stacykirmi: এপ্রিল 2013

রবিবার, ২৮ এপ্রিল, ২০১৩

Docudharma:: Health and Fitness News

General Medicine/Family Medical

High Heart Rate Tied to Earlier Death, Even in Fit
by Randy Dotinga, HealthDay Reporter

Findings suggest a second look at what range is considered normal, researcher says
April 16 (HealthDay News) -- Faster heart rates in otherwise healthy men could be a harbinger of an earlier death, even among those who exercise, a new Danish study suggests.
The finding provides more evidence of the potential danger lurking in the bodies of both men and women who have rapid pulses when they're not exercising.

Hard Physical Labor May Boost Heart Disease Risk
Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter

Researcher says higher mental stress, lower income could be factors
April 18 (HealthDay News) -- Demanding physical work may boost a person's risk of heart disease, two new studies suggest.
"Physicians know that high stress can be associated with increased risk of heart disease," said one expert not connected to the study, Dr. Lawrence Phillips, a cardiologist at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City. "These two studies suggest that, in addition to normal life stressors, the physical demands a person experiences in the workplace can independently increase their risk as well."
"The reason for this [labor-linked risk] is unclear, but might be related to higher stress levels," Phillips said.

Experimental Heart Failure Treatment Shows Promise
by Amy Norton, HealthDay Reporter

But experts caution that larger studies of combined treatment are needed
April 16 (HealthDay News) -- People with chronic heart failure might benefit from a combination of "shock waves" to the heart and an infusion of their own bone marrow cells, an early study suggests.
The therapy is still experimental, and experts said much more work is needed. But they also said the results, reported in the April 17 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, are promising.

Laser Liposuction May Zap Fat Without Skin Sag
by Carina Storrs, HealthDay Reporter

Preliminary research suggests procedure could have advantages over traditional method of fat removal
April 15 (HealthDay News) -- Laser-assisted liposuction might provide an option for people who want stubborn pockets of fat removed but fear they'll be left with loose skin.
Traditional liposuction, a fat-removing cosmetic surgery procedure, is generally reserved for people with firm skin to reduce the risk of sagging afterward. But the addition of lasers could spur tightening of the skin, researchers say.
The researchers looked at the extent of skin tightening in nearly 2,200 women and men who received laser liposuction in various body regions, including the belly, thighs and arms. The relatively new procedure was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2006.

Warnings/Alerts/Guidelines

La. Company Expands Meat Recall
by WebMD News from HealthDay

A recall of meat products due to possible bacterial contamination has been expanded by a Louisiana-based meat packing company, the U.S. Department of Agriculture says.
The recall by the Manda Packing Company now includes 468,000 pounds of roast beef, ham, turkey breast, tasso pork, ham shanks, hog headcheese, corned beef and pastrami, the Associated Press reported.

FDA OK's 'Abuse-Deterrent' Label for New Oxycontin
by EJ Mundell, HealthDay Reporter

Latest formulation is tougher to crush and dissolve, making illicit use more difficult
April 16 (HealthDay News) -- In an effort to help curb the epidemic of prescription painkiller abuse, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday said it is approving new labeling for a reformulated version of Oxycontin that its maker claims will be harder to abuse.
The agency also noted that the original form of the powerful painkiller has been withdrawn from the market because it is easier to abuse than the newer formulation.
"Accordingly, the agency will not accept or approve any abbreviated new drug applications (generics) that rely upon the approval of original OxyContin," the FDA added in a news release issued late Tuesday.

Number of U.S. Food-borne Illness Cases Stalled
by Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter

More vigilance needed from regulators, industry and consumers, health official says
April 18 (HealthDay News) -- Progress in reducing foodborne illness in the United States seems to have stalled, health officials reported Thursday.
"Every year, we estimate that about 48 million of us -- that would be one in six people in the United States -- gets sick from eating contaminated food," said Dr. Robert Tauxe, deputy director of the division of foodborne, waterborne and environmental diseases at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Common in Raw Meat
by WebMD News from HealthDay

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are present in a significant amount of raw meat sold in the United States, according to a Food and Drug Administration report.
Tests conducted by the agency found antibiotic-resistant bacteria in 81 percent of raw ground turkey, 69 percent of pork chops, 55 percent of ground beef and 39 percent of chicken, CNN reported.

Seasonal Flu/Other Epidemics/Disasters

Treatment for New, Deadly Coronavirus Shows Promise
by Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter

Researchers report two drugs currently used to treat hepatitis C stopped virus from replicating in lab tests
April 18 (HealthDay News) -- A treatment for a new coronavirus that has caused 11 deaths, mostly in the Middle East, shows promise in early tests, U.S. government researchers report.
The investigators discovered that a combination of two antiviral drugs -- ribavirin and interferon-alpha 2b -- can stop the so-called nCoV coronavirus from multiplying in laboratory-grown cells. While the results suggest that this drug combination could be used to treat patients infected with nCoV, more research is needed to confirm these early findings.

Women's Health

Mammography Rates Unchanged Despite Guidelines
by Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay Reporter

Annual screenings continue as women, doctors appear to be ignoring task force recommendations, new data shows
April 19 (HealthDay News) -- More than three years after controversial new guidelines rejected routine annual mammograms for most women, women in all age groups continue to get yearly screenings, a new survey shows.
In fact, mammogram rates actually increased overall, from 51.9 percent in 2008 to 53.6 percent in 2011, even though the slight rise was not considered statistically significant, according to the researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

Scientists Create Breast Cancer Survival Predictor
by Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter

Model shows which gene signatures are strong signs for survival
April 17 (HealthDay News) -- Columbia University scientists have developed a new model to predict breast cancer survival, and they say their work could lead to improved diagnosis and prognosis for all types of cancers.
In earlier work, the researchers identified certain gene signatures that are present in nearly identical form in many cancer types. Using that information, they developed a model that showed that these gene signatures, when properly combined, were strong indicators for breast cancer survival.

Are Pricey Computer-Aided Mammograms Worth It?
by Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay Reporter

Early breast cancer found more often in large study, but not more cases of invasive disease
April 15 (HealthDay News) -- Adding computer-aided detection to mammograms finds more early, noninvasive cancers and helps detect invasive cancers at earlier stages, according to a large new study. But the jury's still out as to how worthwhile the extra technology is overall.
For one thing, computer-aided detection (CAD) increases the amount of diagnostic testing among women who turn out not to have breast cancer. And the technology makes mammograms more expensive.

