(Reuters) - Chinese e-commerce firm Alibaba Group acquired an 18 percent stake in web portal Sina Corp's microblogging service Weibo in its first big move into selling advertising on China's highly competitive social networks.
Sina's U.S.-listed shares surged 21 percent to $60.81 in early trading, before easing back to $56.90.
The $586 million deal, which values Weibo at over $3 billion, will provide more advertising revenue to Weibo as Sina tries to monetize the service and increase its lead over rival Tencent Holdings' social messaging product, WeChat.
The deal, seen by analysts as generously priced, should drive more web traffic to Alibaba's Taobao Marketplace, China's largest e-commerce website with a consumer focus.
Alibaba is tipped to go public within the next year.
Weibo, China's version of Twitter, has grown at a fast clip since its launch in 2009 and has gained from the blockage of Twitter by the Chinese government.
More than 500 million Chinese use Weibo to opine on everything from Korean soap operas to China's latest political intrigue.
"(The stake purchase) is as an endorsement from Alibaba ... of the value of Sina's Weibo platform," Morningstar analyst Dan Su said.
"This indicates the tremendous value of the data that is present on the Weibo platform that can be mined for a lot of activities, such as ecommerce."
Unlisted Alibaba, controlled by charismatic Chinese internet entrepreneur Jack Ma, also runs Alibaba.com, the country's largest business-to-business commerce platform, and Alipay, a PayPal-like online payment platform.
Ma, one of China's best known corporate leaders, reckoned to be worth $3.4 billion by Forbes late last year, built his e-commerce empire from scratch.
He plans to step down as CEO on May 10 and become executive chairman. Alibaba is likely to go public in a listing in Hong Kong that could value the company at about $100 billion, according to industry sources.
Alibaba has kept mum about its IPO plans, but its listing will likely be a windfall for Yahoo Inc, which owns nearly a quarter of the company.
GENEROUS FOR SINA
Some analysts, who had valued Weibo between $600 million and $2.5 billion, said the deal offered by Alibaba was generous.
"We believe this deal is very positive for Sina. It instantly gives pricing to Sina Weibo with a valuation of $3.26 billion; the per share base could be $48," T.H. Capital Research analyst Tian Hou said.
"Sina's resource consolidation with Alibaba Group, which has a huge dominant position in China's e-commerce, can escalate Weibo's development," she said.
Sina, which makes most of its revenue from online advertising both on its website and Weibo, has had investors worried as the growth rate of Chinese online advertising slows. Its shares have slipped 15 percent in the last 12 months.
Maxim Group analyst Echo He said the Alibaba deal would help Sina in the longer term, but giving Sina cash would not solve its problems and its valuation would still depend on its own profitability.
This is not the first time Sina has tied up with a major Chinese company to seek new streams of revenue.
Sina allied with Baidu Inc last year, integrating Baidu search in its mobile website, while Baidu said its cloud initiative would come with the Weibo app preinstalled.
The analysts said Sina could potentially team up with many other companies, while Morningstar's Su said the deal ruled out any near-term plans for another such major alliance.
Sina has also granted Alibaba the option to increase its stake in Weibo to 30 percent within a stipulated time, which it did not specify.
The alliance is expected to generate about $380 million in advertising and social commerce services revenue for Weibo over the next three years, Sina said in a statement.
(Additional reporting by Supantha Mukherjee; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty)
Apr. 29, 2013 ? Evidence has shown that green tea extract may be an effective herbal remedy useful for weight control and helping to regulate glucose in type 2 diabetes. In order to ascertain whether green tea truly has this potential, Jae-Hyung Park and his colleagues from the Keimyung University School of Medicine in the Republic of Korea conducted a study, now published in the Springer journal Naunyn-Schmedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology.
The active constituents of green tea, which have been shown to inhibit intestinal glucose and lipid uptake, are a certain type of flavonoid called gallated catechins. The authors had previously suggested that the amount of gallated catechins necessary to reduce blood glucose concentrations can be achieved from a daily dose of green tea. However, the amount of green tea needed to decrease lipid uptake from the gut is higher and has been shown to have adverse effects in humans. Once in the bloodstream, gallated catechins can actually increase insulin resistance, which is a negative consequence especially in obese and diabetic patients.
For their study, the researchers tested the effects of green tea extract on body weight and glucose intolerance in both diabetic mice and normal mice fed a high-fat diet. To prevent a high dose of gallated catechins from reaching the bloodstream, the authors also used a non-toxic resin, polyethylene glycol, to bind the gallated catechins in the gut to prevent their absorption. They then looked at the effects on the mice of eating green tea extract alone, and eating green tea extract plus polyethylene glycol. They compared these against the effects of two other therapeutic drugs routinely prescribed for type 2 diabetes.
Results showed that green tea extract in isolation did not give any improvements in body weight and glucose intolerance. However, when green tea extract was given with polyethylene glycol, there was a significant reduction in body weight gain, insulin resistance and glucose intolerance in both normal mice on a high fat diet and diabetic mice. The polyethylene glycol had the effect of prolonging the amount of time the gallated catechins remained in the intestines, thereby limiting glucose absorption for a longer period.
Interestingly, the effects of the green tea extract in both the intestines and in the circulation were measurable at doses which could be achieved by drinking green tea on a daily basis. In addition, the effects of green tea extract were comparable to those found when taking two of the drugs which are currently recommended for non-insulin dependent diabetes.
The authors conclude that "dietary green tea extract and polyethylene glycol alleviated body weight gain and insulin resistance in diabetic and high-fat mice, thus ameliorating glucose intolerance. Therefore the green tea extract and polyethylene glycol complex may be a preventative and therapeutic tool for obesity and obesity-related type 2 diabetes without too much concern about side effects."
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Journal Reference:
Park, Jae-Hyung et al. Green tea extract with polyethylene glycol-3350 reduces body weight and improves glucose tolerance in db/db and high-fat diet mice. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology, 2013 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-013-0869-9
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The fortunes of Tyler Bray and Marcus Lattimore showed the ups and downs of what was a historic 2013 NFL Draft for the Southeastern Conference.
By Mark Sappenfield,?Staff writer / April 28, 2013
Running back Marcus Lattimore speaks with the media during South Carolina's NFL football pro day on this spring in Columbia, S.C.
Rainier Ehrhardt/AP/File
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Somehow, University of Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray ? a 6-foot-6 specimen with a cannon arm ? was not selected in the seven rounds of the 2013 NFL Draft.
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Somehow, University of South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore found two knees to stand on at his pro workout earlier this spring ? enough to get him a standing ovation from the coaches and scouts present and a selection by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round.
In a draft where 63 players from the Southeastern Conference (SEC) were selected ? a record for any college football conference ? two of the SEC players who made the biggest splash on the last day of the three-day extravaganza Saturday did it for opposite reasons.
Bray was left standing at the altar. Admittedly, this was not a sterling draft for quarterbacks. But perhaps that's why he decided to leave Tennessee a year early year to go pro. According to one mock draft, NFLDraftScout.com, he was seventh best pick of the litter. In the end, he wasn't even among the 11 chosen.
It's a glimpse into a situation that plagued basketball for years. Many high school players, egos inflated by friends and hangers on, would enter the National Basketball Association draft, forgoing any college eligibility. When they were not drafted ? or drafted late and then let go ? they would be left in a limbo, not good enough to make a pro team, but not able to go to college to hone their skills.
The situation forced the NBA to institute a "one year in college" rule for all players, giving each time to assess his draft prospects with clearer eyes. The NBA has also started a developmental league akin to the baseball minor leagues to help those who fall through the cracks.
In the end, Bray was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs after the draft ? and as a junior, he had ample time to make an informed decision about his pro prospects. But the National Football League also has a Draft Advisory Board precisely for this reason. It offers undergraduate prospects an impartial assessment of where they're likely to land in the draft.
Hancock Regional Hospital is employing Physical Therapist - Home Health Care, Hamilton County & surrounding areas on Sat, 27 Apr 2013 07:37:11 GMT. Overview: May provide direct patient care for neonatal, pediatric, adolescent, adult/or geriatric hospice patients/clients by traveling to patient's place of residence within the agency's geographic service area. Physical Therapist need to provide care to families in the Hamilton County & the surrounding areas. Responsibilities: Evaluation, provision/direction of treatment in patient's/client's...
Location:Greenfield, Indiana
Description:Hancock Regional Hospital is employing Physical Therapist - Home Health Care, Hamilton County & surrounding areas right now, this career will be situated in Indiana. Further informations about this career opportunity kindly see the descriptions. Overview: May provide direct patient care for neonatal, pediatric, adolescent, adult/or! geriatric hospice patients/clients by traveling to patient's place of residence within the agency's geographic service area. Physical Therapist need to provide care to families in the Hamilton County & the surrounding areas.
Responsibilities: Evaluation, provision/direction of treatment in patient's/client's home, assessment of home environment, provision of environmental modification recommendations and documentation is required. Therapists are expected to communicate with patients, family, physicians and the interdisciplinary care team as well as interdisciplinary care planning, including goals and rehabilitation potential. Discharge planning is expected to be coordinated with the case manager.
