Ebola virus in United States

A tourist from Liberia in Texas, United States (USA), became the first patient was diagnosed infected with Ebola. This was conveyed by the United States health officials were quoted by Reuters on Wednesday, October 1.
Director of Center for Disease Control (CDC) Thomas Frieden, said patient a medical examination six days after arriving in Texas, on September 20, treated in isolation space two days later.
The United States health officials and legislators already scared, the possibility of Ebola-infected patients will arrive in the United States undetected. Frieden said they take steps to ensure the virus does not spread widely.
"Obviously maybe someone who had been in contact with the patient, can be infected with Ebola in the next few weeks," Frieden said in a press conference. "I have no doubt we can stop this in the United States," he added.

Frieden said that a number of people, especially family members may make contact after a patient falls ill. Health authorities also keep track of other people who may have been in contact with the patient.
Dallas city officials say medics who brought the patient to the hospital have also been quarantined. But officials said appeared to be no threat to the other passengers, because patients have not shown symptoms of infection while flying to Texas.
At least 3,091 people were reported killed by Ebola in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. Recorded more than 6,500 cases of infection and health expert warns that number can increase to 1.4 million people as early as 2015.
President Barack Obama called to give my attention to the first case of Ebola infection in the United States. The White House's official statement, said Obama has been discussed by Frieden.
Frieden assure that hospitals in the United States was ready to deal with Ebola patients, assure the American public that the virus will not cause the same threat in the United States, as is the case in Africa.
"Americans have to stay calm and listen to preventive measures submitted to the CDC," said Senator Chris Coons, the Democratic member of the United States Senate who was the chairman of the International Relations Subcommittee on Africa.
"Just a matter of time before a case of Ebola occurred in the United States., But as we saw in Dallas today, the public health system we have the resources, ability and knowledge to overcome the virus quickly and safely," said Coons.
Gerald Parker, vice president of the Texas Medical Center, said cases of Ebola in Dallas confirmed that Ebola outbreak is the issue of the world, as well as the importance of the effort to help West Africa deal with outbreaks of Ebola.

Read More

California mayor shot dead his wife

County Mayor Bell Gardens, California, Daniel Crespo, was shot dead at his residence on Tuesday. Crespo lives could not be saved when the going was rushed from his home to the hospital.

Page USA Today, Tuesday, September 30, 2014 statement of Deputy Police launch Los Angeles, Crystal Hernandez, who called Crespo's wife, Levette, has been arrested for alleged links to the shooting incident. The BBC reported, Levette allegedly shooting her husband.

Police homicide department, Steve Jauch, call Crespo was killed by being shot several times.

Levette and Crespo reportedly arguing, before he was shot. The shooting incident happened at about 15:35 pm local time. Crespo was elected to City Council in the year 2001.

In addition, Crespo has worked as a trial karyawaan Los Angeles area.

Meanwhile, Levette and Crespo married in 1986, after a long time in a relationship as lovers. They then moved to Bell Gardens in 1987.

The couple was blessed with two children, a daughter in 1987 and son in 1994.

Crespo is a graduate public administration program and crime criminal University of California Los Angeles.

Read More

Elementary School Students Killed in China trampled underfoot

Until now the police are still figuring out the cause of the incident 

Mingtong Six elementary school students in the city of Kunming, China trampled dead at around 14:00 local time. In addition to the dead, local authorities call as many as 26 people were injured and rushed to two hospitals. 

China news agency, Xinhua, Friday, September 26, 2014 reported that two of the students were hospitalized in serious condition. Through micro-blogs, a local official said the cause of the incident is still unknown. However, he said, treading the incident took place in grade one and two. 

Other than that incident, on the same day, a man was reported stabbed four students when they were on their way to school in Guangxi province. According to local officials, police are now looking for the perpetrator stabbing. 

A similar incident occurred earlier this month. A man stabbed three students on the first day of school. Then, committing suicide by jumping from an altitude areas in Hubei Province. 

Officials at the Ministry of Education in China has repeatedly demanded increased security in the area schools. After treading the incident, local officials Kunming calls for stricter safety and thorough in all schools to reduce safety hazards.

Read More

3,000 Europeans, Join ISIS

The number of European countries that joined the ISIS militants in Iraq and Syria, has increased to more than 3,000 people. This was conveyed by counter-terorismeUni coordinator Gilles de Kerchove Europe on the BBC, Friday, September 26. 

Gilles warned that air strikes against ISIS will increase the risk of retaliatory attacks in Europe. According to Gilles, the majority of the 3,000 people who joined ISIS has returned to his country. 

"I think we have to admit that it will be carried out (counter attack)," he said. He mentions that ISIS has issued a threat of retaliation. Security Council (UNSC) United Nations, Wednesday, September 24, adopted a resolution which called on countries to prevent their citizens joined ISIS in Iraq and Syria. 

Prime Minister (PM) Iraq Haider al-Abadi, told reporters on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, conveying information obtained ISIS intelligence that militants planned attack on the subway system in Paris and several cities in the United States (USA). 

However the information is called the United States and French officials, there is no strong evidence to support the truth. Officials in Baghdad doubted Eternal comments. One of the top officials of the Iraqi government said the information obtained may only Eternal old story.

Read More

Belgium Attack ISIS Help USA with 6 F16 Fighter Jets

Belgium announces joined with the United States (USA) to attack the radical group ISIS. Belgium also has prepared a series of six F16 fighter jets to attack some power point ISIS. 

Belgium will send 120 pilots and support staff of the fighter jets. Not only fighter jets, Belgium also add C-130 cargo aircraft to carry the material and troops to Iraq. 

