Exit Becks: David Beckham retiring at season's end

FILE - In this Jan. 19, 2012 file photo, Los Angeles Galaxy's David Beckham fixes his tie during a news conference in Los Angeles. Beckham says he is retiring from soccer at the end of the season. The 38-year-old Beckham recently won a league title in a fourth country with Paris Saint-Germain. He has become a global superstar since starting his career at Manchester United. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 19, 2012 file photo, Los Angeles Galaxy's David Beckham fixes his tie during a news conference in Los Angeles. Beckham says he is retiring from soccer at the end of the season. The 38-year-old Beckham recently won a league title in a fourth country with Paris Saint-Germain. He has become a global superstar since starting his career at Manchester United. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

FILE - In this June 2, 2012 file photo, England's David Beckham gestures during a ceremony to honor the five players that have played for England over 100 times each during the international friendly soccer match between England and Belgium at Wembley Stadium in London. Beckham says he is retiring from soccer at the end of the season. The 38-year-old Beckham recently won a league title in a fourth country with Paris Saint-Germain. He has become a global superstar since starting his career at Manchester United.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)

FILE - In this June 25, 2006 file photo, England's David Beckham celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Round of 16 World Cup soccer match against Ecuador in Stuttgart, Germany. Beckham says he is retiring from soccer at the end of the season. The 38-year-old Beckham recently won a league title in a fourth country with Paris Saint-Germain. He has become a global superstar since starting his career at Manchester United. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, FIle)

FILE - This is a May 25, 1999 file photo of Manchester United's midfielder David Beckham holding the winner's cup, after his side defeated Bayern Munich in their Champions League final football match, at the Nou Camp stadium. David Beckham is retiring from soccer after the season, ending a career in which he become a global superstar since starting his career at Manchester United. The 38-year-old Englishman recently won a league title in a fourth country with Paris Saint-Germain. He said in a statement Thursday May 16, 2013 he is "thankful to PSG for giving me the opportunity to continue but I feel now is the right time to finish my career, playing at the highest level." (AP Photo/Phil Noble/PA, File) UNITED KINGDOM OUT

FILE - This is a Sunday, Jan. 15, 2006 file photo of Real Madrid's David Beckham, left, as he congratulates goalscorer Zinedine Zidane during their Spanish league soccer match against Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, Spain. David Beckham is retiring from soccer after the season, ending a career in which he become a global superstar since starting his career at Manchester United. The 38-year-old Englishman recently won a league title in a fourth country with Paris Saint-Germain. He said in a statement Thursday May 16, 2013 he is "thankful to PSG for giving me the opportunity to continue but I feel now is the right time to finish my career, playing at the highest level." (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, File)

LONDON (AP) ? End it like Beckham.

David Beckham, whose curling free kicks, rugged good looks and celebrity marriage made him one of the most famous athletes in the world, is retiring from soccer.

Whether striding on the grass, the red carpet or the fashion catwalks, Beckham transcended his sport and became its highest-paid player, with a fortune estimated at $250 million.

The 38-year-old former England captain said Thursday he would quit after his final two games with Paris Saint-Germain, where he won a league title this season.

"It's a good way to go out," he said in Paris. "It's every athlete's dream, every footballer's dream to go out on the top ? on top form or winning a trophy ... leaving as a champion."

Although he never lifted the World Cup, soccer's ultimate prize, Beckham won enough club honors in his 21-year career to cement his status in the game and went out a winner on both sides of the Atlantic. He also helped popularize the sport in the United States, playing with the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter described the midfielder as "one of the most iconic figures in global football."

"It's the end of a chapter of an amazing story," Blatter wrote on Twitter. "David grew up as a football loving child & achieved his dreams, and unquestionably inspired millions of boys & girls to try & do the same."

Beckham's fame went beyond the game. Guided by his wife, former Spice Girl Victoria Adams, the dashing Beckham was known as much for his fashion as his feet, with ever-changing hairstyles, nail polish and sometimes outrageous outfits. In 2002, Salon dubbed him "the biggest metrosexual in Britain."

Last year, retailer H&M covered almost the entire side of a New York City building with a picture of Beckham in a pair of boxer briefs.

"Sometimes that has overshadowed what I have done on the pitch or what I have achieved on the pitch," Beckham said in a television interview conducted by former United teammate Gary Neville. "And as much as I say that doesn't hurt me, of course it does.

"I am a footballer that has played for some of the biggest clubs in the world and played with some of the best players in the world, played under some of the biggest and best managers and achieved almost everything in football."

