China court rejects damages plea from man jailed for Bo joke

BEIJING (Reuters) - A Chinese man sent to a labor camp for a joke about Bo Xilai said he was awarded minimal compensation by a court on Thursday, in what could be a blow to others jailed by the disgraced leader's administration and hoping for substantial damages.

Fang Hong, 46, was sentenced to a year of re-education in 2011 after posting a poem online that mocked Bo and his then police chief Wang Lijun for miscarriages of justice during an anti-crime campaign in the southwestern city of Chongqing, where Bo was Communist Party chief.

But Fang said the court in Chongqing's Dianjiang county rejected his demand for $59,000 in psychological damages for his year in the labor camp. Instead it gave him just $9,200, in the first known case of compensation linked to Bo-era abuses.

It also rejected Fang's plea for a public apology. The blogger and former forestry official was awarded just $26 for each of 351 days he spent in the camp -- a sentence that was overturned last year months after Bo fell.

The court could not be reached immediately for comment.

"This is definitely unfair. The court didn't recognize the mental harm caused. So, this ruling is not just," Fang told Reuters by telephone after the ruling was announced.

Fang said he would ask his lawyers about appealing against the ruling, which is based on national compensation law.

Experts had expected Fang's request for psychological damages to be rejected in an effort to discourage a flood of other claims linked to Bo's hardline policies, which critics argued were also used to stifle dissent.

Bo's career unraveled after Wang fled to a U.S. consulate last February and alleged that Bo's wife, Gu Kailai, had murdered British businessman Neil Heywood.

Bo's pursued popular social projects in Chongqing that earned him many fans, but also conducted a crackdown on organized crime overseen by Wang that drew accusations of serious miscarriages of justice.

Fang's case has been seen as a test of how officials will respond to complaints of miscarriages of justice during Bo's tenure.

Chongqing mayor Huang Qifan, who had served with Bo, was quoted by Chongqing media on Thursday as saying courts had "effectively handled all cases and safeguarded social justice".

"Relevant lawsuits involving the government must obey court judgments and absolutely no organization or individual can have privileges that supersede the constitution and the law," he was cited by the official Chongqing Daily as saying.

There are no hard and fast figures on the likely number of cases of legal redress in connection with Bo, but it is possible more will emerge as his downfall is cemented by his own trial and likely conviction.

One prominent lawyer, Chen Youxi, has said over 700 people were convicted as part of Bo's anti-crime gang campaign, including over 70 who were executed.

(Additional reporting by Sally Huang, Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/china-court-rejects-damages-plea-man-jailed-bo-073427720.html

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Chuck Siegel: The Return of Charles Chocolates to San Francisco ...

Chuck Siegel owner of Charles Chocolates.

All Photos: Wendy Goodfriend

Mission Creek in San Francisco will soon get a new 7600-square foot chocolate kitchen and retail space from San Francisco resident Chuck Siegel and his sweet company, Charles Chocolates. The open kitchen will allow guests to see their confections being made and enrobed, and Siegel has crafted new items and mendiant-style chocolate bars while bidding adieu to less popular creations (looking at you, marzipan and marmalade). The caf? offers an extension of the menu done for Outside Lands: hot and frozen hot chocolate, ?a cake or two,? tea, pastries, cookies, brownies and s?mores. Because Siegel has always fancied helping young chocolatiers, he plans on also sharing his space as an incubator for fresh talent.

Siegel was in business for over six years until March 2011, when his shop in the Westfield Mall and the overall company closed in an unexpected and dramatic turn of events. Siegel regrouped and opted for a Kickstarter campaign with 400 backers (including this writer) to successfully raise over $53,000 and get a lease for space at 535 Florida Street. The site used to house the Potrero Brewing Company and still has heat lamps that no doubt make typical San Francisco chilly days more pleasing. Siegel said he was able to buy glass shelving units from the Betsey Johnson store on Fillmore Street before it went out of business. The shelves will get prime real estate in the retail space. ?My wife and daughters kept going to the sales there before it closed and the last day, I was able to buy these shelves. My family loves that I got them there.?

Charles Chocolates sign at new facility on Florida Street

Getting the Kickstarter infusion of capital allowed Siegel to buy back vital company assets which were acquired by a former investor. It ultimately meant Siegel could at last return to making his beloved small-batch chocolates and confections.

Dried Apricot Plaques

Charles Chocolates are made with premium stuff, by hand: organic herbs, fruits and nuts as well as organic cream and butter. Siegel, who is self taught, won a Good Food Award in 2011, nabbed a Sunset Magazine?s ?Best of the West? award, as well as accolades from 7?7 and the East Bay Express. His most exciting creation may be a signature edible chocolate box which creatively doubles the eating experience in a novel way. Because Siegel is due to open the new space as early as this Friday, I wanted to see what?s new.

Siegel?s Kickstarter update on Monday January 28 detailed the final details: ?Once the painting is finished tomorrow all that stands in the way of us opening the kitchen and store is laying an epoxy floor, installing the glass walls that separate the kitchen and retail store and a half a dozen inspections (it?s not as bad as it sounds!).? I interviewed Siegel at the new site and his comments have been edited for grammar and content.

Bay Area Bites: Kickstarter was a big part of your move to return. What was that process like? Is it a unique Bay Area success story?
Siegel: It?s not unique to the Bay Area to use Kickstarter. I think the Bay Area uses it more because we have a greater awareness. I actually participate in food and chocolate campaigns that are all over. For us it was a wonderful way for us to raise the money and I love the concept of crowd funding. We were also able to reengage with our fan base and we already had their information from our newsletters. None of our fans stopped eating chocolate for the last year. So I need to reengage them. We know they love our products but Kickstarter let us relaunch and all those participants are getting a box of our chocolates.

