POPE LIVE: Swiss Guards, 15th century, tweets

"Pope Live" follows the events of the final day of Pope Benedict XVI's papacy as seen by journalists from The Associated Press around the world. It will be updated throughout the day with breaking news and other items of interest.

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WAITING FOR THE POPE

People are starting to show up in the square in Castel Gandolfo to await the Pope's arrival, but they are still outnumbered by members of the media.

? Tony Hicks, AP Regional Photo Editor Europe & Africa ? Twitter http://twitter/com/hicksy663

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SWISS GUARDS TO GET A REST

The pope's retirement means his famous Swiss Guards get a few days off before they have to protect the new guy.

Stern-face and standing as erect as the halberds they grasp, Swiss Guards rarely betray emotion on duty. But their storied history has its early roots in a bloody drama.

Nearly five centuries ago, 147 Swiss Guard died while protecting Pope Clement VII in his frantic dash to safety when Emperor Charles V's soldiers sacked Rome.

A few decades earlier, the Renaissance pope, Julius II, had asked Switzerland to supply the Vatican with soldiers because he was so impressed by the courage of Swiss mercenaries.

The Swiss Guards will go off-duty Thursday evening at 8 p.m. ? the exact moment when the man they serve, Pope Benedict XVI, resigns.

? Frances D'Emilio ? Twitter http://twitter.com/fdemilio

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IN THE 15TH CENTURY

The last pope to resign was Pope Gregory XII, who stepped down in 1415 to end the Great Western Schism, a nearly 40-year split over leadership of Christendom. The disagreement was a major political struggle since the Church played a central role in politics, art and daily life in much of Europe, which was slowly transitioning into the Renaissance.

During that era:

? Heretics were burned at the stake, including Bohemian-born Jan Hus, a priest considered an inspiration for the Protestant Reformation, in 1415. Joan of Arc, who fought for France in the Hundred Years War against England, died at the stake in 1431.

? The Medicis were building the banking empire that would turn them into a political dynasty, make them influential art benefactors and eventually produce four popes, the first in 1513.

? Early Renaissance artists like Donatello were playing with perspective in sculptures of saints that adorned his country's ornate churches.

? Matt Surman ? Twitter http://twitter.com/apsurman

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LAST PAPAL TWEET:

Update for the Twitter world:

The Vatican says retiring Pope Benedict XVI will send his last tweet as pope around 5 p.m. Rome time (1600 GMT, 11 a.m. EST). That's also about the time he's set to leave the Vatican by helicopter to the papal retreat at Castel Gandolfo.

Vatican spokesman the Rev. Federico Lombardi says the pope's Twitter handle (at)Pontifex will then be "in abeyance" until the next pontiff is selected. He says it'll be up to the next leader of the Catholic Church as to whether or not he will use it.

? Joji Sakurai ? Twitter ? http://twitter.com/jojisakurai

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QUICKQUOTE: CARDINAL PELL

Australia's Cardinal George Pell, one of those who will be voting for the next pope, is speaking in Rome about Pope Benedict XVI's retirement:

"He was well aware that this was a break with tradition, slightly destabilizing. But he felt that because of his weakness and sickness, which was only too evident today, that he just didn't have the strength to lead in church in these demanding times."

? Victor Simpson, AP's Rome bureau chief, who has covered the Vatican for decades.

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POPE EYES GARDEN WALKS

Everyone looks forward to retirement for one reason or another. In Pope Benedict XVI's case, it might be having more time for walks.

Benedict took daily strolls through Vatican City's gardens. Now, awaiting his first months in retirement at Castel Gandolfo is a splendid expanse of manicured lawn, dotted by geometrically-shaped bushes for his afternoon walks.

The Holy See got a good deal on the castle and its grounds. It was acquired in the late 1500s in return for an unpaid debt owed by Italian nobles. But the estate didn't always appear so beautiful. For years, it was almost abandoned after the fall of the Papal State in 1870, as modern Italy took shape.

? Frances D'Emilio ? Twitter http://twitter.com/fdemilio

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PAPAL CONTENDERS

One-hundred and fifteen cardinals will be voting in the next few weeks to choose Pope Benedict's XVI successor. Should they return the papacy to an Italian, stick with a pontiff from elsewhere in Europe, or follow the trends in the church and look to Africa or across the Atlantic? Here's a look at some possible contenders:

FROM EUROPE:

? Cardinal Angelo Scola, archbishop of Milan

? Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, archbishop of Vienna

? Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, head of Vatican's culture office

FROM AFRICA:

? Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson of Ghana, head of the Vatican's justice and peace office

FROM LATIN AMERICA:

? Cardinal Odilo Pedro Scherer of Sao Paulo

? Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina

? Cardinal Leonardo Sandri of Argentina

FROM NORTH AMERICA:

? Cardinal Marc Ouellet of Canada, head of the Vatican's office for bishops

? Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York

FROM ASIA:

? Cardinal Antonio Tagle, the archbishop of Manila

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? Brian Murphy, AP's Dubai bureau chief.

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THE PONTIFF'S CAPE

Pope Benedict XVI, his dress soon to be limited to a simple white robe, has worn a ceremonial red cape for his final meeting with the College of Cardinals.

The short cape with ermine trim, known as a mozzetta, is worn for special occasions. And special this occasion was, coming just hours before Benedict becomes the first pope in 600 years to resign.

He looked out at the cardinals and said: "Among you is the future pope." And he promised his "unconditional reverence and obedience."

? Victor L. Simpson, AP's Rome bureau chief.

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'LIKE AN ORCHESTRA'

The pope is leaving with a veiled warning to the men who will choose his successor: Work together.

In his final audience with the cardinals ? the so-called "princes" of the Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI urged them to set aside their differences as they elect the next pope. He says the College of Cardinals should be unified so it works "like an orchestra" where "agreement and harmony" can be reached despite diversity.

The Vatican in recent years has been famed more for its disharmony, with the pope's own butler leaking papal papers that showed feuds and intrigue at the top of the Vatican bureaucracy.

Benedict says he'll pray for the cardinals in coming days as they vote on his successor.

? Nicole Winfield ? Twitter http://twitter.com/nwinfield

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QUICKQUOTE: POPE BENEDICT XVI

"Among you is also the future pope, whom I promise my unconditional reverence and obedience."

? Pope Benedict XVI, in his final audience to his cardinals.

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CLEMENTINE HALL

The Clementine Hall where the pope greeted cardinals for the last time, pledging "unconditional reverence and obedience" to his successor, is a grand 16th century room built by Pope Clement VIII in honor of Pope Clement I ? the fourth pope. Covered in ornate marble tiles and Renaissance frescoes, it's basically the pope's reception room ? the place where he receives VIPs from around the world. It's also the place where the body of the pope lies in state for private respects by Vatican officials.

? Joji Sakurai ? Twitter http://twitter.com/jojisakurai

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UNCONDITIONAL OBEDIENCE

The pope has promised "unconditional reverence and obedience" to his successor.

Pope Benedict XVI made the pledge as he bade farewell to his cardinals at the Vatican this morning. He also left with a plea for the College of Cardinals to unite and work together "like an orchestra" where "agreement and harmony" can be reached.

The cardinals, who will be voting later this month to choose his successor, are lining up and kissing his hand in farewell.

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WELCOME TO CASTEL GANDOLFO

Officials are expecting an enthusiastic welcome from the faithful in Castel Gandolfo, the scenic town where Pope Benedict XVI will spend his first post-Vatican days and make his last public blessing as pope. Fitting for a man looking for a quieter lifestyle, the numbers won't compare to his hectic send-off from St. Peter's Square on the eve of his retirement.