The fall in the number of fighter jets as an aid to the government of the United States was fairly easy. The government had to undergo a lot of debate in parliament and decided through voting. 

Reported by the Daily Star, not only Belgium, previously, Denmark and England were declared joined with the United States to attack ISIS. ISIS action and treatment to date is considered to be violating human rights by brutally killing several innocent people. 

Earlier, White House spokesman, Josh Earnest, said the fighter jets of the Belgian aid is a good news. Moreover, with the assistance of the UK with a fleet of aircraft that is derived will greatly help the United States reduce ISIS radical action.

Read More

Discover the NASA aircraft Plastic Materials in Space

 Cassini spacecraft owned by the United States Space Agency ( NASA ) , had discovered the existence of a chemical used to make plastic household appliances on the moon Titan , the planet Saturn .Science launched the World Report , Thursday, October 3, 2013 , NASA announced the plane Cassini has detected the presence of a small amount of propylene or propene also called on the moon Titan atmosphere .Propylene is used to eating Tupperware storage containers , bumper cars , and several other products . For the first time in addition to propylene found on planet Earth .Cassini plane managed to find a tool thanks to Cassini spacecrafts propylene composite infrared spectrometer ( CIRS ) . The tool aims to measure the infrared light or heat radiation generated by Saturn and the Moon ." CIRS is also able to detect heat signals produced by certain chemicals , so that NASA researchers managed to detect the presence of propylene at atmospheric moon Titan , " said Conor Nixon , researchers at NASA 's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt .He added , propylene is similar to carbon gas and propane propyne . It has been more than 30 years ago and propyne propane found in the planet's atmosphere , but not with propylene ." We have examined the chemical for more than one month to ensure that it is propylene , " said Nixon .NASA research team is currently preparing the next step to determine the chemicals what else is there in moon Titan ." The success of these findings have increased our confidence to be able to find more hidden chemicals in Titan's atmosphere , " said Michael Flasar , CIRS principal investigator at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center .The results of this study have been published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, 30 September 2013 edition .

Read More

Bee Hornet killing 28 Chinese

Killer bee raging in China . There are at least 28 people were killed and hundreds of people were seriously injured due to an attack of bees that come out of the blue .Launched The Christian Science Monitor , Thursday, October 3, 2013 , officials in the Chinese government has warned its citizens to avoid the roads through the fields and woods around Shaanxi Province , China .The main suspect of the citizens it was killer bees manifold Asian giant hornet , or Vespa mandarina Latin name . Bee hornet length can grow up to 5 centimeters . While stinger 6 millimeters in length and contain a very powerful neurotoxin venom .The Asian giant bee is the largest bee in the world and is a voracious predator eating grasshoppers , small bees , large insects , and others . Bee hornet is also known to be very cruel , because it usually attacks the honey bee hive and take away the larvae and honey .Hornet is also able to fly up to an altitude of 100 kilometers with an average speed of 40 miles per hour .Most of the attacks occurred hornet bee Shaanxi Province . Based on reports from the South China Morning Post , one of the victims suffered shock and acute renal failure admitted chased by bees hornet 200 meters .While the 55 -year -old woman , reportedly hornet stung 200 times . As a result , she had to be treated for one month in the hospital .The Guardian reported , the reason of the hornet bee attack several factors . One is the heat factor in China, causing bees hornet breed well ." Patients are exposed to more than 10 bee hornet stings should receive medical attention . While patients are exposed to more than 20 stings require medical care very seriously , " said Director of Ankang ( Shaanxi ) Disease Control Centre .Currently some hospitals in Shaanxi province have set up a special medical team to treat patients who suffered a hornet bee . Firefighters also has 300 bee hives hornet secured to avoid deaths and injuries continues to grow .

Read More

LG Bring Cheap 3G Smartphone in Indonesia

G2 for the recently launched premium segment last September , LG re- introduce a new product . This time LG Mobile Communication Indonesia launched LG L1 II smart phones to low-end segment with low price .LG L1 is a smart phone with a continuation of the L - Series is wearing 3 -inch screen and is already using the Android operating system 4.2 Jelly Bean . The phone also has embedded 2MP camera and 1,540 mAh battery ." LG L1 II is a 3G smart phone that has the same specifications with similar phones on the market . Moreover , L1 II has the cheapest price from its competitors , " said Chorung Cho , Head of LG Mobile Communication Indonesia at the launch of LG L1 II , Jakarta , Thursday, October 3, 2013 .Though affordable, the LG L1 II already has some excellent features , such as Cheese Shutter feature to allow capture by using voice commands and Care Safety features such as automatic notification sms to the emergency numbers that have been registered .LG L1 II also has unique features such as FM Music Corner which allows users to record music from radio broadcasts ." LG L1 II is the latest line up from LG for the low-end segment specifically for young children . Moreover , the presence of mobile phones to support the programs of the telecom operators on 3G Telkomsel cheap and accelerate the penetration of smart phones and the Internet in the country , " Denny said Muliawardana , National Sales Head LG Mobile .Denny added , LG L1 II sold by bundling with Telkomsel program . Buyers will get a starter pack of Sympathy Loops that have been filled with 12 GB data package for one year ." We expect LG L1 II which has cheap price and have got a data package from Telkomsel to draw in the public . We expect this phone can fetch tens of thousands of units , " said Denny .Mobile LG L1 II is priced only at a price of Rp799 thousand plus 12GB data package for one of Telkomsel .Until the end of this year , LG will still bring in one more smart phones in Indonesia , namely L 90 or G Pro Light for the medium segment worth Rp 4 million .As for the low-end segment LG L1 II is the final line -up until the end of the year and the LG G2 is the final line -up until the end of the year for the high end segment .