Drugs Can Cut Breast Cancer Risk for Some: Experts
by Carina Storrs, HealthDay Reporter

Draft guidelines for doctors reflect findings, but it's hard to know who will benefit most, experts say
April 15 (HealthDay News) -- The drugs tamoxifen and raloxifene (Evista) could reduce the risk of breast cancer among women who are at high risk of developing the disease, a new report confirms.
Along with the report, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force also issued draft recommendations that reflect those findings, which will be published in the April 16 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Men's Health

New Procedure Shrinks Prostate Without Surgery
by Serena Gordon, HealthDay Reporter

'Prostatic artery embolization' didn't cause troublesome side effects in study
April 15 (HealthDay News) -- Men who need treatment for an enlarged prostate may soon have a new nonsurgical option, a small, early study suggests.
Called prostatic artery embolization (PAE), the technique uses a catheter threaded into an artery in the leg. The catheter is guided to the artery that supplies blood to the prostate. Then, tiny beads are injected into the artery, which temporarily block the blood supply to the prostate.

Pediatric Health

Anti-Vaccine Parents Seek Like-Minded Opinions
by Amy Norton, HealthDay Reporter

Study suggests friends, family may be important sources of advice
April 15 (HealthDay News) -- Friends and family may be key in parents' decisions on whether to vaccinate their young children, a small study suggests.
The study, of about 200 parents, found that those who had opted not to follow the standard vaccine schedule often sought advice from anti-vaccine friends and family.
Experts said it's not certain that the advice actually steered parents in an anti-vaccine direction: Parents who were already prone to shunning vaccines may have turned to like-minded people for reinforcement.

Babies Born Even Slightly Early May Lag Behind
by Kathleen Doheny, HealthDay Reporter

Women urged to rethink early elective C-sections, inductions unless medically needed
April 16 (HealthDay News) -- Many women choose to have labor induced or to have an elective Cesarean delivery before the full term of their pregnancy is up, but a new study suggests their child's development may suffer if they are born even a little early.
A term of 37 to 41 weeks is considered ''normal,'' but the new research finds birth at 39 to 41 weeks provides more developmental advantages compared to birth at 37 to 38 weeks.

Many Parents Text, Phone With Kids in Car: Survey
by Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter

Work-related calls a priority for nearly one-third polled
April 19 (HealthDay News) -- Nearly two-thirds of adults use a cell phone when they're driving with children in the car, and about one-third text, according to a new California survey.
The dangers of such behavior are well-documented. In 2011, about 3,300 deaths and 400,000 injuries in the United States occurred because of distracted driving, according to experts in the driving safety program at the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine.

Colic May Be Linked to Childhood Migraine
by Serena Gordon, HealthDay Reporter

Expert suspects disrupted sleep cycles might play a role in both disorders
April 16 (HealthDay News) -- Although colic has always been considered a gastrointestinal illness, new research suggests that migraines might be to blame.
The study, published April 17 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found the odds were nearly seven times higher that children with migraine were colicky babies than were not.

Aging

Mental Exercise May Help Keep Seniors Sharp
by Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter

Even solving puzzles might stave off decline and memory loss, study hints
April 15 (HealthDay News) -- Mental exercise can help prevent thinking and memory decline in seniors, but evidence for the benefits of supplements and exercise is weak, according to a new study.
The findings were published in the CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).
The researchers reviewed 32 studies, including three that examined the effects of mental exercise involving computerized training programs or intensive one-on-one personal training in memory, reasoning or processing speed.

Brain Changes Seen in Relatives of Alzheimer's Patients
by Denise Mann, HealthDay Reporter

Study finding doesn't mean you'll get the disease if family members have it, experts stress
April 17 (HealthDay News) -- If Alzheimer's disease runs in your family, you may be more likely to have brain changes associated with the disorder even before symptoms such as memory and thinking problems occur, according to new research.
An estimated 5.2 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, a number expected to increase dramatically as the baby boomer generation ages. The Alzheimer's Association predicts that the number of people aged 65 and older with the condition will reach 7.1 million by 2025.

Exercise May Help People With Alzheimer's Avoid Nursing Homes
by Brenda Goodman, HealthDay Reporter

Study finds regular activity delays physical decline, reduces falls
April 15 (HealthDay News) -- Regular exercise slows disability and prevents falls in patients with Alzheimer's disease without increasing overall costs, a new study from Finland says.
The findings suggest that exercise, particularly when tailored to an individual's needs and performed at home, may help Alzheimer's patients maintain their independence and delay the move to a nursing home.

Mental Health

Boston Bombing Aftermath: Fear, Empathy, Anger
by Kathleen Doheny, WebMD Health News

April 16, 2013 -- It's normal to feel a range of emotions the day after the terror bombing attack at the Boston Marathon, even if you were thousands of miles away.
Los Angeles psychologist Emanuel Maidenberg, PhD, says that in the wake of all that horror, it's understandable that emotions are still raw and intense.
"People become vigilant, they look around, they become apprehensive," says Maidenberg, director of the cognitive behavioral therapy clinic at the UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine.

Seriously Stressed? Hair Analysis May Tell All
by Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter

Single strand may yield evidence about heart-harmful hormone levels in seniors, researchers say
April 17 (HealthDay News) -- Hair analysis can reveal if seniors have elevated stress hormone levels that may put them at increased risk for heart disease and stroke, a new study suggests.
Unlike a blood test that provides information about stress hormone levels at a single point in time, analysis of a strand of hair can reveal trends in levels of the stress hormone cortisol over several months, according to the researchers.
The study, published April 17 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, found that seniors with higher long-term levels of cortisol were more likely to have heart disease.

Guideline Changes Set Asperger's Community on Edge
by Lisa Esposito, HealthDay Reporter

Psychiatric manual will fold it into autism spectrum disorders, leaving many unsure about getting needed services
April 18 (HealthDay News) -- People with Asperger's syndrome -- mild autism with normal or sometimes superior verbal ability and intelligence -- are at a crossroads: Their diagnosis is about to disappear.
In 1994, Asperger's was recognized as its own disorder in the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-4). For some people, realizing that they fit into the Asperger's diagnosis was a "eureka" moment of sorts.
In mid-May, however, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) will unveil the latest edition of the diagnostic manual. In the DSM-5, the Asperger's term will not exist -- and many people with Asperger's are upset.

Nutrition/Diet/Fitness

Beer's Taste May Trigger Urge to Get Drunk
by ?Barbara Bronson Gray, HealthDay Reporter

Study found flavor alone activated brain's reward center; effect stronger with family history of alcoholism
April 15 (HealthDay News) -- Just as the smell of freshly brewed coffee may compel you to pour a steaming cup of java, a small taste of beer may activate part of your brain's reward system and trigger the urge for more, a new study suggests.
Researchers have discovered that sensory cues associated with drinking may stimulate certain parts of the brain and cause a craving for more alcohol. Giving people a very small amount of the brand of beer they most frequently consume produced a desire to drink that was correlated with the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps control the brain's reward-and-pleasure centers.

'Western' Diet Not the Way to Age Well
by Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter

British study says fried foods and red meat lead to premature aging, illness
April 17 (HealthDay News) -- A new British study provides further evidence that eating a so-called "Western" diet may not be good for you in the long run.
People who eat this kind of diet -- which includes fried and sweet foods, processed and red meat, refined grains and high-fat dairy products -- are at increased risk for premature death. And those who do make it to old age are less likely to be in good health when they get there, the researchers said.