Beckham was immortalized in the 2002 movie "Bend it Like Beckham," which told the story of a British teenage girl of south Asian heritage struggling with family pressures and cultural expectations to play the sport she loves. Beckham's retirement led to a flood of tweets dubbing the day "End it Like Beckham."

Beckham also was mentioned in the 2003 romantic comedy "Love Actually." Hugh Grant, portraying the British prime minister, touts the country's assets while telling off a bullying American president.

"We may be a small country, but we're a great one, too," he says. "The country of William Shakespeare, Churchill, the Beatles, Sean Connery, Harry Potter. David Beckham's right foot. David Beckham's left foot, come to that."

He began his career with Manchester United and also played for Real Madrid and Los Angeles, winning titles with all those clubs. He played on loan with AC Milan and made 115 appearances for his country, a record in England for someone other than a goalkeeper.

Beckham's earliest defining moment was an audacious goal for United in 1996, lobbing the ball from the halfway line over the Wimbledon goalkeeper and into the net.

"If you had told me as a young boy I would have played for and won trophies with my boyhood club Manchester United, proudly captained and played for my country over 100 times and lined up for some of the biggest clubs in the world, I would have told you it was a fantasy," Beckham said. "I'm fortunate to have realized those dreams."

From 1992 to 2003, with United, Beckham won six Premier League titles, the Champions League, two FA Cups and the Intercontinental Cup.

Beckham left United in 2003 shortly after manager Alex Ferguson accidentally struck Beckham's eye with a soccer boot. Ferguson announced his retirement from Manchester United last week.

Beckham spent four years in Madrid ? winning the 2007 Spanish title before making the surprise move to the Galaxy, where he won titles in 2011 and 2012.

There were highs and lows in Beckham's international career. He was blamed for England's elimination from the 1998 World Cup for his red card against Argentina, but scored the winning goal against the same team at the World Cup four years later.

Beckham responded to jeering at the 2000 European Championship with an obscene hand gesture to England fans, but was lauded by the same supporters little more than a year later when his last-minute free kick against Greece secured a place in the 2002 World Cup.

England dropped Beckham in 2006 for younger players after a quarterfinal exit at that year's World Cup. He returned for the remainder of England's unsuccessful attempt to qualify for the 2008 European Championship.

His last England appearance came against Belarus in October 2009, and he missed the 2010 World Cup because of an Achilles tendon injury.

Asked what led to Thursday's decision, Beckham replied with a laugh: "Probably when (Lionel) Messi was running past me in that home game," referring to a match against Barcelona last month.

Although he was overlooked for a spot on Britain's team for the London Olympics last year, Beckham played a key role in helping the city win the bid to host the games. He also was involved in England's unsuccessful bid to host the 2018 World Cup, and the English Football Association wants to draw on his influence and star power in the future.

Beckham lives in London with his wife and their four children. Victoria Beckham said the couple is "excited about the next chapter in our lives."

Beckham has the right to purchase an expansion team in Major League Soccer, and has said repeatedly that he intends to exercise that option.

There are just two matches left for Beckham ? against Brest on Saturday and at Lorient on May 26. He has been giving his salary to a children's charity.

___

AP National Writer Nancy Armour in Chicago and Trevor Huggins in London contributed to this story.

___

Rob Harris can be reached at http://twitter.com/RobHarris

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-05-16-SOC-Beckham-Retires/id-4d0321dc2556463fb09a29d882748df8

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Four genes identified that influence levels of 'bad' cholesterol

May 15, 2013 ? Scientists at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute have identified four genes in baboons that influence levels of "bad" cholesterol. This discovery could lead to the development of new drugs to reduce the risk of heart disease.

"Our findings are important because they provide new targets for the development of novel drugs to reduce heart disease risk in humans," said Laura Cox, Ph.D., a Texas Biomed geneticist. "Since these genes have previously been associated with cancer, our findings suggest that genetic causes of heart disease may overlap with causes of some types of cancer."

The new study, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is published online and will appear in the July print issue of the Journal of Lipid Research.

Texas Biomed scientists screened their baboon colony of 1,500 animals to find three half-siblings with low levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL), or "bad,"' cholesterol, and three half-siblings with high levels of LDL. In the study, these animals were fed a high-cholesterol, high-fat diet for seven weeks. Scientists then used gene array technology and high throughput sequencers to home in on the genes expressed in the two groups and differentiate those in the low LDL groups from those in the high LDL group. They discovered that four genes (named TENC1, ERBB3, ACVR1B, and DGKA) influence LDL levels.

