Monthly Archives: October 2012

Nutrition advocates putting heat on Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

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CHICAGO On a recent sunny fall afternoon, students from Lake View High School streamed out of a nearby convenience store munching after-school snacks.

Some bought cookies and snack cakes. Others got soft drinks and candy. But the majority walked out of Touchdown Food Mart with crinkly orange bags of Flamin Hot Cheetos sometimes with warm cheese sauce poured on top of the fiery red curls.

Once you start eating them, they are kind of addicting, and you cant help it, said sophomore Zian Garcia. Personally I have been eating them for years, and I cannot stop. I just have this urge to eat them.

In the 20 years since Frito-Lay launched Flamin Hot Cheetos as a snack aimed at urban convenience stores, the product has inspired dozens of spicy competitors, multiple Facebook fan pages, a viral rap video and legions of loyal young fans.

But for many school administrators and public health advocates, the wild popularity of Flamin Hots inspires concern. To many, theyve become shorthand for everything that is wrong with the diets of American children, whose obesity rates have tripled since 1980.

While its true that Flamin Hots, also known as Hot Cheetos, deliver high levels of salt, fat and artificial colors with little nutrition or fiber in return, the same can be said for similar snacks.

Yet there is something about Flamin Hot Cheetos that inflames critics in a way that other snacks including regular Cheetos never did. Some schools and districts, including Illinois Noble Street Charter School Network and the entire Rockford school district, have banned Flamin Hots by name, citing nutritional concerns.

We dont allow candy, and we dont allow Hot Cheetos, said Rita Exposito, principal of Jackson Elementary School in Pasadena, Calif. We dont encourage other chips, but if we see Hot Cheetos, we confiscate them sometimes after the child has already eaten most of them. Its mostly about the lack of nutrition.

Its not hard to find kids who say they eat Flamin Hots or similar products every day, sometimes even for breakfast. If that sounds like an addiction, some scientists say it may not be far from the truth.

Emerging research on food addiction suggests that processed salty, fatty or sweet foods of any kind also called hyperpalatable foods can trigger brain responses similar to those created by controlled substances in addicted individuals.

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Nutrition advocates putting heat on Flamin’ Hot Cheetos

The Secret Reason Schiff Nutrition International's Earnings are Awesome

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It takes money to make money. Most investors know that, but with business media so focused on the "how much," very few investors bother to ask, "How fast?"

When judging a company's prospects, how quickly it turns cash outflows into cash inflows can be just as important as how much profit it's booking in the accounting fantasy world we call "earnings." This is one of the first metrics I check when I'm hunting for the market's best stocks. Today, we'll see how it applies to Schiff Nutrition International (NYSE: SHF) .

Let's break this down In this series, we measure how swiftly a company turns cash into goods or services and back into cash. We'll use a quick, relatively foolproof tool known as the cash conversion cycle, or CCC for short.

Why does the CCC matter? The less time it takes a firm to convert outgoing cash into incoming cash, the more powerful and flexible its profit engine is. The less money tied up in inventory and accounts receivable, the more available to grow the company, pay investors, or both.

To calculate the cash conversion cycle, add days inventory outstanding to days sales outstanding, then subtract days payable outstanding. Like golf, the lower your score here, the better. The CCC figure for Schiff Nutrition International for the trailing 12 months is 90.2.

For younger, fast-growth companies, the CCC can give you valuable insight into the sustainability of that growth. A company that's taking longer to make cash may need to tap financing to keep its momentum. For older, mature companies, the CCC can tell you how well the company is managed. Firms that begin to lose control of the CCC may be losing their clout with their suppliers (who might be demanding stricter payment terms) and customers (who might be demanding more generous terms). This can sometimes be an important signal of future distress -- one most investors are likely to miss.

In this series, I'm most interested in comparing a company's CCC to its prior performance. Here's where I believe all investors need to become trend-watchers. Sure, there may be legitimate reasons for an increase in the CCC, but all things being equal, I want to see this number stay steady or move downward over time.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Dollar amounts in millions. FY = fiscal year. TTM = trailing 12 months.

Because of the seasonality in some businesses, the CCC for the TTM period may not be strictly comparable to the fiscal-year periods shown in the chart. Even the steadiest-looking businesses on an annual basis will experience some quarterly fluctuations in the CCC. To get an understanding of the usual ebb and flow at Schiff Nutrition International, consult the quarterly-period chart below.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Dollar amounts in millions. FQ = fiscal quarter.

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The Secret Reason Schiff Nutrition International's Earnings are Awesome

Genomic hitchhikers in birds shed light on evolution of viruses

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Public release date: 16-Oct-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Jim Sliwa jsliwa@asmusa.org 202-942-9297 American Society for Microbiology

The genomes of birds are riddled with DNA sequences from viruses, according to a study to be published on October 16 in mBio, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology. Analysis of these viral sequences, known as endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), can provide insights into how both hosts and viruses have evolved over the eons.

