Brady, Patriots rout Eagles 38-20

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, right, reacts with wide receiver Wes Welker, second from left, and tight end Rob Gronkowski (87), left, after Welker's touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, right, reacts with wide receiver Wes Welker, second from left, and tight end Rob Gronkowski (87), left, after Welker's touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)

Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy (25) jumps as he is hit by New England Patriots free safety Sterling Moore during the first half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011 in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)

New England Patriots running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis (42) runs with the ball during the first half of an NFL football game with the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Vince Young (9) throws a pass in the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) pass the ball in the first half of an NFL football game with the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011 in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

PHILADELPHIA (AP) ? Tom Brady had his way against the Philadelphia Eagles ? again.

Brady threw for 361 yards and three touchdowns and the New England Patriots beat the Eagles 38-20 Sunday in a rematch of the 2005 Super Bowl.

Filling in for the injured Michael Vick for the second straight game, Vince Young couldn't keep Philadelphia's fading playoff hopes alive despite throwing for a career-best 400 yards passing. The Eagles (4-7) are all-but-mathematically eliminated from playoff contention in a season that began with Super Bowl expectations.

Angry fans made their feelings known about coach Andy Reid, chanting "Fire Andy!" in the second half.

The defending NFC East champions fell to 1-5 at home and have lost eight of nine at the Linc, including a playoff loss to Green Bay last January.

Down 10-0 early, the AFC East-leading Patriots rallied behind Brady. New England (8-3) scored on five of its next six possessions, excluding a kneel-down at the end of the first half.

Brady and coach Bill Belichick improved to 4-0 against Reid's Eagles, including a 24-21 win for their third NFL title in four years after the 2004 season.

Brady finished 24 of 34, Deion Branch had 125 yards receiving and Wes Welker caught eight passes for 115 yards and two TDs.

Brady, a two-time NFL MVP, has completed 67.3 percent of his passes for 1,232 yards, nine TDs and no interceptions in four career games against Philadelphia.

Young led the Eagles to a 17-10 win against the New York Giants last week in his first start in nearly a year. He put up decent numbers against the worst-ranked defense in the league, but couldn't overcome another inept performance by the Eagles' defense.

Young finished 26 of 48. It was just his third career game over 300 yards.

Vick broke two lower ribs in a loss to Arizona on Nov. 13. He got hurt on the second play of that game and stayed in, but hasn't practiced the last two weeks. It's uncertain whether Vick can play when Philadelphia visits Seattle on Thursday night.

After a fast start, the Eagles fizzled.

Brady engineered a 70-yard drive capped by BenJarvus Green-Ellis' 4-yard TD run to cut it to 10-7. The Pats converted two third downs on the drive, including two by penalty.

Helped by a missed call, New England's defense then forced a three-and-out. Young was sacked by Rob Ninkovich, who spun the quarterback down by pulling his facemask. But the referees didn't see it, eliciting loud boos from the crowd when the replay was shown on the video screen.

One play after just-signed Tiquan Underwood dropped a wide-open pass, Brady connected with Branch for 63 yards to the Eagles 1 on a third-and-13. Green-Ellis scored on the next play to put the Patriots up 14-10.

Antwaun Molden intercepted Young's deep pass intended for DeSean Jackson on Philadelphia's next play and returned it 27 yards to the Eagles 34. But the Patriots couldn't convert the turnover into points. Stephen Gostkowski missed a 39-yard field goal wide right.

No problem for Brady and Co.

The Eagles went three-and-out again, and the Patriots went to a no-huddle when they got the ball back.

Welker blew past the secondary and Brady hit his wide-open target in stride for a 41-yard TD pass to give New England a 21-10 lead.

DeSean Jackson dropped what should've been a 4-yard TD pass and the Eagles settled for a 22-yard field goal to get within 21-13.

It was the second time in the first half that Jackson appeared to shy away from contact and dropped a pass across the middle. Fans let him hear it with a chorus of boos. Jackson, a two-time Pro Bowl pick, is in the final year of his rookie contract and has been unhappy that he didn't get a new deal. He dropped a deep pass that should've been a TD in the third quarter.

The Patriots got the ball to start the second half and Brady led them into the end zone again, tossing a 9-yard TD pass to Welker for a 31-13 lead.

Brady threw a 24-yard TD pass to Rob Gronkowski to extend it to 38-13 in the fourth quarter.

Young came out firing. He tossed a 22-yard pass to Brent Celek on the first play from scrimmage. Then he connected with Riley Cooper for 58 yards to the Patriots 4. LeSean McCoy ran in from the 2 to give the Eagles a 7-0 lead.

Young hit Jackson for a 44-yard gain to the Patriots 36 on the first play of the next series. The Eagles' drive stalled at the 25 after three consecutive dropped passes, and Alex Henery kicked a 43-yard field goal to make it 10-0.

Besides Vick, the Eagles didn't have leading receiver Jeremy Maclin or nickel cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha didn't start after injuring his knee in practice on Thanksgiving Day, though he played in some situations.

The Patriots played without three starters: cornerback Devin McCourty, safety Patrick Chung and center Dan Connolly.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2011-11-27-FBN-Patriots-Eagles/id-af1c7d1b9fbd4600b5275b568a32ae4e

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Three men killed "execution style" near Arizona-Mexico border (Reuters)

TUCSON, Arizona (Reuters) ? The bodies of three suspected drug traffickers were found shot to death "execution style" in a remote area near the Arizona-Mexico border, police said on Tuesday, in a crime possibly committed by bandits.

Santa Cruz County Sheriff Antonio Estrada said Border Patrol agents found the bodies of the three men on Monday in the Tumacacori Mountains, about 20 miles northwest of the border city of Nogales.

Estrada said all three men had been shot in the head. Two were identified as Mexican nationals, aged 21 and 42, while the third man has not yet been identified.

"We suspect, because of the activity that is generated up there by illegal aliens and drug traffickers, that they were very possibly hauling drugs, and might have been ripped off," Estrada told Reuters.

"It's the first triple homicide since I have been here, about 19 years ... It is disturbing because of the way these people were murdered, execution style," he added.

Estrada said the bodies had lain in the area, known as the Devil's Canyon, for up to two weeks before being spotted by a Border Patrol helicopter crew on Monday.

They were found a few miles from the spot where Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry was shot dead by suspected border bandits in December 2010.

Terry was a member of the Border Patrol's elite tactical unit, dubbed Bortac, which was hunting down border bandits suspected of committing robberies and violent assaults in the area.

(Reporting by Tim Gaynor; Editing by Greg McCune)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/crime/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111122/us_nm/us_crime_arizona_murders

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Giuliana Rancic on Parade.com: ?It?s Worth Sacrificing My Personal Life to Help Others?

TV personality Giuliana Rancic shocked fans in October when she revealed that she is in the early stages of battling breast cancer after learning of her diagnosis while going through the preparation for IVF treatment in August. She amazingly returned to work less than a week after undergoing a double lumpectomy. Rancic, 37, talked to [...]

