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সোমবার, ৩১ ডিসেম্বর, ২০১২
Three (thin) reasons why Congress could yet avoid the fiscal cliff
A deadline, the promise of a House vote on whatever the Senate can produce, and a sharp reaction on Wall Street boost prospects that gridlocked lawmakers will act to avert at least some aspects of the fiscal cliff by Jan. 1.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid walks with unidentified aides and security to his office at the Capitol after meeting with President Obama at the White House Friday. Reid and Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell are working on an 11th-hour plan to avoid the fiscal cliff.
Mary Calvert/REUTERS
EnlargeWith just three days to the fiscal cliff, it?s down to the Senate???which has not passed a budget in three years???to find a way out in time for a vote on New Year?s Eve.
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Yet, despite a culture of failure that has settled on Washington like an ice storm, there are 11th hour pressures that could drive Congress to avert at least some elements of the ?fiscal cliff? set to begin Jan. 1, including a week-long sell-off on Wall Street and a rare pledge that the GOP-controlled House will allow a vote on whatever the Democrat-controlled Senate produces.
?We just can?t afford a politically self-inflicted wound to our economy,? said President Obama in his weekly radio address on Saturday. ?The economy is growing, but keeping it that way means that the folks you sent to Washington have to do their jobs.?
Ever since the 2011 debt-ceiling crisis, the focus of efforts to come up with a deficit-reduction plan has been private talks between President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner (R) of Ohio. Those efforts collapsed last week after a critical mass of GOP conservatives rejected Mr. Boehner?s ?Plan B? to exclude incomes over $1 million from an extension of the Bush-era tax cuts.
2012 enters the record books. Were you paying attention? A news quiz.
Now, it?s up to Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D) of Nevada and minority leader Mitch McConnell (R) of Kentucky, seasoned veterans at partisan floor maneuvers to thwart the other side, to switch gears and rally support for a bipartisan deal, especially finding an acceptable cut-off point for extending the Bush tax cuts.
There are other elements of what has come to be known as the fiscal cliff ? a $600 billion mix of tax hikes and spending cuts set to take hold on Jan. 1 ? that may be postponed in the rush to an 11th hour agreement.
These include $110 billion in mandated spending cuts, known as the "sequester," unemployment benefits set to drop back to 26 weeks from a current 99 weeks, the end to a $5 million exemption for the estate tax, and a "patch" to the alternative minimum tax, set to hit some 40 million families, if Congress not act. Also on the table: a hike to the debt ceiling, now set to be breached early on Dec. 31, which the Treasury says can be delayed for weeks by?emergency measures.
In a White House meeting with congressional leaders on Friday, President Obama restated his goal of extending tax breaks only for family incomes below $250,000. But in negotiations with Boehner, the president had proposed raising that threshold to $400,000 ? a level endorsed by many Senate Republicans and likely to win the support even of some Tea Party conservatives.
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PFT: Tebow's year with Jets ends with whimper
Getty ImagesA year ago, Tim Tebow was a playoff-winning quarterback.
Sunday, he was again reduced to a fan with a good seat, as his little-used year with the Jets ended in familiar fashion.
He took one snap in Sunday?s finale, handed off to Joe McKnight, and then began a polite campaign for a real chance to start somewhere.
Asked whether he thought that chance would come with the Jets, he played nice.
?I?m not sure,? Tebow said, via Mike Vorkunov of the Newark Star-Ledger. ?That?s something we?ll have to look at and take a few days and sort it all out.?
Jets coach Rex Ryan was equally illuminating, saying ?Tim?s under contract. So we?ll see what happens.?
It?s obvious Ryan never wanted him, and will likely feel a great relief at not having to deal with the Tebow distraction continued to build.
Even as Mark Sanchez floundered, and the skipped him in favor of Greg McElroy, it was clear Tebow wasn?t going to see the field unless it was an emergency. And maybe not then.
?I?m trying to win the game and that?s it,? Ryan said. ?If I thought Tebow would have helped us win the game playing quarterback or defensive tackle, I would have played him.?
So obviously, he didn?t.
It appears the Jaguars are willing to, once they find a general manager who is willing to acquire him (which could limit their pool of candidates to those willing to go along with the owner?s apparent desire to bring the hometown hero back).
The Broncos proved last year that the Tebow experiment can be made to work, in a strictly controlled environment. Namely, with an excellent coach and a good supporting cast, both of which are tailored to his particular skill set.
The Jaguars, as presently constructed, can?t offer that.
But it seems like they?re willing to try, and it doesn?t take much reading between the lines to realize Tebow will welcome the opportunity, even if it?s not a good one.
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রবিবার, ৩০ ডিসেম্বর, ২০১২
Chevy Camaro production to move to US
Chevy Camaro?production is moving out of the Oshawa Car Assembly plant in Canada and into the Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant in Michigan, Ireson writes.
In this June 2011 file photo, a worker checks the paint on a Camaro at the GM factory in Oshawa, Ontario. General Motors says it will move production of the Camaro from its Oshawa operation in Ontario to a plant in Michigan.
Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press/AP/File
EnlargeYou might think the Chevy Camaro is one of the ultimate expressions of American motoring muscle--and you'd be correct, except for the fact that it has been built in Canada since its 2009 return to production.
Skip to next paragraph MotorAuthorityThis website offers the?best car news, photos, spy shots, and auto-show coverage. Click here?for car news?from around the world ? and around the clock.
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That won't be the case with the sixth-generation Camaro, however, as production is moving out of the Oshawa?Car?Assembly plant in Canada and into the Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant in Michigan.
Reasons for the move, according to?Chevrolet, are improved production efficiencies and lower capital investment, as the Camaro is the only?rear-wheel drivevehicle currently built at Oshawa. The Lansing plant also builds the ATS and CTS, so adding the Camaro to it "consolidates the RWD assembly with the?Cadillac CTS?and ATS."
Except, of course, for the rear-wheel drive Corvette built in Bowling?Green, and the company's various?pickups, SUVs, and the upcoming SS, built at other GM plants. Might the "consolidation" GM is speaking of then refer not just to its?rear-driveofferings, but to?the Alpha platform?the next Camaro is expected to be based on??
