Friday, December 30, 2011

Toyota unveils new Aqua hybrid in Japan

ABR Staff Writer
Published 28 December 2011

Japanese automaker Toyota has unveiled its new gasoline-electric compact hybrid vehicle, Aqua in Japan as company looks to beat competition from pure electric vehicles.

The Aqua is the home version of Prius C in the US and powered by a 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine rated at 72 horsepower and an electric motor rated at 45 kW as well as fed by additional power from a nickel-metal-hydride battery pack.

The engine provides a combined output of 98 hp providing 0-60 acceleration in less than 10.7 seconds, the company claimed.

The vehicle will be equipped with Toyota Hybrid System II (THS II) with reduction gear, which offered fuel efficiency of 35.4 km/l in the JC08 test cycle and 40.0 km/l in the MLIT 10-15 test cycle.

Aqua comes with a cooled Exhaust-Gas Recirculation (EGR) system which improves efficiency in the high-expansion-ratio Atkinson cycle engine.

The hybrid transaxle, which includes the power control unit, the power-generation motor and drive motor, has also been designed to be small and light.

Toyota said that the vehicle will be available in Japan in three grades: L, S and G with hybrid vehicle costing about $21,7905.

Source: http://greenpowertrain.automotive-business-review.com/news/toyota-unveils-new-aqua-hybrid-in-japan-281211

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Recent Discovery Contains Oldest Depiction of the Tower of Babel

This article is pretty blood suspicious. First of all, it isn't the Tower of Babel, it's the ziggurat of Babylon. The Babel story may indeed reference the ziggurat of Babylon, or not, but no serious scholar goes around calling it the Tower of Babel.

The origin of language nonsense reveals that this is clearly the creation of some Biblical literalist. The breaking of the tongues story from Genesis is myth. No linguist has seriously believed it in well over two hundred years, and pretty much everyone accepts that humans developed full language in Africa. The language Nebuchadnezzar spoke; Akkadian, was an Afro-Asiatic language, and those languages likely developed either in the Arabian Peninsula or in East Africa, most certainly not in Mesopotamia.

Come on Slashdot editors. What's next, an article about humans and dinosaurs living together, or Biblical Flood confirmation stories? Is this the low that the post-Taco era is going to sink to?

Source: http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdotScience/~3/efY0XMZKUtE/recent-discovery-contains-oldest-depiction-of-the-tower-of-babel

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Thursday, December 29, 2011

Kidd-Gilchrist back in Kentucky after visiting mom (AP)

LEXINGTON, Ky. ? Kentucky forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist has returned to the team after going home to New Jersey during the holiday break to visit his hospitalized mother.

Cindy Richardson, who was admitted last week for an undisclosed illness, has been released.

Kidd-Gilchrist played in Kentucky's 87-63 win last Wednesday against Loyola (Md.) after he learned Richardson had been hospitalized. He finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

After the game, he received a police escort to the airport to make his flight home.

The No. 3 Wildcats (11-1) play Lamar on Wednesday in their final game before hosting No. 4 Louisville on Saturday.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111227/ap_on_sp_co_ne/bkc_kentucky_kidd_gilchrist

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JCKMagazine: Best of 2011: Texas #Wholesaler Killed Following Theft http://t.co/QTmBZTON #jewelry #crime

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Best of 2011: Texas #Wholesaler Killed Following Theft ow.ly/88VmQ #jewelry #crime JCKMagazine

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Police seek motive in Texas family deaths

By the CNN Wire Staff

updated 1:23 PM EST, Mon December 26, 2011

Seven found dead in Texas apartment

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

  • Police say the 7 people were opening Christmas gifts when the shootings occurred
  • The shooter is believed to be related to the family by marriage, authorities say
  • Autopsies will be conducted Monday, according to police

Dallas (CNN) -- Autopsies will be conducted Monday on seven family members who were shot -- apparently by one of their own -- at a Christmas gathering, police said.

"The information we have is that this is a family, some of them related by marriage but mostly by blood," Grapevine, Texas, police Sgt. Robert Eberling said Monday. "They have lived in other areas in the (Dallas) metroplex and they came yesterday for a Christmas gathering."

Authorities believe the shooter "was one of the individuals inside the apartment that was also deceased," Eberling said. "We know he is a family member ... we are working to find out why exactly this took place. We contacted other family members to piece this together."

The shooter is believed to have been related to the family by marriage, he said.

Police said Sunday the group was either in the process of opening Christmas gifts or had just finished doing so when the shootings occurred in the living room of the apartment in Grapevine, about 25 miles northwest of Dallas.

Authorities responded to the address Sunday after receiving a 911 call from the apartment, but hearing only an open line, police said in a statement.

The seven bodies -- four female adults and three adult males -- were found when officers entered the apartment. "All victims appear to have gunshot wounds," said the statement.

The victims range in age from 15 to 58 or 59 years old, Eberling said Monday. Autopsy results will be available Tuesday, he said.

CNN's Carma Hassan and Chuck Johnston contributed to this report.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/26/justice/texas-deaths/index.html?eref=rss_mostpopular

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Wednesday, December 28, 2011

pjb tx replied to Donna Repub's discussion 'Rick Perry Fails to Qualify for Virginia Primary Ballot' in the group Rick Perry for President

Rick Perry will not appear on the Virginia presidential primary ballot, state Republican Party officials said Friday night, after he failed to submit the required number of valid signatures to qualify.

Ten thousand signatures are needed to get on the ballot for the Virginia primary, which is March 6, known as Super Tuesday. The Perry campaign says it submitted 11,911 signatures, according to The Washington Post. But at 6:30 p.m. the Virginia Republican Party posted on its?Twitter account?that after verification, it was determined that Mr. Perry did not submit the requisite amount.

The deadline for signatures was 5 p.m. Thursday. Mitt Romney and Ron Paul obtained the needed signatures to qualify; Newt Gingrich submitted 11,050 signatures, but the state Republican Party was still verifying those late Friday night.

