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Meet Miriam – the woman who keeps Nick Clegg on his toes

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The piece provoked much mirth in political circles, with one writer noting: No wonder Cleggy looks so pasty and frayed. It is almost as if he lives in terror of Miriams fingertips clicking like castanets and summoning him to his housework.

She had stayed relatively quiet on the subject until last week, and will doubtless have been encouraged by the more positive reaction. Sites such as Mumsnet lit up with praise, The Guardian hailed her as the Michelle Obama of the Coalition, the woman with a sense of purpose bold enough to ignore the constraints of convention, while Telegraph commentator Dina Rickman declared: I had only one thought: could we replace Nick Clegg with her?

A nice idea, although it is doubtful that Miriam could take the pay cut. She earns a reported 500,000 a year four times as much as her husband with Dechert, an American-owned law firm that specialises in complex corporate and property cases. The salary discrepancy, matched by the perception of Miriams weighty intellect, has compounded the impression that she runs Casa Clegg, the familys home in Putney, south-west London, with a rod of iron.

The power dynamic, according to those who know the Cleggs, is rather more complicated. For all Miriams talk of equality, it is clear that her preferences tend to prevail. Only Spanish is spoken in the house, and despite the Deputy PMs declarations of agnosticism, the children are being raised in Miriams Roman Catholic faith. Shes number one in the kitchen, too, recently telling a Spanish magazine: Nick is forbidden from doing any cooking on health-and-safety grounds, but he does pretty much everything else. He compensates. He is an appalling cook.

Yet she supports, in a subtly effective fashion, his political career, embracing the Lib Dem agenda, illuminating its fringes, wearing sharp-but-non-threateningly-ethical outfits (being spotted emerging from the fabled royal corsetires, Rigby & Peller, was a rare slip), and dutifully insisting that she looks forward to the day the scent of her jamn y croquetas wafts into Downing Street.

The Cleggs met in the early Nineties in Bruges, where both were taking degrees at the College of Europe, a kind of Sandhurst for aspiring Eurocrats, and both were already passionate about the continents federal future. Soon they were equally passionate about each other. According to Miriam, her British suitor wooed her during Sevillian dancing sessions and over sizzling Spanish omelettes. Their romance, she once cryptically explained, was like taking a train that passes you in the night. This may have been because Clegg could barely understand a word she said. He nevertheless thought she was magnificent.

The magnificence first saw the light in May 1968, in Valladolid, a city somewhat tainted by its pro-Franco associations. Miriam grew up in the suburb of Olmedo, where her father, a teacher, was the conservative mayor. I am not a stranger to politics, she has said. I was delivering leaflets when I was eight years old. After university she went to Belgium, staying for several years to work for the EU. The Cleggs married in 2000.

The British remain faintly wary of exoticism, and Seora Clegg, with her raven tresses, and overtones of Carmen-like feistiness, has attracted some suspicion. During the last election, she gave a mangled explanation of why she wouldnt be on the campaign trail, implying it was because she couldnt afford to take the time off work. What she was trying to say was that she was different from other political wives because, well, she was different from all of us, and that rather than trying to make her husband look good on a stage, she preferred to knock him into shape beforehand.

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Meet Miriam - the woman who keeps Nick Clegg on his toes

Forensic Science Institute growing

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EDMOND The W. Roger Webb Forensic Science Institute program on the campus of the University of Central Oklahoma began in 2009 with fewer than 100 students, said Dwight E. Adams, UCO Forensic Science Institute director.

Today the forensics program is growing with more than 500 in the program, he said. The credit for such rapid growth goes to the faculty, Adams added.

Adams joined faculty members at the Edmond Economic Development Authoritys 4oclock 4cast with an update of the forensics program.

We require more of our students than any other program in the country, Adams said. Students must combine their forensics degree with another degree on campus in order to specialize in a specific discipline of forensic science.

Digital media is a rapidly growing field of forensic science, said Mark R. McCoy, associate professor Forensic Science Institute and School of Criminal Justice.

We look for digital types of evidence in all types of crimes, McCoy said. All crime scenes contain digital evidence.

Be careful about throwing away items containing a hard drive, such as an old printer, he said. Somebody could pick it up, remove the hard drive and recover confidential documents, he said. There are ways to be able to delete that data.

We are constantly looking for things where people who may want to hide evidence may hide it, McCoy said.

Just because digital evidence has been altered does not mean it has been destroyed. An arson fire ravaged a building that contained a surveillance camera with a digital hard drive. The imagery was recovered regardless of the smoke, heat and water damage, McCoy said. The owner of the building was the arsonist.

Remember BTK? McCoy said.