Read More

In This Deadly Lake, All Animals Are Stone

Not all lakes have fresh water and shelter can be a living creature, such as the deadly lake located in Tanzania, East Africa.  In the lake is called Lake Natron, all animals were submerged in the lake water will turn to stone.  This happens due to the lake temperature can rise to 60 degrees at any time, as well as high alkalinity due to the accumulation of volcanic ash from the Great Rift Valley.  Photographer Nick Brandt came to the site, to document the victims of the lake as dead birds and small animals that have been petrified because of calcification.

Read More

PHOTOS: Frogs Fall of Spacecraft

Frog seen hovering near the spaceship United States Space Agency (NASA) has just been launched to the Moon. Conditions that gave rise to the assumption that NASA will send frogs into space.The Christian Science Monitor launched, an unknown frog species was caught on camera shortly after NASA spacecraft named LADEE takeoff at Pad 0B at Wallops Island, Virginia, U.S.."We do not know from where the frogs," said a NASA official, responding to a growing issue that NASA is planning to send a frog to the Moon.NASA said that the frogs were likely in a pool of water around the foundation (launchpad) when the aircraft was launched. The pool was deliberately made to avoid damage to NASA Pad due to heat from the rocket blast.NASA confirmed, the frog in the photo was not a joke and it is true. Unfortunately, the space agency declined to comment on plans to send a frog in mission LADEE launch spacecraft to the moon, which cost U.S. $ 263 million, equivalent to Rp2, 9 trillion.In a statement, NASA confirmed that the frogs actually being in one of the picture frames in the camera remotely while documenting LADEE space shuttle launch."Currently we do not know the exact condition of the frog," NASA said in a statement.Occurrence of events in the frog spacecraft was not the first time that happened. Four years ago, a bat was burnt alive in the space shuttle Discovery.Based on identification, bat was sleeping in the aircraft's fuel tanks before takeoff.

Read More

Earth Life Originated from Comet Collision?

The team of researchers from the University of Kent, UK, found that comet collisions with planets and moons in the past produced mahadahsyat explosion, which creates the essential ingredients for the elements of life. Then, the material was spread throughout the solar system.According to Mark Price, space researcher at the University of Kent, the implication is the importance of the collision-producing precursor compounds that participate in the chemical reaction that produces another compound-which supports life and spread it somewhere."During this time, the comet is known to have organic compounds. And scientists have long said that the comet that helped bring the ingredients to form the beginning of life on Earth," said Price, reported by Fox News, Wednesday, September 18, 2013.This finding, Price continued, based on the results of detection of ammonia in Comet Halley compounds that contain amino acid precursor protein and basic components.Similar amino compounds has also been found in samples of comet 81P/Wild-2 collected by NASA's Stardust spacecraft."The impact of comet collisions in the entire solar system with many craters on the planet's surface. Comet collision was fast and produces very high temperatures. Was that cause chemical changes," said Price.Then, a team of researchers conducted a test firing steel projectiles that are mixed by existing materials dikomet with a speed of 16,000 miles per hour into a container containing a mixture of carbon dioxide, ammonia, and methanol, the temperature of minus 80 degrees Celsius."As a result, we created a new compound in the form of some types of amino acid and L-alanine, an important component of proteins that exist on Earth," said Price."Indeed, the results have not created life, but it was close. Thing we want to prove it is a process of creation of new molecules at the birth of the solar system a comet collision," added Price.

Read More

Buy Bump Google, Advanced File Sharing Applications

In the era of data needed file management make it easier for the user . Well , the world of technology giant Google is ready to provide service digital life easier , especially for mobile users .The reason , reported by the Wall Street Journal , today , Google re- acquired the company. This time the target is the enterprise smart phone applications Mountain View , Bump , known as file sharing applications sophisticated.If you are using an iPhone , this app may already be familiar . Bump app lets users transfer files antarponsel quite simply pressing the two phones simultaneously .Bump services became popular in the app store . And the idea of ​​transferring files antarponsel in close quarters has been the focus of the smartphone giants .Actually , Android also allows bulit -in transfer local files , but unfortunately Android requires a technology known as near - field communication ( NFC ) , short range communication between devices . Unfortunately, not all Android phones are equipped with this technology .This acquisition decisions in a strategic move to compete with Google's competitors in the mobile universe . Apple is rumored to soon release its own file sharing independently with AirDrop name . Apple 's version of the file sharing was mentioned more sophisticated than Bump .AirDrop can send files wirelessly without the need to physically touch or touch the phone . Requirement is the same with Android , the two devices using NFC platform for the exchange of the file.Other competitors , Samsung also released a similar app Bump known as S Beam , allowing file transfer antarponsel Samsung particular type.Unfortunately , both Google and Bump did not give details of the acquisition terms . Bump CEO David Lieb said still need to coordinate with Google. Not yet known how the value of the acquisition ." Bump team has demonstrated a strong ability to develop products that are preferred user . Bump And we thought would be a great fit at Google , " Google spokesman explained .In addition to file sharing application , Bump Flock also has applications , ie applications that automatically collects some group photos into a single form of photo albums . Mentioned two applications made ​​by Bump it will be bought by Google

Read More

Newspaper reports: Russian arms supplies to Syria delay

Moscow (AFP) - Russia put off some supply fighter jets and missile defense systems S-300 to Syria because Damascus failed to pay them, the newspaper Kommersant said on Saturday.  A total of 12 jets MiG-29M/M2 that Russia agreed to sell to Syria will not be awarded before the year 2016 to 2017, the daily said quoting unnamed sources in the company of Russia's state arms export monopoly Rosoboronexport.  According to RIA Novosti news agency, although the deal was approved in 2007, shipments delayed by technical reasons and then postponed because Syria has only paid to Moscow 30 percent of what is owed ​​to the jets, Kommersant said.  Earlier media reports said six of the 12 MiG expected to be delivered by the end of this year.  An agreement in 2010 to supply Damascus with missile defense systems S-300 was also stuck because because Syria has so far failed to provide a down payment, the report said.  "Supply S-300 out of the problem until we see real money," the newspaper said citing an unnamed official in the military-industrial complex of Russia's cooperation.  S-300 was initially expected to be delivered in July 2014, but delivery will be delayed until 2015 or 2016 unless the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad paid immediately, the report said.