Tactics to Eat Less at the Buffet Table
by Brenda Goodman, HealthDay Reporter

Study reveals how people stay in control when faced with endless portions, many choices
April 19 (HealthDay News) -- Few situations can trip up someone who is watching their weight like an all-you-can-eat buffet.
But a new research letter published in the April issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine suggests two strategies that may help dieters survive a smorgasbord: Picking up a smaller plate and circling the buffet before choosing what to eat.
Buffets have two things that raise nutritionists' eyebrows -- unlimited portions and tons of choices. Both can crank up the calorie count of a meal.

1-Sport Focus May Raise Young Athletes' Injury Risk
by Robert Preidt, HealthDay Reporter

Kids should not spend more hours than their age training for a sport each week, researchers say
April 19 (HealthDay News) -- Young athletes who train intensely for one sport are at greatly increased risk for severe overuse injuries such as stress fractures, a new study finds.
For example, children and teens who play a sport for more hours per week than their age -- such as a 12-year-old who plays tennis 13 or more hours a week -- are 70 percent more likely to suffer serious overuse injuries than other types of injuries, according to the researchers.

Source: http://www.docudharma.com/diary/32765/health-and-fitness-news

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শনিবার, ২৭ এপ্রিল, ২০১৩

Police called after woman sees kittens having sex in her yard

* Lewandowski scored four goals against Real Madrid * Poland international refuses contract extension (adds details, background) BERLIN, April 26 (Reuters) - Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski have not signed a deal, the newly-crowned champions said on Friday, shooting down widespread speculation of another imminent surprise transfer. "Bayern, as opposed to some reports, has no contract with Robert Lewandowski," the Bavarian Champions League semi-finalists said in a brief statement. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/police-called-woman-sees-kittens-having-sex-her-235413733.html

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Earth's core far hotter than thought

26 April 2013 Last updated at 05:56 ET By Jason Palmer Science and technology reporter, BBC News

New measurements suggest the Earth's inner core is far hotter than prior experiments suggested, putting it at 6,000C - as hot as the Sun's surface.

The solid iron core is actually crystalline, surrounded by liquid.

But the temperature at which that crystal can form had been a subject of long-running debate.

Experiments outlined in Science used X-rays to probe tiny samples of iron at extraordinary pressures to examine how the iron crystals form and melt.

Seismic waves captured after earthquakes around the globe can give a great deal of information as to the thickness and density of layers in the Earth, but they give no indication of temperature.

That has to be worked out either in computer models that simulate the Earth's insides, or in the laboratory.

X-ray vision

Measurements in the early 1990s of iron's "melting curves" - from which the core's temperature can be deduced - suggested a core temperature of about 5,000C.

"It was just the beginning of these kinds of measurements so they made a first estimate... to constrain the temperature inside the Earth," said Agnes Dewaele of the French research agency CEA and a co-author of the new research.

"Other people made other measurements and calculations with computers and nothing was in agreement. It was not good for our field that we didn't agree with each other," she told BBC News.

The core temperature is crucial to a number of disciplines that study regions of our planet's interior that will never be accessed directly - guiding our understanding of everything from earthquakes to the Earth's magnetic field.

"We have to give answers to geophysicists, seismologists, geodynamicists - they need some data to feed their computer models," Dr Dewaele said.

The team has now revisited those 20-year-old measurements, making use of the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility - one of the world's most intense sources of X-rays.

To replicate the enormous pressures at the core boundary - more than a million times the pressure at sea level - they used a device called a diamond anvil cell - essentially a tiny sample held between the points of two precision-machined synthetic diamonds.

Once the team's iron samples were subjected to the high pressures and high temperatures using a laser, the scientists used X-ray beams to carry out "diffraction" - bouncing X-rays off of the nuclei of the iron atoms and watching how the pattern changed as the iron changed from solid to liquid.

Those diffraction patterns give more insight into partially molten states of iron, which the team believes were what the researchers were measuring in the first experiments.

They suggest a core temperature of about 6,000C, give or take 500C - roughly that of the Sun's surface.

But importantly, Dr Dewaele said, "now everything agrees".

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22297915#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa

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WSCC Awards Convocation is May 3 - Ludington Daily News - News

Public -

Thursday, April 25, 2013

West Shore Community College will be recognizing students? academic achievements and awarding scholarships on Friday, May 3.

The Student Awards Convocation will be held at 7 p.m. in the Center Stage Theater located in the Arts and Sciences Center and the public is invited to attend.

During the convocation, two students will be recognized as the outstanding nursing graduate and the outstanding graduate in liberal arts/sciences or career and technical education.

Approximately 100 students will be receiving over 170 scholarships offered through the college. The WSCC Foundation provides many of these scholarships through funds that are invested or raised by an annual fund drive or the major gifts campaign.

Service awards will also be presented to students who were active in various campus organizations during the 2012-13 academic year.

Along with students receiving their awards, WSCC alumnus Dr. Carolyn Brown, of the Manistee Veterinary Hospital, will be the distinguished alumni speaker.

Brown earned an Associate of Arts degree in 1998, with honors, from WSCC and she currently resides in Custer. She is a 1996 graduate of Mason County Eastern High School and the daughter of Philip and Ruth Sommerfeldt also of Custer.

Brown received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine degree in 2004 from Michigan State University. She has also completed coursework and training for veterinary acupuncture through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society.

Prior to taking her position in Manistee, Brown worked at several veterinary hospitals around the country as a small animal associate veterinarian. She has also started a home-based business providing acupuncture treatments for dogs and cats. In August 2002, she was a Miracle of Life worker at the Michigan State Fair.

The annual convocation is held the week prior to commencement which will take place on May 10, at 7 p.m. in the campus Recreation Center.

Source: http://www.ludingtondailynews.com/news/70851-wscc-awards-convocation-is-may-3

