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BIOLOGIST CHRIS RAY felt something tug at her shoe as she sat in a steep boulder field at 10,000 feet in Montana's Gallatin Range waiting for a female pika to emerge from the rocks. Pikas are fuzzy, potato-sized herbivores that inhabit the tops of Western mountains. Frantic workers, they collect large piles of wildflowers and grasses during summer--a process called haying--to eat during winter.
Ray, who has studied pikas in the rugged mountains outside Bozeman for 16 years, looked down to see a pika nibbling at her sneaker. "It was trying to hay my laces," she says, laughing at the recollection. They also like backpack straps, the more colorful the better."
With round bodies, prominent ears, no visible tail and weighing just 5 ounces, pikas are unmercifully cute. But despite their cuddly appearance, American pikas, the smallest members of the rabbit family, are among North America's toughest animals--and they have to be. Pikas are one of the few mammals in the lower 48 states that can survive their entire lives in alpine terrain, the windswept no-man's-land above tree line.
But biologists like Ray now fear that these hearty creatures may not survive global warming. Unlike many wildlife species that are shifting their ranges north or to higher altitudes in response to changing climate, pikas and other alpine animals have nowhere else to go. In some locations, entire pika populations already have disappeared. Scientists say the animal's decline, like the proverbial canary in a coal mine, may presage problems for other species, from butterflies and birds to large mammals.
Windswept, treeless and frigid, the alpine zone, like frosting atop a cake, covers less than 5 percent of the planet's surface. In a book about the Colorado Rockies, Song of the Alpine, author Joyce Gellhorn describes these isolated mountaintop ecosystems as "islands in the sky."
Over the past century, the interior West, which includes the lion?s share of the country's high-mountain habitats, has warmed about 1 degree F. Computer models show the region heating up an additional 4.5 to 14.4 degrees F during the next 100 years. As the alpine warms, scientists expect snowpack to shrink, a phenomenon already observed in the Pacific Northwest, the Southern Rockies and the Sierra Nevada. Reduced moisture would dry alpine soils, spur the invasion of lower-elevation conifers and grasses, and crowd out native species.
In Rocky Mountain National Park, which has more than 100 square miles of alpine habitat, Colorado State University researchers estimate the tree line would rise 1,200 feet--eliminating half the park's tundra--if temperatures warm by 5 degrees F. Trees are already on the move. A paper published in the July 2005 Western North American Naturalist shows that the low-elevation distribution of Engelmann spruce, which thrives in the subalpine zone, moved 575 to 650 feet upslope in three of four watersheds studied in Nevada's Great Basin National Park between 1992 and 2001.
Trapped at the top, alpine wildlife is vulnerable to several of global warming's damaging effects, including vegetation changes, the invasion of new predators and pests, reduced winter snowpack and increases in extreme weather events. For pikas, one serious problem is heat itself. To survive in summer, they must descend into the cool, moist talus--rock piles at the base of mountain slopes--on hot afternoons.
As temperatures rise, researchers say pikas will abandon lower-elevation talus slopes and migrate higher into the mountains until they can go no farther--much like living on the highest point of a sinking island. "All other mammal species in continental North America have greater heat tolerances," says Colorado College alpine mammalogist Barry Rosenbaum, who is studying pikas on Colorado's Niwot Ridge.
In the Great Basin--the arid region between the Rocky Mountains and California's Sierra Nevada--pikas already are disappearing. According to Nat-ional Park Service biologist Erik Beever, the mammals have recently disappeared from 8 of 25 mountainous locations where they were documented in the early 1900s. Beever, who published his discovery in the Journal of Mammalogy, says the die-off indicates that suitable habitat is shrinking. Notably, the most recent pika losses occurred at the warmer, southern end of the animals' range. 'This is what you would expect from rising temperatures--a loss at the margins of their distribution,' says Beever. The finding represents 'one of the first contemporary examples of a North American mammal exhibiting a rapid shift in distribution due to climate.'
According to Ray, pikas also have disappeared from some talus slopes in Montana's Bridger Range over the past 30 to 40 years. While fossils show that pikas have been lost from several western mountain ranges over the past 10,000 years "the speed at which they are disappearing now is more rapid than ever before," she says.
Animals that, like pikas, depend on mountaintop ecosystems are called "alpine obligates." Another obligate is the white-tailed ptarmigan. These chicken-sized birds are difficult to spot because of camouflage--white in winter and speckled gray in summer--that disguises the birds from predators. During winter ptarmigan keep warm by roosting in snow caves. To feed, they use accumulating snowpack as a ladder to reach higher branches of willow shrubs. "If there is not a reliable supply of snow, they will come into spring in poor body condition and may breed later, with smaller clutch sizes," says Kathy Martin, a biologist at the University of British Columbia who specializes in alpine birds. Studies show that ptarmigan already suffer population declines during warmer winters with less snow.
Other birds, including American pipits, horned larks and rosy finches, are considered ?alpine specialists? because they breed atop mountains but migrate to warmer climates during winter. If predictions are true that global warming will cause more weather variability and extreme events, these species could also face breeding challenges.
Horned larks, for example, feed every 20 minutes. Exposed to freak storms or heat, they have trouble both incubating eggs and finding food. "Keeping eggs at a constant temperature is a huge challenge," Martin says. Because of the short breeding season, alpine species generally have fewer offspring each summer, which means reproductive failures can dramatically impact populations. "It?s always a disadvantage," Martin says, "to breed in the alpine."
Some animals, however, could benefit from an increase in mountain temperatures--at least at first. According to a Colorado State University study, elk numbers may double in Rocky Mountain National Park as the mammals forage higher and winters decrease in severity. Endangered greenback cutthroat trout populations could also increase as fewer lakes fill with ice, notes the same study.
Bighorn and Dall sheep may also benefit initially from increased vegetation, but over time "conifer encroachment" would harm their populations, says Neil Thagard of the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep. Bighorns can adapt to hotter temperatures-- desert bighorns, for example, inhabit arid canyon lands of the interior West. But Vic Coggins, an Oregon state wildlife biologist who studies bighorns in Oregon's Wallowa Mountains, says "they will not tolerate forested areas. There's nothing on the ground to eat in conifer stands, and they create a haven for predators." Meanwhile, predators themselves--including foxes, coyotes, lynx and weasels--could benefit from increased hunting opportunities as alpine summers lengthen, at least in the short term.
Unfortunately, predictions are difficult to make because relatively little is known about the life histories of many alpine animals, particularly small species such as shrews, pocket gophers, voles and mice. "There's a reason they are not well studied," Martin says. "It's challenging to get a good safe study area in the alpine."
At her study site in Montana's Gallatin Range, Ray returns to the talus zone near Hyalite Peak every August. She spends her days trapping, tagging and monitoring the roughly 300 pikas that inhabit her two-square-mile research area. Pikas make good subjects because they are easy to observe, and unlike many other species, biologists can get close to them. "If you sit quietly, you can watch them go about their business," says Ray. In addition to tugging scientists' shoelaces, pikas sometimes lick sweaty sneakers for salt.
In future years, Ray plans to compare her data on population fluctuations with temperature changes in the region. She suspects decreasing snowpack is at least part of the problem. Snow that covers talus slopes in winter insulates pikas from subfreezing temperatures. "If they are shivering through winter, that certainly would affect their fitness," says Ray. Ironically, global warming could be causing some pikas to freeze.
In the past, pikas could disperse between mountain ranges. But warmer temperatures make that journey a death march now. "If an isolated population blinks out today," Ray says, "it's nearly impossible for that habitat to become recolonized."
Asked if pikas could be the first mammal to disappear from the Lower 48 because of climate change, Ray hesitates. "That's a reasonable hypothesis", she says. "When you see a systematic decline in pikas, that tells you dramatic changes are taking place in the alpine."
Colorado writer Paul Tolmé wrote about efforts to protect endangered native plants in the June/July issue.
Pika Primer: Survival at the Top Pikas, which once lived across North America, have been retreating upslope over the past 12,000 years. The species is believed to have evolved from Siberian ancestors that crossed the former land bridge between Asia and Alaska.
American pikas are found in Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nevada, California and New Mexico as well as western Canada. Their thick fur and round bodies conserve heat, and furry paws provide traction on snow. Though most pikas in the Lower 48 inhabit alpine ecosystems exclusively, some survive at lower altitudes where deep, cool caves are available, such as the ice tubes in California?s Lava Beds National Monument.
Telltale signs of pika territory are the hay piles the animals amass in summer to eat during the winter. The piles, which can encompass a bushel of vegetation, resemble dried flower arrangements. In addition to nutritional plants, hay piles often contain scat from other species, particularly marmots.
Like their rabbit relatives, pikas are prolific: Females can deliver two or three litters of as many as five pups per season. Gestation lasts three weeks. Fast growers, pika pups reach adult size in just three months--if a predator does not eat them first.
The most common pika predators are weasels, which primarily hunt juveniles. To protect their offspring, adults will climb up to lookout rocks and emit distinctive ?weasel calls? when they spot the predator. Pikas also produce alarm calls for avian predators such as ravens and for coyotes.
Initially, juveniles attempt to establish territories close to their parents but are soon chased away. Fiercely territorial, pikas squeak at invaders. "They will come out and yell at you if you get too close," says pika researcher Chris Ray.
Alpine Summer: Short but Sweet Snow-covered eight months of the year, alpine habitat bursts to life in summer with colors to rival a coral reef. Wildflowers of violet, pink, yellow and blue burst forth between patches of dwindling snow. To cope with the short growing season, most plants are perennials that clone rather than disperse seeds. Low-lying cushion plants like moss campion and alpine forget-me-nots have deep taproots that allow them to grow on gravely, wind-scoured ridges. Magenta and scarlet Indian paintbrushes and yellow alpine avens flourish in sheltered meadows.
NWF Priority: Fighting Global Warming Beyond its effects on high-altitude habitats, global warming is expected to wreak havoc with virtually all of the world?s ecosystems and their wildlife inhabitants--undermining decades of conservation achievements.
Combating this problem is one of NWF's top priorities. The federation's activities include supporting House and Senate bills to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, publishing an ongoing series of studies on global warming and its effects on wildlife, and working with state affiliates to address local global warming issues.
To learn more about these and other related programs, go to NWF's global warming program.
WEB EXCLUSIVE Tropics Feel the Heat
Close to the North Pole, it is easy to see the dramatic consequences of global warming: Melting polar icecaps and disappearing permafrost are hard to ignore. But a new study warns that the worst effects of rising global temperatures may be felt thousands of miles from the icy Arctic--in the Tropics.
"We're not by any means suggesting that there won't be large impacts at polar and temperate regions," says University of Washington researcher Joshua Tewksbury. "There are lots of responses at northern latitudes, and the projected change in temperature is two to three times greater in high latitudes."
But Tewksbury and his colleagues believe that even a small change in temperature close to the equator could devastate tropical wildlife. Unlike the Tropics, northern temperate regions experience a wide variation in temperature each year; their summers are significantly warmer than their winters. Tewksbury says that animals living in areas with more defined seasons are better suited to adapt to long-term temperature changes. Tropical animals, unaccustomed to changes greater than a few degrees, may have a harder time adapting to even a small, long-term rise in temperatures.
Tewksbury has looked at decades' worth of data on tropical ectotherms--cold-blooded animals like frogs and lizards--to determine the maximum temperature at which those animals can survive. He then calculates the difference between that temperature and the temperature at which they normally live. Not surprisingly, that difference is fairly small, which means that the animals are likely to be highly sensitive to even slight temperature fluctuations.
"We need to be examining this phenomenon," says Tewksbury. "We need to look at both the temperature change in the region and the sensitivity of the animals that live there." --Hannah Schardt


