information technology schools: October 2012

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Video: Fans fret over Disney?s new ?Star Wars? movies

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Source: http://video.today.msnbc.msn.com/today/49620722/

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People stare monsters in the eye

Using the fantasy game Dungeons & Dragons, scientists now find one way that people can treat monsters like people too, looking them in the eyes even when those eyes are not located in their heads.

These findings could help researchers better understand autism, where people often fail to meet the eyes of others.

Animals, including birds, dogs, goats, seals, dolphins, monkeys and humans, follow the gazes of where others look. This act of literally seeing others' point of view may have played a key part in the evolution of human socializing.

One question is whether or not people are biased to look at the eyes of others, or simply at the middle of faces where the eyes happen to be. Different brain areas are involved in looking at different parts of the body ? the region known as the superior temporal sulcus is biased toward the eyes, while the nearby fusiform face area is fixated on the middle of peoples' faces.

Learning more about how people aim their gaze relative to that of other species could help to shed light on how these brain mechanisms evolved. It might also yield insights on what brain mechanisms might be compromised in disorders such as autism.

Into the eyes of a monster
To find out, researchers showed 22 university students images from Dungeons & Dragons depicting a range of characters: people; humanoid creatures with eyes in the middle of their faces, such as the game's dragonlike draconians and robotlike warforged; and monstrous creatures that either had eyes positioned outside their heads or lacked heads altogether, such as the amorphous gibbering mouther.

The investigators used cameras to track eye motions of the volunteers, who looked early and often at the eyes, even when it came to monsters.

"I thought that people might eventually look at the eyes of monsters, but really doubted they'd look at them quickly," said researcher Alan Kingstone at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. "I was truly shocked that people target the eyes about as quickly and as much as human eyes despite the fact that human eyes have the benefit of being located in a reliable position ? that is, middle of the head in the front of the face." [ Tales of Our 10 Favorite Monsters ]

These findings suggest that people normally target the eyes, and not the middle of the head.

"I think that we should test people with autism, or students who vary on the autism quotient scale ? more or less autism-like traits ? to see if monster eyes are looked at less frequently and/or later when one is a person with autism and/or has autistic traits," Kingstone told LiveScience. "The prediction is that they should, and so as silly as it sounds, using monster stimuli might help to screen for autism. When it comes to human faces, people who are autistic often look typical on lab experiments because they may have been taught to look at the center of the head to target the eyes."

Science news from NBCNews.com
1. Political forecasting stirs up a storm
  Science editor Alan Boyle's blog: Nationwide polls may portray the presidential campaign as a neck-and-neck race, but less conventional data-crunching methods spit out a different picture.
2. Scientists look at climate change, superstorm
3. How animals deal with downpours
4. The scariest science experiments ever

Game designer reacts
Dungeons & Dragons designer Bruce Cordell said these findings "resonate with me. The most effective visuals, speaking as a fantasy designer and also as someone who enjoys a good supernatural thriller, is when something I don't expect to be alive suddenly opens its eyes. Whether those eyes are regular-sized, or the size of manhole covers, their sudden opening incites a startling transformation, because my brain suddenly bestows the quality of purpose to what it thought was inert,? Cordell said.

"On the monster-design and monster art side of the question, I think these findings clearly indicate that the most effective monsters, or at least those monsters designed to portray purpose and intent, are ones with discernible eyes," Cordell added. "Personally, I'll stay clear of designing eyeless sludges in the future. However, if I must design a sludge, goo or other wholly non-anthropomorphic creature, I'll throw in eyes, too."

Incidentally, Julian Levy, Kingstone's son, was 12 years old when he proposed the study and collected the data. He is now 14.

Levy, Kingstone and their colleague Tom Foulsham detailed their findings online Wednesday in the journal Biology Letters.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/49624605/ns/technology_and_science-science/

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Saturday, October 27, 2012

Tina Fey slams 'legitimate rape' remarks

Cindy Ord / Getty Images

Tina Fey speaks at the Center for Reproductive Rights Inaugural Gala at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York on Wednesday.

By Josh Grossberg, E! Online

Tina Fey has a bone to pick with politician Todd Akin over his comments on "legitimate rape."

Speaking at the Center for Reproductive Rights' Inaugural Gala in New York Wednesday night, the "30 Rock" star called out the Missouri Republican Senate candidate over his assertion in an August TV interview?that rape victims have a slim chance of getting pregnant because the body "has ways to try to shut the whole thing down."

"Todd Akin claims that women can't really get pregnant from a legitimate rape because the body secretes hormones," Fey told the crowd. "Now I can't even finish this sentence without getting dumber; it's making me dumber when I say it--but it's something about the body not being able to get pregnant when it's under physical stress. Mr. Akin, I think you are confusing the phrase 'legitimate rape' with the phrase 'competitive gymnastics.'"

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler hosting 2013 Golden Globes

The funnylady's wisecrack isn't surprising, given that she's never shied away from addressing such hot-button topics dating back to her days anchoring Weekend Update on "Saturday Day Night Live." But as a woman, Fey clearly took offense to Akin's controversial view, which has been tacitly accepted by many ultraconservative anti-abortion activists.

"If I have to listen to one more gray-faced man with a two-dollar haircut explain to me what rape is, I'm gonna lose my mind," Fey added. "I watch these guys and I'm, like, 'What is happening? Am I a secretary on 'Mad Men'? What's happening?'"

We wonder what the comic actress's alter ego, Sarah Palin, has to say about it.

Tina Fey brings the funny at Comedy Central's Night of Too Many Stars benefit

The Center for Reproductive Rights is a global legal advocacy group dedicated to advancing and defending reproductive rights, and Fey was tapped to open up last night's program, which honored extraordinary leaders who have blazed new trails for women.

Other celebs in attendance included Stanley Tucci, Jane Seymour, Tate Donovan and Janeane Garofalo.

Hollywood gets political

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iPad Mini pre-orders set to begin early Friday morning

But at least one analyst is predicting that Apple iPad Mini tablets may initially be hard to come by.?

By Matthew Shaer / October 25, 2012

The new iPad mini is projected on a screen at an Apple event in San Jose, Calif, on Oct. 23. An iPad Mini shortage has been projected by some analysts.

Reuters

Enlarge

Earlier this week, Apple introduced the long-awaited iPad Mini. And beginning at 12:01 a.m. Pacific time on Friday ? or 3 a.m. Eastern, if you'd like ? consumers can begin placing their pre-orders for the sleek, square, slim tablet. Mini prices start at $329, for a Wi-Fi-only, 16GB model; the 64GB Wi-Fi Mini will set you back $529. (LTE versions of the tablet won't start shipping for a couple weeks, Apple says.)?