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মঙ্গলবার, ১৬ এপ্রিল, ২০১৩

Spotify Adds Three Asian Cities To Current 20 Served, Priced Lowest In Malaysia

Music streaming service, Spotify, has come to the three Asian cities of Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia. Its premium service, priced at $9.90 per month in the US, will also be a little cheaper in the region, with Malaysians getting the lowest price. In Singapore, the service is priced monthly at?$7.99 (S$9.90), in Hong Kong it’s?$6.18 (48 HKD) and in Malaysia it will be?$4.90 (14.9 MYR). It’s practically the new Big Mac Index?of music subscribers, going by Spotify’s head of new markets, Sriram Krishnan. He told us the prices are a “sweet spot” based on deep studies of each market. Spotify does come for free, but it premium users will be able to use its mobile apps, and get functions like offline caching, where songs are stored in devices and can be played without an Internet connection. Premium users also listen at 320 kbps, while free accounts stream at 160 kbps. Krishnan said Spotify has 24 million “active” users (he couldn’t define what “active” means in Spotify terms), and 6 million of those are paying. In comparison, fellow US music streaming site, Pandora, said recently that it has a base of about?200 million users, of which 70 million log in each month. Spotify’s arrival in Asia marks one of the first times a paid streaming service has come to the region. Others such as Netflix and Pandora are missing. Users outside of the US used to be able to access Pandora by registering with a US postal code, but the service?had to comply with DMCA regulations, and finally?closed its doors to non-US users?in 2007 through IP filtering. Krishnan would not give specifics on the deals made in Asia, but said that Spotify’s size makes it more of a force to reckon with during negotiations with industry execs. “We’ve been around for five years. In the past four years, we gave back $500 million to the music industry. This year, we will give back another $500 million. Having reached this scale, we’re now taken seriously,” he said. Media providers have been nervous coming into Asia because of piracy concerns.?He acknowledged that piracy continues to be an issue here, but said that a premium service’s ability to offer a more convenient way to get content without going through the hassle of BitTorrenting a file would trump piracy. Of course BitTorrent is free, and you could theoretically capture a streamed track in all

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/NSvLbG_SuWk/

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Citigroup execs sound a cautious note

This Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012 photo, shows a Citi Bank sign in Chicago. Citigroup turned in a strong first quarter, but the sentiment from the bank was more cautious than celebratory. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)

NEW YORK (AP) ? Citigroup isn't convinced the economy is back.

The bank on Monday announced strong first-quarter results, but executives were more cautious than celebratory.

Though they didn't declare victory, they appeared to have reason to: Citigroup's investment bank advised more companies on mergers and acquisitions; its retail bank wrote more mortgages; and the company set aside less money for bad loans. Quarterly profit rose 17 percent to $4 billion while revenue climbed 3 percent. The results beat expectations and the bank's stock price rose.

CEO Mike Corbat said that Europe's debt problems and slowing growth in parts of Asia can still rattle investors. New regulations, low interest rates and legal and other costs from the financial crisis will weigh on the bank's earnings.

"I think the world continues to be somewhat of a fragile place," he said on a call with analysts, "and I expect the markets to remain volatile."

Chief Financial Officer John Gerspach said the bank doesn't think consumers are confident enough to drive the economy, whose growth he described as uneven. "We're still going to be moving somewhat sideways."

It was a view more pessimistic than that of rivals JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo, whose CEOs last week described the economy as improving and consumer sentiment as healthy. Both banks reported record earnings but their revenue slipped, lowering their stock prices.

A split in the banks' outlooks occurred in the past two quarters as well. Citigroup, for example, hasn't been as confident as its competitors about a comeback in the housing market.

Monday's results marked Citi's first full quarter under Corbat, who took over last fall from Vikram Pandit. Pandit stepped down under pressure from a board that was unhappy with his efforts to turn around the bank. Corbat now has to prove that he can fix Citigroup, the country's third-largest behind JPMorgan and Bank of America.

So far he's been cutting jobs and trimming businesses in slow-growth areas, continuing Pandit's plan to slim down the bank and make it more manageable and less susceptible to special scrutiny from regulators. Bank executives said they were not pulling "any big levers," but instead moving slowly and steadily to cut costs and wring out more efficiency.

"To use a baseball analogy, a series of singles," Gerspach said.

The bank spent $148 million on "repositioning costs" in the quarter ? a fraction of the more than $1 billion it spent in the fourth quarter, when Corbat took over.

2 dead, at least 100 injured in Boston Marathon bombing

At least 105 people are injured and two dead after two bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon Monday afternoon. The injuries include dismemberment, witnesses said, and local hospitals say they are treating shrapnel wounds, open fractures and limb injuries. An eight-year-old boy is one of the two known dead, multiple news outlets reported, and several of the injured are also children.

Authorities are telling Boston residents to stay home and avoid crowds as they try to "stabilize" the situation.

"We recommend to people that they stay home," Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis said at a brief press conference Monday afternoon. "We want to make sure that we completely stabilize the situation."

"We are asking that people ... calmly make their way home," Gov. Deval Patrick said.

Davis said Boston police were not aware of any specific threat to the marathon before it began. Police have no one in custody, but are questioning many people.

Two large explosions, just 50 yards apart, went off shortly before 3 p.m. ET, more than four hours into the race. One of the explosions happened near the entrance of the Fairmont Copley Hotel in Copley Square. The blast scattered hundreds of onlookers and runners, and left a bloody scene of injured spectators, including children. Local news reporter Jackie Bruno wrote that she saw some people with their limbs blown off. The Boston Police Department said it is looking for video footage taken from the finish line as part of its investigation.

Boston Medical Center took in 20 patients, including two children, most of whom are being treated for "lower leg injuries," a spokeswoman said. A spokeswoman for Tufts Medical Center said the hospital is treating nine patients for conditions such as shrapnel wounds, ruptured ear drums, and "serious orthopedic and neuromuscular trauma to the lower legs."

President Barack Obama warned Americans in a brief statement Monday evening not to jump to conclusions before authorities find out who committed the act. "We will find out who did this," Obama said. "Any responsible individuals, any responsible groups will feel the full weight of justice." A White House official said the incident is being treated as an act of terror.

NBC News, citing anonymous law enforcement sources, reported Monday that a "small homemade bomb" is believed to be responsible for the explosion. Authorities found and dismantled at least two more explosive devices. The FAA has created a no-fly zone around the area, and the Boston subway was shut down. Cell phone service was shut down in the area, the AP reported, to prevent any remote detonations. Family and friends of marathon runners or spectators can call 617-635-4500 for information.

This video from the Boston Globe shows the moment the bomb went off, and the paper has also pulled together dramatic photos from the aftermath. According to marathon officials, several thousand runners had not finished the race when the explosions detonated.

Police have evacuated the area on Boylston Street to continue sweeping for more devices. Runners who had not yet finished the race were stopped at mile 25 and directed to Boston Common. The Boston Police Department is calling in all off duty officers in the city. This New York Times map shows where on the route the explosions took place.

Patrick called it a "horrific day in Boston" in a statement.

The New York Police Department is stepping up security around the city in response to the explosion. At the White House, yellow police tape was used to block off Pennsylvania Avenue from pedestrians in front of the White House's north gates and secret service were positioned along the perimeter. Credentialed pass holders continued to be permitted entry and exit from both the White House and the Executive Office Building.

A photo of the apparent explosion posted on Twitter (photo via Boston to A T)

--The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/dozens-people-injured-explosion-boston-marathon-190955311.html

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সোমবার, ১৫ এপ্রিল, ২০১৩

Fish prone to melanoma get DNA decoded

Apr. 15, 2013 ? Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and elsewhere have decoded the genome of the platyfish, a cousin of the guppy and a popular choice for home aquariums.

Among scientists, the fish are meticulously studied for their tendency to develop melanoma and for other attributes more common to mammals, like courting prospective mates and giving birth to live young.