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Your cabinet project is just one screw away from perfection and what happens? ARRG! But there's no need to plug the children's ears while you vent your frustration. Just calmly reach in to your tool bag for GraBits. This 4-piece set of double-sided bits removes all types of stripped screws and bolts from #4 to #24. Each 2-sided GraBit has a burnishing end to form the insi

subset: commoncrawl


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Crude oil has failed to make progress in either direction since the bottom fell out in mid-October. But one thing we have learned about the energy markets is that quiet trading is often the calm before the storm.
The best trade might be to patiently wait (hope) for lower prices to establish bullish positions.
Those of you that pay attention to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's Commitments of Traders Report likely noticed that large speculators (the so-called smart money, but that is up for debate) spent last week adding to bullish crude oil positions as Middle East tensions flared. But it seems as though there has been a bit of buyer's remorse. Many are likely interested in staying overall long going into the long holiday weekend, but should we reach Monday without a significant occurrence, disappointed speculators might liquidate.
According to seasonal tendencies, the crude oil market typically finds some sort of a bottom in early December and this gives prices plenty of time to slide into the low $80s or maybe even high $70s before finding a floor. Corroborating our idea of further near-term weakness, data suggest the equity markets experience post-Black Friday depression and this should aid in the selling of all risk assets.
From a charting perspective, oscillators are mixed and provide little justification of taking an aggressive position either way from current prices. On the other hand, simple trendline analysis suggests there is significant resistance in the high $80s. If we are wrong and the rally breaks out of the downtrend channel, the bulls will be targeting $95/$96.


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Staff from a Maldon leisure centre went head-to-head in a charity battle of the sexes.
Employees at Blackwater Leisure Centre, in Park Drive, hope to raise more than £300 for Breast Cancer Research UK after taking part in a charity netball match at Plume School.
The boys emerged victorious, recording a comprehensive 27-4 win.
Membership manager Bill Suggitt, who organised the event, thanked all who took part, as well as those who have donated money.
To donate, contact staff through Facebook at facebook.com/blackwaterleisurecentre


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The Crazy Urban Cars of the Tokyo Motor Show
We're going to give a pass to the Volt as it's technically a plug-in hybrid, with a 1.4-liter gas engine feeding power to the battery after the Volt runs 40 miles from a full charge. That said, the Volt has become the go-to vehicle for all electric car discussions. The Volt is recognized as the first real step from a major American auto company to bring plug-ins to the market. Demand for the car is high, and beyond the battery, it's a smartly designed, well-turned-out American car that makes you feel a little bit better about the future of the industry. If possible, try to get a good look at one on the road or at a dealer—the future looks pretty good.
Ford's electrified Focus swaps the gas engine for a 123-hp electric motor and carries a liquid-cooled 23-kwh lithium ion battery pack under the floor and rear seats. The range should be about 100 miles. In other words, it will perform a lot like the Nissan Leaf.
Ford, however, claims the Focus can be recharged in only 3 hours. Granted, that assumes a 240-volt Level 2 charger, but even with the higher voltage, the Leaf requires about double that time. With just a 120-volt charger, however, the Focus needs a painful 16 to 20 hours for a full charge, which makes the navigation system's charge-station finder a critical feature.
3 Tools to Make Tricky Car Repairs Easier


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COLUMBUS — Ohio leaders are pointing to a new state law as a sign of progress made in the fight against human trafficking.
Victims of human trafficking often are forced into the sex trade or pushed to work against their will in sweatshop-type jobs.
The crime is the focus of an awareness event planned Friday at the Statehouse. Gov. John Kasich is among the scheduled speakers.
Part of the event is aimed at helping social workers and attorneys learn about implementing the state's new law. The measure increases penalties for human trafficking and creates a fund to help victims. Participants also will hear from human trafficking survivors.
Ohio's attorney general said in a report Thursday that despite improvement, there's still work to do in increasing Ohio's legislative response to human trafficking.


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Ilkley Parish Council is to charge the community a 1.8 per cent "modest increase" as part of this year's proposed budget.
The parish council will levy a precept of £133,700 for its services in the coming financial year, 2013-2014, it was agreed at a full council meeting at the Town Hal on Monday.
It means a typical Band D household will be charged £19.60 by the parish council, on top of council tax to Bradford Council in 2013-2014.
Parish Council chairman Heathcliffe Bowen described the increase as being "in line with inflation" and as a "modest increase."
Councillor Mike Ridgeway said: "I think Ilkley Parish Council give a good value precept, compared with other parish councils."
One of the biggest hikes in precept was seen last year in the financial term 2012-2013 with a 20 per cent rise, which was upped to fund Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Its precept for the financial year 2012-2013 was £131,300 which had risen from £109,943 in 2011-2012.
The possible budget for this year, 2013-2014, is planned at £153,885.
Some of the biggest increases in this year'sbudget are the funds allocated to the parish council's publicity and website maintenance, which has gone from zero last year to £5,000 this year. This has been increased in a move to improve communications. Also the council has allocated more funding towards the maintenance of Darwin Gardens, formerly known as West View Park, in Wells Road, from £2,000 last year to £5,200 this year.
Councillors said that as they are trustees of the gardens they want to put money into raising it to a higher standard and ensure that it is kept well maintained.
The council is also backing a move in restoring the memorial garden steps in a bid to keep them in good condition.
The vote on the budget was taken in public, and was agreed by the councillors present who included Mike Ridgeway, Paul Kitching, Stephen Butler and was headed by chairman Coun Bowen and vice-chairman of the council Mike Gibbons.
Councillors unable to attend had all seen a copy of the budget beforehand and had not raised any concerns.
The council's pot of reserves is still being calculated. This is the sum of money used to fund items including election provision and support of the police youth unit.
Meanwhile a 14 per cent hike in Otley's local tax is being planned to help deliver "a more active town council."