Bay Area Bites: Tell us about the caf? menu. What are the highlights and how did you come up with the items?
Siegel: I decided to look at what was selling and not selling and pare things down. Maybe not keep things that only I love. Like marzipan?ours is really unique. We cooked it with Meyer lemon or blood orange, so it?s very strongly flavored. We had some really dedicated followers but just not that many of them (laughs).

I?ve had a year to play and try to find perfection with my ganache, which is silly given how simple ganache is. I am also doing small ganache that I call pave. It?s named after paving stones. It is very very simple ganache but also not so simple to get just right. I?ve been making these for years.

Charles Chocolates Ultimate Fruit and Nut Bar

I?ve expanded the bar line because they are really fun. Everyone knows I like bars with a lot of stuff in them. I?ve made some smaller bars, like the mendiant, which has different fruits and is very French. Mendiants are always pretty but silly as a product to me because it?s really hard to eat and get more than one thing in your bite. One has fresh roasted almonds, sultanas and comes in bittersweet and milk chocolate. The other bar has candied lemon peel, pine nuts, pistachios, hazelnuts and sultanas. The idea is to get really strong bursts of fruit and nut with the chocolate. The chocolate has to lead and I don?t want the flavors to overpower the chocolate; the key is to make it complimentary. I played with hundreds of bar combinations and these two are the ones I think are great. Right now I am calling them the ultimate fruit and nut bar because when I was little I loved the Cadbury fruit and nut bar.

Like in Emeryville, the kitchen here is designed to be watched. We wanted to have things folks can hang out and enjoy.

Bay Area Bites: You had a factory in Emeryville but are reopening in the Mission. Why be in SF? And the Mission?
Siegel: We moved to Emeryville for convenience and cost. I actually love Emeryville. I started my first company, Attivo Confections over there.

Our new place is in Mission Creek. I love this neighborhood. It?s had a lot of really interesting food spots opening: Cana for Cuban, Heath Ceramics, and flour + water. We?ve been eating at Slow Club for 20 years. Walk three blocks and you?re at Mission and Valencia streets.

I did an interview with Tamara Palmer and she called the new space ?Potrero Hill? and people corrected that it is actually located in the Mission. That was the only thing they commented on for the story. There is a Mission Creek Merchants Association and we are in it.

I wanted to be in the city because I live here and have done so since 1986. For retail, SF can?t be beat. When we needed 7400 square feet, I knew it wasn?t going to be found on Valencia. Or at least be affordable.

Triple Chocolate Almonds in Heath Ceramic bowl

Bay Area Bites: What?s different this time?
Siegel: So much? the opportunity to do more with retail because we?re in the city. It?s opened up a lot of opportunity. I?ve been doing this for 25 years so now get an opportunity to take everything I?ve learned in terms of kitchen, layout, equipment, and products. We will incubate young chocolatiers ? because there?s nothing cooler than seeing someone make chocolates on their own and do it well. I get almost a feeling of parental pride from seeing that. I have always done it, but informally. We hire them, they learn skills and they go off on their own. This time, we will formalize it and make it more of a program so they get a stronger knowledge of how to sell, market and package and what are the laws. They?ll have a slightly easier time of it.

Bay Area Bites: Who are your mentors?
Siegel: When I first started my first company Attivo Confections, I called Joseph Schmidt and Alice Medrich. It?s classic how good things come from the Bay Area. Both were remarkably generous with their time and expertise. Alice especially was patient. I called her one night when my ganache was broken and she helped me figure it out. If it wasn?t for them, I probably would?ve never made it. That?s why I like to teach and help. It?s really great to have them to turn to.

Paves- Classic French Truffles and Dried Apricot Plaques

Bay Area Bites: What are the best and worst things about working with chocolate and selling a food product?
Siegel: The best: it?s chocolate. I really don?t know if there is a more universal food item. There?s something really fantastic about making something and seeing the enjoyment in their face. It?s an absolute kick to make something that everyone enjoys. Chocolate only exists to bring joy and we eat it for pure pleasure. There can be a real intellectual part to it too, with what?s going on in the bean to bar market now. Some folks are using traditional technique and some are not; that?s one of the most exciting things about the industry now.

The worst part is that chocolate is remarkably temperamental. Even now, I?ll have things happen with chocolate that completely floors me. I know how to use it in confections and pastry. But at times it?s confounding. Most of our confections are very perishable. We use nuts that are prone to rancidity and cream and butter that are perishable. We?re actually making food but it?s food made with chocolate. When you buy a fresh truffle, it?s meant to be eaten fresh. It doesn?t age like a bottle of wine. It will help folks understand what we do.

Bay Area Bites: Where do you eat and drink when you aren?t working?
Siegel: I eat mostly at home. One of the best things about this neighborhood has an amazing number of places to eat. I?ve always loved flour + water. I?m not a huge drinker but I love fun and inventive cocktails so I love Trick Dog. It?s become one of my instant favorites and they make really wonderful drinks. It?s become a place to go to after work.

Tartine is one my favorite places for lunch. Their sandwiches are awesome.

Or I?ll just go to El Farolito. My wife danced Brazilian samba. She?d dance and I?d walk around the Mission and then go have a burrito.

French fries are my favorite food in the world. I love Zuni and am a complete and total sucker for their burger and fries. I also love steak frites so I love Bouchon.

Bay Area Bites: What are your suggestions for Valentine?s Day? How will you celebrate?
Siegel: I can?t say how I?ll celebrate because then my wife will know (laughs). I love the fact that Valentine?s revolves around chocolate but it bothers me too. I?ve never quite understood why it happens to be chocolate. The most fun way to celebrate may be our edible chocolate boxes, which is a really unique way of presenting chocolates. Velour hearts were never something I could wrap my head around. We did them a couple of times and then I had 1/2 a pallet left. We gave away to another chocolatier because I promised myself I?d never use them again. I love flowers for Valentine?s, too.