Known scientifically as Xiphophorus maculatus, platyfish sport a variety of spectacular colors -- brilliant oranges, yellows and a lovely iridescent silver -- and myriad striped and speckled patterns. And when melanomas develop, they are easy to spot, even to an untrained eye.

"In platyfish, melanomas typically develop as black splotches along the tail and fins," says senior author Wesley Warren, PhD, a geneticist at Washington University's Genome Institute. "These fish are an ideal model for exploring the many unknowns of cancer, including how, when and where it develops in the body as well as its severity."

Scientists at Washington University, the University of W?rzburg in Germany and Texas State University led an international team involved in sequencing and analyzing the platyfish genome. Their findings are available online in Nature Genetics.

"Now that we have the genome in hand, we can tease apart the way genes interact with one another to cause melanoma," says co-lead author Manfred Schartl, PhD, of the University of W?rzburg in Germany. "Just as in human melanoma, genes that play a role in pigment cells also influence the development of melanoma in platyfish."

The platyfish genome includes some 20,000 genes, roughly the same number found in the human genome. But unlike humans and other mammals, the chromosomes of the platyfish, like those in other fish, have remained remarkably intact over some 200 million years of evolution.

"It's very much a mystery as to why these chromosomes are so structurally similar among fish species over long time periods of evolution because they live in vastly different aquatic environments," says Warren.

The platyfish is a prolific breeder. But while most fish lay eggs, platyfish females give birth to live young, often in broods of more than 100.

Comparing the genes of platyfish to those in mice and other mammals that give birth to their young, the scientists found a number of altered genes in the fish involved in live-bearing birth.

"Surprisingly, we found that the platyfish retain some yolk-related genes typically found in fish that lay eggs to produce their offspring, and genes involved in placenta function and egg fertilization displayed unique molecular changes," says co-lead author Ron Walter, PhD, of Texas State University.

While humans are known for their higher-level thinking and behaviors, platyfish and other fish have evolved their own set of complex behaviors, like courting, schooling and avoiding predators that far exceed the abilities of amphibians, reptiles and other lower vertebrates. Looking through the platyfish genome, the researchers found a number of gene copies linked to cognition in humans and other mammals that could underlie these behaviors.

"These gene copies were retained at a high rate in the platyfish, which give them a chance to evolve different functions," Warren explains. "In this case, we believe the extra gene copies gave platyfish and other related fish the ability to develop more complex behaviors, which is unexpected for many lower-level vertebrates."

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Washington University School of Medicine.

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

Journal Reference:

Manfred Schartl, Ronald B Walter, Yingjia Shen, Tzintzuni Garcia, Julian Catchen, Angel Amores, Ingo Braasch, Domitille Chalopin, Jean-Nicolas Volff, Klaus-Peter Lesch, Angelo Bisazza, Pat Minx, LaDeana Hillier, Richard K Wilson, Susan Fuerstenberg, Jeffrey Boore, Steve Searle, John H Postlethwait, Wesley C Warren. The genome of the platyfish, Xiphophorus maculatus, provides insights into evolutionary adaptation and several complex traits. Nature Genetics, 2013; DOI: 10.1038/ng.2604

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

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_science/~3/9F0XeiSQpdk/130415151448.htm

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The CIA?s secret war

On the Radar

It?s common knowledge that the United States embarked on two wars following September 11: Afghanistan and Iraq. Now, can you name a third?

That?s the premise of Mark Mazzetti?s new book The Way of the Knife: The CIA, a Secret Army, and a War at the Ends of the Earth.

?There is war going on that really still is not acknowledged by the US, or the details certainly are not acknowledged by the US,? Mark Mazzetti tells on the Radar, referring to the CIA?s use of drones to kill individuals the US government deems terrorists in places like Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia.

Mazzetti refers to the CIA?s drone program as the ?wars away from the big wars in Iraq and Afghanistan,? and the most concentrated theatre of that war is believed to be Pakistan.

Mazzetti explains that the Pakistani government gave the US permission to conduct secret strikes in 2004.

?The agreement was that the US could start doing drone strikes in the tribal regions of Pakistan, but on the condition that either Pakistan takes credit for it or nobody talks about it,? Mazzetti says, going on to tell the story of former Pakistani president Perez Musharraf?s approving the use of drones.

?President Musharraf, at the time, said he didn't think it'd be a problem keeping up the ruse because his line was ?things fall out of the sky all the time in Pakistan?,? Mazzetti recalls.

While the drone war in Pakistan has become an open secret over the last several years, Mazzetti says there?s a lot the government has yet to be transparent about.

?There's been a lot of operations that have gone badly that have never been acknowledged,? says the author.

?A lot of this is still being done on the fly in terms of the procedures, the targeting rules, the lists of people, who get marked for death and whether the president has to sign off on them,? Mazzetti says.

To hear more about what Mazzetti uncovered about the CIA?s secret war, including how it has fundamentally altered the agency?s primary focus from spying to manhunting, check out this episode of On the Radar.

ABC News' Eric Wray, Betsy Klein, Freda Kahen Kashi, Dick Norling, and Shari Thomas contributed to this episode.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/power-players-abc-news/secret-wars-cia-covert-mission-combat-terrorism-112153462.html

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Some Xbox Live services experiencing outage

Suzanne Choney , NBC News ? ? ? 10 hrs.

If you're having trouble getting into your Xbox Live account, you're not alone; Microsoft says some Xbox Live services are down, and it's working to restore things back to normal.

In addition to the sign-in issues, "We are aware of an issue members are having sending and receiving messages, seeing friend's statuses, sending or receiving game and party invites, and accepting friend requests on Xbox LIVE," Microsoft says on its Xbox status site.

"We are currently working as fast as we can to get this issue fixed, thank you for your patience during this time and we will update you with any new information we receive."

That was the situation as of 9 p.m. ET Saturday. The best thing to do is keep trying every half hour or so, and checking the status site. Or, maybe now's a good time to tackle those taxes you've been putting off ...

Check out Technology, GadgetBox, TODAYTech and InGame on Facebook, and on Twitter, follow Suzanne Choney.

Source: http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/653377/s/2aafbc4c/l/0L0Snbcnews0N0Ctechnology0Cingame0Csome0Exbox0Elive0Eservices0Eexperiencing0Eoutage0E1C9337443/story01.htm

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Vinny Does Movie Awards Seat Swapping For 'Girlfriend' Zoe Saldana: Watch Here!

'Who ever heard of Samuel L. Jackson?' MTV's Pre-Show co-host jokes during a sneak peek at Sunday night's seating chart.
By Driadonna Roland, with reporting by Christina Garibaldi

Vinny Guadagnino
Photo: MTV News

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1705586/movie-awards-vinny-guadagnino-zoe-saldana-seats.jhtml

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Lindsay Lohan: No Adderall, No Rehab For Me!

