Google Music Piracy, Musical Instruments and Hot 100 News ...

The RIAA issued a report accusing Google of failing to make good on its promises to punish pirate websites. And a survey showed continued sales growth in the musical instruments and equipment industry. Also, Billboard announced it will start incorporating YouTube plays into its Hot 100 chart formulas.

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Google Breaking Anti-Piracy Promises

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Google has not been making an effort to hide pirate sites, even though it promised the music industry six months ago to downgrade the sites in search results, according to a report filed by the Recording Industry of America on Thursday. In August, 2012, Google made an announcement saying it would look at the number of valid copyright removal notices for each site and create a new search algorithm that would make sites with many copyright complaints appear lower in search results. ?

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The RIAA?s report last week stated it sees no proof that the new policy has actually penalized music piracy sites, and during the past six months, Google has received tens of millions of copyright removal requests. Steven M. Marks, RIAA?s general counsel said, ?Searches for popular music continue to yield results that emphasize illegal sites at the expense of legitimate services, which are often relegated to later pages. And Google?s auto-complete function continues to lead users to many of those same illicit sites.?

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Ben Sisario of The New York Times said the problems outlined in the RIAA report point to the two-faced company Google has built. One Google features an array of entertainment services that have licensing agreements with major labels, music publishers, movie studios and other media companies, such as YouTube and Google Play. And these features are becoming an integral part of the entertainment industry.

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Google?s other side is its search engine, which has become ?the road map to the Internet? people follow to find all content. Some of its methods are heralded by the entertainment industry, but a lot of them are not.

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Google responded to the RIAA?s claims in a statement, saying that the company is making a serious investment in anti-piracy measures and will continue to work with the entertainment industry to offer more valuable content:? ?We have invested heavily in copyright tools for content owners and process takedown notices faster than ever. In the last month we received more than 14 million copyright removal requests for Google Search, quickly removing more than 97 percent from search results ? In addition, Google?s growing partnerships and distribution deals with the content industry benefit both creators and users, and generate hundreds of millions of dollars for the industry each year.?

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Musical Instruments and Equipment Sales Increasing in 2013

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Consumer demand is increasing for musical instruments and accessories, said a January survey conducted by the top financing provider for music dealers GE Capital, Commercial Distribution Finance (CDF).

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The survey revealed that 38 percent of its respondents are expecting an increase of five, to ten percent in sales this year, and 43 percent expect their sales to increase more than ten percent. The results showed that fretted instruments, keyboards, percussion and amplifiers will likely be the big sellers, representing 44 percent of revenue. And professional audio equipment will come in second at 37 percent. ??

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Many brick-and-mortar retailers also seem to be growing their online presence, as 27 percent of respondents stated online sales will be between 15 and 45 percent of their business in 2013. Still, 36 percent said that online sales make up 15 percent or less of their business, and 17 percent have still not opened up shop online. ?

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As more consumers head to the Internet to buy instruments and musical equipment, many retailers reluctant to create an online presence are concerned, with 40 percent saying they believe that online retailer and auction site purchases will affect the music industry significantly in 2013. And 19 percent are worried that reduced budgets for school music programs will affect their sales.

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Most said they are no longer concerned about overall consumer demand for their products. Dave Wilson, commercial leader of CDF?s diversified products group said, ?Like others in the industry, we?re optimistic about consumer demand this year ? Although wholesale purchases were soft heading into 2013, we think that will turn around now that we?re seeing positive signs in the U.S. economy. Unemployment rates are declining, consumer confidence is improving and home sales are increasing, all of which are good news for sales of instruments and related products.?

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In an attempt to help grow music education in U.S. public schools, CDF has been supporting Little Kids Rock, a program begun in 2008 that offers free instruments and lessons to students in schools without music programs across the country.

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GE Capital?s survey included 104 retailers, manufacturers and distributors.

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YouTube Will Factor into Billboard?s Hot 100 Chart

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Billboard magazine?s 55-year-old Hot 100 singles chart will not incorporate YouTube plays into its formula, The New York Times said. Baauer?s viral video song ?Harlem Shake? will debut at No. 1 this week as a result of the change.

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?Harlem Shake? got little attention when it was offered up as a free download in May. But by last week, over 4,000 videos featuring fans dancing along to the song were being put up on YouTube every day.

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And download sales and Spotify streams of the track also exploded. While Billboard had been planning to include YouTube in its charts for two years, it was the popularity of ?Harlem Shake? that pushed it to update its policies immediately, according to editorial director Bill Werde:? ?The notion that a song has to sell in order to be a hit feels a little two or three years ago to me ? The music business today ? much to its credit ? has started to learn that there are lots of different ways a song can be a hit, and lots of different ways the business can benefit from it being a hit.? ?

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Billboard has also been making other moves to modernize the Hot 100. Aside from sales and airplay, it now includes data from streaming services like Spotify. In recent years, YouTube has been critical to making songs wildly popular many months before they get picked up by radio. Songs like Psy?s ?Gangnam Style? and Carly Rae Jepsen?s ?Call Me Maybe? provide solid examples. And so does Gotye?s Grammy-winning hit ?Somebody That I Used to Know.?

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?Harlem Shake? only had 18,000 downloads since its release in May. Once the tens of thousands of YouTube videos began to go up last week, it sold 262,000 downloads. ?

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Billboard?s charts are based on data from Nielsen SoundScan, a company that has also been trying to update. When it first started in 1991, it offered up third-party sales data that changed the way record labels, retailers and others marketed and sold their products. Now Nielson also looks at radio plays and major streaming services. Senior analyst David Bakula said, ?We want to measure how much consumption is going on, in whatever form a consumer chooses to consume something.?

Tags: electronic musical instruments, Google+, Hot 100, instruments, Internet music piracy, RIAA, YouTube

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Source: http://musiciancoaching.com/music-news-2013/google-music-piracy-musical-instruments-hot-100/

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Facebook for iOS updated, now offers free calls to US and Canada

Facebook has just issued an update to its iOS application. Facebook for iOS, which is one of the prominent applications in the App Store now comes with several new features and enhanced user experience.