Jon M. Huntsman Jr., Rick Santorum and Michele Bachmann, the other Republican candidates, did not submit signatures in Virginia and therefore did not qualify.

President Obama submitted his signatures ? 15,000 ? on Dec. 2. He was certified as the only candidate on the Virginia Democratic ballot on Friday night.

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/23/rick-perry-fails-to-q...

Pursuant to Title 17 U.S.C. 107, this is provided for educational purposes, research, critical comment, or debate without profit or payment

Source: http://smartgirlpolitics.ning.com/xn/detail/2488056%3AComment%3A767958?xg_source=activity

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Tuesday, December 27, 2011

*-Selling Oil Wells-* in Texas

Business Summary:
Turn-key absentee owner is looking to sell several oil wells of varying in depth and amount of commercial pay zones. Geologists' and petroleum engineer research, along with the surrounding history of production in the area, reinforces our estimates of future cash flows at current market oil prices. Crude oil and natural gas purchasers are already in place. For more information : www.investments-and-acquisitions.com * Cash flows are dependent on many factors such as market crude oil prices, weather, geologic differences, and down-time such as general well maintenance, etc. *

? ? ? Facilities / Terms of Lease: Oil Field with equipment needed for drilling. Layout yard. Work area. Tank batteries. Fenced in property. 24-hour closed-circuit video surveillance equipment is being implemented. More information can be provided upon request. ? ? ? Potential Growth/Expansion: Both growth and expansion possibilities are present. The field includes other potential drilling locations of varying potential. Our drilling fields are direct offsets of proven and current production. ? ? ? Competition: This is a negligible factor. Wholesale gas and oil purchasers are in place and always eager to buy supplies. ? ? ? Owner willing to finance: Details available upon request ? ? ? Owner willing to train: Depending on agreement between buyer and seller, support and training will be provided. ? ? ? Reason for selling: For more information about this opportunity, go to http://investments-and-acquisitions.com ? ? ? This business is Home Based. ? ? ? This business is Internet Based. ? ? ? Seller Reference Number: bm401350996
BusinessMart.com Listing Number: 113402 ?
?

To request more information
on this business
please fill out the form shown right

Source: http://www.businessmart.com/business-for-sale/bid/113402/selling-oil-wells--texas

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denverpost: Utah woman and son rescued from hostage situation after woman seeks help via #Facebook post: http://t.co/TageQYr6

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Utah woman and son rescued from hostage situation after woman seeks help via #Facebook post: dpo.st/rVxkZm denverpost

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Monday, December 26, 2011

Convert from Vista Home Premium to Windows 7

Resolved question

Convert from Vista Home Premium to Windows 7 - New!

by BB4ALL - 12/25/11 5:54 AM

Hi,
I am in a quandary and need some advice. I want to upgrade my present Vista 32 bit Home Edition to the Windows 7 Home Edition 32 bit. I already conformed with the windows advisor that my system is ready for the Windows 7 upgrade, but I see that there are two options that I can purchase Windows 7 Home Edition and Windows 7 Home Edition N. Can you tell me the difference between the two and will it be beneficial for me to upgrade. I have had nothing but trouble trying to install Windows Office 2010 over the trial Windows Office 2007 recently and this is still not working properly despite contacting MS Store for advice. Why don't MS offer programs that can be directly downloaded from their site and will operate correctly after installation. I didn't know that a complete uninstall of Office 2007 was necessary before installing 2010 and I don't want a repeat performance in the change over to Windows 7. Any help would be much appreciated.

Source: http://forums.cnet.com/7723-12546_102-551259.html

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APIstudyabroad: I favorited a @YouTube video http://t.co/75QN7voz You've Got to Love London

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Sunday, December 25, 2011

Official: Libya to hit full oil output by mid-2012

There is a "gentlemen's agreement" between OPEC members to accommodate increasing output from Libya, the North African country's oil minister said Saturday.

The comments by Abdul-Rahman bin Yazzah indicate that while there is no formal deal among members of the 12-nation Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to cut output, the producer group is willing to take the step as Libya's production ramps up to pre-civil war levels of 1.6 million barrels per day.

"If the situation calls for it, they will meet," bin Yazzah said, adding that the decision is dictated by supply and demand. But "there is a gentlemen's agreement to accommodate Libya's production," he told reporters after a meeting of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OAPEC, in Cairo on Saturday.

OPEC agreed Dec. 14 to raise its production ceiling to about 30 million barrels per day. The decision marked an increase from its earlier output target and was the first time it changed the ceiling in three years.

The producer bloc has grappled for years with noncompliance by member with their allotted quotas. The situation became further muddled over the past year as Libya's civil war ground production from that nation to a near standstill. To offset the drop, other OPEC members, most notably Saudi Arabia, stepped with additional barrels.

Libya is currently producing slightly more than 1 million barrels per day, the chairman of the National Oil Corp. Nouri Berruien said. The country expects to return to full production by mid -2012, he said - much quicker than analysts had anticipated.

Aside from accommodating increased oil from Libya and Iraq, OPEC must also deal with an economic crunch in Europe where sovereign debt worries are squeezing growth forecasts and, in turn, dampening demand for oil.

If OPEC overproduced, or fails to curb its members' production to adjust for Libya's return to the market it could see prices fall below the $100 per barrel level favored by price hawks like Iran and Venezuela. Others like bloc kingpin Saudi Arabia favor prices between $80-85 per barrel.

The US benchmark crude futures contract on Friday settled at $99.68 per barrel in New York, while it's North Sea counterpart, Brent, settled at $107.96 a barrel in London.

Separately, Syria's oil minister said that international sanction had affected oil production in the country.

Sufian Allaw said that production was down by about 35 percent, reaching 255,000 barrels per day. Allaw said Syria was no longer exporting crude and that European oil companies like Shell and Total had halted their operations in the country because of EU sanctions.

"We have no ability to export now" because of the sanctions, he said.