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/04/lindsay-lohan-no-adderall-no-rehab-for-me/

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Louisiana company recalls 468K pounds of meat

NEW ORLEANS (AP) ? The U.S. Department of Agriculture says a Louisiana-based meat packing company has expanded a recall of meat products because of possible bacterial contamination. No illnesses have been reported

The Manda Packing Company recall announced this past week now includes 468,000 pounds of roast beef, ham, turkey breast, tasso pork, ham shanks, hog headcheese, corned beef, and pastrami.

The agriculture department said Friday the products were recalled because of possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.

The products were shipped to retailers in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.

The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service listed eight types of meat sold under 41 different names with various "sell by" dates. Its news release said some of the products may have been sliced at retail delis, and if so will not bear packaging information.

A statement posted Saturday on company's website says the recalled meats were produced at Manda's facility in Baker, La. between Feb. 27 and April 9.

The USDA said eating food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease.

"Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis," the statement said. But the disease can be serious and sometimes fatal for those with weakened immune systems, and it can cause miscarriages and stillbirths.

"We are committed to work with USDA in reviewing and enhancing our food safety system so we can continue to ensure that our products are safe, wholesome and worthy of our brand name," Josh Yarborough, director of quality assurance for Manda, said in Saturday's statement.

___

Online:

USDA news release:

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_028_2013_Expanded/index.asp

Manda Meat Packing statement:

http://www.mandafinemeats.com/Manda%20Baker%20Recall%20Statement%204-12-13.pdf

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/louisiana-company-recalls-468k-pounds-meat-193130394.html

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Tax Day Freebies 2013 and other freebies - Recipes, Cooking, and ...

April 13, 2013 04:18 PM EDT

tax day freebies 2013

Tax Day Freebies

File Your Taxes FREE! And, of course, if you still need to file your taxes, check these out:

Big List of Tax Day Freebies & Discounts

AMC Theaters
FREE Small Popcorn with Printable Coupon on April 15
Arby?s
Free Value Curly Fries on Tax Day 4/15
Bonefish Grill
Bang Bang Shrimp for $5 from 4PM -close on April 15th
Boston Market
BOGO Free Ribs ~ get a $1 coupon and enter for the chance to win free food in link
Bruegger?s Bagels
Special Tax Break ? a $10.40 Big Bagel Bundle (Bakers Dozens & 2 Tubs of Cream Cheese) at participating bakeries, today through Monday, April 15th!! List originally published http://bit.ly/Zo0BsB. Get your coupon on Bruegger?s Bagels facebook page.
California Tortilla
FREE Chips & Queso, (which is ?cheese?) when you say ?1040? on Tax Day
Cinnabon
FREE Cinnabon Bites on April 15
Chik Fil A
Make a purchase on 4/15, and then bring your receipt back on 5/13 to get a full refund. http://bit.ly/Zo0BsB (Participating locations only, call ahead)
Chili?s
Free Appetizer or Dessert w/entree purchase. Valid 4/16-4/18.

Please provide details below to help Gather review this content. If it is found to be inappropriate and in violation of the Gather Terms of Service, action will be taken.

You have successfully submitted a report for this post.

Source: http://food-cooking.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474981869404

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Thatcher's funeral to take place on April 17

By Larry Fine AUGUSTA, Georgia, April 8 (Reuters) - Guan Tianlang answered questions about his readiness to play the Masters at the record-setting age of 14 when he gave two-times champion Ben Crenshaw a putting lesson at the 18th hole at Augusta National on Monday. The 61-year-old Crenshaw, whose career was built on his ability as a putter, mentored the precocious Chinese during their practice round, advising the Asia-Pacific Amateur champion about the notoriously fast, sloping greens of Augusta. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/thatchers-funeral-place-april-17-101329157.html

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Getting Health Insurance For My Pet Was A Bad Deal. Here's Why ...

Insurance is always a gamble. Pet health insurance, much like human health insurance, is a bet that your pet?s covered medical expenses over its lifetime will add up to more than the premiums you pay. Following that logic, Howard got a health insurance plan through VPI for his late pet Chihuahua, Tonka. He paid his bills faithfully and filed only a few small claims over the years, until his pet suffered from heart problems in his last six months. Then Tonka began to suffer from heart problems. This is the very situation that pet owners buy insurance for. How did things work out financially?

Before our pet-loving readers begin to worry: Tonka didn?t make it. He was put to sleep after suffering one too many instances of heart failure. Not for lack of medical care, though: he saw a veterinary cardiologist and was hospitalized at a 24-hour emergency clinic when he suffered sudden heart failure. We?re very sorry to hear that Tonka died, but that wasn?t the reason why Howard wrote to us. He was following up on a post from a few years ago, ?Does Your Pet Need Health Insurance?? based on calculations by our number-crunching siblings over at Consumer Reports Money Advisor.

In that article, they argued that for most pet owners, you?re better off taking the money that you would have spent on insurance premiums and putting it in a savings account. After Tonka died, Howard put this theory to a real-world test, and came to the same conclusion.

He explains:

I signed up for VPI Superior Plan (Best available) in 2006 for my Chihuahua Tonka. Prior to late 2012 I had submitted 3 small claims), once in 2006 which I submitted a $260 bill and VPI paid $151. Once in 2009 which VPI paid $0 and once in $2011 they paid $26.

In late 2012 my Chihuahua was diagnosed with cardiac issues. We had an emergency trip to the Vet which cost us $862, I was happy when I saw VPI reimbursed us $732, but it quickly went down hill from there. I was told we need to take Tonka to see a cardiologist. The visit to the Cardiologist cost $630 and VPI paid back $310, the biggest issue being VPI only covers $150 of a Echocardiogram which runs about $500 and is the best way to determine what is going on.

It was determined his heart was failing and we were given a bunch of meds and asked to come back in 6 month for a follow up. The followup visit in March cost us $565 (another Echocardiogram and consultation). VPI paid just $247.

Then just 2 weeks later Tonka started having breathing issues at 3am. We rushed to the emergency room where they said he was going back into heart failure.

We left him there for 24hrs, while they kept him on oxygen and monitored him and gave him his meds through injections. The total bill for this was $1718 (see attached photo), VPI paid $256. 6 days later Tonka went back into Heart failure and we had to put him to sleep. (still waiting to see how much they reimburse me for).

When I questioned the reimbursement amount, especially for the last bill I was told that we had used our benefit allowance. And they don?t adjust based on where you live, obviously in some states 24 hour emergency care must be a lot cheaper then Northern VA. Also I guess next time my dog has a relapse or needs followup checkups I better tell him to wait until the year is up so I can actually take advantage of the insurance I?m paying for.

As a quick breakdown:

In 7 years of having their ?Top of the Line Plan? and paid around $2200.

In that time period I submitted $4286 in claims (mostly in the last 6 months).

They paid out a total of $1801 in those 7 years..

So in total we paid $2200 + $4286 ? $1801 = $4685

Had we not had insurance and just put money away, we would have paid $4286 out of pocket.