Facebook 5.5 for iOS offers improved buttons to like, comment and share posts. The share button also allows you to re-post stories to your news feed and is available in all languages. Furthermore, you can now make free calls to US and Canada right from your iOS application. Of course, free calling uses your data plan, so make sure you have one.

You can download the latest version of the application for your iPhones and iPads from the App Store.

Source

Source: http://blog.gsmarena.com/facebook-for-ios-updated-offers-free-calls-to-the-us-and-canada/

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Olympus confirms that Sony is now its largest shareholder

Sony got a stake in Olympus' future when it made a $645 million investment into the troubled camera firm last September, getting a board representative and a controlling share of a medical imaging project. As of this weekend, however, the foot is that much further in the door: it's now Olympus' largest shareholder. A share transfer promised alongside the investment, and officially completed on the 22nd, has boosted Sony's stake from 4.7 percent to just under 11.5 percent. The share switch doesn't give Sony enough influence to dictate Olympus' day-to-day affairs, but Sony won't have to do as much to rally support if it wants action. Olympus isn't in the best position to kick such a large investor to the curb, either. We'd expect the company to at least listen more closely to what its major funding source has to say.

Filed under: Cameras, Sony

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Source: Olympus (PDF)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/25/olympus-confirms-that-sony-is-now-its-largest-shareholder/

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Obama hits the road to sell his State of the Union (Washington Bureau)

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Social Security head: Program fraying from neglect

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Outgoing Social Security Commissioner Michael J. Astrue has some parting shots for Congress, the White House and advocates for seniors. They have all "really walked away from Social Security," he says, leaving the program "fraying because of inattention to its problems."

Instead of making the hard choices to fix Social Security's financial problems, policymakers "use it as a tool of political rhetoric," Astrue said.

Astrue, 56, has headed the federal government's largest program since 2007 ? he was nominated by former President George W. Bush. By law, Social Security commissioners serve six-year terms, so President Barack Obama will now have the opportunity to choose his own nominee, who must be approved by the Senate. Astrue's last day on the job was Wednesday.

The trustees who oversee Social Security say the program's trust funds will run dry in 2033, leaving Social Security with only enough revenue to pay about 75 percent of benefits. Already the program is paying out more in benefits than it collects in payroll taxes.

As commissioner, Astrue served as a trustee. He regularly urged Congress to address Social Security's long-term financial problems but refrained from publicly weighing in on various options to cut benefits or raise taxes ? until now.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Astrue said benefit cuts and tax increases are inevitable ? despite fierce opposition to both. Yet he questions whether Congress is up to the task.

Q: The president and Republican leaders in Congress have both embraced changes to Social Security as part of negotiations to reduce government borrowing. Should Social Security be part of the deficit and debt discussions?

A: My general perspective is that Washington broadly, and I include the Congress, both parties, the executive branch, the major interest groups, have really walked away from Social Security. ... I think that Social Security is a gem. I think it is the most successful domestic program in the history of the United States government and it is fraying because of inattention to its problems. And I think it's a shame that Washington cannot get its act together to look at Social Security in detail in isolation and say, What do we need to do?

Q: There are some in Congress who say only benefit cuts should be considered ? no tax increases. Others say benefit cuts should be off the table. Where do you come down?

A: Nothing is going to happen if you establish preconditions for the conversation. I do think that for the people who simply want to tax more, you need to be very mindful of the fact that that tax will fall disproportionately on the younger generation and that if you're not careful, that could be a huge economic drag.

Q: One of the few issues that the president and Republicans in Congress agree on is changing the way the government measures inflation. As you know, this would reduce the annual cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, for Social Security recipients. Advocates for seniors hate the idea. They want bigger COLAs, not smaller ones. What do you think?

A: As a general matter I do think that the president and the Congress are right that before you start talking about increases in the retirement age and things like that it's appropriate to try to have a conversation about what we might be able to do in terms of COLA adjustments.

Q: The age when retirees can receive full benefits is gradually increasing from 66 to 67. There are proposals to increase it gradually even more, perhaps as high as 70. What do you think of those proposals?

A: I think there's some historical inevitability that we will move in that direction. How far, I don't think is historically inevitable. Part of this we need to remember is not that the system is flawed or that there are evil people around here. I mean, we should celebrate a little bit of good news. Most of the pressure on the system comes from the fact that we've had great medical advances and people are living a lot longer than before.

Q: Social Security payroll taxes only apply to the first $113,700 of a worker's wages. There have been proposals to increase this threshold or even eliminate it, applying the tax to all wages. What do you think of those ideas?

A: I think there's some historic inevitability on at least some lifting of the (payroll tax) cap. I think that most politicians and I think most economists I've talked to generally think that that would have less of a negative impact on the economy than raising the rate itself.

Q: Applications for disability benefits increased dramatically when the economy went bad. Why did that happen?

A: I think a lot of people applied out of economic desperation. Very few of those people actually ended up getting benefits. If you look at the numbers, it's one of the reasons why our approval rates have dropped dramatically in the last few years.

Q: Aren't most disability claims initially denied?

A: Yes.

Q: Why?

A: Because the statutory standard is so stringent. In terms of the percentage who get on, both in the beginning and at the end of the process, it's somewhere usually in most years in the 35 to 40 percent range. Sometimes people talk like nobody gets approved initially, and that's not true. Some people say, Oh, everybody gets on, and that's not true, either. But the statutory standard is you have to be unable to do work that exists in the national economy for 12 months or more.

Q: If your claim is denied, you can appeal to an administrative law judge, but the process can take a year or more. Tell me about your efforts to reduce these backlogs.

A: We've done, I think, some yeoman's work in reducing the backlogs. ... If you look at time to a hearing, what we call average processing time, it peaked very shortly after I started at 542 days and it got down to about 340 (days) and then drifted up a little bit with all the budget cuts in the last couple of years. But it's still about a year on average, and that's a big improvement.

Q: Are you getting enough resources from Congress to address these backlogs?

A: No.

Q: The Association of Administrative Law Judges says that in order to reduce backlogs some judges are deciding more than 500 cases a year. Is that too many cases to do a thorough job on each one?

