Clinton urges Egypt, Israel to talk on Sinai

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Egypt's foreign minister to keep lines of communication open with Israel amid tensions over an Egyptian push against militants in the neighboring Sinai desert, the State Department said Thursday.

Clinton spoke with Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr on Wednesday and stressed the importance of acting transparently as Cairo deploys aircraft and tanks in Sinai, for the first time since a 1973 war with Israel, to pursue Islamist militants blamed for killing 16 border guards in an Aug. 5 attack.

"This call was in keeping with a series of contacts we've had in recent days with both Egyptians and Israelis encouraging both sides to keep the lines of communication open," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.

Israeli officials have expressed concern over the Egyptian deployment, saying the vehicles' entry into the Sinai was not coordinated and was in violation of a 1979 peace treaty.

But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has not lodged a formal protest, preferring to try and resolve the issue in quiet contacts including US mediation to avoid worsening ties with Cairo, already strained since Hosni Mubarak was toppled by a popular revolt last year.

Nuland said the Sinai security situation should be addressed "in a way that first and foremost strengthens Egypt's security but also has a positive impact on the security of neighbors and the region as a whole."

Nuland declined to say whether the United States believed Egypt had been insufficiently transparent or failed to keep Israel informed.

"Our view is that effective mechanisms do exist and that they just need to continue to be used," she said.

The US-brokered 1979 peace treaty between Egypt and Israel sets strict limits on military deployment in the Sinai, which is designated as a demilitarized buffer zone.

But Israeli media have speculated that coordination with Egypt may suffer after a shakeup this month of Egypt's military, including Islamist President Mohammed Mursi's dismissals of officials Israel had long been in contact with.

Source: http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=514055

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Elusive metal discovered: Nickel oxide turned into an electricity-conducting metal

ScienceDaily (Aug. 22, 2012) ? Carnegie scientists are the first to discover the conditions under which nickel oxide can turn into an electricity-conducting metal. Nickel oxide is one of the first compounds to be studied for its electronic properties, but until now scientists have not been able to induce a metallic state. The compound becomes metallic at enormous pressures of 2.4 million times the atmospheric pressure (240 gigapascals).

The finding is published in Physical Review Letters.

"Physicists have predicted for decades that the nickel oxide would transition from an insulator -- a compound that does not conduct electricity -- to a metal under compression, but their predictions have not previously been confirmed," remarked team leader Viktor Struzhkin of Carnegie's Geophysical Laboratory. "This new discovery has been a goal in physics that ranks as high as achieving metallic hydrogen, but for metal oxides."

The outer shells of atoms contain what are called valence electrons, which play a large role in electrical and chemical behavior. Metals generally have one to three of these valence electrons, while non-metals have between five and seven. Metals are good conductors of electricity because the valence electrons are loosely bound, so the electrons are free to flow through the material.

Nickel oxide is what is called a transition metal oxide, which despite its partially filled outer shell of electrons, remains an insulator. The scientists placed thin crystal samples, no more than one millionth of a meter (micron) thick, into a custom-designed diamond anvil cell. Four thin foil leads were crafted to allow the measurements. The researchers were able to measure declining electronic resistance beginning at 1.3 million atmospheres (130 gigapascals). At 2.4 million atmospheres there was a dramatic, three-order-of-magnitude drop in electronic resistance indicating a change from a semiconducting to a metallic state. The metallic part of the material was located in the region of highest compression.

"This finding is certainly important in providing a better understanding of advanced electronic materials," said Alexander Gavriliuk, first author of the publication and a visiting scientist at Carnegie's Geophysical Laboratory. "But it also gets us closer to the ultimate goal of the condensed matter science -- improving theory so it can predict the properties of new materials and then guiding their preparation for practical use."

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Carnegie Institution.

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


Journal Reference:

  1. Alexander Gavriliuk, Ivan Trojan, Viktor Struzhkin. Insulator-Metal Transition in Highly Compressed NiO. Physical Review Letters, 2012; 109 (8) DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.086402

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/sjyV8lVD68M/120822154701.htm

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Japan PM meets activists as he ponders nuclear power

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda met representatives of a growing anti-nuclear energy movement on Wednesday amid signs his government, pressured by public safety fears, might be leaning towards a target to eliminate atomic power within two decades.

