Social media ? it?s all the buzz, some people love it, some people hate it, some are addicted, some are scared to death of it.
Some say that is has made people anti-social (especially when someone is tweeting during a dinner outing). It has also allowed for an extra level of communication and engagement with people that didn?t exist before.
Let?s first look at social media from a business perspective, and as a communication tool.
The bottom line is that like it or not, social media has fundamentally changed how people communicate and is continuing to do so.
As a business owner how do you respond?
When someone phones your company, what do you do?
When someone emails your company, what do you do?
When someone tweets your company, what do you do?
When someone makes a comment (good, bad or ugly) about your company online, what do you do? Are you aware of it? How do you respond?
Some things to consider when incorporating social media into your business:
What isyour business goal; what do you want to achieve?
-Brand recognition -Improved customer service -Higher client retention rates -More incoming sales leads -Increased average orders
All of these business directives and more can be achieved and enhanced through proper execution of social media platforms.
Do you have a monitoring system in place?
Are you monitoring for mentions of your brand or executives online? What is the ?sentiment? about your brand? Positive, neutral, negative? How do you then respond?
Do you have a social media policy?
Should your staff be allowed to Facebook, Tweet, and Pin and have LinkedIn discussions throughout the day? How much time should be spent on that? Who can, what can they say? What happens if they make a mistake? How do you balance the transparency expected in social media, trusting others to represent your brand online, knowing that whatever is posted will be out there forever (deleted or not).
What else can social media be used for?
Harnessing the online crowd of the internet for outsourcing = crowdsourcing to reduce costs, improve creativity, etc.
Capitalize on the vast amount of information that is online so that you are always in the know about your industry.
Selecting the Right Platforms
To use social media in your business effectively takes an understanding and preparation of all the above points and more. After that you can figure out which social media channels to use and how. Typically there is one, maybe 2 obvious platforms that are going to provide your company the best benefit, and that?s where you should focus your resources. You can touch on the others, but it?s better to do one really well than do all of them not so well.
It is a lot of information to take in, so at WSI Milton we decided to train our clients via a weekly training session that lasts approximately 6 months. It delves into each topic above in detail, plus many more, and explores each social platform so that there is a solid understanding of how to use them from a business perspective. We?ve also added a webinar / conference phone system so that people who can?t make it in person can attend virtually.
Social Networking is No Different Than Traditional Networking
The most important component of social media is to simply engage people. Well, it?s sometimes not that ?simple?, and takes months to figure out and gain traction. Social networking is the same as real world networking, it doesn?t provide overnight success. It?s like what they preach at BNI, one of the top networking groups in the world: Visibility, Credibility, Profitability. You first need to be constantly visible, eventually you will build trust and credibility and at some point you will get leads, sales and profitability from it if you?ve done it right.
The last key point is that Google (ok, and the rest of the search engines) are paying more attention to social signals. Google?s goal has always been to rank the most relevant websites the highest. It measure relevancy by websites that have great content, and if that content is so great, people are talking about it and sharing it. Sharing is the name of the game in the social world.
In summary, social media is becoming as necessary as having an email address. It takes time and effort to use it properly, but when you do it will help you achieve your business goals, enhance communication with your stakeholders and give you bonus points with your search engine rankings.
If you want to learn more about internet marketing, download your free Guide to Capturing Better Sales Leads Online.
Often, the gift that we find that initially seems great, tends to lose a bit of its luster once we spy the price tag and determine that it is definitely not within our price range. Isn?t that the most disappointing aspect of gift giving ? knowing the gift you actually give was actually your second or third choice? Yes, but it is not the end of the world. Continue reading for unique gift giving ideas on a budget.Sometimes it is just so hard to find those perfect gifts for the ones that we love. Often, the gift that we find that initially seems great, tends to lose a bit of its luster once we spy the price tag and determine that it is definitely not within our price range. Isn?t that the most disappointing aspect of gift giving ? knowing the gift you actually give was actually your second or third choice? Yes, but it is not the end of the world.
There are many gift giving ideas that can be completed on a dime once you determine that there are items to give a loved one that you can make yourself! The wealth of craft supplies that are available to us now is enormous, and should be utilized to create innovative gifts for our friends and family members that they can appreciate and enjoy for many years to come.
Many discount craft supply stores are a great inspiration for the various gifts that we can create with our own hands and design with love for our closest family and friends. Most of these stores are well-stocked with craft supplies to meet many different demands and budgets. Furthermore, the staff members at these places tend to be very knowledgeable in the craft area and will provide much needed help and ideas when we may get stuck.
Then the problem lies in what kinds of gifts you would like to give. By using your own craft supplies and getting the help of the discount craft supply stores, a gift giving decision will be easy! You can make something unique and original for everyone, depending upon one?s individual likes and dislikes, and you can accomplish all of this without breaking the bank.
Of course there are countless craft ideas and projects that can be completed at home. One of the most popular ones that is the rage all over the country is the craft of making homemade jewelry. Almost every female friend or family member will love a necklace, bracelet, or pair of earrings, jewelry that is designed by you with attention and care. When you are making the jewelry pieces yourself, it is a great idea to use the many discount craft supplies that you will have available. One of the best things about making jewelry yourself is that it can be created to fit within any budget. Also, it is a special touch to receive a gift that really reflects the taste of the individual, and she can wear her piece proudly and brag that it was made especially for her by a local artisan!
Another great gift idea that requires very few craft supplies is to make a basket of goodies for someone. This dynamic at home business has been a proven success for numerous entrepreneurs, and it is sure to please the friend or family member who receives this gift from you. You can make the most of the many discount craft supplies to decorate and design your basket, and then fill it with all sorts of goodies that will treat your recipient and make her feel loved. Fill the one-of-a-kind basket with homemade baked goods such as cookies and breads, even jams and jellies. Some are even getting innovative and making their own soaps and candles for these baskets!? Not only are you creating the basket but you are cooking and creating, giving your very best recipes and finished products to those whom you love the most. Anyone will be pleased to receive a gift such as this!
