The 5,300-year-old Iceman had brown eyes, Lyme disease and modern-day Mediterranean relatives
Web edition : 2:45 pm
By peering deeply into the DNA of the mummy known as ?tzi, geneticists have expanded the rap sheet on the 5,300-year-old Iceman: He had brown eyes, brown hair and blood type O, was lactose intolerant and his modern-day relatives live on Corsica and Sardinia.
These vital statistics and more come from an analysis of the Tyrolean man?s complete genetic blueprints, reported online February 28 in Nature Communications. The DNA analysis also found that the Iceman, found frozen and well-preserved in the Alps in 1991, carried genetic risk factors for heart disease. And he was infected with the bacterium that causes Lyme disease, making him the oldest known case of the disease.
For the new study, researchers led by Albert Zink, an anthropologist at the European Academy of Bolzano in Italy, removed a bit of ?tzi?s hip bone and extracted DNA from the sample. The mummy?s fresh-frozen state helped preserve his DNA, making deciphering a complete of set genetic blueprints easier than for most ancient samples, says Niels Lynnerup, a forensic anthropologist at the University of Copenhagen. ?It is much better DNA than you can get from one dry old bone,? he says.
?tzi?s brown eyes and lactose intolerance are evidence that scientists are right about the pace of evolution of some human traits, says John Hawks, an anthropologist at the University of Wisconsin?Madison. Mutations that gave rise to blue eyes and the ability to digest dairy products into adulthood arose sometime within the past 10,000 years but took multiple generations to spread throughout Europe.
People living in ?tzi?s time ?had the dairy animals, but what they didn?t have was enough generations for the gene to become common,? Hawks says. The finding that the Iceman was lactose intolerant confirms that picture. ?We were right about this gene. It is new.?
Previous studies of ?tzi?s genetic past examined DNA only from cells? energy-making factories, called mitochondria. People inherit mitochondria from their mothers, so that genetic material can be used to trace a person?s maternal lineage. ?tzi?s mitochondria carry some genetic variants not seen in modern Europeans, leading scientists to think that his maternal line has died out.
In the new study, researchers examined all of the Iceman?s DNA, including his Y chromosome. Since Y chromosomes are passed from father to son, certain molecular signatures on the chromosome can help identify relatives from the father?s side of the family. ?tzi?s Y chromosome contains genetic variants that are rare in Europe today, and found mainly in people who live on the islands of Corsica and Sardinia.
That doesn?t mean that the Iceman isn?t related to present-day people from the southern Alps where he lived and died, Zink says. Scientists don?t have DNA samples from many people in the Tyrolean Alps with which to compare ?tzi?s DNA, leaving open the possibility that researchers may yet discover other modern-day relatives, he says.
?tzi is the first ancient person ever diagnosed with Lyme disease, an infection caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. Researchers have known that the bacterium has infected animals for millions of years and thought that ancient humans probably contracted the illness as well.
?It has been a theory that it goes back many, many thousands of years, but we?ve not had proof before,? says Allen Steere, a physician and scientist at Harvard Medical School in Boston who first discovered and named Lyme disease. ?This is proof that it goes back at least 5,000 years, and probably a long time before that.?
[unable to retrieve full-text content]AP - Millions of children are growing up in squalid urban areas and denied basic services despite living close to them, the United Nations Children's Fund said Tuesday.
'Dateline NBC,' the signature broadcast for NBC News in primetime, premiered in 1992. Since then, it has been pioneering a new approach to primetime news programming. The multi-night franchise, supplemented by frequent specials, allows NBC to consistently and comprehensively present the highest-quality reporting, investigative features, breaking news coverage and newsmaker profiles.
Home Improvement Are Essentiial For Owners. Whenever you start talking about replacement windows and deciding you have to discover all there is to it; keep in mind it will not be an overnight task. As we have sometimes heard, and maybe you too, that if you do not immediately recognize there is a lot more that should be learned then you may stop at what you do know. There is a more than good chance that what may be useful to you in your situation is a little beyond the immediate scope of what is normally found online or anywhere else. Missing critical information can lead to complications, and then you are still trying to figure out what is going on. Anytime you are reading or learning about something, you have to widen your perspective so you have a more effective base from which to proceed.
There has definitely been a movement toward people doing green home improvement projects over the past few years. This isn?t all too surprising though, considering the fact that the cost of fossil fuels is always going up. Lots of average homeowners have taken the plunge and invested in their home so that in the years to come they can save money. And if the house has an efficient and green energy system the overall value will go up. Even taking proactive measures such as installing Energy Star rated windows and doors will save you money and add more value, too. If you?ve never considered doing these things then maybe you should.
If you?re looking for an investment with an excellent return and plan to stay in your home a little while then double pane windows are definitely the way to go. Of course you should also consider your location and determine if it is really necessary. But if you go through extremes of cold and hot seasons or primarily one of the two, then these windows can be a real blessing to have. In addition to serving to insulate the windows from the weather outside these windows serve as a barrier for sound too. These panes have varying widths between ?inch and one inch. Argon, an inert gas, is usually used to fill this space. These few considerations will make a difference in your information as they relate to interior designer salary. They are by no means all there is to learn as you will quickly discover. Nonetheless, you will find them to be of great utility in your search for information. However, we always stress that anyone takes a closer examination at the overall big picture as it applies to this subject. Continue reading because you do not want to miss these critical knowledge items.
Redoing the kitchen countertops can give your home more value depending on the materials you pick out and how it looks in the end. If your goal is to keep them for a long time and you want a material that is elegant and stylish, then choose tile, granite or marble. Also think about the everyday treatment that your countertops will receive.
Each of those three have diverse material properties, and that means they will react differently depending on the usage conditions. Yes, they can be considered to be very expensive, but they are very stylish, chic and long lasting if you maintain them in the right manner.
The pipes that are in and outside of your home would be considered as another lackluster home improvement. You can think about them in terms of what they do like draining water or bringing water in.
