Weekend heat wave to bake western US

PHOENIX (AP) ? Tigers at the Phoenix Zoo are getting frozen fish snacks. Temporary cooling stations are popping up to welcome the homeless and elderly. And airlines are monitoring the soaring temperatures to make sure it's safe to fly as the western U.S. falls into the grip of a dangerous heat wave.

A strong high-pressure system settling over the region Friday and through the weekend will bring extreme temperatures to the already blazing Southwest. Notoriously hot Death Valley in California is forecast to reach 129 degrees, not far off the world-record high of 134 logged there exactly one century ago.

The National Weather Service predicts Phoenix could reach a high of 118 on Friday, while Las Vegas could see the same temperature over the weekend.

Temperatures are expected to soar across Utah and into parts of Wyoming and Idaho, where forecasters are calling for triple-digit heat in the Boise area through the weekend.

Cities in Washington state better known for cool, rainy weather should break the 90s early next week, while northern Utah ? marketed as having "the greatest snow on Earth" ? is expected to hit triple digits. In Albuquerque, N.M., the mercury hit 105 on Thursday afternoon, the hottest it has been in the state's most populous city in 19 years.

"This is the hottest time of the year but the temperatures that we'll be looking at for Friday through Sunday, they'll be toward the top. We'll be at or above record levels in the Phoenix area and throughout a lot of the southwestern United States," said National Weather Service meteorologist Mark O'Malley. "It's going to be baking hot across much of the entire West."

Jennifer Smith, a spokeswoman for the National Interagency Fire Center based in Idaho, said crews are especially worried about wildfires igniting in the Four Corners region where the borders of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Arizona intersect.

Some of the strongest parts of the high pressure system are expected to be parked over the area through the weekend, where forecasters are calling for lightning but little to no precipitation, Smith said.

Scientists say that the jet stream, the river of air that dictates weather patterns, has been more erratic in the past few years. It's responsible for weather systems getting stuck, like the current heat wave. Scientists disagree on whether global warming is the cause of the jet stream's behavior.

The hottest cities are taking precautions to protect vulnerable residents. Police are pleading with drivers not to leave children or pets in vehicles, and temporary cooling stations are being put up to shelter homeless people and the elderly on fixed incomes who hesitate to use air conditioning.

Officials said extra personnel have been added to the U.S. Border Patrol's Search, Trauma, and Rescue unit as people illegally crossing the border from Mexico into Arizona could succumb to exhaustion and dehydration. At least seven people have been found dead in the last week in Arizona after falling victim to the desert's brutal heat.

Even airlines are watching the mercury for any signs that temperatures could deter operations.

In June 1990, when Phoenix hit 122 degrees, several airlines, including America West, which later merged with US Airways, were forced to cease flights for several hours because the planes didn't have the data needed to know how they would fly in temperatures above 120 degrees.

US Airways spokesman Todd Lehmacher said the airline's fleet of Boeings can now fly up to 126 degrees, and up to 127 degrees for the Airbus fleet.

But the company's smaller express planes flying out of the Phoenix area may be delayed if the temperature tops 118 because as the air heats up, it becomes less dense and changes liftoff conditions.

"The hotter is it, your performance is degraded," Lehmacher said. "We're monitoring this very closely to see what the temperatures do."

Officials at Salt River Project, the Phoenix area's largest electricity provider, also are closely monitoring usage in order to redirect energy in case of a potential overload.

Company spokeswoman Scott Harelson said he doesn't expect usage to get anywhere near SRP's record 6,663 megawatts consumed in August 2011.

"While it's hot, people tend to leave town and some businesses aren't open, so that has a tendency to mitigate demand and is why we typically don't set records on weekends," Harelson said.

Meanwhile, over at the Phoenix Zoo, animals from elephants to warthogs will be doused with hoses and sprayed with sprinklers and misters throughout the weekend.

The tigers will get frozen fish snacks while the lions can lounge on concrete slabs cooled by internal water-filled pipes, said zoo spokeswoman Linda Hardwick.

"And they'll all have plenty of shade," she said. "The keepers will all just be very active looking for any behavior changes, anything that would tip them off that an animal is just getting too hot."

In Las Vegas, two Elvis impersonators and a performer costumed as the iconic "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign said they still planned to keep up their routine of working the tourist corridor in the broad daylight and turning in for the evenings, heat notwithstanding.

"We'd much rather fight with the sun than fight with the drunk people," Elvis impersonator Cristian Morales said.