Other gift ideas which you can make inexpensively and include the use of different craft supplies are original paintings, floral arrangements, and even monogrammed objects such as purses or clothing items. All of these require the use of numerous discount craft supplies but none that will leave you high and dry when it comes to the amount of money that you spend. Everyone loves original artwork from those who are truly gifted in this area, and the monogramming trend is sure to be a hit with your family and friends if you can work your sewing machine and help it create this magic.? No matter which craft area you choose to develop, know that your friends and family will appreciate your work and effort and are sure to display your work deliberately and with pride.
We all love to be the most creative gift giver, so this year, why not take something that you already do well and turn this into an original gift that will make another person happy? Take advantage of the many discount craft supplies that are available to you and make the most of your talents. Take the time to design a gift idea that truly shows a loved one that you care, and she is sure to wear and display it proudly for many years to come!
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NEW YORK (AP) ? You remember that Beatles classic "I Wanna Hold Your Hand"? Turns out Yoko Ono had other things in mind.
Ono's new menswear collection inspired by John Lennon includes pants with large handprints on the crotch, tank tops with nipple cutouts and even a flashing LED bra.
The collection of menswear for Opening Ceremony is based on a series of drawings she sketched as a gift for Lennon for their wedding day in 1969. Ono said she the illustrations were designs for clothing and accessories to celebrate Lennon's "hot bod."
Also in the collection are a "butt hoodie" with an outline suggesting its name, pants with cutouts at the behind, a jock strap with an LED light, open-toed boots and a transparent chest plaque with bells and a leather neck strap.
FORT MEADE, Md. (AP) ? Supporters of an Army private charged in the biggest security breach in U.S. history packed a military courtroom on Tuesday as his attorneys made the case he'd already been punished enough when he was locked up alone in a small cell for nine months and forced to sleep naked for several nights.
As the pretrial hearing for Pfc. Bradley Manning began at Fort Meade near Baltimore, about two dozen Manning backers who'd held up signs of support outside the post went inside to watch the proceedings, many wearing black t-shirts with the word "Truth" in white lettering. The Army private is charged with spilling U.S. secrets to the website WikiLeaks.
The U.S. government claims the disclosures endangered lives and security. Manning supporters say the leaks exposed war crimes and triggered pro-democracy uprisings in the Middle East.
Military commanders involved in the confinement of Manning were to be questioned first at the proceedings, which are expected to last several days. Manning may be asked to testify.
Manning's lawyers contend he was illegally punished by being locked up alone in a small cell for nearly nine months at the Marine Corps brig in Quantico, Va., where he had to sleep naked for several nights.
Judges can dismiss all charges if pretrial punishment is particularly egregious, but that rarely happens. The usual remedy is credit at sentencing for time served, said Lisa M. Windsor, a retired Army colonel and former Army judge advocate now in private practice in Washington.
In a 1956 case, U.S. v. Bayhand, a military appeals court ordered all charges dismissed against a soldier who had been forced during his pretrial confinement to do hard labor alongside a sentenced prisoner. The court ruled that the soldier had been given an illegal order.
Since then, there have been few, if any, cases in which pretrial punishment has led to dismissal of all charges. Lt. Col. Eric Carpenter, chairman of the criminal law department at the judge advocates school in Charlottesville, Va., said he couldn't find one but he couldn't say for sure that the remedy hasn't been granted.
Manning has also offered to take responsibility for the leak by pleading guilty to reduced charges. The military judge hasn't yet ruled on the offer and prosecutors have not said whether they would still pursue the charges against him.
He was kept at the Marine Corps brig from July 2010 to April 2011. The military contends the treatment at Quantico was proper, given Manning's classification as a maximum-security detainee who posed a risk of injury to himself or others. He was later moved to Fort Leavenworth, Kan., where he was re-evaluated and given a medium-security classification.
A United Nations investigator called the conditions of Manning's time at Quantico cruel, inhuman and degrading, but stopped short of calling it torture.
The 24-year-old native of Crescent, Okla., faces possible life imprisonment if convicted of aiding the enemy, the most serious of the 22 charges.
He is accused of sending hundreds of thousands of classified Iraq and Afghanistan war logs and more than 250,000 diplomatic cables to the secret-spilling website WikiLeaks while he was working as an intelligence analyst in Baghdad in 2009 and 2010.
The materials Manning is suspected of leaking include sensitive reports on foreign governments and leaders, Iraq and Afghanistan war logs and a 2007 video clip of a U.S. helicopter crew gunning down 11 men later found to have included a Reuters news photographer and his driver. It was the video that garnered the most worldwide attention from the leak. As for the video clip, the Pentagon concluded the troops acted appropriately, having mistaken the camera equipment for weapons.
Thai inmates perform "Gangnam Style" dance on the stage during the dancing competition at a prison in Bangkok, Thailand Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012. The event was held to encourage inmates to do more exercise and coincide with the concert of South Korean rapper PSY's "Gangnam Style" to be held in Bangkok on Wednesday, Nov. 28. (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong)
Thai inmates perform "Gangnam Style" dance on the stage during the dancing competition at a prison in Bangkok, Thailand Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012. The event was held to encourage inmates to do more exercise and coincide with the concert of South Korean rapper PSY's "Gangnam Style" to be held in Bangkok on Wednesday, Nov. 28. (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong)
Thai inmates perform PSY's "Gangnam Style" dance during a dancing competition at a prison in Bangkok, Thailand Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012. The event was held to encourage inmates to exercise more and coincides with the South Korean rapper's concert which is to be held in Bangkok on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. (AP Photo/Apichart Weerawong)
BANGKOK (AP) ? A day before South Korean rap sensation PSY brings his "Gangnam Style" to Thailand, scores of inmates have danced to the hit behind barbed wire and bars in a Bangkok prison.