"We examined the evolution of avian retroviruses on the basis of their fossil remnants in the three avian genomes that have been completely sequenced," write the authors from Johns Hopkins University and Uppsala University, Sweden. The authors go on to say their analyses of ERVs in chicken, turkey, and zebra finch genomes reveal that birds were a hotbed of viral evolution early in their history.

All genomes are cobbled together works-in-progress. Scientists have long known that the human genome, for example, is not all human: like most every other genome studied to date, a good chunk of the DNA we call "human" is actually made up of proviruses, sequences that retroviruses have deposited there to take advantage of the cell's ability to copy DNA and translate that DNA into working proteins. These proviruses can either be inherited in the DNA we get from our parents (endogenous retroviruses), or they can be picked up during our lifetime (exogenous retroviruses).

The study reveals that millions of years ago birds were host to many different kinds of ERVs, serving as a kind of melting pot: a meeting and mingling place where viruses recombined and shared genetic information.

Unlike early studies of ERVs in chickens, which studied selected segments of the genome and uncovered only alpha-retroviruses, this study used complete genome sequences and found a great diversity of viral sequences in bird genomes, representing the same major groups as those of mammals, but exhibiting more diversity. Most of the ERVs in birds were distinct from those found in other animals, probably indicating that the viruses did not move much between different kinds of hosts.

"We conclude that avian retroviral evolution differs from that of other vertebrates," write the researchers. "Avian retroviruses seem to have evolved rather independently from the rest of the retroviruses over the last 150 million years."

Stepher Goff of Columbia University, who was not involved in the research but edited the article for mBio, says genome-level studies like this are a boon to virologists.

"This paper is filling a big gap in our understanding of these viruses," says Goff. "This is something that needed to be done, and advancing sequencing technology made it easy to do."

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Genomic hitchhikers in birds shed light on evolution of viruses

Longevity Global Inc. Announces Their Exclusive 30 Days Trial Offer On Power Backup Units And Welding Equipment

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Longevity Global Inc. has yet again made an astonishing announcement to the world. This time Longevity global Inc. has shown extreme confidence on their manufactured machines and has come up with amazing policy of 30 days risk free trial period on their offered product lines. The new policy is applicable on all power backup units including portable generators, gasoline generators, diesel generators and other units.

Hayward, CA (PRWEB) October 16, 2012

The offer is very rare and the opportunity is limited, users of heavy duty machine like portable generator and modern welding equipment will not get this amazing offer at any other store except Longevity Global Inc.

Simon Katz, President of Longevity Global Inc. took the dice to speak a few words, He stated, We have come up with 30 day risk free trial on our offer product lines. Now whether a customer intends to buy power backup machines like portable gas generators or buy a highly advance metal welding equipment, our trial period policy is applicable on every offered industrial machine. We always believe in providing convenient and satisfied shopping experience for clients to build a long lasting relationship. Under our new offer, we will bear all costs to replace the damaged and malfunction units if they fail within 30 days. We will pay cover shipping both ways, and provide a replacement ship right away if you happen to receive a damaged or non-functional product. So, do not waste time and utilize this opportunity for a free trial of our best in the class equipment at the earliest.

Longevity Global Inc. is USA's most eminent brand for welding and cutting machines. Time to time introduction of modern tools and high profile industrial machines to the world has always been one of the major factors which makes Longevity Global Inc. the most dominant player in the welding industry. Their review portal and sales records are evident that they have a huge list of satisfied customers who never even look to other welding machine providers after having a single shopping experience at Longevity Global Inc.

Longevity Global Inc. is providing its dedicated service since 2001. It is growing at a phenomenal pace with high customer satisfaction, new and used welders, cutters and efficient industrial production for welding purposes. It works in different parts of world with distributors in Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, United Kingdom, and multiple other countries. Longevity Global Inc. serve globally with manufacturing facilities with its logistic companies to effectively distribute products in a punctual and effective manner.

To know more visit http://www.longevity-inc.com.

Simon Katz Longevity, Inc. 1.877.566.4462 Email Information

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Longevity Global Inc. Announces Their Exclusive 30 Days Trial Offer On Power Backup Units And Welding Equipment

DNA links man to Bradenton home invasion

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Published: Tuesday, October 16, 2012 at 3:51 p.m. Last Modified: Tuesday, October 16, 2012 at 3:51 p.m.

BRADENTON - DNA evidence has linked a man to a July home invasion robbery, sheriffs officials reported.

Alex Johnson, 20, is being charged with home invasion robbery with a firearm.

The home invasion occurred at a house in the 4100 block of 39th Street West. The victim told deputies two men with pistols barged into her home and asked where Bill was. She told the men she didnt know anyone by that name.

One man, who was wearing a ski mask, pushed her into the bathroom and told her to look at the ground while the other man ransacked her bedroom, according a sheriffs report. After the men left, her cell phone was the only item reported stolen.

At the end of August, the victim saw a story on a news website and reported that she believed a suspect on the website was also one of the men who invaded her home. Johnson had been arrested in a similar case and was already in jail when he was charged with the July home invasion.