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UC Davis chancellor sorry for pepper spray incident (Reuters)

DAVIS, Calif (Reuters) ? A University of California chancellor apologized to jeering students on Monday for police use of pepper spray against campus protesters in a standoff captured by video and widely replayed on television and the Internet.

The pepper-spraying last week led to suspensions of the campus police chief and two officers, and thrust the normally quiet, conservative and mostly apolitical UC Davis campus to the forefront of anti-Wall Street "Occupy" protests nationwide.

Faculty and student critics of Friday's confrontation, some of whom demanded the chancellor's resignation, said it had damaged the school's image and the climate for free expression at the university.

UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi has come under sharp criticism for the school's handling of the protests, with some critics blaming her for what they viewed as excessive force employed by campus police.

An hours-long rally on Monday, attended by more than 1,000 students, faculty members and even parents, was capped by demonstrators pitching at least a dozen tents in the center of the campus, again defying rules forbidding such encampments.

Taking the stage following a parade of speakers who railed against her, Katehi told the crowd: "I'm here to apologize. I really feel horrible for what happened on Friday." Many in the audience answered with boos and catcalls.

"You may not believe anything I say today. It's my responsibility to earn your trust," she said, adding, "I don't want to be the chancellor of the university we had on Friday."

The crowd roared back with cries of "Resign!"

She left the stage after about a minute, looking shaken, and was hustled by security personnel to a waiting car, followed by a throng of media and a cluster of students yelling: "Don't come back!"

As on other campuses around the country, protests at UC Davis, a school of 31,000 students known for its agriculture, wine-making and veterinary programs, started out focused on issues of economic inequality and tuition hikes.

But Monday's rally was spurred by last week's pepper-spray dousing of protesting students and an earlier confrontation at UC Berkeley in which police jabbed students with night sticks.

There was no visible police presence at Monday's gathering, which remained peaceful.

"Before, students didn't see how (the Occupy movement) affected them, but I think watching the video ... they see how it affects them," said Cole Sawyer, 19, from Long Beach, California, one of the students pepper-sprayed last week.

HOT SPOT

Hours earlier in Oakland, a hot spot of anti-Wall Street activism in recent weeks, police in the largely working-class city on the east bank of San Francisco Bay swept away, at least temporarily, the last of the town's protest camps.

Police moved in shortly after midnight and removed 20 to 30 tents from Snow Park, the only Oakland camp still standing after another park and a vacant lot were cleared on Sunday. Later, organizers said they had occupied a home in the process of foreclosure in what they described as a "home defense".

Oakland police spokeswoman Johnna Watson said the tents at Snow Park were dismantled without incident or arrests.

Oakland has been a flash point of the anti-Wall Street movement, helping rally support nationwide for demonstrations launched in New York in September to protest excesses of the financial system, bank bailouts and high unemployment.

Attention over the weekend shifted to UC Davis, near the state capital, Sacramento, where a widely circulated video clip showed a police officer walking back and forth in front of protesters huddled on the ground, repeatedly spraying them in the face. Other police kept onlookers at bay with batons.

UC President Mark Yudof placed two campus police officers on paid administrative leave on Sunday and launched a review of police procedures university-wide. He told all 10 UC campus chancellors in a teleconference on Monday: "We cannot let this happen again," according to a university statement.

Katehi said on Monday that the campus chief of police had also been suspended. In addition, she asked the Yolo County District Attorney's office to investigate the use of force by campus police and said she would create a task force to conduct a campus review and report recommendations in 30 days.

But the executive council of the Academic Senate at UC Davis, which represents some 1,800 faculty at the campus, voted on Sunday to form its own inquiry and a "representative assembly" of all 100 department representatives next week.

"The agenda will be to have a discussion with the chancellor," council chair Linda Bisson, a viticulture professor, told Reuters. She added that one possible outcome could be a call for a vote of no-confidence.

"Most people I've spoken to say, 'We want the facts in the case, and then we'll decide.' Others say, 'It doesn't matter what the facts are. The incident was so atrocious, the chancellor has to go.'" No date for the meeting has been set.

UC Davis spokeswoman Claudia Morain denied that Katehi had instructed police to use force in removing tents last week.

"There was a concern that letting them remain and letting the number grow could be a health hazard. The whole idea was to end it peaceably," she said.

(Additional reporting and writing by Steve Gorman; Editing by Cynthia Johnston and Peter Bohan)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/us/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111122/us_nm/us_protests_davis_pepperspray

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Reliable nuclear device to heat, power Mars Science Lab

ScienceDaily (Nov. 21, 2011) ? NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission, which is scheduled to launch this week, has the potential to be the most productive Mars surface mission in history. That's due in part to its nuclear heat and power source.

When the rover Curiosity heads to space as early as November 26, it will carry the most advanced payload of scientific gear ever used on Mars' surface. Those instruments will get their lifeblood from a radioisotope power system assembled and tested at Idaho National Laboratory. The Multi-Mission Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator is the latest "space battery" that can reliably power a deep space mission for many years.

The device provides a continuous source of heat and power for the rover's instruments. NASA has used nuclear generators to safely and reliably power 26 missions over the past 50 years. New generators like the one destined for Mars are painstakingly assembled and extensively tested at INL before heading to space.

"This power system will enable Curiosity to complete its ambitious expedition in Mars' extreme temperatures and seasons," said Stephen Johnson, director of INL's Space Nuclear Systems and Technology Division. "When the unit leaves here, we've verified every aspect of its performance and made sure it's in good shape when it gets to Kennedy Space Center."

The power system provides about 110 watts of electricity and can run continuously for many years. The nuclear fuel is protected by multiple layers of safety features that have each undergone rigorous testing under varied accident scenarios.

The INL team began assembling the mission's power source in summer 2008. By December of that year, the power system was fully fueled, assembled and ready for testing. INL performs a series of tests to verify that such systems will perform as designed during their missions. These tests include: ? Vibrational testing to simulate rocket launch conditions. ? Magnetic testing to ensure the system's electrical field won't affect the rover's sensitive scientific equipment. ? Mass properties tests to determine the center of gravity, which impacts thruster calculations for moving the rover. ? Thermal vacuum testing to verify operation on a planet's surface or in the cold vacuum of space.

INL completed its tests in May 2009, but by then the planned September 2009 launch had been delayed until this month because of hurdles with other parts of the mission. So INL stored the power system until earlier this summer, when it was shipped to Kennedy Space Center and mated up with the rover to ensure everything fit and worked as designed.

The system will supply warmth and electricity to Curiosity and its scientific instruments using heat from nuclear decay. The generator is fueled with a ceramic form of plutonium dioxide encased in multiple layers of protective materials including iridium capsules and high-strength graphite blocks. As the plutonium naturally decays, it gives off heat, which is circulated through the rover by heat transfer fluid plumbed throughout the system. Electric voltage is produced by using thermocouples, which exploit the temperature difference between the heat source and the cold exterior.