Seventy out of 4,500 prisoners at Bangkok Remand Prison put on a show Tuesday for the media and corrections department executives after competing in a "Gangnam Style" dance contest last week.
Officials said the program was to relieve inmates' stress and help them keep fit.
PSY's "Gangnam Style" this month became the most watched video ever on YouTube. It has spawned hundreds of parodies and tribute videos, including a popular one earlier this year by members of the Thai navy.
PSY will perform in Thailand on Wednesday night ? his first show in Asia outside of South Korea.
Sen. Saxby Chambliss, Sen. Lindsey Graham, and House Speaker John Boehner: Who is willing to accept tax increases and does it even matter?
Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images
President Obama is adamant that he will only agree to a ?fiscal cliff? solution that raises tax rates on those making over $250,000. The Republicans in the majority in the House of Representatives are adamant that they will not vote for those tax increases. I asked a senior House leadership aide the what chances were that Speaker John Boehner would be able to get a majority of Republicans to vote for a tax increase of any kind: ?pretty close to zero.?
If you get busy mailing your holiday cards, this issue of tax rates is the only one you need to check in on from time to time to earn your citizenship merit badge. Did Republicans in the House of Representatives agree to increase marginal tax rates? That would be news indeed. Just two years ago, the anti-tax Tea Party reinvigorated the GOP, but now its members would be voting for a tax hike. Or, if you hear the president has backed off his demand that taxes must be increased, that would be worth a Facebook posting, too. This was an election that President Obama says gave him a mandate to raise this specific tax: How could he give up so easily? Of course, if there?s no movement on either side, you can return to your more fruitful personal pursuits free from worry that a resolution is aborning.
Using this three-part filter, we can examine recent news that Republican Sens. Saxby Chambliss and Lindsey Graham have expressed support for raising revenue through the tax code as a part of a deal that would avoid the automatic spending cuts and tax increases that will come on Jan. 1. Our model tells us that the first relevant fact is that they are senators. In this drama, being a senator is not very important. Democrats control the Senate, and the majority will go along with the president. The real action of the day is between Barack Obama and John Boehner. Is there a majority of votes for a tax increase in the House of Representatives? Senators can comment on that; they can send helpful memos; they can hand out mixed nuts during negotiations; but they are in the chorus, not on stage. A few select GOP senators ?Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, conservative leader Jim DeMint?might influence House Republicans, but those men are also likely to be on the same page as House Speaker John Boehner.
The second problem our model points out for us is that Graham and Chambliss are not talking about tax rates. They?re talking about revenue increases, which is quite a different thing. They?d consider closing loopholes and limiting deductions, which would increase the share of taxes paid by the wealthy but would not raise their marginal tax rates. This puts them a bit to the left of anti-tax advocate Grover Norquist but still much farther to the right than Barack Obama, who wants marginal rates to increase at the end of the year for those making over $250,000 as they are scheduled to. Sen. John McCain, who has also indicated he is open to revenue increases through the tax code, has also said he would not support a tax increase. Sen. Bob Corker is in this camp, too, but he wants to cut tax rates.
Still, isn?t it a good sign for the president and an ultimate deal that Norquist is angry with Graham and Chambliss? Maybe, but not necessarily. Chambliss and Graham have clashed with Norquist before without corralling a host of followers in the GOP ranks. So it may not be sign of a larger movement. Plus, if a Republican says he is open to using the tax code to bring in revenue, they may very well hope that doing so helps them duck the accusation that they are ideologically immovable on taxes. Removed of that particular pressure, they can feel more free to ignore the president?s entreaties to embrace the more politically painful increase in tax rates.
Norquist wants any loophole closures offset with a reduction in marginal rates. That?s also John Boehner?s position. If you?re interested in the GOP vs. Grover Norquist Civil War, this is where the action is on the House side: Will a Republican member sign up for revenue increases that are not paired with a reduction in marginal tax rates? That too would put them at war with Norquist, but it still wouldn?t put that Republican in the president?s camp. It?s a sign of how far apart the president and House Republicans are that the mark of GOP apostasy is closing loopholes without cutting taxes. Obama wants Republicans to close loopholes and raise taxes.
How is this all going to get solved? Our model tells us that House Republicans have to either get their way or be bought off. The president either has to cave, allowing the Bush-era tax cuts to stay the same for the wealthy, or offer something to sweeten the deal. House Republicans owe their majority to the Tea Party. Getting them to vote for a tax-rate increase is not going to come cheap. One solution is a promise from the president and Democrats to reduce tax rates at some future date when paired with comprehensive tax reform. (Obama wants taxes to go up on those making over $250,000 now but is open to having those rates come back down as a part of reform.)
Would Republicans buy such a promise about the future? Why on earth would they trust that these lower rates would ever come to pass? One possible offering the president could make would be a major concession on Medicare and Medicaid. White House spokesman Jay Carney said the president was committed to hard choices. If he?s not going to bend on tax rates and has ruled out touching Social Security (as he essentially has), then there?s only one place left where the president can find real money in the budget-cutting game: health care entitlements. That would show that he was serious about shared sacrifice, and if the changes the president agrees to are large enough, they?d give Republicans cover to accept tough tax changes.
It would also be pretty big news. So let?s amend our model. If the president agrees to change the eligibility requirements for Medicare, that would be worth pausing during the office party. Then we?d have to see if House Republicans would buy it.