Some 150,000 people flooded the piazza for his final speech as pontiff, with many others watching on giant TV screens set up along the main boulevard outside. The square in Castel Gandolfo is many times smaller ? though several thousand are expected to crowd in.

? Nicole Winfield ?http://twitter.com/nwinfield

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PAPAL ODDS

In betting-mad Britain, bookmakers have been busy taking bets on who will replace Benedict XVI since he announced his retirement earlier this month.

The favorite is Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Turkson, who would be the first African pope. He's the front-runner at bookies William Hill, at 5-2, and Ladbrokes, at 11-4. Other leading contenders include Italian cardinals Angelo Scola and Tarcisio Bertone and Cardinal Marc Oullet of Canada.

And for those wanting to gamble on a longshot, Ladbrokes has 500/1 odds on former British Prime Minister Tony Blair ? a Catholic convert from Anglicanism ? and Irish bookmaker Paddy Power is offering 1,000/1 on U2 lead singer Bono.

? Jill Lawless ? Twitter http://twitter.com/JillLawless

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KISSES GOODBYE

Cardinals are kissing Pope Benedict XVI's hand as they bid him farewell.

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MEETING WITH CARDINALS

Pope Benedict XVI has just met with his cardinals in the Vatican this morning before heading off toward retirement later in the day.

He made brief remarks to them. More on what he said in just a bit.

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PAPAL VOTING

How does the Catholic Church even get a new pope?

Well, the current one either dies or resigns. Then the church holds a papal conclave and cardinals under the age of 80 vote on who they want to lead them. This time around, 115 cardinals will be voting.

The conclave begins with the cardinals in their red cassocks filing into the Vatican's Sistine Chapel, chanting the "Litany of Saints." Then they place their hand on the Gospel and promise to observe absolute secrecy during and after the conclave.

They also vow to vote independently ? a good way to guard against external interference.

During the conclave, the cardinals live in a Vatican hotel and have no contact with the outside world: no phones, no newspapers, no tweeting.

On Day 1, only one round of balloting is held; after that, the cardinals cast two votes in the morning and two in the afternoon until one man has a two-thirds majority.

The outside world only knows what is going on by seeing smoke from the Sistine Chapel each time the ballots are burned. Black smoke means no decision, white smoke means a pope has been chosen.

Soon afterward, the thousands of faithful in St. Peter's Square will hear two Latin words announced from the balcony: "Habemus Papam! (We have a pope!)"

? Nicole Winfield ? Twitter ? http://twitter.com/nwinfield

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LAST TASKS

The big speeches are done. It's almost time to go.

In just a few minutes, Pope Benedict XVI meets with his cardinals this morning on the day he heads into retirement. No major speech is expected during his morning farewell with his closest advisers, just a simple greeting to each one inside the Clementine Hall of the Apostolic Palace.

Shortly before 5 p.m. local time, Benedict will leave the palace for the last time as pope, head to the helipad on the top of the hill in the Vatican gardens and fly to the papal retreat south of Rome. And there, at 8 p.m. ? the exact moment Benedict's resignation goes into effect ? the doors of the palazzo will close and the Swiss Guards in attendance will go off duty, their service protecting the pope now finished.

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Follow AP reporters on Twitter where available.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/pope-live-swiss-guards-15th-century-tweets-135121164.html

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15 Strategies for Better Public Speaking | A Lesson Learned

I?ve had to do public speaking as a part of my work for many years.? While I?m not the most polished presenter out there, I have had the opportunity to go through a couple public speaking training programs such as Dale Carnegie and Fusion?that have taught me some valuable speaking skills and techniques.

Next to the technical skills necessary for your job, I believe good public speaking is the most important business skills that you can develop.? Most people never invest in developing public speaking skills because (yes) they?re hard, they take work and they get us out of our comfort zone.? But if?you know how to communicate and connect with an audience, small or large, you have a serious competitive advantage over most other folks.

Of course, I still get nervous about getting up in front of a group of people to make a presentation.? But because I?ve had the benefit of learning a number of strategies to work through a presentation, it?s much easier for me now than in the past.? Here?s a list that might help you.

#1 Design your talk.

Listen to an experienced public speaker and you will begin to see patterns in their presentations.? Get the basics down and learn to present based on a 3 point pattern.? Once your experienced, you can vary the design and throw the ?rules? out the window, but if you?re like most of us, use a design that?s tested and proven.

A simple basic presentation starts with an introduction, 3 main points and a conclusion.? In the introduction, tell your audience what your going to tell them.? Use the 3 main points to tell them.? Then, in the conclusion, tell them what you told them.

The structure goes like this: Open with an example or story to capture the attention of your audience, something they can relate to.? Then introduce your topic and tell your audience what the 3 main points are.? Transition into point 1.? Tell them what point 1 is, elaborate, then conclude by reiterating point 1.? Do the same thing for points 2 and 3.? Conclude by restating what you?ve just told them (yes, that?s points 1, 2 and 3 again!).? Finish with a call to action.

The system works.? Take advantage of it.? Be obsessive about it.

#2 Use examples and stories that connect

People are emotional creatures.? We are captivated by stories.? We connect with experiences more than with statistics.? Even presentations that are technical and data heavy can be transformed by relating stories that personalize the data.? I was recently in a seminar and completely captivated by a speaker talking about Social Security requirements because he worked in story after story of people like my parents and their experiences with Social Security t o drive home his points.? And it doesn?t get much more boring than Social Security law!

#3 Inject your personality

Anyone can stand up in front of a group and read content off of a PowerPoint slide.? What makes your presentation unique is not the topic or the idea you?re presenting, but you as the presenter.? Unless you?ve discovered the cure for cancer and you?re presenting it for the first time, chances are your content isn?t new.? But your personality, interpretation and delivery of the content is.? You?re view of the world and the experience you draw upon are unique to you.? Taking your content and injecting your personality into it connects you to your audience.

#4 Treat it like a performance

Good public speakers are not that way naturally.? Sure, some folks may have more natural ability than others, but speaking skills can be developed by anyone with a little commitment and some hard work.? I?m sure you?ve heard stories of athletes that didn?t have as much natural ability as others but worked harder.? Public speaking is the same way.? There are techniques that work and if you commit to using them and practice at it, pretty soon you will gain a confidence level.

Professional actors don?t make?their lines up as they go.? They got to be professionals by honing their performance skills and understanding that when they?re up in front of others, they are acting.? When you are in front of a group, you too are in a performance.? The audience has an expectation that you?re there because you know what you?re talking about and will deliver your lines.? Understand a public presentation for what it is and you?re on your way to success.

#5 Write it Out, Word for Word

Sure, I know that goes against the idea that we should be spontaneous and get in the zone and just talk from the heart.? That might work once in a million times, but it?s far more likely that you and I will get up in front of that group and zone out.? And it?s at that point that our preparation kicks in.

When I?m preparing a talk, my starting point is to write my speech out exactly like I want to give it.? This does a couple things for me.? First, it helps to crystallize my thoughts.? If I don?t leave anything to chance, then I?m forced to think through my talk from start to finish.? It also helps me with the flow.? Is my argument consistent?? Do my examples make sense?? Do the thought patterns connect or am I rambling and babbling.? You can easily fake it with bullet points.? Mentally you think that you?ll cover this and that and that.? But write it out word for word and you?ll see if you?ve got?a decent speech.? This is the starting point, and I find it to be incredibly helpful.

