NEW YORK (AP) ? Facebook delivered fourth-quarter results above Wall Street's expectations on Wednesday and sought to show that it has finally transformed into a "mobile company."
But its stock dropped sharply in after-hours trading as investors placed more significance on the company's growing expenses rather than on its increasing user base and higher advertising revenue.
"Everything was slightly better than expected," said Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter. "I don't see anything here that would make me want to sell the stock."
Nonetheless, Facebook's stock fell $1.34 cents, or 4.3 percent, to $29.90 in after-hours trading following the earnings report.
Facebook grew its revenue and increased the proportion of revenue that comes from mobile advertising ? a closely watched figure. But expenses also grew sharply. Also, the company said 2013 will be a year of "significant investments" and hiring as it focuses on long-term growth rather than short-term profits.
Facebook Inc., the world's largest social media company, earned $64 million, or 3 cents per share, in the October-December period. That's down from $360 million, or 14 cents per share, a year earlier when it was still a privately held company.
Revenue rose 40 percent to $1.59 billion from $1.13 billion, surpassing analysts' expectations of $1.51 billion.
Advertising revenue grew 41 percent to $1.33 billion, increasing at a faster clip than in the third quarter, when it climbed 36 percent to $1.09 billion.
Excluding special items, mainly related to stock compensation expenses, Menlo Park, Calif.-based Facebook earned 17 cents per share in the latest quarter.
Analysts polled by FactSet expected lower adjusted earnings of 15 cents per share.
"There were no major red flags," said Raymond James analyst Aaron Kessler. "I think expectations may have even been just a little bit higher" than analyst estimates indicated.
Facebook's biggest challenge lies in mobile devices. Most Facebook users access it using a mobile phone or tablet computer, yet the 9-year-old company only started showing mobile ads about 9 months ago.
"I think more people are starting to understand mobile is a great opportunity for us," CEO Mark Zuckerberg told analysts in a conference call. "It allows us to reach more people, we have more engagement from the people we reach and I think we will be able to make more money for each minute people spend with us on ... mobile devices."
Facebook has been trying to squeeze in more mobile adverting without alienating users who are more interested in conversing with their friends than being subjected to a marketing blitz. The company appears to be striking the right balance so far, based on the number of people still regularly using the mobile apps, Kessler said.
Facebook said it generated 23 percent, or $306 million, of advertising revenue from mobile, up from 14 percent or $153 million in the third quarter, the first time it disclosed such information.
While Facebook's accelerated revenue growth is a positive sign, there's still a feeling that the company could be doing even more to mine revenue from its mobile audience, Kessler said. He expected Facebook's mobile ad revenue to rise to 25 percent of the company's ad sales or about $350 million in the fourth quarter.
Facebook's monthly user base grew 25 percent from a year earlier to 1.06 billion accounts. About 680 million of them access Facebook using a mobile device each month. The company also said that the number of mobile users who access the site every day surpassed daily users on the Web for the first time in the fourth quarter.
As of the stock market's close on Wednesday, Facebook's stock was up 60 percent since the company's third-quarter earnings report came out in October. But it still hasn't hit its initial public offering price of $38.
The May 18 IPO was by far the biggest one for an Internet company since Google's in 2004, but the excitement quickly deflated.
Pachter suspects that investors may be worried Facebook's expenses are starting to outstrip its revenue growth. That was the case in the fourth quarter when the company's costs, excluding employee stock compensation, soared 67 percent from the previous year to $849 million, mainly due to hiring and infrastructure costs such as data centers and servers. And Facebook promises to keep on spending.
David Ebersman, Facebook's chief financial officer, said Facebook expects total expenses, excluding stock compensation costs, to grow by about 50 percent in 2013. In 2012, these costs amounted to $2.83 billion, an increase of 63 percent from 2011.
The company ended the year with 4,600 employees, a 44 percent increase from the end of 2011.
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AP Technology Writer Michael Liedtke contributed to this story from San Francisco.
After someone cut an illegal trail into the area, the V.I. National Park closed an area on St. John?s remote south side known as White Cliffs to protect a rare plant species, Eugenia earhartii.
The plant, which was damaged by the trail cutting, is endemic to St. John and is known to be found only within the park.
According to Paul Thomas, the park?s chief of interpretation, the closure will be indefinite. ?We have to give the plant time to recover,? he said.
The temporary closure does not affect public access to any park beaches or designated park trails.
The shoreline remains open, but there is no access to the interior from Reef Bay to Europa Bay.
The closed area is south of Lameshur Bay Trail, west of Europa Bay Trail and east of Reef Bay Trail/Reef Bay Sugar Mill. The closure also includes rock climbing.
According to a Tuesday press release from the park, rangers found and tried repeatedly to disguise an unauthorized trail off the Europa Bay earlier last year, and posted closed signs on the unauthorized trail. In December park rangers discovered the closed area signs had been torn down, broken and tossed aside.
Thomas said the problem of illegal trail cutting continues, but it?s not as ?rampant? as in previous years.
There are no authorized or maintained park trails inside this temporarily closed area but there are authorized park trails that delineate the external boundary of the designated closed area.
The Reef Bay trail, Reef Bay factory ruins, Lameshur Bay trail, Lameshur Bay factory ruins, and the Europa Bay trail surrounding the area of temporary closure will remain open to the public.
The press release indicates that federal law prohibits unauthorized plant or trail cutting. The law indicates that possessing, destroying, injuring, defacing, removing, digging or disturbing plants, plant parts or plant products from their natural state is prohibited.
Anyone found within the closed-off area without written permission or permit from park management is subject to a fine. The species, Eugenia earhartii, will be evaluated for potential listing under the Endangered Species Act.
Thomas said he did not know how many of the rare plants were in the area.
The temporary closure of the 325 acres will remain in effect while the plant and the surrounding plant habitat undergo further evaluation See map: [stthomassource.com]
A lineup for the 49ers/Giants Chevron Charity Shoot-Out is set, but there still could be some shuffling depending on what happens in Sunday's Super Bowl.
Earlier this week, Monterey Peninsula Foundation CEO Steve John said that as things stand, the Shoot-Out, to be held on Tuesday as part of AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am week at Pebble Beach Golf Links, will feature four former players representing the San Francisco 49ers and six San Francisco Giants players.
The 49ers will be represented by past Super Bowl winners Harris Barton, Jerry Rice, Dwight Clark and Brent Jones. The Giants squad will consist of All-Star pitchers Matt Cain and Ryan Vogelsong, broadcasters Mike Krukow and Dave Flemming, former All-Star first baseman Will Clark and current manager Bruce Bochy.
Still, there's the issue of the Super Bowl. Should the 49ers lose to Baltimore, John said there's a possibility that the 49ers squad could expand a bit. On the flip side, if the 49ers win the championship parade will likely be held on the same Tuesday in San Francisco, meaning that the 49ers would be represented by only the four players.
"Ideally, what we're looking for is eight guys taking on eight guys," John said. "But that depends on what happens Sunday. We'll see what unfolds and we'll deal with it."
Due to the uncertainty, a few weeks ago, tournament officials had tossed around the idea of having the Giants squad take on some of the other athletes scheduled to compete in the Pro-Am
such as Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and recently retired tennis great Andy Roddick.
According to John, that scenario will not occur.
"It's really been a great problem to have. So we win the Super Bowl. Bummer," John said, tongue in cheek. "I mean, we have the potential to have both the World Series and Super Bowl champions."
