also ideal for your mental well-being. The endorphins launched whilst training can boost your mood in addition to some despression symptoms medications. Once you workout and work out, you are going to get self confidence and increase your image of on your own. In a few approaches, consequently, several routines can be everything stands involving you and also joy.

This idea can help you on your own footwork with sporting activities. Decide on your feet up in front and touch it with the opposite hand, then little by little decrease it. Boost your proper foot, and get in touch with touch it using the opposite hand prior to lowering. Then different and contact the remaining foot using the right hand from behind. Keep on moving at a quick rate and try to finish four collections.

Invest in a treadmill machine, workout bicycle, or any other sort of fitness products. It may help you stay focused on your health and fitness program, plus it ups the benefit component significantly. Check around to find the best price and get a better bargain. Don?t make your error of thinking an inexpensive machine is much better for your personal spending budget. High quality is essential so that you will don?t chance injuries or must swap the device more rapidly than you wish to.

Before you begin any exercise regimen, it is essential to go view your medical professional and get a physical. It may help affirm that you receive one of the most positive aspects and enjoy the very least volume of hazards. You could always take a muscle mass or tendon if you exercise routine, but getting an judgment is obviously very good in either case.

A smart investment in your health is always to seek the guidance of your exercise instructor that will help you improve your fitness level. Not only will a coach have professional information, but coaches are notorious for keeping customers stay encouraged. Although not for anyone, your own fitness instructor can make a large effect.

Ingest milk products right after your regular workout. This dairy products health supplement can provide the appropriate volume of healthy proteins. In addition, it contains excellent saturated fats and calcium supplements, which are great for the body, which is the reason new baby creatures drink it to survive. Vitamins and minerals like these can bulk up the body mass as well.

Don?t exercise when you have an a fever, chest area congestion or are nauseous. When you find yourself suffering from health issues, the body attempts to utilize all of the assets in order to recover on its own. Workouts will struggle to repair or improve muscle tissue while healing and the time will be unfavorable. For that reason, you must have a break from doing exercises up until you are very. Also, you will want to eat wonderful and obtain added sleep at night.

Getting into good shape will drastically get a lean body and make you feel good. If you have not exercised routinely in the past, you could possibly sense stressed, but you could do if you get the proper aid. Use the suggestions found above to enhance your own level of fitness in order to accomplish your workout goals.

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Source: http://ezinepr.com/health-medicine/homeopathic-medicine/the-way-to-get-the-shaped-pysique-you-possess-always-wanter/

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Penn State to Give Back Trophies Because of NCAA Sanctions

STATE COLLEGE, Penn. -- Penn State will have to return all of the football trophies they won during a 14-year span as a result of sanctions handed down by the National Collegiate Athletic Association for school's role in the Jerry Sandusky child sexual abuse scandal, a school official said on Wednesday.

The move is another blow to the State College community, which has been plagued by the scandal for nine months.

Earlier this summer the NCAA fined Penn State $60 million, banned the football program from bowl games for four years, stripped scholarships and vacated the team's wins from 1998 to 2011 following the Freeh Report, which issued a scathing statement about how much the university knew and when.

"Per the NCAA consent decree, all football team trophies won from 1998-2011 are to be returned to the awarding authority and we plan to do so," said Jeff Nelson, assistant athletic director of communications for football at Penn State.

Some of the trophies that the school will have to return include their bowl game wins. Penn State won the Outback Bowl in 1999 and 2007, the Alamo Bowl in 1999 and 2007, the Orange Bowl in 2006 and the Capital One Bowl in 2010.

While those residing in Happy Valley are still trying to resurrect their image in the wake of the scandal and show they still back their team, they do have one thing to smile about this week as they head into their first football game without famed coach Joe Paterno in more than four decades.

Their spirit has won them $10,000 for the school's general scholarship fund after they beat out more than 200 other schools in a voting campaign hosted on ESPN.com, according to a press release sent out by the school.

Penn State led the competition from start to end, the release said.

"We are elated to see this incredible expression of Penn State pride, spirit and support demonstrated by our students, alumni, faculty and staff, and friends and fans in winning the Pledge Your Allegiance contest," Roger Williams, executive director of the Penn State Alumni Association, said in a statement.

"This national victory is what Nittany Nation is all about. We know Penn Staters everywhere will join us in celebrating by wearing their blue and white with great pride."

Source: http://www.wsbt.com/sports/ktla-paterno-statue-removal,0,3202449.story?track=rss

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Documents: Man turned self in for ND bank robbery

This image from a surveillance camera, released by the Williston (ND) Police Department shows Kent Clemens after he allegedly robbed Gate City Bank, in Williston, ND on July 18, 2012. Authorities say Clemens called 911 in Topeka, Kan., three days later telling officers that he had made a mistake and to arrest him. (AP Photo/ Williston Police Department)

This image from a surveillance camera, released by the Williston (ND) Police Department shows Kent Clemens after he allegedly robbed Gate City Bank, in Williston, ND on July 18, 2012. Authorities say Clemens called 911 in Topeka, Kan., three days later telling officers that he had made a mistake and to arrest him. (AP Photo/ Williston Police Department)

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) ? Kent Anthony Clemens returned home to Kansas after a short stay in North Dakota's booming oil patch with a stack of crisp $50 bills, sharing what authorities say was ill-gotten booty with his sister.

