UPDATE 1-Soccer-AFC, INTERPOL begin seminar on match-fixing 'cancer'

(Adds quotes, details)

* AFC head labels match-fixing a cancer

* FIFA security chief calls for political help

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 20 (Reuters) - The 'cancer' of soccer match-fixing is a pandemic which is too big for one organisation to tackle alone, AFC acting president Zhang Jilong warned as the regional body and INTERPOL kicked off a two-day seminar on the issue on Wednesday.

World soccer was rocked earlier this month when European police said a Singapore-based syndicate had directed match-fixing for at least 380 soccer games in Europe alone, with documented profits of eight million euros ($11 million) believed to be just the tip of the iceberg.

While the news shocked many in Europe, the announcements were met with little surprise in Asia, which has long struggled to tackle the problem with high profile cases in South Korea, China and Malaysia in recent years.

Zhang, who served as the chairman of the Asian Football Confederation's Finance Committee during the final years of Mohammed Bin Hammam's reign as AFC president before the Qatari was banned for life by FIFA for corruption and bribery, said cooperation was required to tackle the problem.

"We are ready to work hand in hand to eradicate this cancer from the game," Zhang told reporters in Kuala Lumpur in his opening speech.

"Match-fixing is too complicated and widespread for one organisation to fight it alone.

"No continent is now left untouched by this disease. Match-fixing is now a pandemic in the world football."

The lack of arrests in the global match-fixing case, that has been reported on in Singapore newspapers for years, have led to criticism but FIFA director of security Ralf Mutshke said that the issue was above their jurisdiction.

"This is a question basically for law enforcement on one side and a problem which politicians have to solve," he said in his address.

"This is a criminal case. It has nothing to do with our responsibility."

STAMPED OUT

Zhang has been in temporary charge of the AFC since June 2011 and is expected to run for the full presidency post during the elections in May after the AFC were finally granted legal clearance to replace Bin Hammam.

The experienced Chinese administrator said no stone was being left unturned in battling the crisis affecting the world's most popular sport.

"I can assure this conference that AFC will not rest until this blot is completely stamped out in Asia," he said.

"We need to understand how match-fixing works in order to prevent it. We need more information on how crime syndicates operate.

"We want the result of a match to be beyond the shred of a doubt and we will do everything possible to make this happen."

Also speaking on the opening morning of the conference was INTERPOL's Director of Capacity Building and Training, Dale Sheehan, who warned the knock on problems from match-fixing had expanded way beyond sport.

"Criminals can make millions in illicit profits from match-fixing with little risk of being detected and will exploit every opportunity. By bringing together partners we are raising awareness and understanding of the problem," Sheehan said.

"Sports and fair play are the very fabric of our society and youth and the impact of match-fixing, including murder, suicide, assault and threats has the ability to undermine that very fabric."

Brendan Schwab, Asia chairman of world players' union FIFPro, said that the problem did not start with the players and that the involvement of his members in discussions would resolve the issue.

"We bring to the table the 65,000 players of FIFPro in a steadfast commitment to work with everyone to uphold the integrity of the game. We ask you to see that the players are part of the solution, and not the problem.

"The unique relationship of trust and confidence that exists between the players and their players' associations, coupled with the responsible and committed leadership of FIFPro, are needed in order for football to defeat match fixing."

The conference closes on Thursday with a speech by INTERPOL secretary general Ronald Noble discussing what should be done next to prevent match-fixing. (Reporting by Siva Sithraputhran; Writing by Patrick Johnston in Singapore; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/soccer-afc-interpol-begin-seminar-tackle-match-fixing-052341736--sector.html

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JOB FAIR 4560 California Ave. Suite. 100 Tuesday,

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NTP Draws Record Crowds to San Diego Show | RV Business

After a year of hard work integrating the operations of Wilsonville, Ore.-based NTP Distribution Inc. and its new parent company, Keystone Automotive Operations Inc., the company?s management feels the mission of fusing the two companies? cultures and operations together was complete before the lights went on last week (Feb. 12-15) for the NTP Show at the San Diego Convention Center.

Spokesmen from both the automotive and RV sides of the aftermarket parts and accessory distributor were candid last week during the company?s trade show and dealer conference about the challenges they faced in 2012 after Exeter, Pa.-based Keystone purchased NTP in October of 2011. And they all felt that the company was better off in terms of delivery times, dealer support, revenues and market share.

?We have over a thousand dealers here, by far our largest show ever, including being up triple digits (in dealer attendance) from Canada,? NTP Vice President of Sales Jon White said in addressing dealers and exhibiting suppliers on opening day. ?We?re very happy to see that growth over the border. We have the largest number of suppliers ever, and our biggest booth count. So, we are very excited for the next couple of days.

?Now, we know that in 2012 we had our challenges ? like any integration, we had our ups and our downs and things took some time to be resolved ? and we appreciate your loyalty and your patience,? he added. ?I am very lucky to have such a tremendous sales team out in the field, working with you guys on the phones and in person, and also to have such a great customer base who came up with the patience as we worked through our issues. So, for that, I thank you.?

Although NTP never announced it, the supplier involvement reportedly exceeded 200 companies.

Keystone President & CEO Ed Orzetti sees ?phenomenal momentum? within the company, not only in the extent of integrated operations. ?But when I say we?ve integrated fully, it?s the whole fulfillment system, and that?s what Keystone brought to the party for NTP and for the RV dealers. It?s a fairly unique logistics network,? Orzetti told RVBUSINESS.com.

As an individual who?s experienced plenty of private equity acquisitions, Orzetti describes the company?s 2012 transition as one of the best he?s seen. ?Now, look, with integration, there?s always bumps in the road and its ugly,? he said. ?But when you move fast, you get through them. You figure out what the problems are and you move forward. But I will tell you this: The nice thing is that the integration is fully behind us.?

At the same time, Orzetti maintained, NTP jumped from the nation?s No. 3 to No. 2 distributor of RV aftermarket parts and accessories.