BUKULMEZ, Turkey (Reuters) - Syrian warplanes bombed a rebel headquarters near the Turkish border on Monday, missing their target but sending hundreds of Syrians fleeing across the frontier.
The attack on the Free Syrian Army base in Atima, 2 km (1 mile) from the border, came a day before Turkish and NATO officials were due to start assessing where to station surface-to-air missiles close to the 900 km (560 mile) border.
Turkey, a major supporter of insurgents fighting to oust President Bashar al-Assad, has repeatedly scrambled jets along the joint border and responded in kind when Syrian shells have landed inside Turkey.
But Ankara, rejecting Syrian complaints that the Patriots were "provocative", stressed they would be used only to defend Turkish territory, not to create a no-fly zone inside Syria that rebels want to neutralize Assad's massive air power.
Describing the bombing of the FSA base, opposition activist Ahmed, who lives within a few blocks of it, said: "Two Syrian fighter jets came and fired five rockets. Three have hit farm areas and another two hit buildings near the base."
Monday's strike was one of the closest to the Turkish border carried out by Syrian jets. Ahmed said it was the first time they targeted the FSA base set up by senior rebel Mustafa al-Sheikh when he crossed over to Syria from Turkey two months ago.
Rebels fired anti-aircraft guns at the jets but they were flying too high to be hit, activists said. "I think the reason for the raid may have something to do with increased weapons movements (from Turkey)," Ahmed said.
Several hundred Syrians fled into Turkey after the raid and were being taken care of by the Turkish army. At least two wounded people were taken across the border.
The Turkish Anatolian news agency said an anti-aircraft shell fired during clashes in another Syrian border town, Harem, hit the roof of a house in the Turkish district of Reyhanli, causing no casualties.
After 20 months of conflict, rebels have been tightening their hold on farmland and urban centers to the east and northeast of Damascus, and have seized a string of military bases in the past 10 days.
PATRIOT DEPLOYMENT
A joint Turkish-NATO team will start work on Tuesday assessing where to put Patriot missiles, how many will be needed and the number of foreign troops to be sent to operate them.
Turkey is reluctant to be drawn into the fighting, but the proximity of Syrian bombing raids to its border is straining its nerves. It is worried about its neighbor's chemical weapons, the refugee crisis on its border, and what it says is Syrian support for Kurdish militants on its own soil.
Activists say more than 40,000 people have been killed in Syria's civil war, which started with peaceful demonstrations for reform but grew into demands for the overthrow of 42 years of dynastic rule by Assad and his late father, Hafez al-Assad.
Attacks by mainly Sunni Muslim rebels against Assad's forces have become increasingly effective and deadly. The president, from Syria's Alawite minority which is linked to Shi'ite Islam, has responded with devastating artillery and air bombardment.
Hundreds of thousands of Syrians have fled their country and more than 2 million more have been displaced. The opposition said last week $60 billion would be needed for reconstruction.
The military installations rebels have captured in the last 10 days include a major facility in the northern province of Aleppo and several bases around the capital Damascus.
EUPHRATES DAM CAPTURED
On Monday activists said rebels took control of the Tishreen dam on the Euphrates river, east of the city of Aleppo. Internet video footage showed gunmen inside what appeared to be the control room, undamaged following the rebel capture.
Other footage showed rebels opening up ammunition boxes, including one marked RPG (rocket-propelled grenades), which they said were seized from Assad's forces holding the dam.
On Sunday rebels said they had captured a helicopter base east of Damascus, their latest gain in a battle that is drawing nearer to Assad's seat of power in the capital.
The Marj al-Sultan base, 15 km (10 miles) from Damascus, is the second military facility on the outskirts of the city reported to fall to Assad's opponents this month. Activists said rebels destroyed two helicopters and taken 15 prisoners.
"We are coming for you Bashar!" a rebel shouted in an internet video of what activists said was Marj al-Sultan. Restrictions on non-state media meant it could not be verified.
The rebels have been tightening their hold on farmland and urban centers to the east and northeast of Damascus while a major battle has been under way for a week in the suburb of Daraya near the main highway south.
"We are seeing the starting signs of a rebel siege of Damascus," opposition campaigner Fawaz Tello said from Berlin. "Marj al-Sultan is very near to the Damascus Airport road and to the airport itself. The rebels appear to be heading toward cutting this as well as the main northern artery to Aleppo."
Assad's core forces, drawn mainly from his Alawite sect, are entrenched in the capital.
(Additional reporting by Khaled Yacoub Oweis in Amman, Erika Solomon in Beirut and Jonathon Burch in Ankara; Writing by Dominic Evans; Editing by Mark Heinrich)
University of Maryland School of Medicine, NIH study pinpoints brain area's role in learningPublic release date: 26-Nov-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Karen Robinson karobinson@som.umaryland.edu 410-706-7590 University of Maryland Medical Center
Study on orbitofrontal cortex's possible role in conditions such as drug addiction published in the journal Science
An area of the brain called the orbitofrontal cortex is responsible for decisions made on the spur of the moment, but not those made based on prior experience or habit, according to a new basic science study from substance abuse researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Scientists had previously believed that the area of the brain was responsible for both types of behavior and decision-making. The distinction is critical to understanding the neurobiology of decision-making, particularly with regard to substance abuse. The study was published online in the journal Science.
Scientists have assumed that the orbitofrontal cortex plays a role in "value-based" decision-making, when a person compares options and weights consequences and rewards to choose best alternative. The Science study shows that this area of the brain is involved in decision-making only when the value must be inferred or computed rapidly or hastily. If the value has been "cached" or pre-computed, like a habit, then the orbitofrontal cortex is not necessary.
The same is true for learning if a person infers an outcome but it does not happen, the resulting error can drive learning. The study shows that the orbitofrontal cortex is necessary for the inferred value that is used for this type of learning.
