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The welcome creation of new marine preserves in Guam look to provide a safe haven for large fish to breed, a boost to the decreasing fish populations and boom for divers exploring the island's fringing reefs.
Surrounded by an azure sea, the island of Guam, in western Micronesia, is blessed with one of the world's richest coral reef marine environments. Rising from the western Pacific Ocean out of the world's deepest valley, the Marianas Trench, clear, blue water brings pelagic life to its shores.
The fringing reefs that have grown over the centuries hold more than 900 fish species and nearly 400 kinds of corals. This great biodiversity naturally attracts divers from all over Asia and other parts of the world. The island's historic past includes shipwrecks and remnants from WWI, WWII and even the gold bearing Manila Galleon trading days, making Guam literally a treasure chest for undersea explorers.
Although Guam is the largest island in Micronesia, it doesn't have the reef mass of its neighbors. Palau holds a 100-mile-long archipelago. Yap has a vast surrounding inner mangrove-lined lagoon. Guam has a barrier reef and Cocos Island in the south.
Volcanic in the south and limestone forest in the north, the island's topography has steep, dramatic undersea drop-offs and coastal areas pocked with protected bays and coves. Guam is Micronesia's most developed and populated island that attracts more than 1.2 million Japanese and Asian tourists annually, and the reefs get a lot of pressure from tourism, local sport diving and, of course, island fishermen.
In the past, over-fishing, siltation from poorly planned development and typhoons have all played a part in threatening Guam's marine life. There has been a sharp decline in large, mature breeding fish over the last 20 years on the island, so protecting Guam's somewhat fragile marine resources has become a major goal for the biologists and planners at the island's Division of Aquatic and Wildlife Management.
In recent years, the betterment of Guam's diverse underwater world has been the thrust behind a series of nature preserves set up around the island. Fishing is kept to a minimum in these areas, allowing breeding stocks to prosper to produce more fish.
Achang & Sasa Preserves
The preserves include the Achang Reef Flat in southern Guam, southeast of Cocos Island. This area is a prime spot for young fish to grow, as there are many mangroves and other natural protections for the juveniles.
Moving up the western coast, the Sasa Bay is another mangrove area in the eastern part of Apra Harbor. This has long been a breeding ground for fish, including hammerhead sharks. These two areas are not recreational spots but are important to providing a place for mature fish to spawn and for young fish to grow in safety. The fish that move out to sea from here not only populate Guam, but also some migrate to outer islands such as the atolls of Yap State.
Piti Bay Preserve
The two most popular spots are The Piti Bomb Holes, which actually includes most of Piti Bay including Camel Rock, Fish Eye Marine Park and the Piti Channel, and Tumon Bay. Piti Bay is another prime site for fish with more than 200 species in this compact area inside the reef.
This is one of Guam's most accessible sites, a favorite of introductory scuba divers and snorkelers. It has sandy sink holes, glorious soft and hard coral growth, much of which is decades old, and lots of fish. The fish include seven butterfly fish species, eagle rays and the occasional sea turtle. Nurse and white-tip sharks can be found over the reef in the outer reef fingers.
Divers and underwater photographers are amazed at how approachable are the fish here. This is one of Guam's most accessible sites and is a favorite of introductory scuba divers and snorkelers. Snorkeling and SeaWalker tours take place daily, and the Fish Eye Undersea Observatory brings the sea to those who want to see the ocean from the facility's windows.
Divers can see the healthy reef on the south side of the observatory, feed the fish and even snorkel around the observatory itself. Fish Eye has a snorkel tour that has seven stops and looks at various fish life and corals as well as a sea anemone colony with clownfish. There is a resident pufferfish just under the entry and exit platform at Fish Eye. Afterwards, take a trip inside the observatory or visit the gift shop in the Fish Eye facility across the street.
Tumon Bay Preserve
Perhaps best known is Tumon Bay, including the areas around Gun Beach and Two Lover's Point. The preserve sits on Guam's premier beach, lined by hotels, clubs and dining venues. Its blue waters offer all kinds of recreation from competitive paddling and swimming to local cast (talaya net) fishing and snorkeling.
The inner reef at Tumon is like a miniature aquarium, with many colorful tropical reefs. Ocean currents, making the sea full of nutrients and thus a good site for young fish to prosper, constantly flush these protected waters.
North of here, and still within the preserve, Gun Beach is considered a fun boat dive or beach dive. Named for the WWII gun emplacement near the cliff line that sits on its shore, this sloping reef is full of fish life and is great for fish photography.
Sea turtles, marble rays, manta rays and even the rare tiger shark have been seen off the shores. This is a favorite snorkeling site stopover for some dolphin tours, so the fish get fed occasionally. Thus, divers will find willing photo subjects almost the minute they hit the water.
The site's buoy is near a healthy coral garden of castle corals. The reef slopes down and bottoms out at about 110 feet to a sandy plain. Look for possible garden eels and helmet shells in the depths. One can dive deep or shallow here. Healthy coral gardens are found to the left.
Manta rays have been known to come here to feed on the outgoing tide at the major cut in the reef. Look for tiny creatures such as coral hermit crabs and colorful Christmas tree worms that hide when touched but then unfold into a tree-like formation of appendages.
Pati Point Preserve
The final area is known as Pati Point in northern Guam. This site was set aside a while ago by the military and the results are refreshing. There are schooling fish, sea turtles and lots of other signs that preserves do work at the Pati site. The corals here are also quite healthy, and the view of Guam's coastline makes this a fine place to visit. Waves and strong currents make it hard to come here on a consistent basis, which is probably good for the fish.
The preserves are trying to reduce fishing pressure. For more than a decade, biologists studied Guam's reefs and decided the increased population on the island meant more fishermen. Local tastes seem to lean toward the full-grown and juvenile fish, which made it hard for some fish to repopulate reefs once most of them were caught. The preserves have been called egg banks, places where fish can lay and hatch youngsters without predation from man.
Guam's preserves are new to the island. Far-sighted people in neighboring Palau set aside its 70 Islands Nature Preserve in the late 1950s. Guam's little series of marine oases are less than 10 years old, with strict enforcement and staffing coming only in the last three to four years. It is already deemed a success, with fish populations noticeably increasing within these special reefs areas.
Overall, the addition of these new preserves up and down the coast means fish from these protected sites should also move into the unprotected regions. This means fishermen will be able to actually show better catches in a short period of time. This also means people such as divers should see more and bigger fish on the reefs. Overall, Guam's reefs should indeed prosper from these new preservation areas. This creates a win-win situation for all involved in using the Guam waters.
For the diver, these preserves mean Guam's beautiful reefs should have more and bigger fish in the years to come. As Guam is one of the richest ocean areas on earth, with the preserves, it can only get richer.
Diving Practicalities
There are great deals at the local dive shops where divers can be certified for just about any specialty, perhaps with the exception of ice diving. Year 'round consistently warm and clear water, weekend boat trips and easy walk-in beach dives add to the diving fun.
Guam is also one of the safest dive destinations in the world. It has U.S. Coast Guard and Navy patrolled waters, and dive boats are all certified through the Coast Guard. The boats carry oxygen and safety equipment, and Guam has recompression chambers for treatment of any potential diving accident.
Diving Protection: Guam waters are 82-86 F (28 C) degrees year 'round with excellent visibility at most locations. A lycra skin will suit most divers. Local divers use 1.5 – 2 mil wetsuits and only the acclimatized use 3 mil. Above water temperatures never get below 74 F (at night) and never get above 90 F. Apra Harbor dives have visibility in the 30-60-ft. (10-20-meter) range, and outer reefs offer 100-150 ft. (33-45 meters) and more.
Instruction: Guam also offers all levels of instruction from beginning open water and one-day resort experience through advanced instructor training. Technical diving is also taught on Guam with deep and deep wreck venues for in-water training on scuba and re-breather.
When to Dive: May through October are the calm months. Trade winds normally start in November or early December and run through April. Guam has so many places to dive, there is usually some protected place all year.
Photography: Underwater photography can be rewarding. Film processing and digital printing is available. Guam also has a professional camera center that carries many top camera brands in a good range.
Protection: The sun reflecting off the water can burn, even on a covered boat. Bring protective clothing such as a long-sleeve T-shirt and brimmed hat. Suntan lotion is a necessity as well.
Good to know: For walk-in dives, booties with a hard sole are needed. Foot fins are fine for boat dives. Some local dive shops offer boat rentals for groups. One can dive, have a sunset barbecue and even kayak and snorkel for an afternoon of fun on the water.