Interestingly, these four genes are part of a signaling pathway important for cell survival and disruption of this pathway promotes some types of cancer.

It is well-known that a high level of LDL is a major risk factor for heart disease. Despite concerted efforts for the past 25 years to manage cholesterol levels through changes in lifestyle and treatment with medications, heart disease remains the leading cause of death and mortality in the United States and around the world. It will account for one out of four U.S. deaths in 2013, according to the American Heart Association.

Heart disease is a complex disorder thought to be a result of interactions between genetic and environmental factors, which occur primarily through diet. To understand why humans have different levels of LDL and thus variation in risk for heart disease, the genetic factors causing these differences need to be understood.

However, these studies are difficult to do in humans because it's practically impossible to control what people eat. Instead, Texas Biomed scientists are using baboons, which are similar to humans in their physiology and genetics, to identify genes that influence heart disease risk.

The new research also suggests that knowing many of the genes responsible for heart disease may be necessary to devise effective treatments. For example, several genes may need to be targeted at once to control risk.

The next step in this research is to find the mechanism by which these genes influence LDL cholesterol. "That starts to give us the specific targets for new therapies." Cox said. If all goes well, this information may be available within two years.

Other Texas Biomed scientists on the study included Genesio Karere, Ph.D.; Jeremy Glenn, B.S.; Shifra Birnbaum, B.S.; David Rainwater, Ph.D.; Michael Mahaney, Ph.D.; and John L. VandeBerg, Ph.D.

This research was supported by NIH grants P01 HL028972-27, P01 HL028972 Supplement, and P51 OD011133. It was conducted in part in facilities constructed with support grants C06 RR013556 and C06 RR015456.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/ds2Kji5Ual4/130515131444.htm

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Scientists Report First Success in Cloning Human Stem Cells

It?s been 17 years since Dolly the sheep was cloned from a mammary cell. And now scientists applied the same technique to make the first embryonic stem cell lines from human skin cells.

Ever since Ian Wilmut, an unassuming embryologist working at the Roslin Institute just outside of Edinburgh stunned the world by cloning the first mammal, Dolly, scientists have been asking ? could humans be cloned in the same way? Putting aside the ethical challenges the question raised, the query turned out to involve more wishful thinking than scientific success. Despite the fact that dozens of other species have been cloned using the technique, called nuclear transfer, human cells have remained stubbornly resistant to the process.

Until now. Shoukhrat Mitalipov, a professor at Oregon Health & Science University and his colleagues report in the journal Cell that they have successfully reprogrammed human skin cells back to their embryonic state. The purpose of the study, however, was not to generate human clones but to produce lines of embryonic stem cells. These can develop into muscle, nerve, or other cells that make up the body?s tissues. The process, he says, took only a few months, a surprisingly short period to reach such an important milestone.

(MORE: Stem Cell Scientists Awarded Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine)

Nuclear transfer involves inserting a fully developed cell ? in Mitalipov?s study, the cells came from the skin of fetuses ? into the nucleus of an egg, and then manipulating the egg to start dividing, a process that normally only occurs after it has been fertilized by a sperm. After several days, the ball of cells that results contains a blanket of embryonic stem cells endowed with the genetic material of the donor skin cell, which have the ability to generate every cell type from that donor. In Dolly?s case, those cells were allowed to continue developing into an embryo that was then transferred to a ewe to produce a cloned sheep. But Mitalipov says his process with the human cells isn?t designed to generate a human clone, but rather just to create the embryonic stem cells. These could then be manipulated to create heart, nerve or other cells that can repair or treat disease.

?I think this is a really important advance,? says Dieter Egli, an investigator at the New York Stem Cell Foundation and Columbia University. ?I have a very high confidence that versions of this technique will work very well; it?s something that the field has been waiting for.? Egli is among the handful of scientists who have been working to perfect the technique with human cells and in 2011, succeeded in producing human stem cells, but with double the number of chromosomes. In 2004, Woo Suk Hwang, a veterinary scientist at Seoul National University, claimed to have succeeded in achieving the feat, but later admitted to faking the data. Instead of generating embryonic stem cell lines via nuclear transfer, Hwang?s group produced the stem cells from days-old embryos, a technique that had already been established by James Thomson at University of Wisconsin in 1998.