Energy policy has become a major headache for Noda and his Democratic Party of Japan, its ratings battered ahead of a general election many expect within months.

The activists demanded a swift exit from nuclear power, with trust in it undermined by last year's Fukushima atomic disaster, while Noda restated the government's stance to reduce reliance on atomic energy without saying by how much or when.

"We will never, never, never, never give up until reactors are shut. We will never forget the accident on March 11 and what we've lost because of that," one of 11 representatives told Noda in a meeting that was open to media.

Meltdowns at the Fukushima nuclear plant after a March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami caused radiation to spew over large areas, forcing more than 160,0000 people to flee. In the following months, all of Japan's nuclear plants were shut for safety checks. Two reactors resumed operations last month.

"We'll never stop our protests until the government says in clear words, that even children can understand, that it will abandon nuclear power," the activist said.

Noda is trying to decide on a medium-term energy plan after the accident forced the government to scrap a 2010 plan to boost nuclear power's share to more than half of electricity needs by 2030. The share before the disaster was about 30 percent.

"We aim to set a direction on energy mix that will give a sense of security to the public in a responsible way," Noda told the activists. "We would like to decide while taking your opinion into consideration and hearing other views as well."

Anti-nuclear protests, including demonstrations every Friday outside Noda's office, have grown since he decided to restart the two reactors in July to avoid blackouts.

A protest was underway before the meeting with the activists, with about 100 people shouting and beating drums.

The rest of the country's 50 reactors remain shut, mostly for safety checks, but feared blackouts have not materialized.

The government is considering three options for its energy portfolio: reduce nuclear power's role to zero as soon as possible, aim at 15 percent by 2030, or seek a 20-25 percent share by the same date.

"HAVING TROUBLE"

A government survey of nearly 300 people showed almost half - by far the largest group - favored the zero option. Kyodo news agency said almost 90 percent of those who submitted comments agreed.

Economics Minister Motohisa Furukawa, who heads a group of ministers in charge of energy strategy, told reporters on Tuesday he wanted to aim for reducing reliance on nuclear power to zero.

But it was not clear if he meant that as a short-term target or something to strive for in the longer term, said a government source with knowledge of the debate.

"I think the politicians are having trouble making up their minds," said the source.

Noda, echoing worries by Japan's big business, has justified the need for nuclear power in the short-term by citing concern about high electricity costs that could force companies to move overseas, taking jobs with them.

In a sign he takes those views seriously, Noda was meeting the head of the Tokyo Chamber of Commerce later in the day. But he has sought to dispel concern that his government was too much under the sway of business.

The fractious ruling party, which has suffered defections over Noda's plan to double the sales tax by 2015 to curb ballooning debt, is also divided over nuclear energy.

Noda's two predecessors - Naoto Kan, who was premier when the 2011 disaster happened and who brokered Wednesday's meeting, and Yukio Hatoyama, who was party leader when the Democrats took power three years ago - have come out against atomic power, long promoted in Japan as cheap, safe and clean.

"Electricity demand is hitting a peak during the summer baseball season but even so, there have not been any blackouts," Hatoyama told Reuters in an interview this week. "We should set a target of zero (by 2030)."

(Reporting by Linda Sieg)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/japan-pm-meets-activists-ponders-nuclear-power-081023677.html

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Can meaning be quantified?

This emerged from a very bizarre and strangely compelling dream. The original idea was so incomprehensible that I don't think I'll even try to explain it. Rather, I'll present the core issue. (Or rather I should say the superficial one, since the core issue cannot be explained by human words alone. Dream logic and all that.)

Although language and concepts are rather subjective and arbitrary, is meaning itself an objective thing? Is meaning itself out there in the world, waiting to be measured with the right kind of ruler? If not, how else could I say something and still be understood by someone else?

That is the qualitative part of the question. As to quantitative measurement, let's say that a tautology is defined to be exactly one plato. Could I then use that to measure, relative to a tautology, the platos in the sentence "there is a computer on the desk"? Or the platos of a contradiction? Are two contradictions actually precisely equal to identity, or is that just an approximation due to lack of a proper ruler? How many wrongs equal a right? (Negative one?)

