Saturday, March 31, 2012

Harry Potter tour shows behind-camera wizardry

A new tour at the film studios outside London where the Harry Potter blockbusters were shot aims to champion the "unsung heroes" ? from seamstresses to special effects wizards ? who made the movies magical for millions.

"Warner Bros. Studio Tour - The Making of Harry Potter" opens to the public on Saturday, and organizers expect 5,000 visitors to file past the familiar sets, strange creatures and scale models every day.

They enter through the famous Great Hall, a cavernous room with stone-like walls, real stone floors and graffiti-marked tables where students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry ate their feasts and enjoyed the Yule Ball.

Also preserved from the original films are Gryffindor Common Room, Professor Dumbledore's office, the potions classroom, Hagrid's hut, the Weasleys' kitchen and a section of the Ministry of Magic.

The giant spider Aragog, a version of the animatronic "Hippogriff" Buckbeak and eerily life-like models of the actors allow visitors to study up close the painstaking craftsmanship that every scene involved.

The animatronic Aragog, for example, needed 100 technicians to operate, real goat hair was inserted strand by strand to create Greyback's werewolf face and Ollivanders shop in Diagon Alley contained 17,000 individually labeled wand boxes.

"There's just so much detail in everything," said Rupert Grint, who played Harry's best friend Ron Weasley in the films.

"I'm so happy it hasn't all been put away into storage and collected dust and forgotten about because it's something that really needs to be celebrated," he told Reuters, sitting in the Weasley kitchen.

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The output of hundreds of people working behind the camera on sets, costumes, masks and props were combined with computer-generated images in what special effects supervisor John Richardson called a unique collaboration.

"I've worked on nine of the (James) Bond movies and they didn't have the same look or aspect or thought process, if you like, that's gone into the Potters.

"Never before have you had a group of technicians work for 10 years, 12 years in my case, all on the same film without, virtually, a break."

The tour, which lasts around three hours, finishes with a walk along Diagon Alley which leads eventually to a large room filled with a huge scale model of Hogwarts castle.

Its courtyards, towers and turrets were filmed and enhanced with digital effects and more than 2,500 lights were installed to simulate lanterns and torches inside.

Early reviews of the attraction at Leavesden Studios just outside London have been mixed, with some criticism leveled at the ticket prices and other costs.

Adults pay 28 pounds ($45) and children 21 pounds ($34), and a pass for a family of four costs 83 pounds ($133). Children under five go free, and tickets must be booked online in advance. There are tickets available for most week days over the coming months.

Visitors also have to pay for transport ? a short train ride from London, for example, followed by a special bus service from Watford Junction, and they exit the tour through a gift shop where the most expensive item is a replica of the robes worn by Dumbledore costing 495.95 pounds ($790).

Many of the sets are cordoned off, although interactive elements include a "magic" iron moving at the wave of a wand, touchscreens helping children navigate Hogwarts and broomsticks to sit on and "fly" over digitally imposed backgrounds.

"Prices aside, the tour is a must-see for Potter fans and a fitting monument to the team who created Britain's most successful film franchise," said Anita Singh in the Telegraph.

Copyright 2012 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.

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An Expert Guide to Finding Automotive Employment | Automotive ...

Most owners find it hard and close to impossible to perform maintenance on their cars if the damage is caused by the weather, accident or from an act of vandalism. With the increased production of vehicles year after year and with the repair as well as maintenance needed by owners and other companies, the demand for automotive employment also increased.

Automotive services have varied classifications:

? Automotive Motorcycle Technician
? Auto Mechanical Technician
? Auto Repair Technician
? Auto Body/Repair Technician
? Air Conditioning Technician
? Air Conditioning Mechanic
? Alignment Installer
? Audio Installer
? Automotive Glass Installer and Repair
? Automotive Master Mechanic
? Automotive Specialty Technician

Listed here are some job descriptions of automotive services:

? Auto Body Technician ? one who works with cars and small trucks to restore vehicles to their original shape or even color. He or she must possess capabilities in replacing dented auto parts, painting over or covering nasty scratches.

? Auto Service Technician ? one who inspects, maintains and repairs cars and light trucks that run on gasoline, electricity or alternative fuels. They even do the oil changing and tire replacement.

? Automotive and Commercial Truck Mechanic ? one who diagnoses and repairs vehicles using precision diagnostic equipments. They must be licensed before being employed.

? Auto Mechanics ? one who inspects, services and repair the engines, breaks and other parts of cars, buses and trucks. He or she is also responsible in straightening out car problems, in periodical servicing and in maintaining work condition of cars.

? Automotive Engineer ? develops and improves or produces new designs for automotive structural engines, transmissions as well as associated automotive equipment through the use of computerized work aids.

? Automotive Technician ? works on engines, exhaust systems, fuel lines, change oil and other fluid. He or she also replaces belts, hoses as well as fans; and lubricates bolts.

? Auto Spray Painter ? works on painting automobiles, machines and other products through the use of color paint materials.

? Automotive Electrician ? manufactures, installs and repairs electrical systems and equipment for motor vehicles, lights, widescreen wipers, hooters and indicators.

? Automotive Body Repair ? works on body repairs, panel-beaters and realignment of damaged as well as dented panels of vehicles.