(MORE: Stem Cell Research: The Quest Resumes)

That scandal, as well as ethical concerns about the dangers of encouraging work that could lead to human cloning, dried up interest in getting the process to work with human cells. Then came a breakthrough in 2007, when Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University succeeded in reprogramming adult skin cells back to their embryonic state simply by dousing them in a concoction of four genetic factors and some growth media. That technique for generating embryonic-like stem cells (called induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPS cells) bypassed the need for transferring the cells into eggs, as Wilmut had done, and also averted the ethical issues attached to extracting stem cells from embryos as Thomson had done. Plus, the iPS cells had the advantage that patients could generate their own stem cells and potentially grow new cells they might need to treat or avert diseases like diabetes, Alzheimer?s or heart problems.

Except that researchers still couldn?t prove that the heart, nerve, muscle and other cells they made from the iPS cells were exactly like the ones generated from the embryonic stem cells. The gold standard embryonic stem cells still came from embryos themselves, including ones that were made through nuclear transfer.

(MORE: Stem Cell Miracle? New Therapies May Cure Chronic Conditions like Alzheimer?s)

Now that the technique appears to work with human cells, the process could be another source of generating stem cells that may ultimately treat patients, says Mitalipov. His group is especially interested in promoting the technique for treating mitochondrial diseases ? these organelles posses a different set of DNA than that contained in the nucleus of cells, and are responsible for generating the energy needed for cells to function. But because they lie outside of the nucleus, transferring cells from a patient with mitochondrial diseases into a donor egg that has a healthy set of mitochondrial DNA would generate populations of cells that are free of disease.

In order to make the process work, Mitalipov says he modified more than a dozen steps in the process that proved successful with sheep and other species. His group had the advantage of working first with monkey eggs; the knowledge about what stimulated the eggs to start dividing helped him to make the appropriate changes in the human eggs that contributed to his success.

Beginning with high quality eggs that were donated by healthy volunteers was critical, he says. Most previous attempts involved discarded eggs from IVF clinics that may have been of lesser quality and affected their ability to survive the transfer process. From the monkey studies, the team also realized that the process of introducing the donor cell into the egg also required a gentle touch; timing the transfer at the point when the egg was most likely to accept the new genetic material and start dividing was important. Infusing a bit of caffeine into the process also helped. ?Even though nothing we did seems that brand new ? there wasn?t anything that people didn?t try in other species or we haven?t tried with monkey cells ? but the right combination, timing and concentration made the difference,? says Mitalipov.

(MORE: The Stem-Cell Ruling: Scientists Alarmed at ?Step Backward?)

He estimates that about 50% of the success can be attributed to the quality of the eggs while the remaining 50% is related to the optimization of the process. So far, the technique appears to be pretty efficient; from eight eggs, the group generated four embryonic stem cell lines. In the future, Mitalipov anticipates it will be possible to produce a stem cell line from each donated egg. ?We knew the history of failure, that several legitimate labs had tried but couldn?t make it work,? he says. ?I thought we would need about 500 to 1000 eggs to optimize the process and anticipated it would be a long study that would take several years. But in the first experiment we got a blastocyst and within a couple of months we already had an [embryonic] stem cell line. We couldn?t believe it.?

Egli and other stem cell scientists are eager to replicate the process, to test how reliable and robust it is, and hurdles still remain before the technique is standardized. It?s not clear yet, for example, whether the process will work as efficiently with adult, or older cells, and healthy egg donors may not be as available in some parts of the country as they were in Oregon, where the state allows scientists to compensate donors for their eggs, just as IVF clinics do. But the achievement could establish another important source of stem cells that patients can generate to ultimately treat themselves.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/scientists-report-first-success-human-cloning-process-160011071.html

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Kershaw, Ethier lead Dodgers past Nationals 2-0

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? Clayton Kershaw wanted to give the Dodgers' tired bullpen a rest. He did just that.

Kershaw scattered five hits, struck out 11 and pitched 8 2-3 innings in the Dodgers' 2-0 victory over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night.

The victory was Kershaw's first since April 28, when he beat the Milwaukee Brewers by a 2-0 margin, and it was his most impressive since his shutout of the San Francisco Giants on opening day.

"Clayton was pretty special from the beginning," Dodger manager Don Mattingly said. "He was rolling right away. He seemed to be on a mission."

Kershaw (4-2) was pulled after Adam LaRoche singled with two outs in the ninth on his career-high 132nd pitch, most by a major league starter since Detroit ace Justin Verlander also threw 132 on Aug. 6 last year against the Yankees, according to STATS. Los Angeles' bullpen had to go six innings on Monday.