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DNA links man to Bradenton home invasion

Posted in DNA

DNA clues catch more criminals

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A man allows police to take a DNA sample. Source: AFP

DNA technology now plays a key role in more than half of arrests and reports from crime scenes, as the number of people on the database grows.

Last financial year, DNA from crime scenes contributed to an arrest or a report in 52per cent of cases, up from 48per cent the previous year, reflecting an improvement in forensic science and crime scene investigation practices.

The South Australian Police annual report tabled in Parliament yesterday showed 97,396 suspects or offenders had samples entered on the DNA database, up from 84,629 in 2010-11.

While scientific work increasingly helps solve crimes, so does intelligence work.

During 2011-12 the Crime Gangs Task Force - which deals with organised crime and outlaw motorcycle gangs - arrested or reported 89 motorcycle gang members and 92 associates; seized 1175g of amphetamine, 130 cannabis plants, 5319g of cannabis, 165 ecstasy pills, 927 street deals of other illicit drugs; $139,000 in cash, 29 firearms and issued 42 barring orders.

Police Commissioner Gary Burns said victim-reported crime continued to drop, falling 5.6per cent in the past financial year (to 125,879 incidents) and 40.5per cent since 2000-01.

Other highlights in the report include:

18,534 reports received by Bank SA Crime Stoppers, resulting in 2066 crimes solved, 1166 suspects apprehended and $261,645 worth of property and cash recovered;

563,594 driver screening tests conducted, including 42,312 drivers tested for drug driving, 7779 cars impounded or clamped for hoon driving (compared to 7303 in 2010-11).

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DNA clues catch more criminals

Posted in DNA

Producers embrace sheep DNA testing

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AUSTRALIA'S sheep producers are queuing up to adopt new DNA technology, with the latest Sheep Genomics Pilot Project fully subscribed.

The DNA testing program, conducted by the Co-operative Research Centre for Sheep Industry Innovation (Sheep CRC), was booked out within days of its opening in August.

The Genomics Pilot Project offers three DNA testing programs: a SNP test for parentage at $17/test; a SNP test for Merino poll/horn for $17/test; and the 50k SNP test for prediction of genomic breeding values for sires at a cost of $50/test. Merinos tested for parentage, or with the 50k SNP, are receiving the poll test results at no additional cost.

The 1500 genotyping tests available as part of Pilot Project III have been fully subscribed, and a further 1500 tests allocated for commercial scale trials has also been over-subscribed, Sheep CRC chief executive James Rowe said.

With the use of DNA analysis and genomic breeding values being a very new technology, R&D is occurring in parallel with the Genomics Pilot Projects in order to define the most effective use of the new technologies in practical breeding programs.

"For this reason, the CRCs genetics research team will be working closely with a group of nine commercial-scale breeders who have submitted expressions of interest.

This is a resounding vote of confidence in the commercial value of genomics technology for sheep breeding programs.

The Sheep CRC has conducted a Genomics Pilot Project yearly since 2010, with the number of rams tested each year increasing dramatically, from approximately 450 rams in 2010, to 860 rams in 2011 and now 3000 rams in 2012.

This years project will build on the earlier trials, which provided genomic predictions for new traits including dressing percentage and lean meat yield, together with traits for meat eating quality such as intramuscular fat and shear force that are difficult and expensive to measure.

It is expected that the accuracy levels of research breeding values (RBVs) and Australian Sheep Breeding Values (ASBVs) will further improve as a result of the additional data collected during the Genomics Pilot Project and through the Information Nucleus program.

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Producers embrace sheep DNA testing

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The Military Put Out A Research Request For What Amounts To Cybernetic Organisms

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In a request released Sept. 14 of this year, the Office Of Naval Research sought to find proposals for "Synthetic Biology Tools for Sensing and Bioprocessing" essentially hybrid, organic inorganic "sensing" robots.

But the language can be deceiving.

Googling the first three words synthetic biology tools yields research in the field of Biofuels. Even the "bioprocessing" part of the request equates to sources of "efficient" fuels in austere conditions. As we've covered most recently, the military is under tremendous pressure to curb its consumption of traditional fossil fuels.

Along with that, it's under even more pressure to reduce casualties on the battlefield arguably the number one metric aside from monetary cost which affects public resistance to foreign military expeditions.

Sure, they're looking for inexpensive, efficient means to fuel war, but they're also looking for more efficient vehicles of war.The language farther in the proposal though makes it clear that the military is investing heavily into smart, cybernetic robots.

From the proposal:

This field is intended to serve two purposes: (1) to allow the design and engineering of organisms that possess a specific, reproducible function from a set of validated genetic parts, circuits and chassis organisms, and, (2) to allow the systematic study of the structure and function of genetic components in natural cellular/multi-cellular systems.

Interpretation: We're looking to connect organic matter, be it single celled or multi-celled, to inorganic, possibly synthetic, circuits.

The organic matter would 'sense' certain stimuli. In one case specifically, chemicals or molecules in the air that would indicate bomb-making materials kind of like a dog's nose connected to a computer.

