Android?s Google Now services headed for Chrome, too

It looks like Chrome users, not just
Android users, will get access to Google Now, the search giant?s technology for bringing weather reports, trip departure reminders, birthday alerts, nearby restaurant reviews, and more to the attention of Android users.

Chrome team programmers accepted the addition of a ?skeleton for Google Now for Chrome? to the Google browser yesterday, an early step in a larger project to show Google Now notifications in Chrome.

Google Now integration into Chrome gives Google a new way to connect people closely to online services that Google judges to be relevant depending on time and location. Francois Beaufort, who keeps a close eye on the Chrome source code, spotted the move.

The move reflects the growing maturity of Google?s operating system strategy. In mobile, it steers people to Android, and on personal computers, it steers them to Chrome or Chrome OS. Although Chrome isn?t an operating system, strictly speaking, browsers are absorbing more and more OS abilities, and Chrome OS systems of course can?t run anything but Web apps.

Whatever OS a person is using, Google is designing it as a mechanism to reach Google services: search, Google Maps, YouTube, Google Apps, Gmail, Google+, and more. These services are where Google makes its money.

Source: http://westpennjournal.com/blog/2012/12/08/androids-google-now-services-headed-for-chrome-too-6/

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Some foreign firms still active in Iran's energy sector: U.S. report

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - At least seven companies from China, India, South Korea and South Africa continued to have investments in Iran's oil and gas sectors in 2012 even as Tehran came under international scrutiny for its nuclear ambitions, a U.S. government watchdog said on Friday.

A new U.S. law signed in August gave the Obama administration the authority to sanction firms that help Iran develop its energy resources, a key source of revenue for the country.

For a report to Congress required under that August law, the U.S. Government Accountability Office reviewed publicly available reports and data, and contacted the companies involved to check whether they have stepped back from Iran.

"We did not attempt to determine whether the activities for which the firms are listed in our reports met the legal criteria for sanctionable activities," the GAO said, noting the State Department is responsible for those types of determinations.

The State Department reviewed the report ahead of its publication but declined comment, the GAO said.

The United States and European Union have targeted Iran's energy sector for sanctions, an effort to pressure Iran to stop pursuing nuclear weapons. Iran has said its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

The United States requires buyers of Iranian oil to make significant cuts to their oil purchases, or risk being cut off from the U.S. financial system.

Most of the companies still involved in Iran's energy sector are from countries that on Friday received six-month waivers called "exceptions" to the sanctions because they have reduced oil trade.

Chinese activity included Sinopec's 51 percent stake in Iran's Yadavaran oil field, and China National Petroleum Corp's interest in a project to develop the Azadegan field, the GAO said.

South Korea's Daelim Industrial Co is helping develop the South Pars gas fields and is also involved in a liquefied natural gas project at Tombak, the report said.

Three Indian companies with stakes in the Farsi Block gas field -- Indian Oil Corp Ltd, ONGC Videsh Ltd and Oil India Ltd -- told the GAO that their exploration service contracts had expired and they had no plans to pursue further work on the project.

South Africa's Sasol has been active in a joint venture in Iran but recently stated it is trying to divest, the GAO said.

There were another eight companies from China, Malaysia, India, Croatia and Venezuela whose recent involvement in Iran was difficult to confirm, the GAO said. The companies did not all respond to the GAO's questions.

The GAO also examined whether foreign firms were selling refined petroleum products to Iran -- another activity now sanctionable under U.S. laws.

Syria's Sytrol has been reported to have sold gasoline to Iran, and was sanctioned by the United States on August 10.

The GAO found 12 of 17 firms had stopped selling petroleum products to Iran. The watchdog said it could not confirm whether an additional four firms from China and Venezuela were still active in the market.

(Editing by Lisa Shumaker)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/foreign-firms-still-active-irans-energy-sector-u-021054408.html

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Combining two genome analysis approaches supports immune system contribution to autism

Dec. 6, 2012 ? Researchers using novel approaches and methodologies of identifying genes that contribute to the development of autism have found evidence that disturbances in several immune-system-related pathways contribute to development of autism spectrum disorders. The report published December 4 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE powerfully supports a role for the immune function in autism by integrating analysis of autism-associated DNA sequence variations with that of markers identified in studies of families affected by autism.

"Others have talked about immune function contributions to autism, but in our study immune involvement has been identified through a completely nonbiased approach," says Vishal Saxena, PhD, of the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Department of Neurology, first, corresponding and co-senior author of the PLOS ONE paper. "We let the data tell us what was most important; and most tellingly, viral infection pathways were most important in this immune-related mechanism behind autism."