Then, apparently, guilt set in.

Three days after Clemens allegedly held up a bank in the western North Dakota town of Williston, the 53-year-old called 911 and asked police in his hometown of Topeka, Kan., to arrest him "for making a mistake," according to an FBI affidavit filed in federal court.

"People have an attack of conscience all the time ? like returning stolen items to a store," Topeka Police Chief Ron Miller said in a telephone interview Tuesday. "But it is unusual to rob a bank and then call 911 in an attack of conscience."

When police arrived at Clemens' home last month, he was sitting on the front porch, "wearing what appeared to be the same blue polo shirt he was wearing when he committed the Gates City Bank robbery," the FBI affidavit said. He "put both of his hands out to police and told them to arrest him for making a mistake," court papers said.

Clemens is being held in North Dakota. He appeared in federal court in Bismarck on Aug. 17 and waived his right to a preliminary hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Volk said. Federal public defender Heather Mitchell said no other court hearings have been scheduled.

Neither attorney would comment on specifics of the case.

According to court papers, the suspect was wearing a polo shirt, a golf-style flat cap and tinted glasses when he walked into Gates City Bank in Williston on July 18.

He "looked more like he was going golfing than robbing a bank," said Williston Police Det. Cory Collings.

The suspect told the teller he had a gun and demanded $50 bills. The robber fled on foot with about $700, court papers said.

Clemens told authorities he did not have a gun at the time of the robbery and believed he made off with $800.

North Dakota has risen from the nation's ninth-leading oil producer to No. 2 in just six years, and Williston is the epicenter of the state's oil patch. Officials say the city's population has doubled in the past decade to some 30,000 residents.

Collings said the Williston Police Department is understaffed and overwhelmed by the increased crime from an exploding population.

"It would be great if all of our cases worked out like this. At least some of the sleepless nights would maybe go away," Collings said Tuesday.

Clemens' sister, identified as "Sheila" in court papers, told investigators her brother announced in early July that he was "quitting his job, and leaving to work the oil fields either in Alabama, North Dakota, or Canada," the FBI affidavit said. Clemens returned home on July 19, one day after the Williston bank robbery and gave his sister $350 in $50 bills, court papers said.

Clemens' sister told investigators she had spent most of the money but later gave authorities four $50 bills she had in her purse, court records show.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/aa9398e6757a46fa93ed5dea7bd3729e/Article_2012-08-28-Second-Thought%20Robber/id-f43828f690b6449db9621b7cd0c9c2f6

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Prosecutors reject burglary case against Lohan

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? Lindsay Lohan will not be prosecuted for a burglary at a home where she had been a houseguest, prosecutors determined Tuesday.

The decision came after Los Angeles police detectives presented a potential felony burglary case against the actress and two men who were reportedly at the Hollywood Hills home of a longtime acquaintance after several items went missing earlier this month.

Prosecutors cited lack of evidence to prove Lohan was involved in the thefts at the home. The items taken were described as keys, cash, sunglasses and a credit card holder. The homeowner, businessman Sam Magid, is an acquaintance of Lohan and later told authorities that he did not want to pursue a case.

"Lindsay is glad this matter has been cleared up so she can focus on her upcoming projects," her spokesman Steve Honig said in a statement Tuesday afternoon.

One of the men police interviewed was Lohan's assistant, who told authorities that he, the actress and another man went into the home early Aug. 18. Some items were taken, but the assistant refused to say who stole them, according to a memo rejecting the charges.

"We do not have sufficient evidence to prove this case beyond a reasonable doubt," the prosecution memo states. The document also noted that none of the missing items were found in the possession of Lohan or the two men who were believed to be at the house on the day of the burglary.

Los Angeles police say their investigation into the thefts will continue.

Lohan remains on probation for a 2011 case in which she pleaded no contest to taking a $2,500 necklace without permission. After completing a strict counseling and morgue cleanup duty program implemented by a judge, Lohan no longer has to report to a judge, but she faces jail time if she is charged with another crime.

In recent months she has resumed acting, portraying Elizabeth Taylor in a Lifetime movie about the actress' love affair with Richard Burton.

She also recently filmed "The Canyons," a film by "Less Than Zero" author Bret Easton Ellis. That film has Lohan playing opposite James Deen, who is best known as an adult film star with thousands of movies to his credit.

Police in Santa Monica, Calif., continue to investigate a crash involving Lohan and her assistant on the Pacific Coast Highway earlier this year. Lohan was on her way to the set of the Lifetime film "Liz and Dick" when she slammed into the back of a dump truck and had to be briefly hospitalized.

___

Anthony McCartney can be reached at http://twitter.com/mccartneyAP

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/prosecutors-reject-burglary-case-against-lohan-220039324.html

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How Bain Capital execs lower their taxes - The ... - Fortune Finance

FORTUNE -- There has been lots of talk over the past few days about how Bain Capital executives have used management fee waivers?to effectively lower their tax payments (a tactic that is not unique to Bain). Some academics have argued that such waivers are an illegal dodge, while private equity tax attorneys I've spoken with call it "aggressive but accepted by the IRS."