But then the proposal takes a nasty turn for the weird and scary:

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The Military Put Out A Research Request For What Amounts To Cybernetic Organisms

Metabolic melodies

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Prof. Kevin Aherns musical lilt to his biochemistry lectures is a hit with Oregon State students

Its a Tuesday morning, and Kevin Ahern is entertaining a room full of college students in an introductory class to biochemistry and biophysics with a voice that carries and a lesson that is positively lyric.

The class is full of young students, many of them in the second week of their first year of college. They have many reasons to be nervous; their course work is among the most difficult at the university. But Ahern, a senior instructor of biophysics and biochemistry at Oregon State University, has found a way to calm jittery.

Music.

After brief announcements and role call during which Ahern proves that he knows his class of about 50 students by name and face he projects song lyrics on an overhead screen that contain words like ribosome and DNA.

Then, without hesitation, he begins to sing the scientific lyrics to the melody of America, the Beautiful and the class follows his lead.

This is Metabolic Melodies, one of Aherns unconventional teaching methods to cut through the anxiety that new students often feel when first entering his class.

Ahern, who jokingly claims the title of frustrated musician, began writing the melodies in 1990.

I originally conceived of the melodies because biochemistry itself is a pretty scary subject for students, he said.

Metabolic Melodies have made a big enough impression on the student population that Ahern often has students enrolling in his courses because of the songs.

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Metabolic melodies

North Americans: Travel Abroad This Fall and Save With Avis

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PARSIPPANY, N.J., Oct. 16, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Traveling internationally this fall? If you're planning or longing to visit Africa, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Europe, Latin America, Mexico, the Middle East or New Zealand, Avis Car Rental has a special offer for you. Avis is offering residents of the United States and Canada a way to save up to 25 percent on vehicles when traveling abroad.

"Research by the International Association of Travel Agents indicates that the fastest-growing passenger destination areas for North American travelers are expected to be the Middle East (11.3 percent), Africa (7.5 percent), and the Asia-Pacific region (5.7 percent), led by China, one of the world's fastest-growing tourism destinations," said Jeannine Haas, chief marketing officer, Avis Budget Group. "As a global company, growing our share of this international travel spend is one of our strategic priorities, so we're pleased to be able to offer our customers the opportunity to save on Avis rentals when traveling abroad to these regions."

Avis has locations throughout northern and southern Africa as well as at certain major airports in central Africa. Avis also has locations across the Middle East, and is a leader in China with more than 70 locations.

"We continue to expand our global system to provide more new destinations and more new rental locations for our international travelers," said Haas. "From our new presence in Taiwan to our growth in South Africa and the Middle East and our rapidly growing network in China, Avis is now more convenient and affordable than ever."

The promotion is valid on rentals of three days or more at participating locations in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, Latin America, Mexico, the Pacific and the Middle East. Customers must reference Avis Worldwide Discount (AWD) number D732700 when making a reservation on http://www.avis.com or AWD number D784200 when reserving a vehicle via the Avis Reservation Center at 1-800-331-1084 or a local travel professional. Reservations must be made by October 28, 2012 and rentals must begin on or before December 16, 2012. Offer is subject to availability and blackout dates apply. For full terms and conditions of this promotion, visit http://www.avis.com/intl. To make a reservation, visit http://www.avis.com, contact the Avis Reservation Center at 1-800-331-1084 or contact a local travel professional.

About Avis

Avis Car Rental operates one of the world's best-known car rental brands with approximately 5,200 locations in more than 165 countries. Avis has a long history of innovation in the car rental industry and is one of the world's top brands for customer loyalty. Avis is owned by Avis Budget Group, Inc. (CAR), which operates and licenses the brand throughout the world. For more information, visit http://www.avis.com.

The Avis Car Rental logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=11593

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North Americans: Travel Abroad This Fall and Save With Avis

Whoa Nelly: Residents of American South Are Nation's Most Passionate College Football Fans, According to Expedia Study

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BELLEVUE, WA--(Marketwire - Oct 15, 2012) - Expedia, the world's leading online travel agency, today revealed the results of a study of American attitudes towards college football. The survey was conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of Expedia.com, among 2,334 U.S. adults ages 18 and older. The study confirmed what many suspected: men and women in the American South love college football more than residents of any other region. 63% of Americans in the South watch college football, narrowly edging residents of the Midwest (62%). Residents of the South and Midwest were both found to be significantly more likely to watch college football than those in the West (51%) or Northeast (47%). 70% of American men follow the sport, versus 43% of women.

"In some regions of the country, college football fanhood begins at birth. In other regions, it starts on the first day of freshman year. But it's the sort of passion that lasts a lifetime," said Joe Megibow, vice president and general manager, Expedia.com. "College football fans travel. Sports travel is a growing trend in general. So Expedia commissioned this study to make sure that we have every resource available for college football fans when they decide to follow their passion."