#6 Practice by reading aloud

Once you?ve got your speech written out exactly how you want to deliver it, read it out loud.? Go hide in a closet if you have to or stand in the woods where no one will hear you.? But read it out loud.? Don?t mumble, whisper or think it.? Out loud, in a commanding voice, just like you?re going to present it.? Does it flow?? Is it conversational?? Are you using words, phrases and grammatical construction that you would never use when you were talking with someone?? Does it sound like Shakespeare?

Reading your talk aloud after you?ve written it exactly as you?d like to deliver it begins to train your brain on what it?s going to be like.? It has the added benefit of showing you ahead of time where you sound like a goober or your talk doesn?t make sense.? Some words and sentences?just don?t go together.? Does it sound like you?re rambling?

Here you have the opportunity to edit and revise so that it sounds like you want it to in a test environment.? Work out all the kinks.? Get it to flow.? Use language and words that you can pronounce and that sound like you?re giving the talk, not reading from a textbook.? Do this a bunch of times.? Is this an 18 minute TED style talk?? Do it several times a day, every?day before your presentation.? Is it a 5 minute book report for school?? Do the same thing!

#7 Record yourself reading it exactly the way you want to deliver it

Ok, now it?s time to listen to yourself.? Don?t be bashful about this.? After all, you?re going to have to deliver this speech to real people so you might as well get used to hearing it yourself!

At this point, the idea is to record yourself giving your speech exactly the way you want to deliver it.? That?s why you?re going to read it, not attempt to say it from memory or use a bullet point outline.? You want to deliver it as though it were perfect, which means reading it verbatim, including your voice inflection and emphasis.? You should be standing when you read it.? Use a digital audio recorder or your iPhone or the microphone on your computer.? Just get it in?a format that you can play it back.

The point here is crafting your perfect delivery, or as close to it as you can get.? This isn?t practice; that will come later.? You?re the musician creating her demo tape.? By doing this, you?re training your brain and ears what the ideal delivery is.

#8 Now, go listen to it

It?s just like learning the lyrics to a song you like.? To do that, you listen to the song over and over again, thinking about the words, internalizing them.? This is the same principle.? Once you?ve recorded your ?perfect? speech, you will of course practice it over and over again.? But in the midst of your practice, listen to your talk again and again.? Copy it onto your MP3 player or your smart phone and listen to it in the car on the way to work.

#9 For each section, identify one keyword

If you?ve designed your talk like I suggested, this should be fairly easy and straightforward.? Don?t make your talk more complicated than it needs to be.? Your audience probably won?t follow it and you?re likely to forget it.? The 3-point topic structure is designed as much with you in mind as your audience.

So for each section of your talk -?introduction, points and conclusion ? select a keyword that identifies the essence of what you want to communicate.? One word is preferable; ?keyword? is the operative word, not ?key sentence? or ?key paragraph.?

#10 Practice your talk using only your keyword outline

There?s no substitute for practice.? It doesn?t matter if its sports, music, or speaking, practice trains you for your delivery.? Remember practice doesn?t make perfect, it makes permanent.? Perfect comes from structuring, writing and reading your speech.? Do that first, then practice delivering your speech using nothing but your keyword outline.? Fumble through it.? Make mistakes.? Forget and remember.? Go ahead and use up all your ?uh?s? and ?um?s.?

Practice it, then listen to it, then read it, then practice it again with nothing but your keyword outline.? I recommend standing when you do this.

#11 Listed to your audio recording over and over

Training your subconscious is a powerful thing.? The keywords will begin to recall what?s been etched into your mind through auditory training.

#12 Throw away your notes & your keyword outline & practice your talk out loud

Do it now so that you won?t get to speech time and realize that you?ve never given your talk without help.? You?re not there to read your content to your audience.? You?re there to deliver your performance which you?ve prepared for.? So go ahead and prepare.? Pretend that you?ve showed up, but your notes and your presentation didn?t make it.? Get mentally prepared to deliver your talk mano-a-audienceo.

#13 Use effective visual aids

Now that you?re almost there and have your talk designed and delivered, you don?t need to type it in bullet point format on PowerPoint slides.? People respond to pictures.? Are you using a computer with PowerPoint?? Select pictures that communicate the concept.? Here?s a great way to inject your personality into your presentation.? Don?t fall into the trap of using PowerPoint as a crutch.

If you are using a flip chart, draw your illustrations before your speech.? Don?t try to draw them as you go.? You will probably forget your lines while you?re thinking about what you?re drawing or writing and it will very likely look like a 3 year old?s writing on the flip chart.? Prepare everything ahead of time.? Fold the corners of your flip chart pages so they are easy to grab and flip over.? There?s nothing like getting a page caught on the little metal brackets that hold the flip chart up to break your flow!

#14 Master movement and expression

A huge part of communication is non-verbal.? It?s your body language and expression.? You?re audience isn?t there to be bored to death by a monotone presentation from someone who?s clinging to the podium for dear life.? They are there to learn something or at least to be entertained.? That?s the result of having grown up in a media saturated culture!

It may sound kind of basic, but smile when giving your presentation.? Express emotion in your voice.? Sound like you want to be there (even if you don?t? it?s a performance, remember?) and that you care about your subject.? If you don?t, consider choosing a new subject!

Use economy of movement to emphasize points.? That means be deliberate in your physical movement, whether that?s walking to another spot on stage or using hand gestures.? Don?t make your audience dizzy with your movement.? Don?t make them think you have something to hide by being fidgety or shifty.? Make your movements bold and deliberate.

Don?t wave your hands around with your elbows firmly at your side.? This looks goofy to the audience, like you?re the robot from Lost In Space or like one of those weird characters from Yo Gabba Gabba!? If you make hand gestures, move your arms from the shoulder, not the elbows.? Sure, it feels a little awkward at first, but doesn?t the whole thing?

#15 Visualize a successful presentation

Do this.? It?s not hokey and it?s not optional if you want to nail a successful presentation.? See yourself delivering the presentation exactly like you wanted to.? See the audience engaged with your topic.? Connect with the audience by looking them in the eye.? Imagine finishing your lines just like you practiced and hear the audience clap.? Visualize the moderator shaking your had and thanking you for your presentation.? Mentally walk off stage or sitting back down.

Visualization is a powerful tool.? Harness it to make your presentation successful!

I hope you?ve found these strategies helpful and I hop that you crush your next presentation.? And after you do, come back and leave a comment letting me know how you did!

Source: http://www.edhart.me/2013/02/some-strategies-for-better-public-speaking/

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Italy turmoil raises questions about ECB backstop

Democratic Party leader Pierluigi Bersani leaves after a press conference in Rome, Tuesday Feb. 26, 2013. Italy emerged from elections Tuesday with no clear winner, driving markets around the world markedly lower as investors worried that one of Europe's biggest economies would be unable to build a governing coalition that can stay the course on unpopular austerity measures. A day after polling ended, a few seats in Parliament based on Italians' voting abroad still remained to be decided, but their numbers won't ease the gridlock. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

Democratic Party leader Pierluigi Bersani leaves after a press conference in Rome, Tuesday Feb. 26, 2013. Italy emerged from elections Tuesday with no clear winner, driving markets around the world markedly lower as investors worried that one of Europe's biggest economies would be unable to build a governing coalition that can stay the course on unpopular austerity measures. A day after polling ended, a few seats in Parliament based on Italians' voting abroad still remained to be decided, but their numbers won't ease the gridlock. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

ROME (AP) ? Why has Italy's muddled election result spooked global investors so much? Because it raises unsettling questions about the availability of the financial safety net that has kept Europe from catastrophe for the past six months.