?By the way, a couple of other exciting things happened,? he added. ?You know, NTP was predominantly a West Coast company. They laid the foundations for some things in the Southeast and Central (regions). NTP is now a full national company.

?But it gets even better because there?s now an NTP Canada, which didn?t exist when we entered the picture,? said Orzetti. ?And while we don?t reveal the numbers, we had a lot of Canadians here (in San Diego) and we had special Canadian social events for both our Canadian and U.S. customers on separate nights. The NTP business model has now been rolled out to Canada as well as the rest of the U.S.?

NTP President Greg Boyd says the transition started ?right out of the gate? with a plan that involved the blending, where appropriate, of warehouses. The end result is a distribution system that includes 23 cross-docks across North America plus warehousing and facilities expediting next day service.

?Our success is also represented in our customers,? said Boyd. ?Certainly, we had their loyalty going through the change. But the true test of success is the fact that we?ve grown exponentially over this last year, all while going through this change. So that?s a true test, not only with our existing customer base ? and certainly some of the trials and tribulations we had in transitioning ? but gaining market share and new accounts as we went through it all.?

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Source: http://www.rvbusiness.com/2013/02/ntp-draws-record-crowds-to-san-diego-show/

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Sprint promises HTC One availability too

AT&T and T-Mobile have already announced that they'll have the recently-announced HTC One, and Sprint is hopping aboard too. They're equally skittish about date and pricing details, but you can always sign up for availability notifications here. 

It's great that these three are offering it and all, but what's going on with Verizon? Why no love for the HTC One? In any case, hit the jump for the full press release, or scope out our preview at the link below. Any Sprint customers itching to upgrade to this bad boy? 

Complete HTC One preview | HTC One forums

read more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/RFA3GKpxCQI/story01.htm

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3 ways to save warring workgroups ? Business Management Daily ...

Some teams struggle to work together. Personalities clash, disagreements intensify and meetings turn into protracted turf battles.

When groups become polarized, shake up the status quo. Try these techniques to reverse a downhill spiral so that teams regain their footing:

1. Bring in more voices. When some??one expresses frustration, many team leaders instinctively change the subject to prevent negativity from spreading. But that?s a misguided strategy.

A better response is to ask the group, ?Anyone else feeling frustrated?? Although this invites more griping, the larger benefit is people can speak freely without fear of reprisal. Allowing teams to share their experience openly can increase the comfort level and lead to more effective collaboration.

2. Resist dishing out answers. Just because you?re the team leader doesn?t make you the resident know-it-all. If someone says, ?I?m confused here,? don?t rush to reply, ?Let me explain.? Instead, let others weigh in.

Say, ?Let?s talk more about this. What do others think?? This enables team members to facilitate each other?s understanding.

3. Create clusters of like-minded people. When teammates argue over a contentious issue, divide the room into two subgroups based on their opposing views. Then ask Subgroup A to talk with each other while the other group listens.

As similar-minded people within Subgroup A discuss the issue, subtle differences will emerge. At the same time, Subgroup B listeners will usually detect positions similar to theirs as the A members express a range of seemingly aligned viewpoints.

Then let Subgroup B talk with each other while Subgroup A listens in. Through these exercises, participants will realize that they share more similarities than differences.

? Adapted from Don?t Just Do Something, Stand There!, Marvin Weisbord and Sandra Janoff, Berrett-Koehler.

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Pistorius tells of 'terror' on night he shot girlfriend

A South African court officially charged superstar runner Oscar Pistorius with killing his unarmed girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, alleging he shot her three times through a locked bathroom door . NBC's Michelle Kosinski reports.

By Rohit Kachroo, Michelle Kosinski and Tracy Connor, NBC News

?Blade Runner? Oscar Pistorius claimed Tuesday that he had heard a noise in the bathroom and felt ?a sense of terror? on the night he fatally shot his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, insisting he thought someone had broken into his South Africa home.

In a statement read to a court hearing, the double-amputee Olympic and Paralympic star wrote that he loved Steenkamp "deeply." He also said he had received death threats in the past and kept a firearm beside his bed.

Earlier Tuesday, Prosecutor Gerrie Nel insisted there was nothing to support Pistorius? claim that he feared there was an intruder in the house when he killed Steenkamp. She was shot dead through the door of a small bathroom in Pistorius? home in a suburb of Pretoria early on Valentine?s Day.

Nel said she had "nowhere" to go and her death must have been "horrific," insisting Pristorius was guilty of premeditated murder.

The NBC Olympic and "Rock Center" correspondent spent a week over the summer with Oscar Pistorius and tells NBC's David Gregory that he was a "gun guy" who was worried about his safety and security.

The claims were made at a bail hearing -- described as a ?little trial? by one expert -- that is being held to determine whether Pistorius should be freed pending trial.

Magistrate Desmond Nair?ruled that Pistorius would face a charge of premeditated murder, but the hearing was adjourned until Wednesday morning.

As the defense and prosecution lawyers argued, the family and friends of the slain model and law-school graduate Steenkamp held a tearful funeral?in her hometown.

As his statement was read to the court, Pistorius sobbed uncontrollably at times, prompting Nair to say, "I know it's difficult. ... I'm going to find it difficult to concentrate. ... Maintain your composure."

'She died in my arms'
The statement denied Pistorius had deliberately killed Steenkamp ?in the strongest terms," adding that the athlete was "deeply in love'' with her, according to Reuters.

"I had no intention to kill my girlfriend," the statement said.

According to Pistorius' account, he and Steenkamp had decided to "have a quiet dinner together at home" and by about 10 p.m. they had retired to his bedroom, where she was doing yoga as he was lying down and watching television. After finishing her yoga, she got into bed with him and the two fell asleep, Pistorius' statement said.

During the early morning hours, it said, Pistorius woke up and went to his bedroom balcony to bring a fan inside and close the sliding glass doors and blinds.

"I heard a noise in my bathroom. ... I felt a sense of terror. ... I believed that someone had entered my house. ... I grabbed my 9mm pistol," it said.