A: No, not at all. We set for the first time productivity standards in 2007. It was actually done by the chief judge, and it was done looking at best demonstrated practices of existing judges. At that point in time about 40 percent of the judges were doing 500 to 700 cases a year. And so that's what we set as our goal, and that's what it is, it's a goal to shoot for. ... Now, about 80 percent of the judges hit that goal.

___

Follow Stephen Ohlemacher on Twitter: http://twitter.com/stephenatap

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-02-14-US-Social-Security-Commissioner/id-0c90af50c9cb4848864b78010fb799f8

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Russia plans $30B oil-for-loans deal with China ... - Financial Post

Rosneft is seeking to borrow up to US$30-billion from China in exchange for possibly doubling oil supplies, making Beijing the largest consumer of Russian oil and further diverting supplies away from Europe.

Four industry sources familiar with the situation told Reuters Rosneft was in talks with China?s state firm CNPC about the borrowing, which would echo a $25 billion deal the two companies clinched last decade.

Back then, Rosneft and Russian pipeline monopoly Transneft borrowed money to help Rosneft acquire the assets of nationalised oil producer YUKOS while agreeing to build a pipeline to supply China with 300,000 barrels per day for 15 years.

This time, Rosneft wants to borrow money as it is close to completing a $55 billion acquisition of rival TNK-BP to become the world?s largest oil producer among publicly traded firms.

Russia?s leading oil company, controlled by the Kremlin, is considering ultimately doubling supplies to China, sources said.

?It can be a combination of delivery options. The strategic line is to increase supplies to China,? one source familiar with the situation said.

?The reason why China is willing to lend is simple. They sit on over 3 trillion of dollars in reserves and are looking to diversify their investments,? he added referring to China?s forex reserves of $3.3 trillion.

Rosneft and CNPC declined comment.

The first loan-for-supply deal between the two companies connected directly for the first time the world?s largest energy producer and consumer.

It came after a number of energy disputes between Russia and its neighbours which cut gas and oil supplies to Europe several times, drawing criticism and calls from the European Union for diversification away from Russian energy resources.

Russian President Vladimir Putin retaliated by saying Moscow would divert more energy resources to Asia.

Since then Russia has been steadily increasing crude exports to Asia at the expense of deliveries to Europe with flows due to amount to around 15 percent of total Russian oil exports this year via pipelines to China and to the Pacific coast.

Should deliveries to China double, the share of Russian exports to Asia will amount to over a fifth of overall exports by the world?s largest oil producer and the second largest exporter after Saudi Arabia.

?CRAZY DEFICIT?

Energy relations between Moscow and Beijing has been, however, complicated in the past years by disputes over oil shipping tariffs along the existing pipeline.

They were ultimately resolved after Russia agreed to apply a discount on supplies. The head of Russia?s pipeline monopoly Transneft, Nikolai Tokarev, said this week deliveries to China would rise over time.

?We are neighbours and we need to develop ties, especially given that China has a crazy oil deficit,? he told business daily Kommersant.

Sources said it would take considerable time before a final deal was reached and differences over various delivery options were resolved.

The first source said discussions centred around doubling capacity of the existing pipeline to China by building a parallel link. Volumes could be also topped up with deliveries from the Pacific port of Kozmino.

?Building a parallel link is certainly not nearly as expensive as building the first one from scratch,? he said.

A second source said a second link might be an overly expensive option and Russia could opt to increase the throughput capacity of the existing pipeline by adding pumping stations.

A third industry source said China was ready to lend as long as Rosneft agreed to ship more oil via Kazakhstan?s existing pipeline to China, which would soon be short of volumes due to depletion of some Kazakh fields.

However, Transneft fiercely opposes the plan as it would cut its transport earnings.

Whatever the plan, the loan might be a pressing issue for Rosneft.

It needs to borrow up to $40 billion to complete the TNK-BP acquisition. It has managed to cover its most immediate needs by lining up a syndicated loan as well as a $10 billion financing from traders Vitol and Glencore.

But Rosneft also needs dozens of billions of dollars to launch new huge fields in Russia?s Arctic and finance a $25 billion refinery modernisation programme.

Source: http://business.financialpost.com/2013/02/13/russia-eyes-30b-oil-for-loans-deal-with-china/

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Today on New Scientist: 13 February 2013

Are friendlier robots our teammates - or our rivals?

Robots are learning our psychology and are safe enough to work alongside us. Will they seize our jobs too?

Water wars loom as the US runs dry

In the face of climate change and the worst drought in decades, can water-saving technologies help keep US states from slugging it out in the courts?

Asteroid to give Earth a record close shave on Friday

The 45-metre rock will get closer to home than many communications satellites, but there's no chance it poses a collision threat

How to use art to help explore other minds

Get closer to exploring another mind through the densely linked artworks of Rosemarie Trockel's Cosmos exhibition

The quantum Sims: Matter's deepest mysteries recreated

Want to make a superconductor, or walk on the surface of a neutron star? Then play around with ultracooled atoms, says Michael Brooks

US begins to batten down the cyber hatches at last

Barack Obama wants US companies embattled by cyberattacks on critical infrastructure to begin sharing threat information so defences can be bolstered

Microsoft brings solar Wi-Fi to rural Kenya

Using derelict TV frequencies, old-fashioned antennas and solar power, Microsoft is trialling a pioneering form of broadband technology in Africa

Chinese pig farms breed drug-resistant bacteria

Use of antibiotics in pig feed is favouring the emergence of superbugs on farms in China, the world's top pig producer

DNA tests can prevent the next horsemeat scandal

Food fraud is not new, but experience from the fish industry shows genetic databases and cheaper sequencing can close the breaks in our food chain

Culling urban foxes just doesn't work

Rare cases of foxes biting children cause uproar, but culling won't cut numbers - it is our behaviour that needs addressing, says an ecologist

Sea slug amputates tip of its penis

After this sea slug has sex, its penis drops off. Fortunately, it has a spare

US should vaccinate poultry to stop killer salmonella

Vaccinating UK chickens for salmonella prevents thousands of cases of potentially fatal food poisoning but Americans are still dying unnecessarily

Night-vision rat becomes first animal with sixth sense

Watch a new artificial sense organ allow a Superman rat to "touch" invisible radiation, offering hope of new forms of sight for brain-damaged blind people

Six animals changing size before your eyes

Many animal species, from birds to butterflies, are shrinking - although a few are growing larger. What on earth on is going on?