Here is the basic structure: Bain officially charges 2% management fees to investors in its private equity funds. The idea is to cover overhead, such as salaries, office leases, electric bills, etc. ?But Bain has lots of other business lines (venture capital funds, hedge funds, etc.) that generate sufficient cash flow, so it "waives" the PE fund management fees. Well, sort of. Limited partners still pay the 2%, only it flows directly into the fund, as part of Bain's general partner commitment (which is between 10% and 15% of Bain's total PE fund capital, an unusually high percentage).

By doing so, Bain partners don't pay ordinary income taxes on their management fees. Instead, they pay at capital gains rates if/when the deals generate profit (because it's now considered carried interest). It appears that the partners irrevocably waive their rights to the returns if the deal returns less than par, although I don't have access to the LPAs that would spell it out more exactly. That said, sources do tell me that Bain partners cannot take waiver-related capital loss on failed transactions.

Sources sympathetic to such structures cite an IRS ruling (93-27) that specifically seems to allow such waivers, under a notion of partnership risk. Critics say that rule is being perverted, because the risk of loss is so low.

I'm not well-versed enough in IRS minutia to render legal judgment, but do feel that such structures should be banned going forward. Management fees are a fee for service. As such, they should be taxed as ordinary income. If Bain wants to eliminate management fees altogether, then move to a 0-and-32 structure.

To be sure, I have no problem with fund managers pushing some of their fees into funds. I think it's a good thing, as it's a tighter alignment of interests. But I don't see why their capital should be cheaper than that of the high-net-worth investors in their funds (who paid taxes on their pre-commitment monies). Doing so, in fact, depresses that alignment.

Tax law is a funny thing, because certain?strategies aren't black and white. They're subject to interpretation. When I asked a PE tax attorney if what Bain is doing is allowed, she told me that "allowed" and "not allowed" isn't always the right way to think about it. Okay, understood. But some things are explicitly permitted (treating carried interest as capital gains, for example) and other things are explicitly prohibited (taking deductions for work expenses for which I was reimbursed). So let's just add this one to the latter list.

Sign up for Dan's daily email newsletter on deals and deal-makers:?GetTermSheet.com

Source: http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2012/08/28/how-bain-capital-execs-lower-their-taxes/

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Renowned pianist Van Cliburn diagnosed with cancer

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) ? Renowned classical pianist Van Cliburn has been diagnosed with advanced bone cancer and is resting comfortably at his Texas home, his publicist said Monday.

The 78-year-old Cliburn is under excellent care and his spirits are high, said longtime friend and publicist Mary Lou Falcone.

Cliburn skyrocketed to fame in 1958 when he won the first International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow at age 23. He triumphantly returned to a New York ticker tape parade, the only one ever for a classical musician, and a Time magazine cover proclaimed him "The Texan Who Conquered Russia."

In the years that followed, Cliburn's popularity soared, and the young man from the small east Texas town of Kilgore sold out concerts, broke record sales, caused riots when spotted in public and even prompted an Elvis Presley fan club to change its name to his.

But he tired of years of performing mainly the same pieces that made him famous ? such as Tchaikovsky's "Piano Concerto No. 1," which had sealed his Moscow win ? and took a sabbatical in 1978, feeling emotionally drained from nonstop touring. Cliburn later moved from New York to Fort Worth, where he currently lives and where he remained active in the arts and social scenes. He began playing publicly again in the late 1980s.

Until only recently, Cliburn practiced daily and performed limited engagements.

He has performed for every president since Harry Truman, and for years has devoted his time to the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Founded by Fort Worth music teachers in 1962, it's held every four years and considered among the world's premier piano competitions.

Cliburn won a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004, and was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2003.

He was already an accomplished pianist before winning the 1958 competition in Moscow. He started taking piano lessons from his mother at age 3, then debuted with the Houston Symphony Orchestra at age 12. He studied at Juilliard, won the famed Leventritt Competition and performed with several orchestras across the country ? including the New York Philharmonic.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/renowned-pianist-van-cliburn-diagnosed-cancer-230755088.html

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Country homes in Cape Overberg - Market News, News

Mention the Cape Overberg and for many, and the first thing that springs to mind is an endless coastline, fynbos, beaches and whales.

This modern four bedroom, two bathroom home has an indoor braai and open plan kitchen with a view of the Sonderend Mountains. It is on the market for R680 000 - click here to view.

Yet while coastal towns like Hermanus and Arniston continue to be sought-after, holiday destinations and their inland neighbours are experiencing their own run of popularity, says Pam Golding Properties (PGP).

Annien Borg, the company?s MD for the Boland and Overberg regions, says rural towns like Caledon, Villiersdorp, Greyton and Riviersonderend are increasingly being considered by buyers seeking a quieter lifestyle, a healthier place in which to raise a family and more affordable property prices.

Le Roux van der Merwe, Pam Golding Properties area manager, says the lifestyle on offer in these small rural towns is enviable ? a relaxed pace of life, neighbours who know one another, little to no crime or traffic congestion, fresh farm produce and clean country air.

Van der Merwe says that more people are looking for property here than ever before, for certain lifestyle reasons, whether it is for early retirement, a weekend getaway or a permanent family home.