Related Information:
Charles Chocolates
Address: Map
535 Florida St.
San Francisco, CA 94110

Twitter: @CharlesChoco
Facebook: Charles Chocolates

Related posts

Tags: Charles Chocolates, chuck siegel, featured, Kickstarter, Mission Creek, mission district, Mission District food scene, Valentine's Day

Category: baking and bakeries, bay area, chefs, dessert and chocolate, food and drink, holidays and traditions, local food businesses, photo gallery, restaurants, bars, cafes, san francisco

Source: http://blogs.kqed.org/bayareabites/2013/01/29/chuck-siegel-the-return-of-charles-chocolates-to-san-francisco/

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Smokers' lungs safe for transplant, study finds

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About 13 percent of double-lung transplants in the U.S. came from donors who were heavy smokers, a new study finds.

By JoNel Aleccia, Staff Writer, NBC News

Using lung transplants from heavy smokers may sound like a cruel joke, but a new study finds that organs taken from people who puffed a pack a day for more than 20 years are likely safe.

What?s more, the analysis of lung transplant data from the U.S. between 2005 and 2011 confirms what transplant experts say they already know: For some patients on a crowded organ waiting list, lungs from smokers are better than none.

?I think people are grateful just to have a shot at getting lungs,? said Dr. Sharven Taghavi, a cardiovascular surgical resident at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, who led the new study.

Surprisingly, however, organ recipients who do get smokers? lungs often learn about it only afterward -- if at all, experts say.

?If someone had a transplant and after the transplant they say, ?What can you tell me about the donor?' there are a limited number of characteristics we can tell them,? said Dr. Ramsey Hachem, a pulmonologist and transplant surgeon at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. ?We don?t do that routinely before.?

About 13 percent of double-lung transplants in the U.S. came from donors with a heavy smoking history, according to Taghavi?s new study, presented Tuesday at the annual meeting of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. He and his colleagues analyzed records of some 5,900 adult procedures in the database maintained by the United Network for Organ Sharing, or UNOS, which manages transplants in the U.S.

Typically, that meant smoking at least a pack of cigarettes a day for more than 20 years, or two packs a day for 10 years.

In the end, after all other variables were accounted for, people who got lungs from heavy smokers lived as long and as well as those who got lungs from the tobacco-free, Taghavi found. There was no significant difference in cancers, though the study didn?t specifically look at lung cancer.

?General guidelines say that donors that have smoked should be excluded, but there are certain circumstances in which they can be used,? Taghavi said. ?That can be when the donors are otherwise very healthy and there?s no evidence of the really bad effects of smoking, like emphysema.?

Only about 20 percent of smokers actually develop the worst effects of smoking, noted Hachem.

?It is certainly counterintuitive to say we?re going to use lungs from a donor with a smoking history, but the majority of people who smoke do not have lung disease,? said Hachem, who was not involved in the study.

Some people may have smoked for a long time years ago, then stopped, vastly improving the health of the organs. Others could have been active smokers when they died. The data in the study didn?t include that history, Taghavi said.

Freeing up smokers? lungs could help reduce a shortage that has left more than 1,650 people on the transplant waiting list -- the ?last resort? for those with end-stage lung disease, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. There were nearly 5,200 liver transplants in the U.S. in 2012, but typically only half the people on the list receive lung transplants in a given year, the NHLBI said.?

Taghavi emphasized that transplant recipients who get lungs from heavy smokers ought to be told in advance.

?This is a very important point,? he said. ?None of this should be done without a thorough discussion with the recipient. They have to be aware that there are risks with accepting these lungs, but there are benefits.?

But Hachem said current practice usually doesn?t include that discussion.

Recipients decide in advance whether to take organs from high-risk donors, including those with a history of infections such as viral hepatitis or HIV. But behavior habits, such as smoking, are almost never disclosed, Hachem said.

?I don?t know what other centers do, but at our center, we don?t get into those details,? he said.

Instead, the organs are inspected carefully and only those found free of disease or disability are approved for transplant. ?We?ve sort of screened the organ pretty well,? he said.

Of course, problems can occur. Widespread media reports last year centered on Jennifer Wederell, a 27-year-old British woman with cystic fibrosis who died of lung cancer last year after receiving lungs from a heavy smoker. In 2007, the family of a New Jersey man, Tony Grier, sued the University of Pennsylvania Health System after they said Grier developed lung cancer a month after a 2005 lung transplant. Court records show the case was settled in 2010.

Such cases are very sad -- but also very rare, said Hachem, who noted that all transplants carry inherent risks. And, he said, most transplant recipients are like Randy Cooke, 52, of Chatham, Ill., who received a new set of lungs in 2011.

Cooke, who was diagnosed in 2008 with a degenerative lung disease, said that by the time he was placed on the transplant waiting list, he would have accepted lungs from a heavy smoker -- gladly.

?If I?d have waited another three months, I don?t know if I?d be here talking to you,? he said.

If his lungs had come from a smoker, Cooke trusted that his doctors would have screened out any potential problems.

?You have to take a lot of times what you can get,? he said. ?You don?t have a choice. Time is not on your side.?

