Brunei Passport Ranked 17th in the World, Able to Travel Visa-Free to 150 Nations

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BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Bruneian passport was ranked 17th in the world for travelers in a recent survey, based on the number of visa-free countries its holders can travel to out of one hundred and seventy four destinations.

According to the 2014 Visa Restrictions Index, holders of Bruneian passports can travel to one hundred and fifty countries without visas. Singapore and Malaysia were the only two Southeast Asian countries that made it to the top ten in the 2014 index.

Singapore was ranked fifth in the world, as Singaporeans can travel visa-free to one hundred and seventy countries, while Malaysia was ranked eighth, as Malaysians can travel visa-free to one hundred and sixty six countries.

Among Southeast Asian countries, the Sultanate was ranked third, followed by Thailand (62nd in the world, visa-free travel to sixty nine countries), the Philippines (68th, sixty two countries), Indonesia (72nd, fifty six countries), Laos (80th, forty eight countries), Vietnam (81st, forty seven countries) and Myanmar (86th, forty two countries).

In todays globalised world, visa restrictions play an important role in controlling the movement of foreign nationals across borders. Almost all countries now require visas from certain non-nationals who wish to enter their territory, said Henly & Partners, a global consulting firm in international residence and citizenship planning, which held the survey.

Visa requirements are also an expression of the relationships between individual nations, and generally reflect the relations and status of a country within the international community of nations it said in statement.

At the top of the Index, jointly, were Finland, Sweden, Germany, the United States and Britain. Citizens of these countries are able to travel visa-free to one hundred and seventy four destinations.

The worst passport in the world for travelers to hold is from Afghanistan, ranked at number 94th, as it allows visa-free entry to just twenty eight countries, followed by Iraq with thirty one countries, and Pakistan and Somalia at thirty two countries each. BRUDIRECT.COM

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Brunei Passport Ranked 17th in the World, Able to Travel Visa-Free to 150 Nations

Super Smash Bros. 3DS review: Only the strong

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It may not be the undisputed industry leader these days, and Nintendo currently faces stronger competition than it ever has, but one thing you can't take away from the Japanese gaming giant is its wealth of iconic, beloved characters. From Mario to Link to Donkey Kong (and on through another few dozen familiar names), Nintendo is responsible for the majority of gaming's most famous faces. In hindsight, the idea to combine them all into one massive fighting game nostalgia bomb was sublime genius, and the Super Smash Bros. games have been among Nintendo's most popular releases on each console they've reached. It doesn't hurt that the games have all been solidly constructed from a combination of unique fighting game mechanics and spot-on controls, but let's be frank, people are buying these games because they're the best way to punch Pikachu in his cute, smug little face.

That all might change with the latest entry in the series, however. Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS (that's the full title) is as much a trip down Nintendo's memory lane as any of its predecessors, but there's more meat here than in prior games. More to see, more to do, and all of it is built on the most solid fundamentals the series has yet seen. But is all of that enough to survive the franchise's first jump to a portable system? And what of the new online components, which have been a key failing of prior Super Smash Bros. games? Nintendo, along with development partners Namco and Sora, seems pretty confident, and the more time I spend with Super Smash Bros. for 3DS, the more I see why.

The combat itself has its own unique flavor. It's fast and frenzied, and the tide of battle can shift on a dime. Once a player has mastered the game's basics, it's not too difficult to dominate the computer-controlled characters in single-player mode, but in multiplayer the experience is tense and rewarding. One moment you're one top of the world - you grabbed the floating Final Smash orb and blew away both Kirby and that jerk Link with Samus' arm cannon and the next your world is falling apart you've been obliterated by a blue shell that just happened to spawn next to an understandably vengeful Hyrulean. I can understand why the debate rages over whether or not Super Smash Bros. is, in fact, a fighting game (as it certainly doesn't feel like a traditional fighting game) but I don't think it matters. Super Smash Bros. has its own feel that's more manic, and prone to making players swear at their friends for grabbing that stupid instant-KO hammer for the third time in a row.

Mega Man (on loan to Nintendo from Capcom), rather than thwarting foes with punches and kicks, uses abilities he's copied from nefarious Robot Masters over the years. He might toss out Metal Man's saw blade, or send players skyward with Air Man's tornado. And, of course, he always has his trusty Mega Buster, and his robo-dog Rush can launch him to safety whenever the Blue Bomber is in danger of falling off the stage. Charizard, though previously tied to the Pokemon trainer character, proves a solid combatant in his own right. He hits nearly as hard as Bowser but features far better agility, and he can fly to safety at a moment's notice. Even Lucina, who possesses moves nearly identical to her Fire Emblem cohort Marth, features her own unique gameplay style due to her size and the sword she carries. The end result is a roster featuring a complement of styles as diverse as any Capcom fighter, only thanks to Super Smash Bros. intuitive, simple controls, players won't have to dedicate dozens of hours to a single character just to pick up the basics. And, if you don't like a character, a lengthy list of color-coded power-ups can be earned and equipped to enhance your fighter's speed, agility and stamina, lending further customization to a game seemingly designed around the idea of giving players exactly the sort of fighting game they desire.