Curiosity is expected to land on Mars in August 2012 and carry out its mission over 23 months. It will investigate Mars' Gale Crater for clues about whether environmental conditions there have favored the development of microbial life, and to preserve any evidence it finds.

NASA chose to use a nuclear power source because solar power alternatives did not meet the full range of the mission's requirements. Only the radioisotope power system allows full-time communication with the rover during its atmospheric entry, descent and landing regardless of the landing site. And the nuclear powered rover can go farther, travel to more places, last longer, and power and heat a larger and more capable scientific payload compared to the solar power alternative NASA studied.

"You can operate with solar panels on Mars, you just can't operate everywhere," said Johnson. "This gives you an opportunity to go anywhere you want on the planet, not be limited to the areas that have sunlight and not have to put the rover to sleep at night."

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by DOE/Idaho National Laboratory.

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

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111121142455.htm

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DigitalFolio

Editor's Note: This product has not yet been tested. The following coverage is based on information provided by the manufacturer or developer.

Looking for the best deals online? Even when it's not Cyber Monday, there's a browser plug-in that can help you comparative-shop to find the lowest prices for practically any product sold online. DigitalFolio tracks product prices for as long as you want across numerous sites, and alerts you when the price has dropped to one you're willing to pay.

As a browser add-on, you can install it on multiple machines and always have access to the most up-to-date information. It also has some neat sharing features that are useful when you're looking to buy a gift as a group?multiple users can collaborate and comment on products and their prices before you purchase it. You can also make and share a wish list or registry with other users.

The major limitation to using Digital Folio is that it's only available for Windows 7 and Vista (not XP) machines with Internet Explorer 8 or Firefox 3.6 and later, and Mac OS X with Firefox.

Digital Folio has a short video (less than two minutes) that shows some of the features in action.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/8l7LMDbNkqg/0,2817,2396580,00.asp

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Schwarzenegger 'Banged Up' On 'Last Stand' Set

Arnold Schwarzenegger is surely back. The former Governor of California has already taken close-to-center stage in the first "Expendables 2" poster, and now he's showing off just how much he's willing to endure during his long awaited return to the action movie arena.
"Got a little banged up on set today," Schwarzenegger tweeted from the set [...]

Source: http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2011/11/21/schwarzenegger-banged-up-on-last-stand-set/

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Analysis: Arrest of Gaddafi's son poses challenge for new Libya (Reuters)

LONDON (Reuters) ? The capture of Muammar Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam ties up an awkward loose end for Libya's new rulers, but disputes over what to do with him could severely strain the country's fledgling systems and structures.

Saif al-Islam, once held up as a potentially progressive future leader of Libya and face of its rapprochement with the West, was seized in the desert and flown to the western mountain town of Zintan.

In the short term, his capture is seen perhaps offering a useful distraction from the growing problems faced by post-war Libya. But some fear it may simply end up fuelling further division or damage to the reputation of those now in charge.

While Saif al-Islam looked for now to have avoided the brutal fate of his father - killed shortly after his capture - it is far from clear what will happen next.

Western states in particular are keen that he be handed over to the International Criminal Court, which indicted him earlier this year for crimes against humanity during the crackdown on protesters.

"This may temporarily bring the feelgood factor back to the streets, with most of the recent attention being focused on clashes and divisions between different rebel militias, and protests over pay and the perceived mistakes of the NTC," said Alan Fraser, Middle East analyst for London-based risk consultancy AKE, referring to post-Gaddafi transitional authorities.

"(But) what's for certain is that it will ignite passions that could have the potential to destabilise the reconstruction process. There will be a lot of media attention on this issue and that will likely prevent it from going away."

Senior members of Libya's NTC have said they would rather he was tried in the country, but for now lack any coherent legal system with which to do so. As things stand, it is far from clear whether those in charge in Tripoli have the clout to take control of the prisoner.

Zintan was one of the western towns that bore the brunt of Gaddafi's military wrath during the early days of the conflict. Like many other regions, it now has its own largely autonomous forces that have yet to be brought under the direct control of the NTC.

"ACID TEST"

"This is an acid test of the NTC's authority," said Henry Smith, Libya analyst for London-based consultancy Control Risks. "The capture presents a challenge ... if they want to try Saif then what can they do to make Zintan hand him over.

"They do not have the capacity to use coercive means so do they offer the town the coveted security portfolios in the forthcoming cabinet? If so, then to which of the Zintan militias? They may leave his fate to the Zintanis, but then where does that leave Libya's embryonic justice system?"

Western human rights groups were critical of the mob justice handed out to Gaddafi senior and to at least one of his sons, and, along with many foreign governments, are demanding Saif al-Islam be better treated.

"The authorities will send an important message that there's a new era in Libya, marked by the rule of law, by treating Saif al-Islam humanely and surrendering him to the ICC," said Richard Dicker, international justice director at Human Rights Watch.

"His fair prosecution at the ICC will afford Libyans a chance to see justice served in a trial that the international community stands behind."

Human Rights Watch said there was far too much evidence of extrajudicial killings of former Gaddafi loyalists by opposition fighters as well as mistreatment in custody.

Rights group Amnesty International said an immediate transfer to the ICC was the best option for Saif al-Islam.

KNOWS TOO MANY SECRETS?

"He must be handed over to the ICC, and his safety and rights must be guaranteed," said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa Deputy Director.

"After what happened after the capture of Muammar and Mutassim Gaddafi, we hold the NTC responsible for preventing similar harm coming to Saif al-Islam al-Gaddafi, so that he can face justice for his alleged crimes in a fair trial with no death penalty."

But other analysts are unconvinced that handing the most prominent surviving member of the Gaddafi clan over to perceived foreign justice is a viable option for the NTC, keen to avoid any perceptions it might become a Western stooge.

A well conducted trial, they say, could actually serve to burnish the NTC's reputation. But some worry that a chaotic trial -- particularly if followed by an execution -- could simply reinforce the image of a country largely out of control. Others ponder just how much political damage the well-connected Saif al-Islam might do in the witness box.

"A prolonged trial may also bring divisions to the surface, and Saif may know a lot of secrets that could damage the reputations of some in the NTC and the West," said Fraser.

"He could potentially throw the cat among the pigeons and divert attention from the task of restoring security and political stability."

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/africa/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111119/wl_nm/us_libya_saif_arrest

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Butt injection with 'Fix a Flat' leads to arrest

A Miami Gardens transgender woman is facing charges of practicing medicine without a license after police say she injected a patient's rear with everything but the kitchen sink in an illegal cosmetic surgery procedure.

Oneal Ron Morris, 30, was arrested Friday after an investigation by Miami Gardens Police and the Florida Department of Health.

According to police, the victim saw Morris in May and was injected in her buttocks with a substance consisting of cement, "Fix a Flat," mineral oil and super glue.

See photos, read the original story at NBCMiami.com

The amateur incision was then sealed with super glue, police said. The victim was later hospitalized with a serious medical condition as a result of the injections.