"Our research showed that damage to the orbitofrontal cortex may decrease a person's ability to use prior experience to make good decisions on the fly," says lead author Joshua Jones, Ph.D., a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and a research scientist at NIDA, part of the National Institutes of Health. "The person isn't able to consider the whole continuum of the decision the mind's map of how choices play out further down the road. Instead, the person is going to regress to habitual behavior, gravitating toward the choice that provides the most value in its immediate reward."
The study enhances scientists' understanding of how the brain works in healthy and unhealthy individuals, according to the researchers.
"This discovery has general implications in understanding how the brain processes information to help us make good decisions and to learn from our mistakes," says senior author Geoffrey Schoenbaum, M.D., Ph.D., adjunct professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and senior investigator and chief of the Cellular Neurobiology Research Branch at NIDA. "Understanding more about the orbitofrontal cortex also is important for understanding disorders such as addiction that seem to involve maladaptive decision-making and learning. Cocaine in particular seems to have long-lasting effects on the orbitofrontal cortex. One aspect of this work, which we are pursuing, is that perhaps some of the problems that characterize addiction are the result of drug-induced changes in this area of the brain."
The scientists are continuing their research, examining the specific coding of the neurons in the orbitofrontal cortex during this process, as well as the effects that drugs of abuse have upon this area of the brain.
"Drug addiction is marked by severe deficits in judgment and bad decision-making on the part of the addict," says Dr. Jones. "We believe that drugs, particularly cocaine, affect the orbitofrontal cortex. They coerce the system and hijack decision-making."
The researchers examined the orbitofrontal cortex's role in value-guided behavior. The brain assigns two different types of values to behaviors and choices. Cached value is a value that is learned during prior experience. Inferred value happens on the spur of the moment, considering the entire model of rewards and consequences.
"Cached value is stored during prior experience, says Dr. Jones. "For example, you learn your route home on your commute through experience the habit of how you get home. You turn right, go left, make another right. Inferred values, however, are based on estimating goals and values on the fly using your knowledge of the entire structure of the environment. For example, instead of just habitually going home on your usual route, you have the full map in your mind of all the roads that you use. You can adjust your route, making different turns, depending on the time of day or the amount of traffic. These inferred decisions are adaptive much more flexible based on the situation."
The scientists used a rat model for their research, disabling the orbitofrontal cortex and measuring the difference in behavior that resulted. Further study using the same rat model work not reported in this paper has shown that cocaine use mimics this damage to the orbitofrontal cortex.
Further study of this neurobiological mechanism is needed, and the results have not been replicated in humans, but certainly the research is promising, says E. Albert Reece, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A., vice president for medical affairs at the University of Maryland and John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor and dean at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. "Our goal here at the School of Medicine is to make groundbreaking discoveries in the laboratory that can be translated into new treatments and new hope for patients and their families," says Dean Reece. "We are hopeful that research tells us more about the basic mechanisms in the brain will translate to new techniques in neurobiology and in treating devastating conditions such as drug addiction."
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About the University of Maryland School of Medicine
Established in 1807, the University of Maryland School of Medicine is the first public medical school in the United States, and the first to institute a residency-training program. The School of Medicine was the founding school of the University of Maryland and today is an integral part of the 11-campus University System of Maryland. On the University of Maryland's Baltimore campus, the School of Medicine serves as the anchor for a large academic health center which aims to provide the best medical education, conduct the most innovative biomedical research and provide the best patient care and community service to Maryland and beyond. www.medschool.umaryland.edu.
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University of Maryland School of Medicine, NIH study pinpoints brain area's role in learningPublic release date: 26-Nov-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Karen Robinson karobinson@som.umaryland.edu 410-706-7590 University of Maryland Medical Center
Study on orbitofrontal cortex's possible role in conditions such as drug addiction published in the journal Science
An area of the brain called the orbitofrontal cortex is responsible for decisions made on the spur of the moment, but not those made based on prior experience or habit, according to a new basic science study from substance abuse researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Scientists had previously believed that the area of the brain was responsible for both types of behavior and decision-making. The distinction is critical to understanding the neurobiology of decision-making, particularly with regard to substance abuse. The study was published online in the journal Science.
Scientists have assumed that the orbitofrontal cortex plays a role in "value-based" decision-making, when a person compares options and weights consequences and rewards to choose best alternative. The Science study shows that this area of the brain is involved in decision-making only when the value must be inferred or computed rapidly or hastily. If the value has been "cached" or pre-computed, like a habit, then the orbitofrontal cortex is not necessary.
The same is true for learning if a person infers an outcome but it does not happen, the resulting error can drive learning. The study shows that the orbitofrontal cortex is necessary for the inferred value that is used for this type of learning.
"Our research showed that damage to the orbitofrontal cortex may decrease a person's ability to use prior experience to make good decisions on the fly," says lead author Joshua Jones, Ph.D., a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and a research scientist at NIDA, part of the National Institutes of Health. "The person isn't able to consider the whole continuum of the decision the mind's map of how choices play out further down the road. Instead, the person is going to regress to habitual behavior, gravitating toward the choice that provides the most value in its immediate reward."
The study enhances scientists' understanding of how the brain works in healthy and unhealthy individuals, according to the researchers.
"This discovery has general implications in understanding how the brain processes information to help us make good decisions and to learn from our mistakes," says senior author Geoffrey Schoenbaum, M.D., Ph.D., adjunct professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and senior investigator and chief of the Cellular Neurobiology Research Branch at NIDA. "Understanding more about the orbitofrontal cortex also is important for understanding disorders such as addiction that seem to involve maladaptive decision-making and learning. Cocaine in particular seems to have long-lasting effects on the orbitofrontal cortex. One aspect of this work, which we are pursuing, is that perhaps some of the problems that characterize addiction are the result of drug-induced changes in this area of the brain."