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New Features
|Spot instances integration with Auto Scaling
Using Auto Scaling, you can now manage your Spot Instances and perform the following actions:
|Spot instance integration with AWS CloudFormation
Use AWS CloudFormation templates to launch Spot Instances in a stack with AWS resources. For more information, see Use CloudFormation Templates to Launch Spot Instances.
|CloudFormation Sample Templates
Use AWS CloudFormation to make several workloads easier to leverage Spot Instances, including:
For a quick walkthrough on how to use these templates, see Use CloudFormation Templates to Launch Spot Instances.
|Notifications Sample Application
Develop applications that monitor your Spot Instance usage using AWS Java SDK. For more information, see How to Track Spot Instance Activity with the Spot-Notifications Sample Application.
Version History
To view earlier EC2 Release Notes please see http://aws.amazon.com/releasenotes/Amazon EC2.
Known Issues
|Current Limitations for VM Import
Following are current limitations of VM Import:
|Current Limitations for Cluster Instances
|Following are current limitations of cluster compute and cluster GPU instances:
|Current Limitations for Cluster Placement Groups
|Following are current limitations of cluster placement groups:
|Current Limitations for Tags and Filters
|You currently cannot tag the following resources:
Describe* actions through the command line tools or API.
|Current Limitations for Micro Instances
|Following are current limitations of micro instances:
|Setting the TCP_MAXSEG Socket Option
|The 2.6.18-164.15.1 kernel used in the CentOS 5.4 reference AMI (ami-7ea24a17) contains a known issue: Setting the TCP_MAXSEG socket option on TCP sockets to certain values (e.g., 1500) causes the kernel to generate TCP Segmentation Offload (TSO) packets with invalid sizes that the NIC driver then drops. The impact is significantly lower network throughput. As a workaround, don't set this socket option and let the kernel use the default settings to handle segmentation and Path Maximum Transmission Unit (PMTU) discovery.
|Query Version of ModifyInstanceAttribute
|The ModifyInstanceAttribute action currently does not allow you to modify the block device mapping for the instance.
|Paid AMIs Backed by Amazon EBS
|Amazon EBS-backed AMIs are not currently supported by Amazon DevPay.
|Windows AMI Launch Times
|Windows AMIs take longer to launch than Linux/UNIX instances due to larger AMI sizes and multiple reboots.
|Windows AMI Sizes
|Installing software on Amazon S3-backed Windows AMIs can cause them to become large and easily reach the 10 GB limit. Before bundling, check the size of the C:\ volume.
|Limitation on Drive Mapping
|There are limitations on devices available for storage attachment. For more information, go to Attaching the Volume to an Instance in the Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud User Guide.
|Instance Limit
|New AWS accounts are limited to a maximum of 20 concurrent instances (of which 2 may be CG1 instances), but many of our customers use hundreds or thousands of instances. If you need a higher limit, go to Request to Increase Amazon EC2 Instance Limit (http://aws.amazon.com/contact-us/ec2-request).


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Quick Pickled Ramps with Coriander and Chili Flakes
Ramps are wild leeks that end up tasting like an earthy cross between green onions and garlic. They make an excellent pickle. This particular combination of pickling spices was heavily influenced by the basic pickling brine recipe in The Wild Table, an excellent book on foraged foods by Connie Green and Sarah Scott. You can pickle the ramp greens as well as the bases, but the greens do not hold up as well and are better kept for sauteeing fresh.
About the author: Marisa McClellan is a food writer, canning teacher, and dedicated pickler who lives in Center City Philadelphia. Find more of her jams, pickles and preserves (all cooked up in her 80-square-foot kitchen) at her blog, Food in Jars. Her first book, also called Food in Jars, will be published by Running Press in May 2012.
Every recipe we publish is tested, tasted, and Serious Eats-approved by our staff. Never miss a recipe again by following @SeriousRecipes on Twitter!
- Yield:makes 1 pint
- Active time: 30 minutes
- Total time:1 week
- 3/4 cup unseasoned rice wine vinegar
- 3/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon pickling salt (or any other fine grain salt)
- 1/2 teaspoon coriander seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
- 1/8 teaspoon red chili flakes
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 pound ramps, washed, bases trimmed, greens removed, and dried
Combine rice wine vinegar, water, sugar and salt in a small saucepan and bring to a boil, whisking until sugar and salt are dissolved. Place coriander, peppercorns, chili flakes, and bay leaves in the bottom of a clean pint jar and pack trimmed ramps into the jar.
Pour the vinegar over the ramps, leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Gently tap the jar to loosen any air bubbles and add more pickling liquid, if necessary. Wipe rims and apply a clean lid and ring. Let jar cool for at least an hour and then place in the refrigerator. Give the ramps at least a week in the pickling liquid before eating.


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You may search for a particular institution by entering the ABHES ID or School Name. You can also use any combination of Program Offered, State, Credential Offered, and/or Method of Delivery to see a list of accredited institutions and programs. Note: Schools with a distance education designation are approved to offer distance education instruction either by course or program. Please contact the institution for further information.
The full listing of ABHES Accredited Institutions can be downloaded in Microsoft Word or Text format using one of the links provided below. If you want to see the full listing on the screen, leave all the search criteria blank and then click on the Submit button.


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Stassi among four sent to Minor League camp
VIERA, Fla. -- Astros manager Bo Porter believes Max Stassi has the ability to become an everyday catcher in the Major Leagues, but that time has not come just yet.
Stassi was one of four players the Astros optioned to Minor League camp on Monday, one day after they made their first nine cuts. Pitchers Luis Cruz and David Martinez and outfielder Domingo Santana joined Stassi, leaving Houston with 52 players in big league camp as increasing workloads for starters begin to leave less work for everyone else.
Like the others, Stassi is on the Astros' 40-man roster. But with Jason Castro and Carlos Corporan ahead of him on the depth chart for now, the club felt he would be better served getting regular playing time on the Minor League side, where games are set to begin on Friday.
"I think we definitely got a good enough look where we see him as a guy who can be an everyday catcher," Porter said. "That was reiterated to him, that's why we want him to get down there, get on a regular turn, catching every day and calling the games, and we don't want him to be in Major League camp where Castro and Corporan are going to do the bulk of the catching. Now he's catching two innings a day here and there, when he can be starting and catching games and really working on his craft."
Stassi, who turns 23 on Saturday, is rated as the Astros' No. 12 prospect by MLB.com. He hit .277/.333/.529 with 17 home runs in 76 games at Double-A Corpus Christi last year and was called up to the Astros on Aug. 20. In his second game, he was struck in the face by a pitch, suffering a concussion that ended his season except for part of one game late in September.
While he's in the Minors, Porter wants Stassi to keep developing his game-calling and ability to guide a pitching staff.
"This guy really has a chance to be an offensive force as far as the catching position goes," Porter said. "We really want him to continue to improve being a student of the game and really putting an emphasis on -- like I tell the catchers every game -- 'Go catch a winner. That's your No. 1 job.'"
While Stassi was 2-for-9 this spring, Santana was 0-for-5. The 21-year-old, Houston's No. 8 prospect, hit .252/.345/.498 with 25 homers at Corpus Christi last year.
Martinez made his big league debut with Houston last year, pitching four games out of the bullpen. Cruz, a lefty, pitched mostly at Class A Advanced Lancaster, splitting time between the starting rotation and bullpen. Although he threw only one inning this spring, he's made an impression on Porter.
"There is absolutely no fear whatsoever," Porter said. "It doesn't' matter who's in the [batter's] box. He's a confident kid, and If I had his stuff, I'd be confident, too. It's a fastball with late life, a breaking ball that he can back foot to righties, he can spin it to a lefty, good changeup. All of his pitches come out of the same slot. He can throw them in any count.
"I told him, 'Look where you were at last year, the season you were able to put together, being put on the roster, coming to Spring Training and really opening the eyes of the entire staff.' I said, 'You've done yourself well, now get down there and continue to work, and at some point the phone's gonna ring and your number's gonna be called.'"
Andrew Simon is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @AndrewSimonMLB. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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A couple of Washington insiders want to get rid of the mortgage interest tax deduction. Normally that's not big news, because thousands of Washington insiders would like to raise your taxes (especially if they can call it "reform") while pocketing your money. But this pair of Washington insiders is more influential than your run-of-the-mill corporate cat fattening himself at the Capital Grille.
Alan Simpson and Erskine Bowles are the co-chairs of the deficit commission, formally known as the National Commission on Fiscal Words You'll Skip Over. The 18 people on the panel are supposed to send a report to Congress. Such a report would require the approval of 14 of the 18 members. Simpson and Bowles are jumping the gun, prematurely putting out a set of talking points, to pressure their fellow panel members in some way.
It's an odd set of talking points. As part of their plan to reduce the budget deficit, Bowles and Simpson suggest charging admission to Smithsonian museums. It's a laughable suggestion, because it would raise a piddling amount of money compared to the size of the budget deficit -- and anyway, have you been to the National Zoo or the Air and Space Museum? Those places will empty your wallet with a quickness.
I'd totally support the installation of hundreds of discreetly placed, frequently cleaned pay toilets on the National Mall, though. Can I get a high five on that? Thought so.
My long way of saying that the Simpson-Bowles talking points aren't very serious. They talk of shared sacrifice, yet propose cutting taxes on the high-earning Wall Streeters who took our bailout money and then rewarded themselves with huge bonuses while the unemployment rate skyrocketed. While the Masters of the Universe would get tax cuts, middle-class homeowners would lose the mortgage interest tax deduction.
In principle, I think the mortgage interest tax deduction should be phased out, because it distorts real estate prices and encourages people to buy more house than they can afford. There's an issue of generational equity to work out, though -- it's unfair to tell future homebuyers, "You can't have the tax deduction that generations of your forbears enjoyed."
The Mortgage Bankers Association complains that the timing is bad: "Given the fragile state of the nation's housing market, now is not the time to be scaling back incentives for homeownership," the MBA says.
The National Association of Realtors hasn't reacted. I expected a Linda Blair-type reaction, with spinning head and split-pea soup, but nada. Maybe the Realtors are nursing a hangover from their annual convention, which was in New Orleans and ended this week. They called it NARdiGras 2010. Party like it's 1932, dudes!