Morris, who police say is a man but appears to look like a woman and sports an apparently enhanced rear herself in arrest photos, was being held on $7,500 bond. it was unknown whether she has an attorney.

Police believe there may be other victims of Morris who may be afraid to come forward. They said the victims haven't done anything illegal and shouldn't be afraid to come forward.

Anyone with information is asked to call Miami Gardens Police at 305-474-1420.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45361508/ns/local_news-miami_fl/

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How to take fabulous family photos this holiday season (Yahoo! News)

Avoid the pitfalls of ugly pictures and capture happy memories

One of the most popular traditions around the holidays is the family photo. While you certainly could go to a professional portrait studio to have a photo taken with your nearest and dearest, sometimes that's just impractical (not to mention expensive). But too often, a family photo taken at home means a poorly lit, blurry, or boring mess that just gets stuck in an album and forgotten.

But with advances in digital cameras making it relatively easy to take great pictures, there's no excuse for a terrible family photo. Just follow a few simple guidelines, and you'll be able to create holiday memories you'll be proud to display.

Outdoor portraits can be great

Plan ahead
If your goal is to get a photo with all the aunts and uncles and cousins who are coming over for Thanksgiving dinner, be sure to let everyone know ahead of time. That will give them the opportunity to make sure they've done their hair, put on a bit of makeup, and chosen the pants without a hole in the knee. People appreciate some warning for these sorts of things!

Depending on the number of people and their willingness to go along with your ideas, you might even want to ask everyone to wear coordinating outfits. Don't make everyone wear exactly the same thing ? there are no outfits that look good on everyone ? but you might ask them to wear, for example, jeans and a blue shirt. That way, everyone can choose something that suits them, but you won't have that one uncle who always wears bright orange throwing off the color balance.

The how, the when, and the where
Plan your photography session for as early in the day as possible. Not only will everyone look fresh and awake, but there's less chance the turkey dinner will end up on someone's tie in the interim. Shooting in the daytime also lets you take advantage of natural light and maybe even stage your photo outside.

The more control you have over your background and environment, the better. If possible (weather and physical limitations permitting), try to find somewhere outside to shoot your photo ? a local park, playground, or even the backyard will do in a pinch. Going outside makes it feel more like a fun adventure than a family chore, and most people relax when they're outside the house. Look for a location that will provide a background that isn't too distracting. A field of grass, a wide set of stairs outside a building, or a gazebo can all be great settings.

Don't forget to include yourself! Use a tripod and your camera's self-timer to set up the shot, and don't forget to leave yourself a space to fit into once you've pushed the shutter button.

Work with what you have
Even if you can't go outside to take advantage of natural light, you can make the most of what you do have to work with. If you're taking a photo inside a house, try to eliminate distractions in the background as much as possible (without necessarily going so far as to take down wall hangings and such).

In general, do what you can to avoid having to use your camera's flash. If there are windows in the room, open the curtains as wide as possible and arrange your subjects so that they're getting as much light as you can find. Taking the lampshades off table lamps and moving the lamps just outside the photo can provide extra light. Photographers often use a trick called background light that involves putting a light behind and below subjects, casting a gentle glow that helps separate them from the background and create a sort of halo effect with their hair.

Black and white can add a touch of class to fun photos

If you do end up needing to use your camera's flash, try gently taping a thin tissue across it to diffuse the light a bit.

If you're photographing a large group, position people at different heights to get everyone in the photo without looking crowded. Stairs are great for this, but you can also seat some of your subjects while others stand or kneel. Don't fall into the boring old family portrait trap of always putting the kids at the bottom and the adults at the top ? try mixing it up a bit, and have the younger folks standing while Mom and Dad sit in front of them.

Bring some humor into the mix
Humor is a great way to get everyone to lighten up and look relaxed. You might start by asking someone to tell a funny story about a family memory. Just be sure it's amusing and not hurtful ? you certainly don't want to bring up old arguments! Playing a game is also a good way to get everyone to relax. Don't be afraid of action shots, either; a photo of the whole family walking down a path together in the park can be a lovely image.

Crazy photos can still be cool

Sharing your photo memories
While it's perfectly well and good to get a nice 5" x 7" print to hang in a frame on the wall, that gets a little boring after a while. Folks with larger families might even run out of wall space! But don't fret ? online photo printers offer much more than enlargements these days. Instead of including a photograph tucked inside your holiday cards, why not put the photo on the card itself? You can get family photos printed on mugs, calendars, and even aprons and blankets. You could even start a new holiday tradition by ordering an ornament printed with your family portrait, giving one to each branch of the family. Snapfish, Smugmug, and Shutterfly are all great options for printing your photographs on interesting and unusual objects.

Whether your family is small or large, local or scattered to the four corners of the earth, getting everyone together for a family portrait is a warm way to celebrate the holidays. Keep track of milestones and memories this holiday season by capturing the moment to remember in years to come.

[Image credits: Gabe McIntyre, Kevin Rawlings,?Bruce Guenter]

This article was written by Katherine Gray and originally appeared on Tecca

More from Tecca:

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/techblog/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_technews/20111118/tc_yblog_technews/how-to-take-fabulous-family-photos-this-holiday-season

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The modeling of multiple relationships in social networks

Public release date: 17-Nov-2011
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Contact: Sona Rai
sr2763@columbia.edu
212-854-5955
Columbia Business School

Study reveals how marketers can target their efforts in networks - online and off - by identifying and predicting how multiple relationships form

NEW YORK -- A study conducted by Columbia Business School's Prof. Asim Ansari, William T. Dillard Professor of Marketing, Marketing, and Oded Koenigsberg, Barbara and Meyer Feldberg Associate Professor of Business, Marketing, alongside Florian Stahl, Assistant Professor, Department of Business Economics, University of Zurich, creates models that identify and predict how multiple relationships form in social networks. The research was recently featured in the Journal of Marketing Research. The researchers observed that multiple, distinct types of relationships often occur among users of the same network, and existing models that explain how relationships form in a network don't account for these variations. For example, when people connect with each other through networks, they connect via multiple relationships. Online, two Facebook users may be "friends", but may not regularly communicate with each other directly; a user commenting on another's profile or otherwise actively communicating represents a different type of relationship in the network. Offline, multiple relationships also exist, as when employees in different departments in an organization perform different types of work (for instance, marketing and operations), but still interact with each other. The researchers wanted to know whether the formation of one type of relationship in a network could predict connections via other types of relationships.

The professors develop an integrated statistical framework for simultaneously modeling the connectivity structure of multiple relationships of different types on a common set of actors. They use hierarchical bayesian methods for estimation and illustrate their model with two applications: the first application uses a sequential network of communications among managers involved in new product development activities, and the second uses an online collaborative social network of musicians. The researchers modeled both direct (a relationship with a clear sender and receiver) and undirected relationships (such as a collaboration relationship), to prove how disparate relationships can be jointly modeled within a common framework. In terms of multiple relationships, the statistical framework created by the researchers can also captured weighted and un-weighted relationships.