Read More

Italy qualified for the 2014 World Cup, Balotelli Spreading Threat

Striker Mario Balotelli, reminding countries that will perform at the 2014 World Cup to be careful with the Italian national team. Gli Azzurri secured their escape to Brazil after defeating the Czech Republic 2-1, Wednesday, September 15, 2013.Italy actually still leaves two games left in Group B UEFA zone. However, with a collection of 20 points from eight matches, Italy may not evicted again from the top.Italy's victory over the Czech Republic could not be separated from the role of Balotelli. Super Mario contributed one goal from the penalty spot."I think we will be one of the favorites (at the World Cup)," said Balotelli told Gazzetta dello Sport. "There will be one or two teams above us. However, they should be afraid, and not vice versa," said the AC Milan striker.According Balotelli, the Italian national team is now getting stronger and more compact. "We were also able to get out of difficult situations," he explained.Balotelli pivotal role played against the Czech Republic also expressed by teammate Giorgio Chiellini. According Chiellini, it was worried the former Manchester City player is going to fail to perform his duties as a penalty executioner. Because, before Balotelli had squandered opportunities created.In this match, Italy fell behind 0-1 in the first round. However, the hosts equalized through Chiellini scored in the 51st minute. Balotelli eventually sealed victory after conquering Italy goalkeeper Petr Cech in the 54th minute."It is strange to see him (Balotelli) several times failed, so we started to worry it was a game curse," Chiellini said. "However, Mario is a decisive player and he proved it when your opponent Republic," he continued.

Read More

Madrid Make Aib As Justification Transfer Oezil

Yet to make his debut with his new club , Arsenal , Mesut Oezil has been buffeted by the unpleasant news . Real Madrid is the culprit . They uncover the bad stories about the personal lives of the players 24 years .

Club president Florentino Perez said that Ozil is a player who can not be professional because often wander the night . In addition he is also referred to as a ' maniac women ' because in the past two years endlessly chasing love sexy model who is also a former Miss Venezuela , Aida Yespica .

So what motivated Madrid revealed that skewed story ? Believed they wear it as a pretext on the sale of Oezil in the final seconds of the summer transfer window .

Yes , known to act Los Blancos took off Ozil to Arsenal got a lot of opposition . In addition to fans , their superstar , Cristiano Ronaldo , was also strongly criticized the move .

" I regret selling Oezil . He is the player who best understand my movement in front of goal , " Ronaldo said some time ago .

The situation certainly makes the management of Madrid cornered . And to be free from guilt to the public the Santiago Bernabeu , they also make it a disgrace and a story about the high salary demands Oezil as a reason to ensure that the sale of ' the king of assists ' is already very precise .

Oezil not Want So Scapegoat

Madrid signs it's apparently been read by the Oezil , especially the father who doubles as an agent , Mustafa . Feel not received made ​​' scapegoats ' he also claimed to be ready to take legal action to resolve the issue .

" Oezil became a scapegoat in this matter . To that end , we may take legal action , " said Mustafa .

" If he acted unprofessionally in Madrid , then why does he always play ? They want to blame him now , as fans and teammates there angry , " he continued .

In contrast to his father who is so emotionally respond ' libel ' is , Oezil introduction to the public in the event of the Gunners just revealed that he did not want to bother . He also chose to continue to honor the former club Madrid .

" I do not want to say bad things about Madrid . I spent three wonderful years there , " said Oezil .

" People who know me would know how professional . 159 as much as I play games . You can not look that much if not professional is not it? " he continued .

Oezil The Women enthusiast ?

The question that now arises is , what does all that Oezil was alleged by the Madrid , especially the Turkish bloody madness players to Yespica who once rumored to be the mistress of former Italian Prime Minister , Silvio Berluconi it ?

Sources which claimed close to Oezil and his girlfriend now , Mandy Capristo , affirmative allegations behavior ' naughty ' Werder Bremen . But he stressed that now Oezil has turned into a much better person .

" When it broke up with Anna Maria Lagerblom ( former boyfriend ) , Oezil is a bit excessive . Was happening in his second year with Madrid . However , when it Oezil stay productive on the field . Anyway , I think Oezil is still young and he has enjoyed periods of freedom , "the source said .

" However , now Oezil happy with Mandy , women who embrace and return to old habits positive . They are now looking for a place to stay in London , " he continued .

While Yespica in an interview not dismiss had been close to Ozil . But the 31 -year-old woman insists that there's nothing special in their relationship .

" I had nothing to do with a move Oezil from Madrid . I did know him , but we never had sex . Though we indeed met 2 years ago at a club in Madrid , " said Yespica .

" We then exchanged phone numbers . One time , he told me there was in Milan and we met for dinner at a nightclub without hiding from the paparazzi . We had a great time there , but we went home separately , " he continued .

He also admitted today have never communicated again with Oezil . " I deleted his number and I change my number , " said Yespica .