Obama keeps faith in science and warns of cyber threats

In his 2013 State of the Union address, Barack Obama backed innovation and a new focus on cybersecurity

Plants listen more closely to kin than strangers

Many plants release chemicals when being eaten to warn their neighbours. The more closely related the plants involved, the more effective the warning

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Twitter Reacts to Kate Upton Gracing Cover of SI's 2013 Swimsuit Issue

Traditionally, the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition cover model is announced on The Late Show With David Letterman?alongside 10 other models, then appears on the show the next night for a formal interview.

But this year the magazine flipped the script a bit, tweeting out the following on Friday:

Still, tradition held and Upton appeared with nine other models to do Letterman's "Top 10" on Monday evening. You can see more photos from a variety of models here.

As you might expect, Twitter has been buzzing with the news that Upton will appear on the cover for the second straight year. But before we get to that, let's take a look at a few of the lovely models joining Upton backstage at Late Night?last night:

There is too much beautiful happening all at once there. I have temporary sensory overload.

Meanwhile, Yahoo! Sports?tweeted a sneak peak of Katherine Webb showcasing her dual-rooting allegiances in the sexiest way possible:

If there is one thing that could unite Alabama and Auburn fans, it's that picture.?

But back to Upton. She appeared on the Today show?Tuesday morning, and Matt Lauer?apparently?had a few things to say about the photo shoot in?Antarctica. This was his most memorable line:

I laughed. Beyond that, no comment.

Speaking of?Antarctica, writer Steve Rushin was apparently there with Upton and penned the article about the experience for Sports Illustrated. He even joined the photo shoot!

Okay, okay, so he didn't really join the photo shoot. Sorry, Steve. This photo isn't quite as sexy as Upton's cover.?

As a fellow writer, I'm sure your words are sexy, Steve. Or something like that.

Next we turn to Darren Rovell of ESPN, who of course has the business side?and one very misguided agent?of Upton's cover, um, covered.

Apparently, that agent's great-grandfather also traded Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees. Okay, I can't verify that, but you get the point.

Finally, what would a Twitter roundup be without a humble brag or two? We have Upton to thank for that, and Guyism's World of Isaac to thank for pointing it out:

That seems like a fitting note to say goodbye on. Then again, chances are after seeing enough pictures of Upton and the other models in this article, you didn't even make it to the bottom and bought yourself the Sports Illustrated?Swimsuit Edition instead.

Who could blame you?

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Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1526045-twitter-reacts-to-kate-upton-gracing-cover-of-sis-2013-swimsuit-issue

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Burlington council passes 'no-trespass' law for Church Street

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Security: Explosive breakthrough in research on molecular recognition

Feb. 12, 2013 ? Ever wonder how sometimes people still get through security with explosives on their person? Research done in the University of Alberta's Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering has revealed a new way to better detect these molecules associated with explosive mixtures.

A team of researchers including post-doctoral fellows Seonghwan Kim, Dongkyu Lee and Xuchen Liu, with research associate Charles Van Neste, visiting professor, Sangmin Jeon from the Pohang University of Science and Technology (South Korea), and Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering professor Thomas Thundat, has found a method of using receptor-free nanomechanical infrared spectroscopy to increase recognition of chemical molecules in explosive mixtures.

Detecting trace amounts of explosives with mixed molecules presents a formidable challenge for sensors with chemical coatings. The nanomechanical infrared spectroscopy used by the Univesity of Alberta research team provides higher selectivity in molecular detection by measuring the photothermal effect of the absorbed molecules.

Thundat, who holds the Canadian Excellence Research Chair in Oil Sands Molecular Engineering, says the spectroscopy looks at the physical nature of the molecule and "even if there are mixed molecules, we can detect specific molecules using this method."

Seonghwan (Sam) Kim explained that conventional sensors based on coatings generally cannot detect specific molecules in complex mixtures if the concentration of interfering molecules is five times greater than the target molecules. The detection sensitivity and selectivity are drastically increased using the high-power infrared laser because the photothermal signal comes from the absorption of infrared photons and nonradiative decay processes. Using this method, a few trillionths of a gram of explosive molecules can now be detected in a complex mixture even if there is a higher concentration of other interfering molecules.

The research team's findings are published in Scientific Reports by Nature Publishing Group on January 23, 2013.

The research team's current work looks at detecting biomolecules and hydrocarbons in the oil industry and nerve gas stimulants (DMMP), which can be found in household radiators, gasoline, and fabric softeners, for example. The team also hopes to develop a hand-held device for chemical detection that could be utilized in fields such as security, health care and environmental protection.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Alberta. The original article was written by Nicole Basaraba.

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. Seonghwan Kim, Dongkyu Lee, Xunchen Liu, Charles Van Neste, Sangmin Jeon, Thomas Thundat. Molecular recognition using receptor-free nanomechanical infrared spectroscopy based on a quantum cascade laser. Scientific Reports, 2013; 3 DOI: 10.1038/srep01111

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/Ox1Gp-Et9W8/130212154623.htm

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Field experiment finds significant electoral fraud in Moscow

Public release date: 12-Feb-2013
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Contact: Michael Hotchkiss
mh14@princeton.edu
609-258-9522
Princeton University

A large-scale field experiment conducted during the December 2011 parliamentary elections in Russia suggests that fraud had a significant impact on the results. The research marks an advance in efforts to quantify vote fraud.

The researchers, including a visiting research scholar at Princeton University, estimate that fraud accounted for at least 11 percentage points of the vote recorded for the ruling United Russia party in Moscow. They estimated that the party received at least 635,000 votes in the city as a result of fraud in the election, which resulted in United Russia retaining its majority in parliament.

"We started this just as a project for the public good, and we didn't think about writing an academic paper. But when we saw the effects were so huge we decided that we needed to write about it," said Maria Petrova, the UBS Associate Professor of Economics at the New Economic School in Moscow and a visiting research scholar at Princeton's Woodrow Wilson School of International and Public Affairs and the Center for the Study of Democratic Politics this academic year.