If merely punching plumbers and kicking koopas is too pedestrian for your tastes, Super Smash Bros. offers a number of clever twists on its basic gameplay formula. The "Classic" version of the aforementioned Solo Mode plays out like an arcade-style string of battles, but each fight features its own unique quirk. One might pit you against a giant Greninja, while another might feature a metallic King Dedede or ten relatively weak Miis all attacking at once. This variety goes a long way toward keeping things fresh, in lieu of the standard, cliche "series of one-on-one fights," and it demonstrates the range of gameplay options Super Smash Bros. offers.

It can not be overstated just how greatly Super Smash Bros. benefits from the jump to a handheld gaming device. Nintendo's iconic fighting game is the perfect antidote to long waits at the dentist or those times when you want to play something but don't want to leave the warm comfort of your bed. That said, the jump to a smaller venue isn't without its problems. The relatively small 3DS screen (and even the larger screen on the 3DS XL) can quickly grow distractingly chaotic, especially when there are more than two fighters duking it out. Likewise, the 3DS' bijou button scheme can cause hand cramps with extended play, while the 3DS circle pad feels sluggish when attempting to jump or double jump. Players can easily alter the controls in the options screen, but it's still an oversight that bears mentioning. That said, these are minor gripes that players will get used to within their first hour of play.

While there are definite areas where Nintendo could improve on Super Smash Bros. in an inevitable sequel, this is the most feature-complete, compelling Super Smash Bros. entry to date. It stands right alongside Fire Emblem: Awakening and The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds as a game that every 3DS owner should play. Even if you can't find a smooth online match, the wealth of single-player and local multiplayer options will keep Super Smash Bros. fresh for months to come, and that's even before you consider the numerous unlockable characters, trophies, items and any potential DLC the developers might have planned. When Nintendo is firing on all cylinders, it creates the sort of games that other companies only wish they could put together, and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS is the perfect example of that sterling pedigree.

Joystiq's review scores are based on a scale of whether the game in question is worth your time -- a five-star being a definitive "yes," and a one-star being a definitive "no." Read here for more information on our ratings guidelines.

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Super Smash Bros. 3DS review: Only the strong

Swastik – Stem Cell Therapy in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) – 24-04-2014 – Video

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Swastik - Stem Cell Therapy in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) - 24-04-2014
stem cell india, stem cell therapy india, stem cell in india, stem cell therapy in india, india stem cell, india stem cell therapy.

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Swastik - Stem Cell Therapy in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) - 24-04-2014 - Video

Turmeric compound boosts regeneration of brain stem cells

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PUBLIC RELEASE DATE:

25-Sep-2014

Contact: Alanna Orpen alanna.orpen@biomedcentral.com 44-0-20-3192-2054 BioMed Central @biomedcentral

A bioactive compound found in turmeric promotes stem cell proliferation and differentiation in the brain, reveals new research published today in the open access journal Stem Cell Research & Therapy. The findings suggest aromatic turmerone could be a future drug candidate for treating neurological disorders, such as stroke and Alzheimer's disease.

The study looked at the effects of aromatic (ar-) turmerone on endogenous neutral stem cells (NSC), which are stem cells found within adult brains. NSC differentiate into neurons, and play an important role in self-repair and recovery of brain function in neurodegenerative diseases. Previous studies of ar-turmerone have shown that the compound can block activation of microglia cells. When activated, these cells cause neuroinflammation, which is associated with different neurological disorders. However, ar-turmerone's impact on the brain's capacity to self-repair was unknown.

Researchers from the Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine in Jlich, Germany, studied the effects of ar-turmerone on NSC proliferation and differentiation both in vitro and in vivo. Rat fetal NSC were cultured and grown in six different concentrations of ar-turmerone over a 72 hour period. At certain concentrations, ar-turmerone was shown to increase NSC proliferation by up to 80%, without having any impact on cell death. The cell differentiation process also accelerated in ar-turmerone-treated cells compared to untreated control cells.

To test the effects of ar-turmerone on NSC in vivo, the researchers injected adult rats with ar-turmerone. Using PET imaging and a tracer to detect proliferating cells, they found that the subventricular zone (SVZ) was wider, and the hippocampus expanded, in the brains of rats injected with ar-turmerone than in control animals. The SVZ and hippocampus are the two sites in adult mammalian brains where neurogenesis, the growth of neurons, is known to occur.

Lead author of the study, Adele Rueger, said: "While several substances have been described to promote stem cell proliferation in the brain, fewer drugs additionally promote the differentiation of stem cells into neurons, which constitutes a major goal in regenerative medicine. Our findings on aromatic turmerone take us one step closer to achieving this goal."