Genetic studies of families including individuals with autism have identified linkages with different locations in the genome. Since traditional interpretation methods implicate the gene closest to a marker site as the cause of a condition, those studies appeared to point to different genes affecting different families. However, Saxena's team realized that, since autism has typical symptoms and affects the same biological processes, a common molecular physiology must be affecting the different families studied. To search for genetic pathways incorporating these autism-associated sites, they developed a methodology called Linkage-ordered Gene Sets (LoGS) that analyzes all of the genes within a particular distance from marker sites and ranks them according to their distance from the marker.

Saxena's team first analyzed previously identified copy-number variants (CNVs) -- deletions or duplications of large DNA segments -- linked to autism, and identified associated pathways for the first time. After finding that the two pathways most frequently affected by CNVs in autism were related to immune function, they went on to identify three additional immune-related pathways among the top 20 sets of genes with autism-associated CNVs.

They then conducted LoGS analysis on the five CNV-identified pathways, which they called iCNV-5, along with 186 other pathways involved in a range of biologic functions, ranking them according to their distance from marker sites identified in family studies. Four of the five iCNV-5 pathways received the top four rankings in the LoGS analysis, strongly supporting an immune function role in autism. Additional pathways involved in neurodevelopment were highly ranked in both the CNV and LoGS analyses.

"The idea behind LoGS is akin to viewing a digital photograph," says Saxena, an instructor in Neurology at Harvard Medical School. "When one looks at a digital image from very close up, one only sees a few pixels and is unable to recognize the picture. Zooming out however, makes the picture understandable. In the same way, looking at single genes may lead to a disorganized view of a disease, but zooming out to the pathway level clarifies and unifies the mechanism."

The immune system genes included in the iCNV-5 pathways code for two different types of proteins -- interferons, in which DNA segments were reduced or absent in the iCNV-5 pathways, and chemokines, which showed duplication of DNA segments. Interferons help control viral infections, so reduced production of interferons could delay control of a viral infection in a pregnant woman and her fetus. Viral infections also induce the production of chemokines, which have an additional role in fetal brain development. A combination of reduced interferon levels, which would prolong the course of a viral infection, and elevated chemokine levels could potentially alter brain development in an infected fetus. The researchers are continuing to investigate how these and other immune pathways may be involved in the development of autism.

The co-senior author of the PLOS ONE report is Isaac Kohane, MD, PhD, Boston Children's Hospital. Additional co-authors are Shweta Ramdas, University of Michigan; Courtney Rothrock Ochoa, University of South Alabama College of Medicine; David Wallace, PhD, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; and Pradeep Bhide, PhD, Florida State University. The study was supported by National Institutes of Health grant P50MH94267 and the Nancy Lurie Marks Foundation.

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Journal Reference:

1. Vishal Saxena, Shweta Ramdas, Courtney Rothrock Ochoa, David Wallace, Pradeep Bhide, Isaac Kohane. Structural, Genetic, and Functional Signatures of Disordered Neuro-Immunological Development in Autism Spectrum Disorder. PLoS ONE, 2012; 7 (12): e48835 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0048835

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

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/health_medicine/genes/~3/WPi91MseuO8/121206203417.htm

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Baby Shower Hanging Flower Decoration

Written by Jenny Wanderscheid ??

Watch the video for easy instructions on how to make this adorable baby shower party decoration!

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North-east Japan quake rattles same fault as last year

The large earthquake today 245 kilometres off the east coast of Japan involved the same fault as in last year's devastating Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, which killed 15,000 and wrecked the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear facility.

The latest quake, of magnitude 7.3, struck at 5.18 pm Japanese time and was centred 160 kilometres southeast of the epicentre of the Tohoku quake.

Reports spoke of buildings swaying violently in Tokyo and in many cities along the east coast. There have been no reports of casualties, although evacuations were ordered in some cities.

A tsunami 1 metre high washed ashore at 6 pm Japanese time in Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture, a region which suffered severe damage last year. But tsunami warnings along the east coast of Honshu island from the far north down to Tokyo were lifted around two hours after the quake.

Japan's Nuclear Regulation Authority said that all nuclear facilities, including Fukushima, were undamaged.

"Same fault zone"

Randy Baldwin, a geophysicist at the US Geological Survey (USGS) National Earthquake Information Center in Golden, Colorado, told New Scientist that today's quake originates from the same fault zone as the Tohoku quake. "It appears to be at the same interface, where the Pacific plate moving towards Japan is diving beneath the Okhotsk plate," says Baldwin.

According to Baldwin, the quake is one-fiftieth the size of the magnitude 9 Tohoku quake, which released 350 times as much energy. By mid-morning UK time, USGS had detected five aftershocks, the largest of which was of magnitude 6.2.

He says there is always a possibility that the quake could be the prelude to an even larger one. "But as a rule, most aftershocks are smaller than the first."