New developments, such as the mall being built in Caledon, are increasing the scope for employment, while the traditional major employer in the region, the farming sector, is doing relatively well after an excellent harvest in 2011.

This 18ha farm, situated in Tesselaarsdal between the Overberg towns of Caledon and Hermanus has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. It is on the market for R3.33 million?- click here to view.

?Like all other areas, we have felt the impact of prevailing economic conditions, but there is definitely a sense that the market is improving slowly but surely, particularly in Caledon and Swellendam.

"The residential market hasn?t yet been explored to its full potential in many of these towns, and properties remain extremely affordable when compared to larger towns and cities,? says van der Merwe.

Affordable family homes

Among the most popular properties in the region at present are sizable family homes with three or more bedrooms ? confirming PGP?s opinion that a growing number of families are migrating permanently to the countryside.

?For example, we are seeing a number of residents settling in Caledon and then commuting to work in either Hermanus or Somerset West,? says van der Merwe.

He says they have the best of both worlds ? working in a larger economic node, while still enjoying the benefits of a quieter rural lifestyle and the area?s excellent schools help considerably in attracting this market, as do its very competitively priced homes.

This three bedroom, two bathroom house has a spacious lounge and lovely manicured garden and is on the market for R1.2 million - click here to view.

One can still purchase a large family home on a sizable stand for under R1.2 million in Caledon, while prices are even more affordable in smaller towns like Villiersdorp, where one might pay R750 000 to R900 000 for a substantial family home.

In Riviersonderend, one can buy a four bedroom home on a large stand for under R650 000, while a top-end mansion with five bedrooms will only cost R1.1 million.

In the Overberg?s main commercial point, Swellendam, van der Merwe notes that there has been an upturn in interest in the middle market (R800 0000 to R1.2 million) and lower market (R400 000 to R800 000), which he attributes partly to the easing of bank?s lending policies in recent months.

Buyers here are predominantly Capetonians seeking weekend and holiday homes, although recent enquiries have also come from Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.?Swellendam has even seen a muted return of international interest, predominantly from German buyers.

An ideal retirement environment

The comparatively low prices and peaceful pace of life make the inland towns of the Overberg particularly appealing to retirees - or those wanting a holiday home to which they can retire in the future. Riviersonderend and Swellendam in particular are seeing steady enquiries from this market at present.

The town of Greyton is also popular with retirees, particularly those with a creative nature who enjoy its vibrant arts and crafts culture.

PGP is preparing to launch a much-needed new frail care and assisted living facility to market in September this year, with 24 hour medical support. The facility will offer 20 units, priced from R599 000 on a sectional title basis.

Historic homesteads

These rural towns are among the oldest in the country, and are consequently home to a number of historic homesteads, some dating back hundreds of years.

Many of these properties have been successfully renovated for use in the hospitality industry or converted into comfortable modern family homes.

Whilst this is always a niche market, the trend is nevertheless continuing, and PGP?s recent sales in Swellendam, for example, have included two historic properties.

The Koornlands Restaurant and Pink House, located on the town?s Main Road, was sold for R2.4 million to buyers from Kuruman, while Gauteng buyers have purchased the landmark Coachman, located in the heritage heart of Swellendam, for R2.7 million.

They intend to demolish some of the later additions to the property and restore the manor house to its original state, for use as a private residence.

Farming

?There has been a sustained flow of enquiries for agricultural land, including those from farmers in up-country provinces, who would prefer to move to the Western Cape and continue farming in a more secure environment,? says van der Merwe.

The excellent harvest of 2011, as well as the outstanding infrastructure and support systems for agriculture in the Overberg, are the most noteworthy incentives for this interest.

He says the slow but sure economic recovery, together with the somewhat more lenient lending regime of our banks, is also a strong incentive for buyers to make an investment in the agricultural sector. The majority of enquiries are for livestock farms with crops, dairy and fruit.

Pricing in the agricultural sector varies significantly depending on location, water supply and existing plantings and stock.

For example, one can purchase a 250ha fynbos farm outside Villiersdorp for R6.5 million, while a 190ha wheat and cattle farm outside Caledon is currently on the market at R8.7 million. A 211ha fruit farm with abundant water supply is on the market at R14.5 million, just outside Greyton.

Lifestyle farms also remain popular, especially as weekend getaways for Capetonians. PGP says a limited number of international buyers have also shown interest in this segment of the market this year.

A 6000sqm smallholding in Caledon with a three bedroom homestead, is currently on the market at R2.1 million, while one can purchase one of several 2ha farms outside Swellendam for between R2.9 million and R5 million.

Source: http://www.property24.com/articles/country-homes-in-cape-overberg/16140

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Venezuela firefighters continue battling refinery blaze

PARAGUANA, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuelan firefighters continued battling a blaze at the country's largest refinery on Tuesday, struggling to extinguish a third fuel storage tank following a blast that killed nearly 50 people in the nation's deadliest oil industry accident.

Flames began shooting out of the storage tank at the 645,000-barrel-per-day Amuay refinery at around 8:00 a.m. (1230 GMT), less than an hour after Reuters witnesses and state oil company PDVSA said the fire had been completely extinguished.

On Monday, Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez told Reuters in an exclusive interview that the facility could restart operations on Friday if the blaze is out by Wednesday.