So having insurance cost us $399 more then not having it.

Needless to say I?d like to warn anyone who is considering Pet Insurance and especially if they are to avoid VPI.

That?s Howard?s experience: if you?ve crunched the numbers on your own pet?s health crises, please let us know!

Source: http://consumerist.com/2013/04/09/getting-health-insurance-for-my-pet-was-a-bad-deal-heres-why/

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Westbrook tosses shutout, Cards hammer Reds

By R.B. FALLSTROM

AP Sports Writer

Associated Press Sports

updated 3:46 p.m. ET April 10, 2013

ST. LOUIS (AP) - Jake Westbrook pitched a five-hit shutout and the St. Louis Cardinals backed him with four home runs Wednesday in routing the Cincinnati Reds 10-0.

Jon Jay, Carlos Beltran and Matt Adams homered in a span of seven at-bats off Homer Bailey as the Cardinals took two of three from the NL Central champions.

Matt Carpenter added a two-run homer on a four-hit day. Adams homered for the second straight game and added an RBI double and walk.

The Cardinals have dominated the Reds at home the last decade, losing just three of 28 series with two splits.

Westbrook (1-1) threw his fourth career shutout, walking four and striking out three.

Westbrook pitched his first shutout since Aug. 9, 2006, against the Angels when he was with Cleveland, and this was his 15th career complete game. He held the Reds hitless in six at-bats with runners in scoring position, and contributed his 11th career RBI with a single in the seventh for St. Louis' final run.

Bailey (1-1) had gone 23 straight shutout innings - including his no-hitter against Pittsburgh last season - before the Cardinals broke open a scoreless game with four runs with two outs in the fifth.

Bailey was charged with seven runs in five-plus innings and dropped to 3-8 with a 5.52 ERA against the Cardinals, including 0-4 with a 6.93 ERA at Busch Stadium.

The Cardinals advanced only two runners into scoring position in the first four innings and Bailey got two quick outs to start the fifth before running into trouble against the top of the lineup. St. Louis scored 10 runs on 11 hits in the fifth, sixth and seventh off Bailey, Logan Ondrusek and Alfredo Simon.

Jay's second homer just cleared center fielder Shin-Soo Choo's leaping attempt at the wall. Carpenter followed with a single and Matt Holliday hit an RBI double, prompting a visit from pitching coach Bryan Price.

Beltran then hit his first homer of the season on to make it 4-0.

Adams hit a two-run homer in the sixth off Bailey. Carpenter's two-run shot homer three batters later made it 8-0.

NOTES: Jay has 19 career homers, six of them against the Reds. ... Choo was 0 for 2 with a walk and hit by pitch to end a four-game streak of two hits each game. ... Cincinnati's Todd Frazier was 0 for 11 in the series after opening the season with a six-game RBI streak.

More newsAnonymous / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Is baseball's diversity really in decline?

HBT: There are undoubtedly fewer black players in Major League Baseball today than 30 years ago. But is the idea that baseball has become less diverse a misrepresentation?

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/51497041/ns/sports-baseball/

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Facebook Kills The Leaked Build Of Facebook Home For Android, All Feeds Go Black

Sorry, kids, but it looks like Facebook has taken action to disable the leaked copy of its forthcoming Android application, Facebook Home, which had only today?become available in the form of a hacked, beta build. The leaked app, unlike the official version, which debuts on April 12th, also included support for a wider range of devices, including the Nexus 4 and the Nexus 7 tablet.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/cKJj0UY822I/

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Sen. Murray Keeps Hanford Nuclear Site Safe From Budget Cuts

She may not attend Tuesday?s confirmation hearing for Ernest Moniz, President Obama?s nominee for Energy secretary, but you can bet Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., will make sure the department has all the money it needs to keep the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in her home state running safely.

That?s not an easy task when the DOE, along with most other government agencies, is facing across-the-board sequester cuts and intense scrutiny over how Washington spends taxpayers? dollars. The positions Murray holds on the Senate Democratic leadership team and key committees empower her to ensure that funding for the nuclear-waste site?a whopping $2 billion a year?remains intact.

The Hanford site, which takes up nearly 600 square miles along the banks of the Columbia River in south-central Washington, produced plutonium for nuclear weapons during World War II and the Cold War, including the bomb detonated over Nagasaki, Japan. Today, the site holds 56 million of gallons of radioactive waste from those weapons in underground tanks fraught with problems, including leaks into surrounding soil. It?s considered the most contaminated radioactive site in North America.

In addition to her role on the Democratic leadership team and her chairmanship of the Budget Committee, Murray is also the second-most senior Democrat on the Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, which oversees DOE?s budget.

?Senator Murray has an important role in leadership, and she?s got a key facility in her state and she sits on the key subcommittee. You add all these pieces together and she has a major role to play,? said Dan Reicher, who worked on Hanford issues when he was chief of staff to President Clinton?s first Energy secretary, Hazel O?Leary, in the 1990s.

From her perch atop the Budget Committee, Murray also made sure her party?s first budget blueprint in four years included language supporting funding for nuclear-waste sites. She didn?t mention the name Hanford, but the language included implied as much.

?The environmental effects have spread to the surrounding soil and groundwater, which must be remediated,? the Democratic budget proposal states. The plan won?t become law, but it has symbolic importance in the wake of its Senate passage last month, and it could be a sign of what Obama includes in his budget proposal due out Wednesday.

In addition to securing $2 billion in annual funding for Hanford, Murray was also instrumental in getting an additional $2 billion included in the $800 billion economic stimulus that Obama signed into law in February 2009.

The amount of money the government pours into Hanford every year is a sign of its importance. Hanford?s $2 billion budget is just $300 million less than the entire FY 2013 budget proposal for DOE?s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

The government is trying to protect Hanford as much as possible from sequestration. About 9,000 people work at the site.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/sen-murray-keeps-hanford-nuclear-safe-budget-cuts-223700660--politics.html

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No sense of panic in NKorean capital

South Koreans look out a bus window upon their arrival from North Korea's Kaesong at the customs, immigration and quarantine office near the border village of Panmunjom, which has separated the two Koreas since the Korean War, in Paju, north of Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. A few hundred South Korean managers, some wandering among quiet assembly lines, were all that remained Tuesday at the massive industrial park run by the rival Koreas after North Korea pulled its more than 50,000 workers from the complex. Others stuffed their cars full of goods before heading south across the Demilitarized Zone that divides the nations. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A South Korean vehicle carrying boxes, returning from the North Korean city of Kaesong arrives at the customs, immigration and quarantine office near the border village of Panmunjom, which has separated the two Koreas since the Korean War, in Paju, north of Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. North Korean workers didn't show up for work at the Kaesong industrial complex, a jointly run factory with South Korea on Tuesday, a day after Pyongyang suspended operations at the last remaining major economic link between rivals locked in an increasingly hostile relationship. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A South Korean man, center, unloads boxes transported from North Korea's Kaesong as reporters seek his comment upon arrival at the customs, immigration and quarantine office near the border village of Panmunjom, that has separated the two Koreas since the Korean War, in Paju, north of Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. A few hundred South Korean managers, some wandering among quiet assembly lines, were all that remained Tuesday at the massive industrial park run by the rival Koreas after North Korea pulled its more than 50,000 workers from the complex. Others stuffed their cars full of goods before heading south across the Demilitarized Zone that divides the nations. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