In terms of social networking online, the researchers focused on a Swiss social networking site for music artists, where three types of relationships were studied: individual friendships between artists; relationships based on communication or the exchange of information, such as direct messages or comments about upcoming concerts; and artists' downloads of other artists' music. They found that common factors determined the likelihood that each of these relationships would form, including geographical proximity of users; the online, as opposed to offline, popularity of artists; and whether the users shared an identity as an individual artist or as part of a band. These factors were related with the existence of a relationship and its strength for instance, the more messages two users sent each other, the stronger the connection between them.

In terms of networking in the workplace, the researchers measured the impact of interventions in a network by focusing on an organization's small network of different groups of managers such as research and development, marketing, and operations involved in the development of a new product. These managers were moved into one shared facility, with researchers examining the types and strength of relationships between managers from different departments before and after the intervention. The model accurately predicted what relationships would form based on common characteristics and predicted the effects of intervention on relationships in the network.

The research has several applications for marketing managers, customers relationship managers, and direct marketers. This research can help identify and target influential users in a network, predict network relationships, and improve understanding of the network structure. This can help to better leverage word-of-mouth marketing or the information transfer potential of a particular network. In addition, operations managers can use this model to better understand the social and communication structure of their organizational network, which can lead to solutions for increased efficiency and productivity among employees. While the study's applications involved small networks, recent research has shown that while online networks can have millions of members, communities within such networks are relatively small, with sizes in the vicinity of 100 members .This implies that very large networks can be broken down into clusters of tightly knit communities, and when such communities are identified, their methodological framework can then be used on such communities to further understand the nature of linkages within these subcommunities.

###

About Columbia Business School

Led by Dean Glenn Hubbard, the Russell L. Carson Professor of Finance and Economics, Columbia Business School is at the forefront of management education for a rapidly changing world. The school's cuttingedge curriculum bridges academic theory and practice, equipping students with an entrepreneurial mindset to recognize and capture opportunity in a competitive business environment. Beyond academic rigor and teaching excellence, the school offers programs that are designed to give students practical experience making decisions in realworld environments. The school offers MBA and Executive MBA (EMBA) degrees, as well as nondegree Executive Education programs. For more information, visit http://www.gsb.columbia.edu.

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Public release date: 17-Nov-2011
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Columbia Business School

Study reveals how marketers can target their efforts in networks - online and off - by identifying and predicting how multiple relationships form

NEW YORK -- A study conducted by Columbia Business School's Prof. Asim Ansari, William T. Dillard Professor of Marketing, Marketing, and Oded Koenigsberg, Barbara and Meyer Feldberg Associate Professor of Business, Marketing, alongside Florian Stahl, Assistant Professor, Department of Business Economics, University of Zurich, creates models that identify and predict how multiple relationships form in social networks. The research was recently featured in the Journal of Marketing Research. The researchers observed that multiple, distinct types of relationships often occur among users of the same network, and existing models that explain how relationships form in a network don't account for these variations. For example, when people connect with each other through networks, they connect via multiple relationships. Online, two Facebook users may be "friends", but may not regularly communicate with each other directly; a user commenting on another's profile or otherwise actively communicating represents a different type of relationship in the network. Offline, multiple relationships also exist, as when employees in different departments in an organization perform different types of work (for instance, marketing and operations), but still interact with each other. The researchers wanted to know whether the formation of one type of relationship in a network could predict connections via other types of relationships.

The professors develop an integrated statistical framework for simultaneously modeling the connectivity structure of multiple relationships of different types on a common set of actors. They use hierarchical bayesian methods for estimation and illustrate their model with two applications: the first application uses a sequential network of communications among managers involved in new product development activities, and the second uses an online collaborative social network of musicians. The researchers modeled both direct (a relationship with a clear sender and receiver) and undirected relationships (such as a collaboration relationship), to prove how disparate relationships can be jointly modeled within a common framework. In terms of multiple relationships, the statistical framework created by the researchers can also captured weighted and un-weighted relationships.

In terms of social networking online, the researchers focused on a Swiss social networking site for music artists, where three types of relationships were studied: individual friendships between artists; relationships based on communication or the exchange of information, such as direct messages or comments about upcoming concerts; and artists' downloads of other artists' music. They found that common factors determined the likelihood that each of these relationships would form, including geographical proximity of users; the online, as opposed to offline, popularity of artists; and whether the users shared an identity as an individual artist or as part of a band. These factors were related with the existence of a relationship and its strength for instance, the more messages two users sent each other, the stronger the connection between them.

In terms of networking in the workplace, the researchers measured the impact of interventions in a network by focusing on an organization's small network of different groups of managers such as research and development, marketing, and operations involved in the development of a new product. These managers were moved into one shared facility, with researchers examining the types and strength of relationships between managers from different departments before and after the intervention. The model accurately predicted what relationships would form based on common characteristics and predicted the effects of intervention on relationships in the network.

The research has several applications for marketing managers, customers relationship managers, and direct marketers. This research can help identify and target influential users in a network, predict network relationships, and improve understanding of the network structure. This can help to better leverage word-of-mouth marketing or the information transfer potential of a particular network. In addition, operations managers can use this model to better understand the social and communication structure of their organizational network, which can lead to solutions for increased efficiency and productivity among employees. While the study's applications involved small networks, recent research has shown that while online networks can have millions of members, communities within such networks are relatively small, with sizes in the vicinity of 100 members .This implies that very large networks can be broken down into clusters of tightly knit communities, and when such communities are identified, their methodological framework can then be used on such communities to further understand the nature of linkages within these subcommunities.

###

About Columbia Business School

Led by Dean Glenn Hubbard, the Russell L. Carson Professor of Finance and Economics, Columbia Business School is at the forefront of management education for a rapidly changing world. The school's cuttingedge curriculum bridges academic theory and practice, equipping students with an entrepreneurial mindset to recognize and capture opportunity in a competitive business environment. Beyond academic rigor and teaching excellence, the school offers programs that are designed to give students practical experience making decisions in realworld environments. The school offers MBA and Executive MBA (EMBA) degrees, as well as nondegree Executive Education programs. For more information, visit http://www.gsb.columbia.edu.

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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/2011-11/cbs-tmo111611.php

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Euro zone Oct inflation 3 percent; seen falling (Reuters)

BRUSSELS (Reuters) ? Euro zone inflation held at 3.0 percent for a second month in October, with economists saying it had likely peaked and would soon fall in a struggling economy, giving the European Central Bank room to cut interest rates and focus on growth.

Now at a three-year high, consumer prices in the 17-nation currency area rose 0.3 percent in October alone, the European Union's statistics office Eurostat said on Wednesday.

Inflation stayed above the ECB's target of close to, but under 2 percent, pushed up by higher oil, clothing and food prices.

Many economists say a worsening business climate, crippled by the euro zone sovereign debt crisis, means consumer prices won't go higher.

"October should be the peak, so we see inflation coming down in November, but only moderately, to 2.9 percent," said Marco Valli, chief euro zone economist at Unicredit. "If I had to say, I would expect an ECB rate cut in January, but it is an extremely close call."