Among the job opportunities in Australia and Canada:

? Car Audio Installer
? Commercial Sales Manager
? Diesel Technician and others

In the U.S.:

? Marketing Specialists
? Automotive Instructors
? Mechanics
? Store Managers
? Service Representatives

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Scotts Snap Lawn Care System Snap Spreader Review

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White House decides there's enough oil supply to tighten sanctions on Iran (Washington Bureau)

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Heat win finals rematch, top Dallas 106-85

Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) goes to the basket against the Dallas Mavericks during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Miami, Thursday, March 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) goes to the basket against the Dallas Mavericks during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Miami, Thursday, March 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki (41) prepares to shoot over Miami Heat forward Udonis Haslem (40) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Miami, Thursday, March 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade (3) prepares to shoot over Dallas Mavericks small forward Shawn Marion (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Miami, Thursday, March 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

Dallas Mavericks shooting guard Jason Terry (31) prepares to pass as \mMiami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade (3) defends and Chris Bosh, left, watches the play during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Miami, Thursday, March 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

Miami Heat power forward Chris Bosh (1) prepares to shoot against the Dallas Mavericks during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Miami, Thursday, March 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

MIAMI (AP) ? No fourth-quarter collapse this time against Dallas. These days, everything seems to be going right at home for the Miami Heat.

LeBron James and Chris Bosh each finished with 19 points and nine rebounds, Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem scored 16 apiece and the Heat extended the league's longest home winning streak this season to 15 games with a 106-85 win over the Mavericks in an NBA finals rematch on Thursday night.

Mario Chalmers scored 12 points and Norris Cole added 10 for Miami, which swept its two games with Dallas this season and snapped a two-game losing streak.

"We just worked our habits," James said. "The best thing about tonight, we didn't take another step backwards like we did the last two games. And it was good to see."

Dirk Nowitzki scored 25 for Dallas, but was held to 1-for-9 shooting in the second half. Lamar Odom had 12 for the Mavericks, who were outrebounded 44-29 and were held to only two fast-break points.

Miami outscored Dallas 26-13 in the fourth quarter to cap the win.

"You have to give them credit," Nowitzki said. "They stepped up their pressure on both ends of the floor. In the first half everything came a little too easy for us. We got some good looks, got some rolls, had everything going. Then they really picked up their pressure and we didn't have many good looks."

It was Dallas' first time playing at Miami since winning Game 6 of the NBA finals last June, a series that turned after an epic late Game 2 comeback by the Mavs in Miami and eventually became the ultimate payback ? hoisting a championship trophy in Miami, five years after Wade and the Heat celebrated winning their title in Dallas.

Still, Dallas insisted this trip wasn't about revisiting memories.

"Just another day at the office," Mavs owner Mark Cuban said.

Well, not an altogether friendly day at the office ? particularly late.

In the fourth quarter alone, Nowitzki had the bridge of his nose bloodied, James got hit in the mouth and Wade spent a few minutes grabbing at his right index finger in obvious discomfort. Adding to Miami's discomfort: Dallas being within 90-83 with 4:37 left after Nowitzki made four free throws in a 27-second span.

Any angst existing at that point dissipated quickly.

"I felt like we were in control," Wade said. "They got a couple things to go their way. It was just about settling down and running offense."

Simple as that. A 9-0 run sealed it for Miami, with Wade quarterbacking the charge.

His two-handed dunk pushed the Heat lead back to double figures, then he found Bosh to set up a three-point play and set up James for a slam that pushed the lead to 99-83 with 3:03 left. The Mavs called time out, took Nowitzki and three others off the floor for the night, and the Heat slide was soon over.

Vince Carter and Brandan Wright each scored 11 for Dallas.

"It's tough," Carter said of facing the Heat. "When they're rolling, they're rolling."

Miami's offense has sputtered for nearly a month, but the Heat scored 60 points by halftime for the first time in 11 games. James, Bosh and Wade shot 12 for 21 by halftime, and Miami's bench ? Haslem and Cole, mostly ? connected on 10 of 13 shots before intermission. Haslem made all four of his shots in the half and Cole was 4 for 6 after making four shots in his last seven games.

Even with all that, the lead was only 60-53 at the break, in large part because Nowitzki was 8 for 10 from the field.

Miami's offense cooled big-time in the third, the Heat shooting an abysmal 5 for 23. And the lead actually grew by a point in the period, thanks to what went on at the other end.

An 11-2 run gave the Heat their first double-digit lead, after holding Dallas without a field goal for more than 6 minutes. Miami led by as many as 13 in the third, before Odom scored Dallas' final seven points of the period to get the Mavs within 80-72 going into the final quarter.

"It was disappointing," Mavs coach Rick Carlisle said. "Our start to the third quarter was strong and then they answered back."

And now, Miami hits the road for games in Toronto on Friday and Boston on Sunday. The Heat have lost six of their last eight away from home.

"It's time for a response on the road," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. "We will take this win. This is a great team win against a very good team. But we have to move on and now let's take care of business on the road."

NOTES: Bosh returns to Toronto on Friday, the city where he played his first seven seasons. ... Dan Marino was among those in attendance. ... Miami held a 36-24 scoring edge in the second quarter, the first time the Heat outscored an opponent in their last 12 quarters. ... Mavs point guard Jason Kidd played in his 1,308th regular-season game, passing Buck Williams for 10th place on the NBA career list. ... Mavs guard Delonte West (broken right ring finger) played for the first time in 22 games. Center Brendan Haywood (sprained right knee) was active, but indicated he was more likely to return at Orlando on Friday. ... It marked the third time in Heat history that the team swept a season series with a reigning NBA champion.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-03-29-BKN-Mavericks-Heat/id-06aa773298514619a01b91a41be109ee

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Apple has Apple Stores, Samsung has... this!

Samsung store inside Phones 4u
You know those heady dreams of a new Samsung product launch today? Well consider them punctured. There's no new gadgets to announce, but instead a teaming-up with UK retailer Phones 4u, offering a dedicated space for Samsung to dip its toes into retail waters. Located on London's Oxford Street -- and just around the corner from an Apple Store -- the shop-within-a-shop displays all of the Korean makers' big hitters, with several tables housing Galaxy Tab 10.1s, Galaxy Notes and Galaxy S IIs. The rest of that expansive galactic family dot the periphery of the room, but then you'd probably come here primarily to test-drive the aforementioned flagships. The tables themselves are dressed down; no pricing or carrier information clogging up the surfaces, just the devices and some Galaxy branding. Samsung's claimed the whole top floor and the shop is already training up dedicated Samsung staff to answer pressing questions like what's the point of the Galaxy Ace Plus whether that phone has Gorilla glass and when we can expect to see a Galaxy S III in the flesh.