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Part-Time Per-Credit Costs Unavailable
We were hoping to talk about part-time costs to attend Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, but that information was not available.
Featured Schools
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Southern New Hampshire University
You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs ... Learn more >

subset: commoncrawl


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Carter Creech creates lasting impact in his hometown through CFT
Since 2005, Carter Creech has partnered with CFT on his charitable giving as he's looked to "think bigger," leading by example to encourage others.
Simon Greenstone creates a scholarship fund for those impacted by cancer
"We're so pleased to have CFT as our partners as we make a real difference in the lives of so many deserving kids" says Simon Greenstone, founding shareholder of the law firm Simon Greenstone Panatier.
Shelby family furthers pancreatic cancer treatment options
The Shelby Family has made meaningful investments in the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer by working with CFT staff and funding clinical trials through donor-advised funds at CFT.
A conversation with Ray and Linda Pekowski
"We chose Communities Foundation of Texas as our legacy charity because we love the
people there, their stewardship and the ease in working with their team."
- Linda and Ray Pekowski
Cotton Bowl Fund at CFT invests in Friends of Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy
"Visiting a college or university is fairly common in middle or upper middle-class homes, but we believe every student should have that opportunity." — Jay McAuley, Chairman of the Cotton Bowl Foundation
Grace Jo, North Korean Refugee and Scholarship Recipient
"I believe that education has the power to transform societies." - Grace Jo
One of the goals of the George W. Bush Institute is to improve the human condition in North Korea, where 24 million people live under a brutal dictator. When the Bush Institute wanted to establish a scholarship fund to support North Korean refugees, it came to CFT to administer the program by handling the scholarship applications, screening and grants.
Martha Jackson, GiveWisely Graduate and CFT Fund Holder
On the 10th anniversary of her nephew's passing, Martha found a way to honor him. She set up a donor-advised fund through CFT to help children and youth develop self confidence through art and athletics. But she didn't stop there. After taking CFT's GiveWisely class and visiting Family Gateway, which supports homeless families, Martha was inspired to roll up her sleeves and volunteer.
Dan and Rebecca Tatsch, Record-Holding North Texas Giving Day Donors
CFT's North Texas Giving Day is the annual, community-wide fundraising event that has pumped more than $195 million into North Texas charities over the last eight years.
Hegi Grandchildren Take Up the Torch of Giving
Grandparents Fred and Jan Hegi are passing on a powerful legacy by empowering their six grandchildren to change lives through The Hegi Grandchildren's Fund at CFT. The fund not only serves as a charitable resource but as a way to instill the importance of giving in a future generation. Through the fund, each grandchild will be giving $200 every year to a charity of their choice — a responsibility that each of them has agreed to approach thoughtfully.
Angie Dickson Returns to her Roots
Angie Dickson spent her childhood on her family's ranch in West Texas. As an adult, she built a successful career in finance, but she felt a strong calling to give back. So she turned to CFT to help establish a fund that could accept gifts for Kids on the Land, a nonprofit that she formed with her mother, Katherine Dickson, and Peggy Maddox. Partnering with local landowners, schools and government organizations, this unique program teaches elementary school children about the natural resources in their own region.
Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation Fund at CFT
In corporate philanthropy, Neiman Marcus has an ear for youth arts education. Research has shown that students receiving arts training graduate at higher rates, score higher on the SAT, are better creative problem solvers and become engaged civic leaders. The Heart of Neiman Marcus Foundation Fund at CFT was established to strategically invest in organizations providing support for arts education for underserved youth.
The Sweet Life Fund helps burn victims survive tough times
Scott Sweet was just a second-grader when he was severely burned by a live wire. He spent countless days in the hospital and still remembers the sadness of missed recesses and feeling isolated from his schoolmates. But the care he received made a lasting impression, inspiring him and his wife Cathy to help other children dealing with similar medical crises.
John & Veletta Lill put plans in place to give back to the community
What's next? is the question former Dallas City Councilmember Veletta Forsythe-Lill and her husband John asked as they reviewed their financial goals. Approaching a milestone birthday and thankful to have accomplished some bigger goals like funding their son's college education, Veletta started thinking about how she could sustain the legacy of the community she had helped build.
Legendary restaurateur's legacy of excellence continues to inspire
Norman Brinker's integrity, entrepreneurship and competitive spirit made him a legend, but it was his generosity and the desire to help raise the skill of others that made him beloved by his family, peers, employees, and the countless lives he touched.
Mike Tankersley - A Hire With a Higher Purpose
Business lawyer Mike Tankersley hires lawyers who will never work a single day for him. He and his wife, Karen, also an attorney, approached Communities Foundation of Texas seeking to translate their business law practices into courtroom assistance for the less fortunate.
CFT's philanthropic experts are here to work with you to develop your personal, strategic charitable giving plan. Contact us today for a confidential consultation about a giving program to fit your needs.


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Candidates file for elected offices
A host of candidates have filed to seek elected office in the November general election. Races will be held for a number of federal, state and county positions.
Phil Lyman, a businessman and accountant from Blanding, is the only candidate to seek the San Juan County Commission seat currently held by Lynn Stevens. In December, Stevens will complete his eighth year in the commission seat covering central San Juan County.
Commissioner Kenneth Maryboy will be challenged by Andrew Tso in the race for the commission seat covering southeast San Juan County. Maryboy seeks his second term in office. Both candidates are members of the Democrat party, which means their race within the party will be determined in convention or in a primary election.
Sheriff Mike Lacy will be challenged by Rick Eldredge in the race for San Juan County Sheriff. It is expected that Lacy will secure the Republican nod and Eldredge will be the candidate for the Democrat party in the November general election. Both Lacy and Eldredge have worked for the Utah Highway Patrol. Lacy has served as Sheriff since 1995.
Glenis Black Pearson is the only candidate to file for San Juan County Treasurer. It is expected that she will replace Paul Barr in January. Pearson has served as deputy in the treasurer's office for several years.
The list of candidates for county office features a number of incumbents who will not be challenged in their quest for an additional term in office. They include Surveyor David Bronson, Recorder Louise Jones, Clerk/Auditor Norman Johnson, Attorney Craig Halls and Assessor Howard Randall.
Four candidates filed to seek the seat representing southeast San Juan County on the San Juan School Board. They include incumbent Elsie Dee, Howard Todachinnie, John Billie and Michelle McCarl. The race is non-partisan and the list of candidates will be pared to two in a June 22 primary election.
Nelson Yellowman is unopposed in his race for another term to represent southwest San Juan County on the San Juan School Board.
In the federal races, eleven candidates have applied to seek the United States Senate seat currently held by Robert Bennett.
Eight candidates have filed to seek the Utah seat in the U.S. House of Representatives currently held by Jim Matheson.
Six candidates have filed in the special election for Governor of Utah. Lieutenant Governor Gary Herbert assumed the seat in 2009 after the resignation of Governor John Huntsman.
Two candidates from Price have filed to seek the seat in the Utah House of Representatives currently held by Christine Watkins. Candidates include Watkins and Jerry Anderson of Price.
James Harris and Lyon Hazleton will face judicial retention elections in November.
Four candidates will seek the local position on the Utah State School Board, including incumbent Dixie Allen of Vernal, Virginia Howard of Spring City, Mike Miles of Monroe and Johny Thyne of Altonah.
After the filing period closed on March 19, the political season goes into full swing. Neighborhood caucus meetings and organizing sessions were scheduled to take place on March 23, after the press deadline.
The San Juan County Republican party has scheduled its convention on April 29 at 6 p.m. at the Monticello High School auditorium. The state convention is May 8.
Primary elections will be held on June 22 and the general election is Tuesday, November 2.
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Blue & Humpback Whale WatchingMap it!
April 11 - September 29, 2019
Seasonal feeding patterns offer views of these extraordinary mammals from mid-April through September in the Santa Barbara Channel. Whale Watching cruises offer a chance to get close to view the whales as they travel as well as views of the Channel Islands. In the summer months, Island Packers offers an all-day whale watching excursion to Santa Rosa Island with a visit to Painted Cave on Santa Cruz Islands north Shore. An experience not to be missed! www.IslandPackers.com


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Client 0.54 releasedPosted on 2013-11-05 by CiaranG
The latest release of the F-Droid Repository Client, version 0.54, is now available. You can download it from the home page or, if you already have an earlier version installed, just update.
Main changes since 0.50:
- New options on the App Details screen to ignore all future updates for that particular app, or ignore just the current update.
- Apps with Anti-features are no longer hidden, and the corresponding preferences to unhide them are removed. Instead they are clearly marked on the App Details screen.
- Apps with incompatible native code architecture requirements are now correctly filtered.
- A bug that prevented update notifications from appearing has been fixed.
- Theming support, with Light and Dark theme
- New launcher and notification icons, and new default/loading app icon. Icons are now retrieved dynamically, drastically improving startup time on first installation.
- All app donation options have been grouped into a submenu, and Litecoin donation support has been added.
- App filter settings now take effect immediately.
- Apk native code ABIs are now shown in expert mode.
- Search uris for market://search and fdroid.search: are now handled.
- A problem with ActionBar Up navigation on some devices has been fixed.
- Other minor bug fixes, and adjustments to spacings and layouts.
- Lots of translation updates.
As usual, if you have problems or feature requests, talk to the issue tracker, join us in the Forum or visit #fdroid on FreeNode.


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WPN expo
Feel free to download the photos. To download: hover over the enlarged image on the right, a box will appear, to download the original file just click the folder icon and save it to your desktop. Or you can choose the size you want to download and right click to save. Thanks! Gaillyn PhotographyRead More


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10 Items
Fırat PPRC Pipe and Fittings produced from PP (Polypropylene Random Copoylmer) raw material according to TS 9937, TSE EN ISO 15874, DIN 8077, DIN 8078, DVGW W544 standards indispensable solution for today's indoor cold and hot water piping systems has advantages such as its lightweight and smoothness, smooth and bright internal surfaces, calcification and rust-free, hygienic, easy to assembly and takes the place of galvanized pipes. Used in any kind of indoor hot and cold water pipe systems, Fırat PPRC Pipe and Fittings are produced from the Type-3 class raw material, also called as PP-R (Polypropylene Random Copolymer).
PP raw materials are grouped under three classes in terms of its thermal, pressure and chemical resistance.
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Cultural studies and Africa: excavating the subject-matter.
(East African Communication Scholars Association., 2002)
This article examines some of the issues arising from the proliferation of cultural studies as a form of national-identity research. Looking at the case of the recent rise of culture studies in South Africa, we examine ...