With price pressures easing, many economists expect new ECB President Mario Draghi to repeat this month's 25-basis point interest rate cut to 1.25 percent again soon to boost a euro zone economy that stands on the brink of recession after barely growing in the third quarter.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso warned on Wednesday that the region's growth would be low at best, while unemployment would remain at about 10 percent for the next two years.

"If you look at the fact that the ECB cut rates in November, I think it does not mean that they will stop cutting in December," said Carsten Brzeski at ING. "I think their main focus is on growth these days and not on headline inflation."

NO STAGFLATION

With Brent crude at over $110 a barrel, supported by growing supply concerns and tensions over Iran's nuclear program, energy costs remain high in Europe, fuelling concerns about possible stagflation.

But many economists expect oil price rises to abate by early next year, and excluding energy, consumer inflation in the euro zone was 2.0 percent in October, in line with the ECB's goal.

That could take overall inflation down to below 2 percent in the first half of next year, according to IHS Global Insight.

Still, the ECB's call is not an easy one. Energy prices may stay high until March and even if the bank cuts rates to 1 percent in the next few months, it may not be prepared to go further. Even at the height of the 2008/2009 crisis, the biggest downturn since the 1930s, the ECB did not go below that level.

High energy costs were evident in the Eurostat data, with transport price inflation reaching 5.8 percent in October, the highest in the euro area index, followed by alcohol and tobacco at 4.4 percent on an annual basis.

The price of clothing rose 2.3 percent in October compared to a year ago, partly due to a change in which Eurostat measures the data, and food prices jumped 3.1 percent.

On a country-by-country basis, consumer prices rose 3.4 percent in Belgium and 3.0 percent in Spain in October. Price inflation was 2.5 percent in France and 3.8 percent in Italy, where the government raised value added taxes to convince markets it can service its debts.

(Additional reporting by Christopher Le Coq; Editing by John Stonestreet)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/eurobiz/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20111116/bs_nm/us_eurozone_inflation

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Democrats, Republicans far apart on deficit deal (AP)

WASHINGTON ? A Democrat on a special deficit-cutting "supercommittee" Wednesday questioned whether Republicans are still interested in negotiating after the panel's top GOP member said Republicans have "gone as far as we feel we can go" on tax hikes.

A sense of deep pessimism has gripped the supercommittee, and judging from the limited public statement by panel members, a debt bargain could be out of reach.

"We need to find out whether our Republican colleagues want to continue to negotiate or whether they've drawn a hard line in the sand," said supercommittee Democrat Chris Van Hollen of Maryland. "The question is whether they've kind of said `take it or leave it.' "

Van Hollen made his comments after co-chairman Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, told CNBC Tuesday evening that the bipartisan debt supercommittee is "somewhat stymied for the moment" because panel Democrats are insisting on tax increases of up to $1 trillion in exchange for cost curbs on rapidly spiraling benefit programs such as Medicare and Social Security.

The top Democrat on the deficit supercommittee, Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, said Wednesday morning that it's a "critical day" for the panel but that Democrats "are not going to accept a plan that gives a tax break to the wealthiest and balance all of this incredible (deficit) challenge on the backs of middle class families.

While the supercommittee struggles, a bipartisan gaggle of lawmakers urged the panel to "go big" and far exceed the minimum $1.2 trillion deficit target set for the panel this summer when it was established by a hard-fought budget and debt limit pact between President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio. Failure would trigger across-the-board spending cuts that especially alarm defense hawks.

"This group can do it. And they need to know, if they are bold, if they are brave, if they go big, we will stand with them, and the American people will stand with them," said Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad, D-N.D.

The deficit for the just-completed budget year was $1.3 trillion, requiring the government to borrow 36 cents for every dollar it spends.

Under current policies, the government could run deficits near the $1 trillion range through the end of the decade. Even a successful negotiation that produces $1.2 trillion in cuts will still leave a deficit crisis that requires painful choices by policymakers on taxes and benefits programs, budget experts agree.

Backbiting has intensified since an exchange of offers. The Democrats' most recent plan called for $2.3 trillion in deficit cuts, including a $1 trillion tax increase over the coming decade. Republicans countered with almost $300 billion in new tax revenues as part of a $1.5 trillion debt plan, an offer that even a top Democrat, Majority Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois, called a breakthrough.

"The Democrats won't put a plan on the table to solve the problem, and anything they do that even remotely addresses health care, even superficially, they're insisting on" a $1 trillion tax increase, Hensarling said. "It's not going to happen."

Democrats have signaled privately that they're willing to lower their demands on tax increases somewhat ? perhaps to $800 billion over a decade ? but there's no sign that Republicans could accept that bargain.

Boehner publicly blessed the GOP offer on taxes Tuesday, bucking opposition by some GOP presidential hopefuls and colleagues wary of violating a longstanding point of party orthodoxy. But there's restiveness on his conservative flank

The supercommittee has until a week from Wednesday to vote on any compromise, but several officials said that in reality, perhaps as little as 48 or 72 hours are available to the six Republicans and six Democrats.

While Boehner's voice is important, his endorsement does not mean all Republicans will follow him or that a deal is in sight. Republicans have been unified for two decades in opposition to higher taxes, while Democrats on the supercommittee insist on additional revenue before they will agree to cuts in benefit programs as part of a compromise.

Boehner said the plan, outlined a week ago to Democrats on the committee, was "a fair offer." Adding an overhaul of the federal tax code would generate economic growth, he said.

But Boehner's chief lieutenant, Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va. ? who pulled out of talks led by Vice President Joe Biden this summer over Democrats' tax demands ? has declined to endorse the GOP's $300 billion offer on taxes, even though it's been endorsed by conservative stalwarts like Hensarling and Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa.

The full committee hasn't met in several days, but various subgroups have been in near constant contact.

More than deficit reduction is at stake, one year into an era of divided government.

Democrats are hoping to add elements of President Barack Obama's jobs legislation to any deficit-cutting deal, including extensions of a Social Security payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits that are due to expire at the end of the year. But their proposal to use savings from shrinking war spending is opposed by some Republicans.

A comprehensive rewrite of farm programs may hang in the balance, too, and lawmakers also must pass legislation to ensure sufficient funds to reimburse doctors who treat Medicare patients.

The twin issues of taxes and benefit programs have long been stumbling blocks in budget negotiations.

In negotiations last summer, according to numerous officials, Obama and Boehner were considering sizable cuts to benefit programs as well as tax reform that would have raised as much as $800 billion in additional revenue. The talks ultimately failed.

Republican leaders still support the concept of swapping modest tax increases for a tax overhaul. And they say that's a good deal, especially since the Bush-era tax cuts expire at the end of next year.

"It's important for us to, in my opinion, reform the tax code," Boehner said. "And we've got the highest business tax rate in the world. We've got a personal tax system that's so complicated it costs Americans about $500 billion a year to comply with the current tax code," he said.