Apple has Apple Stores, Samsung has... this! originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 30 Mar 2012 07:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/30/samsung-store/

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Friday, March 30, 2012

"The Hunger Games" soundtrack tops Billboard chart

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/hunger-games-soundtrack-tops-billboard-chart-173012366.html

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The Best and Easiest DIY Home Improvement Suggestions ...

It can be really fun to plan a DIY home improvement task. You can hope for a spectacular looking home within a few months, whether you are building a deck, putting in new flooring or painting your home. Before you begin, though, you should be certain that you have properly planned out everything, so that things turn out the way you wish for them to. Hemorrhoidal inflamation could definitely be cured quickly with Venapro natural treatment program. You can definitely Buy Venapro online and access this pill readily.

In order to get the greatest outcome form your DIY home improvement task, investigating examples of what you want to complete can e helpful. If you have never tried something before, it is wise to scrutinize some educational information or inquire with someone who can offer you some recommendations, rather than just faltering around in the unknown and hoping for a miracle. Beginning with your local hardware or home improvement store, there are a lot of options you can look into for help, these days. Oftentimes, you can find someone who knows a lot and is willing to provide you with some recommendations on the task you are planning, particularly if you are purchasing materials there. Furthermore, you can be pointed in the right direction by educational books and videos. Because you can watch another person doing the project step-by-step, a video can be pretty effective.

If you want to make your rooms have a different look, changing the carpet works really well. Installing carpet can be done by yourself, if you are into home improvement.

Professional carpet layers charge a lot of money, so if you can do it yourself, you can save a bunch of money. Doing your own work for home improve gives you the opportunity to invest in better quality or just save money on the total project. Since carpet comes in so many different varieties and styles, you should take some time making your choices. Before choosing the material or color, consider how it will go with the rest of your home, including the walls and furniture. It will take you some time and work to install your own carpet, and the right tools will have to be gotten some where. Xtreme NO is the recommended lean muscle mass advancement supplement that you can possibly go with. As no Xtreme NO side effects are encountered, it is healthy and highly effectual to take advantage of this muscular tissue supplement.

When you are prepping for home remodel projects, thinking about energy efficiency is a wise idea. This is critical, whether you want to stay in your house or if you would like to move out of it. There are quite a few places that cold air can reach inside your home, such as leaks around the doors, windows and other places. One of the more imperative places to seal up leaks is the attics, as many homes lose a bunch of heat when it escapes through the attic. Air sealing can make a huge difference when it comes to locking in warm air and keeping cold air out. Your fireplace can also be a place where cold air enters, so make sure the damper is closed when you?re not using it. Your home can be more relaxing and you can lower your energy bills if you get new windows that are energy efficient, along with no cracks or leaks around them.

Improving your home by yourself takes much consideration, some of which were discussed in this article. This topic is full of resources, which you can find on TV shows, in books and magazines, and lots of places online. Maybe you want to have an addition to your house, or simply do a couple of repairs, it can be done when you plan right. There are almost endless possibilities for DIY home improvement. Are you nervous of the scar marks and spots on your skin? Start applying the Meladerm Cream for the correction of all skin imperfections.

Source: http://www.arellessie.info/the-best-and-easiest-diy-home-improvement-suggestions/

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New Options in Security alarm Devices

The reality of the subject, is that in these early days home and business security systems only were not as tamper evidence as they?re now and if someone believed their basic characteristics and was established, they might be bypassed. Contemporary improvements in technology have brought about many changes to property and business security systems and now not only are they far more tamper evidence nevertheless they also are of a much higher degree of technology.With a contemporary wireless home security system you will find no wires to lower and the batteries that power the individual parts last up to three years each. There is you should not concern yourself with the batteries either, because the control panel will be signaled by each battery powered component when it requires to be transformed Honeywell Security Products. Yet another safety measure is the alarm system can be run by a back-up power supply for weeks if need be, due to the main energy being shut off. However yet there is the capacity for a homeowner to call their control panel to check up on their home or business and their security system. So presently there many layers of protection and safeguards on your security program as it protects and safeguards your house or business. Its also truly wonderful to see? how much more a security program does with regards to defending a home or business with all the new technology that is now available. Motion sensors and human body heat came a long way since their advent not very long ago and they are now widely used in security systems for homes and organizations. They?re now so accurately adjusted which they can certainly distinguish between small animals, such as dogs and cats and a man. Which means there are never any false alarms being signaled by these new devices. These heat and motion sensors now enable a security perimeter to be recognized across the perimiter of? house or business and it can reach up to thirty-five feet.With this security border, it is no more necessary to wait for an intruder to cause any injury and actually enter the building, because the alarm is tripped as soon as they aproach the outside of the building. With all of this new technology, a multiple layered security system could be mounted on a property or business that virtually assures that an intruder may be found and repelled or apprehended. With all of these new technology being so economical now any sense does not be just made by it why anyone who has whatever they benefit could go about their lives being completely unprotected.

Source: http://elmundogay.com/2012/03/new-options-in-security-alarm-devices/

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NLP Training ? Finding Achievements By having an NLP Training ...

For many people who have objectives that appear almost impossible to attain, the only point keeping them back is their selves. Their mind-set and the way they react to situations is exactly what has prevented them from obtaining the factors they want most away from life. With Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), while, men and women can study how to conquer the things that are keeping them again from their dreams.

