DEAR ABBY: My husband, "Wade," and I went into a convenience store near our home that we frequent regularly. A new employee -- a pretty, much younger girl -- stared at Wade with an expression of recognition and surprise on her face. When I asked him what that was about, he laughed it off and said I was "imagining things."The next time we saw her, Wade acted nervous and started talking fast, as if trying to distract me. He seemed to be avoiding eye contact with her. She ignored me while obviously trying to lock eyes with Wade. ...
LONDON (Reuters) - British construction output contracted in March for the third month in a row, a survey showed on Wednesday, suggesting the sector will have weighed on economic growth in the first quarter.
The Markit/CIPS Construction Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) inched up to 47.2 from 46.8 in February, holding below the 50 level that separates expansion from contraction and slightly undershooting forecasts for 47.5.
Markit, which compiles the survey, said that unusually cold weather combined with sluggish underlying demand kept a lid on construction work in March.
"The negative print for construction output mirrors that seen for manufacturing, and now leaves the service sector as the last great hope for avoiding another slide in UK GDP," said Tim Moore, senior economist at Markit.
A PMI survey for the service sector in March is due out on Thursday, giving a clearer sign of whether Britain's economy avoided its third recession in less than five years, having already contracted in late 2012.
Despite the weak headline number, the construction sector showed some signs of resilience last month, according to Wednesday's survey.
The decline in new orders was the least sharp since October, while house building grew at the fastest rate since May 2012.
The promising trend in residential work helped lift optimism among firms to its highest level in almost a year, as they forecast a rise in output over the coming 12 months.
The Treasury and the Bank of England have announced several measures since last year to try to boost the housing sector, including government plans to guarantee up to 130 billion pounds of mortgage issuance.
Despite making up less than 7 percent of Britain's gross domestic product, weak construction output was the main reason the economy contracted in three quarters last year.
Judging by the PMI and official data, which lags the survey, the sector did little to help the economy in early 2013.
Construction output fell 6.3 percent in January compared with December, non-seasonally adjusted data from the Office for National Statistics showed last month.
- Detailed PMI data is available only under licence from Markit and customers need to apply to Markit for a licence.
To subscribe to the full data, click on the link below: http://www/markit.com/information/register/reuters-pmi-subscriptions
For further information, please phone Markit on +44 20 7260 2454 or email economics@markit.com
(Reporting by Olesya Dmitracova; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
Apr. 2, 2013 ? Electric cars have still got it tough in the German marketplace. They are too expensive and their range is too short. This is an opportune time for a breakthrough in efficient and low-cost lithium-sulfur batteries.
There are currently over 40 million cars on Germany's roads. Only a fraction of them are powered by electric energy -- around 6,400 vehicles according to the Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Urban Development. The comparatively short range of electric cars doesn't help their popularity, with drivers often having to start the search for a charging station after a mere 100 kilometers, not to mention the high price of the batteries, which cost several thousand euros. Remedying this situation has researchers looking at new options in developing more efficient technologies. An extremely promising avenue of research is the lithium-sulfur battery, which is significantly more powerful and less expensive than the better-known lithium-ion battery. Although their short lifespan has made them unsuitable for use in cars before now, this may be about to change in the foreseeable future.
Scientists at the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS in Dresden have developed a new design that increases the charge cycles of lithium-sulfur batteries by a factor of seven. "During previous tests, the batteries scarcely crossed the 200-cycle mark. By means of a special combination of anode and cathode material, we have now managed to extend the lifespan of lithium-sulfur button cells to 1,400 cycles," says Dr. Holger Althues, head of the Chemical Surface Technology group at IWS, who is delighted with his team's breakthrough. The anode of the team's prototype is not made from the usual metallic lithium, but from a silicon-carbon compound instead. This compound is significantly more stable, as it changes less during each charging process than metallic lithium. The more the structure of the anode changes, the more it interacts with the liquid electrolyte, which is situated between the anode and the cathode and carries the lithium-ions. This process causes the liquid to break down into gas and solids and the battery to dry out. "In extreme cases, the anode "grows" to reach the cathode, creating a short circuit and causing the battery to stop working altogether," explains Althues.
The interplay between anode and cathode is the critical factor determining the performance and lifespan of a battery. In the lithium-sulfur model, the cathode is composed of elemental sulfur. The advantage here is that unlike cobalt -- the main cathode material used in lithium-ion batteries -- sulfur is available in almost unlimited quantities and is therefore cheaper. The problem remains, however, that sulfur also interacts with the liquid electrolyte, which impairs the performance of batteries and, in the worst case, causes them to lose capacity entirely. The IWS researchers are using porous carbons to slow down this process. "We have precisely altered the pores to allow the sulfur to lodge there, slowing down the rate at which it combines with the electrolyte," clarifies Althues. He and his colleagues have developed a method of manufacturing these special cathodes.