Ar-turmerone is the lesser-studied of two major bioactive compounds found in turmeric. The other compound is curcumin, which is well known for its anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties.

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Turmeric compound boosts regeneration of brain stem cells

At 80, Leonard Cohen meditates on spirituality and war on new album

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NEW YORK Releasing a new album near his 80th birthday, Leonard Cohen cheekily addresses his age in its first song, intoning, Its not because Im old . . . I always liked it slow.

The poet and songwriter nonetheless glides confidently through a gamut of themes and styles on the album Popular Problems, ruminating in his husky and undiminished voice on war, loss and his own spiritual odyssey.

The Canadian-born talent turned 80 on Sunday. But Cohen said that the timing of his 13th studio album his first since 2012 that comes decades after classic songs such as Hallelujah and So Long, Marianne was coincidental.

On the latest album, Cohen invokes Hurricane Katrina in Samson in New Orleans, lamenting the destruction of jazzs birthplace.

In one of the more striking musical passages, Cohen brings in plaintive Arabic snippets of a female singer in Nevermind, in which he bemoans the anonymity of war victims with verses such as, The storys told with facts and lies / I had a name / But never mind.

Cohen, previewing the album at a New York nightclub, said the womans voice represented the oppressed who are absent from public discourse.

Generally speaking, nothing anybody says in public anymore nourishes or resonates with any authentic sense that you have about things, Cohen explained.

So, same way about Syria or the general catastrophe that confronts us now. So that voice comes out of that unrepresented majority of people, he said.

Cohen, who declined to speak further on world affairs, has long mourned bloodshed in songs such as the Vietnam War-era Story of Isaac. He has pleaded for peace in the Middle East but has also defied calls to boycott Israel.

Cohen, who is Jewish as well as an ordained Zen Buddhist monk, delves into the Biblical story of Exodus on the Gospel-backed Born in Chains.

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At 80, Leonard Cohen meditates on spirituality and war on new album

At UW-Eau Claire, chemist mixes science, spirituality

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Science and Christianity are often viewed as incompatible, but they mix well for a renowned chemist who visited UW-Eau Claire Thursday.

Henry "Fritz" Schaefer III gave a presentation titled "My Spiritual Journey" to UW-Eau Claire students, faculty and staff. The former University of California, Berkeley professor who currently is director of the Center for Computational Quantum Chemistry (CCQC) at the University of Georgia, also gave a talk over the dinner hour titled "The Challenge of Being a Person of Faith in a Scientific World" and ended his visit with a speech titled "The Big Bang, Stephen Hawking and God" Thursday night.

Schaefer said he hasn't always been a Christian. He became one during his fourth year as a professor at Berkeley.

"I was challenged to consider the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ," he said. "I did that for a couple of years and became convinced intellectually that's true."

He said he hoped to get students thinking about "spiritual things" during his time in Eau Claire.

"The questions he's trying to answer are questions of life -- questions that don't change -- that we tend to ask as human beings," said Dave Johnson, who works with Cru, a religious group that brought Schaefer to campus.

Schaefer also met with UW-Eau Claire chemistry students Thursday afternoon and took the opportunity to do some recruiting.

"We were looking for new Ph.D.

Schaefer is friends with Berkeley professor Richard Saykally, a UW-Eau Claire alumnus.

"I'm looking for the next Rich Saykally to come and work with me for a Ph.D.," Schaefer said.

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At UW-Eau Claire, chemist mixes science, spirituality

5 Great Web Series You Should Be Watching Now

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As Vulture's Streaming Week comes to a close, here are five web series currently in progress that are worth five minutes of your time.

Idiotsitter A struggling young woman (Charlotte Newhouse) becomes the court-appointed guardian to a rich, hard-partying teenager (Workaholics Jillian Bell).

Hello Cupid Longtime friends Whitney (Ashley Blaine Featherson) and Robyn (Hayley Marie Norman) dont share the same taste in menexcept for the times when they share it too much.

Be Here Nowish What happens when two New Yorkers in turmoil move to Los Angeles in search of spiritual enlightenment? A lot of weird energy ceremonies.

Reggie Watts: Teach In each episode, Watts channels a different teacher character, imparting bizarre, factually inaccurate, yet still enthralling wisdom to his students.

Whatever This Is.A pair of production assistants struggle to make it in New York with crappy, soul-wrecking gigs on bad reality-TV shows. Often funny but also bleak as hell.

*This article appears in the September 22, 2014 issue of New York Magazine.

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‘Send Congress to Meet In Space Station’ – Fmr. President Clinton Jokes | Video – Video

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#39;Send Congress to Meet In Space Station #39; - Fmr. President Clinton Jokes | Video
It maybe the #39;answer to ending the political gridlock in America #39; said the former U.S. president while speaking to ISS crew members Reid Weisman and Alexander Gerst about how they work in unison...

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'Send Congress to Meet In Space Station' - Fmr. President Clinton Jokes | Video - Video