The Shoot-Out will take place at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, with teams competing over the old whiskey route at Pebble Beach ? holes No. 1, 2, 3, 17 and 18 ? for a $100,000 charity purse. The Niners have won each of the last two competitions.
Exemptions:
South Korea's Si Woo Kim, who at age 17 became the youngest player to ever earn his PGA Tour card at this past fall's Q-School, will make his tour debut at the AT&T Pro-Am.
John recently called Kim's manager to relay the good news that he would be getting a sponsor's exemption, allowing Kim's first PGA Tour experience to be at Pebble Beach.
"I got a call back from his manager who left a message saying that Si Woo got my message that he was in but that he didn't believe it," John said. "Si Woo wanted me to call back and tell him again. He couldn't believe he was in. He's over the moon that it's happening."
This past year's Q-School was the last one where players could advance directly to the PGA Tour. Beginning this year, Q-School will only guarantee spots on the developmental Web.com Tour.
While Kim advanced, under current regulations the age for tour membership is 18. He'll turn 18 in June, but by then there will only be a handful of events left, meaning Kim most likely will lose his card.
Other players recently granted exemptions were Alameda native Matt Bettencourt, former world top-ranked amateur Patrick Cantlay and 2011 U.S. Amateur champion Kelly Kraft. Kraft beat Cantlay in the Amateur finals.
Previous exemptions went to Jordan Spieth, the only player other than Tiger Woods to win the U.S. Junior Amateur multiple times, Camilo Villegas, Billy Andrade and Bret Nutt, the son of former Foundation CEO Ollie Nutt. Bret and Ollie will be paired together.
Celeb Watch:
When Patriots head coach Bill Belichick recently joined the Pro-Am field, it was natural to think that quarterback Tom Brady would also return to the tournament. Brady will not play, however. His sister is getting married in Hawaii.
John said that there is still one "big name" celebrity who will join the field. The mystery person (guess here is Niners head coach Jim Harbaugh) will be announced on Monday.
Woods Out:
John confirmed this week that Farmers Insurance Open winner Tiger Woods will not be playing in this year's AT&T Pro-Am. Last year, Woods made his first Pro-Am appearance in 10 years. The 2000 Pro-Am winner hasn't played in both the Farmers Insurance Open and AT&T Pro-Am since 2002. Some have speculated that he appeared in last year's Pro-Am as a courtesy to AT&T, a former Woods sponsor.
Fan Experience:
Fans attending next week's AT&T Pro-Am can expect some new experiences both on and around host course Pebble Beach. For starters, there's a new grand entrance that will welcome fans who arrive at Pebble Beach.
"It's now an arrival to the tournament," John said. "It's one of the biggest things we've done."
Fans getting off shuttle buses and walking by the Polo Field driving range also will get a better view of players practicing. Usually, there's a 10-12 foot fence blocking the view for those idling by. That fence has been lowered to around 4 feet.
"Spectators can now easily see guys hitting balls on the lower range," John said.
On the course, there's a new grandstand area behind the 17th green. There's also an expanded grandstand area at the 17th tee box. The United Fairway Club, an upscale lounge overlooking the 17th, has sold out but there will be a limited number of daily ticket upgrades ($50 per day) available on site.
Tickets for the tournament can be purchased at
www.attpbgolf.com or by calling 800-541-9091.
3M Scholarship:
Alyssa Ferrell of Salinas High and Lyla Mahmoud of Pacific Grove High won the 3M Scholarship Essay Contest in conjunction with the AT&T Pro-Am. The two seniors each won a $3,500 college scholarship from 3M and will be invited to participate as standard bearers in Wednesday's 3M Celebrity Challenge.
Poppy Recognized:
The pro shop at Poppy Hills has again been named to Golf World's list of Top 100 pro shops. It's the sixth time in the past seven years that Poppy Hills' pro shop has received the honor.
Aces:
Darian "Dad" Houde aced the 104-yard 10th hole at Pacific Grove GL using a 9-iron. Back in November, Houde aced the same hole using the same club.
AT&T Juniors:
Austin Murphy shot 40 and Katrina Mendez shot 36 to win the Platinum titles at the recently held AT&T Pebble Beach Jr. Golf Association Winter Classic at Quail Lodge. In Gold play, winners were Grace Chen (39) and Drew Sharek (36).
Jerry Stewart can be reached at 384-7916 or at
jerry_stewart@sbcglobal.net. Follow him on Twitter @jstewmonterey.
Phone and mailed interventions significantly increase colorectal cancer screening ratesPublic release date: 28-Jan-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Steve Graff stephen.graff@jefferson.edu 215-955-5291 Thomas Jefferson University
Patients 3 times more likely to get screened with phone navigation and mailings, researchers at Jefferson's Kimmel Cancer Center found
PHILADELPHIAA mailing or phone call to help patients get screened for colorectal cancer significantly increases their chances of actually getting tested, according to a study published in the January issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention by researchers at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson.
The research team, led by Ronald E. Myers, Ph.D., Professor and Director of Division of Population Science, Department of Medical Oncology at Thomas Jefferson University, performed a randomized, controlled trial of 945 people aged 50-79 to test the impact of a new, preference-based navigation intervention, as opposed to standard mailing or usual care, on screening rates.
A third of the patients received a "tailored" phone call to encourage them to perform their preferred screening test (colonoscopy vs. at-home blood stool test), plus a mailing of preferred information; another third were sent information on colonoscopy and a stool blood test kit; while the last third received no intervention.
Patients who received a phone call and/or mailing were almost three times as likely to undergo screening six months later compared to those who had no intervention. However, there was no significant difference between the phone and mailed interventions versus mailings only on screening rates.
While colorectal cancer screening rates are increasing in the United States, rates lag behind those for breast and cervical cancer screening. Screening and early detection of colon and rectal cancer holds tremendous promise for reducing the toll of colon and rectal cancer.
Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in this country with more than 140,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Late diagnoses will account for many of the colorectal cancer related deaths.
The study, which was conducted between 2007 and 2011, included 10 primary care practices affiliated with the Christiana Care Health System in Delaware that used a comment medical record system.
The research team searched for patients who had no prior diagnosis of colorectal neoplasia or inflammatory bowel diseases, had visited one of the participating practices within the previous two years, and were not compliant with American Cancer Society colorectal cancer screening guidelines.
For the study, 312 patients received a tailored intervention, where they were informed about both colonoscopy and blood stool tests and then were sent information on colonoscopy or the actual blood test performed, based on their preference. Another group, consisting of 316 patients, was mailed information about both colonoscopy and stool blood test performed. The remaining 317 were sent no information or tests and did not receive any phone calls.
Overall screening adherence at six months was significantly higher in both invention groups compared to the control group, the researchers found. Thirty-eight percent of patients who received the tailored phone interventions and 33 percent of patients who received mailings completed screening tests. Only 12% of patients in the control group completed screening tests.
In terms of the intervention groups, the researchers found that preference-based navigation did not significantly boost overall adherence to a level that was significantly higher than that achieved by mail, but increased participant performance of their preferred screening test in comparison to the mailed intervention, especially colonoscopy use.
"The study showed that both strategies were superior to usual care, and that there is not a one-size fits all approach to screening," said Dr. Myers. "The next step is to determine if an intervention strategy that maximizes screening test access, incorporates patient preference, and engages providers can achieve higher screening rates compared to just mailings."