Pistorius' statement said contractors had been working at his house and had left ladders outside, and there were no security bars on the bathroom window. The bathroom contained a separate toilet area with its own door.

?As I did not have my prosthetic legs on I felt extremely vulnerable. I had to protect Reeva and myself. ... I felt trapped as my bedroom door was locked and I have limited mobility on my stumps,? it said.

The statement then described Pistorius hearing movement inside the bathroom. "I fired shots at the toilet door and shouted at Reeva to phone the police," it said. "She did not respond and I moved backwards out of the bathroom, keeping my eyes on the bathroom entrance. Everything was pitch dark in the bedroom and I was still too scared to switch on a light. Reeva was not responding.

"When I reached the bed, I realized that Reeva was not in bed. That is when it dawned on me that it could have been Reeva who was in the toilet."

The statement also described Pistorius trying to open the locked bathroom door but failing, then grabbing a cricket bat to smash open the door. "Reeva was slumped over but alive. I battled to get her out of the toilet and pulled her into the bathroom."

Pistorius? statement said that moments after the shooting he ?picked Reeva up as I'd been told not to wait for the paramedics. ... She died in my arms.?

Earlier in the hearing, Nel said Steenkamp had arrived in Pistorius' home sometime between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. on the night before she died.

There was "no possible explanation to support" Pistorius' claim that he thought Steenkamp was an intruder, Nel said.

And he added that even if Steenkamp had been an intruder, the shooting would still have been the murder of a burglar.

Nel said Pistorius had armed himself, put on his prosthetic legs, walked to the bathroom and shot Steenkamp several times through the locked door as she sat on the toilet. "She locked that door for a purpose," Nel said.

"If I arm myself, walk a distance and murder a person, that is premeditated," he said, according to Reuters. "The door is closed. There is no doubt. I walk seven meters (just over 22 feet) and I kill."

"The motive is 'I want to kill.' That's it," he added. "This deceased was in a 1.4- (4.5 feet) by 1.14-meter little room. She could go nowhere. It must have been horrific."

The prosecutor also asked why a burglar would have locked himself inside the bathroom.

After the shooting, Pistorius carried Steenkamp downstairs, where he met a security guard and a friend, according to the prosecution, and told them that he had thought she had been an intruder.

Pistorius' defense argued the sports star was not guilty of murder for that reason.

The defense lawyer claimed other husbands had shot their wives thinking they were intruders and asked, "Where's the premeditation?"

Following the defense's statements, Nel said he was now "more convinced" about what happened.

Karyn Maughan, legal correspondent for South Africa news channel ENCA, told NBC's TODAY that if a premeditated murder charge stands, there would be dire consequences for Pistorius.

?If he can?t prove that her death was unintentional, then it is unlikely he will get bail and he also faces a life sentence in jail,? she said. ?He must try to convince the court he shot her in confusion, thinking she was an intruder."

Pistorius has hired his own high-profile forensic expert to analyze the police reports and post-mortem exam, ENCA reported. His defense team includes lawyer Kenny Oldwage, who previously won an acquittal for a driver accused of killing Nelson Mandela's great-grandchild in a 2010 accident.

'Where's my little girl'
Model and law-school graduate?Steenkamp's relatives are hoping for answers.

"Why my little girl?" her mother, June Steenkamp, said?in an interview with The Times of Johannesburg,?calling her bubbly, blond daughter "the most beautiful person who ever lived."

"All we have is this horrendous death to deal with ... to get to grips with," she said. "All we want are answers ... answers as to why this had to happen, why our beautiful daughter had to die like this."

Steenkamp's family and friends gathered at a 90-seat chapel in Port Elizabeth, where Steenkamp grew up, for her funeral.

"She's my little sister and she's gone," her brother, Adam, told ENCA. "There is a big hole there that cannot be filled by anything else."

Steenkamp and Pistorius had been dating for about three months, and she tweeted a Valentine's Day message hours before her death.

The track star, who captivated the world when he became the first double-amputee to run in the Olympics at last summer's London Games, was a gun enthusiast who once took a reporter writing a profile of him to a firing range.

A South African newspaper reported Monday that he nearly shot a friend by accident while handling another friend's gun at a Johannesburg restaurant.

"I had quite a fright because the bullet hit the ground centimeters from my foot," boxer Kevin Lerena told the Beeld newspaper, according to Agence France-Presse.

"For some reason it got caught on his trousers, flipped the safety pin and a shot went off. I wouldn't say he was negligent. Days afterwards he was still apologizing."

Ian Johnston of NBC News and Reuters contributed to this report.

Related:

Mother of Pistorius' slain girlfriend: 'Why my little girl?'

Agent: Sponsors sticking by Oscar Pistorius

Oscar Pistorius' agent cancels races

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This story was originally published on Tue Feb 19, 2013 2:01 AM EST

Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/19/17006698-pistorius-i-felt-sense-of-terror-on-night-i-mistakenly-shot-deeply-loved-girlfriend?lite

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South Korea mostly suicide-free for U.S. troops

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2013/02/gannett-skorea-mostly-suicide-free-for-soldiers-021813/

By Gregg Zoroya - USA Today
Posted : Monday Feb 18, 2013 12:45:24 EST

Even as the Army recorded its worst year in decades for soldiers killing themselves ? with 323 deaths in 2012 ? there were places in the service where suicides are rare.

One is South Korea, where among the nearly 20,000 GIs stationed there last year, there was one suicide: a soldier hanged himself. Leaders there say they are encouraging troops to seek help and to look out for one another, and that effort is paying off.

Last December, Army Spc. Andrew Korpash, 26, who is stationed near the Korean demilitarized zone, contacted a chaplain about desperate text messages another G.I. sent after being jilted by a woman. ?The thing that got my attention was the actual list of ways he would do it (commit suicide),? said Korpash, a Korean language linguist. ?That?s when it seemed like it was pretty serious to me.?