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KEXP Reviews
|Browse by one of the following:
- (Terminus)
The former frontman for Austin's Bad Livers has been hitting a creative peak since moving to the Northwest a few years ago. His follow-up to 2001's excellent Things I Done Wrong is a wonderfully eclectic outing that's rooted in bluegrass and old-timey music while also taking in elements of rock, jazz and more. A couple of the songs recall Exile-era Stones, and there's a fabulous cover of the Small Faces's "Ooh La La." The stellar backing band includes guitarist Bill Frisell, violinist Darrol Anger and keyboardist Chuck Leavell, but it's Barnes's fearless sense of musical adventure that binds it all together. 8/25/2003 - Don Slack
Other Danny Barnes album reviews:
Rocket - 10/25/2011
Dirt on the Angel - 7/15/2003


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It has been a while since we've had a day this ugly. In fact, the last time we had a reversal this big was back in June 2011. On Nov. 14, 2012, we had somewhat similar action and that marked the end of a three-month downtrend. Unfortunately, the action today definitely does not look anything like a bottom. There was outright panic into the close and you can bet there are some stuck longs who are going to be looking for exits in the next few days.
This action is a classic reversal. We were warned last week that the topping process was starting and then had an oversold bounce Friday. That led to a gap-up open this morning and that was the invitation to sell. Last week's lows were easily breached and, most notably, the selling pressure continued all day and accelerated into the close.
Last week I changed my market bias to topping process from uptrend. It now looks like we have moved to a full-fledged 'correction. If you haven't already taken some defensive steps, it is not too late to do so.
What always happens as the market begins a correction is that there will be a multitude of bulls in the media telling us that this is a buying opportunity. They will go on and on how you have to rush in and buy before things bounce.
While I tend to agree that a correction is a healthy event that will provide new opportunities, there isn't any big rush to jump in. We need to let stocks find support as they continue to shake out the overly optimistic.
I can't say I'm unhappy to see this sort of action as it is what we need for better trading down the road. The key is to make sure you stay safe while it plays out. Another positive is that maybe CNBC will forget its ridiculous obsession with new index highs for a little while.
Have a good evening. I'll see you tomorrow.


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Prize Recipient
Ebony Rowe
Middle Tennessee State University
My name is Ebony Rowe and I will be attending Middle Tennessee State University with plans to major in physics and play basketball for the Lady Raiders. Starting my sophomore year, the Math Science Technology Center at my high school, Paul Laurence Dunbar in Lexington KY, provided me the opportunity to take advanced level classes in calculus, physics, and engineering. As my knowledge base grew, I learned that these classes were closely related and helped me gain a better understanding of the physical world around me. Beginning my junior year I conducted research at the University of Kentucky in the Engineering Department where I built a bilinear spring-mass system that replicates the support system of one of NASAs recent projects. As I developed my project I began to understand how beneficial my physics knowledge was to my research. It became clear that a physics degree could open up many doors into the world of math and technology. After receiving an undergraduate degree in physics I plan on acquiring a masters degree in mechanical engineering or medical physics. I truly feel lucky to have found a field of study which I am good at, that I enjoy, and that will prepare me for my future career plans.


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Hi all, i did my first dye last spring after i stumbled on these forums, it came out flawless and i got so many compliments on the course. all my friends wanted one so i spent the past winter doing some for them, i recently bought a vinyl cutter and im hoping to do even more. i've learned a lot from you guys, what to do - what not to do, over the last year, so a big thanks to all. well here they are...
my first hand cut dye star boss
my 2nd hand cut dye, sds destroyer
3rd dye, hand cut star boss with faux spin-art
4th dye hand cut 8-bit link star wraith
star eagle-x
star vulcan
deadpool logo on bottom stamp xcaliber


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PARENTS in Worcestershire struggling with problems around behaviour, mental health and other issues are being offered support by a specialised service.
The Early Help Hub is the first point of contact for those with children aged 19 and younger and can offer advice and support or refer people to a specialist.
One young mother of two called the hub after struggling with her son's behaviour and anger issues. His school had warned her he was at risk of being excluded and the family's GP had been unable to refer them to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) but an adviser from the hub was able to arrange for a range of support to help the boy get back on the right track.
Worcestershire County Council's lead cabinet member for children and families Cllr Liz Eyre said recognising and dealing with mental health problems in children and young people was a high priority for the authority.
"Services such as CAMHS do fantastic work with hundreds of children and young people, but they cannot help with some of the smaller issues," she said.
"Parents are urged to contact the Early Help Hub when problems first arise as it may be that we can find them some additional support to stop mental help problems getting worse."
To contact the Early Help Hub call 01905 822 666 or visit earlyhelphub.co.uk.


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Detectives hope the release of CCTV pictures will help them identify a burglary suspect.
Police investigating a burglary in Hargood Close, Colchester, on August 11, have already arrested one man.
But they are still searching for a second man, described as black, in his 20s, with short hair and average height.
At the time of the incident he was wearing jeans and a blue checked long sleeved top.
The break-in took place between 4.30pm and 5pm, two suspects entered the flat of the victim, who was not on the premises, but they were disturbed and ran off.
A 23-year-old man, of no fixed address, was arrested on suspicion of burglary and drug offences and has been bailed until October 13.
A second man made off after assaulting a police officer and breaking his finger.
Police are seeking information about this man's current location.
They believe that he uses the name Monty or Montana and may be from the Hackney area.
Anyone who can help is urged to contact Dc Hannah Richardson at Colchester CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.


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ICDs are implantable cardiac devices that treat abnormally fast, potentially lethal heart rhythms that can lead to sudden cardiac death (SCD) if left untreated. A CRT-D device resynchronizes the beat of the heart's lower chambers, which often beat out of sync in heart failure patients. A CRT-D also provides back up treatment for SCD, which is a risk factor associated with certain types of heart failure.
All Assura devices can produce 40 Joules (J) of energy – the highest delivered energy available. The devices include expanded ShockGuard technology for protection against inappropriate and unnecessary shocks, CorVue™ congestion monitoring and algorithms including SecureSense™ RV lead noise discrimination, which offers physicians advanced alerts and helps proactively lower the risk of lead-related complications by automatically withholding tachycardia therapy in the presence of lead noise (an over-sensing of electrical signals).
The Fortify Assura device also offers enhanced ST segment monitoring (which tracks electrical changes between heartbeats). Monitoring of the ST segment helps indicate conditions such as ischemia, which happens when blood flow and oxygen to the heart muscle is obstructed. ST segment monitoring in an ICD prior to therapy for ventricular arrhythmias can offer greater insight into the cause of these dangerous heart rhythms.
"With the three new discriminators and highest amount of delivered energy, the Assura devices provide the ideal combination of intelligence and strength. These devices offer unique features that I believe will help protect my patients from inappropriate shocks and provide greater defibrillation therapy assurance," said Dr. Klaus-Jürgen Gutleben, Heart and Diabetes Center North Rhine-Westphalia in Bad Oeynhausen, Germany.
The three new Assura devices available in Europe are:
Quadra Assura CRT-D – Featuring first-to-market quadripolar pacing technology from St. Jude Medical, the Quadra Assura CRT-D is designed to address common pacing complications such as phrenic nerve stimulation and high pacing thresholds, which can result in fewer surgical revisions, shorter procedure times and decreased fluoroscopic exposure.
Unify Assura CRT-D – Keeping the well-received shape of previous generations of Unify™ devices, the Unifiy Assura CRT-D has the smallest footprint in the industry for reduced incision size.
Fortify Assura ICD – Offering enhanced ST monitoring, the Fortify Assura ICD also has the highest delivered energy of any ICD available.
While the majority of shocks delivered by ICDs and CRT-Ds are considered appropriate and life-saving, the expanded ShockGuard technology, included in all CE Mark approved Assura products, provides more accurate sensing and can differentiate between rhythms that require defibrillation and those that do not. The new algorithms and enhanced detection capabilities discriminate between lead noise and arrhythmias that require therapy, as well as which heart chamber is causing the arrhythmia. The new algorithms also detect and alert to episodes of oversensing due to lead noise and distinguish small electrical disruptions from real episodes that warrant life-saving treatment.
The Assura family of devices allows for expanded ST segment monitoring through the Merlin.net™ Patient Care Network, a system that allows patients to be monitored from home. This system provides timely information to clinics and ultimately allows for better management of patients with arrhythmias.
"St. Jude Medical understands patients' needs vary, which is why we are excited to add three new defibrillation technologies in Europe to our complete portfolio of cardiac rhythm management devices," said Eric S. Fain, M.D., president of the St. Jude Medical Implantable Electronic Systems Division. "The Assura line of devices was designed for safety, reliability and extended longevity to help physicians best treat their patients."
Across Europe, Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) is estimated to affect between 180,000 and 450,000 people annually, according to meta-analysis conducted by the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Thought Leadership Alliance (SCATLA).
About St. Jude Medical
St. Jude Medical develops medical technology and services that focus on putting more control into the hands of those who treat cardiac, neurological and chronic pain patients worldwide. The company is dedicated to advancing the practice of medicine by reducing risk wherever possible and contributing to successful outcomes for every patient. St. Jude Medical is headquartered in St. Paul, Minn. and has four major focus areas that include: cardiac rhythm management, atrial fibrillation, cardiovascular and neuromodulation. For more information, please visit sjm.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements include the expectations, plans and prospects for the Company, including potential clinical successes, anticipated regulatory approvals and future product launches, and projected revenues, margins, earnings and market shares. The statements made by the Company are based upon management's current expectations and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include market conditions and other factors beyond the Company's control and the risk factors and other cautionary statements described in the Company's filings with the SEC, including those described in the Risk Factors and Cautionary Statements sections of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 29, 2012. The Company does not intend to update these statements and undertakes no duty to any person to provide any such update under any circumstance.
1 Results based on stored electrogram clip testing. Data on File, St. Jude Medical Test Reports, doc 60037875 and 60041229. Reduction of inappropriate therapy is based upon a reduction in false positive results and ATP set as the first therapy in all rate zones.
St. Jude Medical, Inc.
Investor Relations:
J.C. Weigelt, 651-756-4347
Media Relations:
Sarah Shamla, 651-756-6293