That safety net is a crucial offer from the European Central Bank to buy unlimited quantities of struggling countries' bonds. The one catch was that participating countries had to commit to austerity measures ? such as spending cuts and tax increases to lower their deficits.

And if there's any clear message from the Italian elections, it's that voters rejected austerity.

If Italy can't ? or won't ? agree to cuts and reforms to promote stronger growth, the ECB can't help.

That would leave Italy defenseless if its borrowing costs rise to unmanageable levels and into default territory. And if Italy fails, Europe can't afford to bail it out.

A top European Central Bank official underlined Wednesday that any country that wants to use the crucial backstop will have to meet stiff conditions and agree to take steps to cut its deficit.

Peter Praet, the top ECB official in charge of its economic analysis and forecasts, did not mention Italy in the text of his speech in Frankfurt, Germany. But he warned that the bond-purchase shield "will only be activated in cases where the benefiting country has signed up to strict and effective conditionality," meaning an agreement to take concrete steps to curb its financial problems.

Praet's warning came as Italy saw its borrowing costs rise as it sold ?6.5 billion ($8.5 billion) of 10-year and five-year bonds. The interest yield rose to 4.83 percent from 4.17 percent a month ago for the 10-year and to 3.59 percent from 2.94 percent for the five-year.

So far, Italy's borrowing costs have risen only moderately. But the fear is that continuing turmoil could let them climb toward the heights of late 2011 and early 2012? a hefty 7 percent.

The ECB bond purchase program has been given most of the credit for the easing of the eurozone debt crisis in recent months. Before the ECB offered Sept. 6 to buy unlimited amounts of government bonds issued by a struggling country, Italy and Spain were facing with borrowing costs that would have proved crippling in the long term. The fear was that these two big economies ? the third and fourth-largest among the 17 European Union countries that use the euro ? would be pushed into defaulting on their debts.

No bonds have been bought under the ECB plan, but the mere offer reassured investors and sent borrowing costs lower for debt-plagued countries such as Italy and Spain.

"Basically investors are taking this on faith," said Simon Tilford, chief economist at the Center for European Reform in London.

The Italian result risks undermining that faith.

"It would be very hard for the ECB to wade into the market and buy substantial quantities of Italian debt if there is political gridlock in Italy and a broad based rebellion against the austerity strategy," Tilford warns.

The two-day election on Sunday and Monday was a clear rejection of the previous government of financial and economic experts led by Mario Monti. That government won support from eurozone leaders by raising taxes, cutting spending, and narrowing the deficit. But the cost to Italians has been high, with the country mired in recession and unemployment on the rise. Austerity opponents argue that cutting government spending lowers growth and makes debt ultimately harder to repay.

Pier Luigi Bersani and his center-left allies appeared on Tuesday to have won a narrow victory in the lower house of parliament, but the Senate looks split with no party in control. Silvio Berlusconi, the former Italian premier whose center-right coalition did better than expected, is a key player since his coalition is now the second-biggest bloc in the upper chamber.

Comic-turned-political leader Beppe Grillo, whose 5 Star Movement capitalized on a wave of voter disgust with the ruling political class, had a surprisingly strong showing. His bloc of seats in Parliament could prove crucial in making any coalition government viable.

More than half the voters supported either Berlusconi's or Grillo's group ? both of which campaigned against Monti's austerity measures.

Berlusconi has already ruled out an alliance with Monti, whom he blamed for driving Italy deeper into recession.

And on Wednesday Grillo wrote on his blog that his party would not back a confidence vote on any new government formed by mainstream parties, calling instead for a new election soon.

European leaders pleaded with politicians in Italy to quickly form a government to continue to enact reforms to lower Italy's critically high debt of 127 percent of annual economic output and spare Europe another spike in its four-year financial crisis.

Though Italy's annual borrowing ? its budget deficit ? is relatively small compared with other euro countries at 3 percent of its annual gross domestic product, its overall debt stands at a colossal ?2 trillion.

Some analysts believe the threat of losing the ECB life preserver might be enough to push Italian politicians into moderating some of their stances so they can form a government and reassure markets.

Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg Bank in London, said the mere prospect of facing the bond market without the ECB's implied backing could put pressure on politicians to sort out their differences, especially with a nudge from the European Union's executive commission and eurozone heavyweight Germany, the architects of austerity as a strategy for getting Europe out of its financial mess.

"We would expect the ECB, Brussels and Berlin to emphasize that the safety net would be available for an Italy that gets its act together," he said in a research note to investors.

"If tensions escalate, this could help to concentrate minds on the center-right and the center-left in Italy to form some kind of coalition and pursue sensible policies. "

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McHugh contributed from Frankfurt, Germany.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2013-02-27-Italy-Politics/id-fcd41786f53748de95671cf4d35e37d8

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Spyware Implanted in PDFs Has Been Sneaking into Government Computers

A new spyware epidemic has broken out at government entities and NGOs in 23 countries including several organizations in the United States. And it's not bogus Twitter links or porn that's getting people this time—it's PDFs that look like work. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/s_8WhjF5Itk/spyware-implanted-in-pdfs-has-been-sneaking-into-government-computers

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Newly spotted comet to buzz Mars in 2014

Lisa Grossman, physical sciences reporter

A Martian sunset, as seen by NASA's Spirit rover in 2005. (Image: Mars Exploration Rover Mission, Texas A&M, Cornell, JPL, NASA)

There's a new comet in town, and it is making a beeline for Mars. If projections of its orbit are correct, the icy visitor will buzz the Red Planet in October 2014.

Dubbed C/2013 A1, the comet was discovered on 3 January by prolific comet hunter Robert McNaught at Siding Spring Observatory in New South Wales, Australia. Colleagues at the Catalina Sky Survey in Arizona found images of the comet in their catalogue that date back to 8 December 2012, giving additional information about its movements.

These observations allowed astronomers to trace the comet's likely path around the sun. The calculated trajectory has C/2013 A1 crossing Mars's orbit on 19 October 2014, according to Australian blogger Ian Musgrave.

That doesn't necessarily mean a collision will occur. The best estimates right now have the comet passing a safe distance of 900,000 kilometres from the Martian surface. Asteroid 2012 DA14 got much closer to Earth last week, skimming by at a distance of 34,400 kilometres. But with so little data in hand, the calculations are not precise. It's possible the comet will miss Mars by as much as 36 million kilometres - or it could smack right into the planet. "An impact can't be ruled out at this stage," Musgrave wrote.

From Earth, we should be able to see the comet and Mars sitting side by side through small telescopes. And from Mars, the comet could be as spectacular as the expected "supercomet" ISON, which will come into view this year and could outshine the full moon.

Assuming the comet's orbit brings it close enough - but not too close - to Mars, the object should be visible either by rovers on the surface or the armada of Mars-orbiting satellites, which have a history of snapping spectacular shots of the Red Planet and its neighbourhood.