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[ | 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.
Phone and mailed interventions significantly increase colorectal cancer screening ratesPublic release date: 28-Jan-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Steve Graff stephen.graff@jefferson.edu 215-955-5291 Thomas Jefferson University
Patients 3 times more likely to get screened with phone navigation and mailings, researchers at Jefferson's Kimmel Cancer Center found
PHILADELPHIAA mailing or phone call to help patients get screened for colorectal cancer significantly increases their chances of actually getting tested, according to a study published in the January issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention by researchers at the Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson.
The research team, led by Ronald E. Myers, Ph.D., Professor and Director of Division of Population Science, Department of Medical Oncology at Thomas Jefferson University, performed a randomized, controlled trial of 945 people aged 50-79 to test the impact of a new, preference-based navigation intervention, as opposed to standard mailing or usual care, on screening rates.
A third of the patients received a "tailored" phone call to encourage them to perform their preferred screening test (colonoscopy vs. at-home blood stool test), plus a mailing of preferred information; another third were sent information on colonoscopy and a stool blood test kit; while the last third received no intervention.
Patients who received a phone call and/or mailing were almost three times as likely to undergo screening six months later compared to those who had no intervention. However, there was no significant difference between the phone and mailed interventions versus mailings only on screening rates.
While colorectal cancer screening rates are increasing in the United States, rates lag behind those for breast and cervical cancer screening. Screening and early detection of colon and rectal cancer holds tremendous promise for reducing the toll of colon and rectal cancer.
Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death in this country with more than 140,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Late diagnoses will account for many of the colorectal cancer related deaths.
The study, which was conducted between 2007 and 2011, included 10 primary care practices affiliated with the Christiana Care Health System in Delaware that used a comment medical record system.
The research team searched for patients who had no prior diagnosis of colorectal neoplasia or inflammatory bowel diseases, had visited one of the participating practices within the previous two years, and were not compliant with American Cancer Society colorectal cancer screening guidelines.
For the study, 312 patients received a tailored intervention, where they were informed about both colonoscopy and blood stool tests and then were sent information on colonoscopy or the actual blood test performed, based on their preference. Another group, consisting of 316 patients, was mailed information about both colonoscopy and stool blood test performed. The remaining 317 were sent no information or tests and did not receive any phone calls.
Overall screening adherence at six months was significantly higher in both invention groups compared to the control group, the researchers found. Thirty-eight percent of patients who received the tailored phone interventions and 33 percent of patients who received mailings completed screening tests. Only 12% of patients in the control group completed screening tests.
In terms of the intervention groups, the researchers found that preference-based navigation did not significantly boost overall adherence to a level that was significantly higher than that achieved by mail, but increased participant performance of their preferred screening test in comparison to the mailed intervention, especially colonoscopy use.
"The study showed that both strategies were superior to usual care, and that there is not a one-size fits all approach to screening," said Dr. Myers. "The next step is to determine if an intervention strategy that maximizes screening test access, incorporates patient preference, and engages providers can achieve higher screening rates compared to just mailings."
###
[ | 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.
President Barack Obama pauses as the press leaves the room as he meets with representatives from Major Cities Chiefs Association and Major County Sheriffs Association in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013, in Washington, to discuss policies put forward by President Obama to reduce gun violence. From left are Minneapolis Police Chief Janee Harteau and Hennepin County Minnesota Sheriff Richard W. Stanek . (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
President Barack Obama pauses as the press leaves the room as he meets with representatives from Major Cities Chiefs Association and Major County Sheriffs Association in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013, in Washington, to discuss policies put forward by President Obama to reduce gun violence. From left are Minneapolis Police Chief Janee Harteau and Hennepin County Minnesota Sheriff Richard W. Stanek . (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
President Barack Obama meets with representatives from Major Cities Chiefs Association and Major County Sheriffs Association in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013, in Washington, to discuss policies put forward by President Obama to reduce gun violence. Hennepin County Minnesota Sheriff Richard W. Stanek, President Obama, is left, and Charles H. Ramsey Police Commissioner of the Philadelphia Police Department is right. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
President Barack Obama speaks to media as he meets with representatives from Major Cities Chiefs Association and Major County Sheriffs Association in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Monday, Jan. 28, 2013, in Washington, to discuss policies put forward by President Obama to reduce gun violence. From left are U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Minneapolis Police Chief Janee Harteau and Hennepin County Minnesota Sheriff Richard W. Stanek, President Obama, and Charles H. Ramsey Police Commissioner of the Philadelphia Police Department. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
WASHINGTON (AP) ? Law enforcement leaders who met with President Barack Obama Monday urged him to focus on strengthening gun purchase background checks and mental health systems, but did not unify behind his more controversial gun control efforts.
The message from sheriffs and police chiefs gathered at the White House reflected the political reality in Congress that the assault weapons ban in particular is likely to have a hard time winning broad support. The president appeared to recognize the challenge of getting everything he wants from Congress as well, participants in the meeting said.
"We're very supportive of the assault weapons ban," as police chiefs, said Montgomery County, Md., Police Chief J. Thomas Manger in an interview with The Associated Press. "But I think everybody understands that may be a real tough battle to win. And one of the things that the president did say is that we can't look at it like we have to get all of these things or we haven't won."
Opinions over an assault weapons ban and limits on high capacity magazines ? two measures the president supports ? were divided in the room. While Manger said the police chiefs from the large cities support that kind of gun control, some of the elected sheriffs who were in the meeting may not.
"I think what was made clear was that gun control in itself is not the salvation to this issue," said Sheriff Paul Fitzgerald of Story County, Iowa, one of 13 law enforcement leaders who met with the president, vice president and Cabinet members for more than an hour, seated around a conference table in the Roosevelt Room.
Among the participants included three chiefs that responded to the worst shootings of 2012, including Aurora, Colo., where 12 were killed in July; Oak Creek, Wis., where six died in an assault on a Sikh temple, and Newtown, Conn., scene of the most recent mass tragedy that left 20 first-graders dead.
The White House recognizes that police are a credible and important voice in the debate over guns that has developed following last month's elementary school shooting in Connecticut. Obama opened the meeting before media cameras and declared no group more important to listen to in the debate.
"Hopefully if law enforcement officials who are dealing with this stuff every single day can come to some basic consensus in terms of steps that we need to take, Congress is going to be paying attention to them, and we'll be able to make progress," Obama said.
Obama urged Congress to pass an assault weapons ban, limit high capacity magazines and require universal background checks for would-be gun owners in a brief statement to the reporters. But participants said after the media was escorted from the room, the focus was not on the assault weapons ban.
"He did not ask us if we do or do not support an assault weapons ban," said Hennepin County, Minn., Sheriff Richard Stanek, president of the Major County Sheriffs' Association. "He did not ask us if we do or do not support high capacity magazines."
"I told him very candidly that this isn't just about gun control alone," Stanek said. He said the bigger issue is that the Justice Department's system for background checks is incomplete since many states don't report mental health data or felony convictions. He mentioned how in his home state of Minnesota, a 14-year-old shot and killed his mother with a shot gun, but was later able legally to buy additional handguns and automatic weapons because the background check did not reveal his history. "There's example after example after example like that across the country," Stanek said.
Fitzgerald said the mental health system needs to be better funded because jails across the country are becoming "dumping grounds for the mentally ill."