Google Terjemahan untuk Bisnis:Perangkat Penerjemah
Penerjemah Situs Web
Peluang Pasar Global
Matikan terjemahan instan
Tentang Google TerjemahanSelulerPrivasiBantuanKirimkan masukan

Read More

U.S. weapons Reaches Syrian Rebels

Washington (AFP ) : The United States has started distributing weapons and technical equipment to rebel fighters in Syria , said the Washington Post on Wednesday night . Citing U.S. sources and Syria , the U.S. daily wrote that the CIA has begun sending lethal assistance in the past two weeks .The newspaper reported on its website that the U.S. State Department has sent separately vehicles and other materials , including a new type of non - lethal equipment , advanced communication equipment and medical plaid advanced fighter .CIA contacted by AFP on Wednesday, said it had no comment on the report Washington . Arms shipments are limited to a daily said small arms and other ammunition that can be traced to arrive at a crucial moment when a bloody stalemate between the rebels and the government of Damascus .Post quoted U.S. officials as saying the purpose of non - lethal aid is to help speed up the cohesion between the units of the Syrian armed opposition who did not join.U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday agreed to give the opportunity of international diplomacy to resolve conflicts before releasing military attack .Military aid long -awaited came a day after U.S. President told the American people in a nationally televised address , that he delayed taking military action in Syria's policy in order to study the Russian initiative that will see Damascus release their chemical weapons .He made an appeal to the U.S. lawmakers after weeks of build commitment to the war , in which he asked for congressional approval for a military attack against Syria over alleged use of chemical weapons on his own subjects .Obama made ​​his threat in response to an attack attacks August 21 , when Syrian troops allegedly killed 1,400 people in the rebel -controlled areas near Damascus using sarin gas , according to U.S. estimates .But the U.S. leader in a speech Tuesday night to give assurances that there would be no military force for the time being , given the Russian plan . " Initiative ( Russia ) has the potential to remove the threat of chemical weapons without the use of force , especially since Russia is one of the strongest allies of Bashar al - Assad . " ( Ant / AFP )

Read More

Book Worms? Medieval Tomes Hold Surprising Fossil Record

A smattering of white spots found among the ink in medieval books aren't just printing errors — they're actually an amazingly detailed "fossil" record of European beetles, new research finds.

The dots represent spots, or wormholes, where hatching beetleschewed their way out of the woodblocks used to print art and illustrations between the 1400s and 1800s.

This literary record reveals that two species that now overlap inWestern Europe once kept their distance from each other along the entire continent. Without evidence of the wormholes, this history would have been impossible to discern, said study researcher Blair Hedges, a biologist at Pennsylvania State University.

"All of these findings about the distribution were from the wormholes," Hedges told LiveScience. "There were no specimens in jars or, in this case, pinned or anything. There was just no information that we had."

Biological bookworms

European printers started using woodcuts, or carved wood blocks, to produce printed illustrations in the 1400s. (By then, that craft was already centuries-old in Japan and other parts of Asia.) Hardwood with a fine grain was typically used for the carved blocks, which would then be inked like rubber stamps to produce an image on paper or fabric.

Unfortunately for bookmakers but luckily for modern biologists, hardwoods such as box, pear or apple are a favorite of certain species of beetle, which leaves its larvae in the wood to pupate. Once the larvae grow into beetles, they gnaw their way out, leaving distinctive round holes that vary in size depending on the species. [See images of the damaged woodcuts]

Such was the fate of many a woodcut left in storage. Between the first edition and later printings, more and more round white dots would appear in books, Hedges said, corresponding with the beetle infestation of the woodcut. These proliferating marks provide a sort of non-stone fossil record of where beetles lived at any given time.

"It's very hard to get that kind of detailed information," Hedges said. "These are about the best fossils you could ever hope to find, and that is fossils with exact dates, like 1498, in exact locations, like Paris or Amsterdam."

Fossil record, in print

By surveying medieval tomes in library collections and in online high-resolution digital archives, Hedges was able to measure the white spots. In 473 prints dating from 1462 to 1899, he found thousands of spots, including 3,263 perfectly round holes created when beetles exited the wood block and 318 meandering "tracks" created as beetles chewed their way along the wood grain. This kind of left-behind evidence of living organisms is called trace fossils.

In books printed in northern cities such as London, the holes tended to be small, averaging about 0.06 inches (1.44 millimeters) across. In southern European cities, they were larger, averaging about 0.09 inches (2.3 mm) across. Distinctive tracks also gave away southern species.

These measurements reveal that in the north, the woodcut-chewer was the common furniture beetle (Anobium punctatum). In the south, the Mediterranean furniture beetle (Oligomerus ptilinoides) was the culprit. Surprisingly, the two never met. They stayed on either side of a line that cut across France, hugged the border between Switzerland and Germany and then followed the boundary between Italy and Austria.

"There was no gap in between," Hedges said. "They literally came right up to each other, certainly within miles. I could not find any evidence that they overlapped."

That sort of boundary is very unusual in species distribution, he said. Because climate varied over those 500 years, the stable border between northern and southern species probably had to do with the fact that both beetles prefer the same kind of wood.

"They were trying to avoid competition, so they weren't overlapping," Hedges said.

Today, with increased trade in furniture and lumber, both beetles are found throughout Western Europe. In Eastern Europe, the situation looks a little more complex, Hedges added. And he hasn't even had time to get into American woodcuts or other regions of the world.

"Japan and China did woodcut printing even earlier than Europe," he said. "There's a lot of potential for discovering other species and other interactions."

Hedges published the findings today (Nov. 20) in the journal Biology Letters.