Source: http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10897/s/28fdd7fc/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Cblogs0Cshortsharpscience0C20A130C0A20Cnewly0Espotted0Ecomet0Eto0Ebuzz0Ema0Bhtml0Dcmpid0FRSS0QNSNS0Q20A120EGLOBAL0Qonline0Enews/story01.htm

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Sodium transporter appears likely target for treating salt-sensitive hypertension

Public release date: 26-Feb-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Toni Baker
tbaker@gru.edu
706-721-4421
Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Regents University

AUGUSTA, Ga. Genetics and demographics likely put you at risk for salt-sensitive hypertension, and scientists are looking for a way to protect you.

The concept is that free radicals in the kidney prompt the organ to hold onto sodium rather than eliminate excess through urination. Excess sodium, in turn, increases free radical production, said Dr. Paul O'Connor, hypertension researcher in the Section of Experimental Medicine at the Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Regents University.

Blocking the hydrogen transporter HVI best known for its role in helping immune cells produce large amounts of free radicals to kill bacteria may stop the unhealthy, vicious cycle.

"We think HVI overexpression in the kidney fuels the production of too many free radicals, which can activate the sodium transporters to hold onto more sodium, leading to hypertension and kidney damage," O'Connor said.

With the help of a New Investigator Award from the American Heart Association and a HV1 mutant rat, he plans to find out.

Sodium helps the kidneys regulate fluid volume and blood pressure. However being older, black and obese are risk factors for holding onto too much sodium. Nearly 40 percent of blacks and 30 percent of whites with healthy blood pressure have a tendency to hold onto salt and so-called salt sensitivity occurs in nearly 75 percent of blacks and more than half of whites with hypertension.

O'Connor has found HVI in the nephrons of the kidneys where decisions are made about how much sodium to retain. And, when looking at sodium transport inside renal tubule cells, he found a drug he was using inhibited free radical production and started putting the pieces together.

O'Connor and his collaborators developed the HV1 mutant of the Dahl salt-sensitive rat, which becomes hypertensive on a high-salt diet, to test the emerging hypothesis.

"We think if HV1 is not present, you will have reduced salt sensitivity, reduced oxidative stress and reduced renal injury when you feed these animals a high-salt diet," O'Connor said.

If he's correct, targeted treatment for salt-sensitive hypertension may emerge. "We think it might be an interesting target to help inhibit oxidative-stress related cardiovascular disease," O'Connor said.

Although free radicals are a known contributor to cardiovascular disease, antioxidants haven't proven effective therapy, said O'Connor, who would like to directly inhibit the source of free radicals rather than scavenge for them once they are formed. An estimated 1-in-50 patients in the United States develop treatment-resistant hypertension, which increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and other complications, according to studies published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.

HV1 was discovered in 2006 in immune cells where is helps ensure the proper activity of the enzyme NADPH oxidase, which actually produces free radicals. It's now been found in a variety of cell types, and scientists are exploring its potential role in maladies such as ischemic stroke and cancer. O'Connor notes that his HIV mutant rats do not appear to have a compromised immune system.

O'Connor joined the MCG faculty in 2011.

###

---

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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.

Public release date: 26-Feb-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Toni Baker
tbaker@gru.edu
706-721-4421
Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Regents University

AUGUSTA, Ga. Genetics and demographics likely put you at risk for salt-sensitive hypertension, and scientists are looking for a way to protect you.

The concept is that free radicals in the kidney prompt the organ to hold onto sodium rather than eliminate excess through urination. Excess sodium, in turn, increases free radical production, said Dr. Paul O'Connor, hypertension researcher in the Section of Experimental Medicine at the Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Regents University.

Blocking the hydrogen transporter HVI best known for its role in helping immune cells produce large amounts of free radicals to kill bacteria may stop the unhealthy, vicious cycle.

"We think HVI overexpression in the kidney fuels the production of too many free radicals, which can activate the sodium transporters to hold onto more sodium, leading to hypertension and kidney damage," O'Connor said.

With the help of a New Investigator Award from the American Heart Association and a HV1 mutant rat, he plans to find out.

Sodium helps the kidneys regulate fluid volume and blood pressure. However being older, black and obese are risk factors for holding onto too much sodium. Nearly 40 percent of blacks and 30 percent of whites with healthy blood pressure have a tendency to hold onto salt and so-called salt sensitivity occurs in nearly 75 percent of blacks and more than half of whites with hypertension.

O'Connor has found HVI in the nephrons of the kidneys where decisions are made about how much sodium to retain. And, when looking at sodium transport inside renal tubule cells, he found a drug he was using inhibited free radical production and started putting the pieces together.

O'Connor and his collaborators developed the HV1 mutant of the Dahl salt-sensitive rat, which becomes hypertensive on a high-salt diet, to test the emerging hypothesis.

"We think if HV1 is not present, you will have reduced salt sensitivity, reduced oxidative stress and reduced renal injury when you feed these animals a high-salt diet," O'Connor said.

If he's correct, targeted treatment for salt-sensitive hypertension may emerge. "We think it might be an interesting target to help inhibit oxidative-stress related cardiovascular disease," O'Connor said.

Although free radicals are a known contributor to cardiovascular disease, antioxidants haven't proven effective therapy, said O'Connor, who would like to directly inhibit the source of free radicals rather than scavenge for them once they are formed. An estimated 1-in-50 patients in the United States develop treatment-resistant hypertension, which increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and other complications, according to studies published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.

HV1 was discovered in 2006 in immune cells where is helps ensure the proper activity of the enzyme NADPH oxidase, which actually produces free radicals. It's now been found in a variety of cell types, and scientists are exploring its potential role in maladies such as ischemic stroke and cancer. O'Connor notes that his HIV mutant rats do not appear to have a compromised immune system.

O'Connor joined the MCG faculty in 2011.

###

---

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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/2013-02/mcog-sta022613.php

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White House steps up campaign to avoid spending cuts

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House escalated a campaign on Monday to convince Americans dire consequences await if government spending cuts go ahead on March 1, warning of a slowdown in global trade, a stalled fight against cancer and Alzheimer's disease and compromised security at U.S. borders.

At the same time, prominent Republicans said President Barack Obama was overstating the potential damage of the $85 billion in government-wide cuts to frighten the public.

"There is a responsible way to cut less than 3 percent of the federal budget. It's time for the president to show leadership," Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal told reporters after a meeting between the president and governors. "The president needs to stop campaigning, stop trying to scare the American people."

Jindal's comments followed the president's plea for Republican and Democratic governors to press Congress to stop the cuts, telling them he was willing to compromise with Republican lawmakers.

Obama will meet leading Senate Republicans John McCain and Lindsey Graham on Tuesday to discuss immigration reform efforts, but a McCain aide said the talks could also delve into efforts to halt the cuts.

Graham is a member of Senate committees on appropriations and the federal budget. He and McCain both sit on the armed services panel. The McCain aide said the U.S. troop drawdown from Afghanistan could also be discussed on Tuesday.

But the president has given no sign that he would try to start negotiations or take steps to blunt the effect of the cuts. He bemoaned what he described as a confrontational atmosphere in Washington, where budget battles have provoked one near-crisis after another since the summer of 2011.

In recent weeks the White House has sought to highlight in stark terms the disruptions that would begin on Friday if federal programs are cut.

On Monday, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano warned the cuts would increase delays at ports of entry into the United States for container cargo by "up to five days."

Average wait times at customs for travelers will increase "by as much as 50 percent," she added, with even longer delays at the busiest airports such as Newark, Los Angeles and New York's JFK where delays could double to "four hours or more."