"I was not the only sheriff that spoke up on that issue," Fitzgerald said. "To me, that is the No. 1 thing if we are going to impact that kind of violence that's happening in America."
All the law enforcement participants interviewed said they appreciated the president's attention to the issue and found the meeting constructive. Manger said the president did a lot more listening than talking and heard about the need to fund more police officers to protect school safety and a proposal to restrict the sale of ammunition on the Internet besides the broad calls for stronger mental health and background check systems.
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, president of the Major Cities Chiefs Association, said he's never been more encouraged about the prospect of gun control legislation of some sort, even if the assault weapons ban his group supports is an uphill battle.
"You're not going to get 100 percent of people to agree on anything as it relates to gun control, and we're no different, but a majority of people in the room recognize that something needs to be done," he said. "This was not just a passing thing as far as the president and vice president are concerned. This is something that they are determined to keep in front of the American people until they get something passed."
While the assault weapons ban was not a major focus of the White House meeting, participants say it was discussed at length at a later meeting with Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who sponsored a ban in 1994 that lasted for a decade and last week introduced a renewal of the ban in Congress.
"I would say her message was not well received overall by the group," Stanek said. "Everyone has an opinion on it one way or another."
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Follow Nedra Pickler on Twitter at http://twitter.com/nedrapickler
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) ? United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon says an agreement to end violence in Congo was delayed over "procedural issues."
Speaking at the African Union summit in Ethiopia, Ban told a news conference Monday that there are no fundamental differences holding back the agreement. A signing ceremony scheduled for Monday was canceled.
The peace deal is an effort at a large-scale political framework to end violence in Congo. Separate talks are taking place in Uganda between the rebel group known as M23 and Congolese officials. Jean Baptiste Rudaseswa, a lawyer for M23, said he was happy Ban's peace plan has so far failed because he said it risked destabilizing Congo further.
Ban said the U.N. is looking at establishing a "peace enforcement capacity" as part of the U.N. peacekeeping force in Congo.
Early tomorrow morning I'm jumping in a plane and flying to San Francisco, California for Macworld|iWorld 2013. Since it's been well below -20 celsius in Montreal this week, I'm looking even more forward to it than usual.
Leanna Lofte, who usually covers the SF events with me, just gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Lucy Danae Lofte, so she's sitting this one out. There are very few people in our line of work with her camera skills, so to make sure we keep the level of quality you guys expect and deserve, we're bringing Martin Reisch with us this year. Yeah.
There'll be a lot going on, and we'll be doing our best to bring you with us every step of the way with photo journals, videos, podcasts, and a bunch of social sharing. Here's the plan so far:
Monday: Arrive. Hang.
Tuesday: Head up to TWiT in Petaluma to shoot MacBreak Weekly with Leo and the gang. It'll be nice to be in the same room with everyone for once!
Wednesday: Hoping to head down to Cupertino and visit the Apple Company Store.
Friday/Saturday: We'll be covering the show, bringing you back everything you need to know.
Sunday: Head back home.
There will be tons of other stuff happening in and around all that, so make sure you keep your browsers locked to iMore's Macworld|iWorld page, and subscribe to the iMore YouTube channel to get all the latest videos as soon as inhumanly possible.
And for up-to-the-minute stuff, including everything and anything unfit for print, you can follow @reneritchie and @safesolvent on Twitter.
Last year Macworld|iWorld completed their transition from trade show to epicenter of the community, from a place to see Apple stuff to place to meet and enjoy the company of fellow Apple enthusiasts. I can't wait to see what they have in store for all of us this year.
Let me know what you'd like to see from our Macworld|iWorld coverage, and if you're going to be there are well, please do come up and say hello!
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BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentina said on Sunday it had agreed with Iran to establish a "truth commission" in a bid to resolve the 1994 bombing of a Buenos AiresJewish community center that Argentine courts accuse the Iran of sponsoring.
Argentine President Cristina Fernandez agreed to open talks with Tehran on the attack last year in a sharp change in diplomatic policy that irked Israel and drew criticism from Jewish leaders in Buenos Aires and the United States.
Fernandez said foreign ministers from Argentina and Iran had signed a memorandum of understanding during a meeting in Ethiopia.
The accord between Argentina and Iran establishes a truth commission made up of foreign legal experts "to analyze all the documentation presented to date by the judicial authorities of Argentina and Iran," Fernandez said in a series of Twitter messages.
Fernandez, who has close ties with other Latin American leaders who are on good terms with Tehran, such as Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, hailed the agreement as historic.
The five commissioners will be jointly nominated and will not be residents of Argentina or Iran, according to a document posted on Fernandez's Facebook page.
After analyzing the evidence, "the commission will give its vision and issue a report with recommendations about how the case should proceed within the legal and regulatory framework of both parties," according to the agreement.
It also outlines plans for Argentine legal officials to meet in Tehran to question "those people for whom Interpol has issued a red notice."
In 2007, Argentine authorities secured Interpol arrest warrants for five Iranians and a Lebanese in the bombing of the center, which killed 85 people. Iran denies links to the attack.
Iranian Defense Minister Ahmad Vahidi is among the Iranian officials sought by Argentina, which is home to Latin America's largest Jewish community.
Western and Israeli sources have voiced concerns that Argentina may have lost its interest in pursuing investigations of the 1994 attack, as well as the bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires that killed 29 people two years earlier.
The Islamic Jihad Organization, believed to be linked to Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, claimed responsibility for the 1992 bombing.
Fernandez said the accord, which must be ratified by Congress, showed Argentina "would never let the tragedy (attack) become a chess piece in the game of wider geopolitical interests."
"Dialogue (is) the only way to resolve conflicts between countries, however severe they are," she said via Twitter.
(Reporting by Guido Nejamkis; Writing by Helen Popper; Editing by Bill Trott)
Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan lashed out at President Barack Obama on Sunday, saying the commander in chief does not have a full grasp of the budget problems facing the U.S. economy.
"I don't think that the president actually thinks we have a fiscal crisis," Ryan told NBC's David Gregory on "Meet The Press" in his first live interview since the 2012 presidential campaign, when he was Mitt Romney's running mate.
Ryan, the House Budget Committee chairman, said that while Democrats may have gotten higher taxes on the wealthy as part of the New Year's deal to avoid the fiscal cliff, that's all they'll get.
'"The president got his additional revenues," Ryan said. "So that's behind us."
"Are we for raising revenues? No we're not," he continued. "If you keep raising revenues, you're not going to get decent tax reform."
The former vice presidential candidate also addressed a pair politically-divisive issues: immigration reform and gun control. Via NBC:
Ryan, who has praised a bipartisan set of immigration reforms offered by Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, said he was cautiously optimistic about the prospects for immigration reform this year. But Ryan said that Democratic and Republican lawmakers alike would closely watch Obama's speech on Tuesday in Nevada on that topic.
And of the president's gun control measures, Ryan suggested openness to embracing some measures--like requiring universal background checks on gun sales--while expressing skittishness toward other elements of the plan, like the ban on assault weapons.
And as far as his political aspirations for 2016 are concerned, Ryan said it's too early for him to talk about.
"I think it's just premature. I've got an important job to do," Ryan said. "I'll decide later about that."
Does the idea of loving yourself as the key to loving others seem like a paradox? According to Richard Jaffe, one of the owners of the Phoenix Suns, it is fundamental.