People who come to a decision to take part in NLP training may well do it for different diverse good reasons. These explanation can usually be put into one of two unique types. Many people both would like to much better their particular life, or they want to improved the lives of other folks. Of course, they could even would like to much better their own personal life by earning other people?s lives greater.

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NLP training could also assistance individuals to higher their relationships with many others. One of the keys to establishing far better relationships with other people is knowing why the man or woman acts a specified way. Regardless of whether men and women currently think that they?ve a good association with some others, comprehending the motivations behind the actions of individuals around them and folks in basic may help men and women for getting a lot more beyond life.

When folks are wanting for NLP training that could assist them to to make the lives of other people better, you can find numerous solutions they may desire to contemplate. Two options are neuro linguistic programming courses that deal with life mentor training and programs that take care of hypnotherapy. A life mentor is an individual who can help many others to ascertain the correct route in their lives. This individual may help persons to ascertain the appropriate career route, the right route with regards to associations in their life, or numerous other paths that we get in life. Via working with NLP, the individual is ready to concentrate on clients? mind-set and various things that may very well be holding that human being back again today but that if utilised correctly may also help that human being to find joy in life. With the appropriate training, people that take attend NLP programs may even later on come to be the people today training the courses.

For those that wish to use hypnotherapy that will help other folks, NLP training is often beneficial. A person might be accredited in neuro linguistic programming hypnotherapy typically in less than a month. Via this training, folks will often understand points which include worry and its influence on people, how to chill out men and women before the hypnosis, and how to term inquiries to realize the best final results.

Boost your likelihood for success using NLP Course competent advice. You can also learn instructional classes available for the NLP Training.. Check here for free reprint license: NLP Training ? Finding Achievements By having an NLP Training Course.

Source: http://www.navianz.com/nlp-training-finding-achievements-by-having-an-nlp-training-course/

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Thursday, March 29, 2012

Brain wiring a no-brainer?

ScienceDaily (Mar. 29, 2012) ? The brain appears to be wired more like the checkerboard streets of New York City than the curvy lanes of Columbia, Md., suggests a new brain imaging study. The most detailed images, to date, reveal a pervasive 3D grid structure with no diagonals, say scientists funded by the National Institutes of Health.

"Far from being just a tangle of wires, the brain's connections turn out to be more like ribbon cables -- folding 2D sheets of parallel neuronal fibers that cross paths at right angles, like the warp and weft of a fabric," explained Van Wedeen, M.D., of Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), A.A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging and the Harvard Medical School. "This grid structure is continuous and consistent at all scales and across humans and other primate species."

Wedeen and colleagues report new evidence of the brain's elegant simplicity March 30, 2012 in the journal Science. The study was funded, in part, by the NIH's National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), the Human Connectome Project of the NIH Blueprint for Neuroscience Research, and other NIH components.

"Getting a high resolution wiring diagram of our brains is a landmark in human neuroanatomy," said NIMH Director Thomas R. Insel, M.D. "This new technology may reveal individual differences in brain connections that could aid diagnosis and treatment of brain disorders."

Knowledge gained from the study helped shape design specifications for the most powerful brain scanner of its kind, which was installed at MGH's Martinos Center last fall. The new Connectom diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner can visualize the networks of crisscrossing fibers -- by which different parts of the brain communicate with each other -- in 10-fold higher detail than conventional scanners, said Wedeen.

"This one-of-a-kind instrument is bringing into sharper focus an astonishingly simple architecture that makes sense in light of how the brain grows," he explained. "The wiring of the mature brain appears to mirror three primal pathways established in embryonic development."

As the brain gets wired up in early development, its connections form along perpendicular pathways, running horizontally, vertically and transversely. This grid structure appears to guide connectivity like lane markers on a highway, which would limit options for growing nerve fibers to change direction during development. If they can turn in just four directions: left, right, up or down, this may enforce a more efficient, orderly way for the fibers to find their proper connections -- and for the structure to adapt through evolution, suggest the researchers.

Obtaining detailed images of these pathways in human brain has long eluded researchers, in part, because the human cortex, or outer mantle, develops many folds, nooks and crannies that obscure the structure of its connections. Although studies using chemical tracers in neural tracts of animal brains yielded hints of a grid structure, such invasive techniques could not be used in humans.

Wedeen's team is part of a Human Connectome Project Harvard/MGH-UCLA consortium that is optimizing MRI technology to more accurately to image the pathways. In diffusion imaging, the scanner detects movement of water inside the fibers to reveal their locations. A high resolution technique called diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI) makes it possible to see the different orientations of multiple fibers that cross at a single location -- the key to seeing the grid structure.

In the current study, researchers performed DSI scans on postmortem brains of four types of monkeys -- rhesus, owl, marmoset and galago -- and in living humans. They saw the same 2D sheet structure containing parallel fibers crossing paths everywhere in all of the brains -- even in local path neighborhoods. The grid structure of cortex pathways was continuous with those of lower brain structures, including memory and emotion centers. The more complex human and rhesus brains showed more differentiation between pathways than simpler species.

Among immediate implications, the findings suggest a simplifying framework for understanding the brain's structure, pathways and connectivity.

The technology used in the current study was able to see only about 25 percent of the grid structure in human brain. It was only apparent in large central circuitry, not in outlying areas where the folding obscures it. But lessons learned were incorporated into the design of the newly installed Connectom scanner, which can see 75 percent of it, according to Wedeen.

Much as a telescope with a larger mirror or lens provides a clearer image, the new scanner markedly boosts resolving power by magnifying magnetic fields with magnetically stronger copper coils, called gradients. Gradients make it possible to vary the magnetic field and get a precise fix on locations in the brain. The Connectom scanner's gradients are seven times stronger than those of conventional scanners. Scans that would have previously taken hours -- and, thus would have been impractical with living human subjects -- can now be performed in minutes.