The measures were imposed as Syria's government comes under tremendous criticism for its deadly approach to dealing with protesters demanding the end of President Bashar Assad's regime. The United Nations says more than 5,000 people have been killed since March, when the uprising began and the regime responded by deploying tanks and troops to crush protests across Syria.

Allaw said that current oil production effectively covered domestic refining capacity and that Syria still needed to import refined fuels.

Source: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/12/24/2560286/official-libya-to-hit-full-oil.html

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ITC judge favours Microsoft in patent dispute against Motorola

CBR Staff Writer Published 21 December 2011

The judge ruled out that Motorola violated six other patents that were stated in the complaint

A judge from the US International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled that Motorola Mobility, the company to be acquired by Google, infringed one of Microsoft's patents.

According to Reuters, the judge found that Motorola had used Microsoft's patented technology--which enables users to schedule meetings via mobile devices--in the making of its Android-based mobile phones.

However, the judge ruled out that Motorola violated six other patents that were stated in the complaint filed in October 2010.

Meanwhile, according to Motorola, the ruling is preliminary and needs approval by the full six-member Commission. A final decision is expected by April 20, 2012 and then the decision will be subject to a 60-day review period by the Obama administration.

Microsoft deputy general counsel David Howard said that they were pleased with the ITC's initial determination. "As Samsung, HTC, Acer and other companies have recognized, respecting others' intellectual property through licensing is the right path forward," said Howard.

As Microsoft praised the decision, Motorola too said it was pleased with the outcome.

Source: http://mobility.cbronline.com/news/itc-judge-favours-microsoft-in-patent-dispute-against-motorola-211211

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Turkey's Waning Assyrian Community to Submit Report to EU

A report detailing the problems Turkey's long forgotten Syriac Christian communities face, prepared with the backing of the European Syriac Union (ESU) and the Dutch Foreign Ministry, will be presented to European Parliament in the coming days.

"Previously issued statements were based on estimated information, but now we have concrete conclusions," Tuma ?elik, the head of ESU's Turkey branch, told the H?rriyet Daily News.

The report prepared by the Southeastern Syriac Culture in Solidarity Association is based on research conducted in the southeastern provinces of Mardin, ??rnak and Batman, where there once was a heavily concentrated Syriac Christian population.

The occasion marks the first time such a study was conducted in Turkey's eastern and southeastern regions, ?elik said on behalf of the association.

Entitled "Syriacs in a Multi-Cultural Environment and the Right of Property," the report covers a number of issues, including the unresolved murders of Syriacs in connection with the 1980s and 1990s fighting between government forces and the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in the southeast.

The Syriac population in Mardin's Midyat district, a traditional Syriac homeland, fell from 1800 residents before the year 1985 down to a mere 130 residents in 2011, while the same figure in the district of Yemi?li dropped from 270 down to 18, according to the report.

Syriac populations in other districts mentioned in the document also experienced a similar decline, despite very slight increases over the past decade.

The report also covers other issues, such as the occupation of lands owned by Syriacs, the problems Syriacs who fled and those returning to Turkey have faced and other rights violations, HDN reported.

www.panarmenian.net

Source: http://www.aina.org/news/20111224041159.htm

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HIV study named '2011 breakthrough of the year' by Science

ScienceDaily (Dec. 23, 2011) ? The journal Science has chosen the HPTN 052 clinical trial, an international HIV prevention trial sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, as the 2011 Breakthrough of the Year. The study found that if HIV-infected heterosexual individuals begin taking antiretroviral medicines when their immune systems are relatively healthy as opposed to delaying therapy until the disease has advanced, they are 96 percent less likely to transmit the virus to their uninfected partners.

Findings from the trial, first announced in May, were published in the New England Journal of Medicine in August. The complete top 10 list of 2011 scientific breakthroughs appears in the Dec. 23, 2011, issue of Science.

"The HPTN 052 study convincingly demonstrated that antiretroviral medications can not only treat but also prevent the transmission of HIV infection among heterosexual individuals," said NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. "We are pleased that Science recognized the extraordinary public health significance of these study results. This recognition also is a credit to the hard work and dedication of the HPTN 052 researchers and the more than 3,000 study participants who selflessly gave their time and energy to make such a significant contribution to the fight against HIV/AIDS."

Led by study chair Myron Cohen, M.D., director of the Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, HPTN 052 began in 2005 and enrolled 1,763 heterosexual couples in Botswana, Brazil, India, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Thailand, the United States and Zimbabwe. Each couple included one partner with HIV infection. The investigators randomly assigned each couple to either one of two study groups. In the first group, the HIV-infected partner immediately began taking a combination of three antiretroviral drugs. The participants infected with HIV were extensively counseled on the need to consistently take the medications as directed. Outstanding compliance resulted in the nearly complete suppression of HIV in the blood (viral load) of the treated study participants in group one.

In the second group (the deferred group), the HIV-infected partners began antiretroviral therapy when their CD4+ T-cell levels -- a key measure of immune system health -- fell below 250 cells per cubic millimeter or an AIDS-related event occurred. The HIV-infected participants also were counseled on the need to strictly adhere to the treatment regimen.

The study was slated to end in 2015, but an interim data review in May by an independent data and safety monitoring board (DSMB) found that of the total 28 cases of HIV infection among the previously uninfected partners, only one case occurred among those couples where the HIV-infected partner began immediate antiretroviral therapy. The DSMB, therefore, called for immediate public release of the study's findings.

The magnitude of protection against HIV infection demonstrated in HPTN 052 has made the successful strategy of the clinical trial a key component of public health policies recently discussed by federal officials and others saying that achieving an end to the HIV/AIDS pandemic is now feasible with additional research and implementation efforts.