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LAKE COUNTY -- Lake County was awarded federal funds through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program.
FEMA provided $41,240 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs within the county.
The selection was made by a national board chaired by FEMA and consisting of representatives from the American Red Cross, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA, The Salvation Army, United Jewish Communities, United Way of America and Catholic Charities, USA.
A Lake County board made up of representatives of the same organizations and county service agencies will determine how the funds will be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by county service agencies in the area.
A board was charged to distribute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas around the county.
The board is responsible for recommending agencies to receive these funds and any additional funds available during this phase of the program.
Under the terms of the national board grant, agencies chosen to receive funds must be private, voluntary nonprofit organizations or units of government, be eligible to receive federal funds, have an accounting system, practice nondiscrimination, have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs, and must have a voluntary board if it is a private voluntary organization.
Qualifying agencies are urged to apply.
Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds must contact Tammy Alakszay, community action coordinator for North Coast Opportunities, at 994-4647 ext. 123 or at email@example.com to receive an application.
Applications must be received by Nov. 21 at 4 p.m. Electronic submission of applications is encouraged, but hard copies will be accepted.


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Medela provides everything mom needs to pump, store and feed breast milk.
Medela's family of breast milk feeding and storage products are and have always been made from safe, BPA-free materials. Medela breast milk bottles work with Medela breast pumps - pump, store and feed with the same bottle. Designed for long-term storage, breast milk bottles, Pump & Save™ bags and 80ml bottles retain breast milk's beneficial properties.
Medela 35 mL Colostrum Container


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Hi everyone,
I'm Kourtney. I actually joined the forum in 2009 and have had an active account ever since. I tend to be active for a while and then disappear, but I always come back for some reason. Still haven't figured that out, lol.
Anyway, cheers. I hope you all are well.


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New York, NY, US
An Urban Mausoleum designed on the site of the Old Convention Center in the Mall of Washington, DC. Alludes to the limited comprehension of the experience of death, the form intrigues the viewer (expecting or unassuming) to enter the labyrinth of life experiences; utilizing simple geometric forms as derived from Escher's triangle and the east wing gallery as designed by I.M. Pei.
Status: Unbuilt
Location: Washington, DC


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By Jaideep Varma and Jatin Thakkar
Sri Lanka 238; Australia 229 (Sri Lanka won by 9 runs)
The scorecard of the match is here.
On a day when Australia had more supporters cheering for them (though not at the ground) than ever before in their history (even if by default), the additional Indian fervour could not get them to prevent a hungry Sri Lankan team from reaching the final.
Only four Australian batsmen reached double figures and only two Australian bowlers took wickets (though the others did not allow the match to get away) - it was not a great team effort by them. Sri Lanka also had just four batsmen reach double figures - but they were brilliant on the field - and showed great heart in defending a target that was possibly a couple of dozen runs short.
This is the match seen through the Impact Index prism.
Sri Lanka:
Two Australians topped the IMPACT charts - three Australians got more than an IMPACT of 5 and yet their team lost - quite a rarity, this. Conversely, just two Sri Lankans crossed an IMPACT of 5, and yet they won, thanks to a superior team performance.
The two highest impact players of the match - Daniel Christian and James Pattinson played a big part in reducing Sir Lanka from 186-3 to 206-8. Christian took 5-31 in 9 overs with an IMPACT of 5.66 - the highest impact bowling performance of the match. This included a hat-trick for which he also registered substantial Pressure Building IMPACT. Pattinson took 4-51 in 10 overs with an IMPACT of 4.88 (he registered a negative Economy IMPACT but did break a partnership). Both were largely responsible for Sir Lanka's middling total of 238 in the end.
Dinesh Chandimal produced the highest impact batting performance of the match (75 off 84, IMPACT 5.17) which also had him absorb considerable pressure (at 17 for 2) and yet he also managed to achieve a very respectable Strike Rate IMPACT - a difficult balance to maintain. He got the Man-of-the-Match award - which was not contentious for most people perhaps because he was from the winning side.
Interestingly though, Kumar Sangakkara actually had a higher impact than him in the match, as much for the second-best batting performance in the match (64 off 93, IMPACT 4.20) as for his contribution as wicketkeeper - both for the flat job he did and the 2 dismissals and run out he played a part in. Too often, these contributions are completely overlooked in the final analysis.
Some felt Lasith Malinga should have got the Man-of-the-Match award - his 4-49 in 10 overs did bring him an IMPACT of 4.11, he did have some great moments (like the ball that yorked Watson) but there were also a few loose moments and he was not really at his best, as his overall IMPACT figures show.
The bowling efforts of Kulasekara, Herath, Thirimanne and Senanayake cannot be underestimated for the role they played - all achieved a Bowling IMPACT of over 1 - not a common occurrence.
David Hussey (74 off 74, IMPACT 4.90) and Shane Watson (65 off 83, IMPACT 4.65) both crossed a Batting IMPACT of 4 but neither could take the game beyond the Sri Lankans. Michael Hussey was the only other Aussie who crossed a Batting IMPACT of 1 - the main reason why they could not cross the finish line.
Lahiru Thirimanne was the only player to produce an all-round performance (an IMPACT of over 1 in both batting and bowling) for his 51 off 59 (IMPACT 3.03) and for 1 for 25 (IMPACT 1.08).
The second-best ODI all-rounder in the world today (after Kallis), Shane Watson, flopped with the ball this time, as he had with the bat in the last match - but still has produced back-to-back high impact performances, his first two matches after his long injury break, something that is greatly encouraging for Australia as they go into the finals.
Sri Lanka's team performance is also greatly heartening to the team, after the mauling they received in the last match. It took character and application to do this, and that is why they cannot be underestimated for the finals.
Sri Lanka's Team IMPACT in the match was 2.08 as compared to Australia's 1.91 - perhaps not as close as a winning margin of 9 runs suggests.
The finals will be very interesting - the best two teams have definitely reached there. Australia's Team IMPACT of 2.02 and Sri Lanka's1.86 suggests Australia have a slight edge. But it is also a fact that Sri Lanka have won 3 of the 4 games between these two sides in this tournament. Eventually, the personnel changes in both sides will also have a considerable say.
But Sri Lanka might just, narrowly, be on the verge of winning their first CB Series here. We can at least bet on three matches now.
For more information, please go to www.impactindexcricket.com


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I believe that they haven't considered this for the NBA.
The league has always been very conservative toward rule changes - this is a fairly outrageous/ innovative concept and they're going to want to see how it works out first.
They don't want another repeat of the "shortened three-point line" disaster as an attempt to improve offensive performances.


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The National Watch and Clock Museum issue a call for artists for the upcoming exhibition A Matter of Time.
The National Watch and Clock Museum was officially opened to the public in 1977 with fewer than 1,000 items. Since that time, the collection has increased to over 12,000 items. Today, the museum is recognized as the largest and most comprehensive horological collection in North America.
This exhibit invites artists to respond to the concept of timekeeping and how it is represented today. Artists are encouraged to visit the museum and www.museumoftime.org for more information. Special consideration will be given to those works that are functional timekeepers as well.
So how do you as an artist respond to the concept of timekeeping?