But there is another reason that underscores how U.S. troops die by suicide: the use of firearms. In South Korea, troops are effectively barred from keeping private firearms because of strict national gun control laws.

?Most soldiers in the military, the majority, commit suicide through firearms,? said Maj. Gen. Edward Cardon, commander of 2nd Infantry Division and some 10,000 soldiers in South Korea. ?So the restrictions on firearms is clearly a factor (in reducing the deaths).?

Military research shows that guns are involved in 61 percent of service member suicides ? personal firearms in three out of four of those cases. Gun suicides are even more prevalent in the Army, where suicide rates rose to 29 per 100,000 last year, above the pace of suicides in the public.

A soon-to-be published study by the Pentagon?s National Center for Telehealth and Technology asserts there is a gun culture among those who volunteer to serve and acknowledges the difficulty of restricting personal firearms, despite evidence that it could reduce suicides.

In Israel, which has tough restrictions on personal firearms, the Israeli Defense Force changed policy in 2006, prohibiting troops from taking their service weapons home on weekends. Suicides dropped 45 percent, according to a 2010 study.

American troops anywhere in the world are heavily restricted on registration and storage of personal firearms while living on U.S. military bases. But that uniformity ends when the issue is off-base housing.

Troops overseas must abide by the restrictions of host nations, according to military policy. Accordingly, U.S. troops in South Korea, Germany, Italy and elsewhere are virtually without access to personal firearms.

Suicides have been fewer among those troops.

Last year, there were three Army suicides among the 25,000 soldiers posted in Germany, one among 19,200 in South Korea and none in Italy, where 3,900 soldiers are based.

Meanwhile, U.S. bases often see double-digit suicides each year. There were a dozen among the 30,000 GIs at Fort Campbell, Ky., last year; 17 at Fort Hood, Texas, which has 46,500 soldiers; and 10 among the 20,000 G.I.s at Fort Stewart, Ga., according to Army statistics.

?The takeaway message is we have to do everything we can to limit access to firearms by someone who is depressed, they?re suicidal, struggling with thoughts of self harm,? said Robert Gebbia, executive director of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. ?It?s just good common sense.?

Among 2nd Infantry Division soldiers in South Korea, Cardon said he has pushed beyond the issue of personal firearms to training soldiers like Korpash to intervene when signs of suicide emerge. Last year, 26 of his soldiers helped to stop a suicide from happening.

?They tell us everyone is responsible to recognize it when you see it,? said Korpash, of Flower Mound, Texas, who received an Army achievement medal for stopping a suicide.

The 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea reported that suicide attempts fell from 56 in 2011 to 36 last year.

?I?m not going to rest on this,? Cardon said. ?The piece I really focus on is what we call collective responsibility. If something doesn?t look right next to you, ask the question. Don?t wait.?

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Source: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2013/02/gannett-skorea-mostly-suicide-free-for-soldiers-021813/

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Living near equator likely increases allergy and asthma risk | MNN ...

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 235 million people globally suffer from asthma, the most common chronic disease among children. Contrary to popular belief, asthma is not just a health concern for high-income countries. It strikes everywhere, and more than 80 percent of asthma deaths occur in low- and lower-middle income countries.

?

In fact, according to a new study published in the February issue of?Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, people who live close to the equator may be more likely to have asthma than those in other parts of the world. In addition, those living closest to the equator not only had increased odds for asthma, but also for hay fever, food allergy and skin sensitization to house dust mites and molds.

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The authors of the research note that the increased risk seems to be linked to exposure to ultraviolet-B (UV-B) rays in sunlight.

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"UV-B rays exposure is higher for people living in areas closer to the equator," said study lead author Vicka Oktaria in a news release. "This increase in UV-B may be linked to vitamin D, which is thought to modify the immune system. These modifications can lead to an elevated risk of developing allergy and asthma."

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The sun?s ultraviolet-B rays absorbed through the skin are the body?s main source of vitamin D, and while not getting enough has been linked to a number of problems, including daytime sleepiness, it appears that too much may wreak havoc as well.

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The report is one of the first to look at how geography and sun exposure can affect allergy and asthma risk. However, while the study determined an association between UV-B exposure near the equator and a raised risk of allergies and asthma, it did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship.

?

Related asthma and allergy stories on MNN:

Source: http://www.mnn.com/health/allergies/stories/living-near-equator-likely-increases-allergy-and-asthma-risk

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UFC on FUEL TV 7: Four burning questions going into 'Barao vs McDonald' in London

Every time UFC puts on an event, speculation, questions and theories emerge about which fighters will perform ... or underperform. Will new contenders emerge? Will established ones fall? Where will the winners go? Which losers will still have a job on Monday? Who is healthy? Who is fighting injured? Anytime UFC athletes are set to enter the Octagon, questions swirl.

This Saturday afternoon (Feb. 16, 2013), the Octagon travels across the pond for the first time this year as UFC on FUEL TV 7: "Barao vs. McDonald" goes down at Wembley Area in London, England.

An interim Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bantamweight championship contest receives top billing at the event, as interim titleholder Renan Barao puts his 135-pound belt on the line for the first time against rising star Michael McDonald.

There are several interesting storylines to follow going into and coming out of the event, but only four can make the "burning" list.

That being said, here are four burning questions going into UFC on FUEL TV 7: "Barao vs. McDonald" this weekend:

4. Who is Jimi Manuwa?
Looking over the UFC on FUEL TV 7 fight card there are a number of UFC newcomers and unfamiliar names. The unknown fighter with the highest profile bout on the card in a man name Jimi Manuwa, who meets Cyrille Diabate in a Light Heavyweight contest billed just below the co-main event.

If memory serves you correct, you will recognize Manuwa as the man who -- in his UFC debut at UFC on FUEL TV 5 last September -- turned Kyle Kingbury's face into minced meat with a brutal striking attack. Manuwa will compete in his home country of England once again for his sophomore UFC appearance, this time taking on a 14-year mixed martial arts (MMA) veteran in Diabate.