Expedia's college football survey also found:

Expedia also partnered with StubHub to identify college football ticket trends. Data from StubHub suggests:

Survey Methodology This survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of Expedia from August 23-27, 2012 among 2,334 adults age 18+. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables, please contact Dave McNamee at dmcnamee@hlgrp.com.

About Expedia.com Expedia.com is the world's leading online travel site, helping millions of travelers per month easily plan and book travel. Expedia.com (http://www.expedia.com/,1-800-EXPEDIA) aims to provide the latest technology and the widest selection of vacation packages, flights, hotels, rental cars, resorts, cruises and in-destination activities, attractions, services and travel apps. With the Expedia Best Price Guarantee, Expedia.com customers can get the best rates available online for all types of travel.Whether you want to relax in Cape Cod, sail in Lake Tahoe or swim in Tahiti, we know every trip and every traveler is unique and we want to help you Find Yours.

Expedia, Expedia.com and the Airplane logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Expedia, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. 2012 Expedia, Inc. All rights reserved. CST # 2029030-50

SOURCE: Expedia, Inc. Web site: http://www.expedia.com/

About StubHub StubHub is the world's largest ticket marketplace, enabling fans to buy and sell tickets to tens of thousands of sports, concert, theater and other live entertainment events. StubHub reinvented the ticket resale market in 2000 and continues to lead it through innovation. The company's unique online marketplace, dedicated solely to tickets, provides all fans the choice to buy or sell their tickets in a safe, convenient and highly reliable environment.All transactions are processed and delivered by StubHub and backed by the company's FanProtect Guarantee.Company partners include the San Francisco Giants and University of Texas, along with over 60 teams in the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL and NCAA, complemented with companies such as ESPN, Tickets.com, and Paciolan.

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Whoa Nelly: Residents of American South Are Nation's Most Passionate College Football Fans, According to Expedia Study

Research and Markets: The Future of Travel and Tourism in the UK to 2016

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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/ssg2nh/the_future_of) has announced the addition of the "The Future of Travel and Tourism in the UK to 2016" report to their offering.

According to the World Economic Forum Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index 2011, which ranks 139 countries on parameters pertinent to tourism, the UK ranked seventh. In terms of cultural resources, it is viewed as the third-most exciting country. London was already one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world and that popularity increased after the city hosted the 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games. It is also home to many teams in the FA Premier League and Wimbledon.

The UK's travel and tourism industry comprised 7% of the nation's GDP in 2011, and represented 10.6% of the country's total employment in the same year. In a global economy that is dominated by multi-national businesses, tourism is one of the few industries that can easily accommodate start-up businesses, allowing people to take that vital first rung on the ladder to entrepreneurial success.

Inbound tourism, as measured by the arrival of international tourists, recovered in 2011 following a three year slump due to the adverse impact of the global financial crisis. A total of 30.47 million international visitors arrived in the UK in 2011, as compared to 29.8 million in 2010. Of these, the majority, 67%, travelled for holiday purposes. Numbers grew marginally from 20.07 million in 2010 to 20.35 million in 2011.

Scope

This report...

- details historical values for the UK tourism industry for 2007-2011, along with forecast figures for 2012-2016

- provides comprehensive analysis of travel and tourism demand factors with values for both the 2007-2011 review period and the 2012-2016 forecast period

- makes a detailed analysis and projection of domestic, inbound and outbound tourist flows in the UK

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Research and Markets: The Future of Travel and Tourism in the UK to 2016

TripAdvisor Presents Travelers' Choice Wine Destinations

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NEWTON, Mass., Oct. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --TripAdvisor, the world's largest travel site*, today announced the winners of its 2012 Travelers' Choice Wine Destinations awards. Thirty-two spots across the world were honored, based on millions of valuable traveler reviews and opinions on TripAdvisor.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/57936-tripadvisor-presents-travelers-choice-wine-destinations

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121016/MM91962 )

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080902/TRIPADVISORLOGO )

Award winners were determined based on their popularity as wine destinations, taking into account travelers' reviews and opinions for local wineries, restaurants, attractions and accommodations.

"We're excited to put a spotlight on some of the best wine regions around the globe," said Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor. "Travelers planning a fall harvest getaway can discover amazing vineyards, restaurants and tours at these world-class destinations."

Travelers' Choice Wine Destinations U.S.:

Travelers' Choice Wine Destinations Europe:

For the complete list of 2012 Travelers' Choice Wine Destinations winners, go to http://www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Wine.

About TripAdvisor TripAdvisor is the world's largest travel site,* enabling travelers to plan and have the perfect trip. TripAdvisor offers trusted advice from real travelers and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features with seamless links to booking tools. TripAdvisor branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 60 million unique monthly visitors*, and over 75 million reviews and opinions. The sites operate in 30 countries worldwide, includingChina underdaodao.com. TripAdvisor also includes TripAdvisor for Business, a dedicated division that provides the tourism industry access to millions of monthly TripAdvisor visitors.