The Nationals got an early jump on Kershaw but were unable to take advantage of it. Ryan Zimmerman and Ian Desmond singled with two outs in the first inning, and LaRoche walked to load the bases. However, Kershaw struck out Tyler Moore to end the inning.

"The big thing for me was that first inning," Kershaw said. "I threw 29 pitches so I really had to fight that pitch count and go deep in the game. We needed a deep game and fortunately I got the pitch count back under control."

The first out of the game, a strikeout of Danny Espinosa, gave Kershaw 1,000 career innings.

"He's an unbelievable pitcher, the best in the game in my opinion," Desmond said.

Nationals pitcher Dan Haren (4-4) was looking to secure his fourth consecutive victory but a troublesome third inning turned out to be costly.

The Dodgers got runners at first and second with two outs in the second inning but Haren worked his way out of the jam by getting No. 8 batter Dee Gordon to hit a fly ball to right field for the third out.

The Dodgers also got multiple runners on base in the third inning but were better prepared to cash in. Kershaw was hit by a pitch to start the inning and Matt Kemp added a one-out single. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and scored on cleanup hitter Andre Ethier's sharp single to center.

"Danny made some good pitches but he had some pitches hit and I think he's trying to do too much," Nationals manager Davey Johnson said. "It's kind of been like that the whole year. He hasn't been himself."

Kershaw kept the Nationals in check after the first inning, retiring 23 of the last 26 batters he faced after the first inning. Zimmerman had three of the Nationals' five hits.

"Zimmerman, I can't get that guy out," Kershaw said. "He owns me so I have to figure that out."

Zimmerman wished he knew the secret.

"He's obviously one of the best pitchers in the game," he said. "I guess you just have to kind of keep it simple. I wish I knew what I was doing so I could tell everyone."

Zimmerman was finally retired with a fly ball to deep right field in the ninth inning.

NOTES: Nationals OF Bryce Harper sat out after running headfirst into the right-field wall while chasing a fly ball Monday night. The violent collision left the 20-year-old slugger with 11 stitches in his chin and soreness all over his body. He is expected to miss the series finale Wednesday night, too. . Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth (right hamstring) was scheduled to make two rehabs starts, beginning Tuesday at Potomac, before joining the team in San Diego on Thursday. . Dodger pitcher Zack Greinke will be activated from the disabled list and start the series finale against the Nationals on Wednesday. Greinke was placed on the disabled list on April 12 after breaking his clavicle in a fight with San Diego Padres outfielder Carlos Quentin. . Outfielder Matt Kemp batted second in the Dodgers' batting order for the first time this season, and ran his hitting streak to 13 games. It's the first time he's batted from that spot since the 2010 season. . Pitcher Ted Lilly (strained right rib cage) is scheduled to make a rehab start on Wednesday for Rancho Cucamonga, the Dodgers' Single-A team.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/kershaw-ethier-lead-dodgers-past-nationals-2-0-053055885.html

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Idle paws are the devil?s workshop

A bored kitty is a destructive kitty. ?With the Solar Powered Cat Tantalizer from Hammacher Schlemmer, your cat will be too entertained to have time to shred the toilet paper and up-root and chew your potted plants. ?Stick the toy in a window or glass door with the industrial-strength suction cups, and the solar panel [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/05/15/idle-paws-are-the-devils-workshop/

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Google unveils maps, photo, music features

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ? Google's sixth annual conference for software developers opened Wednesday with a chance for the company to showcase its latest services. Announcements included new features for online games, maps and search, a new music-streaming service and enhancements to its Google Plus social network, including tools for editing and sharing photos.

The audience of about 6,000 people at "Google I/O" included engineers and entrepreneurs who develop applications and other features that can make smartphones and tablets more appealing. Reporters from around the world were also on hand, giving Google a chance to generate more hoopla about its latest innovations. The keynote was also available live on a YouTube webcast.

Android already has been activated on 900 million devices made by Samsung Electronics Co., HTC Corp. and other manufacturers. Android devices are the chief rivals to Apple's iPhones and iPads. Android has helped Google make more money because its search engine and other services, including maps, are usually built into the devices. That tie-in drives more visitors to Google and gives the Mountain View, Calif., company more opportunities to sell ads.

The keynote kicked off at about 9 a.m. PDT and lasted about three and a half hours. The conference at the Moscone Center in San Francisco goes through Friday.