The charred remains of two other fuel tanks, which had been extinguished before dawn, stood half-melted from three days of the blazing inferno.

The explosion at Amuay on Saturday killed 48 people and helped pushed up U.S. fuel prices in markets that were already bullish because of a threat that Tropical Storm Isaac could disrupt refinery operations on the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Traders say the impact on fuel markets may continue even after Amuay is up and running again. Tank farm accidents often cause problems with gasoline blending, which means PDVSA may have to boost imports.

Chavez said at the scene on Monday that he was creating a fund worth about $23 million to help pay for clean-up operations and replace homes destroyed by the pre-dawn blast.

It was one of the most deadly oil industry accidents in recent years, nearing the toll of the 1997 fire at India's Visakhapatnam refinery that killed 56 and topping the 2005 blast at BP Plc's Texas City refinery in which 15 people died.

(Additional reporting by Marianna Parraga; Writing by Brian Ellsworth; Editing by Lisa Von Ahn)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/one-three-tank-fires-extinguished-venezuela-refinery-055226584.html

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Belgians fear pedophile's ex-wife may be freed

BRUSSELS (AP) ? Even after all these years, the mere mention of the name "Marc Dutroux" can wipe the smile off the face of almost any Belgian.

And now that the convicted pedophile and killer's ex-wife ? an accomplice who let two of his victims starve to death ? is on the verge of release, Belgium is being forced to relive some of its darkest moments.

On Tuesday, the nation's highest court will likely approve granting Michelle Martin conditional freedom, even though she served little more than half of the 30-year sentence she was given for her part in the mid-1990s kidnappings, rapes and killings. One of Belgium's most loathed criminals could walk free within hours or days afterward.

For many in this country, memories that had been largely buried are now resurfacing.

"We are scared for our children, obviously, for the other children as well," said Celine Doignies, a bar owner in the village of Malonne where Martin is expected to move into a convent as part of the conditions of her release.

Martin depicted herself as a more passive culprit than Dutroux, acting on the whims of a psychopath. But she is still blamed for aiding her then-husband's depraved and murderous spree, and is particularly loathed for letting two 8-year-old girls starve to death while Dutroux was briefly imprisoned.

The Court of Cassation will decide on appeals from the prosecutor's office and the families of victims on Tuesday and rule if procedural errors were made in the decision of a lower court to approve Martin's conditional release. Barring such errors, nothing stops her from leaving prison.

Dutroux, who was an unemployed electrician and convicted pedophile on parole at the time of the crimes, was convicted eight years after his 1996 arrest of abducting, imprisoning and raping six girls between the summers of 1995 and 1996. He was also found guilty of murdering two of the six girls, who ranged in age from 8 to 19 years old.

The two 8-year-olds starved to death in a secret basement dungeon built by Dutroux, who left them in Martin's care while he was serving four months in jail for theft. The last two kidnap victims came out alive after the police took action.

The Dutroux case was a watershed moment for the nation. It ended decades of social tranquility and rattled the government system as little had since World War II. In a nation of 10 million at the time, one demonstration drew more than 300,000 angry people onto the streets of Brussels to demand immediate change.

Beyond the gruesomeness of the crimes, the population was infuriated by the ineptitude of the police and judicial systems, which left several glaring opportunities to catch the criminals ? and save lives ? go to waste.

An investigator heard voices in Dutroux' cellar next to the dungeon but didn't take proper heed. Authorities spread over different judicial districts failed to communicate properly. A parliamentary inquiry laid bare many other ailments in the police and justice systems, laying the cornerstone for reforms.

"We often talk about the pre- and post-Dutroux era," said Professor Brice De Ruyver, head of Ghent University's Institute for International Research on Criminal Policy. "It has almost brought the country, at that time, balancing on a state of revolution."

But when it comes to the judicial system, many people say the reforms did not go far enough, and the Martin case has brought those concerns to the forefront.

Under Belgian law, release is possible after a convict has served one-third of his or her sentence, including credit for pre-trial detention. It is rarely questioned for common criminals, but obviously in Martin's case, a lot of emotion is involved.

Dutroux himself was sentenced in 2004 to life in prison with no possibility of parole because, the judge said, of "the danger he represents to society." Some of his victims' parents are now galvanizing the public once again as they demand that Martin, too, stay in jail.

"What does one have to do to serve a full sentence?" asked Pol Marchal, who lost his 17-year-old daughter, An, in the killing spree.

Marchal is demanding a bigger say in the decision on whether Martin should be released. He and Jean-Denis Lejeune, the father of another victim, went to see Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo last Friday, and Di Rupo promised more reforms.

"I understand the emotions of the families and the population," Di Rupo said. "The abominable crimes are still very much in our memory."

De Ruyver said the public's confidence in the justice system remains "extremely low. This is, for a democratic state of law, a very explosive situation."

"Those who are responsible for justice reform haven't yet succeeded in making clear to the public that justice is now functioning better than during Dutroux' times," the professor said.

Again, protests have been staged, including in Malonne, the home of the Clarisse convent some 75 kilometers (45 miles) south of Brussels.

There, if she is released, Martin will have to work some 20 hours a week to pay for lodging and she will have to meet weekly with authorities to determine the extent to which she is meeting the conditions of her release. In theory, she has limited freedom to move.