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TripAdvisor Presents Travelers' Choice Wine Destinations

Dunas Douradas Beach Club Wins at World Travel Awards

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Dunas Douradas Beach Club triumphs with top honours at the 19th World Travel Awards ceremony, held at the new Conrad Algarve on Saturday 6th October 2012

Algarve, Portugal (PRWEB UK) 16 October 2012

It was an evening of sweet success for tourism related businesses across the Algarve, and indeed for the Algarve itself (Europe's Leading Beach Destination) and Portugal as a whole (Europe's Leading Golf Destination) fending off strong competition from other European contenders. The WTA awards programme, founded in 1993 and hailed as the Oscars of the travel industry' by the global media, highlights and rewards those travel brands that have made the greatest contribution to the industry over the past year.

Evy Ougendal, CEO Dunas Douradas Beach Club, was proud to receive yet another bench mark Award, Europe's Leading Villa & Apartment Residences 2012, after having won the Bloomberg Best Development Europe, less than 2 years ago, To receive another award of such prestige, voted by travel professionals from all over the World, is indeed a unique achievement and goes to show that perseverance and meeting our clients needs are primordial to success.

Graham E. Cooke, President & Founder, underlined the depth and quality of the travel and tourism sector across Europe. He says: During times of economic austerity world-class brands come into their own, and the winners at our Europe Ceremony represent the cream of the continent. He adds: The ceremony has also served as a fitting spotlight for the Algarve, reflecting the vital role of tourism in the region and its overall contribution to the Portuguese economy. The Algarve is also one of the most beautiful stretches of coastline in the world, and the new Conrad Algarve has set a new precedent for luxury.

Antnio Pina, President, Algarve Promotion Bureau & Algarve Tourism Board, says: It was with enormous pride that Algarve hosted such a prestigious event as World Travel Awards. This was a unique opportunity to promote the region as a first-class destination, with exceptional facilities and an enviable climate like no other country in Europe. We are delighted and grateful to the organisation to have chosen Algarve for such a memorable event.

Note; WTA serves to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry and the awards are voted by travel agents worldwide.

Evy Ougendal Dunas Douradas Beach Resort +351 289 351 300 Email Information

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Dunas Douradas Beach Club Wins at World Travel Awards

DeSoto (TX) Jumps Two Spots to No. 3 While Unbeaten Manatee (Bradenton, FL) Remains No. 1 for Sixth Consecutive Week …

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Five new teams introduced to rankings this week; full Super 25 in today's print edition of USA TODAY and online at usatodayhss.com

MCLEAN, Va., Oct. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- DeSoto HS (TX) recorded another win this weekend, improving its record to 6-0 on the season and moving up two positions to No. 3 in the USA TODAY High School Sports Super 25 national high school football editorial rankings. Manatee HS (Bradenton, FL) continues to keep a stronghold at No.1 for the sixth straight week, improving to 6-0, followed by John Curtis(7-0, River Ridge, LA) which held its No. 2 position with a 50-0 shutout of Newman (New Orleans).

The USA TODAY High School Sports Super 25 rankings appear in today's print edition of USA TODAY Sports and are also available online at USA TODAY High School Sports (www.usatodayhss.com).

The five previously unranked teams cracking the Super 25 this week include No. 19 St. Joseph's Prep (6-0, Philadelphia, PA), No. 20 Bentonville (7-0, AR), No. 23 Kirkwood (7-0, MO), No. 24 Narbonne (7-0, Harbor City, CA) and No. 25 Dwyer (6-0, Palm Beach Gardens, FL) -- each of which remain unbeaten for the season.

Last week's No. 3, Byrnes (7-1, Duncan, SC), dropped to No. 15 with a 22-18 loss Friday at Gaffney, opening the gates to DeSoto, which dominated at Mansfield Timberview by a score of 61-7, supported by 124 rushing yards and four TDs from RB Dontre Wilson.

The USA TODAY High School Sports Super 25 is now in its 30th year as the most prestigious high school ranking platform in the nation. Gatorade is the Official Fuel of the Super 25 rankings platform, which includes computer rankings of every major high school football, baseball, boys and girls basketball and boys and girls lacrosse team in the nation.

Following is the complete listing of this week'sUSA TODAY High School Sports football rankings.

USA TODAY High School Sports High School Football Super 25For Week of October 15, 2012

1. Manatee, Bradenton, Fla. (6-0)2. John Curtis, River Ridge, La. (7-0) 3. DeSoto, Texas (6-0) 4. Bellevue, Wash. (7-0) 5. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (7-0) 6. Katy, Texas (6-0) 7. Camden County, Kingsland, Ga. (7-0) 8. Butler, Matthews, N.C. (8-0) 9. Colerain, Cincinnati (8-0) 10. Vista Murrieta, Murrieta, Calif. (7-0) 11. Trinity, Louisville, Ky. (8-0) 12. Goose Creek, S.C. (8-0) 13. Hoover, Ala. (7-0) 14. St. Ignatius, Cleveland (8-0) 15. Byrnes, Duncan, S.C. (7-1) 16. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (6-1) 17. Coppell, Texas (6-0) 18. Ensworth School, Nashville (8-0) 19. St. Joseph's Prep, Philadelphia (6-0) 20. Bentonville, Ark. (7-0) 21. Good Counsel, Olney, Md. (6-1) 22. Dr. Phillips, Orlando (7-0) 23. Kirkwood, Mo. (7-0) 24. Narbonne, Harbor City, Calif. (7-0) 25. Dwyer, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. (6-0)

For more information on the Super 25, visit USA TODAY High School Sports.