?I?ve found that loving myself is fundamental to my happiness. The one person I have a relationship with for my entire life is myself, so it?s essential to make that relationship my priority. When I have the inner peace that comes from loving myself, I don?t have to look to others to fill my emotional needs and wants,? Jaffe said.
He shares five tenets that have helped him on his journey through life:
1) Don?t rely on anyone else to make you happy
2) Find your passion and indulge in it
3) Remember ? givers gain
4) Control your thoughts and keep them positive
5) Be the very best you can be at whatever you do
The millionaire entrepreneur and philanthropist shares his thoughts in a volume of inspirational poetry called Inner Peace & Happiness: Reflections to Grow Your Soul. They were written over a period of decades, in response to big life events, or simply to put into words what he was feeling at that time in his life.
By writing poetry, Jaffe lives out his second tip outlined above about indulging in his passion. ?Poetry helps to provide me balance in life between work, family and other external commitments. When I allow myself time to indulge in my passion, I recharge my spirit, my mind and my body,? he said.
Jaffe began his career in 1975, after graduating from Cornell University, with Nutri-Foods International Inc., a company that manufactured frozen Italian ices. After consulting with customers in order to turn the company around, Jaffe reduced the amount of sugar in the products and added fruit juice. He sold it to Coca-Cola in 1985, where it continued to grow.
After taking some time off, Jaffe decided to get back into business by starting a latex glove company. Due to the AIDS epidemic, the CDC had recently recommended an increase in protective wear for medical professionals. Jaffe saw the need for long-wearing latex gloves that did not cause allergic reactions, and in 1987, started Safeskin, eventually developing a hypoallergenic, powder-free latex glove. The company was named Forbes ?Best Small Company in America? in 1996, and later sold to Kimberly-Clark.
Jaffe currently serves on the board of Safe Life Corporation, a medical technology company, and lives in California with his wife and three children. One of his favorite quotations is, ?Do today what feels good tomorrow.? In one of his poems, ?Eternal Happiness,? Jaffe?s life motto is summed up:
?But a happiness with one?s own true self,
Not an easy bond to make,
Allows our heart to pour out love
Without the need to take.?
?
Also Read:
Kirstie Alley Prioritizes Energy Over Weight as a Measure of a Healthy Lifestyle
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) ? Lance Armstrong's lawyers say the cyclist will talk more about drug use in the sport, just likely not to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency that led the effort to strip him of his Tour de France titles.
In a testy exchange of letters and statements revealing the gulf between the two sides, USADA urged Armstrong to testify under oath to help "clean up cycling."
Armstrong's attorneys responded that the cyclist would rather take his information where it could do more good ? namely to cycling's governing body and World Anti-Doping Agency officials.
USADA's response to that: "The time for excuses is over."
The letters, obtained Friday by The Associated Press, underscore the continuing feud between Armstrong and USADA CEO Travis Tygart, the man who spearheaded the investigation that uncovered a complex doping scheme on Armstrong's U.S. Postal Service teams.
Armstrong's seven Tour de France victories were taken away last year and he was banned for life from the sport.
In an interview with Oprah Winfrey last week, Armstrong admitted doping, said he owed a long list of apologies and that he would like to see his lifetime ban reduced so he can compete again.
His most realistic avenue toward that might be telling USADA everything he knows in a series of interviews the agency wants started no later than Feb. 6.
That seems unlikely.
Armstrong attorney Tim Herman responded to USADA's first letter, sent Wednesday, by saying his client's schedule is already full, and besides, "in order to achieve the goal of 'cleaning up cycling,' it must be WADA and the (International Cycling Union) who have overall authority to do so."
By Friday night, Herman strongly suggested Armstrong won't meet with USADA at all but intends to appear before the UCI's planned "truth and reconciliation" commission.
"Why would we cooperate (with USADA)?" Herman said in a telephone interview. "USADA isn't interested in cleaning up cycling. Lance has said, 'I'll be the first guy in the chair when cycling is on trial, truthfully, under oath, in every gory detail.' I think he's going testify where it could actually do some good: With the body that's charged with cleaning up cycling," Herman said.
In its last letter to Armstrong, sent Friday evening, USADA attorney William Bock said his agency and WADA work hand-in-hand in that effort.
"Regardless, and with or without Mr. Armstrong's help, we will move forward with our investigation for the good of clean athletes and the future of sport," Bock's letter reads.
The letters confirm a Dec. 14 meeting in Denver involving Armstrong, Tygart and their respective attorneys, which is when, in Tygart's words, Armstrong should have started thinking about a possible meeting with USADA.
"He has been given a deadline of February 6th to determine whether he plans to come in and be part of the solution," Tygart said in a statement. "Either way, USADA is moving forward with our investigation on behalf of clean athletes."
The letters were sent to the AP after details about a Tygart interview with "60 Minutes," being aired Sunday, were made public.
Among Tygart's claims: Armstrong is lying when he says he didn't dope during his 2009-10 comeback.
Tygart said USADA's report on Armstrong's doping included evidence Armstrong was still cheating in those years.
"His comeback was totally clean," Herman said. "It's pretty fashionable to kick Lance Armstrong around right now."
Tygart also reiterated that an Armstrong associate offered USADA a donation of more than $200,000. Armstrong denied that in his interview with Winfrey, too.
In advancing his claim that USADA is only a bit player in the investigation, Herman noted in his letter, sent to USADA on Friday, that most cycling teams are based in Europe.
"I'm pretty sick of people trying to blame a European cycling culture that goes back to the 1920s on one guy," Herman said.
Bock's response to that: "Your suggestion that there is some other body with which Lance should coordinate is misguided," he said in his final letter.
___
AP National Writer Eddie Pells contributed to this report.
It looks like we finally have a director for "Star Wars: Episode VII," and it seems to be J.J. Abrams. We've dissected the questions we have, the potential look of the film, and Abrams' "Star Wars" love affair over at MTV News, but as psyched as we are about the prospect, we're having a hard [...]
Minister announces 350 million investment to train future science leaders Public release date: 24-Jan-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Press Office pressoffice@epsrc.ac.uk 01-793-444-404 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
EPSRC to issue call for new Centres for Doctoral Training
One of the UK's largest investments in training for the engineering and physical sciences was announced today by Minister for Universities and Science, David Willetts.
Speaking at the think tank Policy Exchange, Mr Willetts announced the forthcoming 350 million call to be issued in February by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
Mr Willetts said: "Maintaining a healthy supply of skilled scientists, researchers and engineers is vital to our economy and society. That's why I'm pleased to announce that EPSRC will be inviting universities to apply for a share of the 350 million available to support doctoral training in priority areas. This investment will ensure we have the knowledge and expertise to tackle the major challenges we face in the 21st century, from improving healthcare to developing greener energy."
Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) are one of the three main ways by which EPSRC provides support for Doctoral Training. The other routes are the Doctoral Training Grant and Industrial Case Studentships. The call for new Centres will be available from 6th February on the EPSRC website.
EPSRC's Chief Executive, Professor David Delpy said: "Developing the talented leaders of tomorrow is a key goal for EPSRC and we recognise the need to support researchers at all stages of their careers, providing the right environment in which to grow.
"Future economic growth will depend on our ability to develop the right people with the right skills in key sectors. The Centre for Doctoral Training model has already proved highly effective in training cohorts of world class students and drawing in expertise from industry and business. This new call will focus on over 60 priority areas identified after engagement with the scientific community."