Here's a running account of the event, presented in reverse chronological order. All times are PDT. Presenters included CEO Larry Page; Vic Gundotra, Google's senior vice president for engineering; Sundar Pichai, Google's senior vice president for apps and Chrome; Hugo Barra, vice president for product management for Android; Ellie Powers, a product manager at Google; Brian McClendon, a vice president who oversees Google Maps; and Daniel Graf, director of Google Maps.

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12:30 p.m.

Page complains about how laws haven't kept up with the pace of technology. He says trying to create a Google Health service for keeping track of medical records hasn't been easy because of regulations.

He also says it's necessary to start earlier to get girls and young women interested in technology. And he says smartphones need to become more affordable in poorer countries.

Page closes the keynote with a remark about being able to use his phone for just about everything he needs to run the company. He says it's remarkable to think of what can happen when more people can have such access.

As Page walks off the stage, Google announces that Billy Idol is the featured performer at Wednesday's after-hours party.

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12:15 p.m.

Google offers no new details on its Google Glass, which is an Internet-connected device and camera that can be worn on a person's face like a pair of spectacles. At last year's conference, Google co-founder Sergey Brin teased its potential by conducting a live video chat with a group of skydivers who were in a dirigible hovering above the convention. When they jumped, the skydivers' descent to the rooftop was shown live through the Google Glass camera.

Google Glass is now being tested by developers who bought a prototype edition, and Page doesn't know when it will be available to the general public. Page says Google is relying on developers to come up with scenarios on using the product.

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12:10 p.m.

Page takes the unusual step of inviting questions from the audience.

During the question-and-answer session, he talks about the importance of making rival systems work together rather than one company milking off another for its own benefit. Page takes aim at Microsoft and says, "We certainly struggle with people like Microsoft." Google says it recently made its chat service work with Microsoft's Outlook.com service but wasn't able to get Microsoft to reciprocate. Google didn't immediately elaborate.

Page also addresses Google's interest in developing super-fast Internet services in a few cities. He says it's sad that there's a lot of computing power out there, but "they are connected to each other through a tiny, tiny pipe that's super slow." He says that means most of those powerful computers "can't be used for anything useful."

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11:55 a.m.

Page complains about "the negativity of stories" in the news media. He says, "negativity isn't how we make progress. It's not zero-sum." He describes as "dumb" the stories that focus on rivalries, such as one between Google and Apple.

He also mentions his vision of driverless cars that will save people time and notes that "we are just scratching the surface of what is possible." Page says Google cooperated with Hollywood for the upcoming movie "The Internship" in order to address "a marketing problem" with technology.

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11:45 a.m.

Page appears on stage, a day after the CEO disclosed a problem with his vocal cords that makes it difficult for him to speak and breathe occasionally. Page has said he remains fit enough to keep running Google. Page doesn't always appear at Google conferences, and his appearance Wednesday could be meant to reassure people.

On stage, he talks about how his dad was interested in technology and once drove him across the country to attend a robotics conference. He says it's important to focus on technology and get more people involved.

He says, "Technology should do the hard work so people can get on doing the things that make them happiest in life."

His voice sounds raspy, but that is usual.

___

11:40 a.m.

Google is also making images from its Google Earth service available on the Web browser. Before, you had to install separate software to use Google Earth. Google also demonstrates the ability to see a view of earth from space and rotate it around.

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11:30 a.m.

Google introduces new features for its mapping apps on Android devices and iPhones.

When you search for restaurants in a city or neighborhood, you'll get the names of the restaurants along with their ratings at the bottom of the screen. You can swipe through the results horizontally. The mapping app will also include Google Offers ? deals akin to those from Groupon Inc. and LivingSocial.

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11:20 a.m.

McClendon says Google has been trying to make its mapping services more useful by combining data from authoritative sources and using contributions from users. He says Google recently added more details on North Korea, with more listings of streets and parks rather than just a river and the city's name.

Graf takes a jab at Apple in talking about the success Google's mapping app has had on iPhones. Apple replaced Google's mapping service with its own app last fall. It resulted in complaints about inaccuracies and missing features. Google Maps returned on the iPhone with its own app a few months later. At Wednesday's conference, Graf points out that its app is "let's not forget, accurate."

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11:05 a.m.

Google is trying to integrate what it knows about users with its search function, so it can reply to questions like "What's my gate number?" or "my restaurant reservation."

Google already makes this available through its Google Now service on Android devices, iPhones and iPads. Now, it's available to anyone using its Chrome browser on traditional computers.

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10:50 a.m.

Google unveils several tools for sharing photos on its Google Plus social network.