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Magellan RM2136SGLUC RoadMate 2136T-LM Auto GPS - 4.3" Touch Screen Display, Lifetime Maps, Lifetime Traffic Alerts, Lane Assist, AAA TourBook, US/Canada MapsItem#: M775-0182 | Model#: RM2136SGLUC
Currently Out Of Stock!
Magellan RM2136SGLUC RoadMate 2136T-LM Auto GPS Product Details
Magellan RM2136SGLUC RoadMate 2136T-LM Auto GPS
Master the road with the Magellan RM2136SGLUC RoadMate 2136T-LM Auto GPS. Whether you are lost or navigating through unfamiliar places, the Magellan RM2136SGLUC RoadMate 2136T-LM Auto GPS is there to guide you. The free lifetime map update and the costless lifetime traffic update is sure to help you in your everyday travels. With these features, you will never worry again about outdated maps and avoid traffic jams by providing you alternative routes. The OneTouch favorites menu allows you to bookmark your favorite spots and find them in just one click. The Magellan RM2136SGLUC RoadMate 2136T-LM Auto GPS comes with preloaded maps and it has 6 million points of interest (POI) to help you locate nearby establishments for your convenience.
What It Is And Why You Need It:
- Free lifetime map and traffic update; know every new detail in maps and traffic
- Integrated AAA TourBook; provides you information on AAA-approved places to visit
- Spoken street name guidance; keep your eyes on the road while the roadmate says the street name and direction for each turn
- OneTouch favorites menu; find your beloved destination in one touch
- Preloaded map and 60 million POIs; allows you to locate the nearest restaurant, gas station, shops, etc.
A Closer Look:
- Free lifetime map updates for the life of the GPS navigator1
- OneTouch favorites menu offers instant access to your personalized bookmarks of favorite places and searches anywhere you travel. With a single touch, find your favorite café or restaurant in any city.
- Free Lifetime Traffic provides real-time traffic information. Avoid traffic jams, detours and construction zones.
- Highway Lane Assist shows realistic highway signs to guide you and ensure that youll choose the correct lane.
- Speed Limits optionally displayed with or without warnings helps keep driving safe.
- Periodic Reporting allows you to store business mileage in one convenient file for expense reporting.
- Built-in AAA TourBook® guide provides ratings and descriptions on AAA-approved places to stay, play, dine, and more.
- 4.3" color touch screen is easy to view.
- Spoken street names and directions so you can hear upcoming turn directions.
- Highway exit POIs search finds gas stations, restaurants, hotels, and more near upcoming highway exits.
- QuickSpell® narrows your address and city searches, as you type, making destination entry easy.
- Multi-destination routing lets you plan your trip with multiple stops. Choose the order you want or automatically optimize your route. Saving time and money.
- AAA Member Roadside Assistance2 shows the AAA phone number and your exact location on the GPS navigator screen for easy reference.
- Preloaded premium maps give you the latest maps and directions as you travel the contiguous United States, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
- 6 Million of points of interest (POIs) help you easily find gas stations, restaurants, ATMs, coffee shops, and much more.
- Route customization lets you choose the shortest distance, fastest time, most use of freeways, or least use of freeways.
- Address book enables you to create and store contact information.
- Auto night view adjusts your screen's color and contrast for easy night viewing.
- Automatic re-route lets you quickly get back on track in case you missed a turn.
- Lifetime Maps entitles you to receive up to four (4) map updates per year, for the life of the GPS receiver or until Magellan no longer receives relevant map data. Internet connection and Content Manager required.
- Requires AAA membership. Visit www.AAA.com/GPS for more details.
Recommended Items
Manufactured by: Magellan
Warranty provided by: Magellan
UPC No: 763357125986
Mfg Part No: RM2136SGLUC
Box Size:
( Length:6, Width:6, Depth:3)
Shipping Weight: 0.9500 pound(s)
Click here for full warranty and support information
- Magellan logos are registered trademarks of Magellan. All others trademarks and copyrights mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.


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Topic: ARM
Apple developing ARM chip for Mac to handle low-power functionality
02/01/2017, 04:02 pm
As it looks to lessen reliance on outside chip manufacturers, Apple is developing an ARM-based Mac processor designed to take some of the burden off primary Intel silicon, a report said on Wednesday.
Intel plots attack on Apple's partnership with TSMC, looks to build A-series chips by 2018
08/26/2016, 11:08 am
As Intel looks to muscle its way into the smartphone CPU business, the chipmaker has reportedly set its sights on competing with TSMC, the firm currently responsible for the A-series processors found in the iPhone, iPad and more.
Intel foundries to manufacture ARM-based smartphone chips
08/16/2016, 09:08 pm
Intel on Tuesday announced it has reached an agreement with rival ARM Holdings to produce 10-nanometer ARM chip designs at its advanced fabrication facilities, a strategy targeting smartphone chipmakers.
Softbank to acquire Apple chip designing partner ARM for $32 billion
07/18/2016, 08:07 am
In a massive deal valued at $32 billion, Japanese company Softbank announced on Monday that it will acquire ARM Holdings, the company that designs specifications for low-power mobile processors, including the A-series chips found in Apple's iPhone and iPad.
ARM earnings grow 22 percent on royalties from newer smartphones like iPhone 6
04/21/2015, 04:04 pm
Revenue at British chip designer ARM Holdings rose 22 percent to 227.5 million pounds ($339 million) in the first quarter, largely on the back of 64-bit smartphones such as the iPhone 6 and the newly-shipped Samsung Galaxy S6, a report noted on Tuesday.
Intel to mask billion-dollar mobile losses with new financial reporting structure
04/07/2015, 10:04 am
With its troubled mobile chip unit hemorrhaging cash -- thanks in part to Apple's domination of the smartphone and tablet markets -- Intel this week announced that it would no longer report mobile earnings as a separate line item, instead choosing to lump them in with its money-minting PC business.
Mobile execs predict Apple Watch to dominate smartwatch market for foreseeable future
03/05/2015, 05:03 pm
A number of mobile executives who attended this week's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona are already projecting that the Apple Watch will dominate the smartwatch market when it launches in April, much as the iPad currently controls the tablet industry.
Intel to sell remaining stake in Apple partner & mobile GPU maker Imagination Technologies
02/12/2015, 01:02 pm
The Intel Foundation will sell its 4.9 percent stake in Imagination Technologies, the company whose PowerVR graphics processors are a key component of Apple's iPhone and iPad, it was announced on Thursday.
Five barriers that might hold Apple back from moving Intel Macs to custom ARM chips
01/16/2015, 08:01 am
Shortly after Apple introduced its first custom A4 Application Processor in 2010 to power the original iPad, rumors began to suggest the company could eventually migrate its Macs from Intel x86 processors to ARM chip designs of its own. However, there's a series of significant hurdles the company would need to jump first.
Why Apple might consider leaving Intel's x86 for its own ARM chips in future Macs
01/14/2015, 03:01 pm
Though many will scoff at the notion of an iPad and Mac that draw from the same family of application processors, it's not as farfetched as it seems. AppleInsider takes a look at why today's chipmaking giants could find themselves on the outside looking in during an Apple product launch in the near future.
Apple may shun Intel for custom A-series chips in new Macs within 1-2 years
01/14/2015, 10:01 am
Mac buyers in 2016 and beyond could have the option of purchasing a machine powered by Apple's A-series processors, which currently sit at the heart of the iPhone and iPad, according to KGI Securities' Ming-Chi Kuo.
Apple Inc., ARM & Qualcomm aggressively poaching IBM's chip designers
06/26/2014, 05:06 pm
As IBM secretly mulls plans to sell off its increasing outdated processor chip fabs in New York and Vermont, a new wave of mobile chip developers--led by Apple, ARM and Qualcomm--are hiring away many of the top chip designers of the once leading firm.
Rumor: Apple once again said to be strongly considering ARM-based Macs
05/26/2014, 08:05 am
Apple's most popular computing devices, from the iPhone and iPad to MacBook Pro and iMac, could all be powered by the same ARM-based processors, if the company were to decide to make such a switch, according to a new report.
Imagination showcases 'ray tracing' graphics tech that could come in Apple's future iPhones, iPads
05/06/2014, 01:05 pm
Semiconductor firm Imagination Technologies, whose PowerVR chipsets are at the heart of Apple's A-series processors, on Tuesday previewed the impressive capabilities of its new Wizard series of ray tracing GPUs that may one day bring hyper-realistic graphics to iOS games.
Imagination unveils 192-core mobile GPU potentially bound for future Apple iPhones, iPads
02/24/2014, 08:02 am
Imagination Technologies, the company whose PowerVR graphics processors are a key component of Apple's iOS devices, unveiled its latest creation on Monday: a 192-core GPU that it claims will produce the most powerful graphics yet in mobile phones and tablets.
Intel CEO says relationship with Apple remains positive, companies are growing 'closer'
02/19/2014, 03:02 pm
Intel Chief Executive Brian Krzanich, who has served as head of the chipmaker for less than one year, was asked on Wednesday about his company's relationship with Apple, and responded that the two parties continue to "grow closer" as time progresses.
Rumor: Apple to shrink A-series chips to 14nm in 2015, TSMC to lead production
12/18/2013, 10:12 am
A new report out of Taiwan suggests that Apple will not only diversify the supply chain for its next-generation A-series processors, but that the company will also make the leap to a much more advanced fabrication process.
Apple partner ARM acquires graphics software firm Geomerics
12/13/2013, 11:12 am
In a bid to bolster the graphics capability of its low-power processors, ARM on Friday announced the acquisition of Geomerics, makers of realtime lighting effects technology used in PC and console gaming.
Apple orders for A-series chips expected to contribute up to 10% of TSMC's 2014 revenue
12/13/2013, 09:12 am
As Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC gets set to ramp up production on its 20-nanometer process fab in January, some analysts believe the company is poised to take a large bite out of rival Samsung's supply contract for Apple's A-series processors.
iPhone Patent Wars: Apple's $1.1 billion ARM injection ignites a mobile patent race
08/12/2013, 11:08 am
The wholesale appropriation of Apple's Macintosh technology portfolio by Microsoft in the early 1990s had a profound effect upon how the industry began to think about intellectual property and protecting innovation through patent filings.