I think I just need to cut back on something in my diet. Maybe carbohydrates.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/RolePlayGateway/~3/f1YqyyIf3Zo/viewtopic.php

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Concrete Foundations Ensuring Strength and Durability to Homes


by linga
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Are you planning to build a house? If so, then you must use a strong and durable base for the foundation of the house. The construction might be done on concrete foundations that will provide safety and security to the dwellers. Before constructing the foundation, decide on whether it will be shallow or deep, depending upon which the concrete would be laid. A vapor barrier is installed before pouring a concrete base that makes it strong and hard. They are of three types such as,
  • T-Shaped
  • Slab on Grade Foundation
  • Frost Protected Foundation
  • The T-shaped foundations can be constructed in the places where the ground freezes. A footing is placed on the base and the walls are made. Liquid concrete is poured in a frame that dries up, giving it a solid look; this is how a concrete slab is made. The slab on grade is thicker although it is poured at one time. Hence, reinforcing slab on grade foundation for the architecture can a smart choice. T-shaped foundations required thrice coating of concrete whereas frost protected base requires monolithic coating of concrete. There can be much confusion on the right kind of concrete base for the foundation of the building. There are quite a few groundwork Manchester agencies in UK that to help in choosing the right kind of foundation for your building.

    The concrete base is water resistant that lessens basement water problems. The strong wall construction protects from fire. Moreover, concrete base do not need any regular maintenance. The strength and durable features of concrete enables it to protect the house from extreme climatic conditions. The designs are adaptable to home architecture and leave a smooth finish on the house. Moreover, constructing concrete foundations is cost-effective and energy efficient. The concrete blocks are made of cement, lime, water and crushed rocks that make it strong and earthquake resistant. It also has high thermal mass which is adding life-long sustainability to the concrete base.

    Earthquake or any other natural calamity can cause severe damage to the house and can even uproot it from the base. Hence, building concrete base for the house can be a smart move on your part. The strength and firmness of concrete will keep the house intact to the ground and will lessen the possibility of cracks that might occur due to earthquake. However, constructing concrete ground for the house is not an easy work to do; the UK groundwork Manchester agencies may help you to keep your dream house safe with concrete block building and groundwork.

    We are a groundwork Manchester company, helping you to build your house with concrete foundations to lessen the number of cracks on the floor and make the house weather sustainable.

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    Katja's Art Studio Now Provides Gift Cards ? Long Live The DJ

    Gift vouchers or gift cards are a great option if you haven?t thought of a gift till the last moment. If you want to give a nice gift to an animal lover friend or a pet owner relative, try pet art gift cards. Katja?s Art Studio now provides gift vouchers that a receiver can redeem to commission original pet portraits like those of dogs, cats, and horses.

    You can choose from traditional gift vouchers for original pet portraits. Online gift cards allow pet owners to dedicate websites to their pets. The traditional gift vouchers can be redeemed for original paintings and drawings of pets. Owners of dogs, cats and horses love to decorate their homes with original pet paintings. Even a website dedicated to their beloved pet would make them happy beyond imagination.

    For more information about pet art gift vouchers, visit http://www.pet-art.net/gift-vouchers.htm

    Those who are looking for the perfect gift to give their pet lover friend or relative can now order for gift vouchers at Katja?s Art Studio. Traditional gift cards as well as online gift cards are available at Katja?s website. These vouchers can be redeemed by their owners to commission original pet portraits. Katja?s gift vouchers are valid up to five years.

    About Katja?s Art Studio

    Katja?s Art Studio is owned by professional pet portrait artist Katja Turnsek. She specializes in creating life-like paintings and drawings of pets like dogs, cats and horses. Patrons can get their paintings framed through Katja and can even purchase prints of the original paintings that they commission. Katja works with oil, pencil and pastel. Her pet paintings can be sketchy or highly detailed depending upon a patron?s choice. Katja creates pet portraits of dogs, cats, horses and other animals from the photographs sent by their owners.

    Contact Details:

    Katja?s Art Studio ? Katja Turnsek

    R?vek?rrsgatan 7, 431 33 M?lndal

    SWEDEN

    Phone : +46 730 785 744

    E-mail: katja@pet-art.net

    Source: http://longlivethedj.com/katjas-art-studio-now-provides-gift-cards/

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    Content Professor The World Easiest Web Based Article Spinner ...