The research is described in an article by Ruben Enikolopov, Vasily Korovkin, Petrova, Konstantin Sonin and Alexei Zakharov that appears in the January issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

To estimate the level of fraud, the researchers randomly assigned independent observers to monitor ballot-handling and counting procedures at polling stations in Moscow and measured differences in results reported from stations with observers and those without.

According to official results, United Russia received 46.6 percent of the vote in Moscow. The results of the experiment indicate that the presence of observers led to a decrease in the share of votes for the party of 10.8 percentage points and an increase in results for other parties. The researchers say those differences represent the lower bound for fraud because the figures assume that all electoral fraud was fully prevented by the presence of the observers.

While the results of the experiment can't be applied outside of Moscow, the researchers say the estimates offer hints that electoral fraud was serious enough to change the outcome of the elections. A change of 5 percentage points in the United Russia totals nationwide would have stripped the party of a majority in the parliament, forcing it to form a governing coalition.

"Until recently, the study of vote fraud was limited to innuendo, anecdotes and rumor a fact which frustrated scholars and activists alike," said Timothy Frye, the Marshall D. Shulman Professor of Post-Soviet Foreign Policy and director of the Harriman Institute at Columbia University. "Yet in recent years, scholars have made quick progress on this question. At the front edge of this line of research is 'Field Experiment Estimate of Electoral Fraud in the Russian Parliamentary Elections.'"

"Enikolopov, Petrova, and their co-authors use a simple but ingenious method to ferret out one pernicious form of vote fraud ballot stuffing on Election Day," Frye said.

The experiment, conducted in cooperation with the Russian nongovernmental group Citizen Observer, began with randomly selecting 156 of the city's 3,164 ordinary polling stations to be watched by volunteers from Citizen Observer. To protect the integrity of the experiment, the stations where observers were to be sent were kept secret from government officials and the observers themselves until the last possible moment.

"Observers were sitting at the polling station and they had some basic instruction on what members of the election commission can and cannot do and how the counting should be done," Petrova said. "When they saw something suspicious, they could call the head of their organization or call the police. They also tried to take photos or videos of violations."

Observers in 43 polling stations reported violations serious enough to have significantly compromised the vote count. At 38 stations, observers were not able to get a copy of the official vote count. Observers reported no serious violations at 75 stations. At many of the polling stations, observers were removed before the end of the voting or vote counting for alleged violations of election rules. But Petrova said some difference in vote totals occurred even if the observers were not allowed to stay for the entire period or intervene when they saw possible fraud.

"We think that maybe the people who were participating in electoral fraud were a little bit afraid when there were observers at the polling stations," Petrova said.

She said the rigorous nature of the experiment, which included careful checks to ensure that the polling stations with observers were otherwise comparable to other polling stations, could help convince some skeptical Russians about the level of electoral fraud.

"I think that for some people, at least, the fact that we have published this paper is a sign that it's not just speculation about electoral fraud or particular instances of electoral fraud but at least for Moscow it's systemwide," she said.

Petrova, who received her Ph.D. from Harvard University in 2008, is spending her time at Princeton focused on media effects in the Weimar Republic. She hopes to deepen the understanding of the influence of mass media on people's behavior in a democracy, by estimating a causal effect of German public radio on voting and expressions of anti-Semitism in Germany in 1928-39.

###

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Public release date: 12-Feb-2013
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Contact: Michael Hotchkiss
mh14@princeton.edu
609-258-9522
Princeton University

A large-scale field experiment conducted during the December 2011 parliamentary elections in Russia suggests that fraud had a significant impact on the results. The research marks an advance in efforts to quantify vote fraud.

The researchers, including a visiting research scholar at Princeton University, estimate that fraud accounted for at least 11 percentage points of the vote recorded for the ruling United Russia party in Moscow. They estimated that the party received at least 635,000 votes in the city as a result of fraud in the election, which resulted in United Russia retaining its majority in parliament.

"We started this just as a project for the public good, and we didn't think about writing an academic paper. But when we saw the effects were so huge we decided that we needed to write about it," said Maria Petrova, the UBS Associate Professor of Economics at the New Economic School in Moscow and a visiting research scholar at Princeton's Woodrow Wilson School of International and Public Affairs and the Center for the Study of Democratic Politics this academic year.

The research is described in an article by Ruben Enikolopov, Vasily Korovkin, Petrova, Konstantin Sonin and Alexei Zakharov that appears in the January issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

To estimate the level of fraud, the researchers randomly assigned independent observers to monitor ballot-handling and counting procedures at polling stations in Moscow and measured differences in results reported from stations with observers and those without.

According to official results, United Russia received 46.6 percent of the vote in Moscow. The results of the experiment indicate that the presence of observers led to a decrease in the share of votes for the party of 10.8 percentage points and an increase in results for other parties. The researchers say those differences represent the lower bound for fraud because the figures assume that all electoral fraud was fully prevented by the presence of the observers.

While the results of the experiment can't be applied outside of Moscow, the researchers say the estimates offer hints that electoral fraud was serious enough to change the outcome of the elections. A change of 5 percentage points in the United Russia totals nationwide would have stripped the party of a majority in the parliament, forcing it to form a governing coalition.

"Until recently, the study of vote fraud was limited to innuendo, anecdotes and rumor a fact which frustrated scholars and activists alike," said Timothy Frye, the Marshall D. Shulman Professor of Post-Soviet Foreign Policy and director of the Harriman Institute at Columbia University. "Yet in recent years, scholars have made quick progress on this question. At the front edge of this line of research is 'Field Experiment Estimate of Electoral Fraud in the Russian Parliamentary Elections.'"

"Enikolopov, Petrova, and their co-authors use a simple but ingenious method to ferret out one pernicious form of vote fraud ballot stuffing on Election Day," Frye said.

The experiment, conducted in cooperation with the Russian nongovernmental group Citizen Observer, began with randomly selecting 156 of the city's 3,164 ordinary polling stations to be watched by volunteers from Citizen Observer. To protect the integrity of the experiment, the stations where observers were to be sent were kept secret from government officials and the observers themselves until the last possible moment.