Manuwa is undefeated in 12 professional fights and has finished all of his opponent by (technical) knockout or submission. The native of Morden has -- as seen in his win over Kingbury -- a ridiculous striking arsenal at his disposal, and supposedly some submission skills to boot; however, he has rarely been forced to utilize them.

By no means is Manuwa going to be a UFC champion any time soon, but judging from his lone UFC appearance he does have some talent. If "Poster Boy" can do to Diabate what he did to Kingbury, the 32-year has some fun fights ahead of him in the 205-pound division.

3. Will Jorge Santiago get his first UFC win since 2006?
After making a successful UFC debut against Justin Levens at UFC Fight Night 5 in June 2006, Jorge Santiago has failed to register another win inside the Octagon in his last four attempts. "The Sandman" is an extremely talented fighter, racking up wins over quality opposition in organizations such as Strikeforce and Sengoku, but when he enters the cage for a fight in the UFC, the 32-year-old has serious difficulties finding a way to win.

On Saturday, Santiago returns to the UFC for this third stint with the organization as he takes on grappling sensation Gunnar Nelson in a main card bout. What makes this trip back to the UFC different for Santiago is the fact he will compete as a Welterweight.

The Brazilian has gone undefeated (2-0) in regional organization since moving to the weight class after spending nearly his entire career at Middleweight, feeling now is the time to show what he is capable of in the world's biggest organization. The native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, has never been submitted in his 35-fight professional career, and if he can beat up a highly touted submission ace in Nelson, it will prove he is worthy of a spot on the UFC roster.

Santiago's most recent UFC stint came in 2011 when he dropped back-to-back fights against Brian Stann and Demian Maia and as a consequence was released from the organization. Now that he's back, Santiago is hoping the third time is a charm.

2. Which man will continue to climb up the featherweight ranks?
Two of the most exciting fighters in the featherweight division clash in a main card bout when hard-hitting striker Cub Swanson takes on the well rounded Dustin Poirier in a pivotal fight at 145 pounds that will move the winner within reach of a title shot.

Swanson has emerged as a serious threat at the weight class in the last year after consecutive knockout wins over George Roop, Ross Pearson and Charles Oliveira. The 29-year-old was pegged as an inconsistent fighter not long ago, but his skills appear to be coming together at the right time. Of Swanson's 18 professional wins, seven are by knockout, seven are by submission, and the remaining four are via decision.

Poirier is one of the youngest fighters on the UFC roster, having just turned 24, but he already has an abundance of experience inside the Octagon, as UFC on FUEL TV 7 will mark his seventh appearance in the UFC. The American suffered a heartbreaking loss to Chan Sung Jung in a ?Fight of the Year' candidate in May 2012, but bounced back strong last December with a first-round submission of Jonathan Brookins and will look to continue to build momentum in his first career fight outside of the United States.

The styles of Swanson and Poirier have the makings for a great scrap. Both men rarely hold anything back and should be looking to finish each other with every passing moment. The UFC matchmakers did a brilliant job putting this bout together because fireworks are guaranteed. It all comes down to who shows up on fight night and continues to climb up the featherweight ranks.

1. Can Michael McDonald become the youngest champion in UFC history?
In the UFC on FUEL TV 7 headliner, Michael McDonald has to opportunity to become the youngest champion in UFC history by winning the belt at 22 years, one month and two days, surpassing current UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, who won UFC gold at 23 years and eight months.

While some would put an asterisk next to McDonald's record because he would become the "interim" champion, the UFC is promoting the fight as McDonald's chance to become the youngest titleholder in UFC history, which likely means he will be considered the record holder by the organization, interim tag or not.

The American will attempt to make history on Saturday night, and his opponent, Renan Barao, will do everything in his power to stop that from happening.

McDonald has dominated all challengers put in front of him, only losing once in 16 professional fights, and has to yet to be truly tested or face adversity inside the Octagon.

If McDonald can walk through Barao, it would be an incredible statement to the rest of the division, letting all contenders, including champion Dominick Cruz, know the hype behind him is unquestionably real.

There is a lot of buzz for this fight, but one thing is for sure, when the two elite bantamweights enter the cage on Saturday night, all eyes will be on the man they call "Mayday."

Can Michael McDonald complete his meteoric rise through the ranks and become the youngest champion in UFC history?

Tune into UFC on FUEL TV 7: "Barao vs. McDonald" this Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT on FUEL TV to find out all the answers to these questions and more right here.

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Source: http://www.mmamania.com/2013/2/14/3975128/ufc-fuel-tv-7-four-burning-questions-barao-vs-mcdonald-preview-london-mma

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Marriage rally kicks off Capitol push for same-sex unions (Star Tribune)

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Judge: BLM Must Disclose Oil, Gas Firms? Names

DENVER (AP) ? A federal judge is rejecting a 1995 Bureau of Land Management policy and saying the agency should disclose who nominates parcels for the federal government to be leased for oil and gas development.

Companies can nominate certain parcels for the BLM to sell at a lease auction, and under a longstanding policy, the agency kept their names secret until two days after an auction.

The BLM said disclosing the identities, which it considered to contain commercial or financial information that is privileged or confidential, could prompt competitors to bid against nominators who have spent time investigating the acreage in question.

?That contention runs directly contrary to the purpose of the public sale process,? U.S. District Court Senior Judge Richard Matsch said in a ruling Wednesday. ?Competition in bidding advances the purpose of getting a fair price for a lease of publicly owned minerals.?

His ruling came after Citizens for a Healthy Community filed a lawsuit under the Freedom of Information Act to find out who nominated parcels for leasing in Colorado?s North Fork Valley last year. The BLM later decided to defer leasing on the parcels, but the group still wanted to know who nominated them.

Matsch ordered the BLM to release the information the group was seeking within 30 days.

Matsch said in his ruling the identities didn?t qualify as confidential or privileged information that could be withheld. He also said the identities could be relevant for those raising concerns about the nominators? stewardship records.