###
For media enquiries contact:
Richard Tibenham at the EPSRC Press Office.
Notes to Editors:
1. Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is the UK's main agency for funding research in engineering and the physical sciences. EPSRC invests around 800 million a year in research and postgraduate training, to help the nation handle the next generation of technological change. The areas covered range from information technology to structural engineering, and mathematics to materials science. This research forms the basis for future economic development in the UK and improvements for everyone's health, lifestyle and culture. EPSRC works alongside other Research Councils with responsibility for other areas of research. The Research Councils work collectively on issues of common concern via Research Councils UK. www.epsrc.ac.uk
2. CDTs Background Information
EPSRC Centres for Doctoral Training are funded for four years and include technical and transferrable skills, as well as a research element. The Centres bring together diverse areas of expertise to train engineers and scientists with the skills, knowledge and confidence to tackle today's evolving issues, and future challenges. They also provide a supportive and exciting environment for students, create new working cultures, build relationships between teams in universities and forge lasting links with industry.
Over the period March-August 2012 EPSRC invited stakeholders to respond to the question 'What UK skills gaps do you think could be met by or are appropriate for a more focused centre type approach?' EPSRC received over 600 suggestions which helped to develop a statement of theme priorities.
Background to 2013 CDT call
December 2008 250 million funding for new Centres for Doctoral Training announced.
October 2011 A mid-term review required the Centres to demonstrate progress and impact in their areas. Also included in the review were a number of longer standing centres, enabling a broader overview of the portfolio. In total 59 Centres were reviewed and all the centres reviewed received feedback on their progress.
March 2012 Start of community engagement exercise for the 2013 Centres for Doctoral Training call.
June 2012 Community engagement exercise announced on EPSRC website open for anyone to provide input.
November 2012 Update on the results of the engagement exercise and the preliminary list of priority areas published on EPSRC website.
6 February 2013 Call to be issued.
April 2013 Closing date for outlines for the call.
July 2013 Closing date for full applications.
End of 2013 Announce results of the call.
Full list of priority areas by theme
Some of the priority areas are also supported by other Research Councils and co-funding has been agreed should appropriate proposals be funded.
Digital Economy
New digital ventures
Digital identity
Digitally connected citizens
Energy
Bioenergy
Carbon capture and storage and clean fossil energy
End use energy demand in buildings, transport and industry
Energy storage
Hydrogen and fuel cells
Nuclear
Power networks
Solar
Wind and marine energy
Engineering
Autonomous systems and robotics
Engineering for life and health
Engineering sciences
Fluid dynamics
Materials technologies
National infrastructure systems
Power electronics
Process engineering
Structural integrity and materials behaviour
Sustainable built environments
Synthetic biology
Healthcare technologies
Digital healthcare
Healthcare device innovation
Medical imaging
Regenerative medicine
Therapeutics and nanomedicine
ICT
Data to knowledge
High performance embedded and distributed systems
ICT for manufacturing
Integrative technologies
Next generation interaction technologies
Underpinning communication and computer science training
Living with environmental change
Water
Mathematical sciences
Core mathematics and its interfaces
Industrially focused mathematical modelling
Mathematical analysis and its applications
Mathematics of weather, oceans and climate
Mathematics of highly connected, real-world systems
New mathematics in biology and medicine
Statistics
Manufacturing the Future
Complex manufactured products
Distributed manufacturing
Future industrial systems
Innovative production processes
Lightweight systems
Sustainable use of materials
Physical Sciences
Catalysis
Computational and theoretical physical sciences
Condensed matter physics
Functional materials
Materials characterisation
Measurement and sensing
New physical sciences for biology and healthcare
Novel and efficient chemical synthesis
Photonic materials, metamaterials and plasmonics
Plasma and high energy density physics
Polymer, soft matter and colloid science
Sustainable chemistry
Towards quantum technologies
[ | 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.
Minister announces 350 million investment to train future science leaders Public release date: 24-Jan-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Press Office pressoffice@epsrc.ac.uk 01-793-444-404 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
EPSRC to issue call for new Centres for Doctoral Training
One of the UK's largest investments in training for the engineering and physical sciences was announced today by Minister for Universities and Science, David Willetts.
Speaking at the think tank Policy Exchange, Mr Willetts announced the forthcoming 350 million call to be issued in February by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
Mr Willetts said: "Maintaining a healthy supply of skilled scientists, researchers and engineers is vital to our economy and society. That's why I'm pleased to announce that EPSRC will be inviting universities to apply for a share of the 350 million available to support doctoral training in priority areas. This investment will ensure we have the knowledge and expertise to tackle the major challenges we face in the 21st century, from improving healthcare to developing greener energy."
Centres for Doctoral Training (CDTs) are one of the three main ways by which EPSRC provides support for Doctoral Training. The other routes are the Doctoral Training Grant and Industrial Case Studentships. The call for new Centres will be available from 6th February on the EPSRC website.
EPSRC's Chief Executive, Professor David Delpy said: "Developing the talented leaders of tomorrow is a key goal for EPSRC and we recognise the need to support researchers at all stages of their careers, providing the right environment in which to grow.
"Future economic growth will depend on our ability to develop the right people with the right skills in key sectors. The Centre for Doctoral Training model has already proved highly effective in training cohorts of world class students and drawing in expertise from industry and business. This new call will focus on over 60 priority areas identified after engagement with the scientific community."
###
For media enquiries contact:
Richard Tibenham at the EPSRC Press Office.
Notes to Editors:
1. Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is the UK's main agency for funding research in engineering and the physical sciences. EPSRC invests around 800 million a year in research and postgraduate training, to help the nation handle the next generation of technological change. The areas covered range from information technology to structural engineering, and mathematics to materials science. This research forms the basis for future economic development in the UK and improvements for everyone's health, lifestyle and culture. EPSRC works alongside other Research Councils with responsibility for other areas of research. The Research Councils work collectively on issues of common concern via Research Councils UK. www.epsrc.ac.uk
2. CDTs Background Information
EPSRC Centres for Doctoral Training are funded for four years and include technical and transferrable skills, as well as a research element. The Centres bring together diverse areas of expertise to train engineers and scientists with the skills, knowledge and confidence to tackle today's evolving issues, and future challenges. They also provide a supportive and exciting environment for students, create new working cultures, build relationships between teams in universities and forge lasting links with industry.
Over the period March-August 2012 EPSRC invited stakeholders to respond to the question 'What UK skills gaps do you think could be met by or are appropriate for a more focused centre type approach?' EPSRC received over 600 suggestions which helped to develop a statement of theme priorities.
Background to 2013 CDT call
December 2008 250 million funding for new Centres for Doctoral Training announced.
October 2011 A mid-term review required the Centres to demonstrate progress and impact in their areas. Also included in the review were a number of longer standing centres, enabling a broader overview of the portfolio. In total 59 Centres were reviewed and all the centres reviewed received feedback on their progress.
March 2012 Start of community engagement exercise for the 2013 Centres for Doctoral Training call.
June 2012 Community engagement exercise announced on EPSRC website open for anyone to provide input.
November 2012 Update on the results of the engagement exercise and the preliminary list of priority areas published on EPSRC website.
6 February 2013 Call to be issued.
April 2013 Closing date for outlines for the call.
July 2013 Closing date for full applications.
End of 2013 Announce results of the call.
Full list of priority areas by theme
Some of the priority areas are also supported by other Research Councils and co-funding has been agreed should appropriate proposals be funded.