De Ruyver mentioned several reasons why Martin should not yet be released, foremost among them being that early conditional release is meant to help reintegrate a person into society. That is the opposite of what Martin will be doing if she shelters in the Clarisse convent of Malonne, he said.

"She is hiding herself from society, going to a monastery and living there, in a closed community. This is not taking back your place in society," he said. In addition, he said, "If society says 'I don't want you back,' you have a big problem."

The extent to which that is the case with Martin is underscored by the special measures authorities will have to take to protect her from possible attacks if she makes it to the bucolic convent. Media reports say some 40 police will guard the convent day and night, at a cost of 5,000 euros a day.

That alone is another sore point.

"You cannot underestimate the enormous cost of law enforcement being operational there and at the same time not be used in other, more important aspects of crime fighting," De Ruyver said.

Lejeune, whose daughter Julie was one of the girls who starved to death, was pessimistic that the parents could at this point keep Martin in jail, noting they've been unable to find a legal basis for it.

But, he added, "regarding others who have committed equally bad crimes, there will be reform taking shape in the justice department."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/belgians-fear-pedophiles-ex-wife-may-freed-114711125.html

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Minister hints at resignation in Heathrow airport row

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's transport minister said on Tuesday she would probably resign if the government gave in to pressure to expand London's Heathrow airport.

Prime Minister Cameron's government has ruled out building a third runway at Heathrow before the next election, in part to appease the junior coalition partner, the Lib Dems, but the issue has returned to the agenda with the economy still stuck in recession.

Government insiders say Cameron and Chancellor George Osborne have an open mind on expanding Heathrow but that they were unlikely to reverse their policy before the election, due in 2015.

Transport Secretary Justine Greening was asked by BBC radio to respond to comments by a fellow Conservative, goading Cameron to approve the new runway and show if he was a "man or a mouse".

Asked if she would remain in the cabinet if the government decided to back the airport expansion, she said: "I think it would be very difficult for me to do that."

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Tim Yeo, who chairs parliament's Energy and Climate Change committee, said backing the third runway would give the government a "sense of mission".

"The prime minister must ask himself whether he is man or mouse," he wrote. "An immediate go-ahead for a third runway will symbolise the start of a new era, the moment the Cameron government found its sense of mission. Let's go for it."

Several options are being considered to increase the southeast of England's strained airport capacity: a third runway for Europe's busiest airport, Heathrow, a second runway at London Stansted, or a new airport in the estuary of the river Thames.

The government blocked development of a third Heathrow runway as it came to power in 2010, to boost its environmental credentials and win the backing of thousands of households who would be affected by increased air traffic over the capital.

Heathrow operator BAA, owned by Spain's Ferrovial, believes the airport is falling behind European rivals like Paris, Frankfurt and Amsterdam in the battle for lucrative routes to China because of the constraints on growth.

The prime minister's spokeswoman said the government would stick to its coalition deal, which rules out expanding London's Heathrow, Gatwick or Stansted airports.

"The prime minister has said that the coalition parties made a pledge not to have a third runway and that's a pledge we will keep. The position is we don't see the argument for a third runway," the spokeswoman said.

Colin Stanbridge, head of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, urged the government to "put politics aside" and build a third runway, which he said was the solution to Britain's "short-term capacity crunch".

The government will launch an aviation consultation document later this year

(Additional reporting by Mohammed Abbas; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/cameron-urged-expand-heathrow-airport-083905892--finance.html

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Exoplanet pair orbits two stars

Outer orb sits in habitable zone of binary star system

Web edition : 6:34 pm

BEIJING ? And then there were two. The Kepler spacecraft has spied the first pair of planets passing in front of the binary star system they orbit. Adding spice is that the outer planet ? a potential Neptune-like world ? inhabits the life-friendly zone around the two stars.

?It receives about 88 percent the amount of energy the Earth receives from the sun,? says William Welsh of San Diego State University, who is scheduled to report the finding August 29 at the International Astronomical Union meeting. ?And it?s a multiple planet system. It?s hard enough to imagine how you get one planet in the binary; now we have two.?

The system, called Kepler-47, could have even more planets: A tantalizing but unconfirmed hint of an additional world lurks in the blinking starlight produced when the planetary companions pass between the two stars and Earth. The additional blink has been seen clearly just once, so more observing time would be needed to confirm a third planet. Kepler-47 is in the constellation Cygnus.

The results also appear online August 28 in Science.

So far, scientists know that the outer planet, Kepler-47c, is roughly 4.6 times wider than Earth and that it goes around the stars every 303 days. The inner planet is three times wider than Earth, and whips around the stars every 49 days. One of the stars is similar to the sun, and the other is much smaller and dimmer. The two stars orbit one another about every seven days.

Determining the boundaries of the habitable zone in binary systems usually isn?t simple because the moving stars create a shifting region in which liquid water could survive on an orbiting planet. But this pair of stars cooperated. ?It?s a sunlike star and a real wimpy star,? Welsh says. In the case of the smaller one, ?you just ignore it.?

Kepler-47c is probably too big and gassy to host life, but if it had an Earth-sized moon, that could serve as a potential exo-incubator. ?It?s pure speculation,? Welsh says. ?But being in the habitable zone, if it had a big moon around it, it?s in the right place to have the conditions you would need for life.?