The scientists are continuing their research, examining the specific coding of the neurons in the orbitofrontal cortex during this process, as well as the effects that drugs of abuse have upon this area of the brain.
"Drug addiction is marked by severe deficits in judgment and bad decision-making on the part of the addict," says Dr. Jones. "We believe that drugs, particularly cocaine, affect the orbitofrontal cortex. They coerce the system and hijack decision-making."
The researchers examined the orbitofrontal cortex's role in value-guided behavior. The brain assigns two different types of values to behaviors and choices. Cached value is a value that is learned during prior experience. Inferred value happens on the spur of the moment, considering the entire model of rewards and consequences.
"Cached value is stored during prior experience, says Dr. Jones. "For example, you learn your route home on your commute through experience the habit of how you get home. You turn right, go left, make another right. Inferred values, however, are based on estimating goals and values on the fly using your knowledge of the entire structure of the environment. For example, instead of just habitually going home on your usual route, you have the full map in your mind of all the roads that you use. You can adjust your route, making different turns, depending on the time of day or the amount of traffic. These inferred decisions are adaptive much more flexible based on the situation."
The scientists used a rat model for their research, disabling the orbitofrontal cortex and measuring the difference in behavior that resulted. Further study using the same rat model work not reported in this paper has shown that cocaine use mimics this damage to the orbitofrontal cortex.
Further study of this neurobiological mechanism is needed, and the results have not been replicated in humans, but certainly the research is promising, says E. Albert Reece, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A., vice president for medical affairs at the University of Maryland and John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor and dean at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. "Our goal here at the School of Medicine is to make groundbreaking discoveries in the laboratory that can be translated into new treatments and new hope for patients and their families," says Dean Reece. "We are hopeful that research tells us more about the basic mechanisms in the brain will translate to new techniques in neurobiology and in treating devastating conditions such as drug addiction."
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About the University of Maryland School of Medicine
Established in 1807, the University of Maryland School of Medicine is the first public medical school in the United States, and the first to institute a residency-training program. The School of Medicine was the founding school of the University of Maryland and today is an integral part of the 11-campus University System of Maryland. On the University of Maryland's Baltimore campus, the School of Medicine serves as the anchor for a large academic health center which aims to provide the best medical education, conduct the most innovative biomedical research and provide the best patient care and community service to Maryland and beyond. www.medschool.umaryland.edu.
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RENTON, Wash. (AP) ? Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll expects to have his starting cornerbacks available this Sunday in Chicago.
After that is anyone's guess.
Carroll said Monday he plans on Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner playing this week against the Bears, despite the possibility they could be facing four-game suspensions for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.
Carroll didn't say much regarding the duo at his regularly scheduled media availability, trying not to violate league rules. But his belief is that Sherman and Browner will be able to play in potentially Seattle's most important game of the season.
"As of right now, I'm planning on those guys playing," Carroll said.
ESPN.com first reported Sunday afternoon, following the Seahawks' 24-21 loss at Miami, that Browner and Sherman are facing suspensions and are in the process of appealing. The team said Sunday night it was aware of the report and according to the league's collective bargaining agreement, players can continue to play until the appeal is heard and settled.
The team is limited in what it can say regarding the possible suspensions and Carroll eventually said he wouldn't comment further until there is some resolution.
"Because it's so important we do this properly I'm not going to comment on anything about it. That's the best way to do this because these are league issues," Carroll said. "At this point I'm going to keep it there and hope you can respect that this is the way we have to do that, and we can talk about it later on."
In a phone interview with Seattle reporters after Carroll's press conference finished, Browner's agent Peter Schaffer said that his client only received notice of the failed test last week.
"Brandon Browner has no knowledge of how any illegal substance could have gotten into his system," Schaffer said. "He is an outstanding person and a very good football player. He takes tremendous care of his body and he is very careful with what he puts into it. We're exploring all avenues to try and figure out how any substance out of the ordinary would be in his system."
Schaffer added that the league typically schedules appeals within 20 days of the notice being received, depending on circumstances. He did not provide specifics on when Browner's appeal would take place.
"It's too early to tell what we're going to need, what witnesses and evidence and experts are going to be required, so there is no way to even guess at this point," he said.
Sherman, an active participant in social media, posted on his Twitter account late Sunday night after arriving back in the Northwest, "This ... issue will be resolved soon and the truth will come out. Not worried."
If Browner and Sherman are found guilty of violating the league's policy, they would be the fourth and fifth Seahawks players in the last calendar year to be violators. Guard John Moffitt was suspended four games late last season. Reserve offensive lineman Allen Barbre was suspended for the first four games of this season before being released by the team once his suspension was up. And just last week, rookie safety Winston Guy was handed a four-game suspension after taking an over-the-counter product that had a banned substance in the ingredients, according to his agent.
None of those suspensions could have the impact of Browner and Sherman, and it could not come at a much worse time with the Seahawks trying to hold on to the final wild-card spot in the NFC. The Seahawks (6-5) are tied with Tampa Bay and Minnesota, but hold the tiebreakers.
Seattle's defense is predicated on the ability of its cornerbacks to play man coverage and lock up receivers. Sherman and Browner allow strong safety Kam Chancellor to play closer to the line of scrimmage in run support and give free safety Earl Thomas the chance to roam the secondary with his speed.
If the duo does miss time, Seattle would turn to veteran Marcus Trufant and a trio of youngsters ? Walter Thurmond, Byron Maxwell and Jeremy Lane ? to fill the spots. Trufant was a starter until getting injured during the 2011 season, while Seattle has hoped Thurmond would develop into a key contributor, but he has been slowed by injuries. Thurmond has yet to be active for a game this season after starting the year on the physically unable to perform list.