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Egypt opposition says Islamists trying to stifle dissent
CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt's opposition accused President Mohamed Mursi's Islamist allies of trying to muzzle dissent on Friday after prosecutors decided to investigate whether prominent government critics were guilty of sedition.
The probe, which comes a month after Mursi replaced the chief prosecutor, further sours the political climate as the leader and his opponents face off over a new constitution that became law on Wednesday.
Critics of the new charter say it uses vague language, fails to enshrine the rights of women and minorities and does little to champion the rights of Egyptians who rose up last year to overthrow army-backed strongman Hosni Mubarak.
Supporters say it protects personal rights that were often trampled upon during the Mubarak era and a subsequent spell of army rule.
The constitution text won about 64 percent approval in a two-stage referendum but Mursi's opponents vowed to continue protests and rejected his calls for a national dialogue.
Prosecutors ordered the inquiry into three of the president's most prominent opponents on Thursday - former Arab League chief Amr Moussa, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mohamed ElBaradei and leftist Hamdeen Sabahy.
Moussa and Sabahy both challenged Mursi for the presidency in a June election which followed the 2011 uprising.
The prosecutor's office said the three had been accused of inciting supporters to rise up and overthrow Mursi, the country's first fairly elected leader.
Mursi's critics saw an attempt to intimidate them into silence and vowed to continue challenging his rule.
"I believe this is orchestrated by the Brotherhood leadership," Hussein Abdel Ghani, a spokesman for the country's main opposition umbrella group, told Reuters. "The Mubarak regime used to order the same tactics."
"But we are going to use our full rights, our civil tactics, to demonstrate our opposition to this regime," he said.
The charged atmosphere makes it harder for Mursi to bolster his authority and muster a consensus for unpopular austerity measures vital to preventing a weak economy from collapsing.
AN END TO TURMOIL
Mursi is hoping that the quick adoption of the constitution and holding elections to a permanent new parliament soon will help end the long period of turmoil since Mubarak's overthrow in February 2011 that has wrecked the economy.
But the Egyptian pound tumbled to its weakest in almost eight years this week after the constitution was approved. People unnerved by the continued political tension rushed to hoard dollars and gold.
The government ordered new restrictions on foreign currency apparently designed to prevent capital flight. Leaving or entering with more than $10,000 cash is now banned.
Mursi was propelled into office thanks to the rallying power of his Muslim Brotherhood, the country's main opposition group under Mubarak that was banned from formal politics for decades.
Ahmed Sobeih, a spokesman for the Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party, dismissed Abdel Ghani's accusation of an organised legal campaign against Mursi's opponents.
"We must get away from the language of mutual accusations," he said, adding that "dozens" of similar complaints had been filed against Brotherhood leaders.
Mursi appointed Chief Public Prosecutor Talaat Ibrahim when he assumed sweeping new powers on November 22. Ibrahim's predecessor, Abdel Maguid Mahmoud, had served for many years under Mubarak.
Judicial sources said the inquiry against Moussa, ElBaradei and Sabahy followed a complaint from lawyers sympathetic to Mursi.
The trio are part of the National Salvation Front, an alliance of political groups that has spearheaded street protests against the government.
"The mere referral of these complaints to an investigative judge and the accompanying public announcement is already cause enough for serious concern," said Heba Morayef, Egypt director at New York-based Human Rights Watch.
A spokesman for Moussa said the accusations against him were groundless.
"What we read in the papers are several allegations that we have denied over and over in the past few months," said Ahmed Kamel, a spokesman for Moussa's Congress Party. "They are completely unfounded and have no relation to reality."
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/egypt-opposition-says-islamists-trying-stifle-dissent-082736414.html
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Activity-Transforming Internet Marketing Methods For Company ...
Online marketing is an a little overwhelming Julio Jones Jersey arena for a person who has never ever made an effort to industry on the net just before. Nevertheless, it?s an important foundation of any contemporary company advertising plan, supplying great results at a low cost. Read on to uncover the suggestions that can placed your business to the modern day with web marketing!
Email messages you deliver to your customers en masse either can be useful or advertisement in general. It is not really possible to mix both the utilizes. In reality, mixed e-mail make excellent internet marketing feeling. Introducing information to advertising keeps viewers from contemplating you like a great-pressure owner, although adding advertisements to info tells readers which you have products available for purchase.
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With a little luck, you now observe that website marketing, not even close to as an intimidating monster, is probably the most useful tool within the toolbox of any modern day, successful marketing campaign. Use these tips now, to attain a whole new client base greater than you?ve actually imagined. Be careful about your organization be successful with the strength of the internet.
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Source: http://www.affordsl.com/activity-transforming-internet-marketing-methods-for-company-achievement/
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UFC 155 picks from Kevin Iole, Maggie Hendricks and Cagereaders like you
Kevin Iole: Junior dos Santos W5 Cain Velasquez -- I can't believe I'm picking against Velasquez. To me, he is in many ways the perfect heavyweight, with great conditioning, great wrestling and tremendous power. But how do we ignore what dos Santos has done? Much was made of Velasquez's knee injury before their first fight, but what isn't as well known is that Junior had a bad leg, too, and couldn't do much. It's going to be a dogfight, but I think Junior finds a way to pull it out.
Maggie Hendricks: Cain Velasquez W5 Junior dos Santos -- Velasquez was injured in his last bout with JDS. With a healthy knee, he'll get to use his wrestling to control and beat on JDS for five rounds.
Cagereaders: Couldn't ask for a better way to end the year than this rematch. This will last longer than the first but not by much. I'm picking Cigano by KO R1. Cain has amazing wrestling and ground and pound. However, I think Junior is the guy that has his number and things won't go as planned for Cain. Velasquez will come out more aggressive than the first fight and that will spell the end. Junior will rock him with some brutal counters causing Cain to shoot in for the take down. Junior will stuff the attempt and finish the fight with an uppercut around 3 minutes into the first. -- Jackson Torres
[Related: Five questions that will be answered at UFC 155]
__
Kevin Iole: Joe Lauzon W3 Jim Miller -- Definitely will be the Fight of the Night in my opinion (is there any other kind of fight for Lauzon?) I don't think Joe will be able to submit Jim, but he is so active and works so hard I think he'll pile up the points to win.