Citizens for a Healthy Community director Jim Ramey said Thursday he was excited about the ruling. ?This is a victory for everyone who believes the government should do its business in the open and for everyone trying to protect their community from the severe impacts of oil and gas drilling,? he said.

The BLM was reviewing the ruling Thursday and had no further comment.

(? Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

Source: http://denver.cbslocal.com/2013/02/15/judge-blm-must-disclose-oil-gas-firms-names/

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Comcast doubles down on TV in $16.7B deal for NBCU

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? Comcast's $16.7 billion deal to buy the remaining half of NBCUniversal ahead of schedule represents a resounding vote of confidence in the future of TV, even as the growth of Internet video reshapes the entertainment landscape.

The decision was driven largely by Comcast Corp.'s belief that it would end up paying substantially more for General Electric Co.'s remaining 49 percent stake if it had waited until 2018, as had been envisioned in 2011 when the cable TV provider acquired majority control of NBCUniversal.

The flagship NBC network, once seen as the deal's albatross, has been on the turnaround. Broadcast TV revenue rose 7 percent last year, even after excluding the Super Bowl and the Olympics. Theme parks, the Universal Pictures movie studio and pay TV networks such as USA and SyFy have grown, too.

As the advertising market has rebounded with the economy, so have the fortunes of NBCUniversal and other media companies such as CBS Corp. and ABC owner The Walt Disney Co. That made the latest transaction, announced Tuesday, seem like a savvy one at a relatively modest price.

"I think the television business has turned out to be much more powerful as an advertising medium than people were thinking five years ago," said Jonathan Taplin, a professor specializing in digital media at the University of Southern California. "Comcast made a really smart move in believing that TV would continue to be a really important part of the advertising picture for years to come."

When the deal was first announced in late 2009, NBC's audience ratings were sagging badly, raising doubts about the future of the broadcast pioneer that once boasted stars such as Johnny Carson, Jerry Seinfeld, Bob Hope, Milton Berle and Tom Brokaw.

More recently, though, NBC has bounced back with a new hit in "The Voice" and has a consistent ratings leader in "Sunday Night Football" during the fall and early winter. By last fall, NBC could boast for the first time in a decade that it was drawing the most viewers in the 18-to-49-year-old demographic prized by advertisers. Overall, NBC still ranked behind CBS and ABC, but at least it was no longer bringing up the rear in fourth place, as had been the case for several years.

Higher ratings translate into more advertising revenue, even though Comcast gets two-thirds of its revenue as a cable-TV and Internet access provider. NBC's improved success from TV shows also figures to bring in higher licensing fees from the Internet video services run by Netflix Inc. and Amazon.com Inc.

NBC's turnaround is one of the main reasons Comcast CEO Brian Roberts wanted to take complete ownership of NBCUniversal now.

"We thought that we would have to pay more later," Roberts said in an interview with The Associated Press.

"We really have known we wanted to buy 100 percent from the beginning of the transaction. We wanted to learn the business," he added. "We feel that now is an opportune time."

The deal, expected to be completed by the end of March, values NBCUniversal at $34 billion, not including $5 billion in debt. That's about 13 percent higher than two years ago, when Comcast's investment valued the company at about $30 billion, also excluding debt.

Compare that to CBS's stock price, which has more than doubled, or Disney's, which has risen 41 percent, since then. That makes the transaction for the rest of NBCUniversal a steal.

Complete ownership will let Comcast benefit more from the rising price of sports rights and other TV programs. It avoids solely being in the uncomfortable position of passing those costs onto customers. And long-term rights deals between the TV networks and their cable and satellite distributors have ensured the importance of TV, even as Web video is on the rise.

Diversification was one reason Comcast bought a majority stake in NBCUniversal two years ago.

Jonathan Atkin, an analyst with RBC Capital Markets, contrasted Comcast's fortunes with the woes of Time Warner Cable Inc., whose shares have plunged 13 percent since it reported in late January that profit margins would be squeezed this year by higher programming costs.

"Look at what happened to Time Warner Cable," Atkin said. "Comcast, as a slightly more diversified conglomerate, is less exposed to that."

Besides buying the rest of NBCUniversal, Comcast agreed to pay GE another $1.4 billion for other assets that include one of New York's best-known landmarks, NBC's headquarters at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. The building also was the setting for the NBC comedy series "30 Rock," a fictional version of the broadcast network that skewered the management of both GE and Comcast before airing its final episode two weeks ago.

By selling the rest of its NBCUniversal stake, GE is unraveling part of the legacy of former Chairman Jack Welch. In 1986 he bought RCA and NBC to help his industrial conglomerate get a reliable source of cash while overseas manufacturing competition loomed.

Getting cash sooner rather than later made GE a motivated seller this time. The Fairfield, Conn., company plans to use the money to buy back stock and "to invest in our industrial business," GE CEO Jeff Immelt said in a statement.

Comcast, which is based in Philadelphia, said it would finance the deal with $11.4 billion of cash on hand, $4 billion in debt owed to GE, $2 billion from its own credit lines and $725 million in preferred stock issued to GE. In issuing new debt notes to GE, Comcast is able to lock in today's historically low interest rates. It also gives a use for the $5.3 billion it raised from the sale of wireless spectrum to Verizon and its stake in the A&E TV networks to Disney and Hearst last year.

Along with the deal announcement, Comcast reported its quarterly results a day early, saying earnings rose 18 percent to $1.52 billion, or 56 cents per share, in the final three months of 2012. Excluding a favorable income tax adjustment, adjusted earnings came to 52 cents per share, falling short of the 54 cents per share expected by analysts polled by FactSet. Revenue rose 6 percent to $15.94 billion, also slightly below the $16.01 billion analysts were expecting.

Comcast lost just 7,000 video subscribers in the quarter, the best result in at least five years, ending the year with 22 million.

Roberts said that if it weren't for Superstorm Sandy, Comcast would have added video subscribers for the first time in many years.

Comcast also raised its annual dividend 20 percent to 78 cents per share and vowed to buy back another $2 billion in shares this year.