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Upstate New York has embraced the unlikely moniker of "Silicon Valley of Greek Yogurt," but as the protein-packed craze continues to sweep the nation, many of the state's dairy farmers are left facing the need to expand their dairy herds in a market that doesn't necessarily obey the laws of supply and demand.
Greek yogurt product has tripled since 2008, and now more than 40 yogurt plants dot the state, making New York the yogurt capital of the country. According to National Public Radio, the question now is whether the state's dairy farmers can keep up with demand.
A variety of programs passed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state Legislature have helped, including grants for modernizing milking equipment, new business plans and anaerobic digesters. However, despite these efforts, New York's dairy herd is no bigger than in 2012.
Small dairy farmers like Mike Kiechle would like to expand but aren't ready to take the risk.
One of the problems stopping Kiechle and others like him from adding to his herd revolves around milk pricing. The federal formula sets the milk prices farmers are paid by region, and this price doesn't rise because the nearby Greek yogurt plants need more milk to meet consumer demand.
Read more here or click the audio player above the full report.
However, the consumer demand for Greek yogurt is unlikely to simmer down soon. The Wall Street Journal shows that today more than one-third of the yogurt sold in dairy aisles are Greek yogurt as more Americans are reaching for hearty, portable meals.
"It has posed a real conundrum" for retailers and yogurt-makers deciding what to put on shelves, Gary Hirshberg, co-founder and chairman of Stonyfield told reporters. Almost all varieties of traditional yogurt, from low-fat to whole milk, have "lost space to that behemoth called Greek," he says.
Greek yogurt is doing more than just pushing out regular yogurt. It is also forced grocery managers to drop other refrigerated products, including croissant dough and margarine. See, "The Greek Yogurt Culture War."


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Improving Outcome in Schizophrenia Through Identification of Genetic Risk Factors
The recruitment status of this study is unknown. The completion date has passed and the status has not been verified in more than two years.
Verified November 2010 by Vanderbilt University.
Recruitment status was: Recruiting
Recruitment status was: Recruiting
Vanderbilt University
Information provided by:
Vanderbilt University
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
First received: September 12, 2005
Last updated: November 1, 2010
Last verified: November 2010
- Full Text View
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- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
The goals of this study are to replicate previous findings of genetic predictors of response to clozapine and other antipsychotic drugs.
|Schizophrenia Schizoaffective Disorder Bipolar Disorder Major Depression
|Procedure: genetic analysis Procedure: genetic assay
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
|Official Title:
|Improving Outcome in Schizophrenia Through Identification of Genetic Risk Factors
Resource links provided by NLM:
Genetics Home Reference related topics: bipolar disorder schizophrenia
MedlinePlus related topics: SchizophreniaU.S. FDA Resources
Further study details as provided by Vanderbilt University:
Primary Outcome Measures:
- We plan to compare the polymorphisms across schizophrenic patients and adults who do not have a diagnosed major mental illness. . [ Time Frame: single visit ]
Secondary Outcome Measures:
- We will also evaluate relationships between the polymorphism and past and current mental health among the non-diagnosed sample [ Time Frame: single visit ]
|Estimated Enrollment:
|Study Start Date:
|November 1998
|Estimated Study Completion Date:
|January 2012
|Estimated Primary Completion Date:
|January 2012 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
Intervention Details:
Procedure: genetic analysis
genetic assay of blood sample drawn with patient's consentProcedure: genetic assay
genetic assay of blood sample drawn with patient's consent
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years to 65 Years (Adult)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
Patients with the diagnoses of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder or major depression with psychotic features, or volunteers with no history of a psychotic disorder.
Exclusion Criteria:
Patients with DSM-IV diagnoses other than schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder or major depression with psychotic features.
Contacts and Locations
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below. For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00178932
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00178932
|Contact: Barrett Share, M.A.
|United States, Tennessee
|Psychiatric Hospital at Vanderbilt
|Nashville, Tennessee, United States, 37212
|Contact: Kara L Watts, M.A. 615-343-9717 email@example.com
|Principal Investigator: Herbert Y Meltzer, M.D.
Sponsors and Collaborators
Vanderbilt University
|Principal Investigator:
|Herbert Y Meltzer, M.D.
|Vanderbilt University Medical Center
More Information
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017
|Responsible Party:
|Herbert Meltzer, M.D., Vanderbilt University Medical Center
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT00178932 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Study First Received:
|September 12, 2005
|Last Updated:
|November 1, 2010
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Bipolar Disorder
Depressive Disorder, Major
Psychotic Disorders
Pathologic Processes
Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders
Mental Disorders
Bipolar and Related Disorders
Depressive Disorder
Mood Disorders
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017


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Aprilia has announced it will begin selling the Mana 850 and RS 125 in America. The bikes will premiere at the Laguna Seca US Grand Prix in July. This is big news as both bikes represent radical technical departures from other machines sold in this country.
The Mana 850 is an 839cc standard bike equipped with a CVT
transmission. Capable of operating in automatic or manual modes, it
allows riders to shift through seven predetermined ratios via a
traditional foot lever, buttons mounted on the left handlebar or to sit
back and let the CVT do the work for them. The Mana also offers
three selectable-on-the-fly engine maps, Sport, Touring and Rain. Each
of the three optimizes power delivery and shift points for the kind of
riding it's named after. The 90-degree v-twin mated to the CVT makes
76bhp and 54lb/ft of torque and uses a chain drive. Thanks to an
underseat fuel tank, it also offers room for a full-face helmet
underneath the fake tank cover.
You'll probably already be familiar with Aprilia's RS 125, the company's European learner-legal two-stroke race replica. It can make up to
30bhp, weighs 120kg and can reach nearly 100mph. While it won't be road-legal in this country, certain U.S. dealers will be selling 2009 models
as track-only bikes. We don't know which model we're looking forward to
Aprilia USA


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Egyptian rivals Ahly [2] and Zamalek [3] have been drawn in the same group in the CAF Champions League [3] for the second successive year.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) held the draw on Tuesday at its headquarters in Cairo with the attendance of Ahly Football Director Sayed Abdel-Hafiz and Zamalek assistant coach Usama Nabih.
Group A matches will be started with Zamalek and Ahly derby on 19, 20 or 21 July while the away match will be held on 13, 14 or 15 September.
Titleholders Ahly reached the group stage after winning 2-1 at home to Tunisia's Bizertin, while their bitter-rivals Zamalek qualified after a 3-3 aggregate draw with Ethiopia's Saint George.
The two Cairo giants were paired together last year with TP Mazembe of DR Congo and Ghana's Berekum Chelsea in which Ahly and Mazembe qualified.
Egyptian football has been facing extraordinary circumstances since the Port Said disaster forced the suspension of domestic competitions for over a year, but Egyptian clubs and national teams are having success in continental competitions.
Ismaily and ENPPI are set to play Tunisia's C.A. Bizertin and Saint George of Ethiopia respectively in the CAF Confederation Cup round of 16. They will be in different groups if they qualified, according to Tuesday's draw.
The national team are leading Group G of the World Cup qualifiers, five points clear of second-placed Guinea.
The juniors are preparing for the World Cup in Turkey after winning the African tournament.
CAF Champions League group stage draw:
Group A:
Ahly, Zamalek, AC Leopards of Congo, Orlando Pirates of South Africa
Group B: Esperance, Coton Sport of Cameroon, Recreativo Libolo of Angola, Sewe San Pedro of Ivory Coast
The CAF Confederation Cup Group stage draw:
Group A St. George (ETH) vs Enppi (EGY) St Malien (MLI) vs Lydia (BUR) C.S.S. (TUN)/ Rangers (NGA) JSM Bejaia (ALG) vs ESS (TUN)
Group B TP Mazembe (RDC)/ Liga M. (MOZ) CAB (TUN) vs Ismaily (EGY) ES Sétif (ALG) vs US Bitam (GAB) FUS (MOR) vs ASFAR (MOR)
[1] http://www.syndigate.info
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Ahly
[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zamalek_SC
[4] http://english.ahram.org.eg