Maggie Hendricks: Joe Lauzon Sub2 Jim Miller -- Lauzon's submission game is tough to beat. He will need to avoid Miller's well-rounded game, but can do it.
Cagereaders: My two favorite 155 pound fighters. When I saw Miller step in for Maynard, my heart sank. I'm going to see one them lose, and it looks to be J-Lau. Miller matches up really well for Lauzon's style. He has power in his punches and solid wrestling, backed up with a serious ground game and outstanding cardio. Joe has a killer instinct and a more dangerous ground game. Still, I like Miller taking this fought by a UD. -- Tom Hogan
--
Kevin Iole: Tim Boetsch W3 Costas Philippou -- Boetsch will grind out a victory by controlling the distance and limiting Philippou's power
Maggie Hendricks: Tim Boetsch W3 Costa Phillippou -- Ditto on what Kevin said. Boetsch won't make it a thrilling fight, but it will be a convincing win.
Cagereaders: Boetsch over Phillipou by 3rd Round TKO -- I think this fight will be back to forth, I have counted out Tim Boetsch in many fights just to be shocked, from the poor decision in the Lombard fight, to the amazing knock out of Okami, I think Phillipou gets the better of him early in the fight, while Boetsch owns the latter part of the fight, this could easily be fight of the night and if it does go decision, it will be close, but I see Phillipou gassing late and Boetsch taking advantage. -- Daniel Ryan
--
Maggie Hendricks: Alan Belcher W3 Yushin Okami -- With title shot hopes hanging over him, Belcher has good reason to fight a smart game and come out with a win over Okami.
Cagereaders: Yushin Okami will beat Alan Belcher by decision. Okami will go back to what made him successful before his fight with Anderson Silva. He will use his jab and height, keeping Belcher back, then take him down for ground and pound. This will continue for 3 full rounds and Okami will come out with the unanimous decision. -- Marcus Min
__
Kevin Iole: Chris Leben TKO3 Derek Brunson -- This is a big fight for Leben, and I think he knows it. I expect him to eventually catch Brunson with something big that will end it.
Maggie Hendricks: Derek Brunson W3 Chris Leben -- In his first fight after a long layoff, Leben will have a hard time dealing with a wrestler with power like Brunson.
Cagereaders: Derek Brunson should be able to defeat Chris Leben by decision because he has a great wrestling background and Chris Leben may not be in the best shape coming off a 13-month layoff. -- Edgar Diaz
Related MMA video from Yahoo! Sports
Other popular content on the Yahoo! network:
? Junior dos Santos has something to prove vs. Cain Velasquez
? Dana White's refreshingly honest take on drug use in UFC
? Y! Screen: Hornets rookies discuss the facts of life in comedy clip
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Cowboys' Brent BAC More Than Twice Legal Limit At Time Of Fatal ...
Josh Brent was arrested for manslaughter. (Credit: Getty)
DALLAS (AP) ? Dallas Cowboys nose tackle Josh Brent was driving with a suspended license and had a blood-alcohol content more than twice the legal limit at the time of the car crash that killed teammate and friend Jerry Brown, according to documents released by police Thursday.
The 24-year-old Brent was tested after the crash in the early hours of Dec. 8 at 0.189 percent, well above the Texas limit of 0.08. One police report said Brent was intoxicated, driving over the speed limit and swerving out of one lane when he struck a curb in Irving, a suburb of Dallas, causing the car to flip over.
The crash report also says Brent was driving with an expired and suspended driver?s license obtained in Illinois, where he pleaded guilty three years ago to driving under the influence, a misdemeanor.
Brown was pronounced dead at a Dallas hospital. Brent was arrested and indicted Wednesday on one count of intoxication manslaughter. He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted, though he could also receive probation. Brent is free on $100,000 bond and required to wear an alcohol monitor. His attorney, George Milner, did not return a phone message left Thursday morning.
Authorities say they also found an unopened bottle of Cognac liquor in searching Brent?s Mercedes sedan, along with ?multiple receipts? and his iPad and cellphone. Brent and Brown reportedly spent at least part of Friday night at the club Privae Dallas. The iPad and cellphone found in the Mercedes have information ?from the events prior to and during the crash that will aid this investigation,? other warrants said.
The 25-year-old Brown was on the Cowboys practice squad and played with Brent at the University of Illinois. The two men have been described as close friends. Brent has been placed on the NFL reserve/non-football illness list and won?t play again this season.
No court dates in his case have been scheduled.
Heath Harris, the first assistant Dallas County district attorney, said prosecutors hoped to turn over evidence to Milner as soon as possible. He said he wanted to have the case tried ?as quickly as possible.?
?It has the potential to send a strong message about how we feel about our intoxication laws,? Harris said.
(? Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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শুক্রবার, ২৮ ডিসেম্বর, ২০১২
Increased Home Building Hints at Recovery in Macomb Township ...
Michigan?s residential building is nowhere near where it was at its 2004 peak, but in Macomb Township and across the state, the signs of recovery are unmistakable.
Home building is picking up in Michigan, with nearly 7,800 permits issued as of September 2012 ? a 32 percent increase over last year, according to the Home Builders Association of Michigan.
In Macomb Township, the number of residential building permits issued increased from six in January to 25 just one month later, in February 2012. This number peaked in March with 48 residential building permits approved for single-family homes and 16 condominium permits.?
?The market was definitely on the up-swing in Macomb Township this year. I believe the increase in home building is a sign of consumer confidence and an attraction to Macomb Township for people to want to live,? said Daniel Fairless, Macomb Township building official.?
The Home Builders Association of Michigan projects that across the state this year, approximately 10,400 new homes will be completed. While this number is up from the 8,001 recorded in 2011, it is only a fraction of the 44,782 homes built in 2004.