?Related:

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Source: http://vitals.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/28/16741714-lungs-from-pack-a-day-smokers-safe-for-transplant-study-finds?lite

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Microsoft retools Office for touch screen, Web use

This image provided bu Microsoft shows the company's newersion of its Office software. The software became available to consumers as an online subscription service for the first time in an attempt to extend one of the company?s key franchises beyond personal computers on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. (AP Photo/Microsoft)

This image provided bu Microsoft shows the company's newersion of its Office software. The software became available to consumers as an online subscription service for the first time in an attempt to extend one of the company?s key franchises beyond personal computers on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. (AP Photo/Microsoft)

This image provided bu Microsoft shows the company's newersion of its Office software. The software became available to consumers as an online subscription service for the first time in an attempt to extend one of the company?s key franchises beyond personal computers on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. (AP Photo/Microsoft)

This image provided bu Microsoft shows the company's newersion of its Office software. The software became available to consumers as an online subscription service for the first time in an attempt to extend one of the company?s key franchises beyond personal computers on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. (AP Photo/Microsoft)

This image provided bu Microsoft shows the company's new version of its Office software. The software became available to consumers as an online subscription service for the first time in an attempt to extend one of the company?s key franchises beyond personal computers on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013. (AP Photo/Microsoft)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ? Microsoft is selling a retooled version of its Office software to consumers as an online subscription service for the first time in an attempt to extend one of the company's key franchises beyond personal computers.

Tuesday's release comes six months after Microsoft previewed the new-look Office, which includes popular word processing, spreadsheets and email programs.

"This is a fundamental shift in our business that began a several years ago," Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer wrote in a blog post.

The revamped Office boasts touch controls, just like the redesigned version of the Windows operating system that Microsoft Corp. released three months ago. The company, which is based in Redmond, Wash., is trying to ensure that its products retain their appeal at a time when people increasingly rely on smartphones and tablet computers instead of PCs.

To tap into that trend, Microsoft is promoting Office 2013 as a program tailor made for using over the Internet. All information is automatically stored in Microsoft's data centers, allowing for access to the same material on multiple devices. The content also can be stored on the hard drives of devices.

Yet Microsoft still isn't trying to get Office on the largest number of devices possible. Office 2013 doesn't include an option that works on Apple Inc.'s iPhone and iPad or smartphones and tablets running the Android software made by Google Inc. That leaves out the majority of smartphones and tablets sold in the past two years.

Microsoft is offering Office 2013 in a $100 annual subscription package, called 365 Home Premium, which includes online access on up to five Windows devices or Apple's line of Mac computers.

The company believes Office 2013 is currently best suited for Windows devices, said Chris Schneider, Microsoft's senior public relations manager for Office. Microsoft is limiting Office's reach as it tries to grab a bigger piece of the mobile market with its own operating system for smartphones and tablets.

Office will still be sold under a one-time licensing fee that allows the software to be installed on a single machine. Prices for that option start at $140 and range up to $400. People who don't need the entire Office bundle can buy individual programs such as Word, Excel and Outlook for $109 apiece. Microsoft outlines its pricing options in its online store, http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/buy/ .

Office 2013 is the first overhaul of the software suite in three years.

The bundle of programs has become a staple on desktop and laptop computers, providing a rich vein of revenue for Microsoft.

The company has reaped most of its Office sales from licenses allowing buyers to install the suite of programs on individual machines, a very lucrative strategy. The Microsoft division anchored by Office generates about $24 billion in annual sales, accounting for nearly one-third of Microsoft's total revenue.

Revenue in the Office division fell from the previous year during the three months ending in December, partly because many prospective buyers have been awaiting the latest version.

Microsoft's stock dipped a penny to $27.90 in Tuesday's afternoon trading. The shares are stuck around the same price as when the company released Windows 8 to great fanfare three months ago. Meanwhile, the benchmark Standard & Poor's 500 has climbed by about 7 percent.

Besides getting access to the suite's programs, 365 Home Premium subscribers receive 20 additional gigabytes of storage on Microsoft's SkyDrive to supplement the 7 gigabytes that the company gives away to accountholders for free. Subscribers also will get 60 minutes of free international calls on Microsoft's Skype service for Internet phone calls and video chats.

College students and teachers will be able to buy Office 2013's online product for $80 for four years, which works out to about $1.67 per month. This option requires proof of student status. A variety of Office subscriptions are also being offered, with monthly fees ranging from $6 to $20 per user. More information can be found at: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/office365/compare-plans.aspx .

The online push reflects Microsoft's recognition that people want access to documents and email on whatever Internet-connected device they might have, wherever they may be, whether it's at work, home or a store while running errands.

"The technology needs to be able to move with you," Schneider said.

It's the first time that Microsoft has tried to persuade consumers that a recurring online subscription is the best way to buy and use Office. Microsoft had previously sold online Office subscriptions primarily to small businesses.

"Over time, the majority of the billion plus people using Office will be using the Office 365 service," Ballmer predicted in his blog post.

The attempt to sell online Office subscription to consumers comes nearly seven years after Google unveiled its own Internet bundle of word processing, spreadsheet and email programs. Google gives away a basic version of those applications, and charges subscriptions for more sophisticated packages aimed primarily at small businesses.

Microsoft's decision to reshape Office into an online service makes sense, although it may take customers a while to embrace the concept, said Edward Jones analyst Josh Olson. He suspects major companies that rely on Office probably will be among the last users to make the switch.

"This is a good innovation, but the uptake may be slow to begin because it is so different," Olson said.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/495d344a0d10421e9baa8ee77029cfbd/Article_2013-01-29-Microsoft-Office/id-cc15bc39def64417b963852b6f1f40fe

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Pfizer Q4 net jumps on sale of nutrition business

Pfizer Inc.'s fourth-quarter profit more than quadrupled, despite competition from generic drugs hurting sales of Lipitor and other medicines, because of a $4.8 billion gain from selling its nutrition business. The drugmaker's profit and sales both beat Wall Street expectations.

The world's biggest drugmaker said Tuesday that its net income was $6.32 billion, or 85 cents per share, up from $1.44 billion, or 19 cents per share, a year earlier.