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Friday, October 26, 2012

10 Ways to Sustain a Training Effect in Your Strength and ...

Written on October 25, 2012 at 4:39 pm, by Eric Cressey

I'm going to let you in on a little shocker: I really don't train as hard as I used to train.

Blasphemy, I know.? Every strength and conditioning coach is supposed to constantly be pursuing a mythical level of fitness at all times.? Because it's my job to make people healthier and more athletic, I, in turn, am expected to be able to bench press 800, vertical jump 40 inches, complete a marathon in under three hours, and be able to fart lightning at a moment's notice.? While I can make a decent run at the last challenge after a batch of my mom's famous calico beans recipe, I guess I'm just content with not making optimal progress.

Now, don't get me wrong; I haven't let myself turn into a blob, and I'm still training 5-6 days a week.? The goals, however, have shifted since my last powerlifting meet in December of 2007. Nowadays, I get a lot more excited about watching one of our minor league guys get a big league call-up than I do about a ten-pound squat personal record after a 16-week training cycle. I worry more about being a better husband, business partner, boss, and coach than I do about whether I'm 10 or 11% body fat, and whether it'll make my weight class. And, I certainly expect these priorities to change even more when my wife and I decide to have kids.

In short, I think I'm a lot like a solid chunk of the exercising population.? Training hard excites me, but it doesn't define me anymore.

Interestingly, though, I really haven't wasted away like one might expect. In fact, I've gotten stronger while keeping my weight about the same - or slightly lower, right where I want to be.? Just for the heck of it, I staged my own little mock raw powerlifting meet this morning and totaled 1435 at a body weight of 180.6 (1396 is considered an "Elite" total, as a frame of reference).? I used the giant cambered bar for squatting, simply because my shoulder gets cranky when I back squat. Sue me.

A few notes on the mock/impromptu meet:

1. Thanks to the CP staff and interns for helping with spots, handoffs, and videos - and putting up with my musical selection (which I think, for the record, was an outstanding representative sample of modern training music).

2. I weighed in at 180.6 first thing that morning (about three hours before I lifted).? I didn't have to cut weight.

3. I had a scoop of Athletic Greens, three cups of coffee with vanilla protein powder, and five eggs with spinach, peppers, and onions for breakfast, then drank a bottle of water at the facility before I started.? So, I really didn't carb up for this "meet" (or really prepare for it in any capacity, for that matter). I did have an accidental open mouth kiss with my dog, Tank, while I was foam rolling when he licked my face while I wasn't looking.? I'm not sure if making out with a puggle constitutes ergogenic assistance??

4. Speaking of Tank, he makes a great cameo during my opening squat.? He's eating air, in case you're wondering.

5. The great thing about squats in powerlifting meets is that they can look like good mornings to parallel and still pass.? Score!

6. I haven't free squatting with a wider, powerlifting style stance in about three years. So, you can say that I was a bit rusty, as evidenced that my stance width was a bit erratic from attempt to attempt (and especially narrow on the third squat).

7. The first squat and last deadlift were exactly 90 minutes apart.? Talk about efficiency!

All that said, I really don't think I could have even come close to this total back in 2007, and according to some research that says strength peaks at age 29, I should be on the downslope, especially if I'm not training as hard. So, what gives?

I suspect it has a little something to do with the fact that I have a pretty good idea of how to sustain a strength training effect. Much of it has to do with my experiences with in-season athletes; some of them waste away if they don't pay attention to detail and stay consistent with their training.? Meanwhile, others come back so strong that you'd think they never left.? Here are some of the factors that have surely helped me (and them) over the years.

1. Very little alcohol consumption.

My first date with my wife was April 22, 2007. She's seen me drink twice in the entire time we've known one another. I'm absolutely not going to stand on a soapbox and say that I don't think other people should drink; they can do what they want, but it just really isn't for me.

That said, if you're concerned with helping your strength training gains along (or simply sustaining them), simply have a look at the research on alcohol's negative effect on effect on endocrine status, sleep quality, neural drive, tissue quality, and recovery from exercise.? People who drink a lot feel and move like crap.? Sorry, I don't make the rules.

2. Early to bed, early to rise.

I find the 6AM world far more entertaining, refreshing, and productive than the 1AM world.? I feel better, train better, recovery better, and am an all-around happier person when I get to bed early and awake early without an alarm.? For me, 10:30PM to 6AM is pretty much the norm.

Now, for those who insist that sleeping 1:30AM to 9AM counts exactly the same, check out some of the research on night shift workers and their health; it's not good.? As a rule of thumb, one hour before midnight is worth two after midnight - and it certainly helps to try to go to bed and wake up at the same times each day.? Post-Thanksgiving meal naps are spectacular, too.

3. A foundation of strength and mobility.

In talking with our athletes about the relationship between off- and in-season training, I use the analogy of a bank account.? During the off-season, you make deposits (work hard and acquire a training effect).? When you go in-season, you make withdrawals (play your sport). If the withdrawals exceed the deposits, you're in trouble - and that's why in-season training is so important.

Now, for the general fitness folks, this simply means that if you put a lot of "money in the bank," you'll be prepared for the day when life gets crazy and you miss a few days in the gym.? You have more wiggle room to go on a spending spree.

Mobility works the same way.? Once you've built it, it's hard to lose unless you really go out of your way to avoid moving for an extended period of time.

4. Regular manual therapy.

I'm very fortunate to have two outstanding manual therapists in my office on a weekly basis.? Chris Howard is a massage therapist and does a tremendous job with more diffuse approaches, recovery modalities, and some focal work with the Fibroblaster tool.? Nate Tiplady utilizes Graston Technique, Active Release, fascial manipulation, and chiropractic adjustments.? Along with regular foam rolling, these guys have made a big difference in me staying healthy, which leads me to...

5. No missed training sessions.

I'm fortunate to have been very healthy over the years.? Like everyone, I've had minor niggles here and there, but haven't pushed through them and let them get out of hand.? It's better to skip benching one day and do higher rep floor presses than it is to push through some pain and wind up with a torn pec.? If long-term consistency is your goal, you have to be willing to assess risk: reward in your training on a regular basis.

Moreover, training is a part of my life, just like brushing my teeth, feeding the dog, or checking my email.? It's not an option to "squeeze it out" because the schedule gets too full.? I make time instead of finding time.? Of course, it's a lot easier when your office is part of a 15,000+ square-foot gym!