Qualifications: Graduate of an accredited school of physical therapy and holder of a current permanent or temporary license from the Indiana Medical Licensing Board; knowledge of the healthcare system work environment and the role of the phy! sical therapist in the “healthcare team”; ability to teach! /instruct patients, families, caregivers and colleagues; demonstrates knowledge and technical skill necessary for providing competent, comprehensive patient care. CPR certified. Possess an Indiana Driver's license and automobile liability coverage as required by the State of Indiana. *CB* - . If you were eligible to this career, please give us your resume, with salary requirements and a resume to Hancock Regional Hospital.
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CARSON CITY, Nev. -- The federal agency that oversees Medicaid and Medicare compliance has put Nevada on notice of "serious deficiencies" at a Las Vegas psychiatric hospital following reports of patients being improperly discharged.
A letter Thursday from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, first reported by The Sacramento Bee and obtained Friday by The Associated Press, gave Nevada 10 days to correct problems in its mental health discharge policies at Rawson-Neal Psychiatric Hospital or risk the loss of federal funding, potentially tens of millions of dollars.
The move follows an investigation launched by the Bee after James F. Brown, a patient at Rawson-Neal, was put on a bus alone in February and sent on a 15-hour trip to Sacramento, Calif., where he knew no one. Brown suffers from schizophrenia and depression.
The newspaper then reviewed bus ticket receipts dating to 2008 and found the hospital, part of the Southern Nevada Ault Mental Health Services, had transported about 1,500 patients to other states. Roughly 500 went to California.
Last year alone, Rawson-Neal bused out patients at a pace of more than one per day, shipping nearly 400 patients to a total of 176 cities and 45 states across the country, the Bee reported.
City attorneys in Los Angeles and San Francisco this month launched their own criminal investigations into whether Nevada engaged in "patient dumping."
California state Sen. Darrell Steinberg, who also called for an investigation, said Nevada has put people at "grave risk" and he welcomed the intervention by the federal agency.
"People with mental health disorders can recover with access to prevention, early intervention and treatment," Steinberg, a Democrat, said in a statement Friday. He called Brown's treatment "tantamount to abuse," adding that the hospital and Nevada "must be held accountable by federal regulators."
Earlier this week, Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval said his administration launched three separate investigations after he learned of the Brown case. He said disciplinary actions were taken and a new policy was implemented to strengthen oversight. The state now requires two physicians instead of one to sign a discharge order for patients, and the decision must be approved by a hospital administrator.
The governor's office said Nevada will also require chaperones for all state psychiatric patients who are bused out of state.
"Let me be clear, improperly discharging one patient is one patient too many," Sandoval said this week.
Late Friday, Sandoval's office said measures Nevada has implemented will be filed with the federal agency as part of its response to remediate problems.
"Corrective action was taken immediately and the corrective action plan will be submitted to CMS next week," Mary-Sarah Kinner, Sandoval's communications director, said in an email.
The federal agency noted that if Nevada's efforts are sufficient, the hospital's status as being "deemed" to meet Medicare conditions of participation will be restored after a re-survey of practices.
In the meantime, the hospital can continue billing Medicare.
Late-night television host and comedian Conan O'Brien tours the Brady Press Briefing room of the White House in Washington, Friday, April, 26, 2013. O'Brien visited the White House ahead of his schedule hosting of the annual White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Late-night television host and comedian Conan O'Brien tours the Brady Press Briefing room of the White House in Washington, Friday, April, 26, 2013. O'Brien visited the White House ahead of his schedule hosting of the annual White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Late-night television host and comedian Conan O'Brien gives a 'thumbs-up' as he tours the Brady Press Briefing room of the White House in Washington, Friday, April, 26, 2013. O'Brien visited the White House ahead of his schedule hosting of the annual White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Late-night television host and comedian Conan O'Brien tours the Brady Press Briefing room of the White House in Washington, Friday, April, 26, 2013. O'Brien visited the White House ahead of his schedule hosting of the annual White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
WASHINGTON (AP) ? The annual gathering not far from the White House brings together journalists, government officials, politicians and media personalities for what's usually an evening of light-hearted banter and celebrity gawking.
Presidents are made fun of and they poke at themselves, too.
But President Barack Obama's scheduled appearance Saturday night at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner was coming at a somber time, nearly two weeks after the deadly Boston Marathon bombing and 10 days after a devastating fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas.
In 1995, in the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing, President Bill Clinton dispensed with the traditional presidential humor to remember victims and praise journalists for their coverage of the explosion.
Coincidentally, this year's dinner entertainer, comedian and late-night TV talk-show host Conan O'Brien, also headlined that 1995 gala.
Obama spent the afternoon on the golf course at Andrews Air Force Base with former U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk and two White House aides.
Six journalists, including Associated Press White House Correspondent Julie Pace, were to be awarded prizes for their coverage of the presidency and national issues.
The New Yorker's Ryan Lizza won the Aldo Beckman Award, which recognizes excellence in the coverage of the presidency.
Pace won the Merriman Smith Award for a print journalist for coverage on deadline.
ABC's Terry Moran was the winner of the broadcast Merriman Smith Award for deadline reporting.
Reporters Jim Morris, Chris Hamby and Ronnie Greene of the Center for Public Integrity won the Edgar A. Poe Award for coverage of issues of national significance.
TUPELO, Miss. (AP) ? Of three ricin-laced letters mailed this month to public officials, only one made it into the hands of an intended target, 80-year-old Mississippi judge Sadie Holland.
Investigators are working to piece together what motivated someone to send the letters to her, President Barack Obama and U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker. Holland is a common link between two men who have been investigated in the case.
Holland presided over a 2004 assault case against Paul Kevin Curtis, an entertainer who had been the top suspect in the case until prosecutors dropped charges against him Tuesday.
And her family has had political skirmishes with Everett Dutschke, the Tupelo man whose home and former place of business have been the subject of searches by investigators for two days this week. No charges have been filed against Dutschke.
The judge's son, Steve Holland, is a partner with her in the funeral home owned by the family.
"I've often said she could sentence someone to hanging at the courthouse square at 12 noon and they'd say 'Thank you Miss Sadie,' " Steve Holland said.
The family is deep into Mississippi politics. Sadie Holland has been a Justice Court judge for 14 years. Steve is a state representative and his wife Gloria, is mayor of the town of Plantersville. Another of Sadie Holland's sons, Billy Joe, is a member of the Lee County Board of Supervisors.
Steve Holland said he believes his mother's only encounter with Dutschke was at a 2007 rally in the town of Verona. Running as a Republican, Dutschke lost a lopsided election to Steve Holland that year.
He said his mother called out Dutschke after he made a derogatory speech about the Holland family.
"She just got up and said 'Sir, you will apologize. This is where I was born in Verona and we've been here five generations and you will apologize.'"
Steve Holland said Dutschke altered a photo to make him look like the fictional Boss Hogg from the "Dukes of Hazzard" TV series, portraying Holland in a white suit and hat with a big cigar.
"He'd just go off on a tangent about Boss Holland is a thief and Boss Holland has been stealing from you people and Boss Holland this and Boss Holland that," Holland said.
Brandon Presley, Mississippi's northern district public service commissioner and a distant cousin of Elvis Presley, attended the 2007 political rally in Verona. He told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he remembers Dutschke giving a "militant" speech with personal and professional attacks on Steve Holland.
Presley, also a Democrat, said he doesn't recall details of the speech ? just the tone of it, and the crowd's reaction.
"I just remember everybody's jaw dropping," Presley said.
Dutschke, who ran as a Republican, said his speech included sharp criticism of Steve Holland's record in public office. Dutschke said Steve Holland exaggerated the incident. Presley said he remembers Sadie Holland chastising Dutschke.
Dutschke told AP on Tuesday that he has no problem with Sadie Holland. "Everybody loves Sadie, including me," he said.
Steve Holland said he doesn't know if his mother remembers Curtis' assault case. She was presiding judge in a case in which Curtis was accused of assaulting a Tupelo attorney in 2003. Holland sentenced Curtis to six months in the county jail. He served only part of the sentence, according to his brother.
Sadie Holland declined to talk with AP.
Steve Holland said his mother insists on opening her own mail at the court and called the Lee County sheriff after reading the threat and deciding the letter "didn't smell right."
Holland said his mother has been trying to go about her daily routine and ignore the hoopla, saying he saw her driving a tractor home about sundown one night this week. Instead of talking about investigation, Holland said his mother wanted to talk about planting new grass in the family graveyard.
"She's fiercely independent, unbelievable independent," Holland said. "Mother doesn't want the FBI or anyone else here," he said. "She just wants life back to normal."
Curtis, 45, was released from a north Mississippi jail Tuesday and charges against him were dropped, nearly a week after authorities charged him with sending the poisoned letters.
By the time Curtis left jail, authorities were descending on Dutschke's house in Tupelo, a search lasting hours that day.
On Wednesday, dozens of investigators were searching at a small retail space where neighboring business owners said Dutschke used to operate a martial arts studio. Officers at the scene wouldn't comment on what they were doing.