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As researchers progress back in time tracing an elusive ancestor, fewer record sources seem to be available. Some sources known to be useful (such as census records) may appear to contain less vital data unless evaluated in different ways. And in some areas totally unique sources may be overlooked if not pointed out in advance by experienced researchers who have spent years using those sources. In this free webinar, Karen will demonstrate how to expand your personal research success into the past.
Join us for the live webinar on Wednesday, February 13, 2013 at 2pm Eastern U.S. Register today to reserve your virtual seat. Registration is free but space is limited to the first 1,000 people to join that day. Before joining, please visit www.java.com to ensure you have the latest version of Java which our webinar software requires. When you join, if you receive a message that the webinar is full, you know we've reached the 1,000 limit, so we invite you to view the recording which should be published to the webinar archives within an hour or two of the event's conclusion.
Test Your Webinar Connection
To ensure that your webinar connection is ready to go, click here and then click on the "Test Your GoToWebinar Connection" link.
About the presenter
Karen Clifford develops and teaches multiple online genealogy courses at colleges in California and Utah. She is an Accredited Genealogist® Professional and a Fellow of the Utah Genealogical Association. She has been President/CEO of Genealogy Research Associates (a California corporation with offices in Utah) since 1997. Her years of professional research work lead to authoring college textbooks and do-it-yourself guidebooks covering both traditional and electronic genealogy research including several books: Becoming an Accredited Genealogist, The Complete Beginners Guide to Genealogy, the Internet, and Your Genealogy Computer Program (updated 2011), and Digging Deeper: Using Essential Pre-1850 Records (2011). She was the founding President of the Monterey County Genealogy Society, a Director of the Monterey California Family History Center, President of the Utah Genealogical Association, a Vice President of the Federation of Genealogical Societies, and a Vice Chair of the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogist (ICAPGen) where she continues to oversee Test Development and Test Quality Control.
She will also be presenting "Overcoming Lost Records Using Technology" in the December 18 webinar. She is the author of the Organizing for Success webinar CD.
Add it to your Google Calendar
With our Google Calendar button, you will never forget our upcoming webinars. Simply click the button to add it to your calendar. You can then optionally embed the webinar events (and even turn them on and off) into your own personal calendar. If you have already added the calendar, you do not have to do it again - the new webinar events will automatically appear.
Webinar time
The webinar will be live on Wednesday, February 13, 2013 at:
- 2pm Eastern (U.S.)
- 1pm Central
- 12pm Mountain/Arizona
- 11am Pacific
- 7pm GMT
Or use this Time Zone Converter.
Here's how to attend:
- Register at www.LegacyFamilyTree.com/webinars.asp today. It's free!
- You will receive a confirmation email containing a link to the webinar.
- You will receive a reminder email during the week prior to the webinar.
- Calculate your time zone by clicking here.
- Make sure you have the latest version of Java installed on your computer. Check at www.java.com.
- Check your GoToWebinar connection here by clicking on the "Test Your GoToWebinar Connection" link.
- Click on the webinar link (found in confirmation and reminder emails) prior to the start of the webinar. Arrive early as the room size is limited to the first 1,000 arrivals that day.
- Listen via headset (USB headsets work best), your computer speakers, or by phone.
We look forward to seeing you all there!


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President Shirley M. Tilghman has created a task force of faculty members who have been charged with developing "a long-term strategy to attract and retain highly talented women faculty in the natural sciences and engineering departments at Princeton." The group will be chaired by Virginia Zakian, the Harry Wiess Professor in the Life Sciences.
The initiative, called the President's Task Force on the Status of Women in Natural Sciences and Engineering at Princeton, grew out of a workshop held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in January. The presidents and chancellors of nine research universities met to discuss issues of gender equity in science and engineering. Former President Harold Shapiro attended the workshop with Dean of the Faculty Joseph Taylor and three faculty members, who happened to include Tilghman. The others were Ruby Lee, professor of electrical engineering, and Joan Girgus, professor of psychology.
The workshop attendees agreed to analyze the salaries and the proportion of other university resources provided to women faculty and to work toward a faculty that reflects the diversity of the student body. Leaders from the schools agreed to reconvene within a year to share information on the initiatives they are pursuing.
"We recognized that the question of gender equity presents major challenges and may require changes not only within universities themselves but also in the scientific and engineering establishments as a whole," said Tilghman. "We also realized that any course of action must be grounded in a thorough understanding of the current situation."
As a first step, Tilghman has asked the committee to collect and analyze data about Princeton's record in areas such as salary, hiring, promotion, retention, teaching load and allocation of research space and other research resources.
Over the last six months, Taylor and Lin Ferrand, associate dean of the faculty, already have begun collecting information regarding these questions. Their work will form the basis of the committee's further research and analysis.
Ferrand, Girgus and Lee have been appointed to the task force along with these faculty members: Bruce Draine, astrophysical sciences; Catherine Peters, civil and environmental engineering; Dan Rubenstein, ecology and evolutionary biology; Sandra Troian, chemical engineering; Suzanne Walker, chemistry; and Bess Ward, geosciences.
Contact: Marilyn Marks (609) 258-3601


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Thursday, April 2, 2015
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Sealed Air Corporation (NYSE: SEE) today announced it has completed the sale of its North American foam trays and absorbent pads business to NOVIPAX, a portfolio company of Atlas Holdings LLC. The sale includes Sealed Air's manufacturing facilities in Paxinos and Reading, PA, Indianapolis, IN, Rockingham, NC and Grenada, MS. In 2014, Sealed Air's North American foam tray and absorbent pads businesses generated approximately $214 million in sales to the Company's Food Care division.
"The decision to divest foam trays and absorbent pads is another step in how we Re-Imagine™ Sealed Air and our commitment to a disciplined approach to portfolio management," said Jerome A. Peribere, President & CEO, Sealed Air. "As we increase our focus on innovation and differentiation in the flexible packaging industry, the decision to divest trays and pads aligns with our overall strategy and we are confident NOVIPAX is the right strategic buyer to further expand and grow this business."
Sealed Air will provide additional information on the transaction during its first quarter earnings call currently scheduled for April 30, 8:30 am EDT.
Sealed Air Corporation creates a world that feels, tastes and works better. In 2014, the Company generated revenue of approximately $7.8 billion by helping our customers achieve their sustainability goals in the face of today's biggest social and environmental challenges. Our portfolio of widely recognized brands, including Cryovac® brand food packaging solutions, Bubble Wrap® brand cushioning and Diversey® cleaning and hygiene solutions, enables a safer and less wasteful food supply chain, protects valuable goods shipped around the world, and improves health through clean environments. Sealed Air has approximately 24,000 employees who serve customers in 175 countries. To learn more, visit www.sealedair.com.
Website Information
We routinely post important information for investors on our website, www.sealedair.com, in the "Investor Relations" section. We use this website as a means of disclosing material, non-public information and for complying with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Accordingly, investors should monitor the Investor Relations section of our website, in addition to following our press releases, SEC filings, public conference calls, presentations and webcasts. The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, our website is not incorporated by reference into, and is not a part of, this document.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 concerning our business, consolidated financial condition and results of operations. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from these statements. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements can be identified by such words as "anticipates," "believes," "plan," "assumes," "could," "should," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "potential," "seeks," "predicts," "may," "will" and similar references to future periods. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this press release regarding our strategies, prospects, financial condition, operations, costs, plans and objectives are forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make regarding expected future operating results, expectations regarding the results of restructuring and other programs, anticipated levels of capital expenditures and expectations of the effect on our financial condition of claims, litigation, environmental costs, contingent liabilities and governmental and regulatory investigations and proceedings. The following are important factors that we believe could cause actual results to differ materially from those in our forward-looking statements: the expected cash tax benefits associated with the Settlement agreement (as defined in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K), global economic and political conditions, changes in our credit ratings, changes in raw material pricing and availability, changes in energy costs, competitive conditions, success of our restructuring activities, currency translation and devaluation effects, the success of our financial growth, profitability, cash generation and manufacturing strategies and our cost reduction and productivity efforts, the effects of animal and food-related health issues, pandemics, consumer preferences, environmental matters, regulatory actions and legal matters, and the other information referenced in the "Risk Factors" section appearing in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and as revised and updated by our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. Any forward-looking statement made by us are based only on information currently available to us and speaks only as of the date on which it is made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.