"On its own, treatment as prevention is not going to solve the global HIV/AIDS problem," said Dr. Fauci. "Yet when used in combination with other HIV prevention methods -- such as knowing one's HIV status through routine testing, proper and consistent condom use, behavioral modification, needle and syringe exchange programs for injection drug users, voluntary, medically supervised adult male circumcision, preventing mother-to-child transmission, and, under some circumstances, antiretroviral use among HIV-negative individuals -- we now have a remarkable collection of public health tools that can make a significant impact on the HIV/AIDS pandemic."

"Scale-up of these proven prevention methods combined with continued research toward a preventive HIV vaccine and female-controlled HIV prevention tools places us on a path to achieving something previously unimaginable: an AIDS-free generation," Dr. Fauci added.

HPTN 052 was conducted by the HIV Prevention Trials Network, which is largely funded by NIAID with additional funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute of Mental Health, both part of the NIH.

For additional information about the HPTN 052 study, see the Questions and Answers (http://www.niaid.nih.gov/news/QA/Pages/HPTN052qa.aspx). Visit the NIAID HIV/AIDS Web portal (http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/HIVAIDS/Pages/default.aspx) for more information about NIAID's HIV/AIDS research.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by NIH/National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

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


Journal References:

  1. J. Cohen. Breakthrough of the Year: HIV Treatment as Prevention. Science, 2011; 334 (6063): 1628 DOI: 10.1126/science.334.6063.1628
  2. Myron S. Cohen, Ying Q. Chen, Marybeth McCauley, Theresa Gamble, Mina C. Hosseinipour, Nagalingeswaran Kumarasamy, James G. Hakim, Johnstone Kumwenda, Beatriz Grinsztejn, Jose H.S. Pilotto, Sheela V. Godbole, Sanjay Mehendale, Suwat Chariyalertsak, Breno R. Santos, Kenneth H. Mayer, Irving F. Hoffman, Susan H. Eshleman, Estelle Piwowar-Manning, Lei Wang, Joseph Makhema, Lisa A. Mills, Guy de Bruyn, Ian Sanne, Joseph Eron, Joel Gallant, Diane Havlir, Susan Swindells, Heather Ribaudo, Vanessa Elharrar, David Burns, Taha E. Taha, Karin Nielsen-Saines, David Celentano, Max Essex, Thomas R. Fleming. Prevention of HIV-1 Infection with Early Antiretroviral Therapy. New England Journal of Medicine, 2011; 365 (6): 493 DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1105243

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://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111223114126.htm

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Saturday, December 24, 2011

Twenty-One Former Players Sue NFL Over Concussions, Accuse League of Concealing Evidence of Brain Damage

MIAMI -- Nearly two dozen former NFL players are suing the league over severe and permanent brain damage they say is linked to concussions suffered on the job.

The complaint filed Thursday in Miami follows a similar one in Atlanta earlier this week. It is the latest in a series of recent lawsuits against the NFL by ex-players.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of ex-Miami Dolphins teammates Patrick Surtain, Oronde Gadsden and 19 other players. It accuses the NFL of deliberately omitting or concealing years of evidence linking concussions to long-term neurological problems.

The NFL denies the charges and says player safety has long been a priority.

The players claim the NFL made misrepresentations about the seriousness of their injuries "with the intent of inducing NFL players, including Plaintiffs, to return to play as soon as physically possible after having suffered a football-related concussion and to promote an aggressive style of football that would attract viewers."

According to the lawsuit, following numerous studies on the risks of concussions, the NFL created a committee of researchers and doctors in 1994 to study concussions.

The committee was supposed to be independent, but members were affiliated with NFL, the lawsuit said, and the group did not include a doctor specializing in neurology or other brain research. When the committee published its findings in 2003, it stated "there was no long term negative health consequence associated with concussions," according to the complaint.

The former players are seeking a jury trial and unspecified damages.

The lawsuit notes that in 2010, the NFL replaced the leaders of its research committee, and that the new leadership described the data used in the past by the NFL to counter the long-term effects of concussions as "infected" and lacking in science.

Source: http://www.nesn.com/2011/12/21-former-players-sue-nfl-over-concussions-accuse-league-of-concealing-evidence-of-brain-damage.html

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Friday, December 23, 2011

Toni Nagy: Did I Miss Out By Never Believing in Santa?

I grew up in a house where we ate rabbit on Easter and deer at Christmas. Not that my mom was anti-religion, but more because she had an ironic sense of humor. I was raised Catholic, we celebrated the holidays, went to church, but I was never told to believe in mythical creatures that would leave chocolate bunnies in baskets or presents under a tree. But now that I have my own child I am starting to wonder if I should encourage her to believe in Santa, and if I missed out by never knowing to believe.

Part of what takes away from the innocence of the fantasy is the connection between Santa and materialism, because Christmas has become so intimately tied to consumerism. Having a child believe in Santa is not just about the magic of Christmas, but also the market. There is the mindset of Santa paraphernalia, Santa movies, sitting on Santa's lap at the mall, the branded Santa Coke cans, and now the proving of Santa by customized pictures you can order online. Giving your kids personalized evidence of Santa in your house to capture the magic seems like an extreme use of media manipulation to me, but maybe I am just cynical.

Here is where I am torn. On the one hand I understand that many children associate Santa with the charisma of Christmas. There is this fantastic story of a benevolent man who travels to your house and brings your hearts' desires for the cookies you left behind as an offering. Each family has their own ritual that stirs the imagination and ignites unparalleled feelings of expectation. You spend your night waiting to hear the hooves on your roof, and then wake up before sunrise to see your tree transformed with an explosion of elegantly wrapped gifts. In a way Santa can seem more real than God for a child. They are both old white men with beards that judge your behavior, but there is tangible verification that Santa has visited you.

But here are my reservations. The list of Santa's naughty or nice implies that if you are a nice person, you should be rewarded with goodies. But what about being good for goodness' sake? I always thought we should teach our children that the reward for being nice is the positive feelings that being nice inspires, and not because they will get something in return. And what about the fact that Santa gets all the credit for presents parents work hard to buy? I think it is important to have gratitude and thank mom and dad for their sacrifices rather than thinking that their new Xbox 360 just fell from the sky.