    Queensland researchers work towards better treatment of drug addiction

    The University of Queensland researchers are seeking to identify more effective ways of treating drug addiction to tackle the perceived prevalence of injecting drug use worldwide.

    Research and Markets: United Kingdom 2012 - UK Marketing Data - One of the Most Comprehensive and Complete UK Data ...

    DUBLIN--(BUSINESSWIRE)-- Research and Markets ( http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/rpqgsc/united_kingdom_201 ) has announced the addition of the "United Kingdom 2012 - UK Marketing Data" ...

    UA Engineering Professor Uses Aerospace Materials To Build Endless Green Pipeline

    Mo Ehsani, Professor Emeritus of Civil Engineering at the University of Arizona, has designed a new, lightweight underground pipe he says could transform the pipeline construction industry.By Pete Brown

    Older consumers may be too tolerant for their own good

    A study into consumer reactions to faulty products has shown olderpeople are more tolerant than young when things go wrong. Dr Daniel Laufer, Associate Professor of Marketing at VictoriaUniversity, was part of a team that investigated how different agegroups reacted to newspaper reports of product failures. "Understanding the behaviour of older consumers will beincreasingly important as their ...

    Marketing Isn?t Dead ? Just Morphing

    Local business review site 5StarControl takes a stand on the question of whether or not traditional marketing is dead.Seattle, WA (PRWEB) August 19, 2012 5StarControl has decided to issue an announcement about a Howard University Professor?s attack of a Harvard University Marketing study that claims traditional marketing is on the wane. ...

    iGrow Offers Drought Marketing Tips

    BROOKINGS ? The 2012 drought has been a game-changer in almost every aspect of farm and ranch management, including production, financial, and marketing, says Darrell Mark, Adjunct Professor of Economics at South Dakota State University, during his Aug. 6 weekly Cattle Corn Comments on the iGrow Radio Network.

    Harvard Business School to Host Program on Corporate Social Responsibility

    Harvard Business School will host an executive education program, Corporate Social Responsibility: Strategies to Create Business and Social Value, from October 17?20, 2012 on the HBS Campus.

    GIMPA inaugurates Professor Franklyn Achampong Manu as new Rector

    The Governing Council of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, on Wednesday inaugurated Professor Franklyn Achampong Manu as its new Rector.

    Deal Professor: In the Ordinary, Silicon Valley Is Finding the Next Big Thing

    Square, the new mobile payments device start-up, is really just an example of what Silicon Valley has become: process and networking at their finest.

    MIT Professor Says Samsung Customers Would Pay 0 More For Features Apple Says It Swiped

    Samsung?s customers would be willing to pay 0 more for the features that Apple asserts are covered by patents that it alleges Samung violated, John Hauser, a professor of Marketing at MIT?s Sloan School of management testified Friday at the U.S. District Court in San Jose, California. It?s a key point [...]

    Source: http://ecommerce.matrix-e.com/emarketing/2705-content-professor-the-world-easiest-web-based-article-spinner-business-marketing.html

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    Assange's mother confident he will get to Ecuador

    The mother of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange expressed confidence Sunday that her son would make it to Ecuador to continue his whistleblowing work despite a tense diplomatic standoff over his asylum.

    Assange has been holed up in the safe haven of Ecuador's embassy in London for two months and while he has been granted asylum in that country, he risks arrest if he steps outside the building.

    Asked whether she thought it was realistic Assange would make it to Ecuador, his mother, Christine Assange, said: "I think it is very realistic."

    "He's had billions of people around the world supporting him, the US and their allies are almost alone on this one and the support grows day by day," she told ABC 24 from the Gold Coast.

    "It could be that the UK government decides to backtrack from this position of being the US lap dog and stands up for its own sovereignty as well as the sovereignty of Ecuador."

    Britain has angered Ecuador by suggesting it could invoke the Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act of 1987, which it says allows it to revoke the diplomatic immunity of an embassy on British soil and go in to arrest Assange.

    Christine Assange said her son was worried about what would happen next but that he was still in "good spirits".

    "Obviously he's very concerned about the fact that US allies are not only content to break their own domestic laws and protocols in regard to his case... but are now willing to break international law," she said.