One feature will pick out the best shots from a wide assortment of photos. Just upload a bunch, and Google's machines will reject ones that are blurry or don't have people smiling. Another factor is Google's knowledge of who's important to you ? so family members or close friends are more likely to make the cut.

If the photos don't look quite right, Google is promising to enhance them, taking over a job that typically requires people to use special photo-editing software such as Adobe System Inc.'s Photoshop, Apple's iPhoto or Google's Picasa. Computer-controlled editing tools will automatically soften skin tones and sharpen colors, for instance.

Google is also expanding the storage limit for full-resolution photos. Instead of five gigabytes for free per account, you'll get 15 gigabytes. Gundotra says that when you have an important photo, you don't want to sacrifice its quality to save space.

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10:40 a.m.

Google is introducing 41 new features to its Google Plus social network, which Google is positioning as an alternative to Facebook.

Among them is a newly designed stream of content ? one designed to be dynamic, rather than a long list seen on Facebook.

Google Plus will start to display automatic hash tags to identify the main topic being discussed in a post or featured in a photo. You'll have the option to turn it off or remove it for a specific post. Google will also help you discover content by pulling up other posts with that hash tag. Facebook doesn't currently use hash tags.

Google is also streamlining its communications tools, offering a new app to combine its chat and Hangout services. Gundotra notes that Google's own services can be fragmented and confusing at time. The new app is designed to address that and can keep a record of past conversations. It will be available for Android and Apple devices, as well as regular Web browsers on computers.

The changes will start appearing Wednesday afternoon.

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10:25 a.m.

Google unveils a program to get Android tablets into schools. One feature will allow educators to distribute an app to hundreds of tablets with a single click. Schools will able to pay for apps by charging against an account set up ahead of time. Normally, a credit card is required.

Google says Google Play for Education will launch this fall.

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10:20 a.m.

Everyone in the audience is getting a free Chromebook Pixel, a high-end laptop developed by Google. It has a high-resolution touch-screen display and usually carries a high price tag ? starting at $1,299. It runs Google's Chrome operating system, which is meant mostly for online use.

Google has said that selling Pixels isn't the company's main goal with the machine. Rather, the company made it to showcase Google's vision for the future of computing. So giving Pixels away to engineers and entrepreneurs is consistent with that strategy.

___

10:15 a.m.

Google demonstrates the ability to play games simultaneously on its Chrome browser. Everything stays in sync even though the devices used varied.

___

10:10 a.m.

Google's stock broke $900 for the first time shortly before the conference started. At 10:10 a.m. PDT (1:10 p.m. EDT), it was up $18.72, or 2.1 percent, at $905.84. Google's market value also surpassed $300 billion for the first time.

___

10 a.m.

There's a new phone from Google. It will still run on the Android version called Jelly Bean, rather than Key Lime Pie ? the next in a series of dessert-themed code names.

It will be unlocked, meaning it will work with any carrier, including those abroad. But it also means the price won't be subsidized by the carrier. Google will sell it for $649 starting June 26, rather than the usual $200 or so with a two-year contract.

Google says the new phone is a variant of Samsung's Galaxy S4 phone, which was recently released. It's running a pure version of Android, the one that Google makes and distributes, rather than the one modified by Samsung to include a host of features that have been dismissed as confusing gimmicks in reviews by The Associated Press and others.

Google also says that the new phone will be able to get Android updates as they come. U.S. carriers sometimes block those updates from getting to locked phones.

___

9:50 a.m.

Google unveils a music service called All Access. The streaming service will allow Android users to listen to their favorite songs and artists for a monthly fee.

Google wants to not only offer access to millions of songs, but also help guide you to music you might like. You can choose one of 22 music genres and see key albums that define the genre along with recommendations from Google's curators. You can listen to any track right away, or switch to a "radio station" format featuring songs you'll likely want to hear. You can adjust the playlist as you go.

The cost is $9.99 a month in the U.S., after a 30-day free trial. It launches in the U.S. Wednesday. If you start the trial by June 30, the monthly fee will drop to $7.99. It will be available in other countries later.

Google's All Access will be competing with Spotify and other popular music services.

___

9:45 a.m.

Google says its online Play store will make recommendations for apps, books, movies and music based on the device you are using. After all, what works well on a tablet might not on a phone.

___

9:40 a.m.

Powers introduces a service to help software developers get more users and make more money through their apps.

It will tell a developer, for instance, that an app is particularly popular in Russia, so that the developer could consider making a Russian-language version. Google is offering an app-translation service to help with that.