Read More

How new Kindle Fire compares with rivals

Amazon.com Inc. started shipping a larger version of its Kindle Fire HD tablet computer on Thursday. Here's a look at how it compares with the iPad and other tablets with similar screens.

Amazon.com Inc.'s Kindle Fire HD 8.9":

— Price: $299 for 16 gigabytes of storage, $369 for 32 GB.

— Screen size: 8.9 inches diagonally

— Screen resolution: 1920 by 1200 pixels, at 254 pixels per inch.

— Weight: 1.25 pounds.

— Cameras: Front-facing camera.

— Battery life: 10 hours.

— Operating system: Modified version of Google's Android

Pros: Cheap and portable. Convenient access to Amazon store. Dolby audio. Available with access to fast 4G wireless broadband networks, for $499 (starts shipping next Tuesday).

Cons: Small selection of third-party applications available from Amazon. No rear camera for taking video and photos.

Apple Inc.'s iPad:

— Price: Starts at $499 for 16 gigabytes of storage, goes up to $699 for 64 gigabytes, more for versions with cellular data access. (Apple still sells the older, iPad 2 for $399.)

— Screen size: 9.7 inches diagonally

— Screen resolution: 2048 by 1536 pixels, at 264 pixels per inch.

— Weight: 1.44 pounds

— Cameras: 5-megapixel camera on back and a low-resolution camera on front, for videoconferencing

— Battery life: 10 hours.

— Operating system: Apple's iOS

Pros: Unmatched access to third-party applications, high-quality Apple software and the iTunes store. Widest range of cases and accessories available. Available with access to fast 4G wireless broadband networks, starting at $629.

Cons: Data storage cannot be expanded with memory cards.

Google Inc.'s Nexus 10

— Price: $399 for 16 gigabytes of storage, $499 for 32 GB

— Screen size: 10.1 inches diagonally

— Screen resolution: 2560 by 1600 pixels, at 300 pixels per inch.

— Weight: 1.33 pounds.

— Cameras: 5-megapixel camera on back and a low-resolution camera on front, for videoconferencing

— Battery life: 9 hours for video playback, 7 hours for Web browsing.

— Operating system: Google's Android

Pros: Access to a variety of games, utilities and other software for Android devices, though not as extensive as apps available for iPad. Longer, narrower screen better suited to movies. Cheaper than newest full-size iPad.

Cons: Integrates with Google Play store, which is still new and isn't as robust as Apple or Amazon's stores. Data storage cannot be expanded with memory cards. No option for cellular wireless broadband.

Samsung Electronic Co.'s Galaxy Tab 2 10.1:

— Price: $399 for 16 gigabytes of storage

— Screen size: 10.1 inches diagonally

— Screen resolution: 1280 by 800 pixels, 149 pixels per inch

— Weight: 1.24 pounds

— Cameras: low-resolution front camera, 3-megapixel back.

— Battery life: 11 hours.

— Operating system: Google's Android

Pros: Storage is expandable with microSD memory cards. Can act as a universal remote control for an entertainment center. Option for wireless broadband starting in November.

Cons: Selection of third-party applications not as good as iPad's, but wider than Kindle. Screen resolution lower than iPad's.

Samsung Electronic Co.'s Galaxy Note 10.1:

— Price: $499 for 16 gigabytes of storage, $549 for 32 GB

— Screen size: 10.1 inches diagonally

— Screen resolution: 1280 by 800 pixels, 149 pixels per inch

— Weight: 1.3 pounds

— Cameras: low-resolution front camera, 5-megapixel back.

— Battery life: 9 hours.

— Operating system: Google's Android

Pros: Comes with a pen, for jotting notes and drawing on the screen. Slightly thinner and lighter than an iPad. Longer, narrower screen better suited to movies. Storage is expandable with microSD memory cards. Can act as a universal remote control for an entertainment center.

Cons: Selection of third-party applications not as good as iPad's, but wider than Kindle. Screen resolution lower than iPad's. No option for wireless broadband. Pen sensor slightly shortens battery life.

Barnes & Noble Inc.'s Nook HD+

— Price: $269 for 16 gigabytes of storage; $299 for 32 GB

— Screen size: 9 inches diagonally

— Screen resolution: 1920 x 1280 pixels, 256 pixels per inch

— Weight: 1.14 pounds

— Cameras: None.

— Battery life: 10 hours of reading, 9 hours of video

— Operating system: Modified version of Google's Android

Pros: Cheap and portable. Storage is expandable with microSD memory cards. Easy access to Barnes & Noble book store.

Cons: Selection of third-party applications is small. Barnes & Noble lacks wide range of content. Lacks cameras and option for wireless broadband.

Microsoft Corp.'s Surface:

— Price: $499 for 32 gigabytes of storage, $100 extra for keyboard cover. $699 for 64 GB version, includes keyboard cover.

— Screen size: 10.6 inches diagonally

— Screen resolution: 1366 by 768 pixels, 148 pixels per inch

— Weight: 1.5 pounds.

— Cameras: Front and back cameras

— Battery life: 8 hours.

— Operating system: Microsoft's Windows RT.

Pros: Storage can be expanded with microSD memory cards. Comes with free Microsoft Office software. Models running full version of Windows 8 coming soon, offering compatibility with programs available for traditional Windows computers.

Cons: Operating system lacks good track record on tablets. Selection of tablet-adapted third-party applications small. No option for wireless broadband.

Read More

Wii U: New console launches in a sea of gadgets

NEW YORK (AP) — In the six years since the last major video game system launched, Apple unveiled the iPhone and the iPad, "Angry Birds" invaded smartphones and Facebook reached a billion users. In the process, scores of video game consoles were left to languish in living rooms alongside dusty VCRs and disc players.