___

Associated Press writers Robert Jablon in Los Angeles, Julie Jacobson and Michelle Rindels in Las Vegas, Michelle Price in Salt Lake City, and Susan Montoya Bryan in Albuquerque contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/weekend-heat-wave-bake-western-us-181304892.html

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Cutting off payments

Getty Images

If the Ravens? qualification for Super Bowl XLVII dusted off long-forgotten memories of the alleged involvement of Ray Lewis in a double murder, the Aaron Hernandez situation has sandblasted them.? And with the Patriots dumping Hernandez the moment he was arrested in connection with the death of Odin Lloyd, the contrast between the respective approaches of the two franchises to situation involving murder became as sharp as possible.

While many believe the Patriots must have had access to inside information about the Hernandez investigation at the time he was cut, the more accurate assumption would be that the Patriots decided early in the process, without the benefit of any specific intelligence about the case, that no employee arrested in connection with a murder investigation is fit to remain employed by the team.

The Ravens came to the exact opposite conclusion.? The man who coached the team at the time, Brian Billick, recently compiled an exhaustive explanation of the team?s reasoning and approach to the Lewis situation.

Billick explains that the team?s decision to rally around Lewis arose from their faith in his ?overall innocence.?? In so doing, Billick implies that the Patriots had no faith in Hernandez?s innocence.

But Lewis was hardly ?innocent.?? Lewis wouldn?t have been arrested, charged, and prosecuted based on no evidence.? Prosecutors routinely walk away from trying to secure a conviction under the very high standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt if they believe that the evidence, while pointing to the defendant?s guilt, nevertheless creates an opening for an ?if it doesn?t fit, you must acquit? concoction of enough doubt to secure an acquittal.? Moreover, judges don?t allow cases to go to trial absent the existence of enough evidence to allow a reasonable jury to conclude that the high bar of proof beyond a reasonable doubt had been met.

For Ray Lewis, the prosecutor eventually decided to cut a deal, and Lewis decided not to tell the prosecutor to pound sand/salt/whatever and force the trial to a verdict.? This wasn?t a case where the charges were dropped with no strings attached.? Lewis pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice in order to escape the far more serious charge of murder.

The Ravens had no qualms about welcoming back to the team without suspension or other punishment (other than the $250,000 fine imposed by the league) a man who pleaded guilty to obstructing justice in a murder case.? New England?s swift and decisive action regarding Hernandez this week amounts to a clear statement that, even if Hernandez had simply lied to the police or concealed evidence regarding a murder, any alleged wrongdoing regarding a murder provides enough reason to move on.

Right or wrong, the Ravens treated Ray Lewis far differently than the Patriots treated Hernandez.? And while it seems that Billick may be trying in artful fashion to soften some of the harsh, inescapable realities the Ray Lewis case, the fact remains that the Ravens had no qualms about embracing and defending a man who clearly had enough involvement to result in a judge allowing a murder trial to proceed, and in Lewis eventually entering a guilty plea for a crime related to the killings.? The Patriots, in contrast, opted to have no further involvement with anyone who had done anything, actually or allegedly, that would get him arrested in connection with the intentional death of another human.

For each organization, it sets a precedent that they surely hope they?ll never have to use in a similar case.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/29/pats-officially-shut-off-any-remaining-pay-to-hernandez/related/

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Is it alive or dead? How to measure the thermal signatures of single cells and assess their biological activity

June 28, 2013 ? To the ancients, probing the philosophical question of how to distinguish the living from the dead centered on the "mystery of the vital heat." To modern microbiology, this question was always less mysterious than it was annoying -- researchers have known that biological processes should produce thermal signatures, even within single cells, but nobody ever knew how to measure them.

Now, a group of mechanical engineers from Pohang University of Science and Technology in Korea have discovered a way to measure the "thermal conductivity" of three types of cells taken from human and rat tissues and placed in individual micro-wells. They showed that they could detect uniform heat signatures from the various cells and measured significant difference between dead and living ones, suggesting a new way to probe cells for biological activity.

A lone cell is fantastically small, often only about 10 microns across (10 millionths of a meter), and this size has thwarted thermodynamic measurements of single cells. Writing in the journal Applied Physics Letters, a team led by Dongsik Kim and Jaesung Park describes how their novel nanoscale biosensing technique can measure the thermal conductivity of a single cell.

"In the short-term, this biosensing technique can be used to measure cell viability," said Kim. "In the long-term, we hope to refine it to develop a non-invasive, rapid means for early diagnosis of diseases such as cancer based on differences in the thermal properties of cells."

While the fundamental heat signatures the researchers detected are not exactly what the ancient philosophers imagined, measuring them may answer more mysteries than they could have dreamed.

The article, "Thermal conductivity of single biological cells and relation with cell viability" by Byoung Kyoo Park, Namwoo Yi, Jaesung Park, and Dongsik Kim appears in the journal Applied Physics Letters.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by American Institute of Physics (AIP), via Newswise.