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Expert's Rating
- Enhanced data entry options
- Excellent print-to-PDF tool
- New tag explorer
- No nested folders or smart collections
Our Verdict
Yojimbo, Bare Bones Software's application for storing and managing digital snippets of information and small pieces of data like text or images, has been updated to version 2.0. Yojimbo can sync across multiple computers via MobileMe and integrates with Spotlight so you can search its contents from the Finder. Version 2 adds some welcome flexibility without losing focus on the product's purpose.
Fundamentally, Yojimbo is about getting information into its database with as little interruption to your work as possible and getting it back out with a minimum of fuss. It can store rich text notes, images including PDFs, passwords, serial numbers, Web bookmarks, and Web archives. Getting that data into Yojimbo is primarily done using the Drop Dock and the Quick Input Panel, both of which have become more useful in version 2.
The Quick Input panel is summoned with a system-wide keyboard shortcut (F8 by default). It examines your system's clipboard and guesses what kind of item you're adding to your Yojimbo library. In my testing, Yojimbo did a good job coming up with appropriate classifications. Images, text, serial numbers, bookmarks, and Web archives were reliably identified. Alphanumeric passwords were too, though passwords with punctuation were usually treated as plain text. Even so, it's easy enough to manually override an incorrect guess. The Quick Input Panel now features the ability to add tags and comments as the item is being created, negating the need to bring Yojimbo to the front and putting the "quick" in Quick Input.
Yojimbo's Drop Dock is a panel displaying the collections you've set up. Drag text or a file over the Drop Dock's tab and it slides into view. Release the file on the desired collection and it's added without bringing Yojimbo to the front. New in version 2 is the ability to toggle which collections are displayed in the Drop Dock. Previous versions included all collections which becomes unweildy as they proliferate. Still absent from the Drop Dock is a way to tag items on the fly like the Quick Input Panel can.
Perhaps the flagship feature of Yojimbo 2 is the tag explorer. With your library selected from the left-hand pane of Yojimbo's main window, the tag explorer on the right-hand side lists all the tags you've created. Click one of those tags and the list of items displayed is filtered to show only those with the selected tag. The list of tags in the explorer is also filtered to reflect only the tags in use for the items displayed. Each tag you click is added to the filter criteria, further refining your item list.
Bare Bones has improved Yojimbo's PDF service. Print from any application and choose "Save PDF to Yojimbo" from the PDF button on the print dialog. Yojimbo now presents a dialog box where you can name, tag, label, and flag the PDF before it's saved to the library. This new dialog box lets you tag the item as you create it, while it's fresh in your mind.
Macworld's buying advice
Yojimbo 2.0 is a well executed update with truly worthwhile enhancements. It may not have everything on your wish list (where are those nested collections and rule-based smart collections?) but Yojimbo handles information with aplomb and is top notch in its class.
[Stuart Gripman is a columnist for Advisor Basics of FileMaker Pro magazine and founder of Crooked Arm Consulting.]


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And there's Nick!
Thanks RPLife /pattinsonlife for all the lovely HQs and yt vid.
Video from Splash
Tons more HQs of HunkyRob under the CUT
8 HQs RPLife/ pattinsonlife
This blog is in no way affiliated with Rob, Kristen, Stephenie Meyer, or their management. All photos and media are copyrighted to their respective owners, no copyright infringement is intended.


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INDIANAPOLIS/RALEIGH (REUTERS) - Another cut to bond purchases appears in the offing this month despite data that showed United States (US) jobs growth slowed sharply in December, two top Federal Reserve officials said on Friday.
The officials, from opposite sides of the US central bank's spectrum of policymakers, reinforced public perceptions that it would take a more significant slowdown in the labour market to convince the Fed to stop withdrawing stimulus.
In what amounted to the beginning of the end of the largest monetary policy experiment ever, the Fed last month decided to cut its bond-buying by US$10 billion (S$12.7 billion) to US$75 billion each month, citing progress in the labour market.
Earlier on Friday, a report showed US joblessness fell to 6.7 per cent from 7 per cent in November. But hiring was far lower than expected, leaving many second-guessing just how strong is the labor market recovery that took hold in the autumn.
"I would be disinclined to react to one month's number," St Louis Fed president James Bullard told reporters after speaking at an Indiana bankers event. "For now we're on a programme where we're likely to continue to taper (asset purchases) at subsequent meetings."
Mr Bullard, who last month backed the cut to the so-called quantitative easing programme, said he was more focused on the drop in unemployment than on the paltry 74,000 jobs that were created, a number he expects to be revised higher.
Mr Jeffrey Lacker, the hawkish head of the Richmond Fed, said it would take a "couple of quarters" of bad news to change the US economy's improving trend.
"It takes a lot more than one labour market report to be convincing that the trend has shifted and in my experience one employment report rarely has an effect by itself on monetary policy," said Mr Lacker, who has been an opponent of bond buying from its start.
"I would expect a similar reduction in pace to be discussed at the upcoming meeting," Mr Lacker told reporters after a speech to a business group in Raleigh.
The Fed's next meeting is on Jan 28 to 29, Bernanke's last as chairman before he is succeeded by vice-chair Janet Yellen.
Clarifying future Fed policy a bit more, US President Barack Obama on Friday nominated former Bank of Israel governor Stanley Fischer to replace Ms Yellen. He also nominated former top Treasury official Lael Brainard to fill a vacancy at the Fed Board, and renominated Governor Jerome Powell.
Neither Mr Bullard nor Mr Lacker have votes on policy this year under the Fed's rotating system.
To recover from the recession, the Fed has held benchmark interest rates near zero since late 2008 to spur growth and hiring. It also has quadrupled the size of its balance sheet to around US$4 trillion through three rounds of massive bond purchases aimed at holding down longer-term borrowing costs.
The Fed tempered the Dec 18 cut to bond-buying by suggesting its key interest rate would stay at rock bottom even longer than previously promised. It will now likely wait until well after the US unemployment rate falls below 6.5 per cent before it tightens policy, instead of simply waiting at least until that threshold was hit.
Asked whether the Fed might be forced to lower that 6.5 per cent threshold, given the sharp drop in joblessness, Mr Bullard said it was unlikely in part because such a move could compromise the credibility of the policy promise.
For now, polls show most economists expect the Fed to trim its monthly bond-buying by about US$10 billion at each meeting.
Until the dour December jobs report, growth in consumer spending, housing and manufacturing, as well as a congressional budget deal struck last month, suggested the US economy was stepping up its slow recovery from recession.
However the big "wildcard" for Fed policy this year remains persistently low inflation, Mr Bullard said.
"For now we're on a programme where we're likely to continue to taper at subsequent meetings... But it is data dependent. If inflation stepped lower in a clear way then I think that would give me some pause" in continuing the cuts, he said.
The Fed targets 2 per cent inflation.
Mr Lacker said he was confident inflation would move back toward that goal in the next year or two but added: "This is not a certainty, however, and I believe the FOMC will want to watch this closely," referring to the policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee.


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FARLI, The Foundation for Archaeological Research of the Land of Israel (RA), was founded in 2009 as a non-profit organization aiming to advance and promote archaeological research in Israel, support archaeological projects, help preserve and develop archaeological and heritage sites, develop and promote new technological tools in the service of archaeology, and support research concerning the archaeology and history of the southern Levant.
In this spirit, FARLI founded the Ancient Pottery Database, aiming to become a valuable tool for archaeologists, archaeology students and archaeology enthusiasts worldwide. Here you will find an ever growing database of ancient pottery assemblages, divided into geographical regions and periods of use, subdivided into type categories including all the valuable information we can provide, such as parallel finds, special features, measurements and bibliographic references.
The main focus of this site will be on the pottery of the Southern Levant, with special emphasis on the pottery of the Holy Land throughout the periods. However we aim to develop this site in the future so as to include other geographical regions in the Ancient Near East complete with their own unique chronology.
If you wish to contribute additional data please send the material to: email@example.com
Please note that the site is currently in 'Beta phase'. If you notice any errors or broken links please advise us and we will work to amend the situation.
The Foundation for Archaeological Research of the Land of Israel,
Department of Advanced Research and Publications.
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Microsoft today shipped an emergency update for Internet Explorer to close a hole that hackers had already been exploiting.
But in an unexpected move, Microsoft allowed Windows XP machines to receive the update, even though it had long held that the 13-year-old operating system had absolutely, positively retired on April 8.
"I'm surprised they went out-of-band at all," said Andrew Storms, director of DevOps at security company CloudPassage, using the term for an emergency update outside the normal monthly patch cycle Microsoft maintains. "While there was a lot of talk about this zero-day, it was mainly focused on the XP angle."
In fact, today's turnabout was bigger news than the security update itself, something Microsoft tacitly acknowledged by posting a long blog post that dealt not with the patch or the vulnerability, but with its decision to give XP customers a break.
In that blog, Adrienne Hall, a general manager in Microsoft's Trustworthy Computing group, made plain that today's release was the exception, not the rule, going forward. "We made this exception based on the proximity to the end of support for Windows XP," Hall wrote.
Microsoft dropped XP from its support list three weeks ago.
But Storms questioned whether Microsoft had, knowingly or not, set a precedent that outsiders would cite each time a new vulnerability in Windows XP appeared.
"For me it begs the question: So when exactly is the end of life date for XP?" Storms said in an interview conducted via instant message. "What if there is another zero-day next week or next month? When is Microsoft really really really going to put their foot down? So I'm surprised they went against their word on the end of life date. It just leaves open the door for more patches either to XP or other [outdated] platforms in the future."
Hall also seemed to blame news reports about the flaw -- in particular that most reports led with the fact that XP would be vulnerable -- for forcing Microsoft's hand.
"The news coverage of the last few days about a vulnerability in Internet Explorer (IE) has been tough for our customers and for us," she said to open the blog, then later argued that the IE bug made headlines only because of its timing. "One of the things that drove much of this coverage was that it coincided with the end of support for Windows XP," Hall asserted.
"The reality is there have been a very small number of attacks based on this particular vulnerability and concerns were, frankly, overblown," Hall added. "Unfortunately this is a sign of the times and this is not to say we don't take these reports seriously. We absolutely do."
Microsoft should not have been surprised that news spread about the IE flaw or that media reports focused on the fact that the bug was the first example of XP's out-in-the-cold situation. Others in the company's Trustworthy Computing group have long predicted that attacks against XP PCs would increase once support for the OS ended, and used the dire forecast to push customers into migrating to something newer.
The update itself, designated MS13-021, was straightforward, or at least compared to the ruckus over XP.
MS13-021 patched a single vulnerability in IE6, IE7, IE8, IE9, IE10 and the newest, IE11, on all supported editions of Windows, as well as XP. The bug was rated "critical" for all client versions of Windows -- XP, Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 -- but "moderate," two steps down in its four-step threat scoring system, for all Windows Server editions.
The critical vulnerability was first reported to Microsoft by FireEye last week. On Saturday, Microsoft issued a security advisory that offered several temporary ways to defend PCs from attacks.
Today's patch can be downloaded and installed via the Microsoft Update and Windows Update services, as well as through Windows Server Update Services (WSUS).
This article, Microsoft makes one-time exception, patches IE on Windows XP, was originally published at Computerworld.com.
Gregg Keizer covers Microsoft, security issues, Apple, Web browsers and general technology breaking news for Computerworld. Follow Gregg on Twitter at @gkeizer, on Google+ or subscribe to Gregg's RSS feed . His email address is firstname.lastname@example.com.
See more by Gregg Keizer on Computerworld.com.