There is no evidence of such a moon, but smaller ones, more like Saturn?s moon Titan, could be present. ?If this object had a moon the size of Titan, that could be very interesting,? Welsh says.

Found in: Astronomy and Atom & Cosmos

Source: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/343336/title/Exoplanet_pair_orbits_two_stars

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Peterson lawyers mount defense at murder trial

Joel Brodsky left, and Joe Lopez, right, defense attorneys for former Bolingbrook, Ill., police officer Drew Peterson, speak to the media outside the Will County Courthouse in Joliet, Ill., Monday, Aug. 27, 2012, during a break in Peterson's murder trial. The judge in the case rejected a request by the defense to acquit Peterson after prosecutors rested Monday. Peterson has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the 2004 death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Joel Brodsky left, and Joe Lopez, right, defense attorneys for former Bolingbrook, Ill., police officer Drew Peterson, speak to the media outside the Will County Courthouse in Joliet, Ill., Monday, Aug. 27, 2012, during a break in Peterson's murder trial. The judge in the case rejected a request by the defense to acquit Peterson after prosecutors rested Monday. Peterson has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the 2004 death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

FILE - In this May 8, 2009 file photo, former Bolingbrook, Ill., police officer Drew Peterson leaves the Will County Courthouse in Joliet, Ill., after his arraignment on charges of first-degree murder in the 2004 death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio. Prosecutors are expected to rest their case Monday, Aug. 27, 2012, at Peterson's murder trial. Heading into Monday, they've called more than 30 witnesses over a month's time in their bid to prove Peterson killed his third wife. After the state rests, the defense is expected to ask the judge to enter a not guilty verdict before jurors even begin deliberations. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File)

Joel Brodsky left, and Joe Lopez, right, defense attorneys for former Bolingbrook, Ill., police officer Drew Peterson, speak to the media outside the Will County Courthouse in Joliet, Ill., Monday, Aug. 27, 2012, during a break in Peterson's murder trial. The judge in the case rejected a request by the defense to acquit Peterson after prosecutors rested Monday. Peterson has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the 2004 death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Joel Brodsky left, and Joe Lopez, right, defense attorneys for former Bolingbrook, Ill., police officer Drew Peterson, speak to the media outside the Will County Courthouse in Joliet, Ill., Monday, Aug. 27, 2012, during a break in Peterson's murder trial. The judge in the case rejected a request by the defense to acquit Peterson after prosecutors rested Monday. Peterson has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in the 2004 death of his third wife, Kathleen Savio. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) ? Drew Peterson's defense team began Monday to try to counter the state's portrayal of the former suburban Chicago police officer as a bully who is more than capable of slaying his third wife.

Prosecutors rested their four-week, 30-plus witness case earlier on Monday, ending with a dramatic letter from the alleged victim, in which Kathleen Savio said she feared her spouse would kill her.

Peterson, now 58, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder in Savio's 2004 death. The former Bolingbrook police sergeant was only charged after his fourth wife, Stacy Peterson, went missing in 2007.

In her frantic 2002 letter to a Will County prosecutor, Savio accused her estranged husband of breaking into her house and putting a knife to her throat.

"He asked me several times if I was afraid," according to the letter, which was written during acrimonious divorce proceedings. "I started to panic. He pulled out his knife that he kept around his leg and brought it to my neck. I thought I'd never see my boys again."

Two years later, Savio, 40, was found dead in a bathtub at her home with a gash on the back of her head. Her death was initially deemed accidental but reclassified a homicide after Stacy Peterson disappeared.

Before he was arrested and jailed in 2009, the swaggering Drew Peterson went on a media blitz to declare his innocence. His legal defense started in earnest Monday in front a jury clad in various sports jerseys, one of their many dress-alike stunts.

If Peterson is convicted, he faces a maximum 60-year prison term.

The defense's first witness was Mary Pontarelli, a neighbor and close friend of Savio's who also had testified for the state about finding Savio's body. Pontarelli conceded Monday she never saw Peterson strike Savio or even raise his voice at her.

"He was very respectful ... a good neighbor," she said. "He's a funny guy, he makes jokes about things ? not in a mean way."

She also told jurors Savio would have fought back if attacked. The defense has said the absence of defensive wounds on Savio bolstered their contention she died accidentally.

"She's tough," Pontarelli agreed. "She wouldn't let someone hit her without her hitting back."

Rob Sud, a Bolingbrook police officer who went to Savio's house the night her body was found, also testified Monday. He said he saw nothing in house to raise his suspicions that her death was anything but accidental.

"There wasn't some grand conspiracy to cover something up was there?" defense attorney Steve Greenberg asked, though a judge sustained an objection before the officer could answer.

After prosecutors rested Monday morning, Judge Edward Burmila rejected a defense request that he acquit Peterson even before the case goes to jurors. To grant a directed verdict ? which are commonly asked for, but rarely granted ? he would have had to conclude that the state fell so far short of proving their case there was no need to go on.

"We have no theory about what happened to this lady?" Greenberg said in arguing for the motion, his voice rising. "There's nothing, here! ... They just hope this jury or your honor dislikes Drew Peterson ? so let's presume he did it."