Digital Economy
New digital ventures
Digital identity
Digitally connected citizens
Energy
Bioenergy
Carbon capture and storage and clean fossil energy
End use energy demand in buildings, transport and industry
Energy storage
Hydrogen and fuel cells
Nuclear
Power networks
Solar
Wind and marine energy
Engineering
Autonomous systems and robotics
Engineering for life and health
Engineering sciences
Fluid dynamics
Materials technologies
National infrastructure systems
Power electronics
Process engineering
Structural integrity and materials behaviour
Sustainable built environments
Synthetic biology
Healthcare technologies
Digital healthcare
Healthcare device innovation
Medical imaging
Regenerative medicine
Therapeutics and nanomedicine
ICT
Data to knowledge
High performance embedded and distributed systems
ICT for manufacturing
Integrative technologies
Next generation interaction technologies
Underpinning communication and computer science training
Living with environmental change
Water
Mathematical sciences
Core mathematics and its interfaces
Industrially focused mathematical modelling
Mathematical analysis and its applications
Mathematics of weather, oceans and climate
Mathematics of highly connected, real-world systems
New mathematics in biology and medicine
Statistics
Manufacturing the Future
Complex manufactured products
Distributed manufacturing
Future industrial systems
Innovative production processes
Lightweight systems
Sustainable use of materials
Physical Sciences
Catalysis
Computational and theoretical physical sciences
Condensed matter physics
Functional materials
Materials characterisation
Measurement and sensing
New physical sciences for biology and healthcare
Novel and efficient chemical synthesis
Photonic materials, metamaterials and plasmonics
Plasma and high energy density physics
Polymer, soft matter and colloid science
Sustainable chemistry
Towards quantum technologies
[ | 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.
The term businessman is becoming unreliable, if not outdated. Ecommerce consumer sales now outstrip brick and mortal sales. Thanks to the explosion of smartphones and tablets, more people shop visit online stores than any other form of store.
And who is making a killing at online stores? Women. According to the Center for Women?s Business Research, over 90 percent of the women who own businesses use e-commerce.?
The internet has allowed women to seek and create business opportunities without relying on traditional jobs. Finding employees and business networks has become easier than ever. These women also buy and sell goods and services, and use many cloud-based services, including Alibaba.com, which leads the world in small e-commerce business solutions.
According to Alibaba.com, over 1.1 million of their U.S. business owners are women. Not only is this statistic higher than in any country, but it is the top demographic for Alibaba users. There are over 261,000 women business owners that use Alibaba in the U.K., and over 168,000 in India.
Yes, women are owning e-commerce. Opportunities such as Alibaba.com allow women to launch their businesses with fewer start up costs. Also, the cloud presents a larger market, even if that market is a niche such as professional clothing lines.
But e-commerce is being driven forward by more than just women business owners.
Because the average woman has reacted positively to the shift in ecommerce software formats, they are becoming the number one online consumers. The average online social gamer is no longer teenage boys, but 43-year old women. Also, the majority of subscribers on retail companies such as Gilt Groupe are women.
Gilt Groupe?s co-founder, Alexandra Wilson, is one example of a female business owner who aims to shift the way that online shopping and e-commerce software function.
Companies like Gilt Group have served as signposts of inspiration for women looking to start their own businesses. Christina Wallace, the co-founder of Quincey Apparel, as well as Cheryl Mainland and Polly McMaster, co-founders of The Fold, have found inspiration in examples like Wilson.
These women, and others, have taken advantage of M.B.A. programs and set out to make an impact in web-based businesses and e-commerce software use. According to The Telegraph, the number of women attending business school has increased 20 percent since the 90s. Yet within the classrooms, women fill between 20 and 40 percent of the seats.
Although women are still underrepresented in the average M.B.A. program schools like the Hult International Business School, however, make efforts to inspire future business owners by connecting their students with other female students and alumni.
The theme here is this: women have shown great enthusiasm about web-based technologies and e-commerce software. They also tend to embrace a greater variety of web solutions, shopping options, and other online services than men.
Pella Guadalajara works as a night-shift analyst for online marketing companies,?ecommerce software?sites, and a myriad of blogs ranging from deep see exploration to Canadian botanists?? planting methodology. He lives in Vancouver.
Science magazine prize goes to teaching tool for undergraduate genomics coursePublic release date: 24-Jan-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Natasha Pinol npinol@aaas.org 202-326-6440 American Association for the Advancement of Science
Web site helps students formulate and explore their own research questions
When biology professor Susan Singer was a college student, her freshman science classes were held in huge lecture halls, where she and her classmates listened and took notes, preparing themselves for a weekly test. She said it was deadening. Luckily, Singer had experienced what it was like to do scientific research much earlier, in middle school and high school and even as a child, when her parents allowed her to graft the trees in their backyard.
Wanting to replicate the kind of research exposure Singer encountered outside of her freshman science classes, Singer has developed a Web-based undergraduate teaching tool called Genomics Explorers, which is the winner of the Science Prize for Inquiry-Based Instruction (IBI).
Science's IBI Prize was developed to showcase outstanding materials, usable in a wide range of schools and settings, for teaching introductory science courses at the college level. The materials must be designed to encourage students' natural curiosity about how the world works, rather than to deliver facts and principles about what scientists have already discovered. Organized as one free-standing "module," the materials should offer real understanding of the nature of science, as well as providing an experience in generating and evaluating scientific evidence. Each month, Science publishes an essay by a recipient of the award, which explains the winning project. The essay about Genomics Explorers will be published on January 25.
"We want to recognize innovators in science education, as well as the institutions that support them," says Bruce Alberts, editor-in-chief of Science. "At the same time, this competition will promote those inquiry-based laboratory modules with the most potential to benefit science students and teachers. The publication of an essay in Science on each winning module will encourage more college teachers to use these outstanding resources, thereby promoting science literacy."
Singer started college as an engineering major, but she had always had a fascination with the study of education and decided to get a teaching credential while still an undergraduate. Because engineering wasn't the best specialty for a K-12 teacher, she went back to the interest she had courted as a child when grafting trees in her backyard: biology. "It was an excuse to come back to biology," says Singer, who earned her undergraduate degree, a master's and a PhD in biology at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Her specialties these days include investigating flowering in legumes and genomics problem-solving, and she is the Laurence McKinley Gould Professor in the Biology and Cognitive Science departments at Carleton College. Also engaged in research on learning in genomics and deeply involved in the study of science education, Singer is currently on leave from Carleton and is serving as the director of the National Science Foundation undergraduate education division.
As a genomics teaching tool, Genomics Explorers helps students make use of the huge opportunity that exists to explore and make discoveries using genomic data sets. Often the scope and scale of such data sets, not to mention the many ways in which the data can be approached, are overwhelming to students. Genomics Explorers, a Web site, offers students strategies and practical tools for approaching the data so that the students can get to and follow a biological line of inquiry that interests them. With some of the logistical methodology issues, such how to conduct a gene expression analysis, handled by the Web site, class discussions are freed up for deeper questions about the research. Students as a class are able to reflect on the nature of doing research and the nature of data analysis.
An important challenge that Genomics Explorers has overcome has been calibrating the degree to which students are guided through their research, so that they are able to connect with biological questions, without the process becoming too rigidly mapped out.