The experts at IWS measure the capacity of a battery in watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg). Over the long term, they expect lithium-sulfur batteries to reach an energy density of up to 600 Wh/kg. For comparison: the maximum energy density of the lithium-ion batteries currently in use is a mere 250 Wh/kg. "In the medium term, figures around the 500 Wh/kg mark are more realistic. In practical terms, this means you can drive twice as far with the same battery weight," says Althues. This of course implies that significantly lighter battery models are possible -- an interesting prospect not only for automakers but for smartphone manufacturers too. After all, the overall weight of smartphones would be greatly reduced if they had lighter batteries. "Lithium-sulfur technology might even make electric flying a realistic possibility. Although such progress is still a long way off," adds Althues.
The researchers are currently working on further optimizing the material and using it in larger battery models. They are also turning their attention to suitable manufacturing methods. And with good reason, as this is the only way the technology will reach a mass market, leading to a significant increase in the number of electric cars on Germany's roads.
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Symbiotic bacteria program daily rhythms in squid using light and chemicalsPublic release date: 2-Apr-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Jim Sliwa jsliwa@asmusa.org 202-942-9297 American Society for Microbiology
Glowing bacteria inside squids use light and chemical signals to control circadian-like rhythms in the animals, according to a study to be published on April 2 in mBio, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology. The Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, houses a colony of Vibrio fischeri bacteria in its light organ, using the bacteria at night as an antipredatory camouflage while it ventures out to hunt. The results of the study show that, in addition to acting as a built-in lamp, the bacteria also control when the squid expresses a gene that entrains, or synchronizes, circadian rhythms in animals.
"To our knowledge, this is the first report of bacteria entraining the daily rhythms of host tissues," says corresponding author Margaret McFall-Ngai of the University of Wisconsin - Madison. If bacteria can entrain daily rhythms in an animal, McFall-Ngai says, it's reasonable to think these influences will eventually be found in other animals. It's possible that microbial partners in the human gut, for instance, could similarly influence human daily rhythms through chemical signaling.
Like all animals, squids make proteins that set their inner clock to environmental light. E. scolopes produces two of these "light entrainment" proteins (cryptochromes, or CRYs), and one is regulated in the squid's head, just like every other animal. McFall-Ngai and her co-authors noticed that escry1, the gene that encodes the other protein, is most highly expressed in the light organ, where the squid houses its glowing bacterial symbionts. "The animal uses the luminescence in the evening, so the luminescence is greatest at night. The gene escry1 cycles with the bioluminescence of the animal and not with environmental light," says McFall-Ngai.
But is it the bacterial luminescence that synchronizes the cycling, or is it the bacteria themselves? It's both, says McFall-Ngai.
The bacteria are necessary for cycling, she says, since squid grown without their bacterial symbionts do not cycle their expression of escry1, and mimicking the bacterial light with a blue light did not induce the cycling.
And they showed that the light is also necessary, because squids grown with defective V. fischeri symbionts that lack the ability to luminesce didn't cycle their expression of escry1 either. With light-defective bacteria in their light organs, squids exposed to the blue light got back on track, cycling escry1 production as usual.
What is it about the bacteria that could be signaling to the squid? Long experience taught McFall-Ngai where to turn next: microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs), molecules that signal the presence of microbes to other creatures. "In this system we have found again and again that bacterial surface molecules are active at inducing all kinds of cellular behavior in the host," says McFall-Ngai.
Her hunch was right. MAMPs plus light turned cycling on. In squid grown without symbionts, light, combined with MAMPs (either the lipid A component of lipopolysaccharide or the peptidoglycan monomer), could induce some degree of cycling. The squid did not respond fully, though, maybe because the MAMPs were only injected into their seawater habitat, not presented directly to the light organ.
The fact that a bacterium can control a daily rhythm in a squid is exciting for other areas of biology, says McFall-Ngai, because all animals, including humans, have clock genes like escry1.
"Recently, in two different studies, biologists have found that there is profound circadian rhythm in both the epithelium [of the human gut] and the mucosal immune system of the gut that is controlled by these clock genes. What are we missing? Are the bacteria affected by or inducing the cycling of the tissues with which they associate?" We don't know," says McFall-Ngai, but it's an area ripe for study.
Moving forward with the squid symbiosis, McFall-Ngai says her lab will try to tie in the transcription of escry1 with cycling in the squid's metabolism to see what changes the squid actually experiences while it's under the spell of its bacterial symbionts.
###>
mBio is an open access online journal published by the American Society for Microbiology to make microbiology research broadly accessible. The focus of the journal is on rapid publication of cutting-edge research spanning the entire spectrum of microbiology and related fields. It can be found online at http://mbio.asm.org.