Republican officials say the GOP offer envisions an overhaul that would drop the top tax rate on personal income to 28 percent from the current 35 percent and shave or eliminate some itemized deductions that are commonly used. The top corporate rate would fall also.

Despite Boehner's comments, GOP presidential contenders Newt Gingrich and Rick Perry said they were prepared to oppose a plan along the lines of the one under consideration. Another candidate, Mitt Romney, brushed aside a question on the subject.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/uscongress/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111116/ap_on_go_co/us_debt_supercommittee

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Mathew Knowles is back with new girl group (AP)

NEW YORK ? Mathew Knowles says there's a lack of girl groups in the music industry today, so it's the right time to launch his latest project: a reality show on MTV that follows the development of the group From Above.

"Breaking From Above" premieres internationally this month and in December, and Knowles says it may be shown in the United States next spring.

"Most reality shows are about putting together groups, this is the opposite," he said in a recent interview. On the MTV show, he added two more women, for a total of seven competing for a spot in the British pop quintet. It airs over MTV affiliates in 160 countries, including the United Kingdom, Spain and Italy.

He says the group could be trimmed to a quartet or a trio.

The days of girl groups dominating the music scene are long gone. Knowles says it's a result of band mates not understanding the roles they play.

"If I'm the lead singer, I've got to know that, accept that, and all the members have got to accept it," he said. "Everybody's role has to be established at day one."

Knowles was the manager of Destiny's Child, which included his daughter Beyonce Knowles, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Originally a quartet, the trio stopped performing in 2005.

Destiny's Child won two Grammys, had multiple No. 1 hits and multiple multiplatinum albums. Knowles also managed the group members' solo efforts and oversaw most of Beyonce's solo career until they split professionally in March.

Knowles says before Destiny's Child signed a record deal in 1997, they had performed about 1,000 shows.

"When you look at reality shows, (the success) comes overnight, and it goes away overnight because there was never artist development," he said. "(With my new group) there's something here, but true success in this industry is about a six-year process."

His company, Music World Entertainment, offers boot camp training for artists who are looking to improve their skills. He had the members of Destiny's Child jogging and singing at the same time ? to build their stamina ? when they were 10 years old.

From Above will release their debut single, "Not the Same Girl," on Nov. 29. Their album, "Breaking From Above," will come out digitally Dec. 12.

"The initial launch is based on TV, and we've all learned the power in TV in selling music today," he said.

Knowles said he's been affiliated with seven girl groups, including the platinum-selling Trin-i-tee 5:7. Like Destiny's Child, the gospel duo has been downsized over the years.

"I guess I kind of have been known as the guy that shakes up girl groups," Knowles said with a laugh.

____

Online:

http://musicworldent.com/artists/fromabove

____

Mesfin Fekadu covers entertainment for The Associated Press. Follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/musicmesfin

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/tv/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111117/ap_en_tv/us_people_mathew_knowles

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Suspect's past at issue in Conn. murder trial (Providence Journal)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories News, News Feeds and News via Feedzilla.

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Keeping Up With Runkeeper [Fitmodo]

Runkeeper was one of the original iOS apps. It started off simply: turn it on and it would monitor how far and fast you ran. But the really interesting stuff began once Runkeeper opened up beyond the phone. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/8boLry3MllU/keeping-up-with-runkeeper

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Unusual liquid crystal structures on water surface

ScienceDaily (Nov. 16, 2011) ? Some liquid crystals form monolayers on water surface. When compressed from sides, such films of monomolecular thickness can wrinkle like fabric on a flat, smooth table, pulled together with palms simultaneously from both sides. With increasing surface pressure, the wrinkles of the monolayer fold up and form subsequent layers. The research on new compounds at the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw has resulted in the discovery of new mechanisms of multilayer formation that are responsible for creation of liquid crystal films with a structure that has never been observed before.

After pouring on a water surface, liquid crystals can form ordered layers of monomolecular thickness. When such layers are compressed in their plane, they can form, under appropriate conditions, a film composed of three layers -- a trilayer. It was supposed that from time to time even 5-layers may be formed. "The existence of 5-layers has not, however, been well documented. We managed to confirm their presence with high precision. Moreover, we observed 9-layers that until now were considered exclusively as research suggestions," says Dr Andrzej ?ywoci?ski from the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences (IPC PAS) in Warsaw. The research findings have been published in Chemistry -- A European Journal.

The researchers from IPC PAS poured microliters of liquid crystals on the surface of water. The compounds and their amounts were adjusted so as to form an ordered monomolecular layer (with a thickness of one molecule). The monolayers can be compressed with an apparatus called Langmuir trough. It is basically a trough with two hydrophilic barriers, between which a monolayer of chemical compound under study is drifting on the water surface. By reducing the distance between the barriers one can significantly increase the pressure in the monolayer plane.

The research pursued by Dr ?ywoci?ski and Prof. Robert Ho?yst's PhD students was focused on about a dozen compounds from the group of bolaamphiphiles synthesised in Prof. Carsten Tschierske's research team from the Martin-Luther-University of Halle-Wittenberg. The molecules of these compounds have various complicated shapes, sharing a rigid core with hydrophilic (water-loving) groups attached to both ends. These groups anchor the molecule to the water surface. In addition, the central part of the core contains hydrophobic (water-hating) chains. A part of molecules studied had two hydrophobic groups in an X-shaped arrangement, another part -- one such group in a T-like configuration, while in the remaining molecules the core was not straight but bent, resembling the shape of an anchor.

In molecules used in the study, hydrogen atoms in hydrophobic chains were partially replaced with fluorine atoms, which resulted in an increased rigidity and hydrophobicity. Due to the substitution, the molecules, especially those X-shaped, formed on water very stable, well ordered monolayers.

The measurements have shown that the molecules of compounds studied behave somewhat like fabric on a table (with one significant difference: a fabric is solid, and the processes described here occur only if the compound is in the liquid phase). When a monolayer is compressed from sides, the forces acting in the system displace the molecules upward, and the monolayer develops folds that subsequently roll over. If the compression is continued, an ordered structure composed of three monolayers is formed on the water surface. The process has already been described in the scientific literature.

"We were able to observe and document a much more interesting mechanism," says Jan Paczesny, a PhD student from the IPC PAS. "It turned out that further compression of a trilayer formed by one of the compounds leads to the folding that involves not one, external monolayer, but the entire trilayer. The fold being pushed out has then a thickness of six layers and after rolling over on a trilayer, our molecular 'fabric' becomes an excellently ordered 9-layer." An increase of the multilayer thickness in the sequence: mono-, 3- and 9-layer was suggested in the literature, but the mechanism was for the first time confirmed experimentally.

The group from the IPC PAS studied also substances, where the intermolecular interactions were not sufficiently flexible. During compression of such compounds, it is not the monolayer that folds and rolls over, but single molecules are pushed out over the monolayer and after detachment from water surface aggregate in pairs. Being non-volatile, they stay with the monolayer and are ordered with increasing pressure, forming at once two layers on the monolayer. This newly recognised mechanism explains why multilayers increase their thickness in sequence 1-3-5-7 monolayers.