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Forensic Science Institute growing

Anti-Aging Treatments | Anti-Aging Medicine | Alternative …

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The Nevada Center is a unique medical health and fitness clinic designed to measure, treat, and retard the aging process. Each individualized program begins with an in depth analysis of metabolic status, hormonal status, and age related bio-marker status. This is followed by the formulation of an individualized program of the necessary rejuvenation therapies. We leave nothing out! And we dont have a one-size-fits-all mentality. Our goal is to offer all the latest diagnostic and regenerative therapeutics to restore youthful function and appearance, maximize quality of life, and prevent the diseases and infirmities of aging.

As one renowned researcher in the aging process, Dr. Ward Dean, once said, Aging is the only disease that everyone gets. Sure we will all age and die one day, but how soon and to what extent that happens is determined by several known factors. Preventing aging is just like preventing any disease. By manipulating the factors that cause the aging process, aging can be delayed and even reversed. Dr. Shallenberger says, If thirty years of medicine has taught me one thing, it's that prevention is the only medicine that makes any real sense. No one wants to live forever, but most of us would like to live our "golden years" free from the disease and frailty that we so commonly see.

The advanced anti-aging program offered at The Nevada Center is for anyone who is willing to spend some time, money, and energy earlier in life in order to save & reap the rewards later. This is a lifetime program based on an individualized program of proper diet, exercise, hormonal replacement, and supplements.

Want to learn more? Call us at 775-884-3990

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Remember the American Chestnut Tree on Arbor Day

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Today, April 25, 2014 is National Arbor Day and a reminder of the importance that individuals and groups need to plant and care for trees. This means ensuring that arboriculturists and foresters have access to the most up to date agricultural technologies. The American Chestnut blight is recent example of how genetic engineering has served as one of these vital technologies.

A recent piece published in Scientific American told of the blight of the American Chestnut nearly wiped out by a fungal disease and efforts to genetically engineer the trees to resist the fungus and reintroduce healthy trees back into America forests. Ferri Jabrs A New Generation of American Chestnut Trees May Redefine Americas Forests examines the history of the American Chestnut going from its role of providing food and shelter for animals and people to nearly becoming obsolete.

Before the early 1900s, one in every four hardwood trees in North Americas eastern forests was an American chestnut, providing copious food and shelter for animals and people alike.

A New York City nurseryman named S. B. Parsons imported Japanese chestnut trees in 1876, which he raised and sold to customers who wanted something a little exotic in their gardens. Other nurseries in New Jersey and California soon did the same.

One or perhaps allof these shipments concealed the pathogenic fungusCryphonectria parasitica, which chokes chestnut trees to death by wedging itself into their trunks and obstructing conduits for water and nutrients. Asian chestnut trees had long evolved resistance toC. parasitica, but their American relativeswhich had never encountered the pathogen beforewere extremely susceptible to the fungal disease known as chestnut blight.

In 1904 the fungus was first discovered in New York State and soon spread to New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. Within 50 years,C. parasitica killednearly four billion chestnut trees.

Since the 1980s several generations of researchers at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (S.U.N.Y.ESF) have toiled to restore the American chestnut to its native habitat. Genetic engineering has offered a successful route to restoration.

By taking genes from wheat, Asian chestnuts, grapes, peppers and other plants and inserting them into American chestnut trees, William Powell of S.U.N.Y.ESF and scores of collaborators have created hundreds of transgenic trees that are almost 100 percent genetically identical wild American chestnut yet immune to C. parasitica.

The scientists hope to get federal approval to begin planting these trees in the forest within the next five years (See The American Chestnuts Genetic Rebirth in the March 2014 issue of Scientific American).

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Remember the American Chestnut Tree on Arbor Day

Many genes are switched on by default

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Contrary to common scientific belief, many genes are switched "on" by default. These findings are from a study by Prof. Dr. Frank Holstege of University Medical Center (UMC) Utrecht that has been published in the April 24 edition of Cell.

Genetic differences between individuals affect the origin and treatment of diseases, a fact that has prompted more and more wide-scale genetic research. However, it seems that we sometimes lack very basic genetic knowledge.

Holstege's research shows that contrary to common opinion, many genes are by default actually switched "on". Given that DNA is wrapped in proteins, most scientists assumed that it could not be read by the cell. Transcription can only begin when so-called transcription factors bind to the DNA. Holstege and his colleagues show that nearly half of the transcription factors actually prevent the DNA from being read. It would seem that in most circumstances these genes should first be actively switched "off".

1,600 genes analyzed

Holstege and his colleagues used yeast as the model organism for their research. Yeast may seem far removed from humans, but its genes are controlled in exactly the same way as in human cells. Holstege et al. analyzed the role played by 1,600 genes, a quarter of all known yeast genes. They studied the effect that mutations in all those genes have on the gene expression of all other genes. This is the largest systematic study of the effect of mutation on gene expression to date.

Holstege has previously demonstrated that it is actually not necessarily useful to look at the effect of changes in just one gene. All genes are active in networks that are often organized in such a way that they can replace defective genes (Cell, December 10, 2010). The new study is the first step to mapping out the entire genetic control network.