6. Lots of vegetables and quality protein.

Call me crazy, but I'd take grass-fed meatloaf and spinach and onions cooked in coconut oil over a chocolate cake any day of the week.? I'm not making that up; I just don't have much of a sweet tooth.

In Precision Nutrition, Dr. John Berardi talks about the 90% rule: as long as you're good with your nutrition 90% of the time, you can get away with slip-ups or intentional cheat meals for the other 10%.? If you eat five meals a day, that's 31-32 "clean" meals and 3-4 "whoops" meals each week.? When I think about it in that context, I'm probably more like 95-98% adherent, and the other 2-5% is me grabbing a protein bar on the fly while I'm coaching at CP. I could certainly do a lot worse.

I'm sure Dr. Berardi would agree that if you get closer to 100%, you likely have a little wiggle room with your training program. For example, you might be able to cut back slightly on the amount of conditioning needed to meet your goals.

7. Great training partners.

I've been extremely fortunate to lift in a number of great environments, from my time in the University of Connecticut varsity weight room, to my days at Southside Gym, to Cressey Performance 1.0, 2.0, and now 3.0.? You've always got spotters nearby, and there are always guys to give you feedback on weight selection and technique.? We crack jokes, play loud music, and challenge and encourage each other.? I'm convinced that this factor more than any other can absolutely revolutionize the way many folks train; they need human interaction to get out of their comfort zone and realize what they're capable of accomplishing in the right environment.

8. Planned deloads.

I rarely take a week of training off altogether, but at least once a month, I'll reduce training stress substantially for 5-7 days to recharge.? The secret to avoiding burnout is to understand the difference between overload, overreaching, and overtraining.? The former two are important parts of the training equation, but if you are always seeking them 24/7/365, you can wind up with the latter. I talk about this in great detail in my e-book, The Art of the Deload.

9. Accountability.

In my opinion, one of the main reasons many people struggle to achieve their fitness goals is that they are only accountable to themselves - and that's a slippery slope if you aren't blessed with great willpower and perseverance.? It's one reason why we encourage our clients to tell their friends and family about their fitness goals; they'll constantly be reminded of them in conversation throughout the day.

Being in the fitness industry is a blessing because your peers and your clients/athletes are your accountability.? Fat personal trainers don't have full schedules.? Weak people don't become strength coaches of NFL teams.? And, in my shoes, it's magnified even more because I'm in front of thousands of people every single day through the videos on this website, DVDs that we've produced, and seminars at which I present.? Even if "tapping out" on my training was something that interested me, I have too much at stake.? Think about where you can find that level of accountability in your life to help you reach your goals.

10. Cool implements to keep things fun.

I live really close to our facility, so I often joke that I have the best 15,000 square-foot home gym you'll ever see.? We've got a bunch of specialty bars, bumper plates, slideboards, sleds, tires, sledgehammers, turf, kettlebells, dumbbells, bands, chains, farmer's walk handles, TRX units, medicine balls, a glute-ham, chest-supported row, functional trainers, benches, and a host of other implements that I'm surely forgetting.? There is absolutely no excuse for me to ever get bored with training, as I have an endless source of variety at my fingertips.

Now, I know some of you are thinking, "But Eric, I don't have anything cool at my commercial gym!"? My response to that has five parts:

a. If they didn't have what you needed, why did you give them your money instead of taking your business elsewhere?
b. Have you considered outfitting home gym?
c. They probably have a lot more than you might think, but you just need to be more creative and prepare a bit more.
d. Remember that there are many different ways to add variety to programming beyond just changing exercise selection.? You can tinker with sets, reps, rest intervals, training frequency, tempo, range-of-motion, and a host of other factors.
e. Have you used a strength and conditioning program written by a qualified coach? He or she may see the same equipment through a different lens than you do.?

These are surely just ten of countless factors that one can cite when it comes to sustaining performance over the long haul, and I'm sure that they'll change as I get older.? With that said, I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments section: what factors have contributed to you making (or sustaining) progress with your strength and conditioning programs?

Looking for a program to take the guesswork out of your programming?? Check out Show and Go: High Performance Training to Look, Feel, and Move Better.

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Category Blog | Tags: Are of the Deload,Athletic Greens,Bench Press,Deadlift,deadlift technique,Deadlifts,High Performance Training,How to Deadlift,John Berardi,Move Better,Precision Nutrition,Show and Go,Strength and Conditioning,strength and conditioning program,strength and conditioning programs,Strength Training,strength training program,strength training programs

Source: http://www.ericcressey.com/10-ways-training-effect-strength-and-conditioning-programs

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How to Provide Financial Gifts to Students

When it comes to student finances, it's not as simple as giving money to a loved one toward their education and moving on your merry way. If you intend to financially contribute to a student's higher education, it's important to understand the potential consequences of that gift.

The Internal Revenue Service has a lot of rules and regulations. When you gift money toward education, there is a tax to be considered. The tax is most commonly referred to as a Gift Tax. There is also a related tax called the Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax, or GSTT. While none of this may sound like good news, there is some good that can be done regarding your generous gift:

Understand the Transfer Taxes. The transfer tax refers to the percentage the federal government will take when one person gives money to another. This money can include an inheritance received upon one's death. It is important to have an understanding of how these taxes work, because many people will make mistakes in calculating such taxes and can end up with a costly error to fix.

For starters, consider the funding of a college account when a child is still very young. Each year the child can receive tax-free gifts for his or her account up to a certain amount known as the annual exclusion amount. The total amount of money you can gift will vary from year to year based on inflation. You can gift these funds through several financial resources including a trust, a 529 savings plan, or other accounts for educational purposes. You can gift cash, stocks and bonds, or anything else of value, which will be deducted from the annual exclusion amount.

If you go over the allowable amount with your gift, the remaining amount will be subject to the IRS gift tax regulations. However, like many governmental regulations, there are exceptions to the rule. For instance, with Section 529 college savings plans, fund amounts can be deposited without gift taxes coming into play. These accounts can allow you to add extra monies as your child gets closer to graduation. The Section 529 plan allows up to five years' worth of gifts per the annual exclusion amount to be given in one year.

Figure Out GSTT. When it comes to the GSTT, the government allows one generation to gift money to a subsequent generation. For example, when grandparents gift to their grandkids, they skip over their own children in the process. The GSTT is calculated by the amount of money that would have been collected through government taxes had the money first went to the children and then transferred to the grandchildren. This tax was developed for those who are well-off financially, allowing $2 million per donor annually, with amounts changed as dictated by inflation.

Educational Expense Considerations. If you are planning to pay your child's tuition directly to the school facility, don't be concerned with gift taxes. This payment method will also not affect your annual inclusion amount if you still plan to give financial gifts to others. However, if the student is going need financial aid for tuition assistance, your payments will be considered untaxed income on the student's following year's application for FAFSA.