Excluding the windfall from selling its nutrition business to Nestle SA for $11.5 billion on Nov. 30, and a total of $888 million for restructuring, legal and other one-time items, the Viagra maker would have had a profit of $3.51 billion, or 47 cents per share. That's 3 cents more than analysts surveyed by FactSet were expecting.

In early trading, the New York-based company's shares rose 26 cents, or 1 percent, to $27.10.

Revenue fell 7 percent to $15.1 billion, mainly due to generic competition to cholesterol blockbuster Lipitor. Analysts expected $14.35 billion.

"Overall, a good quarter driven by the revenue beat," BernsteinResearch analyst Dr. Timothy Anderson wrote to investors, calling Pfizer's 2013 financial forecast "a bit underwhelming."

Pfizer said it expects 2013 earnings per share of $2.20 to $2.30, excluding one-time items, and revenue of $56.2 billion to $58.2 billion. Analysts are expecting $2.28 per share and revenue of $57.55 billion.

Lipitor, which had reigned as the world's top-selling drug ever for nearly a decade, got U.S. generic competition in December 2011 and now has generic rivals in many major markets. The pill had been bringing Pfizer nearly $11 billion a year before then, down from its peak of $13 billion a year.

In the fourth quarter, Lipitor sales plunged 91 percent in the U.S. and 71 percent worldwide, to $584 million. A dozen other medicines also had lower sales due to generic competition.

Altogether, generic competition reduced prescription drug revenue by more than $2.1 billion. Unfavorable currency exchange rates lopped off another 2 percent, or $271 million.

However, several key newer drugs had double-digit sales increases, including fibromyalgia and pain treatment Lyrica, at $1.13 billion, painkiller Celebrex at $750 million, and the Prevnar 13 vaccine against meningitis and other pneumococcal infections, at $993 million. Viagra was up 6 percent at $553 million.

Altogether, Pfizer's prescription drug revenue fell 9 percent in the quarter, to $12.89 billion. The division was led by sales of primary-care medicines, which totaled $3.83 billion. Still, that was down 29 percent as Lipitor's sales in the two biggest markets, the U.S. and Japan, where shifted into the established products category. That segment, which markets off-patent drugs still popular in many countries, posted a 3 percent rise in revenue, to $2.37 billion.

Specialty products, such as Enbrel for psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis, and hemophilia treatments Refacto AF and Benefix, had revenue dip 4 percent, to a combined $3.67 billion. Sales in emerging markets such as China and India jumped 17 percent, to $2.65 billion, while sales of cancer drugs, a newer focus for Pfizer, rose 9 percent to $370 million.

The animal health business saw revenue increase 6 percent, to $1.17 billion. Pfizer is set to sell about a 20 percent share in the business, called Zoetis, in an initial public offering on Friday.

The consumer health business saw revenue jump 16 percent, to $936 million, due to strong growth of Advil pain reliever and Centrum vitamins.

He said Pfizer will soon launch two new medicines, rheumatoid arthritis treatment Xeljanz and ? with partner Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. ? potential blockbuster Eliquis, for preventing heart attacks and dangerous clots in patients with the irregular heartbeat atrial fibrillation. CEO Ian Read said Pfizer's mid- to late-stage drug pipeline "continues to strengthen with key potential opportunities," including drugs for advanced breast cancer and three other types of cancer, one for high cholesterol and a meningococcal B vaccine for adolescents and young adults.

For the full year, net income was $14.57 billion, or $1.94 per share. That was down from $10.01 billion, or $1.27 per share, in 2011. Revenue totaled $58.99 billion, down 10 percent from $65.26 billion in 2011, before generic competition slashed sales of Lipitor and schizophrenia drug Geodon.

___

Linda A. Johnson can be followed at http://twitter.com/LindaJ_onPharma

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2013-01-29-Earns-Pfizer/id-af4e3258c33b42a08d41a172fdb44c96

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Apple reportedly readying 128GB "Ultimate" iPad 4 for launch

No sooner was support for 128GB NAND flash storage capacities found in iOS 6 beta 5, than reports pop up saying Apple is readying 128GB "ultimate" versions of the iPad 4 for launch. The news come by way of Mark Gurman of 9to5Mac, who typically has excellent sources on imminent product releases.

We?ve gotten word from sources that Apple is preparing to release (in some fashion) a single, additional iPad model. This would be a new SKU for the current fourth-generation iPad with Retina display line. At this point, we do not have pricing information, so it is definitely difficult to pinpoint exactly what this new iPad model is.

The code names are listed as P101 Ultimate and P103 Ultimate. Gurman stresses that it's not a new iPad, or iPad 5, or anything like that, simply a new, higher capacity version of the current iPad 4, in both Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + Cellular, and in both white and black.

Update: Pricing looks to be $799 for Wi-Fi, $929 for Wi-Fi + cellular.

In early 2008, Apple bumped the original iPhone from 8 to 16GB, so this type of new SKU launch isn't unprecedented. While it lacks the oomph of a completely new model, given that the iPad was refreshed in both March and October of 2012, it does at least give Apple something new on the market, and at 128GB, and presumably at the pricier end of the line-up, at the top of the market.

No word yet on 128GB versions of the iPad mini, or of the iPhone 5 or iPod touch 5.

Anyone compelled enough by big storage to consider a new purchase when/if he hit stores?

• iPad 4 review
• iPad 4 buyers guide

Source: 9to5Mac

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/z8gefaqflWA/story01.htm

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Nikon Coolpix AW110 and S31 deliver ruggedized shooting at vastly different price points

Looking to snap some frames from the mountains to the prairies to the oceans white with foam? Nikon's got you covered, with a pair of ruggedized point-and-shoots. The high-end model here, dubbed the Coolpix AW110, will set you back a whopping 350 bucks, while the S31 will run you about $120. Clearly, you'll be making some compromises if opting for the (significantly) lower-priced model. The AW110 sports waterproofing to depths of 60 feet, compared to 16.5 feet for the less-ambitious S31 -- the former will work just fine at many scuba depths, while the other model should have you covered for casual snorkeling expeditions.