Investigators in gas masks, gloves and plastic suits emerged from the business carrying five-gallon buckets full of items covered in large plastic bags. Once outside, others started spraying their protective suits with some sort of mist.
Dutschke was seen outside the studio observing the search.
Wednesday evening, hazmat teams packed up and left Dutschke's business. A woman drove off in a green Dodge Caravan parked on the street that had been searched. Daniel McMullen, FBI special agent in charge in Mississippi, declined to speak with reporters afterward.
Dutschke's attorney, Lori Nail Basham, said Dutschke is "cooperating fully" with investigators and that no arrest warrant had been issued.
Federal authorities have not said what led them to drop the charges against Curtis, and his lawyers say they're not sure what new evidence the FBI has found.
Curtis, who performs as Elvis and other celebrities, describes a bizarre, years-long feud with Dutschke, who insists he had nothing to do with the letters.
The two worked together at Curtis' brother's insurance office years ago, Curtis said. He said Dutschke told him he owned a newspaper and showed interest in publishing his book called "Missing Pieces," about what Curtis considers an underground market to sell body parts.
But Dutschke decided not to publish the material, Curtis said, and later began stalking him on the Internet.
For his part, Dutschke said he didn't even know Curtis that well.
"He almost had my sympathy until I found out that he was trying to blame somebody else," Dutschke said Monday. "I've known he was disturbed for a long time. Last time we had any contact with each other was at some point in 2010 when I threatened to sue him for fraud for posting a Mensa certificate that is a lie. He is not a Mensa member. That certificate is a lie."
Curtis acknowledges posting a fake Mensa certificate on Facebook, but says it was an online trap set up for Dutschke because he believed Dutschke was stalking him online. He knew Dutschke also claimed to be a member of the organization for people with high IQs. Dutschke had a Mensa email address during his 2007 legislative campaign.
Dutschke started a campaign to prove him a liar, Curtis said, and allegedly harassed him through emails and social networking.
Curtis said the two agreed to meet at one point to face off in person, but Dutschke didn't show up.
"The last email I got from him, was, 'Come back tomorrow at 7 and the results of you being splattered all over the pavement will be public for the world to see what a blank, blank, blank you are.' And then at that point, I knew I was dealing with a coward," Curtis said.
Hal Neilson, who is a former FBI agent and one of the attorneys for Curtis, has said there was a list of people who may have wanted to hurt Curtis and that Dutschke's name came up. Efforts to reach Curtis, his lawyers and his brother were unsuccessful Wednesday.
Dutschke told the AP on Wednesday morning that he and his wife had gone to a friend's house because they didn't feel safe at their home. He didn't immediately respond to messages Wednesday afternoon.
"They ripped everything out of the house," he said, adding: "I haven't slept at all."
___
Associated Press writer Emily Wagster Pettus in Jackson contributed to this report.
In this April 3, 2013 photo, chickens are seen at a chicken farm on the outskirts of Shanghai, China. After a new and lethal strain of bird flu emerged in Shanghai two weeks ago, the government of China's bustling financial capital responded with live updates on a Twitter-like microblog. It's a starkly different approach than a decade ago, when Chinese officials silenced reporting as a deadly pneumonia later known as SARS killed dozens in the south. (AP Photo/Gillian Wong)
In this April 3, 2013 photo, chickens are seen at a chicken farm on the outskirts of Shanghai, China. After a new and lethal strain of bird flu emerged in Shanghai two weeks ago, the government of China's bustling financial capital responded with live updates on a Twitter-like microblog. It's a starkly different approach than a decade ago, when Chinese officials silenced reporting as a deadly pneumonia later known as SARS killed dozens in the south. (AP Photo/Gillian Wong)
LONDON (AP) ? Chinese scientists have for the first time found strong evidence of how humans became infected with a new strain of bird flu: from chickens at a live market.
Chinese scientists compared swabs from birds at markets in eastern China to virus samples from four patients who caught the new H7N9 virus. The scientists found the virus from one patient was nearly identical to one found in a chicken. The research was published online Thursday in the journal Lancet.
Finding definitive proof of how patients were infected is very difficult and experts have so far struggled to find much virus in birds. Despite taking nearly 48,000 samples from animals in live markets, Chinese officials found only 39 positive tests for H7N9. Experts had suspected birds in live markets to be the source of infection but weren't sure if other animals or wild birds might also be responsible.
Health officials have so far refrained from recommending any wide-scale slaughter of poultry to contain the disease, one of the main tools used previously to combat another bird flu strain, H5N1. Unlike that strain, H7N9 doesn't appear to sicken chickens, giving experts fewer signs as to where it might be spreading.
Chinese authorities have shut down live poultry markets in many affected regions, which seems to have slowed down the virus. Still, Taiwan reported its first case earlier this week.
So far, H7N9 has infected more than 100 people in China and killed more than 20.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Max Baucus, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said on Tuesday he will not seek re-election next year, improving Republican chances of capturing his seat and giving him a freer hand in his bid to revamp the tax code.
First elected to the Senate in 1978, Baucus, 71, will become the eighth senator - six Democrats and two Republicans - to announce plans to retire at the end of next year.
Baucus in a statement pledged to serve out his term and focus on fixing the tax code and other economic challenges.
"I'm not turning out to pasture because there is important work left to do, and I intend to spend the year-and-a-half getting it done," he said.
Democrats now hold the Senate, 55-45. Baucus, of Montana, won a sixth term with 73 percent of the vote in 2008. He had been favored to win a seventh term, but still could have faced a competitive race, according to analysts.
Jennifer Duffy, who tracks Senate races for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report, said she was changing her rating of the 2014 Senate race in Montana from "Lean Democrat" to "toss up."
As Senate Finance chairman, Baucus played a key role in President Barack Obama's overhaul of the U.S. healthcare system, signed into law in 2010 and known widely as Obamacare.
Baucus is now working with his House of Representatives counterpart, Republican Dave Camp, on rewriting the complicated tax code, a project that faces major obstacles from Republicans.
By retiring, Baucus could free himself from the political pressures of running for re-election, but that would not reduce by much the challenges of a tax-code overhaul.
"It may suggest that he is going to devote 100 percent of his energy to tax reform, so that may be a boost for getting it done, because both he and Camp are on the same schedule now," said Ken Kies, a veteran tax lobbyist.
Camp will lose the gavel of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee in 2014 under House rules.
TAX REFORM OBSTACLES
Regardless, Kies said, major challenges remain, beginning with Republican opposition to calls by Democrats to raise new tax revenue by curbing tax breaks for the wealthy.
Investor analyst Jim Lucier of Capital Alpha Partners said that despite Baucus being a legislative leader, "his leverage will surely decrease as the end of his term approaches."
If Democrats retain the Senate in next year's election, Democratic Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon would be next in line in party seniority to replace Baucus as Finance Committee chair.
The Finance Committee oversees tax, trade and healthcare, but the power of committees overall has waned in recent years as congressional leadership has dominated major decisions, eroding the power and influence of committee chairmen.
The tax code has not been substantially changed since 1986, when President Ronald Reagan struck a deal with a divided Congress to lower rates and reduce exemptions and special breaks.
Obama says he backs a major rewrite, but the disagreements over the details - which might include clipping popular tax breaks - make the project politically difficult.
Camp is expected to introduce legislation this year, though the timeline of that has been postponed before.
A MODERATE IN MONTANA
Baucus is a moderate in a rural state that went for Republican Mitt Romney over Obama in last year's White House race, 55 percent to 42 percent.
Former Montana Democratic Governor Brian Schweitzer is seen as a top contender to run for Baucus' seat, while Representative Steve Daines is among possible Republican candidates.
As a moderate, Baucus often butts heads with more liberal members of Congress, including those in Democratic leadership.
He broke with his party to vote for tax cuts engineered by President George W. Bush in 2001, and to add a prescription benefit to the Medicare health plan for the elderly.
Baucus, who is an avid runner and begins nearly every speech with a quote from a famous person, also recently opposed the Senate's budget resolution that sought to raise taxes earlier this year and voted against Obama's effort to curb gun violence with new controls on firearms.
A liberal Democratic group praised his decision.
"Good bye, Senator K Street," said Stephanie Taylor, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. "Montana will finally have a chance to have a senator with its best interests at heart, and we hope Brian Schweitzer jumps into the race immediately."
Baucus also struggled to defend the healthcare law he was instrumental in shepherding through the Senate. The law is unpopular in Montana, and Baucus recently worried at a hearing that poor implementation would cause a "train wreck."
The seven senators who earlier announced they would not run for re-election are Democrats Carl Levin of Michigan, Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey, Tom Harkin of Iowa, Tim Johnson of South Dakota and Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, along with Republicans Saxby Chambliss of Georgia and Mike Johanns of Nebraska.