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Obama and Iran's Rouhani hold historic phone call
WASHINGTON - Reuters
U.S. President Barack Obama speaks to members of the press in the briefing room of the White House, Sept. 27. AFP photoU.S. President Barack Obama and new Iranian President Hassan Rouhani spoke by telephone on Sept. 27, the highest-level contact between the two countries in three decades and a sign that they are committed to reach a pact on Tehran's nuclear program.
The call is the culmination of a dramatic shift in tone between Iran and the United States, which cut diplomatic relations with Iran a year after the 1979 revolution that toppled U.S. ally Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and led to the U.S. Embassy hostage crisis in Tehran.
Obama has said for years he was open to direct contact with Iran while also stressing that all options - including military strikes - were on the table to prevent Iran building a nuclear bomb.
The U.S. president had hoped to meet with the relatively moderate Rouhani at the U.N. General Assembly in New York this week, but the Iranian side decided an encounter was too complicated, in what was seen by White House officials as an effort to avoid antagonizing hardliners in Tehran.
On Sept. 27, however, the Iranians said Rouhani expressed interest in a phone discussion before he left the United States, according to a senior administration official. The White House quickly arranged the call, which took place at 2:30 p.m. eastern American time and lasted about 15 minutes.
A source close to Rouhani said the United States had reached out after positive talks between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif a day earlier.
Obama thanks in farsi
Speaking to reporters, Obama said he and Rouhani had directed their teams to work quickly toward an agreement on Iran's nuclear program. He said this was a unique opportunity to make progress with Tehran over an issue that has isolated it from the West.
"While there will surely be important obstacles to moving forward and success is by no means guaranteed, I believe we can reach a comprehensive solution," Obama said at the White House.
"The test will be meaningful, transparent, and verifiable actions, which can also bring relief from the comprehensive international sanctions that are currently in place" against Iran, Obama said.
Rouhani, in his Twitter account, said that in the conversation he told Obama "Have a nice day!" and Obama responded with "Thank you. Khodahafez [goodbye]."
He added that the two men "expressed their mutual political will to rapidly solve the nuclear issue."
The price of oil fell on Sept. 27 as tensions eased between the United States and Iran after the Obama-Rouhani talk.
"The phone call was an important milestone - a calculated risk by two cautious leaders mindful of domestic constraints," said Yasmin Alem, senior fellow at Atlantic Council's South Asia Center. "More than anything else it shows the high level of political capital invested in a peaceful resolution of the nuclear crisis."
Taboo broken
The telephone call, the first between the heads of government of the two nations since 1979, came while Rouhani was heading to the airport after his first visit to the U.N. General Assembly, according to a statement on Rouhani's official website.
"The biggest taboo in Iranian politics has been broken. This is the beginning of a new era," said Ali Vaez, a senior Iran analyst at the International Crisis Group.
Such a call could not have been imagined under Rouhani's predecessor, former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who antagonized Israel and the United States and denied the Holocaust.
A hardline website believed by Iran experts to be affiliated with Ahmadinejad, Rajanews, referred to the call as a "strange and useless action."
As president, Rouhani is the head of the government but has limited powers. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is the ultimate authority in Iran with final say on domestic and foreign policy, though Rouhani says he has been given full authority to negotiate on the nuclear issue.
Obama, who expressed willingness as a presidential candidate in 2007 to reach out to U.S. adversaries, nodded to that power dynamic in his remarks, saying both men had given signals that Iran would not pursue nuclear arms.
"Iran's Supreme Leader has issued a fatwa against the development of nuclear weapons. President Rouhani has indicated that Iran will never develop nuclear weapons," Obama said.
"I have made clear that we respect the right of the Iranian people to access peaceful nuclear energy in the context of Iran meeting its obligations."
Western powers say they believe Iran has been pursuing nuclear weapons for some time. Iran says its aims are peaceful and focused on energy production.
The Obama administration official said the United States had told the Israeli government about the Obama-Rouhani call. Israel is deeply skeptical about the shift in Iran's rhetoric and has warned its allies to be wary of Rouhani.
Rouhani was on a charm offensive during his week in New York, repeatedly stressing Iran's desire for normal relations with Western powers and denying it wanted a nuclear arsenal, while urging an end to sanctions that are crippling its economy.
In his speech to the 193-nation U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 24, Obama cautiously embraced Rouhani's gestures as the basis for a possible nuclear deal and challenged him to demonstrate his sincerity.
However, the failure to orchestrate a handshake between the two leaders that day, apparently because of Rouhani's concerns about a backlash from hardliners at home, seemed to underscore how hard it may be to make diplomatic progress.
Iran and the United States back opposite sides in the Syrian civil war and have been at loggerheads for years over Israel, Tehran's support for Hezbollah militants in Lebanon and other issues.
Rouhani, who took office last month, told a news conference earlier on Sept. 27 he hoped talks with the United States and five other major powers "will yield, in a short period of time, tangible results," on a nuclear deal.
He said Iran would bring a plan to resolve the decade-long dispute over Tehran's nuclear program to an October meeting with the six powers in Geneva.