The American Society for Microbiology is the largest single life science society, composed of over 39,000 scientists and health professionals. ASM's mission is to advance the microbiological sciences as a vehicle for understanding life processes and to apply and communicate this knowledge for the improvement of health and environmental and economic well-being worldwide.
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Symbiotic bacteria program daily rhythms in squid using light and chemicalsPublic release date: 2-Apr-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Jim Sliwa jsliwa@asmusa.org 202-942-9297 American Society for Microbiology
Glowing bacteria inside squids use light and chemical signals to control circadian-like rhythms in the animals, according to a study to be published on April 2 in mBio, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology. The Hawaiian bobtail squid, Euprymna scolopes, houses a colony of Vibrio fischeri bacteria in its light organ, using the bacteria at night as an antipredatory camouflage while it ventures out to hunt. The results of the study show that, in addition to acting as a built-in lamp, the bacteria also control when the squid expresses a gene that entrains, or synchronizes, circadian rhythms in animals.
"To our knowledge, this is the first report of bacteria entraining the daily rhythms of host tissues," says corresponding author Margaret McFall-Ngai of the University of Wisconsin - Madison. If bacteria can entrain daily rhythms in an animal, McFall-Ngai says, it's reasonable to think these influences will eventually be found in other animals. It's possible that microbial partners in the human gut, for instance, could similarly influence human daily rhythms through chemical signaling.
Like all animals, squids make proteins that set their inner clock to environmental light. E. scolopes produces two of these "light entrainment" proteins (cryptochromes, or CRYs), and one is regulated in the squid's head, just like every other animal. McFall-Ngai and her co-authors noticed that escry1, the gene that encodes the other protein, is most highly expressed in the light organ, where the squid houses its glowing bacterial symbionts. "The animal uses the luminescence in the evening, so the luminescence is greatest at night. The gene escry1 cycles with the bioluminescence of the animal and not with environmental light," says McFall-Ngai.
But is it the bacterial luminescence that synchronizes the cycling, or is it the bacteria themselves? It's both, says McFall-Ngai.
The bacteria are necessary for cycling, she says, since squid grown without their bacterial symbionts do not cycle their expression of escry1, and mimicking the bacterial light with a blue light did not induce the cycling.
And they showed that the light is also necessary, because squids grown with defective V. fischeri symbionts that lack the ability to luminesce didn't cycle their expression of escry1 either. With light-defective bacteria in their light organs, squids exposed to the blue light got back on track, cycling escry1 production as usual.
What is it about the bacteria that could be signaling to the squid? Long experience taught McFall-Ngai where to turn next: microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs), molecules that signal the presence of microbes to other creatures. "In this system we have found again and again that bacterial surface molecules are active at inducing all kinds of cellular behavior in the host," says McFall-Ngai.
Her hunch was right. MAMPs plus light turned cycling on. In squid grown without symbionts, light, combined with MAMPs (either the lipid A component of lipopolysaccharide or the peptidoglycan monomer), could induce some degree of cycling. The squid did not respond fully, though, maybe because the MAMPs were only injected into their seawater habitat, not presented directly to the light organ.
The fact that a bacterium can control a daily rhythm in a squid is exciting for other areas of biology, says McFall-Ngai, because all animals, including humans, have clock genes like escry1.
"Recently, in two different studies, biologists have found that there is profound circadian rhythm in both the epithelium [of the human gut] and the mucosal immune system of the gut that is controlled by these clock genes. What are we missing? Are the bacteria affected by or inducing the cycling of the tissues with which they associate?" We don't know," says McFall-Ngai, but it's an area ripe for study.
Moving forward with the squid symbiosis, McFall-Ngai says her lab will try to tie in the transcription of escry1 with cycling in the squid's metabolism to see what changes the squid actually experiences while it's under the spell of its bacterial symbionts.
###>
mBio is an open access online journal published by the American Society for Microbiology to make microbiology research broadly accessible. The focus of the journal is on rapid publication of cutting-edge research spanning the entire spectrum of microbiology and related fields. It can be found online at http://mbio.asm.org.
The American Society for Microbiology is the largest single life science society, composed of over 39,000 scientists and health professionals. ASM's mission is to advance the microbiological sciences as a vehicle for understanding life processes and to apply and communicate this knowledge for the improvement of health and environmental and economic well-being worldwide.
[ | 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.
ANAHEIM POLICE CHIEF JOHN WELTER ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT FOLLOWING A 42-YEAR CAREER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT
ANAHEIM, Calif. (April 1, 2013) Anaheim Police Chief John Welter today announced his retirement from the Anaheim Police Department effective May 16, 2013, following a 42-year career in law enforcement, including nine years as Chief of Police for the City of Anaheim.?