"Before, we had just driving directions. Now, we have a map showing how all the highways and byways are interconnected," said Wedeen. "Brain wiring is not like the wiring in your basement, where it just needs to connect the right endpoints. Rather, the grid is the language of the brain and wiring and re-wiring work by modifying it."

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by NIH/National Institute of Mental Health.

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


Journal Reference:

  1. Van J. Wedeen, Douglas L. Rosene, Ruopeng Wang, Guangping Dai, Farzad Mortazavi, Patric Hagmann, Jon H. Kaas, and Wen-Yih I. Tseng. The Geometric Structure of the Brain Fiber Pathways. Science, 30 March 2012: 1628-1634 DOI: 10.1126/science.1215280

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

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

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/5CFKNVwZGes/120329141916.htm

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How To Improve Doors To Your Home | Interior Design

Home improvement is one of those things homeowners shouldn?t fret about.?

For one, it can dramatically improve the quality of your home and give that extra shine and polish needed to give an equally favorable review from onlooking friends, family and guests. ?

Plus, there?s the extra benefit of added value to the home should a homeowner decide to sell in the near future.

Whether it?s roofing, quality attic insulation, replacement windows, patio installations or other updates, staying current with home improvement projects can go a long way. ?

With so many projects to consider, let?s take a look at how to improve the quality of your doors, what installations and added tweaks are out there and the long-term benefits of having fortified door structures mean for homeowners.

FIrst off, homeowners must decide which type of door suits their home.

?After picking a wood frame, whether whole or a mixture of wood frames and window panes, the next step is installation. ?Whether through the aid of a home improvement contractor or done by the homeowner themself, it?s good to have the sufficient tools, space and time to make sure the process is done correctly.

Improving the quality of the doors can depend on which area of the house the doors are located. ?For instance, a sliding glass door that is near the kitchen or main living room may get a lot of usage if it leads to the patio outside. ?Thus, investing in a durable and user-friendly slider is key.

?Considering the changes of temperature outside versus inside your home, it may be wise to have a screen door addition put in, so as to give homeowners more options. ?

As for doors leading in or outside of the garage, it?s important to focus on making the exteriors of the door?especially underneath?as fortified as possible. ?This can be remedied by outfitting weather strips along the bottom that are secure enough to trap as much outside air while also being able to conveniently open and close without hindrance. ?

As far as door features and extensions, it?s always good to make sure you have the proper door fastners and locks ready to go after the door itself has been put in. ?Most obvious benefit would be the safety of the homeowner and his or her family and belongings, but some locks can become a little tricky if not properly aligned. ?Best example I can give would be locks that might jam or not fully extend into the side of the house. ?Should a sudden gust of wind come, those doors can easily fling open and allow bugs, dust, radically different temperatures and other annoyances inside the home.

Lastly, the long-term advantages of having quality doors in place. ?Aside from improved cosmetic looks, homeowners can relish in possible energy-saving credits towards their next tax return (given they have a particular door installed with an EPA addage), know their home can feel a bit safer versus an older, more susceptible doorframe, and see door installations as just one cog in a continuing home improvement wheel.

More Improve Your Home Articles

Source: http://www.berlincastellano.com/2012/03/28/how-to-improve-doors-to-your-home/

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Nine General Solutions for Hair Loss Problems


A healthy hair often mirrors a good blood circulation to the hair follicles because along the blood stream is the? the food and oxygen for the hair.

A myth holds it that the reason a man loses his hair only on the top of his head is that the blood flow to the top of the scalp is diminished than to the sides and the back of the head. This produced another myth about standing on one?s head to promote circulation to the area.

Another event that can restrict good circulation to the scalp is when the body is under severe stress. The small blood vessels in the follicles constrict, causing malnutrition to the follicles.

Solutions for Hair Loss

Indeed a proper circulation is important to induce proper hair growth.

Here are some general tips to promote proper circulation, thus avoid hair loss and importantly, achieve a healthy head of hair:

1. Iron is essential in the transportation of oxygen to all parts of the body including the follicles. Therefore, it is essential. Egg yolks, green leafy vegetables, wholegrain breads, cereals, and meat are good sources of iron.

2. Avoid caffeine since it can increase stress and weakens the adrenal glands. Also avoid sugar and refined carbohydrates because they can deplete the nutrients needed for hair growth.

3. The hair is basically protein so high-quality protein will be very good for the hair. Meat, fish, beans and pulses are excellent sources of such proteins.

4. Zinc is one of those very important minerals that the hair needs to grow.

In fact, it has been included in the formulations of several solutions for hair loss. Thirty milligrams of zinc a day should be enough to boost your hair condition.

5. For women who are using contraceptive pills, taking 50mg of vitamin B6 daily will be beneficial to offset the effects of the contraceptive pills to hair growth.

6. There are certain formulas that can keep the hair from breaking such as vitamins A, C, and D; silica; and cellulose.

7. Betaine hydrochloride improves the absorption of nutrients from good foods. Hence, taking this would optimize absorption of nutrients by the hair follicles at the same time. Those who have an active stomach ulcer, however, should refrain from taking this.

8. Nothing beats a good aerobic exercise in improving the blood circulation. Exercise will not only improve your heart?s condition but will specifically increase oxygen flow and reduce stress levels. Either way, exercise will definitely promote a better hair and scalp condition.

9. Look for hair loss clinics near you and ask for references of good hair loss specialists so you would know the varied solutions for hair loss.
?