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DeSoto (TX) Jumps Two Spots to No. 3 While Unbeaten Manatee (Bradenton, FL) Remains No. 1 for Sixth Consecutive Week ...

IBM bets big on Watson, its super-computer

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We call it the beginning of a third generation of computers or cognitive computers which are able to reason and learn Manoj Saxena, GM, Watson Solutions, IBM.

October 15, 2012:

With artificial intelligence expected to be the next big game-changer in the industry, IBM is betting big on its super-computer, Watson. Named after former IBM president Thomas Watson, the system-of-systems is capable of understanding human speech and natural language. It beat two top contestants in American quiz show Jeopardy last year. Manoj Saxena, General Manager of Watson Solutions, IBM, spoke to Business Line about its expansion plans in India, and the potential the super computer holds in the Indian markets. IBM is also launching a new set of offerings next year, targeted towards the growth markets. Saxena said the focus in India is primarily around development and delivery.

What kind of machine is Watson?

We call it the beginning of a third generation of computers or cognitive computers. These are computers which are able to reason and learn. The first generation of computers were tabulating machines like grinders and weighing machines. The second generation of computers are the ones that we use today. The ones that can process a number of things like invoices and transactions, but they cant understand human behaviour and words. Watson is the beginning of the third generation of cognitive computing that understands human language and learns from the usage.

What are your plans for Watson in India?

We recently announced the formation of a Watson software and services team in Bangalore. The purpose of the team is to be able to manage the content and information that goes into Watson. We are building a delivery and support team to start supporting our deployments in South-East Asia sometime next year.

I fully expect the India team to be innovating new ways around managing content, as well as innovating with clients on the new solutions to bring to market. We are trying to understand not just the Indian markets, but all the growth markets and seeing what is the functionality and what is the foot print of applications that are needed there.

Are you planning to expand the Watson team to other cities in India?

The next city where we plan to expand into is Pune. Although we cant give numbers, the team will be made up of both experienced IBMers and freshers. Mid next year, well be announcing a set of offerings. I cant disclose much, but these are systems that will help knowledge workers people who are in portfolio management, bond traders or contact centres. Watson could be a good candidate for anything from Dalal Street to the doctors office. (Watson is being used to diagnose cancer in the US ).

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IBM bets big on Watson, its super-computer

Realizing the potential of stem cell therapy: Studies report progress in developing treatments for diseases and injuries

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ScienceDaily (Oct. 15, 2012) New animal studies provide additional support for investigating stem cell treatments for Parkinson's disease, head trauma, and dangerous heart problems that accompany spinal cord injury, according to research findings released today.

The work, presented at Neuroscience 2012, the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience and the world's largest source of emerging news about brain science and health, shows scientists making progress toward using stem cell therapies to repair neurological damage.

The studies focused on using stem cells to produce neurons -- essential, message-carrying cells in the brain and spinal cord. The loss of neurons and the connections they make for controlling critical bodily functions are the chief hallmarks of brain and spinal cord injuries and of neurodegenerative afflictions such as Parkinson's disease and ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

Today's new findings show that:

Other recent findings discussed show that:

"As the fields of developmental and regenerative neuroscience mature, important progress is being made to begin to translate the promise of stem cell therapy into meaningful treatments for a range of well-defined neurological problems," said press conference moderator Jeffrey Macklis, MD, of Harvard University and the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, an expert on development and regeneration of the mammalian central nervous system. "Solid, rigorous, and well-defined pre-clinical work in animals can set the stage toward human clinical trials and effective future therapies."

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Society for Neuroscience (SfN), via AlphaGalileo.

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Realizing the potential of stem cell therapy: Studies report progress in developing treatments for diseases and injuries

Beauty salon ‘offers’ stem cell therapy

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With all the publicity about the miraculous effects of stem cell therapy, the Department of Health (DOH) should prepare itself for the possibility that the new procedure would be performed by unqualified, and completely clueless, people.

I passed a beauty parlor recently and saw a huge poster on its door announcing the arrival of stem cell therapy. I was instantly reminded of botched breast enhancement and nose jobs performed by salon personnel who seemed to think it was as easy to learn complicated surgical procedures as it was to train to cut hair or do manicures and pedicures.

The DOH should start warning the public not to fall for these special offers just because they are available at giveaway rates.

Modern lifestyle problem

Experts have repeatedly talked about problems brought about by modern lifestyles. Changing diets and stress are two of the best known. Dr. Jaime G. Ignacio, section chief of gastroenterology at Veterans Hospital and head of the Digestive Malignancy Council of the Philippine Society of Gastroenterology, said constipation could be one of the consequences of the combination of these two factors.