This optimism on the part of builders appears to extend across the state, according to a recent statewide survey of homebuilders and remodelers conducted by the HBAM.
Covering the time period of July through September 2012 ? the third quarter ? the survey showed the Michigan Housing Index at its highest level in two-and-a-half years, according to a press release from HBAM.
?The trend lines have been positive, so it is encouraging to see that the outlook for building continues to improve,? said Robert Filka, HBAM CEO, in a press release. ?We?ve got a long way to go before we see anything near normal historical production, but things are definitely headed in the right direction.?
The summer months were also fruitful for Macomb Township, with a total of 49 residential building permits issued in June, 54 in July and in 53 in August.?
Trustee and longtime resident Roger Krzeminski believes Macomb Township?s high numbers are due to many factors, including the township?s five school districts, the many newer commercial developments, and the selection of available homes in varying price ranges, he said.?
?The developments in the various parts of the township and school districts in those areas is what makes this township great,? he said.?
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FREE Kindle Book - Personal Finance Collection by Liz Weston
Liz Weston on Personal Finance (Collection)
is currently FREE for a limited time on Amazon. This collection includes two books: 'Easy Money' and 'Your Credit Score' and normally costs $33.99.No Kindle? Simply download a?FREE Kindle Reading App
Note: Amazon prices can change at any time.?
Source: http://www.momsavesmoney.net/2012/12/free-kindle-book-personal-finance.html
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5 Reasons Not to Hire a Coach - wise self improvement | self
Planning to hire a coach?
From time to time, managers and advisors consider the option of hiring a performance, business, or referral coach. Unless the conditions are right, an investment in coaching can be a waste of money. So, in this article we will discuss when you should hire a coach?
? When not to hire a coach
1. When the advisor or manager is unclear on what he or she wants to accomplish. Without clear objectives, you can't determine which coach or if coaching process is a good fit. Before considering a performance coach, identify specifically the areas you want to strengthen. Then prioritize those in the order of potential payback.
2. When you are in the middle of an intensive skill-building program from the home, office or other source. You can't effectively execute several initiatives at the same time. Advisors, who are in the first year or two in a new career and involved in an intensive training program, should look first to maximize what is being offered by the program.
3. When you are undergoing significant personal change or trauma. If your family member is facing a serious medical challenge or dealing with an issue like divorce, it is extremely difficult to focus your energies on making habit or systems changes in your business. Implementing change and driving business growth require focus and energy. A performance or business coach is not the right resource during times of personal trauma. At these times, a psychologist or family counselor is a better fit.
4. "To fix your business" or to "fix the advisor". No coach can force an advisor to make changes. No one coaching organization is the 'total' answer. The advisor needs to approach the coach with a sincere desire to improve, a willingness to change, and a commitment to address specific skills or business areas.
5. While looking for a miracle to save a sinking career. Coaches are not miracle workers. Some coaches have strong processes and systems that can upgrade performance. They can teach skills and help develop effective marketing strategies. However, coaches can not save someone who is not a good fit for the business.
? When hiring a coach can be profitable?
1. When you (or your advisor) are clear about the areas you want to strengthen. At this point, you (or the advisor) can better assess which coaching process and organization is a good fit for your needs.
2. When you are ready to make a commitment to upgrade. Timing is a legitimate factor. To get maximum value from a development process, you must be ready to commit time and energy - not just money.
3. When you feel that the coach's process fits how you learn and change. If you are a person who prefers to implement things one-step-at-a-time, do not select a boot camp program where you attend for several days and then you are left on your own to execute. If on-going accountability is helpful to you, select a coaching process with frequent meetings on a regular schedule.
4. When you want specific expertise in a priority skill or business area (e.g. get referrals, increase marketing effectiveness, selling skills or technology)
5. When your skills or results are not improving at the rate you desire.
6. When you feel a need for accountability beyond that available in your organization
7. When you want an independent assessment of your business or skills or feel the need for a different perspective than what is offered internally.
Source: http://wiseselfimprovement.blogspot.com/2012/12/5-reasons-not-to-hire-coach.html
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Russia's proposed ban on US adoptions: What would it mean for orphans?
Children's rights advocates say there's nothing wrong with efforts to reduce international adoption ? if those efforts are focused on strengthening families and encouraging domestic adoption. Russia, however, has a long way to go to find domestic families for its orphans.
Orphan children have a meal at an orphanage in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, December 19. Russia's parliament initially approved a bill banning Americans from adopting Russian orphans on Wednesday in reprisal for a U.S. law punishing alleged Russian human rights violators in a row that has strained bilateral relations.
Vladimir Konstantinov/Reuters
EnlargeRussian President Vladimir Putin says he will sign a ban on US adoptions of Russian children ? a move that would close off a major avenue by which orphans in that country find their way into families.
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Supporters of the bill, passed by the parliament before Christmas, say it's designed to promote domestic adoption and to put an end to alleged endangerment of children by their adoptive parents in the United States. The bill is also a retaliatory measure, in response to an American law that imposes sanctions on Russian officials deemed to be human rights violators.
"I still don't see any reasons why I should not sign it," Mr. Putin said at a televised meeting Thursday, adding that he "intends" to do so.
But statistics suggest that the move might be putting politics above practicality, when it comes to finding alternatives for thousands of youngsters now growing up in institutions rather than in families. Children's rights advocates say there's nothing wrong with efforts to reduce international adoption ? if those efforts are focused on strengthening families and encouraging domestic adoption. Russia, however, has a long way to go to find domestic families for its orphans.
About 120,000 orphans are listed as up for adoption in a Russian government database, while only 18,000 Russian families are signed up to become adoptive parents, according to numbers cited by The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and other sources.
"These children have already lost the chance to be adopted by a Russian family," before they are considered for US adoption, says Jennifer Phillips, an adoption supervisor at Lutheran Social Services in Rocky Hill, Conn. It's unclear, she says, whether Putin can succeed in getting more orphans placed with Russian families.