Source: http://health.ezinemark.com/nine-general-solutions-for-hair-loss-problems-7d35255611b3.html

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Poddities ? Hardware for your iPhone

Poddities are metal clips for your iPhone 4/4S that you can screw directly into the bottom of the phone. One clip offers an attachment point for hand straps, while the other one functions as a money clip. Both Poddities attach to the bottom of the iPhone by removing the existing screws on either side of [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2012/03/28/poddities-hardware-for-your-iphone/

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Pink Slime, Deconstructed

?I don?t eat school lunch anyway . . . It looks weird.?

BPI / The Atlantic

BPI / The Atlantic

This is from a high school student, quoted in the New York Times over the weekend, in response to a seemingly ?beefless? future in school cafeterias. Most of the recent media outcry surrounds ?pink slime,? the low-fat filler used to bulk up many processed meats. Coverage focuses on schools, where parents and administrators alike worry about students? exposure to ?chemically-treated? foodstuffs and poorly-labeled processed meat.

The low-cost, nutritious school lunch has long been an American institution. Smaller school budgets and larger student populations have led to schools cutting costs wherever possible. When industrial beef producers suggested a newer, cheaper?meat alternative back in the early ?90s, cash-strapped school districts happily agreed.

In 2010, Michael Moss of the New York Times won a Pulitzer for reports probing the processing end of the beef industry. He was among the first to explore the sterilization process, microbial testing, and potential contamination recalls over the past decade. Today, more journalists, along with celebrity chefs, moms, and school officials have all taken up torches and pitchforks against ?pink slime?. Online articles address a myriad of questions: Where does this product come from, and where does it end up? Is it OK to eat? Why aren?t all the ingredients labeled? How is it made, anyway?

But thus far, no one has really satiated my curiosity?what, exactly, is ?pink slime??

What Pink Slime Is, and What It?s Not

Let?s address the name ? there?s undeniably an ??ick factor??ever heard anyone use [slime] in a positive way?? (Borrowing a pithy phrase from Deborah Blum, who covered the subject for Discover Blogs)

Well, if you come from the meat producers? camp, you instead refer to ?slime? as lean, finely-textured beef, or LFTB.?Connective tissue, trimmings, and scraps from industrial butcher plants are mixed in a large steel reactor, where technicians heat the mixture to 100 oF, initiating tissue lysis ? fats and oils begin to rise up, while thicker bits like protein sink. After a spin on the centrifuge to separate these components, lean, squishy pink goo emerges. Ammonium hydroxide ? ammonia dissolved partially in water ? sterilizes the resulting mass against microbes such as?E. coli or Salmonella. (Side Note: a similar product, finely textured beef, uses citric acid in place of ammonia to eliminate pathogens). Once extruded, the ?slime? can be blended into hamburger, hot dogs, and other products, or frozen into pellets for shipping and storage.

But, is it nutritious? Consumers can certainly make valid arguments regarding LFTB?s content: there?s less overall ?functional? protein than that found in other meat products. An analysis conducted at Iowa State University (A.S. Leaflet R1361) found two-and-a-half times more insoluble protein (77% vs. 30%) relative to soluble proteins in ordinary ground chuck. Nutritionally, our gut bacteria digest much of what we cannot, but there?s a good bet that we can?t get as much value from insoluble proteins (collagen and elastin, found largely in tendons, ligaments, and cartilage) as from their soluble siblings (myosin and actin, usually associated with muscle tissues). While these proteins may be hard to digest, on the plus side, there?s less fat in LFTB (~5%) than standard ground chuck (15-20%).

For those revolted by these contents, or even the thought of anything referred to as ?slime? crossing their plates, I have two comments: first, consider Jell-O. The packaging only lists a single ingredient, which reads: gelatin. If you were to tell a child that ?gummy worms? and other wobbly treats were made from steamed animal bones, would they really want dessert?

Second, consider checking the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), the U.S. Gov?t standards used to coordinate aspects of daily life ranging from taxes to farming. In 9CFR 301.2, a collection of terms used in the meat packaging industry, we see the following definition for meat:

?The part of the muscle of any cattle, sheep, swine, or goats, which is skeletal or which is found in the tongue, diaphragm, heart, or esophagus, with or without the accompanying or overlying fat, and the portions of bone?skin, sinew, nerve, and blood vessels which normally accompany the muscle tissue, and are not separated from it in the process of dressing.?

Pretty gruesome reading, true, but realize that this explanation covers everything bought at the butcher, so think carefully when considering catch-all meat products like grounds, mush, pastes, or loaves. In this light, ?slime? doesn?t seem half as bad; as a culture, we?ve implicitly agreed that throat, blood, and tendons are already on the menu.

Ammonia and Other Additives

Since we?re checking the CFR, let?s consider all the other approved meat additives we encounter there. Mosey on over to 9CFR 424.21 to find a table, no less than 20 pages in length, of all the allowable additives used in meat processing: tenderizers, emulsifiers, denuders, binders, bleaching agents, and sweeteners, all on display for the discerning diner?s palate. Compared to ?pink slime? seeing only brief ammonia exposure, I?m more inclined to be suspicious of sausage.

Speaking of additives, what about the ammonium hydroxide? As Blum points out, you?ve eaten it before: close molecular cousins ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) and ammonium phosphate [(NH4)3PO4] are found in licorice and breads, respectively. Plant proteins like pectins and glutens are commonly treated with ammonia for various food applications. I?m less concerned with the ammonia treatment, but more with just how much ammonia a single batch of LFTB requires to make it ?safe.? Levels high enough to raise the product pH to about 9.00 rid the beef of most virulent microorganisms, but batches tested by the New York Times back in 2009 showed pH levels as low as 7.75. So what, that?s not a huge difference, right? The pH scale tracks logarithmically, so a one unit variance actually corresponds to 10 times less ammonia, which might reduce odor but also increases potential bacterial contamination.