Seek Professional Advice. There is a lot of information and exceptions to the rules of the IRS when it comes to financial gifts for students and tax implications. If you are considering your best plan of action for giving financial gifts to students to help cover college expenses, it may be wise to seek the assistance of a qualified financial advisor, who can explain the specific ramifications of your gift amounts where taxes are concerned. While it would be great to just give a bundle of cash to your loved ones, the government doesn't see it that way. There are many considerations to make concerning financial gifts and educational savings, and it is advisable to seek the counsel of a qualified financial advisor to prevent costly mistakes in your personal finances.

If your children are still young, it is also wise to get serious about saving for college, even if those years seem far off. The earlier you start saving toward a college education, the less you will need to struggle when high school graduation is on the horizon.

Debbie Dragon is a contributor to MyBankTracker.com, where she writes about personal finance, taxes, and banking.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/financial-gifts-students-164105268.html

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GSA Pro Swing Analyzer | recreation and sports blog updates

New Innovation in golf swing expertise - GSA is the worlds lightest swing analyser with the latest features. GSA Professional Golf Swing Analyser Features Document your golf swing See swing instantly in your android/iphone Ultralight, 9 grams suits on top of grip Download the app and watch your swing What does the app show? Swing arc playback Swing Path Affect force Consistency tempo Club Head speed Again swing time Down swing time Face Angle Attainable ball pace Attainable shot distance Assault Angle Simple To Use The device needs to be plugged at the prime of the grip after which aligned within the correct position. The ap has to be started (Iphone/Ipod/Ipad/Android Gadget) and the club selected to use. When the blue mild is on GSA will document each swing and transmit the information by bluetooth. There is no such thing as a intervention needed from the user after the swing, so its attainable to hit a number of balls with the identical club with out watching the phone.

GSA Professional Golf Swing Analyser Options

File your golf swing

See swing instantly on your android/iphone

Ultralight, 9 grams matches on prime of grip

Download the app and watch your swing

What does the app show?

Swing arc playback

Swing Path

Impression force

Consistency

tempo

Club Head velocity

Back swing time

Down swing time

Face Angle

Attainable ball speed

Attainable shot distance

Assault Angle

Simple To Use

The system must be plugged at the high of the grip after which aligned in the right position.

The ap has to be began (Iphone/Ipod/Ipad/Android System) and the membership selected to use. When the blue mild is on GSA will document every swing and transmit the data by bluetooth.

There is no intervention wanted from the consumer after the swing, so its attainable to hit lots of balls with the identical club with out watching the phone.

After this, the swings will be reviewed. Its as easy as that.

Other Features of the GSA Professional

Analysis and record a variety of different swings

Full swing arc re-play

Fb sharing

Assessment your swing histories

Seamless bluetooth connection

Source: http://recreationsportsupdates.blogspot.com/2012/10/gsa-pro-swing-analyzer.html

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Size does matter in sexual selection, at least among beetles

Friday, October 26, 2012

A new collaborative project among researchers from Uppsala University in Sweden and the University of Cincinnati has, for the first time, demonstrated experimentally the evolutionary force behind the rapid evolution of male genitals, focusing on a species of seed beetle.

This mechanism is revealed in a study published today in the scientific journal Current Biology. The experiments leading to this paper involved a species of seed beetle known as Callosobruchus maculatus. Mating among these beetles involves several males engaging in copulation with individual females.

"When a female mates with several males, the males compete over the fertilization of her eggs," said Michal Polak, associate professor of biological sciences at the University of Cincinnati, one of the co-authors. "Because females mate with multiple males, the function of the male copulatory organ may determine which of the males will fertilize most of her eggs. Our results show that the morphology of the male genitalia affects his fertilization success in these beetles."

The competition to produce offspring is the driving force of evolution. Competition among males occurring after insemination may be an important evolutionary force that has led to the evolution of a diversity of shapes and sizes of male sexual organs, the co-authors assert. This competition among males has generated a great biological diversity that they believe can directly contribute to the formation of new species.

"The reproductive organs of animals with internal fertilization change more rapidly than all other morphological features during evolution," Polak said. "In virtually all groups of animals, from roundworms and molluscs to reptiles and mammals, the male sex organs differ markedly among even closely related species, with female genital traits remaining relatively unchanged."

To experimentally investigate the role of genital shape in reproductive success, the Swedish researchers - Cosima Hotzy, Goran Arnqvist and Johanna L. Ronn - bred male beetles with extraordinarily long genital spines. They simultaneously bred male beetles with extremely small spines. Experiments demonstrated that the males with long spines produced substantially more offspring.

"It is possible, however, that breeding for long spines introduced a secondary trait that affects fertility," Polak said. Unintended consequences, he said, are well known to animal breeders.

To prove that it was the spines and not some other trait, some beetles had their genital spines surgically modified using micro-scale laser surgery. Polak's laboratory has gained an international reputation for using a precision laser system to make microscopic changes to insect bodies.

Insects modified through both methods were then observed throughout the competitive mating process. The international team found that the longer genital spines directly contributed to successful fertilization. Seminal fluid from the males was also tracked through high-resolution radioisotope labels, and shown to enter the female body more quickly after mating with long-spined males than short-spined males.

"This provides experimental evidence that male genital morphology influences success in postcopulatory reproductive competition," Polak said.

There is more work to be done, Polak said, to understand the mechanism at work here. It is possible that these longer spines help introduce bio-active molecules from seminal fluid into the female circulatory system. These added proteins and peptides, which have yet to be characterized, may create effects within the female that contribute to male reproductive success. It is also possible that genital spines exert mechanical effects within the female by stimulating her reproductive tract during copulation, thereby inducing the female to uptake and use more of her current mate's sperm.

###

University of Cincinnati: http://www.uc.edu/news

Thanks to University of Cincinnati for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/124860/Size_does_matter_in_sexual_selection__at_least_among_beetles

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Gold now top conflict mineral in Congo: Report

GOMA, Congo (AP) ? Gold is now the primary source of income for armed groups in eastern Congo, and is ending up in jewelry stores across the world, according to a report published Thursday by the Enough Project.

"The essential revenue for armed groups comes from gold today. Of course there are other sources like logging, but gold has become the primary source for groups like the FDLR," said Fidel Bafilemba, Enough's researcher in eastern Congo.

Because of the United States' Dodd-Frank law requiring companies to track the origin of the minerals they use, armed groups have been unable to profit from the exploitation of tin, tungsten and tantalum, and have turned instead to gold, which is easier to smuggle across borders.