"Observers were sitting at the polling station and they had some basic instruction on what members of the election commission can and cannot do and how the counting should be done," Petrova said. "When they saw something suspicious, they could call the head of their organization or call the police. They also tried to take photos or videos of violations."

Observers in 43 polling stations reported violations serious enough to have significantly compromised the vote count. At 38 stations, observers were not able to get a copy of the official vote count. Observers reported no serious violations at 75 stations. At many of the polling stations, observers were removed before the end of the voting or vote counting for alleged violations of election rules. But Petrova said some difference in vote totals occurred even if the observers were not allowed to stay for the entire period or intervene when they saw possible fraud.

"We think that maybe the people who were participating in electoral fraud were a little bit afraid when there were observers at the polling stations," Petrova said.

She said the rigorous nature of the experiment, which included careful checks to ensure that the polling stations with observers were otherwise comparable to other polling stations, could help convince some skeptical Russians about the level of electoral fraud.

"I think that for some people, at least, the fact that we have published this paper is a sign that it's not just speculation about electoral fraud or particular instances of electoral fraud but at least for Moscow it's systemwide," she said.

Petrova, who received her Ph.D. from Harvard University in 2008, is spending her time at Princeton focused on media effects in the Weimar Republic. She hopes to deepen the understanding of the influence of mass media on people's behavior in a democracy, by estimating a causal effect of German public radio on voting and expressions of anti-Semitism in Germany in 1928-39.

###

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-02/pu-fef021213.php

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Chevy, Ford trucks top HPD's list for stolen vehicles for January

by KHOU.com staff

khou.com

Posted on February 11, 2013 at 2:46 PM

Updated yesterday at 2:46 PM

HOUSTON ? The Houston Police Department release a list of the top 10 makes of vehicles reported stolen during January in the Houston area.

Here is their list:

1. Chevrolet trucks, 165

2. Ford trucks, 159

3. Honda cars, 102

4. Dodge trucks, 68

5. Chevrolet cars, 45

6. Toyota cars, 37

7. Ford cars, 35

8. GMC trucks, 31

9. Nissan cars, 28

10. Pontiac cars, 24

Source: http://www.khou.com/community/blogs/crime-watch/HPD-release-list-of-top-10-stolen-vehicles-for-January-190734591.html

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Witnesses capture terrifying Miss. tornado on tape

"Bridesmaids" director Paul Feig has spoken out regarding film critic Rex Reed's scathing comments aimed at Melissa McCarthy's weight. Feig, who directed the Oscar-nominated actress in the 2011 hit comedy, took to Twitter on Friday to slam Reed's venomous comments -- which included dubbing McCarthy "obnoxious," "tractor-sized" and a "female hippo."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/tornado-video-hattiesburg-mississippi-151610931.html

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Make a weight loss plan for a healthy lifestyle

Home | Health & fitness | Weight loss

If you want to remain healthy in your life than it is necessary to remain fit. Many people struggle with their weight problems, so at that time it is required to set up a weight loss plan. Today, there are many products available in the market to resolve your weight related issues and can offer you best possible results. Also it is important to set the goals which you can achieve easily without getting disappointed. Do not make such plans which are not realistic and can demotivate you as well. For example: Don?t think of reducing 10 Kg in a month as it very difficult yet not convincing. To reduce your body weight and get yourself fit, you must have a strategy that will really work for you so that you can get rid of over body weight.
Always define long-term and short-term goals while making your weight loss plan and make sure that they are real and can help you in satisfying your goals. Once you get some progress towards your short-term goals then you can move forward to set and achieve your long-term goals. The more you become passionate to achieve your goals the soon you will get the perfect body as always you wanted for yourself. Don?t ever think that after making plans you will loose your weight instantly, or once you wake up in the morning you will reduce 5-10 kg. The process of weight loss plan really requires much effort and hard work and you will get success out of it after a long period of time. If you really want a good personality throughout your life, then it is important to take real challenge to change your lifestyle and eating habits.
In addition, eating healthy products can help you to reduce your weight. Therefore, you must focus on taking healthy diet and should include fruits in your diet. Apart from this, eating healthy food is the key to attain wealthy lifestyle as it will strengthen your bones to help you in your future or at older age. Once you start taking a nutritious and healthy diet you may be getting far away from many diseases including heart diseases and diabetes. Always make sure to include fruits and green vegetables in your meals for healthy and balanced diet. Avoid eating junk food and sweets; try having Low-fat milk and whole-wheat bread. Also, you can include a vegetable salad with homemade servings in your dinner along with some fresh juices and some pieces of chicken. You can also add nuts in your meals and can have a glass of milk before sleeping because it can brings your hormones to relax which makes you feeling sleepy.
Healthy diet should be made exciting and not dull and tasteless- there are a lot of dishes that actually confirm this perception incorrect. Healthier consuming is actually pleasant, you can appreciate the satisfaction of consuming something delightful without thinking that the dishes are loaded with more advantages at that.
?An apple a day keeps the doctor away? -Gary Martin

About the Author

JOHN S.SEN is associated with Health and provides his expert consultation on Weight loss plan services. He is an authority over the subjects and aspects concerning Health services and his expertise may be quite valuable to you.

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/JOHN-S-SEN/347950

Additional Articles From - Home | Health & fitness | Weight loss

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Source: http://www.articlerich.com/Article/Make-a-weight-loss-plan-for-a-healthy-lifestyle/2559421

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Mars Rover Curiosity Has Successfully Drilled for the First Ever Sample of Mars' Virgin Bedrock

Since Curiousity has landed on Mars, it's been roving around finding all manner of...curiosities. Today, it's pulled off an intergalactic first and drilled 2.5 inches deep into the red planet's bedrock to obtain a sample. No one—no robot, as ever managed to pull that off before. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/yDIhXYGLUeI/mars-rover-curiosity-has-successfully-drilled-for-the-first-ever-sample-of-mars-virgin-bedrock

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Meet Omar, face of Egypt's 'unfinished revolution'

Two years after nationwide protests forced President Hosni Mubarak from office, NBC News catches up with Omar Sedky who explains why his country's revolution hasn't met the expectations of many Egyptians.