South Korean vehicles, returnning from the North Korean city of Kaesong, arrive at the customs, immigration and quarantine office near the border village of Panmunjom, in Paju, north of Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. North Korean workers didn't show up for work at the Kaesong industrial complex, a jointly run factory with South Korea on Tuesday, a day after Pyongyang suspended operations at the last remaining major economic link between rivals locked in an increasingly hostile relationship. (AP Photo/Kyodo News) JAPAN OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT, NO LICENSING IN CHINA, HONG KONG, JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA AND FRANCE

South Koreans arrive with their belongings from North Korea's Kaesong at the customs, immigration and quarantine office near the border village of Panmunjom, which has separated the two Koreas since the Korean War, in Paju, north of Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, April 9, 2013. A few hundred South Korean managers, some wandering among quiet assembly lines, were all that remained Tuesday at the massive industrial park run by the rival Koreas after North Korea pulled its more than 50,000 workers from the complex. Others stuffed their cars full of goods before heading south across the Demilitarized Zone that divides the nations. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) ? Scores of North Koreans of all ages planted trees as part of a forestation campaign ? armed with shovels, not guns. In the evening, women in traditional dress danced in the plazas to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the late leader Kim Jong Il's appointment to a key defense post.

Despite another round of warnings from their leaders of impending nuclear war, there was no sense of panic in the capital on Tuesday.

Chu Kang Jin, a Pyongyang resident, said everything is calm in the city.

"Everyone, including me, is determined to turn out as one to fight for national reunification ... if the enemies spark a war," he added, using nationalist rhetoric common among many North Koreans when speaking to the media.

The North's latest warning, issued by its Asia-Pacific Peace Committee, urged foreign companies and tourists to leave South Korea.

"The situation on the Korean Peninsula is inching close to a thermonuclear war due to the evermore undisguised hostile actions of the United States and the South Korean puppet warmongers and their moves for a war against" North Korea, the committee said in a statement carried by state media on Tuesday.

There was no sign of an exodus of foreign companies or tourists from South Korea.

White House spokesman Jay Carney called the statement "more unhelpful rhetoric."

"It is unhelpful, it is concerning, it is provocative," he said.

The warning appeared to be an attempt to scare foreigners into pressing their governments to pressure Washington and Seoul to act to avert a conflict.

Analysts see a direct attack on Seoul as extremely unlikely, and there are no overt signs that North Korea's army is readying for war, let alone a nuclear one.

North Korea has been girding for a showdown with the U.S. and South Korea, its wartime foes, for months. The Korean War ended in 1953 with an armistice, not a peace treaty, leaving the peninsula still technically at war.

In December, North Korea launched a satellite into space on a rocket that Washington and others called a cover for a long-range missile test. The North followed that with an underground nuclear test in February, a step toward mastering the technology for mounting an atomic bomb on a missile.

Tightened U.N. sanctions that followed drew the ire of North Korea, which accused Washington and Seoul of leading the campaign against it. Annual U.S.-South Korean military drills south of the border have further incensed Pyongyang, which sees them as practice for an invasion.

Last week, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un enshrined the pursuit of nuclear weapons ? which the North characterizes as a defense against the U.S. ? as a national goal, along with improving the economy. North Korea also declared it would restart a mothballed nuclear complex.

Adm. Samuel Locklear, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, told the Senate Armed Services Committee in Washington on Tuesday that he concurred with an assessment by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., calling the tension between North Korea and the West the worst since the end of the Korean War.

"The continued advancement of the North's nuclear and missile programs, its conventional force posture, and its willingness to resort to asymmetric actions as a tool of coercive diplomacy creates an environment marked by the potential for miscalculation," Locklear told the panel.

He said the U.S. military and its allies would be ready if North Korea tries to strike.

Heightening speculation about a provocation, foreign diplomats reported last week that they had been advised by North Korea to consider evacuating by Wednesday.

However, Britain and others said they had no immediate plans to withdraw from Pyongyang.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye, who has sought to re-engage North Korea with dialogue and humanitarian aid since taking office in February, expressed exasperation Tuesday with what she called the "endless vicious cycle" of Seoul answering Pyongyang's hostile behavior with compromise, only to get more hostility.

U.S. and South Korean defense officials have said they've seen nothing to indicate that Pyongyang is preparing for a major military action.

State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said there was "no specific information to suggest imminent threat to U.S. citizens or facilities" in South Korea. The U.S. Embassy has neither changed its security posture nor recommended U.S. citizens take special precautions, he said.

Still, the United States and South Korea have raised their defense postures, as has Japan, which deployed PAC-3 missile interceptors in key locations around Tokyo on Tuesday as a precaution against possible North Korean ballistic missile tests.

In Rome, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon described the tensions as "very dangerous" and said that "any small incident caused by miscalculation or misjudgment" may "create an uncontrollable situation."

Also Tuesday, citing the tension, North Korea pulled out more than 50,000 workers from the Kaesong industrial park, which combines South Korean technology and know-how with cheap North Korean labor. It was the first time that production has been shut down at the complex, the only remaining product of economic cooperation between the two countries that began about a decade ago when relations were much warmer.

Other projects from previous eras of cooperation such as reunions of families separated by war and tours to a scenic North Korean mountain have been suspended in recent years.

Though the North Korean Foreign Ministry advised foreign embassies to evacuate, tourism officials are continuing to welcome visitors.

National carrier Air Koryo's daily flight from Beijing was only half full on Tuesday. Flight attendants in red suits and blue scarves artfully kept in place by sparkling brooches betrayed no sense of fear or concern.

Tourist Mark Fahey, a biomedical engineer from Sydney, Australia, said he thought a war was "pretty unlikely."

Fahey, a second-time visitor to North Korea, said he booked his trip to Pyongyang six months ago, eager to see how the country might have changed under Kim Jong Un. He said he chose to stick with his plans, suspecting that most of the threats were rhetoric.

"I knew that when I arrived here it would probably be very different to the way it was being reported in the media," he told The Associated Press at Pyongyang airport. He said his family trusts him to make the right judgment, but "my colleagues at work think I am crazy."

___

Associated Press writers Hyung-jin Kim in Seoul, South Korea, Nicole Winfield in Rome and Matthew Pennington, Donna Cassata and Richard Lardner in Washington contributed to this report.

___

Follow AP's Korea bureau chief on Twitter at twitter.com/newsjean.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-04-09-Koreas-Tension/id-20f7a683524b4533838e19921726c83d

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