Contrary to some news reports, ammonia is not a ?pink chemical,? it?s colorless. Nor does the level of ammonia in meat even approach that found in floor cleaners. For my money, a more worrisome butcher?s helper comes from an entirely different source ? carbon monoxide, which when applied to beef binds to the myoglobin and causes the tissue to develop the reassuring pink color consumers associate with freshness and quality.

One last safety note ? perhaps the few examples of contamination detected really are outliers. Click here for the 40-page USDA checklist meat producers must complete to assess their sterilization measures. This document addresses all production activities, including testing regimens, sampling size, antiseptic washes, lot documentation, and cross-contamination checks. USDA even establishes a maximum target of 0.2% for lot checking; or a tolerance of 2 per thousand lots produced with positive tests (in 2007, positive tests had crept up too high, and USDA cracked down. Higher numbers of failed tests were also noted in Moss?s 2009 Times article). Surprisingly, a chart buried near the middle (p.13) of the checklist indicates that processed beef has a lower overall risk of bacterial contamination relative to standard raw beef.

?That?s the thing?it isn?t freaking labeled.?

Healthy food, healthy kid; USDA

Healthy food, healthy kid; USDA

Microbiologist Gerald Zirnstein, a meat industry critic and the man whose 2002 email inadvertently coined the term ?pink slime,? delivered this rebuttal in a Reuters interview this past weekend. Under current regulations, LFTB does not have to be disclosed separately on labels, with the caveat that USDA allows a 15% maximum of the stuff in any product. However, a generation of parents accustomed to fighting high-fructose corn syrup and artificial dyes argue for inclusion of, at least, ammonia in the final ingredient list. Since manufacturers (and the USDA) consider this a production step, it, too, doesn?t need to be discretely mentioned.

So, besides loose labeling and chemical treatment, what is it about this processed meat that so unnerves customers? Certainly, it doesn?t look like a traditional cut anymore, but then neither does hamburger. The ?slime? moniker doesn?t help matters, nor its public unfamiliarity ? slicing animals into sections has a long history in human culture, but secondary processing of the remains is more recent. Blame cultural context: while steaks, chops, and ribs are on menus everywhere, LFTB is not. Perhaps we haven?t had time to adapt. Yet processed food still fills a necessary societal role ? it?s widely available, inexpensive, and can be fortified with nutrients and vitamins.

But is LFTB really food anymore? I would say yes, in the same way those byproducts from any other organism that we consume are. Surely, most people realize that we set our table every day thanks to the labors of other life forms: honey, from bee regurgitation, yogurt, from bacterial metabolism, and multiple cheeses from calf enzymes (rennets) or via fungal decomposition. Cochineal, a crimson dye still used to color meat products (9CFR, p. 624), comes from the dried, crushed bodies of millions of tiny insects. But, compared to insects and microbes, cows hit closer to home somehow, so we revolt at a meat byproduct we don?t recognize.

So, for my final thoughts: to the beef industry, clearer labeling and heightened public awareness would help to quash some of the squeamishness at LFTB?s inclusion in the food pantheon. And to the schools and parents, well-documented and tested LFTB doesn?t seem to be much more harmful, albeit less nutritious, than the Jell-O we already serve at dessert.

Enjoy your school lunch. Bon app?tit!

Note: the top image replaced on 3/28/2012.

Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=0e94333197b051a5b36682acd14cf144

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Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Does BMI affect post-surgical complications, survival in esophageal adenocarcinoma?

Does BMI affect post-surgical complications, survival in esophageal adenocarcinoma? [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 28-Mar-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Patty Kim
Patty.Kim@moffitt.org
813-745-7322
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute

Moffitt Cancer Center researchers find it does not play a role in surgical complications or in survival

TAMPA, Fla. -- Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla., have found contrary to previous studies linking inferior outcomes in patients with gastrointestinal malignancies to higher body mass index (BMI) that in their study of BMI and negative outcomes, there was no such link. They concluded that BMI was not associated with either surgical complications or esophageal cancer patient survival.

Their study was published in the current online issue of the Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery, published by the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract.

"The incidence of esophageal cancer in North America is rising," said study co-author Kenneth L. Meredith, M.D., assistant member at Moffitt and chief of the Esophagogastric Oncology Section. "Corresponding to that rise, there has been a dramatic rise in overweight and obese people as defined by the World Health Organization's guidelines indicating those having a BMI of 25 to 29.9 as being overweight and those who are obese as having a BMI of over 30."

According to the researchers, the increase in obesity and the increase in esophageal cancer has been linked, as has obesity been similarly linked with other kinds of cancers. Obesity is recognized as a risk factor for esophageal cancer. What remains in question, however, is whether a high BMI affects post-surgical complications and overall survival among esophageal cancer patients who have been treated with chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.

"The correlation of obesity with surgical risks and postoperative survival is more important given the rise in obesity rates, yet more clarity on potential correlation is needed," said Meredith. "The literature shows mixed study results."

In their paper, the authors cited a number of studies that correlated lower BMI with better outcomes for a variety of cancers as well as studies that found no prognostic significance correlating higher BMI with poorer outcomes.

Because of the prevailing belief that patients with a high BMI tend to have more surgical complications as compared to normal weight patients, the Moffitt researchers examined esophageal cancer patient data on BMI for links to surgical risk and postoperative survival, especially for those patients with high BMI.

Their study included 303 esophageal cancer patients treated with chemotherapy, radiation and surgery who were stratified by their BMI to include those with BMIs less than 25 to greater than 35. The only demographic differences were in gender, with a higher proportion of males in the BMI 25 to 30 group.

"Our study demonstrated no significant differences in overall survival or disease-free survival in relation to BMI for patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma who underwent surgery after prior treatment with chemotherapy and radiation," said Meredith. "Additionally, there were no differences in perioperative complications or mortality associated with BMI. In short, our data failed to demonstrate a link between BMI and surgical outcome."