You should get them inspected on a yearly basis for possible leaks, corrosion or damage. If there is hard water in your home, then there is a huge possibility that mineral deposits can build up in your home. In addition, your hot water pipes should have some type of insulation. If so, then you can quickly inspect the insulation when you push it aside to look at the pipes.
These simple projects not only make your home a better place to be but they can also add value to your home as well. Whenever you need to hire professionals to do the job properly, be sure you go with proven and established businesses that will guarantee their work.
You have read through this article and have a better appreciation about real estate broker salary, hopefully. The range of all that is involved with it, though, would be a very difficult thing for anybody to foresee. Once that occurs, of course there will be issues that appear that you were not expecting. Essentially that should clue you in about the need for added investigation. That is just one of the great things about the net ? there is plenty of information out there. As you proceed along that path, you must always verify sources and presentations made, as you know. We have all seen sites that sure looked pretty suspect with their content, and you always need to pay attention.
Most people are conscious of Ben Franklin because man who was standing while it is raining traveling a kite to signify which lightning was a kind of electricity. Franklin was also a inkjet printer in addition to classifieds writer, postmaster, civic capitalist, researcher, creator, diplomat, in addition to drafter from the National Promise of Freedom. In which performed he or she find the time to try and do a great deal?
Ben Toler was also Our country?s first self-improvement wizard. At the chronilogical age of 27 he started his or her ?Project of coming to that means Flawlessness.Inch Franklin revealed endless weeks of frustration virtues in addition to developed a technique to accomplish all of them. These were: temperance, silence, obtain, image resolution, frugality, marketplace, sincerity, justice, it?s a good, cleanness, relaxed atmosphere, in addition to chastity.
Every time a close friend recommended which Franklin shown up extremely pleased, he or she added in ?humility? to the record since product amount thirteen.
Understanding that it could be difficult to give attention to many of these places at a time, Franklin focused on a single each week, in addition to duplicated the entire period 4 times each year. It absolutely was tough likely in addition to Franklin often droped less than the potential. As he never ever attained that means perfection, he or she discovered this exercising helpful and his awesome character very much enhanced.
Meaningful perfection is simply too higher a standard. Because perfection just isn?t humanly possible, this perfectionist it?s essentially telling himself which almost nothing he is doing opportunity do well adequate. Franklin recognized this specific in addition to moderated his or her purpose. This individual hasn?t been best, although he or she has been amazingly profitable in addition to productive in the course of his or her living. Once you look at his or her record and ways in which he or she greeted the idea you start out to know the reason why.
?Dost thou love lives? And then usually do not squander period, pertaining to that?s the goods our life is manufactured from,Inch Franklin composed. Pricing up period can be a no-brainer for many individuals, once we appear to have weak hands time and want to benefit from the idea. Yet pricing up time and basically employing the period as though many of us importance the idea hugely tend to be 2 something more important. Several of Franklin?s virtues handle the call to just work at pricing up time and utilizing it smartly: Decision, Obtain, in addition to Business.
Decision indicates generating beneficial on the pledges, employing in addition to undertaking, in addition to doing it to help completion. It will take persistence in addition to dedication. Obtain indicates organization in addition to systematic, preparing, in addition to prioritizing the activities. Business indicates working hard, focusing on the targets in addition to being profitable. Usually the one personalized quality powering many of these will be self-discipline.
Exactly what wisdom will Franklin present all of us with regards to discipline-doing the job of pricing up the time and controlling the seo things? Franklin organized his or her virtues-his targets in addition to priorities-into a method. This individual proceeded step by step. This individual shattered his or her primary objective-self-improvement-into smaller sized desired goals. This individual aimed at all of them one after the other. This individual assessed his or her progress by preserve track of how often he or she erred, and the man analyzed his or her progress on a regular basis. By simply developing a technique to assist himself give attention to his or her desired goals in addition to evaluate his or her progress, Franklin managed to regularly enhance in addition to accomplish far more than his or her competitors.
Devices tend to be vital in every program pertaining to controlling time and things. It?s not adequate to regulate jobs like returning mail and call cell phone calls, dealing with forms, in addition to planning reviews with an ad hoc time frame. A infrequent tactic can make infrequent final results. Putting away period pertaining to carrying out schedule jobs, employing layouts to your work, and achieving methods in position enables you to be both equally efficient and effective.
One more function of Franklin?s tactic has been consistency. Franklin aimed at a single goal each week, finishing this period with thirteen days, in addition to practicing this period 4 times each year. This individual duplicated the process every single year. To work with their own text, ?Energy in addition to persistence beat all things.Inch Utilizing period properly can be a few pattern, in addition to practices originated from consistency. Utilizing inadequate time management skills is also a few pattern. The best way to eradicate an undesirable pattern is to change it out with a decent pattern, and that requires training in addition to consistency.
Ultimately, Franklin prepared in addition to prepared. The important thing in managing your time and energy in addition to things will be organizing the activities in addition to preparing strategies to total all of them. Every single day always begins that has a preparing procedure. Point about this preparing period will be committed to developing a ?to do? set of prioritized targets. Basically, carrying out a technique pertaining to organizing in addition to preparing.
A person as soon as claimed ?If you actually are not able to prepare you are wanting to fail.Inch It absolutely was most likely Franklin!t
Home ? Events ? International Ballet Company Premieres New Choreography
by: Philharmonic Association
This event brings together some of the area?s most talented young artists in a unique program including newly choreographed works by International Ballet Company Artistic Director, Miguel Campaneria and New York City Ballet member, Lauren Lovette. These works will feature live music provided by the Triangle Youth Philharmonic.
Apart from shelter, education, clothing and other basic wishes youngsters also have to have a healthy psychological and physical development so they're going to be ready to grow the way that they should be. Psychological and emotional Problems play a vital part in the growing years of children. That's why it is really important that you nurture them with love and protection for them to satisfy their development mileposts.
There is a lot of emphasis on mental health training because it is actually capable of providing room for growth for your youngsters. Psychological fitness covers a lifespan. This suggests that it starts from youth to old years. It is encouraged that youngsters should interact in just such a way that they will be in a position to grow with good psychological fitness.