Following Tuesday's announcement, Comcast's stock jumped 7 percent in after-hours trading. GE's stock rose almost 4 percent.

GE's history with NBC goes back to 1919, when it co-founded the Radio Corporation of America. RCA created NBC in 1926 as the nation's first radio network, figuring that people would buy its radios if they had interesting things to listen to. RCA took full ownership of NBC in 1932.

The network began TV broadcasts in 1939 and produced TV's first star in 1948 when Berle became a beloved figure. GE bought NBC back in 1986 for the cash flow. Though it faced fierce competition over the decades, NBC was formidable in the 1990s, with Thursdays declared a "must-see" night of television.

As part of Comcast's takeover, NBC Universal changed its corporate logo to NBCUniversal ? without the space, the peacock or the globe silhouette. In December, as the network bounced back, Comcast appended NBC's peacock logo on top of its corporate name in a new logo of its own.

___

Liedtke reported from San Francisco. AP Technology Writers Barbara Ortutay and Peter Svensson in New York contributed to this story.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/comcast-doubles-down-tv-16-7b-deal-nbcu-082517380.html

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What disease will kill more women than breast cancer?

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://www.facebook.com/MedicalDaily/posts/343155665801548

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Actress considers deal in NY Baldwin stalking case

FILE - This Nov. 4, 2012 file photo shows actor Alec Baldwin, right, and his wife Hilaria Thomas at the "Rise Of The Guardians'" special screening during the 2012 AFI FEST at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. A representative for Alec Baldwin says the "30 Rock" star and his wife Hilaria are expecting their first child together. Baldwin, 54, is already the father of a 17-year-old daughter, Ireland, from his previous marriage to actress Kim Basinger (Photo by Todd Williamson/Invision/AP, file)

FILE - This Nov. 4, 2012 file photo shows actor Alec Baldwin, right, and his wife Hilaria Thomas at the "Rise Of The Guardians'" special screening during the 2012 AFI FEST at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. A representative for Alec Baldwin says the "30 Rock" star and his wife Hilaria are expecting their first child together. Baldwin, 54, is already the father of a 17-year-old daughter, Ireland, from his previous marriage to actress Kim Basinger (Photo by Todd Williamson/Invision/AP, file)

NEW YORK (AP) ? A Canadian actress accused of stalking Alec Baldwin is considering a plea deal.

Genevieve Sabourin (JEHN'-uh-veev SAB'-oo-rihn) appeared Wednesday in a Manhattan court. The case was adjourned until Thursday as she and prosecutors try to hammer out a deal.

Sabourin lives in Quebec and has acted in television and film.

She and Baldwin met on the set of the 2002 sci-fi comedy "The Adventures of Pluto Nash." He had a cameo and she was a publicist. Baldwin says they had dinner together in 2010.

Police originally arrested Sabourin after authorities said she had implored Baldwin to see and to marry her in emails sent only days after he became engaged to yoga instructor Hilaria Thomas.

His publicist confirmed Tuesday that Baldwin and his now-wife are expecting their first child together.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-02-13-US-Alec-Baldwin-Stalking-Case/id-b497b2c505c04a44827e42d5cefb2d80

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Chris Brown and Drake: Suing Each Other Over NYC Nightclub Brawl!

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/02/chris-brown-and-drake-suing-each-other-over-nightclub-brawl/

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Radio Rymatica Online/Internet Radio/Podcast/Music Videos ...

LeBron James Sets New NBA Record and the Miami Heat Win Their 1,000 Game! Featured at www.RadioRymatica.com. James Became The First Player in League History to Score 30 Points While Shooting 60 Percent in Six Consecutive Games, Surpassing Adrian Dantley and Moses Malone.

On 11-of-15 Shooting in Tuesday Night's 117-104 Victory Over the Portland Trail Blazers at American Airlines Arena, LeBron James Continues His Efficiency. Check Out the Entire Box Score Below.

Source: http://www.radiorymatica.com/2013/02/lebron-james-sets-new-nba-record-miami.html

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Encana Reports Full Year Results, Canada

Encana Corporation finished the year ahead of 2012 guidance as the company reported annual cash flow of $3.5 billion, or $4.80 per share, and $997 million in operating earnings, or $1.35 per share. In the fourth quarter of 2012 the company generated cash flow of $809 million, or $1.10 per share, and operating earnings of $296 million, or $0.40 per share.

In addition, Encana ended the year with $3.2 billion in cash and cash equivalents, far exceeding the $2.5 billion Encana had targeted in 2012, due in part to the company?s success with signing major agreements with subsidiaries of PetroChina Company, Mitsubishi Corporation and Toyota Tsusho Corporation.

In the fourth quarter of 2012 Encana averaged 36,200 barrels per day (bbls/d) of liquids production and 2.9 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of natural gas production. Average natural gas production volumes for the full year were 3.0 Bcf/d, and average liquids production volumes were 31,000 bbls/d, meeting the company?s 2012 guidance.

?I would like to commend Encana?s staff and the senior management team for meeting or exceeding the goals the company set for itself in 2012,? says Clayton Woitas, Encana?s Interim President & CEO. ?Operational momentum built through 2012 combined with our major transaction agreements puts Encana in a strong position starting 2013.?

?Encana has an outstanding asset portfolio in natural gas and liquids rich plays and a proven ability to develop these assets at a low cost,? says Woitas. ?We have an extensive portfolio of emerging oil plays that are under evaluation and a range of established plays that can be profitable at current commodity prices, and those are the areas where we plan to spend our time and money in 2013.?

Guidance and Capital Investment Plan for 2013

?Our first priority for 2013 is profitability and running a business that continues to be sustainable in the current low natural gas price environment. Second, we intend to maintain financial strength and flexibility and third, we are setting a target to be among the lowest cost producers of natural gas in North America,? says Woitas.