On Sunday, Nintendo Co. is launching the Wii U, a game machine designed to appeal both to the original Wii's casual audience and the hardcore gamers who skip work to be among the first to play the latest "Call of Duty" release. Just like the Wii U's predecessor, the Wii, which has sold nearly 100 million units worldwide since 2006, the new console's intended audience "truly is 5 to 95," says Reggie Fils-Aime, the president of Nintendo of America, the Japanese company's U.S. arm.

But the Wii U arrives in a new world. Video game console sales have been falling, largely because it's been so long since a new system has launched. Most people who wanted an Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 or a Wii already have one. Another reason: People in the broad 5-to-95 age range have shifted their attention to games on Facebook, tablet computers and mobile phones.

U.S. video game sales last month, including hardware, software and accessories, totaled $755.5 million, according to the research firm NPD Group. In October 2007, the figure stood at $1.1 billion.

The Wii U is likely to do well during the holiday shopping season, analysts believe —so well that shoppers may see shortages. But the surge could peter out in 2013. The Wii U is not expected to be the juggernaut that the Wii was in its heyday, according to research firm IHS iSuppli. The Wii outsold its competitors, the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3, in its first four years on sale, logging some 79 million units by the end of 2010. By comparison, IHS expects the Wii U to sell 56.7 million in its first four years.

In the age of a million gadgets and lean wallets, the storied game company faces a new challenge: convincing people that they need a new video game system rather than, say, a new iPad.

The Wii U, which starts at $300, isn't lacking in appeal. It allows for "asymmetrical game play," meaning two people playing the same game can have entirely different experiences depending on whether they use a new tablet-like controller called the GamePad or the traditional Wii remote. The GamePad can also be used to play games without using a TV set, as you would on a regular tablet. And it serves as a fancy remote controller to navigate a TV-watching feature called TVii, which will be available in December.

Nintendo, known for iconic game characters such as Mario, Donkey Kong and Zelda, is expected to sell the consoles quickly in the weeks leading up to the holidays. After all, it's been six long years and sons, daughters, brothers and sisters are demanding presents. GameStop Corp., the world's No. 1 video game retailer, said last week that advance orders sold out and it has nearly 500,000 people on its Wii U waitlist.

Even so, it's a "very, very crowded space in consumer electronics" this holiday season, notes Ben Bajarin, a principal analyst at Creative Strategies who covers gaming.

Apple's duo of iPads, the full-size model and a smaller version called the Mini, will be competing for shoppers' attention. Not to be outdone, Amazon.com Inc. has launched a trove of Kindle tablets and e-readers in time for the holidays. These range from the Paperwhite, a touch-screen e-reader, to the Kindle Fire HD, which features a color screen and can work with a cellular data plan. Then there are the new laptops and cheaper, thinner "ultrabooks" featuring Microsoft's new Windows 8 operating system —not to mention smartphones from Apple Inc., Samsung and other manufacturers.

"Nintendo has to be a cut above the noise here," Bajarin says.

The Wii U is the first major game console to launch in years, but in some ways Nintendo is merely catching up with the HD trend. Sony Corp. and Microsoft Corp. began selling their own powerful, high-definition consoles six and seven years ago, respectively. Both Sony and Microsoft are expected to unveil new game consoles in 2013.

Baird analyst Colin Sebastian thinks the question is not how well the Wii U will do during the holidays, but how it will fare three and six months later.

Gaming has changed significantly in the past six years, especially when it comes to the type of mass-audience experiences that serve as Nintendo's bread and butter. Zynga Inc., the online game company behind Facebook games such as "FarmVille" and "Texas HoldEm Poker," was founded in 2007. The first "Angry Birds" game, that addictive, quirky distraction that has players flinging cartoon birds at structures hiding smug green pigs launched in late 2009. The first iPad, of course, came out in 2010 —three years after the first iPhone.

Fils-Aime acknowledges that Nintendo competes in the broad entertainment landscape, "minute-by-minute," for consumers' time.

"That's true today and that was true 20 years ago," he says, adding that Nintendo's challenge is communicating to people "what is so fun and appealing about the new system."

Analysts expect Wii U sales to be brisk over the holidays. Nintendo's loyal —some would say, fanatical— fan base has been placing advance orders and will likely keep the systems flying off store shelves well into next year. The classic Mario and Zelda games are a huge part of the appeal, since they can't be played on any gaming system but Nintendo's.

Research firm IHS iSuppli estimates that by the end of the year, people will have snapped up 3.5 million Wii U consoles worldwide, compared with 3.1 million Wii units in the same period through the end of 2006.

After the Wii went on sale, shortages persisted for months. Stores were met with long lines of shoppers trying to get their hands on a Wii as late as July 2007, more than seven months after the system's launch.

Though supply constraints are expected this time around, Fils-Aime says Nintendo will have more hardware available in the Americas than it had for the Wii's initial months on the market. The company says it will also replenish retailers more frequently than it did six years ago.

An initial sell-out doesn't mean the Wii U will be successful over the long term, IHS notes, citing its estimate that the Wii U won't match the Wii's sales over time.

Bajarin believes it's going to take "a little bit of time" for the Wii U's dual-screen gaming concept to sink in with people. If it proves popular, Nintendo could see even more competition at its hands.

"Technologically, it's not a leap of the imagination to see Apple, Google, Microsoft do something like this," he says.