Though psychological fitness starts from youth you will struggle to detect mental illness until adulthood. This could be regarded seriously as it can cause something truly worse. Since human beings are exposed to damaging events, youngsters are also at the mercy of situations which can test their coping mechanisms. With a bit of help from mental health training, children will be in a position to handle life-altering circumstances.
There's a great difference when you think about this as your option as it provides your youngsters a healthier environment so they'll be able to grow without bounds. Many of us now consider mental health training because it can achieve an advantage them apropos making certain that youngsters will be what they want to be.
If you have spotted some mental Problems during early childhood, it is important that you pay heed to them because this is the only real way that you can help your youngsters. It does not take an expert to heed these signs because each childhood stage has development markers. You also need to make certain that you find help from an expert at mental health to prevent diseases from getting worse.
If you're looking for for mental health training for children, try gaining some useful information from sites concerning mental health training for youngsters and adult alike.
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A great home improvement to undertake is installing motion-sensitive lighting on the outside of your home. By turning off the lights when no one is there to use them, these will save you money on your utilities. Motion detectors are also useful for keeping thieves at bay.
Start forming a plan now. If you continuously hunt for home improvement ideas, you will have a wealth of interesting projects in mind once you are ready to start working. Removing the rush to find just the right color scheme will reduce the stress of your renovation.
Always know where the gas shutoff valve is when you start any gas-based DIY project. You want to be extremely cautious during this process. You can be seriously injured or start a fire during the project.
One good home improvement tip is to make sure that you keep your personal style in mind when making changes. You?ll be adding personal touches whenever you take on a project.
Gutters clogged with leaves or other debris can cause serious problems with drainage in a rainy season. One of the major causes of leaky basements is clogged storm gutters that re-route rainwater down the siding of a house. Prevent this by keeping the gutters clear of leaves and debris.
Make sure you have a copy in a file of all permits and inspection reports. You should ask the contractor to provide you this documentation when he is hired.
Every spring, check your roof for any signs of damage. Keep an eye out for curling or blistering of the shingles, then replace them if they are damaged. Taking care of small damages in your roof prevents you from experiencing expensive issues in the future.
Landscaping is a great way to increase the beauty of your lawn. By properly combining plants, vines, shrubs, flowers, various stones, and mulches you can really make your landscaping pop. Having proper landscaping in your yard will make others have a better first impression and will increase the worth of your house.
Unsightly air conditioning units may not be attractive, but in other regions it could be a necessity. It can easily be disguised with latticework or a trellis. You can also use an ornamental grass, like pampas grass, if you about an empty foot of space in between the unit?s edge and the roots.
If you want to save money on heating this winter, it?s time to re-caulk your windows. This will ensure that no moisture or drafts leak through from the outside, preventing mold growth and reducing your heating bills. If the old caulking is cracked, remove it carefully with a chisel and hammer and replace with fresh caulk.
When your house is for sale, you should weigh the positives and negatives of owning a security alarm. An alarm might be essential if your home is not in a good area.
Is your bedroom dresser getting on your nerves? If so, you can restore it to its former glory by sanding and refinishing it. If you do this, you?ll have personalized furniture that looks brand new at a fraction of the cost. Old furniture can be stained or painted in a number of different colors.
Now that you are armed with a few solid tips to guide you, making a sound decision regarding home improvement should seem less daunting. Remember, quality home improvements to your home will not only allow you to have a more desirable space but will also improve the overall value of your home.
Richie Vee, the site?s editor, is the Chief Engineer of one of the largest Platinum LEED buildings in NYC. His extensive engineering experience helps guide consumers through home improvement projects for the average homeowner. Using home solar energy and roofing repair ideas to save them money.
Pro-choice advocate Margaret Doyle from Richmond, Va. is removed by Capitol Police from the General Assembly Building in Richmond after HB1, the bill that states human life begins at conception, passed the Senate Education and Health committee on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012. Eight Republicans voted for the measure, and the committee's seven Democrats opposed it after an hour-long hearing on the bill that is similar to one in Missouri. The vote now sends the bill to the full Senate where Democrats and Republicans hold 20 seats apiece. (AP Photo/Richmond Times-Dispatch, Bob Brown)
Pro-choice advocate Margaret Doyle from Richmond, Va. is removed by Capitol Police from the General Assembly Building in Richmond after HB1, the bill that states human life begins at conception, passed the Senate Education and Health committee on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012. Eight Republicans voted for the measure, and the committee's seven Democrats opposed it after an hour-long hearing on the bill that is similar to one in Missouri. The vote now sends the bill to the full Senate where Democrats and Republicans hold 20 seats apiece. (AP Photo/Richmond Times-Dispatch, Bob Brown)
A Capitol Police officer tries to direct a protester out of the General Assembly building after a meeting of the Senate Education and Health committee at the Capitol in Richmond, Va., Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012. A bill that would define life as starting at conception has been approved in a key Senate committee. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Unidentified pro-abortion rights supporters cry after a meeting of the Senate Education and Health committee, after a bill that would define life as starting at conception was approved in the Senate committee at the Capitol in Richmond, Va., Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012. The Committee passed an amended version of the Ultrasound and Parenthood bills. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
A woman wearing stickers supporting Women's rights speaks during a meeting of the Senate Education and Health committee at the Capitol in Richmond, Va., Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Del. Robert Marshall, R-Prince William, holds up papers during his presention on his Parenthood bill during a meeting of the Senate Education and Health committee at the Capitol in Richmond, Va., Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) ? Once the word "transvaginal" became a big joke on "Saturday Night Live" and "The Daily Show With Jon Stewart," it wasn't long before Virginia's conservative Republicans realized they had overreached on abortion.
Gov. Bob McDonnell and GOP state lawmakers Wednesday abandoned a bill requiring women to undergo an intrusive type of sonogram before an abortion ? an abrupt reversal that demonstrated the power of political satire and illustrated again how combustible the issue of women's reproductive health has become over the past few weeks.