"I'm not here to scare people, I'm here to inform," Napolitano said at a White House briefing. "Please don't yell at the customs officer or the (Transportation Security Administration) officer because the lines are long," she said. "The lines over the next few weeks are going to start to lengthen in some dramatic ways in parts of the country."

Also Monday, Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, told reporters that the $1.6 billion cutback would hit the 240-bed NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, where doctors study rare diseases and conduct clinical trials to test new drugs for conditions ranging from cancer and AIDS to depression and genetic disorders.

The NIH also predicted that a lack of funding for hundreds of new grants could jeopardize as many as 20,000 research jobs across the United States and slow vital projects to fight cancer and Alzheimer's disease, develop a universal influenza vaccine and gain fresh insights into the activities of the human brain.

The administration began ratcheting up its warnings on Friday when Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood described cuts at airports that he said would cause domestic air travelers significant delays.

Over the weekend, the White House distributed state-by-state projections of lost jobs and cuts in education funding for poor children. These figures were widely reported on local news broadcasts.

HOW LONG WILL CUTS LAST?

The actual impact of the cuts will depend largely on how long they last.

Many of the projections are based on the likelihood that government employees will be furloughed - told to take unpaid days off - in order to meet the demands of the cuts.

But the furloughs won't occur for at least a month, or perhaps later, because federal rules require the government to give its employees 30-days notice.

Congress and the White House also could agree to stop or ease the cuts before they run their course.

Neither the White House nor members of Congress have offered reason to hope for a deal before Friday's deadline.

Asked Monday whether he thought the automatic cuts, called "sequestration" in Washington-speak, would take effect, House Speaker John Boehner, a Republican, responded: "hope springs eternal."

Both sides have concentrated more in recent days on apportioning responsibility for the spending reductions, to which both sides agreed in August 2011 with the expectation that the sequestration would never come to pass.

The White House public relations initiative has increasingly drawn criticism from Republicans who accuse the president of exaggerating and traveling around "campaigning" instead of looking for ways to avoid the cuts.

"We heard the president say last week that he was going to be forced because of the sequestration to let criminals loose on the street if he didn't get another tax hike," House Majority Leader Eric Cantor told reporters Monday.

"Today, we're hearing discussions from the Secretary of Homeland Security that somehow we're going to have to sacrifice homeland security efforts and keeping our country safe if we don't get another tax hike. This is a false choice."

White House press secretary Jay Carney responded Monday that the administration is just trying to "highlight the impact of sequester, and by doing so, hope that attention will be brought to bear on that problem, and the need for Congress to act responsibly to avoid it."

Obama is scheduled to travel to Cantor's state of Virgina on Tuesday, to press his case at the Newport News shipyard. The cuts fall evenly on non-defense and defense spending, with states like Virginia, heavily dependent on Pentagon contracts, expected to be hardest hit.

(Reporting by Mark Felsenthal and David Morgan; Editing by Fred Barbash, Eric Beech, Jackie Frank, Eric Walsh)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/white-house-steps-campaign-avoid-spending-cuts-021455164--business.html

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NASA sees Cyclone Rusty threatening Western Australia

Public release date: 25-Feb-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Rob Gutro
Robert.j.gutro@nasa.gov
443-858-1779
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

Tropical Cyclone Rusty formed on Feb. 24 and has already caused warnings up for the residents of northwestern West Australia, including Port Hedland. NASA's Terra satellite saw that outer bands of this quick-forming tropical cyclone were already affecting land.

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology (ABOM) has posted cyclone warnings and a yellow and blue alert for Western Australia as Rusty approaches for a landfall. A Cyclone Warning is in effect from Broome to Mardie, and adjacent inland areas of the Pilbara, including Marble Bar, Nullagine and Millstream. A Cyclone Watch is in effect for adjacent inland areas of the Pilbara including Tom Price, Newman and Telfer.

A Yellow Alert is in effect for communities between Wallal and Whim Creek, including Pardoo, De Grey and Port Hedland. ABOM has also issued a Blue Alert for communities between Broome and Wallal including Broome and Bidyadanga, between Whim Creek and Mardie, including Karratha and extending to adjacent inland areas including Marble Bar, Nullagine and Millstream.

On Sunday, Feb. 24, soon after Rusty formed warnings were already being posted. At 1200 UTC (7 a.m. EST) on Feb. 24, Rusty's maximum sustained winds had quickly climbed to near 60 knots (69 mph/111 kph). Rusty's center was located near 17.7 south and 118.3 east, about 160 nautical miles from Port Hedland, Australia and was slowly moving to the south-southwest

Microwave satellite data on Feb. 24 showed that Rusty was consolidating rapidly and had already developed a 20-nautical mile wide eye despite being a tropical storm.

On Feb. 25 at 0215 UTC (9:15 p.m. EST, Feb. 24) the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument aboard NASA's Terra satellite captured a visible image of Cyclone Rusty closing in on the northwestern coast of Western Australia. Rusty's outer band of thunderstorms stretched from Broome to Port Hedland. Satellite data showed that the bands of thunderstorms have intensified and are wrapping more tightly into the low level circulation canter than they did 24 hours prior.

On Feb. 25 at 0900 UTC (4 a.m. EST/ 5 p.m. local time WST), Cyclone Rusty's maximum sustained winds were near 65 knots (74.8 mph/120.4 kph). Rusty was located near 18.4 south latitude and 119.0 east longitude and moving to the southeast at 5 knots (5.7 mph/9.2 kph). At 1500 UTC (10 a.m. EST/11:00 p.m. WST local time) Tropical Cyclone Rusty was estimated to be 210 kilometers north northeast of Port Hedland, according to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Forecasters at the Joint Typhoon Warning Center caution that Rusty is expected to intensify quickly over the next day because of warm waters and low wind shear.

Rusty is a large tropical cyclone and its slow movement is likely to result in higher than usual rainfall in the Pilbara and western Kimberley coasts. Because of the storm's slow track, heavy rainfall and flooding are likely over the next couple of days. Very rough surf, high waves and coastal erosion are also likely as Rusty slowly heads for landfall. For updated warnings, watches and alerts from the ABOM, visit: http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/warnings/index.shtml.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center now projects that landfall will occur sometime near 1800 UTC (1 p.m. EST/U.S.) on Feb. 26 or 2 a.m. WST local time on Feb. 27, just east of Port Hedland.

###

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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.

Public release date: 25-Feb-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Rob Gutro
Robert.j.gutro@nasa.gov
443-858-1779
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

Tropical Cyclone Rusty formed on Feb. 24 and has already caused warnings up for the residents of northwestern West Australia, including Port Hedland. NASA's Terra satellite saw that outer bands of this quick-forming tropical cyclone were already affecting land.

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology (ABOM) has posted cyclone warnings and a yellow and blue alert for Western Australia as Rusty approaches for a landfall. A Cyclone Warning is in effect from Broome to Mardie, and adjacent inland areas of the Pilbara, including Marble Bar, Nullagine and Millstream. A Cyclone Watch is in effect for adjacent inland areas of the Pilbara including Tom Price, Newman and Telfer.

A Yellow Alert is in effect for communities between Wallal and Whim Creek, including Pardoo, De Grey and Port Hedland. ABOM has also issued a Blue Alert for communities between Broome and Wallal including Broome and Bidyadanga, between Whim Creek and Mardie, including Karratha and extending to adjacent inland areas including Marble Bar, Nullagine and Millstream.