"They've been special in their effectiveness and a lot of it has to do with the way we ask them to play. It suits them very well. It fits. They've been a big factor for us. We love the way they're playing. ... How it develops in the future with our guys when they get a chance they can play at the level and style that we want," Carroll said. "We still try and tailor our expectation of our play to the athlete and what he can do and what they're capable of doing, and we've always looked at it that way. Some guys play a little different than others and we have a pretty good group of guys to battle and give us versatility, I think."
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Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL
CAIRO (Reuters) - A Muslim Brotherhood member was killed and 60 people were injured on Sunday in an attack on the main office of the Brotherhood in the Egyptian Nile Delta town of Damanhour, the website of the Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party said.
"Brotherhood member, Islam Fathy Masoud, 15, was killed and 60 were injured after thugs attacked the Muslim Brotherhood's headquarters in Damanhour in the total absence of police forces," the website said
(Reporting by Ali ABdelatti, writing by Yasmine Saleh)
As you are already aware of now, your diabetes did not occur overnight. It is the years and years of ACCUMULATED lifestyle habits such as eating WAY TOO MUCH processed foods, refined carbohyrates, sugars, not exercising and moving around, stressful environments, poor nutrition and exposed to toxic pollutants. So...reversing & curing your diabetes isn't an overnight and immediate matter. No magic pill, elixir, potion, charm or spell can do that.
However, the good news is the road to a permanent cure is around us everywhere...it's an activity you HAVE to do several times a day in order to survive!
Yes we're talking about EATING!
FOOD... I tell you... GLORIOUS FOOD WOO HOO!
So today, I'd like to take the time to share with you the 7 foods that will PERMANENTLY reverse your diabetes when you eat them naturally and consistently!
1 - AVOCADO?
Nicknamed alligator pear for its dark green color and leathery texture, the avocado well known as a fat food. Rest assured these are good fats known as monounsaturated fats which are essential to enhance insulin sensitivity.
Avocadoes are also packed with folic acid, Vitamin C, potassium niacin and Vitamin E (essential for reducing the risk of heart disease and nerve damage). It is also high in dietary fiber making it one of the best food choices any diabetic can make!
2 - BROCCOLI
Even without research regarding diabetes, every mom has known for ages that broccoli is just plain good for you, but in case you don't put much stock in what mom used to tell you, science is ready to back her up.
Broccoli has all sorts of wonderful properties that can help you live a longer and healthier life.
It is full of antioxidants, is packed with vitamins and minerals, and is full of fiber; at the same time, it has very few calories.
Research has proven that eating broccoli could reverse the damage caused by diabetes to heart blood vessels-found in the vegetable, encourages the production of enzymes which protect blood vessels and cause a reduction in the number of molecules that can damage cells.
3 - WILD SALMON
These cold water fatty fish is not only tasty no matter how you cook them, grilled, poached, smoked and even RAW! (Sashimi!!!), they are an excellent source of protein, high in omega 3 essential fatty acids (EFAs) which are essential for insulin sensitivity.
Omega 3 fats are also anti-inflammatory and makes sure your joints are healthy and well lubricated. Wild salmon are also packed with Vitamin B and D which helps to prevent inflammation, damages to blood vessels and diabetic complications such as cardiovascular disease and stroke.
However, be sure to choose wild salmon over farmed salmon as the latter has only of the beneficial nutrients over wild salmon. Furthermore, farmed salmon have higher omega 6 EFAs which promote inflammation.
4 - ALMOND
Almonds are low on the glycemic index, which means they dont raise your blood sugar levels much. Its also been found that almonds HELP decrease rises in blood sugar after meals.
Almonds are dense with calories, high in monounsaturated fat, protein and fiber, they keep you full, making them ideal for a healthy snack. And despite the high FAT content, snacking on almonds regularly can HELP you lose weight!
One of the most nutritious of all nuts, almonds are a delicious source of protein, fiber, vitamin E, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, calcium, magnesium and zinc.
5 - ONION
Onions contain vitamin C, biotin and chromium. Chromium is a mineral that helps cells respond to insulin, ultimately assisting with blood glucose control. The active compound that seems to be responsible for lowering glucose works by competing with insulin for breakdown sites in the liver, thereby increasing the life span of insulin.
The onion is the richest dietary source of quercitin, a potent antioxidant (also in shallots, yellow and red onions only but not in white onions), which is specifically linked to inhibiting human stomach cancer.
Similar to what garlic does to vampires; quercitin helps to flush diabetes away. Quercitin in onions also thins the blood, lowers cholesterol, raises good-type HDL cholesterol (preferred dose: half a raw onion a day), wards off blood clots, fight asthma, chronic bronchitis, hay fever, atherosclerosis and infections.
6 - SPINACH
Remember the cartoon Popeye the Sailorman, who gorges a can of spinach to defeat his nemesis Big Bully Brutus to save beloved Olive Oyl.
Diabetics should make it a habit to take a leaf out of Popeye's can-of-whooppass (yup! spinach is literally spelled out here, you just need I to make the effort to eat it) on more spinach as a plethora of nutrients, vitamins and minerals pack a punch so hard it can send Brutus away to Mars!
These leafy greens provide vitamin K, vitamin A, magnesium, folate, manganese, iron, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin B2, potassium, and vitamin B6. Its a very good source of protein, phosphorus, vitamin E, zinc, dietary fiber, and copper.
Plus, its a good source of selenium, niacin, and omega-3 fatty acids. Just every nutrient needed to give Diabetes a Knock Out in the first round!
7 - FREE RANGE EGGS
Eggs are by far the most complete food anyone could eat. If youve been starving for a while, simply eating 2 eggs will provide you the most diverse of nutrients you can get most foods simply cant provide.