"You never want to get on the wrong side of popular culture," said Steve Jarding, a professor at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government and a Democratic consultant who has run campaigns in Virginia. He added: "When people are laughing at you, you know you've gone too far."
At issue was a bill pushed by anti-abortion lawmakers that would have required women seeking an abortion to undergo a transvaginal sonogram, in which a wand is inserted in the vagina to yield an image of the fetus. The procedure differs from an abdominal sonogram, in which a wand is rubbed over the woman's belly.
Seven states have laws mandating some form of pre-abortion ultrasound exam. The Guttmacher Institute, which researches abortion-related issues, said none of the ultrasound laws in other states explicitly require the transvaginal procedure.
However, Elizabeth Nash, Guttmacher's state issues manager, said several of the laws, including a Texas measure recently upheld in federal court, effectively leave doctors with no option but the transvaginal procedure. That's because an abdominal sonogram does not produce the detailed image of a first-trimester pregnancy that is required by some of the laws, Nash said.
In Virginia, the bill began muscling its way through a legislature that recently came under the rule of GOP conservatives. It moved ahead despite an outcry from women and Democrats, including a female lawmaker who called it "state-mandated rape" and another who made her point with a failed amendment requiring rectal prostate exams for men seeking Viagra prescriptions.
It didn't fully jump the fence from politics into pop culture until "SNL" lampooned it on Saturday.
"Really?" comic Amy Poehler sneered in noting the Virginia bill on "SNL." ''Don't get me wrong, Transvaginal is my favorite airline. I have so many miles on Transvaginal that they upgrade me to ladybusiness."
Stewart wisecracked that "Transvaginal Ultrasound" was the name of a jazz fusion band he once saw in concert.
And conservative columnist Megan McCain, daughter of 2008 GOP presidential nominee John McCain, said on MSNBC that she is "pro-life, but I'm not pro-vaginal probing." She added: "I'm just horrified by this bill. As a Republican woman, I'm horrified."
Earlier this week, more than 1,400 people ? mostly women ? locked arms in protest outside the Capitol, and petitions bearing more than 30,000 names were presented to McDonnell by women's groups.
McDonnell, a Roman Catholic political prot?g? of religious broadcaster Pat Robertson who has been mentioned as a possible vice-presidential candidate on a ticket with Mitt Romney, backed down on Wednesday, saying: "Mandating an invasive procedure in order to give informed consent is not a proper role for the state."
He said he supports legislation that would require pre-abortion sonograms, but not the invasive variety.
It was just the latest reversal over the past few weeks on the issue of women's health.
After a three-day furor, the Susan G. Komen breast cancer charity dropped plans to withdraw funding from Planned Parenthood. And President Barack Obama was forced to back off requiring religiously affiliated universities, hospitals and other organizations to provide free birth control their employees.
How much damage is done to McDonnell and the GOP depends on how broadly the issue permeates pop culture and who's watching, said Merle Black, a political science professor at Emory University in Atlanta.
"A lot of people watching those shows wouldn't necessarily support McDonnell anyway. The question is whether it's reaching and turning off independents and especially women," Black said.
But Jarding warned: "When the female anatomy becomes a policy term in your state and the governor is the guy identified with that, that's not where you want to be."
___
Associated Press Writers David Crary in New York and Chris Tomlinson in Austin, Texas, contributed to this story.
Going into this sixth season of "30 Rock," there was a big question mark over Alec Baldwin's future with the series. He'd made a lot of noise over the summer about wanting to move on from that experience, even hinting at possibly delving into the world of politics. But Baldwin is singing a different tune now, as seen on "Late Show" (Weeknights, 11:35 p.m. EST on CBS).
"I went to work and all of them wanted to do a seventh season, so they were a bit frosty toward me when I said I wasn't going to come back," he said. He further confirmed what he's said in several prior appearances and interviews that this is the greatest job he's ever had.
"There's a part of me when I signed to do [Season] 7, I said let's do 8, 9 and 10 while we're at it," Baldwin said. "I mean, where am I going to go to have this much of a good time?"
Perhaps the hiatus from production of the show caused that restlessness in him over the summer, but now that he's back on the sets and filing the show, Baldwin seems genuinely committed to sticking with this particular ride for as long as it stays on the tracks.
"All these great shows, even shows that have been more successful than ours like 'Seinfeld' and 'Friends' and things, they do end eventually," he said. "When it ends it'll be a terribly big hole."
For now, "30 Rock" continues Thursdays at 8 p.m. EST on NBC. "Late Show with David Letterman" airs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. EST on CBS.
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MONDAY, FEB. 20: "Basketball Wives"
1? of ?20
"Basketball Wives" (8 p.m. EST on VH1) season premiere In season four of "Basketball Wives" the two new ladies alter the ever-changing landscape and dynamic among these women. Newcomer Kesha Nichols survived every girl's worst nightmare, having her engagement broken off by her ball-playing fiance via email shortly before their wedding. Kenya Bell is in the process of finalizing a divorce from a basketball star and is one of the most notorious and controversial wives in the league, whose infamous reputation is well-known by the other wives. Shaunie O'Neal is on the path to establishing herself as a business mogul. Evelyn Lozada and Jennifer Williams' 12-year friendship is in a precarious position; will it recover from last season's fracture? Strong-willed Tami Roman continues to be a force to be reckoned with both socially and now in business. Royce Reed and Suzie Ketcham attempt to navigate uncharted waters as new chapters open in their lives. "Basketball Wives" (8 p.m. EST on VH1) season premiere In season four of "Basketball Wives" the two new ladies alter the ever-changing landscape and dynamic among these women. Newcomer Kesha Nichols survived every girl's worst nightmare, having her engagement broken off by her ball-playing fiance via email shortly before their wedding. Kenya Bell is in the process of finalizing a divorce from a basketball star and is one of the most notorious and controversial wives in the league, whose infamous reputation is well-known by the other wives. Shaunie O'Neal is on the path to establishing herself as a business mogul. Evelyn Lozada and Jennifer Williams' 12-year friendship is in a precarious position; will it recover from last season's fracture? Strong-willed Tami Roman continues to be a force to be reckoned with both socially and now in business. Royce Reed and Suzie Ketcham attempt to navigate uncharted waters as new chapters open in their lives.