(Additional reporting by Jonathan Weber; Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh, Bill Trott and Philip Barbara)
Adrian Monk is a savant. A brilliantly observant detective, he is called by the San Francisco Police Department to assist in bizarre and difficult investigations. He is a former police detective. He struggled with obsessive compulsions for much of his life, and after his wife was murdered he became unable to satisfactorily control them. He lives alone, and his personal nurse is his main companion. The television series, Monk, ran from 2002-2009 and blended mystery, dark humor, and believably-acted characters to create an enjoyable show. In the episode ?Mr. Monk and the Kid,? a foster mother takes her five kids to a park. Two-year-old Tommy Grazer wanders off, and is found fifteen minutes later holding a severed, adult human finger. Monk is called to help the police figure out what happened, and he is introduced to Tommy. Monk takes Tommy on a walk, hoping that Tommy will retrace his steps and lead Monk to clues. While walking together, Monk and Tommy bond. A social worker informs the foster mother that Tommy will be removed pending a routine investigation, but confides to Monk that she is having difficulty finding an emergency home for him. ?The episode (Season 3 Episode 16) is available for instant streaming on Netflix and (for free) on Hulu. How is This Relevant to Foster Care / Adoption?Monk feels a strong connection to Tommy, largely because Tommy keeps saying ?Monk.?? He offers that Tommy can live with him. The social worker quickly agrees, and Tommy immediately goes to live with Monk. Monk finds that he loves Tommy and hopes that Tommy will love him. He says that he will never let Tommy go; later, however, he admits that he cannot even care for himself. He allows Tommy to be placed with another family. Single parenthood is affirmed as a difficult but rewarding task. Monk asserts that he would do anything for Tommy ? even die for him ? because he considers him to be his son, even though they?ve only recently met. Monk?s quick, unconditional (and ultimately unselfish) love for Tommy is a positive characteristic for any foster parent to emulate. Monk?s rapid acceptance of Tommy is a good thing; Tommy?s rapid acceptance of Monk is a bit problematic. Tommy is an exceptionally friendly toddler who quickly feels comfortable with police officers, Monk?s assistant, a social worker, and ultimately Monk. While Monk was flattered and touched that Tommy took to him so quickly, Tommy?s indiscriminate, rapid attachment seems reflective of Reactive Attachment Disorder, and should probably be explored rather than celebrated. Monk?s motives in taking in Tommy appear to be mixed. He cares for Tommy, quickly considers him a son, and is eager to meet his needs. However, Monk has been emotionally isolated for many years, and seems to depend on Tommy for emotional support and validation. This isn?t uncommon, but it is an unhealthily large burden to place on any toddler. The social worker in the story is basically negligent. She places Tommy in Monk?s home without having Monk undergo any home study or background check. She fails to notice that Monk does not even have a bed for Tommy, and she ignores obvious clues that should have suggested that Monk wasn?t quite ready to care for a child (for example, Monk seems surprised that Tommy eats the same food Monk eats, and seems surprised that a toddler is ?a person.?) ** BIG SPOILER ALERT ** The foster parents are money-hungry villains; the severed finger belonged to a violinist who they kidnapped for ransom. He is discovered in their garage, and the foster parents are arrested. It can be interesting to see foster care and adoption themes in unexpected places. I usually enjoy Monk, but was bothered by the inaccuracies in this episode. I wouldn?t recommend this for kids; children who have had abusive foster parents might be triggered by the episode, and children who have good foster parents might be introduced to an unhelpful stereotype. Parents watching the episode might resonate with the thought that they would do anything for a child they love ? even if they?ve met that child only recently.
You might also enjoy these movie guides featuring a male adoptive-father-figure
Obviously the city of Boston has had a pretty rough and weird month. But the city?s never been one to sit back and take all the horrible things life has to offer without fighting back and carrying on. Boston is tough and so is the Independent Film Festival of Boston, which kicks off Wednesday, April 24 as planned. The fest, which runs through Tuesday, April 30, will take place all over Boston and features over 1300 film screenings, 105 films, filmmaker Q&A sessions, panel discussions, visiting filmmakers, parties and events. Not to mention the IFFBoston has been recognized as the premiere film festival of Boston.
I should be there throughout the festival and there are many films I?m excited to see. As you may have heard via the Film Threat Podcast, I?ve never attended IFFBoston but have long respected the hard-working people who run the fest, as well as their smart move of cherry picking the best films from the festival circuit and adding in some nice premieres as well. The festival should be a great chance to see some films I?ve heard great things about as well as meet filmmakers and fellow movie geeks who want to have a good time in one of America?s most awesome cities. Yeah, I?ve always wanted to go and I?m excited to finally get a chance.
Every year there are films at festivals that I really want to see and always manage to miss. For instance, on this year?s festival circuit, I?ve missed the heavily lauded films ?Sightseers,? ?The Spectacular Now,? Touchy Feely,? ?Frances Ha? and ?Computer Chess,? and they?re all playing at IFFBoston. Films I saw this year and liked such as ?The East,? ?Prince Avalanche? and ?V/H/S/ 2? are also programmed, and I can vouch that all three are worth checking out. I think the film I?m most excited to see is Bobcat Goldthwait?s found-footage Bigfoot movie ?Willow Creek.? Yeah, Bobcat Goldthwait made a found-footage Bigfoot movie. Need I say more?
I?ll include the full list of films (shorts, features and docs!) and panels below and if you see me at the fest, be sure to say hello!
Narrative Features
BERBERIAN SOUND STUDIO directed by Peter Strickland COMPUTER CHESS directed by Andrew Bujalski CONCUSSION directed by Stacie Passon CRYSTAL FAIRY directed by Sebastian Silva THE DIRTIES directed by Matt Johnson THE EAST directed by Zal Batmanglij EXIT ELENA directed by Nathan Silver FRANCES HA directed by Noah Bumbauch A HIJACKING directed by Tobias Lindholm HOUSTON directed by Bastian Gunther THE HUNT directed by Thomas Vinterberg THE ICEMAN directed by Ariel Vromen IN A WORLD? directed by Lake Bell THE LAND OF EB directed by Andrew Williamson THE LAST DAY OF AUGUST directed by Craig DiFolco LAURENCE ANYWAYS directed by Xavier Dolan LONELY BOY directed by Dale Fabrigar MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING directed by Joss Whedon PRINCE AVALANCHE directed by David Gordon Green SIGHTSEERS directed by Ben Wheatley SOFT IN THE HEAD directed by Nathan Silver SOME GIRL(S) directed by Daisy Von Scherler Mayer THE SPECTACULAR NOW directed by James Ponsoldt THIS IS MARTIN BONNER directed by Chad Hartigan TOUCHY FEELY directed by Lynn Shelton V/H/S 2 directed by Simon Barrett, Adam Wingard, Eduardo Sanchez, Gregg Hale, Timo Tjahjanto, Gareth Huw Evans, and Jason Eisener WASTELAND directed by Rowan Athale WILLOW CREEK directed by Bobcat Goldthwait
Documentary Features
12 O?CLOCK BOYS directed by Lotfy Nathan THE ACT OF KILLING directed by Joshua Oppenheimer THE BEAUTIFUL GAME directed by Victor Buhler BEFORE YOU KNOW IT? directed by PJ Raval BEST KEPT SECRET directed by Samantha Buck BLACKFISH directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite BLOOD BROTHER directed by Steve Hoover CASTING BY directed by Tom Donahue THE DEFECTOR: ESCAPE FROM NORTH KOREA directed by Ann Shin DIRTY WARS directed by Richard Rowley DOWNLOADED directed by Alex Winter THE ELDERS directed by Nathaniel Hansen THE FINAL MEMBER directed by Jonah Bekhor & Zach Math FUTURE MY LOVE directed by Maja Borg THE GARDEN OF EDEN directed by Ran Tal THE GENIUS OF MARIAN directed by Banker White & Anna Fitch GIDEON?S ARMY directed by Dawn Porter GOLD FEVER directed by JT Haines, Tommy Haines, & Andrew Sherburne GOOD ?OL FREDA directed by Ryan White & Jessica Lawson GORE VIDAL: THE UNITED STATES OF AMNESIA directed by Nicholas Wrathall HERE ONE DAY directed by Kathy Leichter MUSCLE SHOALS directed by Greg Camalier NARCO CULTURA directed by Shaul Schwarz NIGHT LABOR directed by David Redmon OUR NIXON directed by Penny Lane OXYANA directed by Sean Dunne PERSISTENCE OF VISION directed by Kevin Schreck THE PLEASURES OF BEING OUT OF STEP directed by David Lewis THE PUNK SINGER directed by Sini Anderson REMOTE AREA MEDICAL directed by Farihah Zaman & Jeff Reichert REWIND THIS! directed by Josh Johnson SECUNDARIA directed by Mary Jane Doherty STORIES WE TELL directed by Sarah Polley SUITCASE OF LOVE AND SHAME directed by Jane Gillooly TINY: A STORY ABOUT LIVING SMALL directed by Merete Mueller & Christopher Smith TOKYO WAKA: A CITY POEM directed by John Haptas & Kristine Samuelson TWENTY FEET FROM STARDOM directed by Morgan Neville
Short Films
AFTER YOU directed by Damien O?Connor THE ATTENDANT directed by Ian Beattie BEN: IN THE MIND?S EYE directed by Iva Radivojevic BETTER PEOPLE directed by Mark O?Brien THE BIRDMAN directed by Jessie Auritt BLACK METAL directed by Kat Candler DEAR VALUED GUESTS directed by Jarred Alterman DIE LIKE AN EGYPTIAN directed by Matt Mamula THE END OF THE COUNTER directed by Laura McGann FERAL directed by Dan Sousa THE GAMBLING MAN directed by Aron Gaudet GOLD PARTY directed by Nellie Kluz HOME directed by Aoife Kelleher INSTALL: LIGHT, SOUND, & CRAIG COLORUSSO directed by Kevin Belli IRISH FOLK FURNITURE directed by Tony Donoghue JESUS FISH directed by Bryce James McGuire THE LAST ICE MERCHANT directed by Sandy Patch MAGNESIUM directed by Sam De Jong MARCEL, KING OF TERVUREN directed by Tom Schroeder OH WILLY? directed by Marc James Roels & Emma De Swaef PARADISE directed by Nadav Kurtz POUTERS directed by Paul Fegan THE PROFESSOR directed by Alison Maclean THE RANCHER directed by Kelly Lynn Sears REBORNING directed by Helen Hood Scheer & Yael Bridge REINDEER directed by Eva Weber SEE THE DIRT directed by Chelsea Hernandez & Erik Mauck SKIN directed by Jordana Spiro SLOMO directed by Josh Izenberg SOCIAL BUTTERLFY directed by Lauren Wolkenstein A STORY OF THE MODLINS directed by Sergio Oksman TRACK BY TRACK directed by Anna Moot-Levin TWO HEARTS directed by Darren Thornton TWO WHEELS, GOOD directed by Barry Gene Murphy VLADMIR PUTIN IN DEEP CONCENTRATION directed by Dana O?Keefe & Sasha Kliment WE WILL LIVE AGAIN directed by Josh Koury & Myles Kane WHEN THE ZOMBIES COME directed by Jon Hurst WORLD FAIR directed by Amanda Murray
Panels include Meet The Insiders: Film Distribution featuring David Laub of Oscilloscope Laboratories, Matt Grady of Factory 25, and Jonthan Marlow of Fandor; The Art of Documentary Editing: Case Studies featuring Francisco Bello (OUR NIXON and BEST KEPT SECRET) and Pola Rapaport (HERE ONE DAY); and The Art & Politics of End Credits featuring Matthew Miller (THE DIRTIES), Tom Donahue (CASTING BY) and Danielle DiGiacomo (BEST KEPT SECRET).