Yet before I could make a genuine assessment of how Santa affects the psyche of our children, I had to question some of my Santa-believing friends about their experiences. I was moved by how, with every person I asked, their eyes lit up with an intense twinkle as they described their personal ceremonial practice with the jolly man. For most, Santa was the closest to magic they ever got, and their memories are filled with an incomparable delight. It didn't seem to be about the presents or the vindication of good behavior, but the irreplaceable presentation of wonder that Santa and Christmas embodied.

I then thought back to my own childhood and remembered a very similar feeling the night before Christmas. There was something in the air; the collective energy of millions of children believing that the world is full of unexplainable enchantment. Maybe what our kids really love most about Christmas is that it is the time of year where they are allowed to truly live in their imaginations. And perhaps we parents have a nostalgia so deep for this mental freedom that we too get caught up in the thrilling delight of believing. Maybe the real gift of Santa is bringing families together to celebrate the beauty of belief and the remembrance that miracles are real.

?

Follow Toni Nagy on Twitter: www.twitter.com/tonibolognamind

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/toni-nagy/believing-in-santa_b_1162930.html

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Acclaimed Life Coach Bree Maresca-Kramer M.A. Presents: A New Year...A New Life...It Is Possible!

Acclaimed Life Coach Bree Maresca-Kramer M.A. Presents: A New Year...A New Life...It Is Possible!

BELLE MEAD, NJ, December 22, 2011 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Most people have the best of intentions when it comes to their New Years resolutions. As the year comes to an end, it is only natural to reflect on what we have accomplished and what we still want to change. This is actually what generates the desire within to make the changes needed to get to where we want to be. Whether it is to lose weight, find a significant other, or excel in the workplace for most people this true desire for change does exist.

So what happens?

Why do so many men and women with good intentions and true desire fall short of their New Years resolutions year after year?

Simply put, they just do not have the right tools, motivation, guidance, and direction to get there. This is why today so many men and women are turning to a professional life coach for help!

Ann who was quickly approaching forty had always wanted to marry and have children but her career path had taken her off this course. Every year Ann would make the resolution "This year I will make dating and finding someone a priority." Yet year after year she would allow her career and life stressors to get in her way. As I worked with Ann each week, she was able to learn how to honor her heart's desires and take pro-active steps to make these desires a reality. While working together, Ann was able to pick the right type of men to date and found the man of her dreams! Ann is now happily married and planning for her first baby!

Matt was an actor and stand-up comedian in LA who had some success but was struggling to get his big break. Each New Year's he would promise himself "I will push myself to go to New York this year." Yet, he never could find the courage to follow through. As I worked with Matt he was made aware of why he was unconsciously blocking his own success. Matt successfully worked through this block and soon after booked a one-man show on Broadway and received critical acclaim for his work!

Cheryl was a doctor's wife who always felt trapped by being in her husband's shadow. Each New Year's Eve she would secretly promise herself, "This year I will make something of myself." She dreamed of being free to be who she really was but lacked the self-esteem to do it. During our work together Cheryl was able to build a healthy self-esteem, create her own identity, and ultimately land a high paying dream position doing what she loved to do!

If you are looking to take your love life, career, health, well-being, and life to new heights, you can! You can create a whole new life and follow through on your New Years Resolutions this year!

Acclaimed Life Coach Bree Maresca-Kramer M.A. holds a Master's Degree in Mental Health Counseling, has over fifteen years of clinical experience working with individuals and couples, and has been featured on NBC, CBS, The CW, FOX NEWS, National Radio Programming, The Chicago Tribune, Shape Magazine, In-Touch Magazine, The Nest Magazine, E-Harmony, AOL, and is a Relationship Expert Columnist for The Huffington Post.

To learn more about working with Acclaimed Life Coach Bree Maresca-Kramer M.A., please visit my life coaching page.

Bree Maresca-Kramer M.A. is a professional speaker, author, life coach and success strategist. For more information or to arrange an interview with Bree, contact Annie Jennings (908) 281-6201 or send an email to Annie@AnnieJenningsPR.com.

---
Press release service and press release distribution provided by http://www.24-7pressrelease.com

Source: http://finance.denverpost.com/mng-denver.denverpost/news/read?GUID=20251570

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Thursday, December 22, 2011

ITC sides with Apple, bans sale and import of some HTC phones (updated)

ITC ruling
The ITC has issued a ruling in favor of Apple Inc., banning the sale and import or certain HTC phones in the US. The ruling, which was widely expected to finally be handed down today after being delayed twice, finds that HTC violates a pair of patents held by the Cupertino company regarding the formatting of data (such as phone numbers) in otherwise unstructured documents (such as emails) allowing users to interact with them. The ban isn't scheduled to be enacted until April 19th of 2012, giving HTC and Google plenty of time to address the court's concerns. The Taiwanese manufacturer could also simply remove the feature from its phones, though, the ability to interact with such information across apps, such as tapping a phone number in an email to dial it, is an ability most consumers expect their devices to support.

The International Trade Commission did not find that HTC violated two other patents in question, which related to realtime signal processing and would have been much more difficult for HTC to circumvent. Of course, this saga is far from over and we expect these two (along with practically every other mobile manufacturer on the planet) to continue to duke it out in the courts as opposed to in our stores.

You can check out the full PDF of the ruling at the source.

Update: Looks like HTC already has a plan in place to make it all better. Not shocking, but there it is.

ITC sides with Apple, bans sale and import of some HTC phones (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:13:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink FOSS Patents  |  sourceITC (PDF)  | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/19/itc-sides-with-apple-bans-sale-and-import-of-some-htc-phones/

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Monday, December 19, 2011

Backstreet Boy A.J. McLean Weds! (omg!)

Backstreet Boy A.J. McLean Weds!

Sorry, BSB fans: A.J. McLean is officially off the market.

The Backstreet Boys singer married his longtime girlfriend, Rochelle Karidis, Saturday in Los Angeles, Us Weekly can confirm.