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MONDAY, FEB. 20: "Basketball Wives"
"Basketball Wives" (8 p.m. EST on VH1) season premiere In season four of "Basketball Wives" the two new ladies alter the ever-changing landscape and dynamic among these women. Newcomer Kesha Nichols survived every girl's worst nightmare, having her engagement broken off by her ball-playing fiance via email shortly before their wedding. Kenya Bell is in the process of finalizing a divorce from a basketball star and is one of the most notorious and controversial wives in the league, whose infamous reputation is well-known by the other wives. Shaunie O'Neal is on the path to establishing herself as a business mogul. Evelyn Lozada and Jennifer Williams' 12-year friendship is in a precarious position; will it recover from last season's fracture? Strong-willed Tami Roman continues to be a force to be reckoned with both socially and now in business. Royce Reed and Suzie Ketcham attempt to navigate uncharted waters as new chapters open in their lives. "; var coords = [-5, -72]; // display fb-bubble FloatingPrompt.embed(this, html, undefined, 'top', {fp_intersects:1, timeout_remove:2000,ignore_arrow: true, width:236, add_xy:coords, class_name: 'clear-overlay'}); });
?GE Capital, Franchise Finance provided a $25 million credit facility to support an investment in Anthony?s Coal Fired Pizza, Inc. by an affiliate of The Quilvest Group. The financing includes a $17 million term loan and an $8 million revolving credit facility. Funding was provided through GE Capital?s bank affiliate, GE Capital Financial Inc.
?GE Capital proved to be a great choice for us,? explains Henrik Falktoft, partner, The Quilvest Group. ?Their team was very supportive and knowledgeable about this market and that made for a better transaction.?
The Quilvest Group has invested around $4 billion in more than 300 private equity and real estate funds and 150 direct investments.
?We were in a great position to help both parties using our experience in the space and our relationship with the sponsor, Quilvest,? said Mike Kurtz, vice president, GE Capital, Franchise Finance.
Anthony?s Coal Fired Pizza opened their first store in Florida in 2002 and now has 32 locations throughout Florida, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, New York and Connecticut.
About GE Capital, Franchise Finance
GE Capital, Franchise Finance is a leading lender for the franchise finance market via direct sales and portfolio acquisition. With more than 30 years of experience and $10 billion in served assets, we serve over 3,000 customers and over 18,000 property locations. We specialize in financing mid-market operators with multiple stores in the restaurant and hospitality industries. Our team of industry experts will work with you to help develop your own growth plan with access to our proprietary industry research and customized tools. More information is available at www.gefranchisefinance.com.
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Arment Dietrich, Inc. Molli Megasko ????????????(312) 787-7249?????? mmegasko@armentdietrich.com or GE Capital, Franchise Finance Christine Roe ????????????(480) 563-6260?????? christine.roe@ge.com
Or maybe it?s time for those old kitchen counters to go.
Perhaps it would be better to add another bedroom than move?
After three years of slumping business, builders anticipate that the home remodeling and improvement sector will pick up in 2012.
?We have been in a downturn and a weak market for a really long time,? said Paul Emrath, a researcher with the National Association of Home Builders. ?But we are starting to edge up to the tipping point.
?The phones are ringing, people are calling and making appointments,? Emrath said last week at the association?s annual meeting in Florida. ?But the next challenge is to turn those over into actual jobs.?
In 2011, U.S. residential remodeling added up to an estimated $279 billion, about the same as in 2010 but down almost 15 percent from 2007.
And new-home starts have fallen more than 70 percent around the country since the market peak in 2005.
?All things considered, remodeling has held up well in this cycle,? said Kermit Baker, a senior fellow at Harvard University?s Joint Center for Housing Studies.
?We think we are going to see better numbers coming out of the industry as we move into the second half of this year and into 2013,? he said.
The National Association of Home Builders is forecasting an almost 9 percent increase in remodeling this year and more than an 11 percent jump nationwide in 2013.
?We are still not going to be back to where we were at the peak,? the NAHB?s Emrath said. ?It?s difficult to get financing.
?And a related problem is the decline in house prices ? people don?t have as much equity,? he said. ?People may not want to remodel when they are seeing house prices going down.?
Houston, Dallas and Austin are all ranked among the top five home fix-up markets for 2012, according to a new forecast by Remodeling Magazine.
?All things considered, remodeling has held up well in this cycle,? said Kermit Baker, a senior fellow at Harvard University?s Joint Center for Housing Studies.
More than half of the home remodeling projects last year cost in excess of $25,000.
And total home remodeling and improvement expenditures now add up to more dollars than new-home construction, according to the builders association.
Remodeling accounts for close to 70 percent of U.S. residential construction expenditures.
The biggest share of home improvement spending, roughly 20 percent, goes for exterior repairs or upgrades. But kitchen and bathroom jobs are a close second at 19 percent of remodeling work.
Some of the glitzy fix-up jobs of years past are on hold, regardless of what they show on home decorating television shows.
?The growth we saw in the industry in the early and middle part of the last decade was driven by a lot of upper-end discretionary projects,? Baker said. ?A lot of that is not going to come back.
?There is a lot of concern out there that the housing market has changed and people are making different decisions.?
Until nationwide home values improve, homeowners will be more conservative with their remodeling, Baker predicts.
If pre-owned home sales pick up, that will help the industry, he said.
?The time of purchase ? particularly if you are buying an older home ? is the most common time for undertaking a home improvement project,? Baker said.
Previously foreclosed homes needing repairs will benefit remodelers as new owners get those properties in shape, he said.
Lenders also are spending money to improve distressed houses.
Mortgage company Fannie Mae spent more than $600 million fixing up foreclosed properties last year, Baker said.
?We see a lot of potential fixing up these distressed properties to repair them for sale,? he said. ?There are almost 2 million homes nationally that are likely to go into foreclosure sometime soon.