Baldwin stresses the extreme seismic activity around Japan, which straddles four continental plates all rubbing against one another. "Since 1978, there have been 15 quakes of magnitude 7 or higher," he says. "These happen pretty regularly."

Brian Baptie of the British Geological Survey (BGS) agrees that aftershocks are likely to be smaller, but notes that the devastating quake in 2011 was preceded a few days earlier by a magnitude-7 quake in the same zone. Whether large quakes trigger other "megaquakes" through a geological domino effect is hotly debated.

The BGS has produced a map showing the epicentres of the Tohoku event and today's quake.

If you would like to reuse any content from New Scientist, either in print or online, please contact the syndication department first for permission. New Scientist does not own rights to photos, but there are a variety of licensing options available for use of articles and graphics we own the copyright to.

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Source: http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10897/s/26601aaf/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Carticle0Cdn2260A10Enortheast0Ejapan0Equake0Erattles0Esame0Efault0Eas0Elast0Eyear0Bhtml0Dcmpid0FRSS0QNSNS0Q20A120EGLOBAL0Qonline0Enews/story01.htm

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Why You Need to Put Weatherstripping on Your Garage Door | Our ...

The garage is often overlooked. Some homeowners are usually lax at putting sturdy garage doors or installing efficient home security systems. Others also forget to protect their parking spaces from extreme heat or cold. It?s not surprising that people usually forget to pay proper attention to the garage. It?s because they often view this space as just an extension of the main house. Homeowners forget that burglars can easily break in through faulty or unprotected garage doors. Also, many individuals fail to remember that a garage that?s not well-insulated can actually affect power consumption as the place might let in cold drafts during winter, which will push heating bills through the roof. Furthermore, if your garage also doubles as a storage room or a place where you do some crafts or home improvement project, wouldn?t you want it to be as comfortable as possible?

What Is Weatherstripping?

It is easy to understand what weatherstripping is. This is the installation of a strip of material over gaps or breaks in order to protect the interior from cold drafts. It greatly helps in shielding a place from the elements. There are several kinds of materials used for weatherstripping. Rubber is widely used, as well as foam with an adhesive backing.

The Benefits of Weatherstripping

Winter is here and you should be ready for the bitter cold. This is where weatherstripping becomes very beneficial. First of all, once weatherstripping has been placed on a garage door, this will help in keeping out chilly drafts. So, if you couldn?t work in your garage because it?s just icy cold there, you might be able to work there comfortably once you have properly placed weatherstripping material. Once your garage is better protected from chilly winds, your heating system won?t have to exert itself too much in providing your home with enough heat. If the interior temperature is well-regulated, this means that you?re being more energy efficient, which then translates to more savings. Imagine how much you can save if there?s a 15 to 30 degree difference between outdoor and indoor temperature.

Also, if you?re thinking that weatherstripping only works during winter, well, you?re not entirely right. It can actually be advantageous too during summer or extremely hot days. How? You can also use weatherstripping to keep cold air in. So, if you?re cranking up your air conditioner because it?s very hot outdoors, you don?t have to worry about the cool air escaping outside.

DIY Weatherstripping

If you want to save a couple of bucks or in case you just want to enrich your life experience by doing the weatherstripping on your own, then go for it. You only need a few tools and basic handyman skills. But you don?t have to do this yourself. Professionals can do an excellent job, and the service is not that expensive. Talk to your local garage door repairman regarding fees.

Installation Considerations

Before you install weatherstripping, try to read as much as you can about the process. Generally, you?ll need to work on the bottom portion first, then the top, and finally the sides. After installation, be sure to check other garage door parts and accessories. See if the weatherstripping is not blocking the sensors, and check to see if the door can open and close easily.

Photo credit

Claire Miller is a freelance writer who covers many topics, including garage doors and repair, entry doors, and home security systems. She also provides material for Affordable Door Repair Virginia.

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Source: http://www.ourhometools.com/why-you-need-to-put-weatherstripping-on-your-garage-door

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Oops! 18th-century French chateau razed 'by mistake'

PARIS (AP) ? Residents of a sleepy French village in Bordeaux have been left dumbfounded after discovering their local 18th-century chateau was completely bulldozed "by mistake."

The mayor's office in Yvrac said Wednesday that workers who were hired to renovate the grand 13,000-square-meter (140,000-sqaure-foot) estate in November and raze a small building mixed up them up.

Former own Juliette Marmie says "the Chateau de Bellevue was Yvrac's pride and joy." She adds "the whole village is in shock. How can this construction firm make such as mistake?"

The chateau's current owner Russian businessman Dmitry Stroskin was away and returned home to discover his beloved chateau ? with a grand hall that could seat some 200 people ? was nothing but rubble.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/18th-century-french-chateau-razed-mistake-124226251.html

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