Encana expects its oil and natural gas liquids (NGLs) production in 2013 to be between 50,000 to 60,000 bbls/d, and annualized natural gas production is expected to remain near current levels ranging between 2.8 to 3.0 Bcf/d. Capital investment is estimated to be about $3.0 billion to $3.2 billion, cash flow to be approximately $2.3 billion to $2.5 billion (based on current hedging position, NYMEX price of $3.75 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf) and $95.00 per bbl) and the company is targeting net divestitures to be in the $500 million to $1.0 billion range.

Encana has budgeted approximately 80 percent of its 2013 operating capital to light oil and liquids rich natural gas plays, with the majority of that to be invested in commercial plays such as Cutbank Ridge, Bighorn, Peace River Arch, Piceance Basin, DJ Niobrara, and Jonah. The remainder of that 80 percent will be invested in emerging plays such as the Duvernay, San Juan Basin and the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale.

?We?re encouraged by the results in a number of our emerging plays and we are proceeding with development in these areas at a measured pace,? says Woitas. ?Through the year, we will assess our investments and make future funding decisions based on successful results.?

The company is targeting to spend the balance of its operating capital, approximately 20 percent, in dry natural gas assets with plans to invest in plays with a low supply cost or those supported by third party capital, making the plays profitable in the current natural gas price environment.

In addition to Encana?s 2013 planned capital investment, the company?s joint venture partners have agreed to spend approximately $750 million in the form of carry capital, effectively making Encana?s total gross capital investment between $3.7 billion to $3.9 billion. Carry capital is cash that the company?s joint venture partners have agreed to pay in excess of their ownership interests as part of their commitments under the agreements. Over the next five years Encana?s total carry capital is approximately $3.8 billion.

?We had tremendous success last year with joint venture and other third party agreements and we expect that joint ventures and strategic divestitures will remain a key aspect of our strategy,? adds Woitas.

LNG World News Staff, February 14, 2013; Image: Encana

Source: http://www.lngworldnews.com/encana-reports-full-year-results-canada/

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A second Republican voices support for Hagel to lead Pentagon

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senator Mike Johanns said on Saturday he would support fellow Nebraskan Chuck Hagel for secretary of defense, becoming the second Republican in the Senate to express public support for President Barack Obama's embattled nominee.

The Lincoln, Nebraska, JournalStar reported on its website that Johanns, a former Nebraska governor who holds Hagel's old Senate seat, issued a statement supporting Hagel. An aide to Johanns confirmed the report.

Johanns' backing increases the likelihood of Hagel's confirmation, despite bitter opposition by some Republicans and the former senator's cautious performance during a contentious confirmation hearing on Thursday before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Critics said Hagel performed poorly at times during his hearing, speaking hesitantly, seeming tired and often unprepared for some of the sharpest queries about his past controversial statements on Israel, Iran and U.S. nuclear strategy.

Hagel's nomination appears likely to clear its first hurdle - approval by the committee - with the support of all 14 Democrats on the 26-member panel and possibly some of its Republicans. The earliest that vote could come is Thursday.

Consideration by the full 100-member Senate would come later, likely within about a week of the committee vote.

Democrats control 55 seats in the Senate and none has come out publicly against Hagel.

Republican Senator Thad Cochran of Mississippi had already said he would vote for Hagel's confirmation.

Hagel can be confirmed by a simple majority of 51 votes unless Republicans use a procedural hurdle that would require 60. Some Republicans have said they would not back such a measure even though they would not vote for Hagel.

(Reporting By Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Peter Cooney)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/despite-weak-senate-performance-hagel-may-yet-win-000704620.html

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Photonics: On track for downsizing

Jan. 31, 2013 ? The ability to miniaturize photonics devices to sizes compatible with computer chips inches closer.

Optical communications, or photonics, technology has failed to match the miniaturization of electronic components, mainly because of fundamental laws of classical optics. The smallest photonic devices are limited to sizes of at least a micrometer. Researchers from the A*STAR Institute of Microelectronics (IME) in Singapore have now realized a device design that beats such size restrictions and can be easily integrated into a silicon chip1.

Using so-called 'plasmonic techniques', the researchers, led by Shiyang Zhu at the IME, demonstrated optical resonator structures, which allow a beam of light to circulate in a closed path, that can be used as on-off switches for light. The device is based on plasmonic effects that guide the light along the surface of the metal. "The performance of our devices is comparable to the best reported results for related plasmonic resonators," says Zhu.

Conventional optical instruments, such as lenses, modify light as it passes through them. Plasmonic structures, however, act more like antennae that amplify light as it moves along their surface. Plasmonic features are typically created using metals such as gold or silver. However, integrating these noble metals with silicon chips is not only expensive, but also requires techniques that are incompatible with established silicon processing techniques.

As a workaround, Zhu and co-workers used copper to generate the desired plasmonic effects. Copper is widely used as electronic wires in silicon computer chips, and it has an established track record in the computer industry. The researchers built their plasmonic resonator devices from two copper structures that guide light along them -- a long wire adjacent to a circle (see image). The smallest width of the copper circuit is only about 180 nanometers, which is much smaller than conventional light guides.

The closeness of the wire and the circle is critical for efficient device operation. When light of a specific wavelength, which is determined by the dimensions of the circle, passes through the wire, some of it can leak into the circle where it becomes trapped. Light can only pass through the structure if it does not match the resonance wavelength of the circle.

The wavelength at which this resonance occurs is very sensitive to parameters such as temperature. In the future, this sensitivity in the circuits could be harnessed for use as switches that control how light passes through the wire, says Zhu. "The next step is to design and demonstrate active plasmonic devices, such as thermo-optic switchers and high-speed electro-optic modulators."

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR).

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

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Journal Reference:

1. Shiyang Zhu, G. Q. Lo, and D. L. Kwong. Performance of ultracompact copper-capped silicon hybrid plasmonic waveguide-ring resonators at telecom wavelengths. Optics Express, Vol. 20, Issue 14, pp. 15232-15246 (2012) DOI: 10.1364/OE.20.015232

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/computers_math/information_technology/~3/-Lc7GY8Jdyo/130203145428.htm

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