"Genomics Explorers is able to strike the fine balance between providing a learning structure, while still allowing students to be thinking on their own," says Melissa McCartney, Science associate editor.
The organisms focused on in classes using Genomics Explorers at Carleton and at Vassar College, Chamaecrista Fasciculata and Aiptasia pallida respectively, are "non-model" organisms, which means they have not been studied or written about extensively. The beauty of that is it allows students to actually make discoveries in their research.
"What my students find is really novel," Singer says. "There is the potential for doing really interesting work."
Previous to the implementation of Genomics Explorers, Singer says students found it difficult to select the scale at which they wanted to explore genomic data, often hunting for a single, often poorly chosen gene and finding themselves inundated by irrelevant data. The question was how to allow them the possibility of doing real research while still allowing the students to follow their own fascinations and to cultivate an ownership of their research. As Singer points out, the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology stressed in a 2012 report that, in order to keep science, technology, engineering and math students in those majors, they need to experience real research, not "cookbook" labs that simply walk them through steps to a known outcome, with no room for following their own curiosity or thinking up approaches of their own design.
"The challenge in Genomics Explorers was getting risers between the steps to be the right height," Singers says.
Although Singer's students sometimes panic at the open-endedness of the Genomics Explorers process, they begin to develop trust in their own ideas, Singer says. For instance, one group of students became interested in the possibility of increasing the biomass of the Chamaecrista and improving its value as a biofuel. Their research zoomed in on their interest, and was filtered to reflect that line of inquiry.
"They owned it," says Singers, adding that such "ownership" allows the students to engage their own creativity as they look at a research question.
Singer hopes that winning the IBI prize and publishing an essay in Science about Genomics Explorers will allow other teachers to engage their students in similar ways.
"What I hope most is that this encourages instructors to bring more authentic research experiences into their teaching laboratories."
###
For more information about Genomics Explorers, visit http://serc.carleton.edu/exploring_genomics.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is the world's largest general scientific society, and publisher of the journal, Science as well as Science Translational Medicine and Science Signaling. AAAS was founded in 1848, and includes 261 affiliated societies and academies of science, serving 10 million individuals. Science has the largest paid circulation of any peer-reviewed general science journal in the world, with an estimated total readership of 1 million. The non-profit AAAS is open to all and fulfills its mission to "advance science and serve society" through initiatives in science policy, international programs, science education, and more. For the latest research news, log onto EurekAlert!, www.eurekalert.org, the premier science-news Web site, a service of AAAS.
[ | 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.
Science magazine prize goes to teaching tool for undergraduate genomics coursePublic release date: 24-Jan-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Natasha Pinol npinol@aaas.org 202-326-6440 American Association for the Advancement of Science
Web site helps students formulate and explore their own research questions
When biology professor Susan Singer was a college student, her freshman science classes were held in huge lecture halls, where she and her classmates listened and took notes, preparing themselves for a weekly test. She said it was deadening. Luckily, Singer had experienced what it was like to do scientific research much earlier, in middle school and high school and even as a child, when her parents allowed her to graft the trees in their backyard.
Wanting to replicate the kind of research exposure Singer encountered outside of her freshman science classes, Singer has developed a Web-based undergraduate teaching tool called Genomics Explorers, which is the winner of the Science Prize for Inquiry-Based Instruction (IBI).
Science's IBI Prize was developed to showcase outstanding materials, usable in a wide range of schools and settings, for teaching introductory science courses at the college level. The materials must be designed to encourage students' natural curiosity about how the world works, rather than to deliver facts and principles about what scientists have already discovered. Organized as one free-standing "module," the materials should offer real understanding of the nature of science, as well as providing an experience in generating and evaluating scientific evidence. Each month, Science publishes an essay by a recipient of the award, which explains the winning project. The essay about Genomics Explorers will be published on January 25.
"We want to recognize innovators in science education, as well as the institutions that support them," says Bruce Alberts, editor-in-chief of Science. "At the same time, this competition will promote those inquiry-based laboratory modules with the most potential to benefit science students and teachers. The publication of an essay in Science on each winning module will encourage more college teachers to use these outstanding resources, thereby promoting science literacy."
Singer started college as an engineering major, but she had always had a fascination with the study of education and decided to get a teaching credential while still an undergraduate. Because engineering wasn't the best specialty for a K-12 teacher, she went back to the interest she had courted as a child when grafting trees in her backyard: biology. "It was an excuse to come back to biology," says Singer, who earned her undergraduate degree, a master's and a PhD in biology at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Her specialties these days include investigating flowering in legumes and genomics problem-solving, and she is the Laurence McKinley Gould Professor in the Biology and Cognitive Science departments at Carleton College. Also engaged in research on learning in genomics and deeply involved in the study of science education, Singer is currently on leave from Carleton and is serving as the director of the National Science Foundation undergraduate education division.
As a genomics teaching tool, Genomics Explorers helps students make use of the huge opportunity that exists to explore and make discoveries using genomic data sets. Often the scope and scale of such data sets, not to mention the many ways in which the data can be approached, are overwhelming to students. Genomics Explorers, a Web site, offers students strategies and practical tools for approaching the data so that the students can get to and follow a biological line of inquiry that interests them. With some of the logistical methodology issues, such how to conduct a gene expression analysis, handled by the Web site, class discussions are freed up for deeper questions about the research. Students as a class are able to reflect on the nature of doing research and the nature of data analysis.
An important challenge that Genomics Explorers has overcome has been calibrating the degree to which students are guided through their research, so that they are able to connect with biological questions, without the process becoming too rigidly mapped out.
"Genomics Explorers is able to strike the fine balance between providing a learning structure, while still allowing students to be thinking on their own," says Melissa McCartney, Science associate editor.
The organisms focused on in classes using Genomics Explorers at Carleton and at Vassar College, Chamaecrista Fasciculata and Aiptasia pallida respectively, are "non-model" organisms, which means they have not been studied or written about extensively. The beauty of that is it allows students to actually make discoveries in their research.
"What my students find is really novel," Singer says. "There is the potential for doing really interesting work."
Previous to the implementation of Genomics Explorers, Singer says students found it difficult to select the scale at which they wanted to explore genomic data, often hunting for a single, often poorly chosen gene and finding themselves inundated by irrelevant data. The question was how to allow them the possibility of doing real research while still allowing the students to follow their own fascinations and to cultivate an ownership of their research. As Singer points out, the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology stressed in a 2012 report that, in order to keep science, technology, engineering and math students in those majors, they need to experience real research, not "cookbook" labs that simply walk them through steps to a known outcome, with no room for following their own curiosity or thinking up approaches of their own design.
"The challenge in Genomics Explorers was getting risers between the steps to be the right height," Singers says.
Although Singer's students sometimes panic at the open-endedness of the Genomics Explorers process, they begin to develop trust in their own ideas, Singer says. For instance, one group of students became interested in the possibility of increasing the biomass of the Chamaecrista and improving its value as a biofuel. Their research zoomed in on their interest, and was filtered to reflect that line of inquiry.
"They owned it," says Singers, adding that such "ownership" allows the students to engage their own creativity as they look at a research question.
Singer hopes that winning the IBI prize and publishing an essay in Science about Genomics Explorers will allow other teachers to engage their students in similar ways.
"What I hope most is that this encourages instructors to bring more authentic research experiences into their teaching laboratories."
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For more information about Genomics Explorers, visit http://serc.carleton.edu/exploring_genomics.
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