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BOCA RATON, Fla. & NAPERVILLE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Office Depot, Inc. and OfficeMax Incorporated today announced the completion of their merger of equals, creating a stronger, more competitive and more efficient global provider of office products, services and solutions. The combined company will use the name Office Depot, Inc. and will trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ODP.
Office Depot, Inc. is a single source for everything customers need to make their workplaces more productive, including the latest technology, core office supplies, print and document services, business services, facilities products, furniture, and school essentials.
The new Office Depot, Inc., which would have had combined revenue for the 12 months ended September 28, 2013 of approximately $17 billion, now employs about 66,000 associates worldwide. The company serves consumers and businesses in 59 countries with more than 2,200 retail stores, award-winning e-commerce sites, and a dedicated business-to-business sales organization – all delivered through a global network of wholly owned operations, joint ventures, franchisees, licensees and alliance partners. The company's portfolio of leading brands includes Office Depot, OfficeMax, OfficeMax Grand & Toy, Viking, Ativa, TUL, Foray, and DiVOGA.
Customers can interact with each brand as they always have, including shopping at Office Depot and OfficeMax stores and online at www.officedepot.com and www.officemax.com. Each company will maintain its respective loyalty programs and expects to announce a combined loyalty program sometime in 2014.
Austrian and Saligram to Serve as Co-CEOs
According to the CEO Selection Committee, the uncertainty surrounding the timing and any potential conditions of the Federal Trade Commission approval made it challenging for the search to be finalized in time to coincide with the closing of the merger. The CEO Selection Committee is hopeful of completing the process in the near future, now that unconditional FTC clearance has been obtained.
In the interim, as stated in the merger agreement, Neil Austrian, Chairman and CEO of Office Depot, and Ravi Saligram, President and CEO of OfficeMax, will serve together as co-CEOs, executing the integration plans they and their teams have built to combine the two businesses.
The company will continue to operate in both Boca Raton, Florida and Naperville, Illinois until the new CEO is on board and a decision on a headquarters location is finalized.
Board of Directors Named for New Company
Office Depot, Inc. also announced the members of its new Board of Directors. Aside from Saligram and Austrian, the 12-person board includes five independent directors from each of the Office Depot and OfficeMax Boards. Additional Directors are Warren Bryant, Rakesh Gangwal, Cynthia Jamison, Jim Marino, Michael Massey, Francesca Ruiz de Luzuriaga, Jeff Smith, David Szymanski, Nigel Travis and Joseph Vassalluzzo. Travis and Gangwal will serve as Co-Chairmen/Co-Lead Directors.
The newly appointed Board members bring a wide variety of expertise, qualifications, attributes and skills to the governance of the combined company.
Update to Synergy Benefits and One-Time Merger Costs
The combined company will have significantly improved financial strength and flexibility, with the ability to deliver long-term operating performance improvements through its increased competitiveness.
As a result of the detailed integration planning that has been performed so far, total estimated annual cost synergies by the end of the third year following the close of the merger are now expected to be in the upper half of the previously estimated $400-$600 million range. This excludes any potential synergies from approximately $2 billion of other operating expenses related to retail stores that have not yet been evaluated, as well as any potential working capital savings that may result from vendor or supply chain facility consolidation.
The combined company expects to incur a total of approximately $200 million in one-time operating costs in 2013 related to the merger and up to an additional $400 million in integration costs and approximately $200-$250 million in capital spending over the next three years in order to realize the estimated synergies.
Transaction Information
In accordance with the terms of the merger agreement, OfficeMax shareholders will receive 2.69 shares of Office Depot, Inc. common stock in exchange for each share of OfficeMax common stock. OfficeMax is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Office Depot, Inc. and will no longer be publicly traded. In total, approximately 240 million shares of Office Depot, Inc. common stock were issued to OfficeMax shareholders, representing approximately 45 percent of the 530 million total shares outstanding.
As of September 28, 2013, and before the redemption of the BC Partners' interest, the combined company would have had approximately $1.2 billion in cash. Effective with the merger closing, the company also increased the size of the existing Office Depot, Inc. Amended and Restated Credit Agreement to $1.25 billion. With total liquidity approaching $2.5 billion before the redemption of BC Partners' interest, the newly combined company will have a strong financial foundation for the future.
In conjunction with the closing of the transaction, Office Depot, Inc. also paid $218 million to fully redeem the ODP preferred shares that were held by BC Partners.
About Office Depot, Inc.
Formed by the merger of Office Depot and OfficeMax, Office Depot, Inc. is a leading global provider of products, services, and solutions for every workplace – whether your workplace is an office, home, school, or car.
Office Depot, Inc. is a resource and a catalyst to help customers work better. We are a single source for everything customers need to be more productive, including the latest technology, core office supplies, print and document services, business services, facilities products, furniture, and school essentials.
The company has combined annual sales of approximately $17 billion, employs about 66,000 associates, and serves consumers and businesses in 59 countries with more than 2,200 retail stores, award-winning e-commerce sites and a dedicated business-to-business sales organization – all delivered through a global network of wholly owned operations, joint ventures, franchisees, licensees and alliance partners. The company's portfolio of leading brands includes Office Depot, OfficeMax, OfficeMax Grand & Toy, Viking, Ativa, TUL, Foray, and DiVOGA.
Office Depot, Inc.'s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ODP. Additional press information can be found at: http://news.officedepot.com.
Additional information about the recently completed merger of Office Depot and OfficeMax can be found at http://officedepotmaxmerger.com.
All trademarks, service marks and trade names of Office Depot, Inc. and OfficeMax Incorporated used herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of Office Depot, Inc. and OfficeMax Incorporated, respectively. Any other product or company names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.
This communication may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements or disclosures may discuss goals, intentions and expectations as to future trends, plans, events, results of operations or financial condition, or state other information relating to, among other things, the Company, the merger and other transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, based on current beliefs and assumptions made by, and information currently available to, management. Forward-looking statements generally will be accompanied by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "could," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "guidance," "intend," "may," "possible," "potential," "predict," "project," "propose" or other similar words, phrases or expressions, or other variations of such words. These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of the Company's control. There can be no assurances that the Company will realize these expectations or that these beliefs will prove correct, and therefore investors and shareholders should not place undue reliance on such statements.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include adverse regulatory decisions; the risks that the combined company will not realize the estimated accretive effects of the merger or the estimated cost savings and synergies; the businesses of Office Depot and OfficeMax may not be integrated successfully or such integration may take longer, be more difficult, time-consuming or costly to accomplish than expected; the business disruption following the merger, including adverse effects on employee retention; the combined company's ability to maintain its long-term credit rating; unanticipated changes in the markets for the combined company's business segments; unanticipated downturns in business relationships with customers; competitive pressures on the combined company's sales and pricing; increases in the cost of material, energy and other production costs, or unexpected costs that cannot be recouped in product pricing; the introduction of competing technologies; unexpected technical or marketing difficulties; unexpected claims, charges, litigation or dispute resolutions; new laws and governmental regulations. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Investors and shareholders should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties described in Office Depot's and OfficeMax's Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The combined company does not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.


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"The choice in this election is between an economy that produces a growing middle class and that gives people a chance to get ahead and their kids a chance to get ahead, and an economy that continues down the road we are on, where a fewer and fewer number of people do very well and everybody else is running faster and faster just to keep pace."
That's Obama advisor David Axelrod on "Fox News Sunday," explaining why people should vote for … Barack Obama.
Odds are this was simply poor phrasing. But it might not have been, given how desperately the Obama campaign wants to turn back the clock to 2008, when the choice was between hope and change or continuing "down the road we are on."
Regardless of the spin, the simple fact is that Obama is the stay-the-course candidate stuck with a team, a record and an economy ill-suited for a stay-the-course strategy.
That's what gives poignancy to Obama's recently renewed love affair with Ronald Reagan, whom Obama invokes these days as a model of reasonableness and bipartisanship. He even wants to rename the "Buffett rule" the "Reagan rule."
Even before he got the nomination in 2008, Obama said he wanted to be a "transformative" president like Reagan had been.
And last year, Time magazine featured a cover story, "Why Obama [Hearts] Reagan," which in Time's words gave the true story behind "Obama's Reagan Bromance."
There were two key elements to Obama's man-crush. The first was the simple hope that history — or at least the business cycle — would repeat itself.
The White House's plan was to run for re-election in 2012 with a soaring economy at its back. After an absolutely bruising recession (that was in some ways worse than the one Obama inherited), Reagan got to ride a surging economy to re-election. America enjoyed 6 percent annual growth in 1984: In three of the four quarters before Election Day, GDP quarterly growth was more than 7 percent, while inflation and unemployment plummeted.
At Obama's back is a dismayingly anemic recovery, constantly threatening to get worse. He wants credit for "creating" 3 million jobs but insists he be held blameless for millions more workers who've left the job market entirely.
The other reason the White House admired the Reagan White House? According to Time: "Both relied heavily on the power of oratory." Then-Press Secretary Robert Gibbs added, "Our hope is the story ends the same way."
And there's the problem for Obama. He's sticking to his rhetorical guns on the assumption that he's the great orator his fans have always claimed. It's admirably Gipperesque, I suppose, but the problem is that Obama has never once significantly moved public opinion on domestic issues with his arguments. If he had that power, not only would "Obamacare" be popular today, it would have been popular when he gave more than 50 addresses and speeches on it during his first year.
Obama's out on the stump, embracing Obamacare, doubling down on green energy, on the need for "investments" in government programs, and for the whole hodgepodge of rationalizations for hiking taxes and "spreading the wealth around."
Asking whether Obama is as good a communicator as Reagan is like comparing boxers from different generations; there's plenty of evidence to form opinions but no way to settle the matter.
But what must be very troubling for Obama is the mounting evidence that presidential persuasion is vastly overrated. Political scientist Brendan Nyhan has noted that Reagan's rhetoric had little effect on the polls or his media coverage. Liberal Washington Post blogger Ezra Klein, surveying the academic literature in a recent issue of the New Yorker, found that there's little evidence that any president has really moved the country with his rhetoric.
My hunch is that such findings are overdone and leave out some aspects of presidential persuasion.
Still, what's undoubtedly true is that results matter far more than words. And despite Axelrod's assertions, the fact is that Obama has been leading us down the road we are on for more than three years, and that's what voters will have in mind come Election Day.
(Jonah Goldberg is the author of the forthcoming book "The Tyranny of Clichés." You can write to him in care of this newspaper or by e-mail at [email protected], or via Twitter @JonahNRO.)


text:
HOLLAND fifth wheels embody a history of evolutionary designs that expand fifth wheel function and value. These innovative advancements guarantee performance and offer proven value for your application.
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Chassis-integrated fifth wheels, designed and developed by SAF-HOLLAND in close co-operation with renowned vehicle manufacturers.
This premium fifth wheel is designed for years of performance and has been the foundation for evolutionary new ideas that expand fifth wheel function and value. The FW3510 Series meets the needs of the transport industry for today and beyond.
All over the world leading manufacturers of double pocket wagons and their customers, the railroad companies, rely on these special railcar hitches for securing trailers for combined freight transport.
For optimal utilisation of permissable axle loads and vehicle length.
An extensive and coordinated range of accessories supplements the range of products for commercial vehicles.
This product has been discontinued.
With a trusted design and proven features, including durable cast steel construction and specially designed twin locks, HOLLAND terminal tractor fifth wheels provide the reliability you need when seconds count.
Utilizing proven heavy duty cast steel construction ideal for applications where the loads or operating conditions demand higher capacities than a standard fifth wheel.
Specifically designed for light duty applications such as recreational vehicles, specialty, or gooseneck-type trailers.