"Comparative genetic research into patients and healthy subjects is very important," says Holstege. "It provides information on the cellular pathways associated with diseases. Our research shows, however, that it's hard to understand cells if you don't take the simultaneous activity of all genes into account."

Explore further: Research brings significant improvement in genetic analysis of tumours

Every tumour is unique and requires specific treatment. A thorough and complete analysis of the genetic activity in the tumour cells is necessary to determine the appropriate treatment. Researchers at TU ...

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Many genes are switched on by default

Profiles International Chief Science Officer to Attend 29th Annual Society for Industrial and Organizational …

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Waco, TX (PRWEB) April 25, 2014

Employee assessment solutions provider, Profiles International, is pleased to announce that Dr. Scott Hamilton, Chief Science Officer of Profiles International, will attend the 29th Annual Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology Conference on May 15-17 in Honolulu, Hawaii.

In his role as Chief Science Officer, Dr. Hamilton represents Profiles throughout the world, providing consulting and support for clients and representatives.

At the conference, Dr. Hamilton will be attending sessions on Leadership Development, Talent Management, Consulting Practices, Global Cultural Issues, Team Effectiveness, Ethical Issues, and Employee Engagement. Dr. Hamilton is also an active member in many other professional organizations, including the Association of Test Publishers, the International Test Commission, the Association for Psychological Science, and the British Psychological Society.

"The SIOP conference has been a great resource for me in the years past," said Dr. Hamilton. "I look forward to applying all that the conference has to offer this year to business at Profiles."

For more information on the 29th Annual SIOP Conference, click here.

ABOUT SOCIETY FOR INDUSTRIAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY SIOP is the premier membership organization for those practicing and teaching industrial-organizational psychology. While an independent organization with its own governance, SIOP is also a division within the American Psychological Association and an organizational affiliate of the Association for Psychological Science. SIOP members and sponsors research and apply the psychological principles governing behavior to a wide variety of applications, such as workforce planning, employee selection, leader development, team building, and organizational change. http://www.siop.org

ABOUT PROFILES INTERNATIONAL Profiles International is the best source for talent management solutions, with over 20 years' experience and more than 40,000 clients in over 120 countries. Profiles knows how people work and what motivates them. Their data-driven talent management solutions--built on complex behavioral science, yet simple to administer and read--help organizations find the right people, shape them into a winning team, and lead them to their full potential. http://www.profilesinternational.com

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Anti-Aging Medicine | Dayton Medical Center Miami

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We all want to live a long and healthy life full of energy, vitality and mental clarity as we age. Vibrant health and prolonged youthfulness are attained by choosing lifestyle and medical stategies wisely. These vital choices help reverse processes that deplete health and lead to premature aging.

Although the majority of human health needs are similar, each individual has their own unique health requirementsthat are never the same as that of anyone else. Effective evaluation of such requirements is imperative for optimizing healthy longevity. Because health is too dear to be left to chance, medical wisdom and technologies from around the world are often employed to address patient needs at Dayton Medical Center. For example, after diagnostic evaluation modern bio-identical hormone therapies from the west may be prescribed along with time proven herbal formulations from the east for synergistic benefits.

A youthful external appearance reflects the result of internal revitalization. At Dayton Medical Center our wellness and anti aging medicine strategies focus on biological function and repair to support youthful vitality.

The Center can partner with you to achieve this goal by conducting an effective evaluation to optimize your own unique path to healthy longevity.

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Anti-Aging Medicine | Dayton Medical Center Miami

World famous Australian doctor Mark Mitchelson reveals for the first time in history his natural anti-aging secrets.

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Brisbane, Queensland (PRWEB) April 25, 2014

World famous Australian doctor for the first time in history, reveals his natural anti-aging health secrets absolutely for free.

Dr Mark Mitchelson, where "West Meets East", is the original "Feel Good" doctor.

Dr Mark Mitchelson, who has 21 years of general medical clinical experience, was originally trained as a western general medical doctor in Australia and has just finished an intensive 10 year period of study in eastern medical practices, which compliments his western medical training. This includes the use of various anti-aging vitamins, minerals, certain herbs and super foods that when used in combination with his world leading exercise and dietary programs, can most definitely help to minimize the signs of visible aging in clients from around the world, without either the use of invasive surgery or western pharmaceutical drugs. Naturally, because of these facts, there will be almost no risk whatsoever to any clients who choose to participate, because all protocols involved in this program are of a completely natural and non-invasive nature.

This is the first time in recorded history that a non-invasive natural anti-aging protocol this detailed has ever been released to the general public for their general health benefit.

Dr Mark Mitchelson's world leading work in the field of natural anti-aging medicine has been proudly sponsored by Amazon.com.

Hence, for complete enlightenment and all other inquiries, please visit Dr Mark Mitchelson's specially dedicated website, where all inquiries from potential clients will be answered upon receipt immediately.

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World famous Australian doctor Mark Mitchelson reveals for the first time in history his natural anti-aging secrets.