"Gold is very portable, you can put it in your pocket and it is easily smuggled across the border. You don't need a large quantity to make a lot of money," said an anti-fraud agent of the border custom in Goma, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject.

Roughly $30,000 worth of gold can fit in a pocket and around $700,000 in a briefcase, estimates The Enough Project, the rights group that specializes in conflict minerals in Congo and Sudan.

While only 23 kilograms of gold were officially exported from eastern Congo in the first half of 2012, 2 tons to 4 tons of gold went out through illegal routes, according to the report.

As a result, the illegal gold trade represents lost revenues of hundreds of millions of dollars for the Congolese state every year, preventing the local population from benefiting from the country's natural resources.

Instead armed groups are profiting from the illegal trade, through taxation and coercion.

"If you drive from Walikale (a major minerals center) to Goma, you have to pass three different checkpoints. You have to pay the (Rwandan Hutu Democratic Forces), you have to pay the (former National Congress for the Defense of the People), and you have to pay the army. You have to pay all, or they will kill you," says Willy, a minerals transporter quoted by Enough.

On top of supplying the funds for armed groups to buy weapons and ammunition, the illegal gold trade is a source of violence in itself, as armed groups fight each other for control of mines.

The M23, a rebel group that formed in April and May following the defection of high ranking officers from the Congolese army, is trying to gain control of the Rubaya gold mine in Masisi, according to Enough.

One of the M23 leaders, General Bosco Ntaganda used to run an illegal mineral trade network when he was in the Congolese army, making millions of dollars each year from mines including Rubaya, according to the report.

Working conditions in the mines are dreadful as a result of the violence surrounding the trade and the complete absence of regulation.

The miners, 40 percent of whom are children according to the advocacy group, work in extreme conditions, with crude equipment such as pick-axes and shovels.

In Nyabibwe, a cassiterirte mine where conditions are similar to those in gold mines, miners go down tunnels without any safety net.

"With time, we actually forget about the dangers, even though they are real," says Bisima, a 33-year-old miner working at the Nyabibwe pit. "Mine collapse remains the greatest danger."

In August, 60 people died in a gold mine which collapsed in Pangoyi, Ituri Province.

The gold from eastern Congo is smuggled across the border to Uganda, Burundi or Tanzania where it is absorbed in the local trade and then sent to major world markets, states the report.

Uganda produced only $167 million worth of gold in the past three years, but exported an estimated $212 million, according to statistics cited by Enough.

"They (the government) like the chaos. It's what allows the officers to get a cut from the trade," said a former Ugandan mining official quoted by Enough.

Uganda was accused in a recent United Nations report of supporting the M23 rebellion in eastern DRC. The Ugandan government strongly denies the allegations.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/gold-now-top-conflict-mineral-congo-report-082247033--finance.html

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56 dead in renewed ethnic violence in west Myanmar

Myanmar Buddhist monks hold banners and placards during a rally against recent violence in Rakhine state, outside the city hall in Yangon, Myanmar, Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012. Nearly 200 protesters including Buddhist monks called for the stop of renewed violence in western coast of Myanmar. Rakhine state spokesman Myo Thant said clashes between Rohingya Muslims and ethnic Rakhine Buddhists - reported in other parts of the coastal region Sunday - engulfed the townships of Kyaukphyu and Myebon late Tuesday. (AP Photo)

Myanmar Buddhist monks offer prayers during a rally against recent violence in Rakhine state, at Sule pagoda in downtown Yangon, Myanmar, Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012. Nearly 200 protesters including Buddhist monks called for the stop of renewed violence in western coast of Myanmar. Rakhine state spokesman Myo Thant said clashes between Rohingya Muslims and ethnic Rakhine Buddhists - reported in other parts of the coastal region Sunday - engulfed the townships of Kyaukphyu and Myebon late Tuesday. (AP Photo)

KYAUKTAW, Myanmar (AP) ? At least 56 people have been killed and 1,900 homes destroyed in renewed ethnic violence in western Myanmar as the government warned perpetrators and the international community appealed for calm.

About 75,000 people remain in refugee camps since an outbreak of violence in June between the Buddhist Rakhine and Muslim Rohingya communities in which at least 90 people were killed and more than 3,000 homes were destroyed. Curfews in place in some areas since then have been expanded with the latest violence, but tensions have stayed high in part because the government has failed to find any long-term solution other than segregating the communities, which have long been in conflict.

Since Sunday, 25 men and 31 women were reported dead in four Rakhine state townships, local government spokesman Win Myaing said. Some 1,900 homes had been burned down in the fresh conflict, while 60 men and four women were injured. It was unclear how many of the victims were Rohingya people and how many were Rakhine.

The United States called for Myanmar authorities to take immediate action to halt the violence. The United Nations appealed for calm.

Myanmar's state daily Myanma Ahlin reported Friday the President's office has warned it will take action against instigators involving in the clashes.

"As the international community is closely watching Myanmar's democratic transition, such unrest could tarnish the image of the country," said the announcement.

An Associated Press photographer who traveled to Kyauktaw, one of the affected townships 45 kilometers (75 miles) north of the Rakhine capital of Sittwe, said he saw 11 wounded people brought by ambulance to the local 25-bed hospital, most with gunshot wounds.

One was declared dead after arrival. All the victims being treated were Rakhine, but that could reflect an inability or unwillingness of Rohingya victims to be treated there.

A volunteer at the hospital, Min Oo, said by telephone that five bodies, including one of a woman, had also been brought there. He said the injured persons were brought by boat from Kyauktaw town 16 kilometers (10 miles) away, and taken from the jetty by the ambulances.

An account by a Rakhine villager in the area suggested great confusion and tension. The villager said that when groups of Rakhine and the Rohingya had a confrontation, government soldiers shot into a crowd of Rakhine, even though, according to his claim, it had been dispersing. The villager would not give his name for fear of violent reprisals.

There have been concerns in the past that soldiers were failing to protect the Rohingya community, but the Rakhine villager's account hints that Myanmar's military may have been defending the Rohingya in this case.

"We feel very unsafe because soldiers are not protecting us but protecting the Muslim villages. They shot the Rakhine people when people got near Muslim villages," said Aung Than, a resident of Kyauktaw township, 74 kilometers (46 miles) north of Sittwe. "Soldiers did not shoot in the air, but they shot at the Rakhine people."

The United Nations called for calm and for it to be given access to the area for humanitarian purposes.