Without any physical evidence following a botched initial investigation, prosecutors had to rely heavily on hearsay evidence, mostly comments that Savio made before she died and that Stacy Peterson made before she vanished.

Hearsay ? statements not based on a witness's direct knowledge ? is normally barred in trials in the United States, but Illinois passed a law tailored to Peterson's case, dubbed "Drew's Law," allowing hearsay in rare circumstances.

Peterson attorney Joel Brodsky told reporters Monday the defense intends to call to the stand the eldest of Savio's and Peterson's two sons, Tom Peterson, to "tell what he knows about his father's innocence." The recent high school graduate is expected to testify Wednesday.

Defense attorneys also told the judge they want to put Savio's divorce lawyer, Harry Smith, on the stand, in a bid to dent the credibility of hearsay related to Stacy Peterson. Burmila will decide Tuesday if Smith will be allowed to say Peterson called him in 2007 to ask if she could squeeze Drew Peterson for money by threatening to tell police he killed Savio.

___

Don Babwin also contributed to this report.

___

Follow Michael Tarm at www.twitter.com/mtarm

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-08-27-Drew%20Peterson%20Trial/id-d153e0dbea06488fbca8e6fc93a4b752

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Male snails babysit for other dads: Family secrets of marine whelk Solenosteira macrospira

ScienceDaily (Aug. 28, 2012) ? Pity the male of the marine whelk, Solenosteira macrospira. He does all the work of raising the young, from egg-laying to hatching -- even though few of the baby snails are his own.

The surprising new finding by researchers at the University of California, Davis, puts S. macrospira in a small club of reproductive outliers characterized by male-only child care. Throw in extensive promiscuity and sibling cannibalism, and the species has one of the most extreme life histories in the animal kingdom.

The family secrets of the snail, which lives in tidal mudflats off Baja California, are reported online in a study in the journal Ecology Letters.

In the study, UC Davis researchers report that, on average, only one in four of the hundreds of eggs that a male S. macrospira carries around on his back belong to him. Some carry the offspring of as many as 25 other males.

Such extreme cases provide the raw material on which natural selection can work and shed light on more "mainstream" species, said study author Rick Grosberg, a professor of evolution and ecology at UC Davis.

"It opens our eyes to viewing other kinds of behavior not as weird or harmful but as normal," he said.

The snails were first described in an amateur shell-collectors newsletter, The Festivus, in 1973. Grosberg started studying the animals in 1994, when he brought some back from a collecting trip and realized that only male snails had egg capsules on their shells.

When the snails mate, the female glues capsules containing hundreds of eggs each to the male's shell.

The male's shell likely acts as a substitute rock, since the snails' habitat offers few surfaces on which to glue eggs, said co-author Stephanie Kamel, a postdoctoral researcher in Grosberg's lab.

Moving in and out with the tide on dad's (or stepdad's) back also protects the egg capsules from the extremes of heat and drying they might face if left on a stationary rock.

A male's shell may become covered in dozens of capsules, each containing up to 250 eggs. As the eggs hatch, a process that takes about a month, some of the baby snails devour the rest of their littermates. Typically only a handful of hatchlings survives the fratricide to emerge from a capsule and crawl away.

Kamel carried out DNA analysis of brood capsules to determine the eggs' parentage. On average, she found that the male snails had sired just 24 percent of the offspring on their backs. Many had sired far less.

"The promiscuity in the female snails is extraordinary," Kamel said, noting that some females mate with as many as a dozen different males.

Why do they do it? Typically in the animal kingdom, females invest more resources in an egg than a male does in a sperm, so mothers have a stronger interest in providing parental care. Males may mate with multiple partners to increase their chances of siring offspring, but typically make less investment in caring for those young. When dads do get involved, it's nearly always because they are assured that all or most of the offspring are their own. Male sea horses, for example, carry developing young in a pouch -- but all are their own genetic offspring.

One explanation could be that caring for the kids just doesn't cost the male snails much. But by tethering individual snails to a post sunk in the sand, Grosberg was able to follow them over time and show that the capsules do impose a significant burden, reflected in weight loss.

It may be that carrying the egg capsules simply represents the best of limited options for the males, Grosberg said, since it's impossible for them to mate without the female attaching an egg capsule to their backs.

Or carrying egg capsules may be a way for a male to show a female that he's good parent material.

"If he wants to get any action, he has to pay the price," Grosberg said.

Grosberg is fascinated by the conflicts that occur between parents, between siblings, and between parents and offspring as they each try to get resources and maximize their success in breeding. You can see these conflicts and rivalries all the way from simple animals to humans, he notes.

"Everything that intrigues me about family life happens in these snails," he said.

At the same time, no animal has gone as far as humans in evolving increasing cooperation between relatives, tribes and larger and larger (and less closely related) groups over time.

"We're good at seeing other forms of reward," Grosberg said.

The work was funded by the National Science Foundation.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of California - Davis.

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

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Journal Reference:

1. Stephanie J. Kamel, Richard K. Grosberg. Exclusive male care despite extreme female promiscuity and low paternity in a marine snail. Ecology Letters, 2012; DOI: 10.1111/j.1461-0248.2012.01841.x

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/laXchHNF_SM/120828163036.htm

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