Speaking at an event hosted by Boehringer Ingelheim, maker of Dulcolax (generic name Bisacodyl), a formulation for constipation relief, Ignacio, who, as a gastroenterologist is a specialist in digestive system disorders, defined the problem as having fewer than three bowel movements in a week (normal ranges from three times a week to three times a day).

He said constipation itself was not a disease but it could sometimes be a symptom of something serious, like colorectal cancer. But he said about 95 percent of cases were acuteoccurring suddenly and lasting for only a short periodresulting from some sudden lifestyle or hormonal changes, the taking of medication, lack of exercise, etc.

Ignacio said acute was easy to treat, with products like Dulcolax to solve the problem. But, if left unattended, acute constipation could lead to a chronic or long-term condition, which was the more worrisome, and would need medical attention.

He said constipation should be treated as soon as the problem had lasted for four or more days.

Constipation is part of modern living. [Like other diseases] prevention is the key. Safe and effective treatment is available [if needed], Ignacio stressed.

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Beauty salon ‘offers’ stem cell therapy

State licensing hearing for Bonita Springs stem cell doctor to begin Tuesday

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The Grekos hearing is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday. The location has changed to the Collier County Courthouse in room 4-D, according to a case filing Monday.

The hearing before J. Lawrence Johnson, an administrative law judge from Tallahassee, will begin at 9 a.m. The hearing is scheduled to last four days. The Collier County Courthouse is located at 3315 U.S. 41 E.

Photo by Allie Garza

Zannos Grekos

BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs physician Zannos Grekos, whose license is in jeopardy for controversial stem cell therapy, is getting his day before a judge.

Barring a last-minute delay or settlement, an administrative hearing is scheduled to begin Tuesday in Naples for the 47-year-old. He is fighting to get his license back in good standing from a suspension order, while the state Department of Health is pursuing more discipline and potentially revocation of his license.

Trained as a cardiologist, he's been licensed in Florida since 1996.

The trial-like proceeding, without a jury, is scheduled for four days before an administrative law judge. The proceeding is open to the public. The case against Grekos has garnered considerable media attention, including CNN and inquiries from European media.

A Texas father, Jimmy Bell, will be tracking what happens. Last year, he paid $57,000 upfront for his 5-year-old son, Jason, to undergo stem cell therapy to fight pulmonary hypertension. Despite pleas that his boy was weakening by the day, the treatment was never scheduled and Jason died. Bell received a $10,000 refund.

"He's taking advantage of people and it's more for personal gain," Bell said. "I'd like to see that stopped."

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State licensing hearing for Bonita Springs stem cell doctor to begin Tuesday

RBCC: Could Stem Cells Be Key to Promising Autism Therapy?

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NOKOMIS, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Rainbow Coral Corp. (RBCC) subsidiary Rainbow BioSciences will keep a close eye on a new study that could potentially lead to stem cell therapies for children with autism.

Researchers have been given the go-ahead by the FDA to launch a small study evaluating the effectiveness of autism treatments using patients own umbilical cord blood. Thirty children, aged two to seven, will receive injections of their own stem cells from the cord blood banked by their parents at birth.

Scientists will evaluate whether the stem cell therapy helps improve language and behavior in the children. Although the cause of autism is unknown and there is no cure for the disorder, one theory suggests that autism occurs because cell in the brain, known as neurons, are not connecting normally. Its possible that stem cells may address this problem.

RBCC is working to capitalize on the rising demand for effective new stem cell treatments by bringing a potentially game-changing stem cell technology to market. The company is close to a deal with Regenetech to acquire a license to perform cell expansion using that companys Rotary Cell Culture SystemTM, a rotating-wall bioreactor originally developed by NASA.

The rotating-wall bioreactor is capable of multiplying functional, 3-D stem cells for use in a variety of research projects, said RBCC CEO Patrick Brown. Stem cells carry tremendous potential to help researchers develop new treatments and cures for devastating diseases from Parkinsons to Alzheimers and even autism, but much research must be done first. Consequently, were very optimistic about the market potential for this revolutionary bioreactor technology.

RBCC plans to offer the new technology to help kickstart billions of dollars worth of research in an industry currently dominated by Amgen, Inc. (AMGN), Celgene Corporation (CELG), Genzyme Corp. (NASDAQ:GENZ) and Gilead Sciences Inc. (GILD).

For more information on Rainbow BioSciences, please visit http://www.rainbowbiosciences.com/investors.html.

About Rainbow BioSciences

Rainbow BioSciences, LLC, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Rainbow Coral Corp. (OTCBB:RBCC). The company continually seeks out new partnerships with biotechnology developers to deliver profitable new medical technologies and innovations. For more information on our growth-oriented business initiatives, please visit our website at [http://www.RainbowBioSciences.com]. For investment information and performance data on the company, please visit http://www.RainbowBioSciences.com/investors.html.

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RBCC: Could Stem Cells Be Key to Promising Autism Therapy?