"The U.N. is gravely concerned about reports of a resurgence of inter-communal conflict in several areas in Rakhine State ? which has resulted in deaths and has forced thousands of people, including women and children, to flee their homes," U.N. Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Myanmar Ashok Nigam said in a statement.

Large numbers of people fleeing the new violence were headed for already overcrowded refugee camps, the U.N. official said, advocating short-term humanitarian support and action toward long-term solutions.

In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said the U.S. was deeply concerned about the reports and urged restraint.

The unrest broke out days after the U.S. held what it described as an encouraging human rights dialogue with Myanmar ? the latest sign of diplomatic re-engagement with the former pariah state that has made significant democratic reforms.

The conflict in western Myanmar is rooted in a dispute over the Muslim residents' origin. Although many Rohingya have lived in Myanmar for generations, they are widely denigrated as intruders who came from neighboring Bangladesh to steal scarce land.

The U.N. estimates their population in Myanmar at 800,000. But the government does not count them as one of the country's 135 ethnic groups, and so ? like neighboring Bangladesh ? denies them citizenship. Human rights groups say racism also plays a role: Many Rohingya, who speak a Bengali dialect and resemble Muslim Bangladeshis, have darker skin and are heavily discriminated against.

The crisis has proven a major challenge to President Thein Sein's government and to opposition leader and Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been criticized by some outsiders as failing to speak out strongly against what they see as repression of the Rohingya.

Buddhist monks have been spearheading anti-Rohingya protests, and on Thursday staged their latest one in Yangon, the country's biggest and most important city. More than 100 staged a peaceful protest at the historic Sule Pagoda.

_____

Associated Press writer Matthew Pennington in Washington contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-10-26-AS-Myanmar-Violence/id-0eb7a4a4d43643b7a99699ea6e118ef0

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Bankruptcy: Some Tips You Should Know About | Marijuana for MRSA

A great tip for filers of personal bankruptcy is to thoroughly prepare for the initial meeting with the bankruptcy attorney. By assembling every piece of relevant financial documentation, including mortgage documents, auto finance agreements, credit card statements, tax records and bank statements, you can be certain that your bankruptcy petition and supporting documentation includes all information required for a comprehensive filing.

Do not be foolish, and try to file personal bankruptcy without an attorney. Do your research online, find a reputable attorney. Ask friends, and coworkers if they have any experience with bankruptcy lawyers. Often is the case that good attorneys are found, via word of mouth. An attorney is the best chance you have of coming through feeling comfortable, about your bankruptcy.

When you are thinking about filing bankruptcy, always be honest about everything. Do not think that hiding assets or income will help your case for bankruptcy. It could turn out that the court may just dismiss your petition, and you will not be able to file again to have those debts listed.

It is often thought that filing for personal bankruptcy will leave you homeless. Meanwhile, it is true that some or all of your possessions are seized by debtors. Most filers get to keep their homes. It depends if there is a second mortgage taken out, or the overall value of the home has decreased.

Do not go and apply for quick loans when you know that you are about to file for bankruptcy soon. You may think of this as free money, but if your lender realizes that this was why you applied for the loan you can be prosecuted and made to pay back the money.

Ask yourself whether, or not you really need to file for bankruptcy. Sometimes simply consolidating some of your debts, borrowing some money from a family member, or negotiating with your creditors can help you to deal with a financial crisis. Bankruptcy should always be a last resort, as it can seriously affect your future.

Don?t file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy just to avoid foreclosure. You probably will only get temporary relief if you do this because you?ll have to reaffirm your mortgage in order to go through with the bankruptcy. In some cases, you may end up losing your home if you file for this type of bankruptcy.

Once you have filed for bankruptcy, do not discontinue payment on secured loans. These loans are the ones for your car or your home. Even if you are not receiving paper bills or statements on these accounts, make the regular payment on time, each month. These are likely the possessions you do not want included from the bankruptcy.

Familiarize yourself with the requirements for different types of personal bankruptcy so, you can decide which type is most appropriate for you. Chapter 7 bankruptcy offers low-income debtors the ability to liquidate their assets to repay debts. Chapter 13 requires you to have a steady source of income so, that you can repay debts over time.

If you are currently preparing for bankruptcy, you should get a copy of your credit history from all three of the credit bureaus. From there, you can make a list of all debts that you currently have. Also, make note of any debts you know of, which have not yet appeared on your reports. This list will be necessary when it comes time to file.

Don?t be afraid to apply for credit for purchases such as a new home or car just because you have a recently discharged bankruptcy. Many lenders will take your new financial situation into account. They may be more likely to loan money to someone who has no debt due to a bankruptcy than to the person with, say, 75,000 dollars in credit card debt. The fact that you have no monthly credit card payments can make you look like a better risk.

You now have plenty of information to use to help you with the decision or the process. Apply these tips to your plan and you should have a much easier time getting through the bankruptcy process. Use them in good faith, knowing that they have helped others before they helped you.

To ensure the best quality attorneys in columbia mo, be sure to take your time and choose theright attorney for you.

Source: http://cannabismrsacure.letstalkaboutpot.com/bankruptcy-some-tips-you-should-know-about/

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Making Your Ex Miss You - How It Is Done

What do you do when a relationship turns sour? You wish you could just turn back the clock and bring things back to the way they used to be. When you think of the time you first started dating, you can't help but smile. Those times are gone. Is it a lost hope to dream of getting them back?

Not if you know where to start. Relationships can't be all sunshine and rainbows 100% of the time - they simply don't work that way. Maintaining a relationship can mean a lot of hard work and although you were willing to put in the effort, it seems that your ex wasn't. They broke up with you instead. Instead of just wishing for another chance, make it happen. Be proactive and go for a plan that is so simple it's almost guaranteed to work - as long as you play your cards right and lead with your head, not your heart.

Make them Miss More than a Memory

While you can't plant pictures in your ex's mind that you want them to hold onto in your post-breakup reality, you can give them the seeds necessary to plant them on their own. Unfortunately, you can't reach into their mind and make them feel the same things you're feeling. You desperately want to reclaim your relationship, but at this moment your ex does not share the same sentiments.

Instead, they seem to be pulling away. You want to fight the process and cling to them for dear life, but that's not going to get you any closer to reconnecting. Instead, give them the impression that you're acquiescing to what they think they want. They don't really want you to disappear, although they might disagree right now. When you keep your distance, they'll realize that they don't just miss the way things were - they miss the person attached to those memories as well. Once this goal is accomplished, you need an extra push to get your plan off the ground and into motion.