Additional information about the festival is available at http://www.iffboston.org.
Posted on April 23, 2013 in Festivals by Don R. Lewis
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Apr. 23, 2013 ? A Western Illinois University faculty member who published a study about Facebook and narcissism last year has authored another study about Facebook and romantic relationships.
WIU Department of Communication Assistant Professor Christopher Carpenter, with his co-author Erin Spottswood (Cornell University), have authored, "Exploring romantic relationships on social networking sites using the self-expansion model," which will appear in the July 2013 journal issue of Computers in Human Behavior. According to Carpenter, in the study, the co-authors found the more past romantic relationships the participants had, the more interests they listed in their Facebook profiles.
"I predicted this relationship because other research suggested that part of romantic relationship development involves adopting new interests and behaviors from one's partner," he said. "I also found that people who report appearing in more photos with their partners on Facebook and who regularly tag their partner in their status updates tend to have closer romantic relationships."
In humans, the self-expansion model -- per a seminal study authored by State University of New York, Stony Brook, Psychology Professor Arthur Aron and Elaine Aron, author of the book, "The Highly Sensitive Person" -- asserts the desire to grow is a key motivation. One of the key sources of this need to expand one's self is derived from romantic relationships.
Carpenter said he studies humans' interactions on Facebook and social networks because the online networks offer a unique window into people's lives.
"We can't follow people around with a tape recorder getting a record of what they say all day. Facebook, on the other hand, offers us the chance to see one part of that record. We can see how often people interact with their romantic partners on Facebook, what they say to each other and how they present themselves on their profiles," he explained. "As for this specific study, I had read about self-expansion theory and I began wondering if we ever truly cut ties with someone when we break up. We might not see that person anymore, but when we develop a relationship with someone, we take on some of their interests and traits and, in many cases, hang on to them long after we break up. Facebook offered a unique way of examining the extent to which those traces of past relationships remain in our profiles."
Carpenter said the study's sample included 276 respondents who answered questions about their relationship histories and social networking sites uses, while a subset of the sample (149 participants) answered additional questions about their current romantic partners.
In addition to receiving wide media attention about his 2012 study, "Narcissism on Facebook: Self-promotional and Anti-social Behavior" (published in the journal, Personality and Individual Differences, March 2012), Carpenter served as an invited Oxford Union Society speaker on the motion, "This House Believes Social Media has Successfully Reinvented Social Activism," in England in May last year.
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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Western Illinois University.
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Journal Reference:
Christopher J. Carpenter, Erin L. Spottswood. Exploring romantic relationships on social networking sites using the self-expansion model. Computers in Human Behavior, 2013; 29 (4): 1531 DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2013.01.021
Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.
TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada's main stock index closed little changed on Tuesday as sluggish economic data from China, Germany and the United States revived concerns about the global recovery. Lackluster earnings reports from some Canadian companies also weighed down investor sentiment.
Apple unlocks more cash for investors as profit slides
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Apple Inc on Tuesday bowed to investors' demands to share more of its $145 billion cash pile, while posting its first quarterly profit decline in more than a decade. The new expanded capital plan includes issuing debt for the first time to fund $100 billion in share repurchases and higher dividends until the end of 2015. That doubles the amount from a program set up last year and makes Apple the largest dividend-paying company in the world.
Analysis: Sleeping ad giant Amazon finally stirs
SAN FRANCISCO/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc is known in the advertising industry as the "sleeping giant" because the world's largest Internet retailer harbors a trove of consumer-spending data that many marketers have called an unrealized opportunity. Now it's awakening to the potential. After running ads on its own website for years, the company has taken the first steps toward becoming a true Internet advertising network, using the knowledge garnered from its data to place targeted ads for some of the world's biggest advertisers across thousands of other websites.
Barclays first-quarter profit hit by restructuring charge
LONDON (Reuters) - British bank Barclays said first-quarter profit fell a quarter from a year ago after a rise in losses in its European business and a hefty bill for the cost of a restructuring plan by its new chief executive. Barclays on Wednesday reported an adjusted pretax profit for the three months ended March of 1.79 billion pounds ($2.74 billion), down from 2.4 billion a year ago and just below a mean forecast of 1.85 billion from analysts polled by the company.
BOJ's new price forecasts Friday to be credibility test
TOKYO (Reuters) - The Bank of Japan is set on Friday to project that it will meet its 2 percent inflation target in two years, a forecast analysts say may be too optimistic and could put the bank's credibility on the line. The central bank, charged with overturning years of dogged deflation, is not expected to come up with any fresh policy initiatives after new Governor Haruhiko Kuroda stunned markets on April 4 by promising to inject about $1.4 trillion into the economy to hit the inflation target in roughly two years.
Asian shares rise on firm U.S. earnings, soft money outlook
TOKYO (Reuters) - Asian shares advanced on Wednesday, tracking global equities higher on the back of solid U.S. earnings, but the euro was pressured by soft German data tipping a possible rate cut to support the fragile euro zone economy. European equities will likely remain underpinned by this expectation of further monetary easing, and European stock markets are seen rising. Financial spreadbetters predict London's FTSE 100 <.ftse>, Paris's CAC-40 <.fchi> and Frankfurt's DAX <.gdaxi> will open up to 0.3 percent higher. <.l><.eu/>
ZURICH (Reuters) - Credit Suisse's quarterly earnings beat analysts' expectations and the bank flagged a cash dividend for this year, as the restructuring of its investment banking division starts to bear fruit. Switzerland's second-largest bank reported first-quarter net profit of 1.303 billion Swiss francs ($1.38 billion), up from 44 million francs a year earlier. The result beat the average estimate of 1.255 billion francs in a Reuters poll Of analysts.
Apple's cash plan takes heat off Cook, buys him time
(Reuters) - Tim Cook wants investors to "think different" about Apple: less as a hyper-growth startup-like company and more as a mature but robust technology corporation with the world's most lucrative dividend. If Wall Street follows Apple's famous advertising slogan of old, it may relieve some of the pressure on Apple's chief executive, quiet investors' grumbling about its recent share price slide, and buy the company time to do what it says it does best: come up with and market new products.
Nasdaq may set aside $10 million to settle probe on Facebook IPO: WSJ
(Reuters) - Nasdaq OMX Group Inc is planning to set aside $10 million in anticipation of settling a probe over its botched handling of Facebook Inc's initial public offering last year, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with Nasdaq internal discussions. Nasdaq executives had been hoping for a settlement of about $5 million, the Journal said.