That $350 price tag will also net you built-in WiFi and GPS, a 3-inch OLED display, 1/2.3-inch 16-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor and a 5x (28-140mm), f/3.9-4.8 optical zoom lens. The $120 S31, however, includes the same sensor as its predecessor, the S30, with a 1/2.9-inch 10-megapixel CCD. It also includes a 2.7-inch LCD and it can sustain drops from up to 3.6 feet (compared to 6.6 feet for the AW110). It does include a rechargeable battery, however, while the previous-generation model required AAs. Both cameras will hit stores at the end of February, with the AW110 available in black, blue, camouflage and orange, and the S31 shipping in blue, brown, pink, white and pink. Catch a few more details in the press release after the break.

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THE NEW FAMILY-FRIENDLY NIKON COOLPIX S31 AND THE ACTION-ORIENTED COOLPIX AW110 ARE READY TO TAKE ON LIFE'S ADVENTURES

MELVILLE, N.Y. (January 28, 2013) - Today, Nikon Inc. introduced both the COOLPIX AW110 and COOLPIX S31, two innovative yet durable compact cameras for those who want to preserve every fun and action-packed moment as well as share them with friends and family. Waterproof, shockproof and freezeproof1, the rugged AW110 is built to handle the elements, whether hiking up a mountain, hitting the slopes or riding the surf. Nikon's newest tough camera also offers built-in Wi-Fi(R) connectivity2 for sharing, Full HD 1080p video capabilities and a slew of advanced features that adventurers covet, including GPS and underwater shooting modes. The COOLPIX S31 provides the reliability that allows every member of the family to preserve their own special memories. Complete with fun shooting modes and a simple yet intuitive user interface, the resilient S31 is a family camera that can be confidently carried to the pool or around the jungle gym.

"The COOLPIX AW110 and COOLPIX S31 are exciting new additions to the COOLPIX camera lineup; both are uniquely designed to complement the needs of different consumers. The COOLPIX AW110 is designed to cater to outdoor enthusiasts who need a camera that can keep up with their active lifestyle, while the COOLPIX S31's easy-to-use interface is great for family members young and old who seek to capture lasting memories," said Bo Kajiwara, Vice President of Marketing, Planning and Customer Experience, Nikon Inc. "Whether conquering your desire for exploration while snorkeling or simply capturing a family day at the park, Nikon's newest cameras offer the performance, features and image quality users have come to expect from the COOLPIX line."

The Nikon COOLPIX AW110: Durable Performance for the Outdoor Adventurer
The COOLPIX AW110 is the ultimate point-and-shoot camera for the outdoor enthusiast that demands exceptional image quality and sharp, clear HD video from a compact body. Ready for the toughest conditions, this rugged camera sports a fun and innovative feature set designed to capture, preserve and share every moment of a user's active lifestyle. Waterproof (up to 59 feet), shockproof (up to 6.7 feet) and freezeproof (down to 14° F), the AW110 is a versatile and feature-rich companion, above and below sea level. GPS technology is also enabled, allowing a traveler to track his or her adventure from beginning to end, down to the exact longitude and latitude where an image or video is captured. The COOLPIX AW110 also features built-in Wi-Fi(R) connectivity2, allowing the image data transfer of any outdoor adventure to compatible smart devices for upload to social networking services or sharing with friends and family through the Wireless Mobile Adapter Utility2 application. Wireless remote camera control is also possible using a compatible smartphone or tablet when using the application.

Beneath its rugged exterior, the AW110 features a 16-megapixel backside illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor that helps create sharp, beautiful images and HD video even in challenging lighting conditions. The camera also has a NIKKOR 5x optical zoom lens with lens-shift Vibration Reduction (VR) that allows the photographer to get close up to a subject from a distance, as well as the ability to record Full HD (1080p) movies with stereo sound. The COOLPIX AW110 features a 3-inch, OLED display for easy menu access and precise image preview, alongside an intuitive graphic user interface (GUI) that makes it easy to navigate several fun and intelligent shooting modes, including Easy Auto Mode and the Smart Portrait System, while Special Effects can be easily applied to still images and HD video.

The Nikon COOLPIX S31: Every Family Member Can Capture Beautiful Images, Worry Free
Ready for every precious family moment, the 10.1-megapixel COOLPIX S31 allows every family member young and old to capture beautiful photos with ease, whether on vacation or at the pool. Housed in a compact, durable body that is waterproof (up to 16.5 feet), shockproof (up to 3.6 feet) and dustproof1, this point-and-shoot takes the worry out of photography regardless of the setting or situation. Clear and precise images or HD video are made possible with the help of a 3x optical zoom (29-87mm equivalent) NIKKOR lens, and a dedicated video record button creates an effortless transition from stills to video.

A 2.7-inch LCD display supports an enhanced easy and intuitive graphic user interface (GUI) that allows for simple navigation and several shooting and playback modes designed to make photography simple and fun when using the S31. The camera allows the user to instantly show off his or her favorite family moments using unique playback options including in-camera slide shows and photo albums. Image editing and playback filter effects can also be applied to both stills and video, offering the opportunity to add a personal touch to every family memory. The COOLPIX S31 features functions that make shooting simpler than ever before.

Pricing and Availability:
The COOLPIX AW110 will be available in Orange, Black, Camouflage and Blue in February 2013 for a suggested retail price of $349.95*. The COOLPIX S31 will be available in White, Blue, Pink, Brown and Yellow, also in February 2013, for a suggested retail price of $119.95*.