By Yuka Tachibana, Producer, NBC News

CAIRO, Egypt -- Two years ago, chants of "Irhal! Irhal! (Leave!, Leave!)" resonated through Cairo's Tahrir Square, the epicenter of Egypt's fledgling revolution.

Longtime dictator Hosni Mubarak listened. And on Feb. 11, 2011, thousands of joyful Egyptians poured onto the streets to cheer his resignation in anticipation of an exciting future. ?

Newly liberated Egypt must work hard to ?make magic happen,? protester Omar Sedky told NBC News just hours after Mubarak's downfall.?

The usually mild-mannered businessman?is still shouting today.

?The revolution is still going,? Sedky said when NBC News caught up with him in front of the presidential palace ahead of Monday?s two-year anniversary of Mubarak?s downfall.

NBC's Ron Allen reconnects with protester Omar Sedky and his family, who, despite their euphoria, remain focused on the task at hand: rebuilding their nation.

Since the heady days in the immediate aftermath of Mubarak's fall, political division has dimmed much of the optimism, but there is still the sense of a work in progress.

?I?m not disappointed,? said the 33-year-old digital media worker. ?There are ups and downs?but each time I get disappointed I stick to what I believe in.?

So what has changed?

?At least I can write blogs, I can Tweet without the fear of having the state police running after me,? ?Sedky said.

But with greater political freedom has come a degree of instability. Elections last year ended in a narrow victory for Islamist Mohammed Morsi over a former general, and tensions remain between Islamists and secular rivals.

There are concerns that hardline Islamists are taking over Morsi's government, and many Egyptians don't want to live under the strict rule that Morsi?s Muslim Brotherhood party might impose.

Despite the end of the military state, Egypt?s police were last month accused of a return to Mubarak-era abuses after a video showed riot police stripping and beating a middle-aged man.

And a series of missteps by Morsi -- including a bid to grab sweeping powers even before the dust had settled on the country?s constitution --?have brought protesters back onto the streets.

Some of them -- including Sedky -- were among those originally demonstrating in the run-up Mubarak?s downfall.

"Freedom is about what you want and being heard and being assessed, and this is not shown from this government,? he said. ?So, it?s like a time bomb? it?s going to explode.?

The number of protesters is smaller than two years ago, but it is the level of violence which has many people here worried -- more than 60 people died in January alone in clashes across the country.

Related pictures:?Tempers flare in Egypt

The turmoil has kept foreign investors at bay, leaving the economy in a tailspin, while ordinary Egyptians fear for their safety on the streets.

Sedky said the country?s instability would end ?when we have a proper constitution, when we have a parliament that reflects the actual Egyptians, not just the wing that [Islamists] represent.?

Crowds in Tahrir Square erupted in jubilant cheers on Friday after Vice President Suleiman, appearing briefly on Egypt state TV, announced that President Mubarak has stepped down from presidency. NBC's Brian Williams, Richard Engel and Ron Allen report.

?We're going to celebrate when I find this government empowers women, when I see that police are not attacking civilians due to political pressure. ?This is when I celebrate but until then, I will be marching on the streets. I will be protesting until this happens."

It?s a distinctly less optimistic tone than the one he struck right after Mubarak fled from power.

Back then, NBC News shared tea and cakes with him at his home in Cairo with his family including father Hussein, mother Moushira and younger brother, Tarek.

All were savoring the new political dawn that millions of Egyptians had long awaited.

But even then, Sedky had acknowledged the enormity of Egypt?s task ahead:? ?We don't have a magic wand -- we have to work hard to make magic happen to real life,? he said then.

These days Sedky is a member of the Positive Movement, a secular and liberal non-governmental organization founded soon after the revolution, which encourages Egyptians to become more engaged in their country?s political transition. But while the last two years of turmoil and disappointment have dampened his euphoria,?he holds on to hope.?

?I have faith that we?re going to build this country properly again," he said.

Within minutes of speaking with Sedky, a previously peaceful protest turned ugly. ?Some protesters threw Molotov cocktails at the presidential?palace,?which was met with teargas and water canons?from the police.?The?grounds of the palace were set alight. ?At least one protester was shot and killed. ?

Another long night began for?what many like?Sedky?call their "unfinished revolution."

Ahmed Youssef / EPA

Eighteen days of popular protest culminated in the downfall of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak on Feb. 11, 2011.

Related:

Analysis: Egypt violence is rooted in the economy, not just politics

Egypt could 'collapse,' army chief warns

Analysis: Egyptians fear decades of Muslim Brotherhood rule

Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/09/16886198-meet-omar-the-face-of-egypts-unfinished-revolution?lite

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Safe for Northeast commuters to return to work?

Tanya Mohn , NBC News contributor ? ? ? 4 hrs.

The steady drone of snow plows has been heard throughout the Northeast since Friday, and the region is recovering from what has been called one of the worst storms on record.

But as Monday morning draws near, is it safe for commuters to return to work?

Many of the region's transit systems and roads are getting back to business as usual. Boston's Logan International Airport and the three major airports that serve the New York City area have all resumed operations. However, fliers are advised to check with airlines directly for updates on service.

In the Boston area, a recent update by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority indicates service remains suspended on all modes, but are expected to resume by Monday, and In New York City, subways and buses are at or close to normal service levels.

Good day to telecommute
?Monday may just be a perfect day to work from home, if you can,? said Henry Harteveldt, travel industry analyst for Hudson Crossing, who recommends travelers check local and regional transit agencies' websites for updates and local media for road conditions and restrictions. Social media, especially Twitter, will be helpful, he said.

?Air travel will likely be disrupted into Tuesday or Wednesday,? he said, assuming there are no further weather problems. ?The challenge, of course, is finding seats. It?s going to be a scramble, and there will be many people whose travel plans will be severely disrupted. Be sure to subscribe to flight status updates from your airline, and if possible, have the updates sent to both an email address and a mobile phone.?

Mike Benjamin, CEO of FlightView.com, a website that provides real-time flight information, said since Friday, there have been more than 5,000 canceled flights in the region. ?But it?s been handled pretty well,? he said. ?Weather forecasts have gotten so much better in recent years,? allowing airlines and airports to be so much more proactive. ?Planes are not stuck in a snow bank somewhere, airlines can be back on schedule quicker and this has a good affect on passengers.? He expects things to be mostly back to normal by Monday morning.