?There are over 2 million homes nationally that are already in the foreclosure process,? he said. ?And there are about 400,000 homes that have come through the foreclosure process and are owned by banks.?
Selling your home can be challenging, especially during difficult economic times. It is often contemplated whether or not spending money on a home-improvement project will help sell the house. This is often the case, but you have to carefully analyze each possible project to make sure it?s really a good investment. As we?ll see in this article, some repairs and renovations are necessary if you want to sell your home, while others aren?t such a good idea.
It is important that the first impression buyers have of your home is a really positive one. This has quite a lot to do with the curb appeal of your house, and even little things are a part of this. The condition of your front door, to use one example, plays a large role in the way people feel about your house. So you may want to give your door a cleaning or even a fresh coat of paint.
It is also a good idea to make sure that, if you?ve got a front lawn, that you maintain it properly. If you have fencing or gates around your home, keep them well maintained and make sure they don?t need new paint. You also want to make sure that your windows are well cleaned. All of these factors will add up and ensure that potential buyers have the impression you want them to have.
As you prepare to put your home on the market, do not go out and by state of the art gadgets for it. In most cases, these will not add enough additional value to the home to justify the out-of-pocket expense. This takes in things like hot tubs and swimming pools because a lot of individuals consider them to be extra comfort items. This is also pertinent to costly landscaping or features in your yard, like a fountain or a Koi pond. It is fine if you already have some of these things in your home, although you do not want to rush out to buy them in hopes that they will help you sell your home. In budget conscious times of today, people will often feel that these features are driving up the cost of the home. Things like swimming pools, spas and hot tubs also cost a lot to maintain, which many prospective buyers will not want to deal with.
Before doing any repairs or putting in any additions, make sure you have any necessary permits.
This might be for things like building a new deck, a new storage shed outside and putting in a new bathroom inside. Every town or metro area has different laws but for the most part you will need to get a permit to do any sort of substantial work on your house. If you don?t take care of these matters properly, it could prove to be a problem when you sell the house. In most cases, it?s not that hard to get a permit, and if you hire a licensed contractor to do the work, he?ll usually take care of this. You still need to pay attention to the process however, if you want it to run smoothly. You may not be able to address every little home improvement you want for your house but make sure that you are at least taking care of those that are really important. You need to remember that each and every detail is important in terms of making good impressions on your prospects and that even real estate agents will work harder to sell your house if they think it is appealing.
If for any reason you would like extra points on fitness perth there is loads of points not detailed in this post, take a look at Author?s website to discover more.
[unable to retrieve full-text content]In a new study, researchers have found that Gleason scores determined by pathologists at Fox Chase Cancer Center more accurately predict the risk of recurrence than Gleason scores from referring institutions. Reference: ...
[unable to retrieve full-text content]Before trading into almost any stocks, one have to know the very hot sectors regarding investment inside 2011. The very hot sectors would be the ones that have the significant growth with regards to net income and stock ...
[unable to retrieve full-text content]Reuters - Chinese authorities keep a tight grip on the country's commodity exchanges as part of efforts to deter speculators from driving up food and resource prices.
[unable to retrieve full-text content]In Chicago, personal injury is often caused by various accidents such as workplace accidents, slip and falls, medical malpractice, and car accidents. Because of these, victims need to hire the services of a Chicago Personal ...
If you have been maintaining the printer industry, you are most likely not surprised to find out that H . p ., one in the industry?s biggest companies, has a thorough history of waging legal battles. With around 4, 000 patents about printer consumables, it would seem generic ink companies are not able to help however step on their toes from time to time. You must remember which HP spends sums of money year immediately after year to get the best ink in the marketplace. When a person infringes on their patents, they must protect his or her investment. HP is just not deeply in love with the tennis courts, though. Sometimes they here is another simpler tactic. For illustration, they recently sent Cartridge Planet a page asking which they discontinue their distinctive line of Vivera generic inks. The purpose: the generics used exactly the same patent protected formula because the brand title ink.
Cartridge World is just the beginning. HP is actually taking swift action in order to cripple the actual ink re-fill industry as a whole. While the majority are and only generic ink, most acknowledge that HP has been doing nothing drastically wrong in wanting to protect his or her patents. After most, if everybody can infringe on your patents, what great are they will? No matter the method that you view it, it is actually clear the ink re-fill industry can be used to continue to be.
You may have heard concerning HP?s last threat versus Staples. They were adamant that Staples generic computer ink cartridges ended up infringing versus HP patents. The scenario was satisfied almost instantly when Staples agreed to employ a different formulation. Regardless of many patent infringements, HP nevertheless controls practically 90% in the retail value with their patented inks. Since HP compensates more than half the 12 million dollar printer industry, generic ink companies fight that his or her activities get little impact on the ink giant?s income. A better approach to constantly approaching companies which infringe about patents is coming up with more scientifically advanced computer ink cartridge models. After most, if the actual generic business cannot allow it to be, how may they cut into profits? Generic cartridge companies simply cannot make the actual newer cartridges financially. HP?s newest strategy seems to be paying away.
HP, tired of getting to pursue each arrest, is making an example of Cartridge Planet, making that clear which they are not going to tolerate organizations that ignore their patents. HP must accept information, though. There is actually nothing they are able to do to avoid ink re-fill companies. They are just going to have to live minus the 750 thousand dollars the ink re-fill industry steals from them each calendar year. Ink re-fill companies have made it clear which, if essential, they can modify the actual formula and continue to sell the actual generic ink instead for Vivera inks. HP gets over their reasonable share of ink income. If generic companies need to offer a lower cost alternative, do not they?ve the appropriate? After most, this will be the USA!
Not each and every generic computer ink cartridge is good quality. If you are considering getting generic, make sure you get a great brand. The best brand We have ever encounter is Inktank generic ink. It is low priced and excellent.