Even before any ban takes effect, Russia has been slowing the pace of international adoption. In the US, adoptions of Russian children totaled just 962 in 2011, down from nearly 6,000 in 2004, according to the US State Department. Despite the decline, the US remains the top foreign destination for Russian orphans being adopted internationally.
And despite the decline, only China and Ethiopia outranked Russia in 2011 as a "country of origin" for international adoptions by US parents. If Putin signs the ban, the move would not only block new adoptions but also cast doubt over US adoptions from Russia that are currently under way.
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Choosing Between Computer Science and Information Technology ...
[unable to retrieve full-text content]Most of the professionals in this field obtain jobs that deal with designing software, developing websites, designing computers or providing maintenance to computing systems and hardware. Information technology is a branch ...
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Pakistan: Bhutto's son launches political career
Supporters of Pakistan's assassinated leader Benazir Bhutto pray during her fifth death anniversary in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012. The 24-year-old son of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has launched his political career at his ancestral place Larkana, with a fiery speech on the fifth anniversary of his mother's assassination. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)
Supporters of Pakistan's assassinated leader Benazir Bhutto pray during her fifth death anniversary in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012. The 24-year-old son of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has launched his political career at his ancestral place Larkana, with a fiery speech on the fifth anniversary of his mother's assassination. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)
Supporters of Pakistan's slain leader Benazir Bhutto, one listens to speeches, right, and the other checks his mobile phone, at a ceremony to mark the fifth anniversary of her death, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012. The 24-year-old son of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has launched his political career with a fiery speech on the fifth anniversary of his mother's assassination. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)
Supporters of Pakistan's assassinated leader Benazir Bhutto listen to speeches during her fifth death anniversary in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012. The 24-year-old son of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has launched his political career at his ancestral place Larkana, with a fiery speech on the fifth anniversary of his mother's assassination. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)
A supporters of Pakistan's assassinated leader Benazir Bhutto throws rose petals at a picture of her to pay tribute on her fifth anniversary in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012. The 24-year-old son of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has launched his political career at his ancestral place Larkana, with a fiery speech on the fifth anniversary of his mother's assassination. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)
Supporters of Pakistan's assassinated leader Benazir Bhutto gather to pay tribute on her fifth anniversary in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012. The 24-year-old son of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has launched his political career at his ancestral place Larkana, with a fiery speech on the fifth anniversary of his mother's assassination. (AP Photo/B.K. Bangash)
ISLAMABAD (AP) ? The 24-year-old son of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto launched his political career Thursday with a fiery speech before thousands of cheering supporters observing the fifth anniversary of his mother's assassination.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's speech comes several months before national elections are expected to be held. He is too young to participate in the elections himself ? the minimum age is 25 ? but is likely to be a key asset for the ruling Pakistan People's Party. The party's popularity has plummeted since it took power nearly five years ago as the country has struggled with a weak economy and bloody Taliban insurgency.
Before dawn on the same day, dozens of militants armed with rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons attacked two tribal police posts in Pakistan's northwest, killing two policemen, officials said. Twenty-one other policemen are missing and presumed kidnapped.
Zardari was made chairman of the Pakistan People's Party after his mother's death but has mainly played a background role until now while he completed his studies at Oxford University in Britain.
"I want to tell you that thanks to God he has completed his studies, but now is the time of his training," his father, President Asif Ali Zardari, told the crowd of supporters Thursday in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh village in southern Sindh province, site of the Bhutto family mausoleum. "He has to study Pakistan, he has to learn from you and he has to work according to your thinking,"
The Bhutto family has played a prominent role in Pakistani politics for much of the country's 65-year history. Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's grandfather, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, founded the Pakistan People's Party and served as both the country's president and prime minister in the 1970s. He was eventually hanged in 1979 after Gen. Zia ul-Haq seized power in a military coup.
Benazir Bhutto twice served as prime minister in the 1980s and 1990s but never completed a full term. Her governments were dismissed both times under the cloud of corruption allegations by presidents who were close to the country's powerful army. She was killed in a gun and suicide bomb attack on Dec. 27, 2007, shortly after returning from self-imposed exile to participate in national elections.
After her death, the Pakistan People's Party rode a wave of public sympathy to garner the most seats in the 2008 elections, and Asif Ali Zardari was elected president. But the popularity of both the party and the president has fallen significantly since then as the government has failed to address pressing problems, such as Pakistan's shortage of electricity and stuttering economy. The government has also struggled in its fight against the Pakistani Taliban, who have killed thousands of people in attacks throughout the country.
Rasul Bakhsh Rais, a political science professor at Lahore University of Management Sciences, said it was not a surprise that the Pakistan People's Party unveiled Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in an attempt to boost its fortunes in the upcoming elections, which are expected by June at the latest.
"This is Pakistan and dynastic politics is the norm," said Rais. "Bilawal is perhaps the only card left in the chest of the Pakistan People's Party."
Both Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and his father sought to whip up the emotions of the crowd Thursday by shouting "Long live Bhutto" and "Bhutto is alive." Many of the supporters waved the red, black and green flag of the Pakistan People's Party and held pictures of Benazir Bhutto and her father.
"If you kill one Bhutto, one thousand more Bhuttos will emerge," said Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
He took a swipe at the judiciary, which has clashed with the current government, by asking why people arrested for suspected involvement in his mother's murder have yet to be convicted.
But some critics have questioned why Zardari has not done more to push forward the investigation during more than four years as president.
The president at the time of her death, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, blamed the Pakistani Taliban for the attack, and five suspected militants are facing trial for alleged involvement in the killing. The Pakistani Taliban have denied targeting Bhutto.
A Pakistani court issued an arrest warrant for Musharraf last year over allegations he played a role in the attack, which he has denied. Arrest warrants were also issued for two senior police officials accused of negligence in the assassination. Prosecutors accused one of the officials of failing to provide proper security for Bhutto and the other of cleaning the crime scene before evidence could be collected.
A U.N. investigation into the assassination said it could have been prevented and blamed all levels of government for failing to provide adequate security. It also accused intelligence agencies and other officials of severely hampering the investigation into those behind her murder.