____

Follow Barbara Ortutay on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BarbaraOrtutay

Read More

Smartphones, tablets spark "post-pie" Thanksgiving sales

(Reuters) - Retailers are targeting "post-pie" commerce, the jump in shopping created by the boom in smartphones and tablet computers which Thanksgiving diners grab as they collapse onto the couch after eating turkey and pumpkin pie.

While people relax with family and friends or watch football on TV, they are increasingly shopping online with these mobile gadgets, creating a surge in traffic and purchases that retailers are beginning to target for the first time this year.

"This is a new shoppable moment," said Steve Yankovich, who heads the mobile business of eBay Inc, operator of the largest online marketplace.

Before the rise of smartphones and tablets, it was socially unacceptable to pull out a laptop afterThanksgiving dinner, or head to a home office to fire up a desktop computer, Yankovich explained.

"With a tablet or smartphone you don't get that reaction," he added.

EBay recently surveyed more than 1,000 shoppers in the United States about their holiday shopping plans. Almost two thirds said holiday sales should begin after Thanksgiving dinner and respondents said their meals would end, on average, at 5:23 p.m. EST.

Based on that feedback, eBay plans to launch 20 mobile-only deals through its eBay Mobile application at 5:23 p.m. EST this Thanksgiving. The company plans 20 more at 5:23 p.m. PST for West Coast shoppers.

Other retailers including Toys "R" Us, HSN Inc, Rue La La and ideeli are also targeting mobile shoppers this Thanksgiving in the evening.

"The iPad holiday sales season starts at the point of indigestion while you're sitting on the couch afterThanksgiving dinner," said Ben Fischman, chief executive of Rue La La, which specializes in online limited-time fashion sales events known as flash sales.

Post-pie commerce is the latest example of how mobile devices, in particular Apple Inc's iPad and iPhone, are changing consumer behavior and forcing retailers to adapt quickly.

The holiday shopping season traditionally kicks off with Black Friday, the day after Thanksgivingwhen shoppers use a day off from work to head to stores.

The following Monday became a big online shopping day known as Cyber Monday because people returned to the office and shopped using their office computers.

Now Thanksgiving is emerging as a big new shopping day online. The value of e-commerce transactions on Turkey Day has surged 128 percent to $479 million over the past five years, outpacing the growth of Black Friday, Cyber Monday and other big holiday shopping days, according to comScore Inc.

That's a far cry from the $1.25 billion spent online on Cyber Monday last year, but the growth has caught retailers' attention.

"It's still a smaller day, but it is growing much faster," said Andrew Lipsman of comScore. "We're seeing a lot more talk about Thanksgiving becoming a more important shopping day."

Several big retailers, including Target Corp, are opening physical stores on Thanksgiving to make sure they don't lose sales to online rivals.

"Consumers that would rather shop than watch 12 hours of football on Thanksgiving Day should be given the chance to shop," Marshal Cohen of The NPD Group wrote in a blog on Thursday. "If online is open, why should brick-and-mortar close just to give away those precious shopping hours to the competition?"

Thanksgiving evening is where the action is online. By 3 p.m. EST last year online sales were up about 20 percent compared to the same period in 2010, according to IBM Software Group, a unit of International Business Machines Corp.

But by midnight PST on Thanksgiving 2011, online sales were up 39 percent versus the same period the previous year, IBM data show. Overall, November 2011 online sales rose 15.6 percent compared to the year-earlier period.

"Post-pie shopping this year will be fueled mostly by tablet shoppers, especially iPad users," said Jay Henderson, global strategy director for IBM's enterprise marketing management business.

In September and October, the iPad accounted for at least 7.5 percent of all traffic to retailers' websites, beating out the iPhone with about 6 percent and Android devices at just over 4 percent, IBM data show.

"This is the first time the iPad has shown sustained leadership over all other mobile devices," Henderson said.

Last Thanksgiving, retailers were surprised by the surge in tablet traffic in the evening. They also did not expect the devices would be used to complete so many purchases, instead expecting them to be browsing devices mostly, according to Steve Tack, chief technology officer for APM Solutions, a unit of Compuware Corp.

"Tablet users are not waiting for Black Friday or Cyber Monday to purchase, they are doing it on Thursday night on the couch in front of the game," he said. "This is a significant new shopping event."

This year, retailers are more prepared, he added.

Rue La La will launch an online boutique called "The Holiday Dash" at 8 p.m. EST on Thanksgiving, "specifically to go after the shopper who will be sitting at home after dinner on the couch," CEO Fischman said.

More than half of Rue La La's sales over Thanksgiving, Black Friday and the following weekend will come from mobile devices. Half of those mobile purchases will be on an iPad, he said.

Fischman said the conversion rate on an iPad is close to double the conversion rate on a smart phone, meaning shoppers are more than twice as likely to purchase using the tablet device.

"The tablet offers the luxury of a larger screen with the convenience and portability of the phone," Fischman said. "It's the killer e-commerce device."

Ideeli, a rival to Rue La La, plans a "Think Fast" online sales event at 6 p.m. EST on Thanksgiving to target tablet shoppers. Ideeli usually runs sales at noon every day.

Toys "R" Us, the largest toy retailer, launched a new tablet-optimized website on Tuesday and the company plans to make all its Black Friday deals available online at 8 p.m. EST on Thanksgiving.

HSN, which runs the Home Shopping Network and has traditionally focused on TV sales, on Tuesday unveiled an online holiday gift guide designed for tablet shoppers.

The company plans to send discounted deals to mobile shoppers on Thanksgiving.

"When people are done with the holiday meal and go back into the screen world, we will have great products on sale," said Jill Braff, executive vice president of Digital Commerce at HSN.

(Reporting by Alistair Barr in San Francisco; additional reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles; Editing by Phil Berlowitz)

Read More