On Sunday, Feb. 24, soon after Rusty formed warnings were already being posted. At 1200 UTC (7 a.m. EST) on Feb. 24, Rusty's maximum sustained winds had quickly climbed to near 60 knots (69 mph/111 kph). Rusty's center was located near 17.7 south and 118.3 east, about 160 nautical miles from Port Hedland, Australia and was slowly moving to the south-southwest

Microwave satellite data on Feb. 24 showed that Rusty was consolidating rapidly and had already developed a 20-nautical mile wide eye despite being a tropical storm.

On Feb. 25 at 0215 UTC (9:15 p.m. EST, Feb. 24) the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument aboard NASA's Terra satellite captured a visible image of Cyclone Rusty closing in on the northwestern coast of Western Australia. Rusty's outer band of thunderstorms stretched from Broome to Port Hedland. Satellite data showed that the bands of thunderstorms have intensified and are wrapping more tightly into the low level circulation canter than they did 24 hours prior.

On Feb. 25 at 0900 UTC (4 a.m. EST/ 5 p.m. local time WST), Cyclone Rusty's maximum sustained winds were near 65 knots (74.8 mph/120.4 kph). Rusty was located near 18.4 south latitude and 119.0 east longitude and moving to the southeast at 5 knots (5.7 mph/9.2 kph). At 1500 UTC (10 a.m. EST/11:00 p.m. WST local time) Tropical Cyclone Rusty was estimated to be 210 kilometers north northeast of Port Hedland, according to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. Forecasters at the Joint Typhoon Warning Center caution that Rusty is expected to intensify quickly over the next day because of warm waters and low wind shear.

Rusty is a large tropical cyclone and its slow movement is likely to result in higher than usual rainfall in the Pilbara and western Kimberley coasts. Because of the storm's slow track, heavy rainfall and flooding are likely over the next couple of days. Very rough surf, high waves and coastal erosion are also likely as Rusty slowly heads for landfall. For updated warnings, watches and alerts from the ABOM, visit: http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/warnings/index.shtml.

The Joint Typhoon Warning Center now projects that landfall will occur sometime near 1800 UTC (1 p.m. EST/U.S.) on Feb. 26 or 2 a.m. WST local time on Feb. 27, just east of Port Hedland.

###

---

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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/2013-02/nsfc-nsc022513.php

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HBT: Mets had serious interest in J. Upton

In the middle of this John Harper column lamenting the state of the Mets outfield, we learn what the Mets were trying to do to improve it:

Alderson wouldn?t go into details, but from all indications there was a time in mid-to-late January when he felt strongly that he was going to land either?Justin Upton?or?Michael Bourn.?At that time, according to a club source, the Mets were discussing the possibility of trading Daniel Murphy or even Ruben Tejada, along with some of their younger pitching prospects, to the Diamondbacks for Upton.

In form that was like the Braves? trade for Upton ? major league infielder + pitching prospects for Upton ? but neither Murphy nor Tejada is as good as Martin Prado. Without naming the pitching prospects it?s hard to gauge whether they match up to Randall Delgado. And completely out of the equation is how much grit the these guys have, given the Diamondbacks? grit fetish.

?

Source: http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/02/25/the-mets-were-seriously-in-on-justin-upton/related/

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Memory strategy may help depressed people remember the good times

Feb. 25, 2013 ? New research highlights a memory strategy that may help people who suffer from depression in recalling positive day-to-day experiences.

The study is published in Clinical Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.

Previous research has shown that being able to call up concrete, detailed memories that are positive or self-affirming can help to boost positive mood for people with a history of depression. But it's this kind of vivid memory for everyday events that seems to be dampened for people who suffer from depression.

Researcher Tim Dalgleish of the Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit and colleagues hypothesized that a well-known method used to enhance memory -- known as the "method-of-loci" strategy -- might help depressed patients to recall positive memories with greater ease.

The method-of-loci strategy consists of associating vivid memories with physical objects or locations -- buildings you see on your commute to work every day, for instance. To recall the memories, all you have to do is imagine going through your commute.

In the study, depressed patients were asked to come up with 15 positive memories. One group was asked to use the method-of-loci strategy to create associations with their memories, while a control group was asked to use a simple "rehearsal" strategy, grouping memories based on their similarities.

After practicing their techniques, the participants were asked to recall as many of their 15 positive memories as they could.

The two methods were equally effective on the initial memory test conducted in the lab -- both groups were able to recall nearly all of the 15 memories.

But the strategies were not equally effective over time.

After a week's worth of practice at home, the participants received a surprise phone call from the researchers, who asked them to recall the memories one more time.

Participants who used the method-of-loci technique were significantly better at recalling their positive memories when compared to those who used the rehearsal technique.

These data suggest that using the method-of-loci technique to associate vivid, positive memories with physical objects or locations may make it easier for depressed individuals to recall those positive memories, which may help to elevate their mood in the long-term.

In addition to Dalgleish, co-authors on this research include Lauren Navrady, Elinor Bird, Emma Hill, Barnaby Dunn and Ann-Marie Golden, all of the Medical Research Council Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit.

This research was supported by the U.K. Medical Research Council.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Association for Psychological Science.

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

---

Journal Reference:

1. T. Dalgleish, L. Navrady, E. Bird, E. Hill, B. D. Dunn, A.-M. Golden. Method-of-Loci as a Mnemonic Device to Facilitate Access to Self-Affirming Personal Memories for Individuals With Depression. Clinical Psychological Science, 2013; DOI: 10.1177/2167702612468111

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/mind_brain/mental_health/~3/l9PNtGchdOo/130225122047.htm

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Mediterranean-style diets found to cut heart risks

Pour on the olive oil, preferably over fish and vegetables: One of the longest and most scientific tests of a Mediterranean diet suggests this style of eating can cut the chance of suffering heart-related problems, especially strokes, in older people at high risk of them.

The study lasted five years and involved about 7,500 people in Spain. Those who ate Mediterranean-style with lots of olive oil or nuts had a 30 percent lower risk of major cardiovascular problems compared to those who were told to follow a low-fat diet but who in reality, didn't cut fat very much. Mediterranean meant lots of fruit, fish, chicken, beans, tomato sauce, salads, and wine and little baked goods and pastries.

Mediterranean diets have long been touted as heart-healthy, but that's based on observational studies that can't prove the point. The new research is much stronger because people were assigned diets to follow for a long time and carefully monitored. Doctors even did lab tests to verify that the Mediterranean diet folks were consuming more olive oil or nuts as recommended.

Most of these people were taking medicines for high cholesterol and blood pressure, and researchers did not alter those proven treatments, said one study leader, Dr. Ramon Estruch of Hospital Clinic in Barcelona.

But as a first step to prevent heart problems, "we think diet is better than a drug" because it has few if any side effects, Estruch said. "Diet works."

Results were published online Monday by the New England Journal of Medicine and were discussed at a nutrition conference in Loma Linda, Calif.

People in the study were not given rigid menus or calorie goals because weight loss was not the aim. That could be why they found the "diets" easy to stick with ? only about 7 percent dropped out within two years. There were twice as many dropouts in the low-fat group than among those eating Mediterranean-style.

Researchers also provided the nuts and olive oil, so it didn't cost participants anything to use these relatively pricey ingredients. The type of oil may have mattered ? they used extra-virgin olive oil, which is minimally processed and richer than regular or light olive oil in the chemicals and nutrients that earlier studies have suggested are beneficial.

The study involved people ages 55 to 80, just over half of them women. All were free of heart disease at the start but were at high risk for it because of health problems ? half had diabetes and most were overweight and had high cholesterol and blood pressure.