text:
ECE597 Project 3D Chess
This project will simulate a hand-held chess game, and the game will allow two player games using two BeagleBoards over a network connection. The graphics will use the beagle's PowerVR SGX for hardware accelerated graphics by using OpenGL. If time permits, a third portion of the project will be to optimize the boot time because a chess computer should start up quickly.
Team Members
Paul Morrison
Steven Stark
Below is an estimated timetable of tasks to be completed. Some adjustments may be necessary.
|Estimated Completion
|1. Working OpenGL Code
|Fri, 4/2/2010
|Completed Wed, 4/21/2010
|Create our own OpenGL code and get it running on our BeagleBoard.
|2. Port 3D Chess Graphics
|Mon, 4/26/2010
|10% complete
|Port Paul's existing 3D chess graphics to the BeagleBoard. This task includes a significant amount of modification to the OpenGL code because OpenGL ES provides only a subset of the OpenGL API. This task does not include porting chess game play.
|3. Refactor Piece Movement Architecture
|Fri, 4/2/2010
|Evaluate and refactor piece movement architecture so that piece movements can be handled from the network just as easily as from the mouse.
|4. Two Player Game Through Networking
|Mon, 4/26/2010
|Allow two BeagleBoards to play a game of chess through a network connection.
|5. Handle Mouse Interaction
|Mon, 5/3/2010
|An extension of task 2, this task will continue porting the existing 3D chess game, including the user's mouse interactions and graphical display of legal moves. At the completion of this task, each player will be able to click on a piece and make a move.
|6. Implement Game Rules
|Mon, 5/10/2010
|This task will finish porting the existing chess logic, including all game rules. Additional features will be added to the original code. At the completion of this task, each player will be able to make only legal moves. The game will determine and handle when the game ends.
|7. Integration and Testing
|Mon, 5/17/2010
|Integration and testing will take place throughout the project, but this task represents final testing and bug fixes.
|8. Interface with Chess A/I Engine
|End of quarter, time permitting
|Building off task 3, chess movements should be able to come from an existing chess A/I engine. This task will involve hooking up an existing chess A/I engine to the game so that a player can play against the chess engine.
|9. Networking Server
|End of quarter, time permitting
|To facilitate multiplayer games, games will connect to a simple game server that we develop. Then players will not need to know the IP address of the other BeagleBoard to play a multiplayer game. Instead, players would find each other through our game server.
|10. Optimize Boot Process
|End of quarter, time permitting
|We want to minimize the startup time and boot directly into the chess game.
About priorities: High Priority items need to be completed for a successful project. Medium Priority items should be completed for an effective project, but the project can still be successful without the item's completion. Low Priority items should be completed if time allows.
Developing with OpenGL ES (under construction)
This section will explain how to set up and use the graphics SDK to compile using the cross compiler previously set up during ECE597. The 2010.3 Angstrom demo image was used to run the programs.
Obtaining the Software
The Graphics SDK is available from TI's website. Download OMAP35x_Graphics_SDK_setuplinux_3_01_00_06.bin (you will need to create an account).
Make sure the file is executable
$ chmod +x OMAP35x_Graphics_SDK_setuplinux_3_01_00_06.bin
Extract the files to your desired location
Everything necessary for 3D Chess is contained in <your chosen directory>/GFX_Linux_SDK/OGLES2/SDKPackage/. This will simply be referred to as SDKPackage/ in the future.
Compiling a Training Course Program
The general instructions on compiling the programs are provided in SDKPackage/OpenGL ES 2.x SDK.User Guide.1.20f.External.pdf. The following instructions are specific to the cross compiler used with OpenEmbedded:
Create a new source-me.txt similar to what was done for the u-boot exercise. Note the addition of PLATFORM and X11ROOT variables. X11ROOT specifies the directory of the X11 freedesktop binaries which is necessary if you want the programs to run inside a window using X11.
export OETREE="${HOME}/oe" export ARCH=arm export CROSS_COMPILE=arm-angstrom-linux-gnueabi- export PLATFORM=LinuxOMAP3 export X11ROOT=${OETREE}/angstrom-dev/staging/armv7a-angstrom-linux-gnueabi/usr/lib/X11/ PATH=${OETREE}/angstrom-dev/staging/i686-linux/usr/bin/:${PATH} PATH=${OETREE}/angstrom-dev/cross/armv7a/bin/:${PATH}
Now to compile an interesting first program: 02_HelloTriangle. The source can be found in SDKPackage/TrainingCourse/02_HelloTriangle/OGLES2. There are two files, one for using X11 and one without. We need to set the flag, X11BUILD, to 1 if we want to build the X11 version.
cd SDKPackage/TrainingCourse/02_HelloTriangle/OGLES2/Build/LinuxOMAP3 make X11BUILD=1
It may be necessary to modify SDKPackage/Builds/OGLES2/LinuxOMAP3/make_platform.mak if the build fails. Modify the compiler lines to append the prefix arm-angstrom-linux-gnueabi-
ifdef TOOLCHAIN PLAT_CC = $(TOOLCHAIN)/bin/arm-angstrom-linux-gnueabi-gcc PLAT_CPP = $(TOOLCHAIN)/bin/arm-angstrom-linux-gnueabi-g++ PLAT_AR = $(TOOLCHAIN)/bin/arm-angstrom-linux-gnueabi-ar else PLAT_CC = arm-angstrom-linux-gnueabi-gcc PLAT_CPP = arm-angstrom-linux-gnueabi-g++ PLAT_AR = arm-angstrom-linux-gnueabi-ar endif
After the program is built, it will be in SDKPackage/TrainingCourse/02_HelloTriangle/OGLES2/Build/LinuxOMAP3/ReleaseRaw/OGLES2HelloTriangle.
To move this file to a running Beagleboard without setting up NFS, secure copy can be used:
$ scp ../LinuxOMAP3/ReleaseX11/OGLES2HelloTriangle user@beagleoard:/home/<user>/Documents/HelloTriangle/
Finally, on the Beagleboard, run the program:
$ cd /home/<user>/Documents/HelloTriangle $ ./OGLES2HelloTriangle
Annotated Bibliography
Under development
- New beagleboard demo image available
This thread describes how to obtain the latest image for the Angstrom distribution on the beagleboard which includes the SGX 3D demos.
- OMAP Graphics SDK
This is the download page for the OMAP35x graphics SDK required to build your own image. It also links to a wiki containing the getting started guide.


text:
A new carbon cycling model developed at the U.S. Department of
Energy's (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) better accounts for the
carbon dioxide-releasing activity of microbes in the ground, improving
scientists' understanding of the role soil will play in future climate change.
Predicting climate change depends heavily on the cycling of
carbon dioxide, which is found in four main reservoirs: the atmosphere,
biosphere, oceans, and soil. ORNL's model was designed to replace traditional
soil carbon cycling models.
"Soil is a big reservoir of carbon," says co-author
Melanie Mayes of ORNL's Environmental Sciences Division. "And most of the
soil carbon cycling models in use today are so vastly simplified that they
ignore the fact that decomposition is actually performed by microbes."
In a paper published in Ecological
Applications, ORNL researchers integrated data from scientific literature
on carbon degradation in soil to form the Microbial-Enzyme-mediated
Decomposition, or MEND, model that improves upon previous models.
"Our MEND model does a better job of representing the
mechanisms of soil carbon decomposition than existing models," Mayes says.
ORNL's comprehensive model accounts for how the different forms
of carbon in soil, or "pools," react with extracellular enzymes
excreted into the soil by microbes, allowing scientists to understand how
quickly carbon is moving through soils.
The model simulates the carbon cycle, beginning after a decaying
plant or animal releases carbon-rich materials into the soil. The organic
material is degraded by enzymatic reactions, releasing dissolved carbon
molecules that can be absorbed by microbes for growth or metabolism. These
processes ultimately result in the release of carbon dioxide.
ORNL's MEND model is the first model able to track degradation
by accounting for most of the relevant processes and by estimating the
parameters based on a comprehensive literature review. This model, which is
based on the physiological functions of microbes, accounts for how temperature
affects the ability of microbes to emit carbon dioxide. Soil can either store
or release carbon depending on how rapidly carbon-rich materials in the soil
are decomposed.
"What we think will happen is that as temperature goes up,
microbial physiology will change, altering their ability to break down carbon
chains and release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere," Mayes says.
"If our models don't account for this process, then our ability to predict
future climate change will be less realistic."
For the next six to eight months, ORNL's team will run laboratory-scale
experiments to ensure that the MEND model accurately represents the
decomposition of carbon compounds in soils. Eventually, team members hope to
incorporate their model into the publicly available supercomputing program
called the Community Land Model, a module used in the Community Earth System
Model that helps researchers predict future climate change.
Source: Oak Ridge National Laboratory