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There is something wonderfully satisfying about making granola. Each time I make a batch, I feel like I've accomplished something significant for the day. Maybe it's because those tasty little pre-made bags are so expensive and I just whipped up a batch for less than half the price. Maybe it's that I know I'm not loading mine up with heavy sugar binders so I can feel a little more self-righteous when I eat it. Or, maybe it's that the last time I told a guy I make my own granola he asked, "Seriously? Are you married?"
I can always use a little more satisfaction in my life so the truth is I've become a bit addicted to making my own granola. Flavor combos float through my dreams at night, ingredients dance on the supermarket shelves, and nothing seems too wild right now (wasabi, anyone?).
With that in mind, I was thrilled when Bob's Red Mill threw some chia seeds my way and challenged me to whip up something new. It didn't take long for me to know where those tiny omega-3 packed seeds where headed — into a batch of granola. Chocolately, lightly sweetened, and with just a kick of heat, this granola has become an instant hit amongst my taste-testers/friends/neighbors/doormen. I hope you'll find it, and the process of making it, deliciously satisfying, too.
Cocoalicious Granola with Chia Seeds
You will need:
- 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
- ½ cup Agave Nectar
- 1/3 cup Cocoa Powder
- 1 Tbsp Cinnamon
- ½ tsp Cayenne Pepper*
- ½ cup Bob's Red Mill Chia Seeds**
- 2 cups Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Rolled Oats***
- 1 cup Bob's Red Mill Unsweetened Flaked Coconut
- ½ tsp coarse ground Sea Salt
- ½ cup Bob's Red Mill Raw Pumpkin Seeds (pepitas)
Cooking Instructions:
1) Preheat oven to 350°.
2) In a large mixing bowl, combine olive oil and agave nectar.
3) Stir in cocoa powder, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper. Mix to combine.
4) Add chia seeds and stir to combine.
5) Add the rolled oats, coconut and sea salt. Stir until oats and coconut are well coated with the spiced agave mixture.
6) Spread out evenly on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet.
7) Bake 20 minutes.
8) Remove from oven and toss the granola with the pepitas.
9) Let cool.
Serve with fruit and your favorite mylk or milk. I love mine with sliced banana and horchata (a delicious cinnamon rice milk beverage.) I hear it is also quite tasty added to yogurt.
* ½ teaspoon of cayenne adds some recognizable heat. If you're sensitive to spice, cut back to ¼ teaspoon. I love me some spicy and add cayenne to my morning drink so my heat index runs a little high. For some taste testers, ¼ teaspoon was just the right amount of heat.
**Why chia seeds? And where did they come from? Well turns out these itty bitty seeds are for more than just sprouting hair on your Chia Pet. From a flowering plant in the mint family, these tiny seeds, common in Mexico and Latin America, are packed with omega-3 fatty acids. Bonus — they offer up a good dose of fiber, protein, calcium and iron, too. They remind me of tiny tapioca pearls because when wet, they get a little gelatinous covering to them. Don't let that throw you. I find them quite delicious and toss them in smoothies, bake with them as an egg substitute, and even sprinkle them on salads.
***[Editor's Note]: If you don't need to be gluten free, regular rolled oats will work just fine in this recipe.
A health and cooking coach specializing in food allergies, Marisa Voorhees (aka: The Food-Sensitive Foodie) helps individuals and families navigate the challenges of learning to live with food sensitivities, allergies, and intolerances. She believes that food allergies can feel limiting but no one should live in a tasteless, solitary world. Life is too delicious for that. Follow along on her journey of living a delicious life with food allergies at marisavoorhees.com where she blogs and offers inspiration, recipes, and ideas that are delicious…and also happen to be gluten and dairy-free.


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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program has increased fresh produce consumption by 15% for kids in participating schools, according to an analysis of the program.
Speaking at a Hy-Vee supermarket, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the results of a 398-page evaluation of the program, heralding the gain in consumption as a key part of the agency's effort to improve access to healthy foods. A summary of the report is also available.
The program provides a fresh fruit or vegetable snack to students during the school day as a supplement to the school breakfast and lunch programs.
Vilsack said when given a choice, 97% of participating students tried fruits and 84% tried vegetables.
"If given a chance, youngsters will make the right choice," he said.
Vilsack said the program is just one step the USDA has taken in recent years to promote healthy eating in schools.
"One-third of our children today are obese or at risk of being obese," he said said.
Elizabeth Pivonka, president of the Produce for Better Health Foundation, Hockessin, Del., said the students' 15% increase in consumption is significant.
The study showed children ate 2.39 cups of fruits and vegetables a day, compared with 2.07 cups for students at schools not participating in the program.
"I think it really did show that if you offer it, kids will eat it," said Tracy Fox, president of Washington, D.C.-based Food, Nutrition & Policy Consultants.
Fox was also encouraged about the higher level of nutrition education at participating schools.
Industry leaders were pleased the evaluation, mandated by Congress through the 2008 farm bill, confirmed what they have seen in participating schools over the past 10 years.
"We have seen with our own eyes for so many years that the program is working, so this is a pretty incredible day that what you have seen for all these years is confirmed with a comprehensive, scientific study," said Lorelei DiSogra, vice president of nutrition and health for the United Fresh Produce Association.
"The results clearly demonstrate that the (program) increases kids' fruit and vegetable consumption, increasing them to a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, and it is very popular with schools and with parents and with kids,"she said.
The agency's executive summary of the evaluation and full report are available online.
The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program began as a four-state pilot in 2002 but expanded with the 2008 farm bill to become a nationwide program. Initial funding was $40 million for the 2008 school year and increased to $150 million per year for the 2011-12 school year.
The agency said program funds are allocated at $50 to $75 per student per school year, between $1 and $2 per student per week, to schools with the highest percentage of low-income students.
For fiscal year 2013, DiSogra said program funding was near $163 million, which included some carryover funds from the previous year. The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, now in more than 7,000 U.S. schools, is not subject to mandated sequestration budget cuts. Similar funding for the program is anticipated for fiscal year 2014, DiSogra said.
Of specialty crop programs in the 2008 farm bill, DiSogra said the $1.2 billion in funding over 10 years for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program represents a big slice of the estimated $3 billion allocation over 10 years for all specialty crop industry programs in the farm bill.
"It's very significant for our members and our association," she said.
In his appearance in South Dakota, Vilsack also announced that $285 million will be made available to the states for healthy eating initiatives under the SNAP: Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Program, a food stamp program. He said initiatives might include investing in farmers markets, community gardens in low-income areas, or educating retailers on how to stock healthier choices.
Tom Quaife, editor of The Packer's sister publication "Dairy Herd Management," contributed to this article.


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Planning & Governance
Lassen Community College governance and integrated planning structures and processes are broad-based designed to encourage reflective dialogue aimed at promoting student learning through institutional effectiveness.
Many of our documents are available as pdf files for you to download. Don't have adobe acrobat reader? Get it here, free.


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Breast imaging, or mammography, uses x-rays to create an image of tissue inside the breast. Mammography is used to spot lumps, tumors and other abnormalities that are too small to be found by feeling them. In certain cases, we also perform Breast MRI and Breast Ultrasound testing.
There are two basic types of mammograms, depending on why the test is being done:
If you have had recent breast surgery for any reason, you should schedule a diagnostic mammogram, since the scarring from surgery may need special attention at the time of the study.
When you arrive for your appointment, you will be taken into a private changing room and will remove your clothing from the waist up and put on a gown. You will then be brought to a separate waiting area and taken in to the mammography room.
The entire appointment takes less than 30 minutes. When you come into the room, the technologist, who is a woman, will help you stand in the right position and set the machine. She will place your breast on the mammography machine, and use a clear plastic plate to keep it in place. This may be uncomfortable, but is generally not painful. She will need to take a couple of different images, one from above and one from the side and will move the machine to get the pictures she needs. She may need to move you as well.
If you have any questions, you can ask the technologist. She will be happy to answer them and to try and make you as comfortable as possible.
You will need to give your doctor and the technologist information about your medical history and any family members who have had breast problems. You will be asked about past problems with your breasts, surgeries you have had, if you have breast implants, if you have had hormone therapy, or if you have been pregnant and nursed a baby.
If possible, you should schedule your test for the week after your period, and not just before or during your period, since your breasts may be tender.
The day of the test, don't put perfume, powder, or deodorant on your underarms or breasts. You may want to bring deodorant with you to put on after the test. You will be asked to remove jewelry around your neck, so you may want to leave it at home.
Digital mammography is done the same way as traditional film mammograms, but the image goes directly to a computer, instead of on film. A recent study in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that a digital mammogram was better for finding breast cancer in women younger than 50, women with dense breasts, and women who were pre-menopausal or peri-menopausal.
While only about 19% of breast imaging centers in the US offer digital mammograms, all 3 CHA hospital campuses are proud to offer this state-of-the-art equipment!
You will receive a letter within 30 days if the mammogram is normal. If the doctor sees something they want to look at further, you will be called within 5 days.
The doctor may order a breast ultrasound and, if needed, a biopsy. A breast ultrasound uses sound waves to make an image of an area of the breast. If you need to have one, it simply means the doctor wants to look at something further. If needed, a biopsy is used to get tissue or fluid for closer examination. In a stereotactic biopsy, which is offered within Breast Imaging in Radiology, x-rays are used to carefully guide a needle to the site. Your doctor may also refer you to our nationally accredited Cambridge Breast Center.
Ultrasonography is the technique of using sound waves to create an image of part of the body without the use of radiation. Ultrasound is used to further evaluate abnormalities seen on the mammogram or abnormal clinical breast exam. It can differentiate a solid mass from a cyst. Ultrasound is also used to provide guidance for biopsies and other interventions.
Preparation For Your Exam: There is no preparation for a breast ultrasound exam.During the exam, you lie on a stretcher and a small amount of gel is placed on the part of the breast to be examined. A small device called a "transducer" is then used to carefully examine the area. Several images are usually taken to document the findings. When the technologist has finished the examination, the images are shown to the radiologist who may also perform a brief ultrasound scan to confirm the findings. The exam takes approximately half an hour.
After the exam you will be informed of the results of your mammogram by the radiologist and/or your physician.
Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) utilizes a magnetic field and radio waves to create images of the body or specific parts of it. Breast MRI is not a substitute for mammography, and your primary care provider can help determine if breast MRI may be appropriate for you.
Important note: If you have had mammograms at an institution outside of Cambridge Health Alliance, you should try to arrange to bring those films with you at the time of your appointment. Comparison to prior studies is extremely helpful in allowing the radiologist to detect any changes in your mammogram.
For more information about your test please visit the RadiologyInfo website.
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