Bank of Canada's Macklem confirms interest in governor role
OTTAWA (Reuters) - Tiff Macklem, currently second in command at the Bank of Canada and widely seen as the lead contender to succeed Governor Mark Carney, confirmed on Tuesday that he would be interested in running the central bank. "Yes if asked I will serve, but there is a process that is ongoing and I don't think it would be appropriate to start asking interview questions here when there is a separate process," Macklem told a House of Commons committee, when asked if he would take the job.
NEW YORK (AP) ? The longtime feud between late-night hosts Jay Leno and David Letterman is the stuff of legend and, apparently, so yesterday.
The two Jimmys: Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon, agree there's no rivalry between them.
Both were among the honorees in New York Tuesday at a gala recognizing Time magazine's annual list of the 100 Most Influential People in the World.
"I feel good about it. We're very friendly. I know people expect us to dislike each other and say bad things about each other but that will never happen," said 45-year-old Kimmel.
He agreed that making nice is a good thing.
"It is nice. We're like (vocalist duo) Peaches & Herb. I'm Peaches," he laughed.
They'll face-off in the ratings next year when Fallon leaves NBC's "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" and replaces Leno as host of "The Tonight Show."
Thirty-eight-year-old Fallon said, as of now, things won't change much when he switches to "The Tonight Show."
"We do a great show now. I think we're ready. I thank Jay Leno for being awesome and still being number one because without him I wouldn't have a job," he laughed. "It's just like they call you up from the minor league so I'm ready to go for the majors and I'm gonna swing for the fences."
In January, ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" moved to the 11:35 p.m. EST time slot, putting it in direct competition with "The Tonight Show" and "Late Show with David Letterman."
___
Online:
http://www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com/
http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/jimmy-kimmel-live
___
Alicia Rancilio covers entertainment for The Associated Press. Follow her online at http://www.twitter.com/aliciar
Emotional intelligence trumps IQ in dentist-patient relationship, CWRU study findsPublic release date: 22-Apr-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Susan Griffith susan.griffith@case.edu 216-368-1004 Case Western Reserve University
IQ directly relates to how students perform on tests in the first two years of dental school. But emotional intelligence (EI) trumps IQ in how well dental students work with patients, report researchers from Case Western Reserve University's School of Dental Medicine and Weatherhead School of Management.
EI influences how well dental students recognize and manage their emotions and professional relationships, explain Kristin Victoroff, DDS, PhD, and Richard Boyatzis, PhD, in the current issue of the Journal of Dental Education article, "What is the Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence and Dental School Clinical Performance?"
EI differs from IQ, which measures the ability to think and perform on tests. EI, also a form of intelligence, is the ability to read one's own moods and those of others, remain calm under pressure and be optimistic and adaptable to change.
"Emotional intelligence is distinct from traditional intelligence or IQ," said Boyatzis, a Distinguished University Professor and professor of organizational behavior, psychology and cognitive science. He developed the EI management model and coauthored a book series on how to use it in business. He added that people need both to be successful.
The study evolved from discussions by heath-care educators about whether EI should be used in the admissions process or as a measure in clinical practice.
Boyatzis explained that other standardized admissions tests are equally incapable of predicting success in other fields, like medicine, management, and other fields. "Such tests predict grades in courses but not effectiveness in professions. This is the first test of this relationship in dentistry, and one of the clearest studies of the dynamics," he said.
Until now, no evidence was available to determine if EI had a connection to clinical education, said Victoroff, the associate dean for education and associate professor of community dentistry.
The highly competitive admission process to dental school involves high scores on academic and perceptual ability tests. But that could change as educators understand the important role of EI in patient care.
Educators questioned why some high-performing students in the classroom didn't fare as well in the clinic. Researchers wondered if EI was a factor.
Students at Case Western Reserve dental school were among the first in dentistry to see if EI impacted clinical successes, as it does in corporate management.
The researchers recruited third- and fourth-year students, who receive clinical training under the guidance of two preceptors (part-time faculty who are practicing community dentists) that assess clinical performance.
One hundred of the 136 students from the two classes participated. Students themselves plus other individuals they work with were asked to complete a 72-item questionnaire from the Emotional Competence Inventory-University. EI competencies are grouped in four areas: self-awareness, self-management, social-awareness and relationship management.
Overall clinical performance was determined by averaging the preceptors' assessments of a student's overall clinical performance over several rating periods.
In determining a student's overall clinical performance, preceptors consider such factors as diagnosis and treatment planning skills, work ethic and time utilization, preparation and organization, professionalism, patient management, knowledge and technical skills and ability to self-assess one's work.
The analysis looked at the clinical grade and the EI assessment to see if there was a correlation between high EI scores and high clinical performance. The researchers ruled out the student's year in school and gender in the analysis after finding those factors made no significant differences.
Their findings showed that a high EI related to excellent clinical performance. The researchers found EI skills in self-management were significant predictors of clinical grades. Self-management skills involve self-control, achievement orientation, initiative, trustworthiness, conscientiousness, adaptability and optimism.
They did not find a strong EI-clinical association to self- and social-awareness.
EI scores for relationship management, which relates to the ability to influence others, were harder to determine due to the transient nature between the student dentist and patient during the two-year clinical training.
The researchers concluded that teaching EI competencies could better serve patients and help students succeed. They recommended future studies extend EI assessments to practicing dentists to determine EI's impact in the professional
###
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Emotional intelligence trumps IQ in dentist-patient relationship, CWRU study findsPublic release date: 22-Apr-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Susan Griffith susan.griffith@case.edu 216-368-1004 Case Western Reserve University
IQ directly relates to how students perform on tests in the first two years of dental school. But emotional intelligence (EI) trumps IQ in how well dental students work with patients, report researchers from Case Western Reserve University's School of Dental Medicine and Weatherhead School of Management.
EI influences how well dental students recognize and manage their emotions and professional relationships, explain Kristin Victoroff, DDS, PhD, and Richard Boyatzis, PhD, in the current issue of the Journal of Dental Education article, "What is the Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence and Dental School Clinical Performance?"
EI differs from IQ, which measures the ability to think and perform on tests. EI, also a form of intelligence, is the ability to read one's own moods and those of others, remain calm under pressure and be optimistic and adaptable to change.
"Emotional intelligence is distinct from traditional intelligence or IQ," said Boyatzis, a Distinguished University Professor and professor of organizational behavior, psychology and cognitive science. He developed the EI management model and coauthored a book series on how to use it in business. He added that people need both to be successful.
The study evolved from discussions by heath-care educators about whether EI should be used in the admissions process or as a measure in clinical practice.
Boyatzis explained that other standardized admissions tests are equally incapable of predicting success in other fields, like medicine, management, and other fields. "Such tests predict grades in courses but not effectiveness in professions. This is the first test of this relationship in dentistry, and one of the clearest studies of the dynamics," he said.
Until now, no evidence was available to determine if EI had a connection to clinical education, said Victoroff, the associate dean for education and associate professor of community dentistry.
The highly competitive admission process to dental school involves high scores on academic and perceptual ability tests. But that could change as educators understand the important role of EI in patient care.
Educators questioned why some high-performing students in the classroom didn't fare as well in the clinic. Researchers wondered if EI was a factor.
Students at Case Western Reserve dental school were among the first in dentistry to see if EI impacted clinical successes, as it does in corporate management.
The researchers recruited third- and fourth-year students, who receive clinical training under the guidance of two preceptors (part-time faculty who are practicing community dentists) that assess clinical performance.
One hundred of the 136 students from the two classes participated. Students themselves plus other individuals they work with were asked to complete a 72-item questionnaire from the Emotional Competence Inventory-University. EI competencies are grouped in four areas: self-awareness, self-management, social-awareness and relationship management.
Overall clinical performance was determined by averaging the preceptors' assessments of a student's overall clinical performance over several rating periods.
In determining a student's overall clinical performance, preceptors consider such factors as diagnosis and treatment planning skills, work ethic and time utilization, preparation and organization, professionalism, patient management, knowledge and technical skills and ability to self-assess one's work.
The analysis looked at the clinical grade and the EI assessment to see if there was a correlation between high EI scores and high clinical performance. The researchers ruled out the student's year in school and gender in the analysis after finding those factors made no significant differences.
Their findings showed that a high EI related to excellent clinical performance. The researchers found EI skills in self-management were significant predictors of clinical grades. Self-management skills involve self-control, achievement orientation, initiative, trustworthiness, conscientiousness, adaptability and optimism.
They did not find a strong EI-clinical association to self- and social-awareness.
EI scores for relationship management, which relates to the ability to influence others, were harder to determine due to the transient nature between the student dentist and patient during the two-year clinical training.
The researchers concluded that teaching EI competencies could better serve patients and help students succeed. They recommended future studies extend EI assessments to practicing dentists to determine EI's impact in the professional
###
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Posted on: 10:10 pm, April 21, 2013, by Jeremy Ross, updated on: 10:06pm, April 21, 2013
BROOKFIELD (WITI) ? For 13 years, a gaming event has matured and now finds itself at a crossroads.?The Midwest Gaming Classic was the invention of a few friends and dozens of gaming enthusiasts that has grown into about 7,000 attendees and thousands of dollars in economic boost for Brookfield.