PHOTOS: 2011's most buzzed-about celeb weddings

Attended by Kathy Griffin, New Kids on the Block singer Joey McIntyre and BSB's Kevin Richardson, Howie Dorough and Nick Carter, the couple's evening ceremony was held at the posh Beverly Hills Hotel, and officiated by celebrity photographer Tyler Shields.

Saturday's nuptials were a long time coming for the pair, who postponed saying "I do" when McLean checked into rehab for the third time earlier this year.

PHOTOS: Stunning star wedding pics

The singer, who proposed to his girlfriend on his 32nd birthday in January 2010 during a live concert performance in Las Vegas, credits his new bride with encouraging his sobriety.

PHOTOS: Blingy A-list engagement rings

"I really miss and love [Rochelle]. You are my whole world and I cannot wait to spend my life with you," he recently tweeted, linking to his then-fiancee's Twitter handle. "Without you here, I am lost!"

Get more Us! Follow us on Twitter, Friend us on Facebook, Subscribe to Us Weekly

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/entertainment/*http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/external/omg_rss/rss_omg_en/news_backstreet_boy_j_mclean_weds030945413/43940556/*http%3A//omg.yahoo.com/news/backstreet-boy-j-mclean-weds-030945413.html

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Friday Illusion: Morphing blobs conceal trippy effects

Caitlin Stier, video intern

Stare at the ellipses in this video and you'll start to experience trippy effects. The illusion, developed by vision researchers Gideon Caplovitz and Kyle Killebrew of the University of Nevada in Reno, features curved shapes spinning at a constant rate where changes in contrast, width and colour alter your perception.

At first, a single thin ellipse multiplies. If you fix your eyes on the centre of the screen, dark smudges may appear to blot out the center of the ellipses as your eyes are quickly exposed to stimuli with highly contrasting colours. Next, the shapes gradually become plumper, a transformation that makes the objects seem to slow down and rotate more fluidly. The animation then appears in different colours which seems to enhance the effect. Focussing on the colourful ellipses while the colours fade can also make them turn into polygons, a change that seems to occur at different times from person to person.

According to Caplovitz, the apparent change in speed is caused by how we sample information around us to detect movement. As the ellipses become chubbier, their shape weakens the sense of motion and they appear to move more slowly compared to their elongated counterparts. When colour is added into the mix, it also distracts from picking up movement. As the shapes become nearly circular, they seem to roll like jelly due to ambiguous information about their rotation.

The shape-shifting effect induced by colour was a surprise to Caplovitz. Although he was able to identify that it occurs when all colours look equally illuminated, he is still puzzled by individual variations in perception. "What's really neat is that it can be unique for every person," says Caplovitz. He hopes to hone in on the moment when the distortion looks most extreme for different people.

Were you able to see any or all of these effects? Let us know in the comments section below.

If you enjoyed this illusion, watch dizzying silhouettes change direction or spot the spinning stingray in another brain trick.

Subscribe to New Scientist Magazine

Source: http://feeds.newscientist.com/c/749/f/10897/s/1b053fd0/l/0L0Snewscientist0N0Cblogs0Cnstv0C20A110C120Cfriday0Eillusion0Epsychedelic0Eellipses0Emorph0Einto0Ejelly0Bhtml0DDCMP0FOTC0Erss0Gnsref0Fonline0Enews/story01.htm

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Sunday, December 18, 2011

These Must Be Two Of the Luckiest People On Earth [Video]

An anonymous reader sent me this crazy video taken two weeks ago: a truck out of control almost smashes a car on a snowy road. Fortunately, these guys got extremely lucky and Death got distracted at the very last second. More »


Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/u7sMsarrp3A/this-crazy-near+accident-is-a-chilling-reminder-of-how-life-can-end-at-any-time

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PFT: Giants' Boley accused of child abuse

Detroit Lions v New Orleans SaintsGetty Images

We handle the big injury stories Friday in the rumor mill.

The rest goes right here, in America?s most enticing weekly segment about the injury report.

1. Here are the players were updated during the day on the rumor mill: Kevin Smith, Andre Johnson, Colt McCoy, Justin Tuck, and?Kyle Orton.

2. The Eagles are ready to go, except for defensive end Darryl Tapp who is doubtful with a broken rib.

3. The Jets get running back Joe McKnight and defensive lineman Mike Devito back in the lineup for their game against Philly.

4. The Packers are short a number of key players once again: Linebacker Desmond?Bishop (calf), Chad Clifton (hamstring), wideout Greg Jennings (knee), and defensive tackle Ryan Pickett (concussion) are all out. Running back Brandon Saine (concussion), James Starks (ankle), and guard Josh Sitton (knee) are questionable. Starks says he?ll play.

5. The Dolphins list quarterback?Matt Moore (head/neck), tackle Jake Long (back), and tight end Anthony Fasano (ribs) as questionable. They all practiced on a limited basis and look likely to face the Bills. ?Linebacker Koa Misi (shoulder) is out.

6. Mark Ingram is out again for the Saints because of his toe injury.

7. The Bills will be without Peter King?s favorite tight end Scott Chandler, who is out with an ankle injury.

8. The Bucs will be without receiver?Arrelious Benn on Saturday night against the Cowboys.?Defensive end Michael Bennett (toe), defensive tackle Brian Price (ankle) and wideout Sammie Stroughter (knee) are all questionable. Bennett is the longest shot of the questionables.

9. Dallas has a number of questionable starters: cornerback?Michael Jenkins (shoulder), center Phil Costa (concussion), and linebacker DeMarcus Ware (neck). Costa has been cleared, but still may sit.?Ware is a safe bet to play.

10. Three Broncos secondary members are questionable: David Bruton (achilles), Brian Dawkins (neck), and cornerback Andre? Goodman (concussion). Only Bruton missed practice all week.