Another feature is designed to help developers understand how effective their ads are in getting people to download their apps.

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9:30 a.m.

Google unveils a tool to help software developers make sure their apps work well on different screen sizes. That's important because some people use phones and others use mid-size or larger tablets. Developers will want to make sure their apps are pleasant across the board.

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9:25 a.m.

Google introduces a technology for syncing notifications on different devices. The idea is when you dismiss a notification about a new Facebook message, for instance, it wouldn't reappear when you check your tablet.

Google also unveils new gaming tools. You can save where you are in a game and pick up on another device. You can also see how you rank on new leaderboards. This appears similar to what Apple offers on iPhones and iPads through its Game Center. Getting into gaming gives Google an opportunity to participate in one of the most popular activities on mobile devices.

___

9:20 a.m.

Barra introduces a few tools for software developers to incorporate into their apps. One allows apps to track what users are doing, such as walking. It may appear creepy to users, but Barra says the tools will allow developers to create "a whole new category of awesome apps."

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9:10 a.m.

Pichai talks about Google having two large, fast-growing platforms: Android for smartphones and tablets and Chrome for laptops.

He says Android has grown from being on 100 million devices in 2011, 400 million in 2012 to 900 million now. He calls the growth "extraordinary." He suggests there's still room for growth with 7 billion people in the world.

___

9 a.m.

After a brief multimedia presentation, Gundotra appears on stage to open the conference.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/google-unveils-maps-photo-music-features-183743020.html

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Alligator stem cell study gives clues to tooth regeneration

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Alligators may help scientists learn how to stimulate tooth regeneration in people, according to new research led by the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC).

For the first time, a global team of researchers led by USC pathology Professor Cheng-Ming Chuong, M.D., Ph.D., has uncovered unique cellular and molecular mechanisms behind tooth renewal in American alligators. Their study, titled "Specialized stem cell niche enables repetitive renewal of alligator teeth," appears in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the official journal of the United States National Academy of Sciences.

"Humans naturally only have two sets of teeth?baby teeth and adult teeth," said Chuong. "Ultimately, we want to identify stem cells that can be used as a resource to stimulate tooth renewal in adult humans who have lost teeth. But, to do that, we must first understand how they renew in other animals and why they stop in people."

Whereas most vertebrates can replace teeth throughout their lives, human teeth are naturally replaced only once, despite the lingering presence of a band of epithelial tissue called the dental lamina, which is crucial to tooth development. Because alligators have well-organized teeth with similar form and structure as mammalian teeth and are capable of lifelong tooth renewal, the authors reasoned that they might serve as models for mammalian tooth replacement.

"Alligator teeth are implanted in sockets of the dental bone, like human teeth," said Ping Wu, Ph.D., assistant professor of pathology at the Keck School of Medicine and first author of the study. "They have 80 teeth, each of which can be replaced up to 50 times over their lifetime, making them the ideal model for comparison to human teeth."

Using microscopic imaging techniques, the researchers found that each alligator tooth is a complex unit of three components?a functional tooth, a replacement tooth, and the dental lamina?in different developmental stages. The tooth units are structured to enable a smooth transition from dislodgement of the functional, mature tooth to replacement with the new tooth. Identifying three developmental phases for each tooth unit, the researchers conclude that the alligator dental laminae contain what appear to be stem cells from which new replacement teeth develop.

"Stem cells divide more slowly than other cells," said co-author Randall B. Widelitz, Ph.D., associate professor of pathology at the Keck School of Medicine. "The cells in the alligator's dental lamina behaved like we would expect stem cells to behave. In the future, we hope to isolate those cells from the dental lamina to see whether we can use them to regenerate teeth in the lab."

The researchers also intend to learn what molecular networks are involved in repetitive renewal and hope to apply the principles to regenerative medicine in the future.

The authors also report novel cellular mechanisms by which the tooth unit develops in the embryo and molecular signaling that speeds growth of replacement teeth when functional teeth are lost prematurely. Co-authors include colleagues from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Georgia, National Cheng Kung University, National Taiwan University, and Xiangya Hospital in China. The research was supported by the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases through grants 5R01AR042177-19, 5R01AR060306-03 and 2R01AR047364-11A1.

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University of Southern California - Health Sciences: http://uscnews.usc.edu/archives/health/

Thanks to University of Southern California - Health Sciences for this article.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/128248/Alligator_stem_cell_study_gives_clues_to_tooth_regeneration

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