text:
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The lousy economy has put a damper on travel plans for this Labor Day weekend, according to a report released Wednesday.
Motorist group AAA expects a total of 31.5 million Americans to travel at least 50 miles away from home between September 1 and September 5. That's down 2.4% from last year, when 32.3 million Americans traveled for Labor Day.
"AAA is projecting a decrease in the number of Labor Day travelers as some Americans react to recent economic uncertainty and increasing air fares," said Glen MacDonell, director of travel services.
The gloomy outlook for the economy is weighing on consumer confidence according to the report, which was produced in cooperation with IHS Global Insight. In particular, it says consumers' discretionary income has not risen enough to keep up with rising travel costs.
Despite the anticipated decline in overall travel, the number of Americans traveling by car over Labor Day weekend is expected to edge up 0.5% to 27.3 million.
MacDonell said that number could be higher if gasoline prices continue to fall over the next few weeks.
"We could see an increase in last-minute holiday weekend travel," he said.
Gas prices have fallen about 10% since May, when prices spiked due to turmoil in the Middle East. As a result, nearly three out of every four drivers said gas prices would not impact their Labor Day travel plans, according to AAA.
But prices are still high by historical standards. The national average gas price stands at about $3.57 a gallon, up 86 cents versus last year.
By contrast, rising airfares are expected to crimp air travel over Labor Day weekend, with airfares up 13% compared from last year. The lowest average airfare for a round-trip ticket on one of the main U.S. routes was $202, according to AAA.
The group expects air travel to drop 1.9% to 2.5 million passengers this year.
The report also showed that Americans plan to stay closer to home this year, but will spend about the same amount of money.
Consumers are expected to travel an average of 608 miles, down from 635 last year. The median spending level is expected to be $702, compared with $697 last year.
While fuel and transportation costs should be the biggest expense for travelers, the report said spending on accommodations will also take a big bite out of consumers' travel budgets.
According to AAA, travelers will pay an average of $148 to stay at higher-end hotels over Labor Day weekend. That would be up from 6% from $139 last year. Lower-end hotels are expected to cost $110 per night.
Meanwhile, rental car rates for the holiday weekend are expected to average $43 a day, down 7% from 2010.
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text:
The Department of Environment and Conservation has prepared a Priorities Action Statement (PAS) to promote the recovery of threatened species and the abatement of key threatening processes in New South Wales.
The Priorities Action Statement identifies a number of broad strategies to help threatened plants and animals recover in New South Wales. Each of these strategies have more specific priority actions within them.
Select an item from the list below to see priority actions for all species of that type.
What type of species or threatening process do the priority actions apply to?
Name of species or threatening process that the priority actions apply to.


text:
Thoratec Schedules First Quarter Conference Call, Webcast
14 Apr, 2014, 04:38 ET
PLEASANTON, Calif., April 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Thoratec Corporation (NASDAQ: THOR), a world leader in device-based mechanical circulatory support therapies to save, support and restore failing hearts, today announced that it will report its operating results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2014 on Tuesday, May 6.
The company will hold a conference call to discuss its financial results and operating activities, open to all interested parties, at 1:30 p.m., Pacific Daylight Time (4:30 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time), Tuesday, May 6, hosted by Gary F. Burbach, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Taylor C. Harris, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
The teleconference can be accessed by calling (719) 325-4824, passcode 6338556. Please dial in 10-15 minutes prior to the beginning of the call. The webcast will be available on the Internet at http://edge.media-server.com/m/p/r83xutis/lan/en, or http://www.thoratec.com.
A replay of the conference call will be available through Tuesday, May 13, via http://www.thoratec.com, or by telephone at (719) 457-0820, passcode 6338556.
Thoratec is a world leader in therapies to address advanced-stage heart failure. The company's products include the HeartMate® LVAS (Left Ventricular Assist System) and Thoratec® VAD (Ventricular Assist Device) with more than 20,000 devices implanted in patients suffering from heart failure. Thoratec also manufactures and distributes the CentriMag® and PediMag®/PediVAS® product lines. Thoratec is headquartered in Pleasanton, California. For more information, visit the company's website at http://www.thoratec.com.
Thoratec, the Thoratec logo, HeartMate, HeartMate II and GoGear are registered trademarks of Thoratec Corporation. CentriMag and PediMag are registered trademarks of Thoratec LLC, and PediVAS is a registered trademark of Thoratec Switzerland GmbH.
SOURCE Thoratec Corporation


text:
Sorry, there are no The Fray dates.
The fourth album Helios from critically acclaimed Denver-based foursome The Fray will be released February 25 on Epic Records. Of the new music, produced by Stuart Price (The Killers, Madonna, Keane) and Ryan Tedder (Adele, One Republic), Isaac Slade (piano, vocals) notes, "Working with Stuart was the best of both worlds. We brought our organic instruments, and he brought his arsenal of electronic antiques. This record is all about running to the front lines of what we've done and pushing our borders even farther. Electronic instruments, drum samples, enormous backing vocals, opening up our writing to folks outside our camp."
The band premiered the lead single "Love Don't Die" on the "Today Show," kicked off the first night of late night television sweeps performing on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," rang in the New Year as part the global TV celebration "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2014," and recently performance on the outdoor stage at Jimmy Kimmel Live!
The new music has received early critical acclaim from Denver Post as well as Billboard hailing its "bare emotion bolstered by echoing backing vocals and unexpected twang." The video for "Love Don't Die" is streaming now at Vevo: http://smarturl.it/LDDvid. Pre-order for the album is available now: http://smarturl.it/helios. The band will continue to tour in the new year, dates forthcoming.
The Fray is Slade, Joe King (guitar, vocals), Dave Welsh (guitar), and Ben Wysocki (drums). The Denver-based foursome formed in 2002 after high school friends Slade and King bumped into each other at a local guitar shop. The Fray achieved national success with their 2005 debut, featuring the hit singles "Over My Head (Cable Car)" and "How to Save a Life," which went double-platinum. The band also earned a 2010 Grammy nomination for their self-titled release.


text:
Scientists unmask genetic markers associated with psoriasis
Scientists at the University of Michigan Department of Dermatology, the U-M School of Public Health and their collaborators have found DNA "hotspots" that may reveal how genetic differences among individuals result in psoriasis, an autoimmune disease of the skin. Published in Nature Genetics, the findings could lead to new drug targets and tailored treatments for the disease.
"This discovery highlights the role of several genes in mediating the immune responses that result in psoriasis," says Goncalo Abecasis, Ph.D., co-principal investigator on the project, and associate professor of biostatistics in the School of Public Health. "Some of the highlighted genes, like those in the IL-23 pathway are already targeted by effective psoriasis therapies. Others, like TNFAIP3 and TNIP1, may become targets for the psoriasis treatments of the future."
Psoriasis affects some 7.5 million people in the United States, causing sore, itchy patches of red, scaly skin. In many cases psoriasis is not only disfiguring; between 10 and 30 percent of patients develop psoriatic arthritis, a painful inflammation of the joints. Current treatments, including different types of immunosuppressive agents, aren't always effective, and they can cause serious side effects.
Psoriasis has a strong genetic component; a child with two affected parents has a 50 percent chance of developing it; siblings have a three- to six-fold risk. But the genes responsible for psoriasis haven't yet been completely understood.
In this large, multi-center study, researchers used cutting-edge genomic technology to identify subtle genetic signals influencing the risk of psoriasis. They scanned millions of DNA variations in the genome to find those that occur significantly more often in psoriasis patients than unaffected people.
The study was led by James Elder, M.D., Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Dermatology, and Abecasis. Among the first authors were Rajan Nair, Ph.D., assistant research professor of dermatology, and Jun Ding of the Biostatistics Department in the School of Public Health.
Within the past 18 months, researchers have increased the number of independent genetic "hotspots," or loci, confidently associated with psoriasis from one—HLA-Cw6, previously identified by Elder, et al., in 2006—to 10. Four of these have been identified for the first time by this study, and two more have since been confirmed by these researchers.
Research details
The team looked for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), or DNA changes, at 438,670 sites in 1,359 psoriasis cases and 1,400 healthy controls. Initial scans signaled differences in at least three previously identified DNA sites, with HLA-Cw6 producing the strongest genetic signal. They then expanded the study to look at 18 of the most interesting loci in an additional 5,048 cases and 5,051 controls.
In all, seven of the 18 loci showed consistently strong association with psoriasis. As a result, four proteins produced from the altered DNA code now can be targeted for further study.
This study is the first to identify changes in the IL23A gene in psoriasis patients. Notably, two of the previously identified psoriasis genes (IL12B and IL23R) encode proteins that bind to IL23A protein. Variations in the structure any of these three genes may predispose people to chronic immune responses that ultimately result in psoriasis.
The team also found that genetic signals for proteins activated by TNF-, a key signaling molecule involved in inflammation, are distinct from the patterns in healthy controls. Two genes activated by TNF-—TNFAIP3 and TNIP1—show strong association with psoriasis. Together, these genes limit immune responses. Genetic alterations in this "brake" may allow the immune system to work overtime within the skin. Variants of TNFAIP3 also have been associated with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, two other autoimmune conditions.
The fourth novel hotspot implicates two "next-door neighbor" genes, IL4 and IL13. These genes support development of Th2 cells, a type of immune system T cell. Any condition that leads to too few or too many Th2 cells in relation to other types of T cells may result in disease, including psoriasis.
This new research, together with recent immunology work by Elder and colleagues, links four psoriasis loci (IL12B, IL23A, IL23R and IL4/IL13) together in a common functional pathway.
The large library of genetic data increases the number of proteins and pathways that can be targeted by emerging therapies to fight psoriasis.
Once the full catalog of psoriasis genes has been identified, it may be possible to generate a "psoriasis gene profile" that can accurately predict one's risk of developing the disease. Such work may one day help assess risk of heart attack and stroke, since psoriasis carries an increased risk of coronary artery disease, and TNFAIP3 has also been shown to influence risk of coronary artery disease in mice.
The number of disease genes that can be identified more than triples if the study size can be increased two to three fold. "We invite participation of psoriasis patients from across the country," says Elder.
Patients can enroll for this study by mail without a trip to Ann Arbor. Elder has information at his Psoriasis Genetics Laboratory Web site, http://www.psoriasis.umich.edu. Interested patients can also call 800-356-2840.
Funding for this study was provided by the National Institutes of Health and by the Genetic Association Information Network (GAIN).
Citation: Nature Genetics, volume 41, no. 2, p. 199-204.