Filed under: Cameras, Nikon

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/28/nikon-coolpix-aw110-s31/

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In breast cancer metastasis, researchers identify possible drug target

Jan. 27, 2013 ? The spread of breast cancer to distant organs within the body, an event that often leads to death, appears in many cases to involve the loss of a key protein, according to UC San Francisco researchers, whose new discoveries point to possible targets for therapy.

In the January 27, 2013 online edition of Nature Cell Biology, UCSF scientists describe for the first time how the protein, known as GATA3 -- which is abnormal or absent in many cases of human breast cancer -- normally acts downstream in biochemical pathways to prevent the distant spread of cancer, an event called metastasis.

The discovery points to a biochemical control point that simultaneously holds in check several key events required for tumor cells to successfully spread.

"When GATA3 is present, it turns off many genes that are active in metastasis," said Zena Werb, PhD, a UCSF professor of anatomy who led the research. "We now have identified the molecular mechanisms involved."

The key finding of the new study is that GATA3 acts downstream biochemically to activate a molecule -- obscure until now -- called microRNA29b. MicroRNA29b in turn stops protein production from other genes that play vital roles in metastasis.

The absence or loss of GATA3 can free cancerous cells to break free from their defined roles and tethers within a tumor, to move away from the tumor mass, to induce cancer-promoting inflammation, and to stimulate the development of new blood vessels that can help spreading cancerous cells regrow as tumors in new locations.

"People knew that some of these genes were turned on in some cancers, but they did not know they were turned on because GATA3 and microRNA29b were turned off," Werb said. "If you have 20 genes that are becoming less active all at once due to microRNA29b, it could have a profound effect."

Working with mice, the researchers found that restoring microRNA29b to one of the most deadly types of breast cancer stopped metastasis. But the researchers also found that if they knocked out the microRNA29b, tumors spread even in the presence of GATA3, suggesting that microRNA29b can be the driver of metastasis.

In the mouse models of breast cancer studied by Werb's team, GATA3 normally restrains cancerous cells from breaking away from the main tumor and migrating to other organs.

It might be possible, Werb said, to develop drugs that inhibit breast cancer metastasis by re-activating these controls in cancerous cells that have lost the normal protein.

Many researchers who study early stages of cancer focus on abnormal genes and proteins that cause cells to expand their numbers rapidly, a hallmark of cancer.

However, the ability to spread to distant places and to eventually cause lethal complications requires not only cell division and tumor growth, but also changes in how the cancerous cell negotiates with its surroundings. This relationship must be altered to permit cancer to spread, according to earlier research findings by Werb and others.

"Many of the key processes in cancer that GATA3 suppresses take place outside the cell, in the surrounding environment," she said.

GATA3 is a master control for luminal cells, which line the milk-carrying ducts of the breast. In essence, GATA3 dictates the defining characteristics of a normal breast cell, Werb said.

Luminal breast cancers are the most common form of the disease, and the hormones estrogen and progesterone drive their growth. Loss of the normal GATA3 protein as luminal breast cancers evolve is associated with a greater risk of death, Werb said, and occurs in roughly 10 percent of luminal breast cancer cases.

But, along with many other proteins, GATA3 also is absent in "triple negative," breast cancers, which are more often fatal. Triple negative breast cancers, which disproportionately affect black women and younger women, do not depend on the hormones, nor do they require a third growth factor, called HER2.

Triple negative breast cancers, which account for roughly one-in-five breast cancers, have been more difficult to target successfully with newer treatments.

"The targeting we would like to do is to give back microRNA29b specifically to breast tumor cells to prevent metastasis," Werb said.

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No-cost mortgages? Factor taxes into the equation ? Business ...

You?ve probably seen the ads for ?no-cost mortgages? on TV or heard them on the radio. The pitch often appeals to potential homebuyers who want to avoid closing costs.

Strategy: Crunch all the numbers before you commit. Most important, don?t forget to take taxes into account.

Let?s look at an example recently illustrated in The Wall Street Journal.

Facts: A mortgage lender offers you a higher interest rate in exchange for a credit to cover your closing costs. Assuming a loan amount of $300,000 and closing costs of $2,600, you?re given two choices:

1. A 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at 3.5% with no points and $2,600 in closing costs.
2. A 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at 4% with no points and no closing costs.

In comparing the two options, here?s how the math breaks down:

The 30-year fixed mortgage at 3.5% contains total interest paid over the life of the loan in the amount of $184,968, so the total cost of the mortgage (computed by adding the closing costs to the interest paid over the full term) is $187,568. With the 30-year fixed rate no-cost option at 4%, the total interest over the full term of the loan comes to $215,609. The total cost difference is $28,041, or about $85 per month.

Therefore, if the closing costs are $2,600, you would actually break even in about 30 months by paying the closing costs and forgoing the no-cost option.

But this computation ignores the tax deduction factor. Assuming the mortgage interest is fully deductible, a taxpayer would recoup the extra interest cost even sooner.

A good rule of thumb is that a no-cost loan makes sense only if you intend to stay in your home for 2? years or less. It?s a gray area between 2? and five years. After five years, it rarely makes sense.

Tip: Generally, points paid on a home acquisition mortgage are currently deductible, but points paid to refinance a mortgage generally must be amortized over the life of the loan.