11. ?The Patriots listed safety Patrick Chung and tackle Sebastian Vollmer as doubtful. That way they can downgrade them to out on Saturday and then I can get a cheap post out of it while trying to cram my ?family time? in for the week.

12. Devin Hester (ankle) is questionable for the Bears. Jay Cutler (thumb), Matt Forte (knee), and Sam Hurd (5-10 kilos) are all out.

13. The Panthers list tackle Jordan Gross (ankle) as questionable for Sunday?s game. They really missed him last week, but he returned for a limited practice Friday.

14. Kyle Orton is officially probable (thumb) for the Chiefs. He?ll start on Sunday against the Packers.

15. The Bengals will likely be without running back Brian Leonard, who is doubtful with a knee injury. The Bengals get Carlos Dunlap back. Tackle Andre Smith (ankle) is questionable after not practicing Friday.

16. The Raiders will be without wideout?Jacoby Ford (foot) and running back Darren McFadden (foot) yet again. Cornerback Chris Johnson is away from the team following the death of his sister. He?s out.

The team could get Denarius Moore (foot) back. He?s questionable. Also questionable:?safety Michael Huff (hamstring) and running back Taiwan Jones (hamstring). They didn?t practice all week. Oakland is very banged up.

17. Half of the Ravens team is questionable: Linebacker Ray?Lewis (toe), cornerback Lardarius Webb (toe), kicker Billy Cundiff (calf), ?guard Ben Grubbs (toe), defensive tackle Haloti Ngata (back), defensive tackle Cory Redding (ankle) and cornerback Chris Carr (back). Lewis is expected to return to the lineup Sunday night.

18. Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb (head) is officially questionable. He was limited in practice during the week, but the Cardinals? beat writers think John Skelton will get the start.

19. The Titans list quarterback?Matt Hasselbeck (calf) as questionable. He?s expected to start. Look for wideout Nate Washington (ankle) to play despite being questionable. He?s been playing in pain for weeks.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/12/17/boley-investigated-for-child-abuse-expected-to-play-sunday/related/

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Saturday, December 17, 2011

IDC: iPad maintains tablet dominance, HP's TouchPad fire sale burned brightly

While the Android tablets continue to roll in, Apple can still lay claim to the lion's share of the tablet market according to IDC's latest report. Its research suggests that the iPad holds onto 61.5 percent of the worldwide market share, down from 63.3 percent last quarter. Android devices in total also saw a slight contraction, down from 33.2 percent to 32.4 percent. This is partly explained by the HP TouchPad's final hurrah, which rocketed the ill-fated webOS tablet up to third place with a 5 percent of share of tablet sales and an estimated 903,354 devices sold. Samsung maintained its Honeycomb tablet crown, nabbing 5.6 percent of all tablet sales. The Korean manufacturer was closely tailed by Barnes and Noble's Nook Color with 4.5 percent and Asus, arriving at fifth place with a four percent share. Tablets in total sold less than the analysts had predicted, although E-readers outperformed estimates, with 6.5 million E-readers sold in the third quarter, up 165.9 percent from last year. IDC expects some disruptive new tablets will spice up the fourth quarter results and you can take a look at its findings and predictions at the full press release below.

Continue reading IDC: iPad maintains tablet dominance, HP's TouchPad fire sale burned brightly

IDC: iPad maintains tablet dominance, HP's TouchPad fire sale burned brightly originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 05:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink DigiTimes  |  sourceIDC  | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/16/idc-ipad-maintains-tablet-dominance-hps-touchpad-fire-sale-bu/

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Gunmen attack chopper near Indonesia Freeport mine

(AP) ? Gunmen attacked a helicopter carrying 29 workers and family members from Freeport-McMoRan's trouble-plagued gold and copper mine in eastern Indonesian, wounding one person Saturday, officials said.

The attack came as thousands of unionized employees were preparing to return to the Grasberg mine in the mountains of Papua province following a three-month strike that has crippled production at the sprawling operation.

Though the 8,000 striking workers were supposed to be back on the job Saturday after management agreed to a 37 percent pay hike, union spokesman Juli Parorrongan said plans were pushed back at the last minute so that the two sides could iron out all the details.

It was not immediately clear who was behind Saturday's attack or what the motive may have been.

Those on the Hevilift chopper did not appear to be tied to the work stoppage.

Unidentified gunmen opened fire minutes after liftoff from the mining town of Tembagapura, said police spokesman Col. Wachjono.

With only slight damage to the body of the aircraft, the Russian pilots were able to continue on to Timika, where they landed safely.

Mary Jane Mather, the Filipino wife of one of the employees, was being treated for shrapnel wounds, another police officer said.

The Phoenix-based Freeport ? which had hoped the end of the three-month strike would spell the end of trouble at its Grasberg mine ? said a full investigation would be carried out into the attack.

Parorrongan, the union representative, meanwhile, said he hoped the striking workers would be back to their jobs "soon," possibly by the middle of next week.

The two sides were still ironing out the details of their return, such as how to mobilize those who live far from the mining town and getting a guarantee that those who took part in the strike would not face any sanctions, he said.

___

Associated Press writer Ali Kotarumalos contributed to this report from Jakarta.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2011-12-17-AS-Indonesia-Freeport-Attack/id-78aa27d9b9da4da48488d0f0e438275d

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Friday, December 16, 2011

Gingrich faces shouting protesters in Iowa

(AP) ? Protesters drowned out Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich during a campaign event at the University of Iowa.

A handful of people seated in a campus auditorium on Wednesday assailed Gingrich for what they called a "callous attitude toward poor people." The protest lasted more than three minutes.

Gingrich watched impassively from the podium while the protesters shouted. They were led away by university officials.

Before the protesters were ushered out, several Gingrich supporters yelled back. One man told the protesters to shut up, and another said, "You've had your freedom of speech ? be quiet!"

Gingrich said he appreciated the bulk of attendees who were on hand for a discussion of issues.