They were assigned to one of three groups: Two followed a Mediterranean diet supplemented with either extra-virgin olive oil (4 tablespoons a day) or with walnuts, hazelnuts and almonds (a fistful a day). The third group was urged to eat a low-fat diet heavy on bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, fruits, vegetables and fish and light on baked goods, nuts, oils and red meat.

Independent monitors stopped the study after nearly five years when they saw fewer problems in the two groups on Mediterranean diets.

Doctors tracked a composite of heart attacks, strokes or heart-related deaths. There were 96 of these in the Mediterranean-olive oil group, 83 in the Mediterranean-nut group and 109 in the low-fat group.

Looked at individually, stroke was the only problem where type of diet made a big difference. Diet had no effect on death rates overall.

The Mediterranean diet proved better even though its followers ate about 200 calories more per day than the low-fat group did. The study leaders now are analyzing how each of the diets affected weight gain or loss and body mass index.

The Spanish government's health research agency initiated and paid for the study, and foods were supplied by olive oil and nut producers in Spain and the California Walnut Commission. Many of the authors have extensive financial ties to food, wine and other industry groups but said the sponsors had no role in designing the study or analyzing and reporting its results.

Rachel Johnson, a University of Vermont professor who heads the American Heart Association's nutrition committee, said the study is very strong because of the lab tests to verify oil and nut consumption and because researchers tracked actual heart attacks, strokes and deaths ? not just changes in risk factors such as high cholesterol.

"At the end of the day, what we care about is whether or not disease develops," she said. "It's an important study."

Rena Wing, a weight-loss expert at Brown University, noted that researchers provided the oil and nuts, and said "it's not clear if people could get the same results from self-designed Mediterranean diets" ? or if Americans would stick to them more than Europeans who are used to such foods.

Dr. George Bray of the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, La., said he would give the study "a positive ? even glowing ? comment" and called it "the best and certainly one of the largest prospective dietary trials ever done."

"The data are sufficiently strong to convince me to move my dietary pattern closer to the Mediterranean Diet that they outline," he added.

Another independent expert also praised the study as evidence diet can lower heart risks.

"The risk reduction is close to that achieved with statins," cholesterol-lowering drugs, said Dr. Robert Eckel, a diet and heart disease expert at the University of Colorado.

"But this study was not carried out or intended to compare diet to statins or blood pressure medicines," he warned. "I don't think people should think now they can quit taking their medicines."

___

Online:

Journal: http://www.nejm.org

___

Marilynn Marchione can be followed at http://twitter.com/MMarchioneAP

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/mediterranean-style-diets-found-cut-heart-risks-113645694.html

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Duracell Powermat adding mesh network, scaleable power to its wireless charging plates

Duracell Powermat is announcing a pair of new features to encourage sales of its wireless charging gear. The first is "Mesh Network," a set of controls that let multiple hotspots be centrally monitored -- so if you're stealing all the juice in the Wall St. Starbucks, central office can cut you off. On the upside, those same network features will enable you to find another charging hotspot on your smartphone, including Madison Square Garden and Jay-Z's 40/40 club. The second feature is that the latest mats will be able to vary the power on offer between 5 and 50 watts, making them capable of recharging smartphones, tablets and (potentially) Ultrabooks. Now all we have to do is work out how to power all of our electronics without arousing the suspicions of Jay-Z -- we'd hate to add a 100th problem to his worry list.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wireless

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/roEMfngYhIw/

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US moves to salvage Syrian opposition talks

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, center, visits with the traveling media aboard a plane en route to London on his inaugural trip as secretary on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, center, visits with the traveling media aboard a plane en route to London on his inaugural trip as secretary on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, centre, is greeted by U.S. Ambassador Louis Susman upon his arrival in Britain marking the start of his first official trip overseas, at Stansted Airport east of London on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)

LONDON (AP) ? The U.S. is frantically trying to salvage a Syrian opposition conference that John Kerry plans to attend this week during his first official overseas trip as U.S. secretary of state.

A senior Obama administration official said Sunday that Kerry has sent his top Syrian envoy to Cairo in hopes of convincing opposition leaders that their participation in the conference in Rome is critical to addressing questions from potential donors and securing additional aid from the United States and Europe.

Some members of the sharply divided Syrian Opposition Council are threatening to boycott Wednesday's meeting, which is the centerpiece of Kerry's nine-nation tour of Europe and the Middle East.

According to the official, U.S. envoy Robert Ford will say that the conference is a chance for foes of Syrian President Bashar Assad to make their case for new and enhanced aid ? and get to know America's new chief diplomat, who has said he wants to propose new ideas to pressure Assad into leave power.

The official was not authorized to discuss sensitive diplomatic matters publicly and spoke only on condition of anonymity.

If the meeting with Kerry were to be postponed, the official said the delay would likely hurt chances for short-term boosts in U.S. aid or shifts in Syria policy, which is now focused on providing non-lethal and humanitarian assistance to the opposition.

The U.S. is concerned that the same kind of infighting that doomed the Syrian National Council may be hindering the SOC, the official said.

In addition to Ford's trip to Cairo, the top U.S. diplomat for the Mideast, Elizabeth Jones, planned to head to Rome on Monday to add her voice to the argument to opposition members there.

Kerry is on a self-described "listening tour" of Europe and the Mideast, chiefly focused on ending the crisis in Syria.

The former Democratic senator from Massachusetts has said he wants to discuss fresh proposals to ratchet up the pressure on Assad and make way for a democratic transition. Violence in Syria has killed at least 70,000 people.

Kerry has not elaborated on those plans, but there is internal debate in the Obama administration about stepping up aid to the rebels, perhaps to include lethal military assistance.

Key to increasing pressure on Assad will be Russia, which has staunchly resisted efforts to push Assad out, to the increasing anger and frustration of the United States and its allies in Europe and the Middle East.

Kerry will meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the second stop of his trip, in Berlin on Tuesday, and hopes to get a better idea of what Moscow may be willing to support. However, two officials traveling with Kerry said they did not expect any breakthroughs in the German capital.

In London, his first stop, Kerry was expected to be asked by the British about the administration's views on Britain's dispute with Argentina over the Falkland Islands. London is looking to Washington to support a referendum next month on the islands' future. Residents are expected to vote widely in favor of remaining part of Britain.

Senior officials traveling with Kerry would not discuss possible outcomes or the vote, and the U.S. position remains that it is up to Britain and Argentina to work out a resolution. Argentina claims the islands as the Islas Malvinas.

Britain asserted control of the South Atlantic islands by placing a naval garrison there in 1833. Britain and Argentina fought a brief war in 1982 after Argentina invaded the islands. More than 900 people died, most of them Argentines.

After Britain and Germany, Kerry's 10-day trip will take him to France, Italy, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

In addition to Syria, he will focus on conflicts in Mali and Afghanistan, and on Iran's nuclear program.

In Germany, Kerry will discuss trans-Atlantic issues with German youth in Berlin, where he spent time as a child as the son of an American diplomat posted to the divided Cold War city.

In Paris, Kerry plans to discuss France's intervention in Mali.

Despite the numerous Middle East stops, Kerry will not travel to Israel or the Palestinian territories. He will wait to visit them when he accompanies Obama there in March.

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Online:

Trip details: http://www.state.gov/secretary/travel/2013/205086.htm

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/apdefault/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-02-24-Kerry/id-073cd5a9618d4867b0699b209e11c215

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