The researchers from the IPC PAS are convinced that processes similar to the both observed ones occur also for other chemical compounds with similar molecular structure.

Practical application of the ordered multilayers is possible after transferring them from the water surface onto a solid substrate, e.g. silicon wafer. To do so, a silicon wafer is repeatedly immersed and removed from a bath consisting of water with a multilayer. Unfortunately, the monolayers of some substances are being washed out during repeated immersions. The researchers from the IPC PAS met such situation for one of the compounds studied. The measurements have shown, however, that the same compound is transferred permanently when a 9-layer is formed. This means not only that a new type of substrates can be produced but also that the time required to form thick multilayers that were previously produced by laborious deposition of up to a few dozen monolayers can be nine-fold reduced.

The cores of molecules studied in the IPC PAS have three condensed aromatic rings. Analogous structures appear in conducting polymers. "We hope that in future the derivatives of the compounds studied by us will find an application in organic electronics. We also plan to make use of the tendency for self-organisation of these molecules to organise other molecules," comments Dr ?ywoci?ski.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences, via AlphaGalileo.

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

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Journal Reference:

1. Patrycja Nito?, Andrzej ?ywoci?ski, Jan Paczesny, Marcin Fia?kowski, Robert Ho?yst, Benjamin Glettner, Robert Kieffer, Carsten Tschierske, Damian Pociecha, Ewa G?recka. Aggregation and Layering Transitions in Thin Films of X-, T-, and Anchor-Shaped Bolaamphiphiles at the Air-Water Interface. Chemistry - A European Journal, 2011; 17 (21): 5861 DOI: 10.1002/chem.201003671

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://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111116081755.htm

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Long Beach State stuns No. 9 Pittsburgh 86-76

Pittsburgh's Nasir Robinson (35) is fouled by Long Beach State's Eugene Phelps (4) while shooting in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Pittsburgh's Nasir Robinson (35) is fouled by Long Beach State's Eugene Phelps (4) while shooting in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Long Beach State's James Ennis, left, hits a three-point basket from the corner as Pittsburgh's Ashton Gibbs (12) watches in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Long Beach State's Edis Dervisevic (13) drops in a layup after getting past Pittsburgh's Talib Zanna, bottom, in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Long Beach State's Casper Ware (22) goes over Pittsburgh's Tray Woodall (1) to score in the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Long Beach State's Edis Dervisevic (13) drops in a layup after getting past Pittsburgh's Talib Zanna, bottom, in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

PITTSBURGH (AP) ? Long Beach State coach Dan Monson helped turn Gonzaga into a national power more than a decade ago by challenging anyone, anywhere at any time.

He's kept the same philosophy with the 49ers, although without the same spectacular results.

Until now.

Casper Ware scored a career-high 28 points and Long Beach State raced by No. 9 Pittsburgh 86-76 on Wednesday night, the program's first win over a top-10 team in nearly 20 years.

"It's a big win but we expected to win this," Ware said. "Everybody in the locker room knew we were going to win this game."

Maybe because Monson told his players they would when practice started last month.

Long Beach State (2-0) has put together the toughest nonconference schedule in the country in each of the last two seasons, and this one is no different.

Wednesday night's game was the start of a brutal stretch that includes trips to defending Mountain West champion San Diego State, No. 8 Louisville, No. 12 Kansas, No. 1 North Carolina along with a showdown in Hawaii against No. 13 Xavier three days before Christmas.

It's how to make a name for yourself as a mid-major. Only Monson has grown tired of the act and he let his team know it.

"I told 'em the first meeting of the year that playing this schedule is unacceptable," he said. "It's time for this team to stop playing the toughest schedule and start competing against the toughest schedule."

So far, so very good.

Long Beach State became just the second non-Big East team to win at the Petersen Events Center and the first nonconference opponent to knock off the Panthers at home in November and December since the gym opened in 2002.

"We got beat every which way," Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said.

Repeatedly.

James Ennis added 19 points and Larry Anderson had 12 points and seven assists for the 49ers (2-0), who relentlessly attacked the Panthers.

"All teams, they try to do a lot to stop us from running, but we were just too fast today," Ware said. "We were clicking on offense and it was too fast (for them) to stop us."

Ashton Gibbs led Pitt (2-1) with 20 points and Nasir Robinson added 19, but the Panthers simply couldn't keep up with the 49ers.

"They wanted it more than us," Robinson said. "They worked harder. They ran harder. They got to loose balls. They executed better than us. They outsmarted us."

Mostly, they outplayed the Panthers.

Long Beach State took a nine-point halftime lead and never let up.

Pitt drew within six points on a few occasions but each time the 49ers answered to become the first non-Big East team to beat the Panthers at home since Bucknell in 2005.

The victory was Long Beach State's first over a top-10 team since beating then-No. 1 Kansas on Jan. 25, 1993, when most of the current 49ers were in diapers.

This was no fluke, however.

Long Beach State never trailed after taking the lead less than 8 minutes in, attacking Pitt from the opening tip. If Ware wasn't knocking down 3-pointers, he, Ennis and Anderson were splitting Pitt's zone and finding open teammates.

The 49ers shot 59 percent from the floor, collected 24 assists on 32 baskets and turned it over just 10 times, beating the Panthers both outside and inside.

Long Beach State went out and played like it, outscoring Pitt 25-5 on the break and 48-31 in the paint, even slightly out-rebounding the bigger, stronger defending Big East regular season champions.

Dixon has preached patience while his team searches for a new identity behind Gibbs, the Big East preseason player of the year.

The Panthers looked lethargic at times in a win over Rider on Sunday. Dixon stressed the need to get more tenacious on defense, a hallmark of the program since he replaced Ben Howland in 2003.

There's still plenty to work on. Long Beach State wasn't intimidated by the long cross-country trip, the late tipoff or one of the country's toughest places to play.

Pitt has been practically unbeatable at "the Pete" against nonconference foes. Most of the wins have been laughers. When asked to answer the bell for the first time this season, the Panthers responded too late.

Pitt's best chance to get back in it came on back-to-back 3-pointers by Travon Woodall and Gibbs that pulled the Panthers to 62-56. The 49ers responded with a pull-up from Edis Dervisevic and a steal and dunk by Ennis, who flexed after flushing it to push the lead back to 10.

The Panthers crept within six twice more but couldn't get key stops.

"We knew they were very good and we wanted to play someone very good," Dixon said. "They're an experienced team. I had anticipated us being a much better team this time and, obviously, we're not where I'd like us to be."

The 49ers, by contrast, are right on schedule.

Confidence grew with each basket and by the time the horn sounded all Pitt could do is trudge off the floor as the shouts of about two dozen Long Beach State supporters echoed throughout the quiet arena.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2011-11-17-BKC-T25-Long-Beach-St/id-7a177e14dc8447d4903621da4d81a8b2

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