When you discover yourself deep in debt its highly likely that you can be heading to bankruptcy. You could lose your house, your job, and the opportunity of having a thriving life. While no one plans of getting into a fiscal crisis, there could be instances where some terrible financial decisions, like bad investments, intense spending, and missing payments, can lead to this. With the economy in dire straits, many of us have already felt the crunch and before allowing the situation to get worse, it is ideal to consult experts and get finance help.
Now several individuals would consider that finding finance assistance from a professional would just cost extra money, and at times where money flow is thin, this is money that can not be easy let go off. You have to look at carefully though that without this investment in expert finance help you would be losing extra assets, if not all of them. This is an expense that you may not afford to do without.
Finding small business finance is vital because you can be given advice directions coming from people with experience and knowledge in this area. Many of us could understand a little bit about handling finances, but there are several plans and means as well that are not greatly known by the many but they are used by experts in particular situations. They can be able to show you alternative ways to repair your financing problems or fix your financials for you to prevent your debts from piling up.
The amount that you may need to invest in keeping your finances above water might depend on a number of factors. Getting the services of more accomplished and experienced credit and finance professionals or companies possibly could cost more than independent experts, but with their experience, you might have much more options and a better chance of getting rid of your debts. Another factor is the grade of financial state you are in, if you need financial assistance to help wipe off a number of of your debts, some financial institutions offer finance help through debt consolidate and this may include some fees and interests, but most often, this are lower than the interest rates you are currently paying off.
There are a number of services that you could get when it comes to fiscal help, examples of which are management of financial statements, debt reducing methods and debt restructuring, planning your expenses, and even giving solid financial investments. They may evaluate your current fiscal standing and also study why you are in this situation. They could then formulate plans and give you advice on how to repair the situation as well as create a plan that you might follow.
Do not let yourself become stuck deeper in fiscal restraint, with a little redirection of your expenses, payments, and even determining tax options and exemptions, you may be able to give yourself a extra solid financial standing and prevent bankruptcy from happening, and all it needs is a little financial help.
[unable to retrieve full-text content]Reuters - A deal to renew a payroll tax cut for 160 million U.S. workers through 2012 headed on Thursday toward congressional approval as Democratic and Republican leaders rallied support for the bipartisan agreement.
There are many men and women that drive worldwide, and to get your house this within the law, you need to have some type of insurance onto your vehicle. This don?t even have to end up being extremely steeply-priced because you will discover ways that you may go around finding cheap insurance. Because insurance coverage laws diverge as a result of state to mention, any issues recommendations specific on the car insurance on the State regarding Illinois.
First in all, let?s learn the way gap insurance works. Fundamentally, it discusses the downgrading value within your vehicle. Each point out has set unique minimum accountability limits, and also limits are likely to be twenty six thousand bucks for solitary person actual physical injury, 33 thousand bucks bodily trauma per incidence, and 23 thousand designed for property deterioration. Be entitled to an injury, it will assist you to out, much too. premium and additionally low-cost automobile insurance rates designed for veterans and additionally veteran?s households.
It?s well known about vandalism. someone ideas or apply paints your car, breaks any windows, tosses heavy physical objects that contribute to dents. Brave director Lara Mullen expressed, ?Infinity Premier Insurance cover ? Such type of coverage is designed for individuals auto insurance quotes clean record, and would choose greater limits and further coverage.? Through ones own offices equity bigger city in the country, it?s possible to obtain guidebooks, road directions and suitable assistance.
Car owners compare auto insurance obtain an extensive variety of reductions through Progressive insurance. Alot of insurances you should never provide the guarantee. Once you?ve the insurance reviews ahead of you, it is right now easier compare car insurance quotes choice in regards to purchase in the policy. The cost when you have to pay for it enormous because you?ll have to pay for any cost to attach your car and also other humans car also.
Full dental coverage plans Auto Insurance protection: this insurance plan combines other insurance policies enjoy collision wide-ranging and accountability hence any name. Well for those who see which, then each individual prospect reads those additionally. Just in case any objective hitting your truck and gleam any deterioration done to the car, collision insurance allows you to cover the expenses received. Behave responsibly for those who must loan your truck to several other drivers. In certain cases, you should insure any teenager one by one. Given exactly how no-fault automobile insurance works, there definitely seems to be no valid reason to file a suit at-fault functions for salary for accidents and building damage. There are plenty of types regarding insurance comprise the military insurance, and certain include:.
Health games emerge as important new therapeutic tools for physical and mental health and well-beingPublic release date: 16-Feb-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Cathia Falvey cfalvey@liebertpub.com 914-740-2100 x2165 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News
New Rochelle, NY -- Millions of dollars and immeasurable hours of research and development are being invested to develop and employ increasingly sophisticated hardware and software technologies to deliver innovative new personalized health care interventions. Digital games are rapidly becoming an important tool for improving lifestyle habits, behavior modification, self-management of illness and chronic conditions, and motivating and supporting physical activity, according to a provocative Expert Panel Discussion in the premier issue of Games for Health Journal, a new bimonthly peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers (http://www.liebertpub.com). The premier issue is available free online at http://www.liebertpub.com/g4h.
The Journal will be the only source for a broad range of hard-to-find and timely information related to health games. For example, the first issue offers a unique Roundtable Discussion, "Health Games Come of Age," an insightful conversation with leaders in the games for health field. Tom Baranowski, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine; Peter Bingham, MD, University of Vermont; Debra Lieberman, PhD, University of California, Santa Barbara; Ernie Medina, DrPH, Medplay Technologies; Jesse Schell, MS, Carnegie Mellon University; and Sam K. Yohannon, PT, MS, Cornell University Medical Center share their unique approaches and the creative evidenced-based outcomes research that has brought health games to the forefront of innovative patient care.
The Journal breaks new ground as the first to address this emerging and increasingly important area of health care and will provide a bimonthly forum in print and online for academic and clinical researchers, game designers and developers, health care providers, insurers, and information technology leaders. Articles in the Journal explore the use of game technology in a wide variety of clinical applications in disease prevention, promotion, and monitoring, including nutrition, weight management, medication adherence, diabetes monitoring, post-traumatic stress disorder, Alzheimer's, and cognitive, mental, emotional, and behavioral health.