The former House speaker was on the University of Iowa campus speaking about brain science research.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2011-12-14-Gingrich/id-7538a6e12cf147b183ab112edec47d3e

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Republicans muscling tax cut bill through House (tbo)

Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS and RSS Feed via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/174272414?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Artichokes grow big in Texas

Artichokes grow big in Texas [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 14-Dec-2011
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Michael W. Neff
mwneff@ashs.org
703-836-4606
American Society for Horticultural Science

Researchers recommend best practices for commercial production in water-limited regions

UVALDE, TX -- Loaded with antioxidants and phytochemicals, the artichoke is becoming more popular as consumer interest in specialty products swells. And while 90% of the artichokes grown in the United States come from California, growers in Texas are working to introduce globe artichokes as commercial specialty crop in their region. They say the healthy vegetable has the potential to provide new economic opportunities for regional agricultural throughout the southern U.S.

The authors of a new study say that before artichoke can be successfully established in Texas and southern regions of the U.S. where water is scarce, more information is needed about irrigation and nitrogen (N) management practices. Togo Shinohara, Shinsuke Agehara, Kil Sun Yoo, and Daniel Leskovar from Texas AgriLife Research, Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center at Texas A&M University published a study in HortScience that should give growers the tools they need to ramp up commercial artichoke operations.

"The aim of our three-season study was to determine crop yield, quality, and nutritional components of fresh artichoke heads in response to differential irrigation regimes and N fertilizer rates", said author Daniel Leskovar. "To introduce artichoke cultural practices into commercial production in water-limited regions of the southern United States, it is important to understand impact of these practices."

The scientists evaluated marketable yield, yield components, quality, and nutrient levels of artichoke heads grown under three irrigation regimes (50%, 75%, and 100% crop evapotranspiration) and four nitrogen rates (0 to 10, 60, 120, and 180 kg/ha) under subsurface drip irrigation.

Results of the field experiments showed that irrigation was more effective than N management for optimizing artichoke yield. Marketable yields significantly increased at 100% evapotranspiration (ETc) compared with 75% and 50% ETc, whereas a 20% to 35% yield reduction occurred at 50% ETc across seasons. The researchers believe that the lack of yield responses to N rates was in part the result of high pre-plant soil NO3-N and NH4-N levels.

Harvest time appeared to have the largest effect on artichoke nutritional quality, followed by deficit irrigation. "Total phenolics and chlorogenic acid of artichoke heads increased as the harvesting season progressed and were highest at 50% ETc during mid- and late harvests in one season", Leskovar noted.

The team concluded that approximately 700 mm (for a bare soil system) and approximately 350 mm (in a plasticulture system) of water inputs and 120 kg/ha or less of N appears sufficient to obtain high marketable yields, superior size, and optimal nutritional quality for production of artichokes in Texas.

The researchers hope their efforts will bridge the knowledge gap on irrigation and nitrogen management practices and help put artichoke production on the map in Texas.

###

The complete study and abstract are available on the ASHS HortScience electronic journal web site: http://hortsci.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/46/3/377

Founded in 1903, the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) is the largest organization dedicated to advancing all facets of horticultural research, education, and application. More information at ashs.org



[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


Artichokes grow big in Texas [ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 14-Dec-2011
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Michael W. Neff
mwneff@ashs.org
703-836-4606
American Society for Horticultural Science

Researchers recommend best practices for commercial production in water-limited regions

UVALDE, TX -- Loaded with antioxidants and phytochemicals, the artichoke is becoming more popular as consumer interest in specialty products swells. And while 90% of the artichokes grown in the United States come from California, growers in Texas are working to introduce globe artichokes as commercial specialty crop in their region. They say the healthy vegetable has the potential to provide new economic opportunities for regional agricultural throughout the southern U.S.

The authors of a new study say that before artichoke can be successfully established in Texas and southern regions of the U.S. where water is scarce, more information is needed about irrigation and nitrogen (N) management practices. Togo Shinohara, Shinsuke Agehara, Kil Sun Yoo, and Daniel Leskovar from Texas AgriLife Research, Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center at Texas A&M University published a study in HortScience that should give growers the tools they need to ramp up commercial artichoke operations.

"The aim of our three-season study was to determine crop yield, quality, and nutritional components of fresh artichoke heads in response to differential irrigation regimes and N fertilizer rates", said author Daniel Leskovar. "To introduce artichoke cultural practices into commercial production in water-limited regions of the southern United States, it is important to understand impact of these practices."

The scientists evaluated marketable yield, yield components, quality, and nutrient levels of artichoke heads grown under three irrigation regimes (50%, 75%, and 100% crop evapotranspiration) and four nitrogen rates (0 to 10, 60, 120, and 180 kg/ha) under subsurface drip irrigation.

Results of the field experiments showed that irrigation was more effective than N management for optimizing artichoke yield. Marketable yields significantly increased at 100% evapotranspiration (ETc) compared with 75% and 50% ETc, whereas a 20% to 35% yield reduction occurred at 50% ETc across seasons. The researchers believe that the lack of yield responses to N rates was in part the result of high pre-plant soil NO3-N and NH4-N levels.

Harvest time appeared to have the largest effect on artichoke nutritional quality, followed by deficit irrigation. "Total phenolics and chlorogenic acid of artichoke heads increased as the harvesting season progressed and were highest at 50% ETc during mid- and late harvests in one season", Leskovar noted.

The team concluded that approximately 700 mm (for a bare soil system) and approximately 350 mm (in a plasticulture system) of water inputs and 120 kg/ha or less of N appears sufficient to obtain high marketable yields, superior size, and optimal nutritional quality for production of artichokes in Texas.

The researchers hope their efforts will bridge the knowledge gap on irrigation and nitrogen management practices and help put artichoke production on the map in Texas.

###

The complete study and abstract are available on the ASHS HortScience electronic journal web site: http://hortsci.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/46/3/377

Founded in 1903, the American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) is the largest organization dedicated to advancing all facets of horticultural research, education, and application. More information at ashs.org



[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-12/asfh-agb121411.php

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