Don't Just Focus on THE Past, Focus on Your Past as Well

While it may be easy to pick apart everything that your ex did wrong throughout the course of your relationship, it's harder to turn that critical eye inward. Humans are programed to find fault in others, and it's a natural thing to pick apart all of your ex's idiosyncrasies and bad habits. It's unlikely that you weathered the storm of the relationship (and its eventual end) without sustaining some damage along the way.

Since you're giving your ex some time away, you have some free time available to start focusing on what's truly important - you. Don't mold yourself into what you imagine an ex wants - you'll fall short of your own expectations. Faking it will only get you so far - and it's not nearly enough to bridge the gap between the relationship you want and the one that ended. Even the little things can make a big difference here. Remember the way your ex lit up every time you entered a room and focus on becoming that person again. Introduce yourself to the new and improved you by reconnecting with bits and pieces of the past that worked out in your favor.

Make the Best of Times a New Reality

If you want nothing more than to reinstate the initial stages of your former relationship, you're in luck. Not only is it possible, it's not as far off as you fear. You want the way your ex remembers you to focus on the good - and minimalize the bad in the process. Obviously some things need to change - but you can bring those changes about in a positive way by using the past for inspiration. Take it even further. Don't revert into a former self - make that person even better and make it something your ex will remember fondly.

There is too much at stake to simply cross your fingers and hope for the best. Having a plan is only the foundation. Any successful plan needs to be put into action and that means taking a positive role in its natural progression and pulling the strings to tilt the game in your favor. Go into this time with an underlying confidence and regain control of your fate. By taking it one step at a time and rebuilding your positive traits from the ground up, you have every opportunity to win your ex back - and making your renewed relationship healthier than ever.

What To Do Next

Being dumped is never a trivial thing, the pain is always real. People who say "just get over it" have either never been dumped or they are in denial. Knowledge is power, the more knowledge you gain about how to rectify your situation the better your chances of putting your relationship back on track will be.

Two key things that you should know about are break up mistakes and managing contact with your ex. If you are serious about getting your ex back into your life then you will have to gain the knowledge necessary to achieve your goal. With the right techniques you will save yourself a lot of heartache and frustration.

Source: http://www.streetarticles.com/reconnecting/making-your-ex-miss-you-how-it-is-done

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Revealing a mini-supermassive black hole

ScienceDaily (Oct. 24, 2012) ? One of the lowest mass supermassive black holes ever observed in the middle of a galaxy has been identified, thanks to NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and several other observatories. The host galaxy is of a type not expected to harbor supermassive black holes, suggesting that this black hole, while related to its supermassive cousins, may have a different origin.

The black hole is located in the middle of the spiral galaxy NGC 4178, shown in this image from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. The inset shows an X-ray source at the position of the black hole, in the center of a Chandra image. An analysis of the Chandra data, along with infrared data from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope and radio data from the NSF's Very Large Array suggests that the black hole is near the extreme low-mass end of the supermassive black hole range.

These results were published in the July 1, 2012 issue of The Astrophysical Journal by Nathan Secrest, from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, and collaborators.

The properties of the X-ray source, including its brightness and spectrum -- the amount of X-rays at different wavelengths -- and its brightness at infrared wavelengths, suggest that a black hole in the center of NGC 4178 is rapidly pulling in material from its surroundings. The same data also suggest that light generated by this infalling material is heavily absorbed by gas and dust surrounding the black hole.

A known relationship between the mass of a black hole and the amount of X-rays and radio waves it generates was used to estimate the mass of the black hole. This method gives a black hole mass estimate of less than about 200,000 times that of the sun. This agrees with mass estimates from several other methods employed by the authors, and is lower than the typical values for supermassive black holes of millions to billions of times the mass of the sun.

NGC 4178 is a spiral galaxy located about 55 million light years from Earth. It does not contain a bright central concentration, or bulge, of stars in its center. Besides NGC 4178, four other galaxies without bulges are currently thought to contain supermassive black holes. Of these four black holes, two have masses that may be close to that of the black hole in NGC 4178. XMM-Newton observations of an X-ray source discovered by Chandra in the center of the galaxy NGC 4561 indicate that the mass of this black hole is greater than 20,000 times the mass of the sun, but the mass could be substantially higher if the black hole is pulling in material slowly, causing it to generate less X-ray emission. A paper describing these results was published in the October 1st, 2012 issue of The Astrophysical Journal by Araya Salvo and collaborators.

The mass of the black hole in the galaxy NGC 4395 is estimated to be about 360,000 times the mass of the sun, as published by Peterson and collaborators in the October 20, 2005 issue of the Astrophysical Journal.

Previously, astronomers have found that observations of a large number of galaxies are consistent with a close correlation between the mass of a supermassive black hole and the mass of the bulge of its host galaxy. Theoretical models developed to explain these results invoke mergers of galaxies, and predict that galaxies without bulges are unlikely to host supermassive black holes. The results found for NGC 4178 and the four other galaxies mentioned run counter to these predictions, and may suggest that more than one mechanism is at work in forming supermassive black holes.

Three other X-ray sources were found in the Chandra image. If they are located in NGC 4178 they are likely to be binary systems containing a black hole or neutron star. The brightest of the three sources may be an intermediate-mass black hole with a mass that is about 6,000 times that of the sun.

The co-authors of the paper describing these results are Shobita Satyapal, and Mario Gliozzi, from George Mason University; Teddy Cheung, from the National Academy of Science in Washington DC; Anil Seth, from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, UT, and Torsten Boeker from ESA/ESTEC in the Netherlands.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Chandra X-ray Observatory.

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

Journal Reference:

Nathan Secrest, Shobita Satyapal, Mario Gliozzi, C. C. Cheung, Anil Seth, Torsten Boeker. The Chandra View of NGC 4178: The Lowest Mass Black Hole in a Bulgeless Disk Galaxy? The Astrophysical Journal, 2012 [link]

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/top_technology/~3/KIhhWiypEgk/121024150904.htm

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UN Security Council endorses Syria holiday truce

In this Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012 photo, Syrian residents carry a man severely injured from an artillery shell that landed near a bakery, to a hospital for treatment in Aleppo, Syria. Several were killed and a dozen were injured after the artillery shell that landed near a bakery in Aleppo on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Narciso Contreras).

In this Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012 photo, Syrian residents wheel a man injured from an artillery shell that landed near a bakery, to a hospital for treatment in Aleppo, Syria. Several were killed and a dozen were injured after the artillery shell that landed near a bakery in Aleppo on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Narciso Contreras).

In this Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012 photo, a Syrian man wheels a woman severely injured from an artillery shell that landed near a bakery, to a hospital for treatment in Aleppo, Syria. Several were killed and a dozen were injured after the artillery shell that landed near a bakery in Aleppo on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012. (AP Photo/Narciso Contreras).