The Journal is under the leadership of Bill Ferguson, PhD and a distinguished editorial board (http://www.liebertpub.com/editorialboard/games-for-health-journal/588/) including leaders from academia, health care, information technology, and government.
Other key contributions in this issue include an original article on "Use of Nintendo Wii During Physical Therapy of an Adult with Lower Extremity Burns" describing a fascinating intervention using health games to accelerate returning severe burn victims to independent living. "The United Health Group's Rx for Longer, Healthier Lives" is an informative program profile that examines the huge health provider's commitment to encouraging and enabling healthier lifestyles through games. Their goal is greater availability and lower cost of health care for people who actively manage their own health and well-being
A clinical brief on "Evaluating Efficacy and Validating Games for Health" suggests the importance and process for objectively assessing the results of games used to improve patients' health. A fascinating interview with Ben Sawyer, Co-Founder of Digitalmill"Games? Seriously!"--explores the driving forces in the field and the gamification of health.
"The growing breadth and depth of research in health games will have powerful impacts on all stages of life, from infants with autism to geriatric patients wanting to extend their active lives," says Editor-in-Chief Bill Ferguson. "These advancements will impact the nature and availability of preventive and remedial care from physicians to therapists to self-management. The Journal will be a powerful voice for the researchers and clinicians, as well as a resource for state-of-the-art developments for everyone concerned with human well-being."
###
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. (http://www.liebertpub.com) is a privately held, fully integrated media company known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals in many promising areas of science and biomedical research, including Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking and Telemedicine & e-Health. Its biotechnology trade magazine, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN), was the first in its field and is today the industry's most widely read publication worldwide. A complete list of the firm's 70 journals, books, and newsmagazines is available at http://www.liebertpub.com.
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
140 Huguenot Street, 3rd Floor
New Rochelle, NY 10801-5215, USA
[ | 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.
Health games emerge as important new therapeutic tools for physical and mental health and well-beingPublic release date: 16-Feb-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Cathia Falvey cfalvey@liebertpub.com 914-740-2100 x2165 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News
New Rochelle, NY -- Millions of dollars and immeasurable hours of research and development are being invested to develop and employ increasingly sophisticated hardware and software technologies to deliver innovative new personalized health care interventions. Digital games are rapidly becoming an important tool for improving lifestyle habits, behavior modification, self-management of illness and chronic conditions, and motivating and supporting physical activity, according to a provocative Expert Panel Discussion in the premier issue of Games for Health Journal, a new bimonthly peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers (http://www.liebertpub.com). The premier issue is available free online at http://www.liebertpub.com/g4h.
The Journal will be the only source for a broad range of hard-to-find and timely information related to health games. For example, the first issue offers a unique Roundtable Discussion, "Health Games Come of Age," an insightful conversation with leaders in the games for health field. Tom Baranowski, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine; Peter Bingham, MD, University of Vermont; Debra Lieberman, PhD, University of California, Santa Barbara; Ernie Medina, DrPH, Medplay Technologies; Jesse Schell, MS, Carnegie Mellon University; and Sam K. Yohannon, PT, MS, Cornell University Medical Center share their unique approaches and the creative evidenced-based outcomes research that has brought health games to the forefront of innovative patient care.
The Journal breaks new ground as the first to address this emerging and increasingly important area of health care and will provide a bimonthly forum in print and online for academic and clinical researchers, game designers and developers, health care providers, insurers, and information technology leaders. Articles in the Journal explore the use of game technology in a wide variety of clinical applications in disease prevention, promotion, and monitoring, including nutrition, weight management, medication adherence, diabetes monitoring, post-traumatic stress disorder, Alzheimer's, and cognitive, mental, emotional, and behavioral health.
The Journal is under the leadership of Bill Ferguson, PhD and a distinguished editorial board (http://www.liebertpub.com/editorialboard/games-for-health-journal/588/) including leaders from academia, health care, information technology, and government.
Other key contributions in this issue include an original article on "Use of Nintendo Wii During Physical Therapy of an Adult with Lower Extremity Burns" describing a fascinating intervention using health games to accelerate returning severe burn victims to independent living. "The United Health Group's Rx for Longer, Healthier Lives" is an informative program profile that examines the huge health provider's commitment to encouraging and enabling healthier lifestyles through games. Their goal is greater availability and lower cost of health care for people who actively manage their own health and well-being
A clinical brief on "Evaluating Efficacy and Validating Games for Health" suggests the importance and process for objectively assessing the results of games used to improve patients' health. A fascinating interview with Ben Sawyer, Co-Founder of Digitalmill"Games? Seriously!"--explores the driving forces in the field and the gamification of health.
"The growing breadth and depth of research in health games will have powerful impacts on all stages of life, from infants with autism to geriatric patients wanting to extend their active lives," says Editor-in-Chief Bill Ferguson. "These advancements will impact the nature and availability of preventive and remedial care from physicians to therapists to self-management. The Journal will be a powerful voice for the researchers and clinicians, as well as a resource for state-of-the-art developments for everyone concerned with human well-being."
###
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. (http://www.liebertpub.com) is a privately held, fully integrated media company known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals in many promising areas of science and biomedical research, including Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking and Telemedicine & e-Health. Its biotechnology trade magazine, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN), was the first in its field and is today the industry's most widely read publication worldwide. A complete list of the firm's 70 journals, books, and newsmagazines is available at http://www.liebertpub.com.
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
140 Huguenot Street, 3rd Floor
New Rochelle, NY 10801-5215, USA
[ | 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.
?GE Capital, Franchise Finance provided a $25 million credit facility to support an investment in Anthony?s Coal Fired Pizza, Inc. by an affiliate of The Quilvest Group. The financing includes a $17 million term loan and an $8 million revolving credit facility. Funding was provided through GE Capital?s bank affiliate, GE Capital Financial Inc.![[ Back to EurekAlert! ]](http://www.eurekalert.org/images/back2e.gif){kind=small}
Public release date: 16-Feb-2012
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