The attack on the tribal police posts before dawn Thursday took place in the town of Darra Adam Khel in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, government officials said. The town is located near Pakistan's tribal region, the main sanctuary for Taliban militants in the country.
Security forces have launched an operation to try to recover the 21 missing policemen, said the officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but suspicion will likely fall on the Pakistani Taliban.
____
Associated Press writer Riaz Khan contributed to this report from Peshawar, Pakistan.
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বুধবার, ২৬ ডিসেম্বর, ২০১২
US economy could handle short fall over 'cliff'
WASHINGTON (AP) ? The economic threat that's kept many Americans on edge for months is nearing reality ? unless the White House and Republicans cut a budget deal by New Year's Day.
Huge tax increases. Deep cuts in domestic and defense programs. The likelihood of sinking stock prices, reduced consumer spending and corporate layoffs. The risk of a recession within months.
Still, the start of 2013 may turn out to be far less bleak than feared. For one thing, the two sides may strike a short-term agreement before New Year's that postpones spending cuts until spring. President Barack Obama and members of Congress return to Washington Thursday.
Even if New Year's passed with no deal, businesses and consumers would not likely panic as long as some agreement seemed imminent. The $671 billion in tax increases and spending cuts could be retroactively repealed.
And the impact of the tax increases would be felt only gradually. Most people would receive slightly less money in each paycheck.
"The simple conclusion that going off the cliff necessarily means a recession next year is wrong," says Lewis Alexander, an economist at Nomura Securities. "It will ultimately depend on how long the policies are in place."
It's always possible that negotiations between President Obama and Republican congressional leaders will collapse in acrimony. The prospect of permanent tax increases and spending cuts could cause many consumers and businesses to delay spending, hiring or expanding.
Without any agreement at all for months, the fiscal cliff would cause the U.S. economy to shrink 0.5 percent in the first half of 2013 and fall into recession, the Congressional Budget Office estimates.
But most economists expect a deal, if not by New Year's then soon after. Businesses and consumers will likely remain calm as long as negotiators seem to be moving toward an agreement.
"The atmosphere is more important than whether the talks spill" into next year, said Paul Ashworth, an economist at Capital Economics.
Here's why many are optimistic that a brief fall over the cliff wouldn't derail the economic recovery:
? Though the fiscal cliff would boost taxes by $586 billion for all of 2013, the tax hit for most people would be modest at first. The expiration of Social Security and income tax cuts would be spread throughout 2013. For taxpayers with incomes of $40,000 to $65,000, paychecks would shrink an average of about $1,500 next year. That would be a significant bite over the full year, but the initial hit would be just $130 in January, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center.
? About a third of the tax increases wouldn't touch most Americans. Some would hit businesses. Others, such as higher taxes on investment income and estates, and the expiration of middle-income tax credits, wouldn't come due until Americans filed their 2013 taxes in 2014.
? The Internal Revenue Service has delayed any increases in tax withholding that would otherwise kick in. Without a deal, the top income tax rate for single people with taxable income between about $36,000 and $88,000 would rise from 25 percent to 28 percent. But that won't start to reduce Americans' paychecks in early January, even if no deal is reached by then.
? About $85 billion in spending cuts to defense and domestic programs would take weeks or longer to take effect. That means government agencies wouldn't cut jobs right away.
If a short-term agreement is struck, some taxes would probably still go up. These would include a 2 percentage point cut in Social Security taxes that's been in place for two years. Its expiration would cost the typical household about $1,000 a year. With income gains sluggish, that could dampen consumer spending.
A temporary deal that delays some hard decisions could reduce business and consumer confidence. It would also mean:
? Extended unemployment benefits would end for 2 million people. The federal government's program pays for about 32 weeks of extra benefits, on average, on top of the 26 weeks most states provide. Weekly unemployment checks average about $320 nationwide.
? The stock market would probably drop, though maybe not by much. Many Wall Street analysts expect a partial deal of some kind. "There is starting to become a little bit of an acceptance that we fall off the fiscal cliff," said J.J. Kinahan, a strategist for TD Ameritrade.
? The expiration of the Social Security tax cut and the end of emergency unemployment benefits would likely shave 0.7 percentage point off economic growth next year, the CBO estimates. The economy is now growing at about a 2 percent annual pace.
If no deal at all was reached by January and budget talks dragged on, many businesses might put off investment or hiring. That's why most economists say it would be crucial to reach a deal within roughly the first two months of 2013.
In addition, many more people would be affected if something called the alternative minimum tax isn't fixed.
The financially painful AMT was designed to prevent rich people from exploiting loopholes and deductions to avoid any income tax. But the AMT wasn't indexed for inflation, so it has increasingly threatened middle-income taxpayers. Congress has acted each year for a decade to prevent the AMT from hitting many more people.
If it isn't fixed again, roughly 33 million taxpayers, including married couples with income as low as $45,000 ? down from $74,450 in 2011? could face the AMT. Previously, only 5 million taxpayers had to pay it. Taxpayers subject to the AMT must calculate their tax under both the regular system and the AMT and pay the larger amount. Without a fix, a middle-income household would pay an average of $1,231 more, according to the Tax Policy Center.
The IRS has said it assumes Congress and the White House will fix the AMT in a deal to avoid the cliff. If they don't, the IRS will need weeks to reprogram computers and make other adjustments. In the meantime, about 100 million taxpayers couldn't file tax returns early next year because they couldn't determine whether they owe the AMT. Refunds would be delayed.
The gravest scenario would be if the budget talks collapsed and the tax increases and spending cuts appeared to be permanent.
In that case, Macroeconomic Advisors warns that the Dow could plunge up to 2,000 points within days. Businesses would turn gloomier in anticipation of Americans paying higher taxes and spending less.
The economy would shrink at an annual rate of 0.6 percent in the first three months of 2013, estimates Joel Prakken, an economist at Macroeconomic Advisors. That compares with an estimated 1.9 percent growth rate if a deal is reached. CBO forecasts that the unemployment rate would rise to 9.1 percent from the current 7.7 percent.