    Assange, a 41-year-old Australian, took refuge in the embassy on June 19 to evade extradition to Sweden where he is wanted for questioning over alleged sexual misconduct.

    Supporters of the former hacker believe that once in Sweden he could be extradited to the United States where they fear he could face espionage charges over WikiLeaks' publication of a vast cache of sensitive files.

    Australia confirmed Saturday that its diplomatic post in Washington had been preparing for Assange's possible extradition to the US but played it down as "contingency planning", saying there was no evidence the US planned to do so.

    Christine Assange said if her son made it to Ecuador he would go mountain climbing and continue his WikiLeaks work.

    "Julian is an avid mountain climber. He's been assured that he can continue with his work as an investigative journalist."

    "I think he will feel both safe and enjoy his time there."

    Source: http://news.yahoo.com/assanges-mother-confident-ecuador-055624180.html

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    10 Things to Know for Monday

    In this July 25, 2012 photo, Paola laughs as Lancelot, an American cocker spaniel, walks on her bed at the SOLCA hospital in Quito, Ecuador. The dog's owner says her dogs are used every Wednesday to cheer up the most discouraged of the patients. Hospital workers began to notice that on Wednesdays fewer children had to be kept over because of problems after chemotherapy. Doctors found that youngsters' adrenaline levels rose from being with the dogs, boosting their resistance to chemo's side effects. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

    In this July 25, 2012 photo, Paola laughs as Lancelot, an American cocker spaniel, walks on her bed at the SOLCA hospital in Quito, Ecuador. The dog's owner says her dogs are used every Wednesday to cheer up the most discouraged of the patients. Hospital workers began to notice that on Wednesdays fewer children had to be kept over because of problems after chemotherapy. Doctors found that youngsters' adrenaline levels rose from being with the dogs, boosting their resistance to chemo's side effects. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

    Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, carries an iPad as he walks into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Sunday, Aug. 19, 2012, in Wolfeboro, N.H. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

    Map locates a disputed chain of islands between China, Taiwan and Japan called Senkaku in Japanese and Diaoyu in Chinese;

    Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about today (times EDT):

    1. MEDICARE TAKES CENTER STAGE FOR ROMNEY, RYAN

    The Republicans hold a town hall with New Hampshire voters and hope to assuage skittish seniors.

    2. BLUE MONDAY: WHEN THE WEEK STARTS WITH A STOCK SLUMP

    The first day of the week is the only one when the market is more likely to fall than to rise.

    3. MYANMAR PRESS FREEDOM TAKES A STEP

    Journalists will no longer have to submit their work to state censors ? something they've done for nearly half a century. But other restrictions remain.

    4. QUESTIONS FOLLOW DEATH OF TONY SCOTT

    Authorities are investigating the death of the "Top Gun" director ? who jumped off a bridge in LA ? as a suicide.

    5. FIGHTING OVER UNINHABITED ISLANDS

    The Chinese call them the Diaoyu, the Japanese say they're the Senkaku chain. Whatever name you choose, they're the subject of one of the biggest territorial flare-ups in years between the Asian giants.

    6. MISSOURI SENATE CANDIDATE BACKS OFF RAPE COMMENTS

    GOP Rep. Todd Akin first said a woman's body "has ways" to prevent pregnancy during "a legitimate rape."

    7. WHAT A SUSPENDED DEATH SENTENCE MEANS

    The punishment for Gu Kailai, wife of a disgraced former Chinese politician, will likely end up as life in prison after her murder conviction.

    8. THE STATE DINNER FOR KIDS (HOLD THE TATER TOTS)

    First lady Michelle Obama hosts a luncheon for 8- to 12-year-old winners of a healthy lunch recipe contest.

    9. WHAT DOG VISITS MEAN TO SICK KIDS

    Two canines scampering through a hospital ward in Ecuador bring smiles ? and even relief ? to kids with cancer.

    10. NYAD TAKES A STINGING, KEEPS ON SWIMMING

    The 62-year-old endurance athlete continues on her 103-mile quest to swim from Florida to Cuba.

    Associated Press

    Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-08-20-10%20Things%20to%20Know-Monday/id-764c6fd7a2144f50abbec1b4ca920a31

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