The event?s home is at the Sheridan Hotel. But organizer Dan Loosen said, ?We?re busting out the walls again this year so, which is a great problem to have. I?m not complaining.?
Loosen admits he is searching for a bigger venue that can accommodate the 300 games that are part of the expo.
For years Loosen could not take the event to Milwaukee because of a law that would mean paying $50.00 per coin-operated game.?That would mean paying about $15,000 before the doors even opened.?Loosen suspects the ordinance was instituted to prevent arcades from popping up in Milwaukee and with it spreading the gaming culture once deemed socially corrosive.
?I think we?ve gotten over the fact that?it?s going to destroy our youth if they play an arcade game or whatever,? said Loosen.
But that law was wiped off the book back in 2011.
Now, Loosen is looking at venues in Milwaukee, while Brookfield tries to keep his business. Among the options being considered ? the construction of a new convention center.
The City of Brookfield estimates through hotels, dining and shopping the Midwest Gaming Classic helps to bring in more than $500,000 to the local economy.
Improved bowel health, increased satiety and enhanced calcium absorption add to mounting evidence for the health benefits of certain added fibers in the diet
Chicago (April 22, 2013) The health benefits of fibre are relatively well known yet average fibre intake around the world continues to be inadequate (1,2). Many diets continue to lack recommended servings of foods naturally high in fibre like fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes and whole grains resulting in low fibre intake (3). Three new studies contribute to the growing body of evidence for the health benefits of added fibres in the diet. These types of fibre can be added to a wide range of foods and contribute similar health benefits as "intact" fibres, providing a viable option to help people increase their fibre intake to achieve daily recommendations (3). Each of the studies was supported by Tate & Lyle, a global leader in health and wellness innovation and provider of specialty food ingredients.
Improved Bowel Health
Recently published in the Journal of Nutrition, Timm et al. reported that 36 healthy adults consuming 20 grams of added fibre, either STA-LITE Polydextrose or PROMITOR Soluble Corn Fibre* per day, in addition to their usual lower fibre diet, which was approximately 13-14 g/day compared to the recommended 25 g/day for women and 38 g/day for men (3), experienced improved laxation with minimal gastrointestinal tolerance issues4. These results indicate that both types of fibre tested in this study are well tolerated and can be successfully added to the diet to help meet dietary recommendations.
"Since people aren't meeting their fibre goals with the foods they currently eat, adding fibres to foods is a realistic and simple way to address this global public health concern," said Joanne Slavin, PhD, RD of the University of Minnesota, an expert in fibre research and lead investigator of this study.
Maintained Satiety after a Meal
Another study which was presented this week at the American Society for Nutrition Experimental Biology conference in Boston, using a double blind, randomized cross-over design found that an emerging fibre, soluble fibre dextrin (SFD) from Tate & Lyle, may help promote satiety, or the feeling of fullness, from 3 to 8.5 hours after consumption (5). Tate & Lyle's soluble fibre dextrin is a resistant dextrin that can be isolated from tapioca or corn.
Researchers from Iowa State University provided 41 healthy adults with lunch including a test beverage containing 10 or 20 g of fibre from tapioca SFD versus a maltodextrin control beverage followed by a snack two and a half hours later. The study participants reported feeling fuller, less feeling of hunger and less desire to eat compared to the control beverage from 3 to 8.5 hours after consumption of the beverage that contained 20 g of fibre as SFD, while the SFD had no impact on appetite or overall food intake during the first 2.5 hours post consumption. These results indicate that the SFD may be slowly digested leading to delayed effects on appetite. "This newly developed soluble fibre dextrin can increase fibre intake, helping consumers meet fibre recommendations, while simultaneously controlling their appetite which may lead to reduced energy intake," stated James Hollis, PhD, a lead researcher on the study.
Increased Calcium Absorption
A third study (6), also presented at the American Society for Nutrition Experimental Biology conference in Boston, assessed the effect of PROMITOR Soluble Corn Fibre* (SCF) on fecal microbiota (bacterial environment of the gut) in relation to calcium absorption in 24 racially diverse, male and female adolescentsa population in need of adequate calcium intake for bone growth and development. Researchers from Purdue University found that when the adolescents consumed 12 g/day of SCF versus a control, they experienced a 12% increase in calcium absorption. This increase in calcium absorption was correlated with significant increases in specific strains of beneficial bacteria, namely Bacteroides, Alistipes, Butyricicoccus, Oscillibacter, and Dialister in the gut suggesting that SCF may increase calcium absorption through changes in gut microbiota (6).
"Emerging research on soluble corn fibre indicates that added fibres provide health benefits such as increased calcium absorption via their effect on beneficial bacteria" said Connie Weaver, PhD, a lead researcher on this study. This is the first study to show that increases in these specific bacteria were significantly correlated with the observed increase in calcium absorption.
Meeting Fibre Intake Recommendations
Most fibre recommendations for adults call for intakes ranging from 25-38 g/day depending on country specific worldwide guidelines (3). While individuals should increase their consumption of dietary fibre from sources such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes and whole grains, fibres added to foods, like PROMITOR Soluble Corn Fibre*, STA-LITE Polydextrose, and soluble fibre dextrin, can help close the gap between recommended and actual intakes of fibre while providing additional health benefits such as increased calcium absorption, improved gut health, and increased satiety.
"The results from these new studies add to the growing body of research that supports the addition of fibres to foods that consumers are already eating, which easily allows for increased fibre intakes and provides added health benefits," said Priscilla Samuel, PhD, Director of Global Nutrition for Tate & Lyle. "Tate & Lyle is committed to investment in innovation and research to ensure that our ingredients, which can be incorporated into great tasting foods, can also help consumers meet their nutrition, health and wellness needs every day."
*PROMITOR Soluble Gluco Fibre in Europe
###
About Tate & Lyle:
Tate & Lyle is a global provider of ingredients and solutions to the food, beverage and other industries, operating from over 30 production facilities around the world.
Tate & Lyle operates through two global business units, Speciality Food Ingredients and Bulk Ingredients, supported by Innovation and Commercial Development. The Group's strategy is to become the leading global provider of Speciality Food Ingredients through a disciplined focus on growth, and by driving the Bulk Ingredients business for sustained cash generation to fuel this growth.
Speciality Food Ingredients include starch-based speciality ingredients (corn-based speciality starches, sweeteners and fibres), no calorie sweeteners (including SPLENDA Sucralose) and Food Systems which provides blended ingredient solutions. Bulk Ingredients include corn-based bulk sweeteners, industrial starches and fermentation products (primarily acidulants). The co-products from both divisions are primarily sold as animal feed.
Tate & Lyle is listed on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol TATE.L. American Depositary Receipts trade under TATYY. In the year to 31 March 2012, Tate & Lyle sales totalled 3.1 billion. http://www.tateandlyle.com. SPLENDA is a trademark of McNeil Nutritionals, LLC.
References:
U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010. http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/dgas2010-dgacreport.htm
Spiller GA (ed.) CRC Handbook of Dietary Fiber in Human Nutrition, 3rd Edition. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, Fla. 2001.
Gray J. Dietary Fibre. Definition, Analysis, Physiology and Health. ILSI Europe Dietary Fibre Concise Monograph Series. 2006. http://www.ilsi.org.ar/index.php?com=descarga&que=publicaciones&id=80
Timm DA, Thomas W, Boileau TW, Williamson-Hughes PS, Slavin JL. Polydextrose and Soluble Corn Fiber Increase Five-Day Fecal Wet Weight in Healthy Men and Women. J Nutr. 143:473-478;2013.
Hutchinson C, Hsu WH, Hollis JH. Effect of soluble fiber dextrin on postprandial appetite and subsequent food intake in healthy adults. Presented at Experimental Biology. Boston, MA. April 20-24, 2013.
Whisner CM, Nakatsu CH, Martin BR, McCabe LD, McCabe GP, Weaver CM. Soluble corn fiber modulates calcium absorption by altering colonic microbiota.. Poster at Experimental Biology. Boston, MA. April 20-24, 2013.
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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
3 new studies reveal added fiber's impact on various health indicesPublic release date: 22-Apr-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Improved bowel health, increased satiety and enhanced calcium absorption add to mounting evidence for the health benefits of certain added fibers in the diet
Chicago (April 22, 2013) The health benefits of fibre are relatively well known yet average fibre intake around the world continues to be inadequate (1,2). Many diets continue to lack recommended servings of foods naturally high in fibre like fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes and whole grains resulting in low fibre intake (3). Three new studies contribute to the growing body of evidence for the health benefits of added fibres in the diet. These types of fibre can be added to a wide range of foods and contribute similar health benefits as "intact" fibres, providing a viable option to help people increase their fibre intake to achieve daily recommendations (3). Each of the studies was supported by Tate & Lyle, a global leader in health and wellness innovation and provider of specialty food ingredients.
Improved Bowel Health
Recently published in the Journal of Nutrition, Timm et al. reported that 36 healthy adults consuming 20 grams of added fibre, either STA-LITE Polydextrose or PROMITOR Soluble Corn Fibre* per day, in addition to their usual lower fibre diet, which was approximately 13-14 g/day compared to the recommended 25 g/day for women and 38 g/day for men (3), experienced improved laxation with minimal gastrointestinal tolerance issues4. These results indicate that both types of fibre tested in this study are well tolerated and can be successfully added to the diet to help meet dietary recommendations.