###

About Moffitt Cancer Center

Follow Moffitt on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MoffittCancerCenter

Follow Moffitt on Twitter: @MoffittNews

Follow Moffitt on YouTube: MoffittNews

Located in Tampa, Moffitt Cancer Center is a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, which recognizes Moffitt's excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt is also a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country's leading cancer centers, and is listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of "America's Best Hospitals" for cancer.

Media release by Florida Science Communications



[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share 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.


Does BMI affect post-surgical complications, survival in esophageal adenocarcinoma? [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 28-Mar-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Patty Kim
Patty.Kim@moffitt.org
813-745-7322
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute

Moffitt Cancer Center researchers find it does not play a role in surgical complications or in survival

TAMPA, Fla. -- Researchers at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla., have found contrary to previous studies linking inferior outcomes in patients with gastrointestinal malignancies to higher body mass index (BMI) that in their study of BMI and negative outcomes, there was no such link. They concluded that BMI was not associated with either surgical complications or esophageal cancer patient survival.

Their study was published in the current online issue of the Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery, published by the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract.

"The incidence of esophageal cancer in North America is rising," said study co-author Kenneth L. Meredith, M.D., assistant member at Moffitt and chief of the Esophagogastric Oncology Section. "Corresponding to that rise, there has been a dramatic rise in overweight and obese people as defined by the World Health Organization's guidelines indicating those having a BMI of 25 to 29.9 as being overweight and those who are obese as having a BMI of over 30."

According to the researchers, the increase in obesity and the increase in esophageal cancer has been linked, as has obesity been similarly linked with other kinds of cancers. Obesity is recognized as a risk factor for esophageal cancer. What remains in question, however, is whether a high BMI affects post-surgical complications and overall survival among esophageal cancer patients who have been treated with chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.

"The correlation of obesity with surgical risks and postoperative survival is more important given the rise in obesity rates, yet more clarity on potential correlation is needed," said Meredith. "The literature shows mixed study results."

In their paper, the authors cited a number of studies that correlated lower BMI with better outcomes for a variety of cancers as well as studies that found no prognostic significance correlating higher BMI with poorer outcomes.

Because of the prevailing belief that patients with a high BMI tend to have more surgical complications as compared to normal weight patients, the Moffitt researchers examined esophageal cancer patient data on BMI for links to surgical risk and postoperative survival, especially for those patients with high BMI.

Their study included 303 esophageal cancer patients treated with chemotherapy, radiation and surgery who were stratified by their BMI to include those with BMIs less than 25 to greater than 35. The only demographic differences were in gender, with a higher proportion of males in the BMI 25 to 30 group.

"Our study demonstrated no significant differences in overall survival or disease-free survival in relation to BMI for patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma who underwent surgery after prior treatment with chemotherapy and radiation," said Meredith. "Additionally, there were no differences in perioperative complications or mortality associated with BMI. In short, our data failed to demonstrate a link between BMI and surgical outcome."

###

About Moffitt Cancer Center

Follow Moffitt on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MoffittCancerCenter

Follow Moffitt on Twitter: @MoffittNews

Follow Moffitt on YouTube: MoffittNews

Located in Tampa, Moffitt Cancer Center is a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, which recognizes Moffitt's excellence in research and contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Moffitt is also a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, a prestigious alliance of the country's leading cancer centers, and is listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of "America's Best Hospitals" for cancer.

Media release by Florida Science Communications



[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


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


Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-03/hlmc-dba032812.php

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Geologists correct a rift in Africa

Monday, March 26, 2012

The huge changes in the Earth's crust that influenced human evolution are being redefined, according to research published today in Nature Geoscience.

The Great Rift Valley of East Africa ? the birthplace of the human species ? may have taken much longer to develop than previously believed.

""We now believe that the western portion of the rift formed about 25 million years ago, and is approximately as old as the eastern part, instead of much younger as other studies have maintained," said Michael Gottfried, Michigan State University associate professor of geological sciences. "The significance is that the Rift Valley is the setting for the most crucial steps in primate and ultimately human evolution, and our study has major implications for the environmental and landscape changes that form the backdrop for that evolutionary story."

Gottfried worked with an international team led by Eric Roberts at Australia's James Cook University who added that the findings have important implications for understanding climate change models, animal evolution and the development of Africa's unique landscape.

The Rukwa Rift (a segment of the western branch) is an example of a divergent plate boundary, where the Earth's tectonic forces are pulling plates apart and creating new continental crust. The East African Rift system is composed of two main segments: the eastern branch that passes through Ethiopia and Kenya, and a western branch that forms a giant arc from Uganda to Malawi, interconnecting the famous rift lakes of eastern Africa.

Traditionally, the eastern branch is considered much older, having developed 15 to 25 million years earlier than the western branch.

This study provides new evidence that the two rift segments developed at about the same time, nearly doubling the initiation age of the western branch and the timing of uplift in this region of East Africa.

"A key piece of evidence in this study is the discovery of approximately 25 million-year-old lake and river deposits in the Rukwa Rift that preserve abundant volcanic ash and vertebrate fossils," Roberts said.

These deposits include some of the earliest anthropoid primates yet found in the rift, added Nancy Stevens of Ohio University.

The findings imply that around 25 to 30 million years ago, the broad uplift of East Africa occurred and re-arranged the flow of large rivers such as the Congo and the Nile to create the distinct landscapes and climates that mark Africa today.

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Michigan State University: http://www.newsroom.msu.edu

Thanks to Michigan State University for this article.

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On line Auctions and Everything you Need to have to learn about On ...

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Source: http://tipsatricks.com/on-line-auctions-and-everything-you-need-to-have-to-learn-about-on-the-net-auctions-in-2012

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