Driving in risky areas is a serious decision, says Bella Dinh-Zarr, North American director of Make Roads Safe and director of road safety for the FIA Foundation for the Automobile and Society. ?In addition to putting yourself and others at risk,? crashes, even minor ones, ?take away resources from emergency first responders.?

Dinh-Zarr recommends taking public transportation, but if driving, to research the route beforehand to make sure it is open and safe. In addition, she suggests driving with others, ?for another set of eyes? and to decrease congestion.

?A significant challenge to commuters will be whether roads are not only plowed, but drivable,? Harteveldt agreed. ?If roads are icy, roads may not be safe to drive, and they certainly won't be able to support normal traffic speeds. Plan to allow extra time.?

'Enormous amount of work remaining'
Greg Cohen, president and CEO of the American Highway Users Alliance, said the preliminary assessment of the region?s roads and highways is good. "With rare exceptions (notably roads in Long Island), the mayors and governors throughout the northeast have done a good job of preparing motorists and their snow fighters for this weekend's blizzard.

?There appears to have been a great deal of improvement in New York City from the blizzard of 2010, and Mayor Bloomberg deserves credit for having snow fighters ready with plenty of salt, plows, and snow fighters in place.

"Obviously, it will be important for Governor Cuomo to review what went wrong in Long Island, with notably horrible problems on the Long Island Expressway and Route 25.?

News reports detailed cases of motorists left stranded in cars, even though people were advised to stay off the roads and highways. ?Of course, with more than two feet of snow on the ground in many areas, there is an enormous amount of work remaining,? said Cohen. ?The cleanup effort may take a week or more in some areas so it is critical that winter maintenance crews are able to keep up their intensity of work until safety and mobility is fully restored."

Suzanne Wenz, regional director of public relations for Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston, said many staff members staying at the hotel, and others who live close by, worked long hours and did the jobs of colleagues unable to travel to work. ?The good news is with this storm, we had several days to prepare.?

At the White Barn Inn & Spa in Kennebunk Beach, Maine, an emergency team of four or five people was put together beforehand to ensure enough hands were on deck and so staff did not have to drive. ?They get to pick any room in the inn? to stay in during the storm and immediately afterward, and the chef prepares a special meal for them, said Corinne Finn-Heyl, the general manager.

?We turn some very dangerous experiences into fun experiences for our staff.?

Related:

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/travel/travelkit/it-safe-northeast-commuters-return-work-1B8318850

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Translation error tracked in the brain of dementia patients

Friday, February 8, 2013

The proteins that have now been identified shouldn't actually exist. Nevertheless, they build the core of cellular aggregates whose identity has been enigmatic until now. These aggregates are typically associated with hereditary neurodegenerative diseases including variants of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), also known as frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). They are likely to be damaging and might be a target for therapy.

FTD and ALS are part of a group of neurodegenerative diseases that show a broad and overlapping variety of symptoms: Patients often suffer from dementia, personality changes and may also be affected by language abnormalities and movement disorders. The problems often arise before the age of 65 without a clear cause. However, about 30 percent of cases are linked to a genetic cause. In Europe approximately 10 percent of patients show a common genetic feature: In their DNA (the carrier of the genetic code) a particular short sequence appears in numerous copies one after another. Furthermore, proteins of unknown identity accumulate inside the brain of these patients. As it turns out both findings are directly related ? that is what the team of researchers including molecular biologists Dieter Edbauer and Christian Haass has now been able to show.

"We have found that the proteins are linked to a genetic peculiarity which many patients have in common. At a certain location inside the gene C9orf72 there are several hundred repeats of the sequence GGGGCC, while healthy people display less than 20 such copies," explains Prof. Edbauer, who researches at the DZNE and the LMU. "But it is surprising that these proteins are actually made, because these repeats fall into a region of the DNA that should not be translated into proteins."

An area of DNA assumed to be silent

The DNA holds the blueprints for building proteins. In general, the beginning of such a blueprint is indicated by a certain molecular start signal, but the usual signal is missing in this case. The region of DNA comprising the numerous repeats should therefore not be translated into proteins. It seems that the process of protein synthesis is initiated in a non-textbook way. "Although quite rare there are two known alternatives to the common mechanism. Which procedure applies here, we don't know yet," says Prof. Haass, Site Speaker of the DZNE in Munich and chair of Metabolic Biochemistry at LMU.

Nevertheless, in cell culture experiments the researchers were able to show that long repeats of the sequence GGGGCC may in fact lead to the production of proteins, even though the usual start signal is missing. Furthermore, they identified the same proteins in the particles that typically accumulate in the brain of patients. The scientist could also identify their composition: They turned out to be dipeptid-repeat proteins, which comprise a very large number of identical building blocks.

"These are very extraordinary proteins that usually don't show-up in the organism," Edbauer notes. "As far as we know, they are completely useless and scarcely soluble. Therefore, they tend to aggregate and seem to damage the nerve cells. We haven't formally proven toxicity, but there is ample evidence." Because of their peculiarity these proteins might be an interesting target for new therapies. "As the mechanism of their production is so unusual, we may find ways to inhibit their synthesis without interfering with the formation of other proteins. One could also try to block their aggregation and accelerate their decomposition."

The scientists have applied for a patent and are pursuing a major goal. "At the DZNE in Munich it is our dream to develop a therapy against these devastating diseases," Haass and Edbauer conclude.

###

?The C9orf72 GGGGCC Repeat is Translated into Aggregating Dipeptide-Repeat Proteins in FTLD/ALS", Kohji Mori, Shih-Ming Weng, Thomas Arzberger, Stephanie May, Kristin Rentzsch, Elisabeth Kremmer, Bettina Schmid, Hans A. Kretzschmar, Marc Cruts, Christine Van Broeckhoven, Christian Haass, Dieter Edbauer, Science Express, doi: 10.1126/science.1232927.

Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres: http://www.helmholtz.de/en/index.html

Thanks to Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/126700/Translation_error_tracked_in_the_brain_of_dementia_patients

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