Eggs are a great source of protein. Numerous vitamins, including vitamin A, potassium and many B vitamins like folic acid, choline and biotin, are also packed into this oval-shaped staple.
Many of these are specifically needed for the health of the nerves and the brain. Through the years, all fats have become public enemies, often blamed for an increased risk of heart disease. Eggs fell out of favor and people gravitated toward egg whites as a substitute. In truth, the yolk is where many of the vitamins and nutrients are found.
Therefore, opt for free range eggs whereby the hens are not fed with industrial genetically modified feedmeal.
You see...diabetes is essentially a nutritional lifestyle disease and what actually happens in your body is that diabetes will DRAIN out the nutrition, vitamins and minerals through frequent urination to flush out the excess sugar in your bloodstream.
The foods above are also great for overall wellness of your body. These anti-inflammatory , non-acidic foods are nutritionally dense with key vitamins and minerals that also fights off oxidative stress, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, lubricates and improves joint health, sharper mind and memory and finally turbo-charges your metabolism.
LAKE LOUISE, Alberta (AP) ? Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway won a super-G Sunday, completing a sweep at Lake Louise.
Svindal also won Saturday's downhill, making him the first man to win both events at Lake Louise since Bode Miller in 2004.
Svindal was timed in 1 minute, 34.96 seconds, beating runner-up Adrien Theaux of France by 0.85 seconds. Joachim Puchner of Austria was third in 1:35.86, and Ted Ligety of the U.S. was fourth in 1:35.87.
So, you?re looking for a sport fishing boat that will help get you there and get the job done once you are there? Scout has been making innovative boats for 20 plus years! Their construction is unmatched when looking for a boat that is safe, fuel efficient, and rigged properly for real fishing. Scout has the most fuel efficient boats around and they have all of the sport fishing equipment that you will need when you?re out there. Below you will find three of Scouts best sport fishing models. Enjoy the reading.
The 350 Abaco Series ? From the sport fishing boats leader ? Scout Boats ? comes the largest model to date. It is over 38 feet long and 11 feet wide. It was designed with the help of renowned naval architect Michael Peters. It is a high-performance boat that is also very agile. It is powered by Yamaha?s latest and greatest outboards ? twin 350?s, boasts insanely attractive lines and will be absolutely sure to turn heads all over the water. It has a top speed of over 50 miles per hour yet it is still very fuel efficient with an estimated range of 450 miles!
Scout?s new flag ship center console sport fishingboat is the 345 XSF which is their 2nd largest fishing boat right behind the 350 Abaco. For better fuel economy and higher performance, it comes equipped with Scout?s innovative stepped-hull technology. It uses twin Yamaha 350?s to achieve speeds in the mid 60?s and has a huge 330 gallon fuel tank to make sure you can get to wherever the fish are. This is a very roomy, sleek, and stylish fishing boat that is over 34 feet in length. It comes with a patented powder coated T-top hardtop with a glass enclosure, rocket launchers, and an optional retractable sun shade.
The 282 XSF will provide you with the best in sport fishing action and performance without sacrificing style or your comfort. This highly capable fishing boats are a dream for anglers with their NU-V3 hull which is a technology that will increase your performance as well as give you greater fuel efficiency. With 28 feet of power packed fishing boat and a 205 gallon fuel tank, you will have all the range you need to find the fish and bring them home for dinner. The design of the bow and its unique flare will keep you dry and provide a really smooth ride. Fresh water sink, dual tackle storage, giant insulated fish box, bait prep station, private head, rod storage, stainless steel ? flush mounted rod holders, and rocket launchers are all standard features of this boat.
Those are just three of the many different Scout sport fishing boat models. We invite you to please visit our website and see all of our models and find one that fits your sport fishing boat needs. Remember, when you buy a Scout sport fishing boat, you are buying innovation in boat construction, fishing technology, and unprecedented fuel economy. Important questions:is the boat truly equipped for real sport fishing? Does it have proper fish boxes, extra rod holders, good sized live bait wells, sturdy leaning posts, competent outriggers, adequate stowage, proper electronics, 12 volt receptacles for lights and electric reels, snag free fishing platforms? These are all very important features when considering a sport fishing boat, consider Scout.
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.
Two sleeves, two phones. That's what we've got in store for you this week, with Darren dropping $55 on two protective cases and two of our intrepid staffers trying out some new handsets. On team Android, we have Edgar setting aside his Galaxy Nexus to try out the GS III, while Jon Fingas (team Phone, really) trades off between a GNex and iPhone 5. How does he like his new iPhone apart from mapgate and that minor purple flare issue? Read on to find out.
There will be more distinct mutual owners on-line today. But locating the best web hosting service services are not just a childs play. It takes patience and large amount of general market trends to land around the page of an great internet hosting service.? There are many companies claiming to supply the most effective hosting service on the web, but only a handful of them fit the bill. You will find however, a lot of things that a person needs to keep under consideration costly for and choosing the proper website hosting service.
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Often, the gift that we find that initially seems great, tends to lose a bit of its luster once we spy the price tag and determine that it is definitely not within our price range. Isn?t that the most disappointing aspect of gift giving ? knowing the gift you actually give was actually your second or third choice? Yes, but it is not the end of the world. Continue reading for unique gift giving ideas on a budget.Sometimes it is just so hard to find those perfect gifts for the ones that we love. Often, the gift that we find that initially seems great, tends to lose a bit of its luster once we spy the price tag and determine that it is definitely not within our price range. Isn?t that the most disappointing aspect of gift giving ? knowing the gift you actually give was actually your second or third choice? Yes, but it is not the end of the world.
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Public release date: 26-Nov-2012
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