Last week, Obama and House Speaker John Boehner narrowed their differences on income tax increases and spending cuts. But with the two sides deadlocked, Boehner scheduled a vote on a bill to prevent taxes from rising on those earning less than $1 million a year. Opposition from anti-tax conservatives, and Democrats, forced him to cancel the vote.
The gridlock caused stocks to fall Friday. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 121 points.
Obama called for a vote on a stripped-down agreement that would raise taxes only on the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans and extend emergency unemployment benefits. Automatic spending cuts would be postponed.
Whatever the outcome, some trends could offset part of the economic damage. The average retail price for gasoline has dropped 15 percent this fall, for example. Lower gas prices give consumers more money to spend elsewhere.
And if the crisis is resolved, as many expect, the boost to business and consumer confidence would encourage more hiring and spending.
"We could end up with a much more robust recovery than anybody's envisioned" if a deal is reached, said David Cote, CEO of Honeywell International.
__
AP Business Writers Christina Rexrode, Steve Rothwell and Daniel Wagner contributed to this report. Rexrode and Rothwell reported from New York.
__
Follow Chris Rugaber on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/ChrisRugaber
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PFT: Seahawks could add Edwards for playoffs
Getty ImagesIn November, the Falcons dropped a bomb on the league by dropping defensive end Ray Edwards from the roster.? Since then, however, the veteran has generated scant interest.
Until now.
The Seahawks worked out Edwards on Monday, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.? A source with knowledge of the situation tells PFT that a decision as to whether Edwards will be signed is expected to come on Wednesday.
If the Seahawks do it, it would be another shrewd move for G.M. John Schneider.? Edwards, who was never a great regular-season defensive end, had a great postseason in 2009.? Also, if the Seahawks end up facing the Falcons, which could happen in the divisional round, Edwards will have inside information plus extra motivation to send Atlanta?s postseason record to 0-4 in the Smith/Ryan/Dimitroff era.
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Nubia Z5 unveiled in China with quad-core chip, 5-inch 1080p display and 7.6mm thickness
Much like many Chinese smartphone brands these days, ZTE sub-brand Nubia had prematurely given away the main selling points of its Z5 ahead of its Beijing launch today, but there were still some surprises. As you probably already know, here's yet another five-inch 1080p Android phone featuring Qualcomm's 1.5GHz quad-core APQ8064, 2GB RAM and 32GB of internal storage, along with a 13-megapixel F2.2 main camera (with five-element optics by Konica Minolta, plus separate touch focus and touch exposure in the app) and a two-megapixel front-facing camera. For multimedia consumption, the Z5 supports WiFi Display and MHL output should you wish to beam content to a larger screen; whereas on the audio side you are spoiled with either Yamaha or Dolby Digital Plus. But wait, there's more!
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile
Source: Nubia
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/26/nubia-z5-launch/
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মঙ্গলবার, ২৫ ডিসেম্বর, ২০১২
Scientists sequence genome of pathogen responsible for pneumocystis pneumonia
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Public release date: 26-Dec-2012[ | E-mail |
Share ] Contact: Garth Hogan
ghogan@asmusa.org
American Society for Microbiology
WASHINGTON, DC December 26, 2012 -- Scientists have sequenced the genome of the fungus Pneumocystis jirovecii, an advancement that could help identify new targets for drugs to treat and prevent Pneumocystis pneumonia, a common and often deadly infection in immunocompromised patients. The study will be published on December 26, 2012 in mBio, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology. The organism cannot yet be isolated and grown for study in the laboratory, so details about Pneumocystis pneumonia, the biology of P. jirovecii, and its pathogenicity are hard to come by. The genome sequence represents a wealth of new information for doctors and researchers tackling this disease.
Pneumocystis pneumonia is an opportunistic infection that strikes most often in individuals with diminished immune systems. The corresponding author of the study in mBio, Philippe Hauser of the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, in Switzerland, says the disease gained importance in the 1980s.
"Recognized first among malnourished infants, P. jirovecii pneumonia became a public issue with the advent of the HIV epidemic," says Hauser. Today, the disease most commonly affects HIV-infected persons who are unaware of their status as well as solid organ transplant recipients and patients with hemato-oncologic or autoimmune diseases. Since the organism cannot be grown in the lab for study, researchers have long made do with studying P. jirovecii's lab-friendly relatives, species that infect animals and plants, in order to explore the secrets of the human disease.
"It is obviously better to study [P. jirovecii's] genes rather that those of Pneumocystis species from animal models. The genome has both medical and evolutionary interests for the scientific community," says Hauser.
Under normal circumstances, scientists sequencing the genome of a microorganism simply extract DNA from thick cultures of cells they grow in the lab. Since they were unable to grow P. jirovecii cells for their genomic DNA, Hauser and his colleagues took a different approach. They took a sample of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from an individual infected with Pneumocystis pneumonia, then concentrated the P. jirovecii cells using immuno-precipitation and created copies of the DNA in the sample using a technique called random DNA amplification. This mixture of DNA strands, from P. jirovecii, human, and other microbes from the lungs of the infected patient, was then sequenced using high throughput technologies.
According to Hauser and his colleagues, the fact that the sequence data represented DNA from many different species created the biggest challenge they faced. "The major challenge of the study was the in silico sorting of the reads out of a mixture representing the human host and different organisms present in the lung microbiome," he says. This challenge was met through a collaboration with Marco Pagni of the Vital-IT group of the SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, who provided indispensable expertise and infrastructure.
Once the sorting task was accomplished, the researchers assembled the sequences into a genome and attempted to identify the functions of P. jirovecii's genes. This is the first time scientists have assembled the genome of a fungus from a mixed pool of DNA from a single source, often called a metagenome. Their analyses reveal a surprising fact: P. jirovecii is a parasite that must live within the human body to survive.
P. jirovecii lacks the genes necessary for creating some of the essential ingredients of life, a hallmark of obligate parasites, organisms that must rely on another creature for sustenance. "It implies that they need their host to provide these molecules. Thus, this has been quite an important finding which implied that human beings represent the reservoir of this pathogen," says Hauser. This is useful information, since it means that people are the only significant source of the organism and that both infected people and healthy carriers represent the only control points for limiting the spread of the disease.