"Since people aren't meeting their fibre goals with the foods they currently eat, adding fibres to foods is a realistic and simple way to address this global public health concern," said Joanne Slavin, PhD, RD of the University of Minnesota, an expert in fibre research and lead investigator of this study.
Maintained Satiety after a Meal
Another study which was presented this week at the American Society for Nutrition Experimental Biology conference in Boston, using a double blind, randomized cross-over design found that an emerging fibre, soluble fibre dextrin (SFD) from Tate & Lyle, may help promote satiety, or the feeling of fullness, from 3 to 8.5 hours after consumption (5). Tate & Lyle's soluble fibre dextrin is a resistant dextrin that can be isolated from tapioca or corn.
Researchers from Iowa State University provided 41 healthy adults with lunch including a test beverage containing 10 or 20 g of fibre from tapioca SFD versus a maltodextrin control beverage followed by a snack two and a half hours later. The study participants reported feeling fuller, less feeling of hunger and less desire to eat compared to the control beverage from 3 to 8.5 hours after consumption of the beverage that contained 20 g of fibre as SFD, while the SFD had no impact on appetite or overall food intake during the first 2.5 hours post consumption. These results indicate that the SFD may be slowly digested leading to delayed effects on appetite. "This newly developed soluble fibre dextrin can increase fibre intake, helping consumers meet fibre recommendations, while simultaneously controlling their appetite which may lead to reduced energy intake," stated James Hollis, PhD, a lead researcher on the study.
Increased Calcium Absorption
A third study (6), also presented at the American Society for Nutrition Experimental Biology conference in Boston, assessed the effect of PROMITOR Soluble Corn Fibre* (SCF) on fecal microbiota (bacterial environment of the gut) in relation to calcium absorption in 24 racially diverse, male and female adolescentsa population in need of adequate calcium intake for bone growth and development. Researchers from Purdue University found that when the adolescents consumed 12 g/day of SCF versus a control, they experienced a 12% increase in calcium absorption. This increase in calcium absorption was correlated with significant increases in specific strains of beneficial bacteria, namely Bacteroides, Alistipes, Butyricicoccus, Oscillibacter, and Dialister in the gut suggesting that SCF may increase calcium absorption through changes in gut microbiota (6).
"Emerging research on soluble corn fibre indicates that added fibres provide health benefits such as increased calcium absorption via their effect on beneficial bacteria" said Connie Weaver, PhD, a lead researcher on this study. This is the first study to show that increases in these specific bacteria were significantly correlated with the observed increase in calcium absorption.
Meeting Fibre Intake Recommendations
Most fibre recommendations for adults call for intakes ranging from 25-38 g/day depending on country specific worldwide guidelines (3). While individuals should increase their consumption of dietary fibre from sources such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes and whole grains, fibres added to foods, like PROMITOR Soluble Corn Fibre*, STA-LITE Polydextrose, and soluble fibre dextrin, can help close the gap between recommended and actual intakes of fibre while providing additional health benefits such as increased calcium absorption, improved gut health, and increased satiety.
"The results from these new studies add to the growing body of research that supports the addition of fibres to foods that consumers are already eating, which easily allows for increased fibre intakes and provides added health benefits," said Priscilla Samuel, PhD, Director of Global Nutrition for Tate & Lyle. "Tate & Lyle is committed to investment in innovation and research to ensure that our ingredients, which can be incorporated into great tasting foods, can also help consumers meet their nutrition, health and wellness needs every day."
*PROMITOR Soluble Gluco Fibre in Europe
###
About Tate & Lyle:
Tate & Lyle is a global provider of ingredients and solutions to the food, beverage and other industries, operating from over 30 production facilities around the world.
Tate & Lyle operates through two global business units, Speciality Food Ingredients and Bulk Ingredients, supported by Innovation and Commercial Development. The Group's strategy is to become the leading global provider of Speciality Food Ingredients through a disciplined focus on growth, and by driving the Bulk Ingredients business for sustained cash generation to fuel this growth.
Speciality Food Ingredients include starch-based speciality ingredients (corn-based speciality starches, sweeteners and fibres), no calorie sweeteners (including SPLENDA Sucralose) and Food Systems which provides blended ingredient solutions. Bulk Ingredients include corn-based bulk sweeteners, industrial starches and fermentation products (primarily acidulants). The co-products from both divisions are primarily sold as animal feed.
Tate & Lyle is listed on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol TATE.L. American Depositary Receipts trade under TATYY. In the year to 31 March 2012, Tate & Lyle sales totalled 3.1 billion. http://www.tateandlyle.com. SPLENDA is a trademark of McNeil Nutritionals, LLC.
References:
U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010. http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/dgas2010-dgacreport.htm
Spiller GA (ed.) CRC Handbook of Dietary Fiber in Human Nutrition, 3rd Edition. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, Fla. 2001.
Gray J. Dietary Fibre. Definition, Analysis, Physiology and Health. ILSI Europe Dietary Fibre Concise Monograph Series. 2006. http://www.ilsi.org.ar/index.php?com=descarga&que=publicaciones&id=80
Timm DA, Thomas W, Boileau TW, Williamson-Hughes PS, Slavin JL. Polydextrose and Soluble Corn Fiber Increase Five-Day Fecal Wet Weight in Healthy Men and Women. J Nutr. 143:473-478;2013.
Hutchinson C, Hsu WH, Hollis JH. Effect of soluble fiber dextrin on postprandial appetite and subsequent food intake in healthy adults. Presented at Experimental Biology. Boston, MA. April 20-24, 2013.
Whisner CM, Nakatsu CH, Martin BR, McCabe LD, McCabe GP, Weaver CM. Soluble corn fiber modulates calcium absorption by altering colonic microbiota.. Poster at Experimental Biology. Boston, MA. April 20-24, 2013.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
In the episode ?Mr. Monk and the Kid,? a foster mother takes her five kids to a park. Two-year-old Tommy Grazer wanders off, and is found fifteen minutes later holding a severed, adult human finger. Monk is called to help the police figure out what happened, and he is introduced to Tommy. Monk takes Tommy on a walk, hoping that Tommy will retrace his steps and lead Monk to clues. While walking together, Monk and Tommy bond. A social worker informs the foster mother that Tommy will be removed pending a routine investigation, but confides to Monk that she is having difficulty finding an emergency home for him. ?The episode (Season 3 Episode 16) is available for instant streaming on Netflix and (for free) on Hulu. How is This Relevant to Foster Care / Adoption? 
Monk feels a strong connection to Tommy, largely because Tommy keeps saying ?Monk.?? He offers that Tommy can live with him. The social worker quickly agrees, and Tommy immediately goes to live with Monk. Monk finds that he loves Tommy and hopes that Tommy will love him. He says that he will never let Tommy go; later, however, he admits that he cannot even care for himself. He allows Tommy to be placed with another family. Single parenthood is affirmed as a difficult but rewarding task. Monk asserts that he would do anything for Tommy ? even die for him ? because he considers him to be his son, even though they?ve only recently met. Monk?s quick, unconditional (and ultimately unselfish) love for Tommy is a positive characteristic for any foster parent to emulate. 
Monk?s rapid acceptance of Tommy is a good thing; Tommy?s rapid acceptance of Monk is a bit problematic. Tommy is an exceptionally friendly toddler who quickly feels comfortable with police officers, Monk?s assistant, a social worker, and ultimately Monk. While Monk was flattered and touched that Tommy took to him so quickly, Tommy?s indiscriminate, rapid attachment seems reflective of Reactive Attachment Disorder, and should probably be explored rather than celebrated. Monk?s motives in taking in Tommy appear to be mixed. He cares for Tommy, quickly considers him a son, and is eager to meet his needs. However, Monk has been emotionally isolated for many years, and seems to depend on Tommy for emotional support and validation. This isn?t uncommon, but it is an unhealthily large burden to place on any toddler. 
The social worker in the story is basically negligent. She places Tommy in Monk?s home without having Monk undergo any home study or background check. She fails to notice that Monk does not even have a bed for Tommy, and she ignores obvious clues that should have suggested that Monk wasn?t quite ready to care for a child (for example, Monk seems surprised that Tommy eats the same food Monk eats, and seems surprised that a toddler is ?a person.?) 
** BIG SPOILER ALERT ** The foster parents are money-hungry villains; the severed finger belonged to a violinist who they kidnapped for ransom. He is discovered in their garage, and the foster parents are arrested. It can be interesting to see foster care and adoption themes in unexpected places. I usually enjoy Monk, but was bothered by the inaccuracies in this episode. I wouldn?t recommend this for kids; children who have had abusive foster parents might be triggered by the episode, and children who have good foster parents might be introduced to an unhelpful stereotype. Parents watching the episode might resonate with the thought that they would do anything for a child they love ? even if they?ve met that child only recently. 
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Public release date: 22-Apr-2013
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