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Content management systems - UK Business Forums

I'm really getting into this forum. UK Business Forums Free Member ? Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Manchester Posts: 260 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts

Content management systems What is the best content management system out there? I have used wordpress since the launch of my site 18 months ago, and although I really like the ease of wordpress I have never been 100% happy with the functionality of my website as a whole. I have tried for ages to bridge the site with all the different forum software's & shopping carts & never found anything I am truly happy with. All 3 components work brilliantly individually but what I really want is 1 website that offers everything under 1 login. Our website is now becoming really popular, so want to invest in a long term website option. My requirements are... 1, blogging system 2, chat forum 3, shopping cart 4, Facebook connect (1 of my main traffic sources) 5, WHMCS / membership module - we run a magazine so something that could handle magazine subscriptions as well as website membership. Anyone have any experience or advice to offer on upgrading from wordpress ?? __________________ UK's biggest Manchester United magazine

I am part of the furniture here. ...UK Business Forums Full Member... ? Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Woking Posts: 874 Thanked 213 Times in 184 Posts

I think that you are really talking about a custom build. You will find similar 'components' in Joomla & Drupal, but you probably will have the same concerns as you do today in Wordpress. However the custom build costs could be frighteningly large for everything you need compared to the free opensource / low cost components you get with Wordpress etc. Another approach is to identify the specific concerns you have and get a developer to fix them.

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I'm really getting into this forum. UK Business Forums Free Member ? Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Manchester Posts: 260 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts

Thanks roibot, Out of interest, what ball park figure do you estimate for a custom build? Instead of having the whole site custom built would it be better to take existing software which matches most my requirements then custom build the rest? Has anyone used expression engine? http://ellislab.com/expressionengine would this have all the functionality I require? __________________ UK's biggest Manchester United magazine

I say quite a bit around here. ...UK Business Forums Full Member... ? Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Belfast Posts: 586 Thanked 70 Times in 70 Posts

Wordpress/Buddypress/Zencart would sort this out. Quite a lot of recoding needed but can be done and should be a lot cheaper than a custom build.

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Super Moderator UKBF Voluntary Moderator ? Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Gloucestershire Posts: 4,097 Thanked 1,491 Times in 1,250 Posts

I have used EE and it's blooming brilliant but like Joomla and Drupal, it has a large learning curve as it's ultimately a custom built system. It can also get very expensive as modules are chargeable and can be upto $500 for the forum module. A lot of large websites use EE including Vidahost, but they don't use the EE forum module, instead running on Xenforo (which is built by the guys who built Vbulletin) You're never going to find a 100% fit without a custom build, as every websites needs are different and what works for one website, won't work for another. Custom build, estimate would be ?15k + but will depend on so many variables including features, coding language used etc.

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I'm just testing the water here. UK Business Forums Free Member ? Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 5 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post

Quote: Out of interest, what ball park figure do you estimate for a custom build? Instead of having the whole site custom built would it be better to take existing software which matches most my requirements then custom build the rest? For your requirements a custom build would be really quite expensive, it's a lot of work. Hiring someone to link pieces together would be a bit cheaper but it's not going to be without it's issues. With each part being separate and developed elsewhere the updates might be pulling in different directions and you might have to do a lot to keep it maintained. Consider that it's not a completely terrible crime to have separate unlinked systems though. It's not at-all outside the realm of a users typical experience to have to sign up to a website and then separately to it's forum. __________________ That's Brill - Fantastic products curated. For retail therapy or gift ideas. thatsbrill.co.uk

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I'm really getting into this forum. UK Business Forums Free Member ? Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Manchester Posts: 260 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts

Cheers Faevilangel, Why don't vidahost use the EE forum? is it not that good? does the Xenforo forum integrate fully? I'm aware that I still won't get 100% of my requirements but if I could get 90% + I would be really happy. as my site continues to grow I think wordpress is going to be less suitable, so would like to design for the future now. I have my own graphic designer so would only really need to pay for the modules and then maybe someone experienced to do little bits of coding I reckon I could pick up a lot myself. I have a decent sized budget but not enough for a custom build. As a rough guess what would it cost to set up a site with my requirements with EE? and would this meet most of my requirements? Also anyone recommend any other CMS's not yet mentioned? __________________ UK's biggest Manchester United magazine

Super Moderator UKBF Voluntary Moderator ? Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Gloucestershire Posts: 4,097 Thanked 1,491 Times in 1,250 Posts

The EE forum module is kind of limited, it's not developed very much while Xenforo is and is just a better forum out of the box. It's the same for all forum packages, using modules for existing systems, normally means a more limited system while an external script gives you a better system. I haven't used EE in at least 2 years so wouldn't be able to quote as not looked at it for ages, but can put you in touch with someone I know who develops with EE. Cost wise, including buying the system, ?1500-?4k depending again on how many features you want (EE has a lot out of the box).

The Following User Says Thank You to Faevilangel For This Useful Post:

I'm really getting into this forum. UK Business Forums Free Member ? Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Manchester Posts: 260 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts

Quote: For your requirements a custom build would be really quite expensive, it's a lot of work. Hiring someone to link pieces together would be a bit cheaper but it's not going to be without it's issues. With each part being separate and developed elsewhere the updates might be pulling in different directions and you might have to do a lot to keep it maintained. Consider that it's not a completely terrible crime to have separate unlinked systems though. It's not at-all outside the realm of a users typical experience to have to sign up to a website and then separately to it's forum. Cheers that's brill, yeah I have seen a lot of decent websites that run a different forum. As I would eventually like to make my website a membership service, I would prefer to have it all the same if poss? that way I can restrict parts of the site & forum for paid members. __________________ UK's biggest Manchester United magazine

I'm really getting into this forum. UK Business Forums Free Member ? Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Manchester Posts: 260 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts

Quote: The EE forum module is kind of limited, it's not developed very much while Xenforo is and is just a better forum out of the box. It's the same for all forum packages, using modules for existing systems, normally means a more limited system while an external script gives you a better system. I haven't used EE in at least 2 years so wouldn't be able to quote as not looked at it for ages, but can put you in touch with someone I know who develops with EE. Cost wise, including buying the system, ?1500-?4k depending again on how many features you want (EE has a lot out of the box). This sounds more in the ballpark I was looking at, yeah would be great if you could put me in touch. __________________ UK's biggest Manchester United magazine

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