The genome also shows that P. jirovecii apparently lacks the ability to make toxins and virulence factors, molecules that enable a microbe to invade and take advantage of its host. This makes sense, since P. jirovecii does not cause disease in healthy people, but only runs out of control when it is not confronted with an immune response.
In the study of infectious disease, access to the genome of a pathogen provides new information that can be pivotal in combating the diseases is causes. The hope is that the genome of P. jirovecii will lead to new advances in therapies for those suffering from Pneumocystis pneumonia. The current drugs of choice for treating Pneumocystis pneumonia are antifolates, but certain isolates of P. jirovecii have already developed resistance to antifolates, an ability that is very likely to spread. Now that the genome of P. jirovecii is assembled and available to researchers all over the world, scientists can tease out clues about the organism that will help identify targets for some badly needed new drugs.
###
mBio is an open access online journal published by the American Society for Microbiology to make microbiology research broadly accessible. The focus of the journal is on rapid publication of cutting-edge research spanning the entire spectrum of microbiology and related fields. It can be found online at http://mBio.asm.org.
The American Society for Microbiology is the largest single life science society, composed of over 39,000 scientists and health professionals. ASM's mission is to advance the microbiological sciences as a vehicle for understanding life processes and to apply and communicate this knowledge for the improvement of health and environmental and economic well-being worldwide.
[ | E-mail | Share ] ?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Public release date: 26-Dec-2012[ | E-mail |
Share ] Contact: Garth Hogan
ghogan@asmusa.org
American Society for Microbiology
WASHINGTON, DC December 26, 2012 -- Scientists have sequenced the genome of the fungus Pneumocystis jirovecii, an advancement that could help identify new targets for drugs to treat and prevent Pneumocystis pneumonia, a common and often deadly infection in immunocompromised patients. The study will be published on December 26, 2012 in mBio, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology. The organism cannot yet be isolated and grown for study in the laboratory, so details about Pneumocystis pneumonia, the biology of P. jirovecii, and its pathogenicity are hard to come by. The genome sequence represents a wealth of new information for doctors and researchers tackling this disease.
Pneumocystis pneumonia is an opportunistic infection that strikes most often in individuals with diminished immune systems. The corresponding author of the study in mBio, Philippe Hauser of the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, in Switzerland, says the disease gained importance in the 1980s.
"Recognized first among malnourished infants, P. jirovecii pneumonia became a public issue with the advent of the HIV epidemic," says Hauser. Today, the disease most commonly affects HIV-infected persons who are unaware of their status as well as solid organ transplant recipients and patients with hemato-oncologic or autoimmune diseases. Since the organism cannot be grown in the lab for study, researchers have long made do with studying P. jirovecii's lab-friendly relatives, species that infect animals and plants, in order to explore the secrets of the human disease.
"It is obviously better to study [P. jirovecii's] genes rather that those of Pneumocystis species from animal models. The genome has both medical and evolutionary interests for the scientific community," says Hauser.
Under normal circumstances, scientists sequencing the genome of a microorganism simply extract DNA from thick cultures of cells they grow in the lab. Since they were unable to grow P. jirovecii cells for their genomic DNA, Hauser and his colleagues took a different approach. They took a sample of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from an individual infected with Pneumocystis pneumonia, then concentrated the P. jirovecii cells using immuno-precipitation and created copies of the DNA in the sample using a technique called random DNA amplification. This mixture of DNA strands, from P. jirovecii, human, and other microbes from the lungs of the infected patient, was then sequenced using high throughput technologies.
According to Hauser and his colleagues, the fact that the sequence data represented DNA from many different species created the biggest challenge they faced. "The major challenge of the study was the in silico sorting of the reads out of a mixture representing the human host and different organisms present in the lung microbiome," he says. This challenge was met through a collaboration with Marco Pagni of the Vital-IT group of the SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, who provided indispensable expertise and infrastructure.
Once the sorting task was accomplished, the researchers assembled the sequences into a genome and attempted to identify the functions of P. jirovecii's genes. This is the first time scientists have assembled the genome of a fungus from a mixed pool of DNA from a single source, often called a metagenome. Their analyses reveal a surprising fact: P. jirovecii is a parasite that must live within the human body to survive.
P. jirovecii lacks the genes necessary for creating some of the essential ingredients of life, a hallmark of obligate parasites, organisms that must rely on another creature for sustenance. "It implies that they need their host to provide these molecules. Thus, this has been quite an important finding which implied that human beings represent the reservoir of this pathogen," says Hauser. This is useful information, since it means that people are the only significant source of the organism and that both infected people and healthy carriers represent the only control points for limiting the spread of the disease.
The genome also shows that P. jirovecii apparently lacks the ability to make toxins and virulence factors, molecules that enable a microbe to invade and take advantage of its host. This makes sense, since P. jirovecii does not cause disease in healthy people, but only runs out of control when it is not confronted with an immune response.
In the study of infectious disease, access to the genome of a pathogen provides new information that can be pivotal in combating the diseases is causes. The hope is that the genome of P. jirovecii will lead to new advances in therapies for those suffering from Pneumocystis pneumonia. The current drugs of choice for treating Pneumocystis pneumonia are antifolates, but certain isolates of P. jirovecii have already developed resistance to antifolates, an ability that is very likely to spread. Now that the genome of P. jirovecii is assembled and available to researchers all over the world, scientists can tease out clues about the organism that will help identify targets for some badly needed new drugs.
###
mBio is an open access online journal published by the American Society for Microbiology to make microbiology research broadly accessible. The focus of the journal is on rapid publication of cutting-edge research spanning the entire spectrum of microbiology and related fields. It can be found online at http://mBio.asm.org.
The American Society for Microbiology is the largest single life science society, composed of over 39,000 scientists and health professionals. ASM's mission is to advance the microbiological sciences as a vehicle for understanding life processes and to apply and communicate this knowledge for the improvement of health and environmental and economic well-being worldwide.
[ | E-mail | Share ] ?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-12/asfm-ssg122012.php
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