As Police Chief, Welter led law enforcement, safety and security operations for California?s 10th largest city, including oversight of residential areas, business centers, and the City?s internationally recognized sports, entertainment and convention venues ? Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Honda Center, City National Grove of Anaheim, the Anaheim Convention Center, and the Anaheim Resort.
?Chief Welter?s dedication to the City of Anaheim is to be commended, and on behalf of the entire City Council, our thanks for his service to Anaheim?s residents, businesses and guests over these past nine years,? said Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait.? ?Anaheim was founded in 1857 as a small community.? Today Anaheim is a thriving and diverse city.? It takes strong leadership to keep Anaheim safe, and John Welter has provided that and more.? Our congratulations to him and his family.?
?Chief Welter has had a positive impact on the City of Anaheim,? said City Manager Bob Wingenroth.? ?John is a man of integrity and character. He has a heart of compassion for the community and consistently proved to be a strong leader to his officers and civilian staff.? He is an inspiration to many, from his Explorers and senior volunteers, to residents, to business leaders.? On behalf of the City of Anaheim, we offer our sincere appreciation, and we wish him and his wife Terri all the best on this new chapter in his life.?
Welter began his career with the San Diego Police Department, rising to the position of Executive Assistant Chief (second in command).? Upon joining Anaheim on March 22, 2004 as the City?s 31st Chief of Police, he quickly implemented his vision for the department?s mission, vision and values with an emphasis on innovation, best practices, crime prevention, and community engagement.?
During his tenure, Welter led his department through periods of change and transformation, including the enhancement of law enforcement through technological advancements, initiating dialogue between the community and the police department, as well as his introduction of community oriented policing, a model used by agencies worldwide.
His innovative practices include:
????????? Establishment of the Chief?s Advisory Board, a group of community leaders who through direct access to the Chief present ideas and recommendations based on community input.
????????? Implementation of the Anaheim Family Justice Center (now the Orange County Family Justice Center), a highly-valued service to women, men and children caught in the cycle of abuse.? The Center is also a leader in elder abuse investigation for the County.
????????? Engagement between officers and the community, and this past year alone led and participated in more than 150 community meetings for the purpose of hearing directly from Anaheim?s residents.
Training and education are hallmarks of Welter?s career.? The FBI sent him to Russia to train their police executives on police management and leadership.? From 2000-2006 he consulted and trained police executives in Hungary, the Ukraine, Sweden, Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom, Columbia and Romania.? Welter trained many police departments throughout the State on community oriented policing and problem solving.? He continues to teach executive development courses throughout the State.
The Anaheim Police Department currently employs 350 sworn officers, and an overall staff of 684.?
For more information on the Anaheim Police Department please visit www.anaheim.net/police.
For more information on the City of Anaheim please visit www.anaheim.net
"American Idol" judge Nicki Minaj isn't afraid to share her thoughts whether she's on or off the boob tube.
Bilingual crooner Devin Velez was eliminated from the reality competition show Thursday night after the "Pink Friday" singer couldn't be persuaded by the audience and superstar panel to use her one season save on the talented contestant.
FOX via Getty Images
Devin Velez performs on "American Idol" on March 27.
"I don't know why," Velez told E! News backstage after his elimination. "She [Nicki Minaj] has a lot of girl power and a lot of girl thoughts. Maybe she just wants a girl to win. The girls have been so consistent with their songs, and the girls are amazing this year [so] I have nothing bad to say about any of the contestants."
All the details on Devin's elimination
But after Velez shared his post-elimination thoughts and Minaj seemingly received some Twitter criticism for her judging decision, the loud-mouthed reality rapper fired back on the social media site:
"Lol. Be mad @ AMERICA when u get sent home. The JUDGES are the ones who FOUGHT for America to get the opp to VOTE 4 U!!!
#memba?," she wrote. "America r the 'potential' fans...u MUST win them over. 'Saves' are bulls--t and they know it. Those girls are just too good this year."
"Send the judges some flowers and a card. If Curtis didn't get SAVED, NONE of u get saved! Best male voice of the SEASON!!!!!!!!!!! #TruthTea," she continued. "Trust me BEW BEW. If EYE didn't want u in that TOP, YOU wldnt have been in that TOP. Fought for ALL of you. So just simply b gracious."
American Idol backstage scoop: Nicki and Mariah ribbed for "rocking the same color" dress
And she finally ended her rant with advice for all the "Idol" hopefuls: "Jennifer Hudson didn't win!!!! Oscar winner!!! #memba??? ok. Take that exposure and let your light shine,"? she concluded.
Of course, Velez took to his own microblogging page to respond to Nicki's statement, tweeting then deleting, "That moment when an adult stoops down to the 3rd grade level...LOL grow up Hun, I've got songs to write. :) #movingforward."
Hey, at least it's a bit of a break from the Nicki-Mariah feud.
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Public release date: 2-Apr-2013
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