U.N.-Arab League envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi talks during a joint press conference with the Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby, unseen, following their meeting at the Arab League headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012. The U.N.-Arab League envoy to Syria says the Syrian government and some rebel leaders have agreed to a ceasefire during the upcoming Muslim four-day holiday. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)

BEIRUT (AP) ? The U.N. Security Council gave unanimous backing Wednesday to a four-day truce proposed by the international mediator for Syria to mark a major Muslim holiday after he warned that the failure of yet another cease-fire plan would only worsen the fighting.

Yet even this modest effort ? the international community's only plan for scaling back the violence ? appears doomed.

Previous cease-fire missions have failed, in part because neither Syrian President Bashar Assad nor rebels trying to topple him had an incentive to end their bloody war of attrition. Both sides believe they can still make gains on the battlefield even as they are locked in a stalemate, and neither has faith in negotiations on a political transition.

Lakhdar Brahimi, the U.N.-Arab League envoy to Syria, has proposed that both sides lay down their arms during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, which begins Friday.

The Security Council is normally divided on Syria, but Assad allies Russia and China joined other council members in endorsing the idea of a temporary truce that is meant to pave the way for talks on ending Syria's 19-month-old conflict.

The response on the ground ranged from lukewarm to downright rejection. Syrian government officials said they were still studying the idea, while Syria's political opposition said it was skeptical of the regime's promises. A rebel commander dismissed the plan as irrelevant and a radical Islamist group fighting alongside the rebels said it won't comply with any truce.

As Brahimi briefed the Security Council, the death toll since the start of the conflict in March 2011 crossed the threshold of 35,000, activists said, and more violence was reported across the country.

Two car bombs killed at least eight bus passengers in the capital Damascus and 12 regime soldiers near a military checkpoint in the north, while regime airstrikes on villages near a besieged army base killed 12 civilians, activists said. They also posted a video showing at least 13 bodies laid out Wednesday in a room in a Damascus suburb, some of them women and children. Each side blamed the other for the deaths.

Brahimi told the Security Council by video conference from Cairo that he hopes a truce will allow humanitarian aid to reach war-stricken areas and start transition talks, said U.N. diplomats who spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting was private.

However, months of horrific bloodshed and deep distrust between the combatants make it unlikely they will embark on the path outlined by Brahimi. The Syrian opposition says it won't negotiate unless Assad resigns, something the Syrian leader refuses to do.

"The Syrian regime throughout its reign and up until now signs everything but violates everything," Haitham Maleh, a veteran Syrian opposition leader, said after he and others met with Arab League chief Nabil Elaraby in Cairo.

Maleh said there is concern the regime would exploit a cease-fire to take back rebel-held territory. The opposition will not accept any political solution that does not include Assad leaving his post, he said.

Brahimi has served as envoy since September, taking over from former U.N. chief Kofi Annan, who quit after failing to end the Syria fighting. Annan had pushed a six-point plan, including an April 12 cease-fire that was to lead to transition talks but never took hold.

Annan's successor has been blunt about the difficulty of his assignment, trying to lower expectations. He suggested Wednesday that even the holiday truce is a gamble, saying that failure could make the situation in Syria even worse, according to the U.N. diplomat.

Still, the international community has little else to offer. There is no appetite for military intervention, while harsher U.N. action against the regime has been blocked by Russia and China, two Security Council members with veto powers.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said she supports Brahimi's cease-fire so that "Syrians could celebrate in peace."

"We'd like to see the violence come to an end, there's no doubt about this, and we'd like to see a political transition take hold and begin. We've been calling for that for more than a year," she added.

Few of those involved in the conflict appeared ready to commit to a truce.

Abdelbaset Sieda, head of the main opposition group in exile, the Syrian National Council, said rebel fighters would hold their fire during the holiday unless attacked by regime forces. However, his group has no control over rebels fighting on the ground.

Rebel commander Zahran Aloush of the al-Islam brigade outside of Damascus said he's ignoring truce efforts. "How can I expect a cease-fire from a regime that has never given us anything, ever," he said via Skype.

The al-Qaida-linked group Jabhat al-Nusra, which fights with the rebels and has claimed a number of large suicide bombings against regime targets, said it will not lay down arms.

"There will be no truce between us and the prideful regime and shedder of the blood of Muslims," the group said in statement posted on militant websites. "We are not among those who allow the wily to trick us, nor are we ones who will accept to play these filthy games."

In Damascus, Foreign Ministry spokesman Jihad Makdessi said the truce proposal was still "being studied" by Syrian army leaders and that Syria's decision would be announced Thursday.

Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters after the Security Council meeting that his country had received indications from Syria it would abide by a cease-fire.

Brahimi hasn't said how compliance would be monitored. Annan's truce plan was more comprehensive, calling for an open-ended truce, a pullback of troops and heavy weapons from urban centers and supervision by U.N. monitors.

In Wednesday's violence, 20 people were found dead in a building in the Damascus suburb of Douma, said local activist Mohammed Saeed, speaking via Skype. The dead included 10 women and four children, he said.

An amateur video posted online showed bodies scattered on the landings of a stairwell and sprawled out on tile floors. Among the bodies were those of two young boys, one with a hole in his head, and a woman. A thick stream of blood flowed from a doorway. Another video showed 13 bodies wrapped in blankets and laid out in two rows.

The videos matched activist descriptions of the event, but because Syria imposes tight restrictions on foreign journalists, their authenticity could not be independently verified.

The state-run news agency SANA quoted the Foreign Ministry as saying that 25 people were killed in Douma on Wednesday and that they were victims of a massacre carried out by "armed terrorists," the regime's term for opposition fighters.

Also Wednesday, Russia's chief military officer said Syrian rebels have acquired portable air defense missiles, including U.S.-made Stinger missiles. In remarks carried by Russian news agencies, Gen. Nikolai Makarov didn't say how many such missiles the rebels had and who supplied them.

A Syrian rebel told The Associated Press in Turkey that the insurgents obtained dozens of shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles, but would not say who provided them.

The Syrian opposition has urged its foreign backers to send heavy weapons, saying rebel fighters cannot break the stalemate as long as Assad can bomb them from the air. However, the Obama administration has refused to do so, saying the weapons might fall into the wrong hands and eventually be used against the U.S. and its allies.

In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland denied that the U.S. has provided any Stingers to Syrian rebels. She challenged Russia to provide evidence suggesting otherwise.

___

Associated Press writers Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations, Maggie Fick in Cairo, Bradley Klapper in Washington and Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow contributed reporting.