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

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Journal Reference:

1. Byoung Kyoo Park, Namwoo Yi, Jaesung Park, Dongsik Kim. Thermal conductivity of single biological cells and relation with cell viability. Applied Physics Letters, 2013; 102 (20): 203702 DOI: 10.1063/1.4807471

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_environment/~3/U6EaAk8Ehik/130628102927.htm

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Google to loan Street View Trekker to third parties, build out Maps on the cheap

Are you a tourism board, non-profit, government agency, university or research organization? Google wants you to help add 360-degree imagery with its nifty Street View Trekker, through a brand-new loan program. If you get the nod from GOOG, you'll have a chance to roam the Earth with the company's human-mounted camera equipment. The Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau was tapped as the first volunteer -- the group is currently hard at work shooting popular attractions throughout the 50th state. Though the terms aren't entirely clear, we're willing to bet that Google's giving preference to bonafide orgs, rather than sending its pricey gear off with individuals. Still, if you've been dying to contribute to Maps, it never hurts to apply. To get started, just fill out the form at the source link below. Oh, and as you've probably already guessed, there's a 60-second video after the break, too.

Filed under: GPS, Internet, Google

Comments

Source: Google, Apply Here

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/06/27/google-street-view-trekker-loans/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

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As the Pearl Turns

Microscopy reveals that a growing pearl's surface has a sawtooth pattern that can cause it to ratchet around as it grows, resulting in the familiar sphere. Sophie Bushwick reports

More 60-Second Science

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Flawless pearls are among the most symmetrical spheres with biological origins. But how do they get so round? Turns out they turn.

Pearls form when mollusks such as oysters create so-called pearl sacs around intrusive pieces of grit. The sac coats the irritant with layers of smooth nacre, also known as mother-of-pearl. The growing pearl rotates itself, which allows the nacre to deposit evenly over its surface.

By examining pearls under a fluorescence and a scanning electron microscope, researchers discovered that the surface actually has a saw-tooth texture. As the mollusk moves, the pearl is jostled to the next tiny tooth. The work is published in the journal Langmuir. [Julyan H. E. Cartwright, Antonio G. Checa, and Marthe Rousseau, Pearls Are Self-Organized Natural Ratchets]

A pearl's motion influences its nacre coverage, and thus its final shape. Depending on its surface pattern, it might turn in a single direction to create a drop or ring, or rotate more freely to form a sphere. If a defect prevents this motion, the final product will be shapeless. The resulting asymmetrical pearl is doomed to be booed. Roundly.

?Sophie Bushwick

[The above text is a transcript of this podcast.]????
?

Source: http://rss.sciam.com/~r/sciam/biology/~3/kfXd93Ljg34/episode.cfm

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Detached-eddy simulations and analyses on new vortical flows over a 76/40 double delta wing

Public release date: 28-Jun-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: LI Qin
qin-li@vip.tom.com
Science China Press

The double delta wing is a simplified configuration used for studying aircraft aerodynamics. It is composed of a highly-swept delta wing connected in front of the main delta wing with a smaller sweep, reflecting the combination of a leading edge extension and the swept main wing. The aerodynamic performance of such wings, which includes the behavior of the leeside vortical flows at moderate and high angles of attack (AoA) at low speed, is of research interest.

The prominent aerodynamic feature of the delta wing is the dominant leading edge vortex pair on the lee side, particularly over wings with sharp leading edges. For the single delta wing, research techniques can well describe the main vortices in the absence of vortex breakdown, including good prediction of the surface pressure distribution. Because of the appearance of a geometric discontinuity in the double delta wing connecting the strake and the wing, a wing vortex is generated at the discontinuity inducing a nonlinear interaction with the strake vortex. This nonlinear interaction makes it difficult to obtain an accurate prediction of the aerodynamic performance of such a double delta wing. Fujii considered that it would be difficult to obtain reasonable agreement with experimental results even with a large increase in the computational grid.

Based on current work, the understanding of flows past a double delta wing with sharp leading edges is as follows: 1) vortices are the dominant flow feature; 2) the basic vortical system consists of the strake and wing vortices, with secondary or even tertiary vortices; 3) vortex breakdown will occur when the AoA increases beyond a certain angle. The breakdown of the wing vortex occurs prior to that of the strake vortex. Other than the dominant vortices, small-scale structures initially appear at the wing tip at certain AoA, and massively-separated flows emerge. With an increase in the AoA, the region of separation gradually enlarges, and finally the whole upper wing is immersed in the massively separated flow. It is widely accepted that traditional Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) is not appropriate for simulation when massive separation occurs. Direct numerical simulation (DNS) and large eddy simulation (LES) can be used but at high cost. Detached-eddy simulation (DES) or a RANS/LES hybrid method combines the advantages of DNS and LES fitting the needs of engineering development while providing the useful details needed for fundamental research, and are thus considered suitable tools for studying such flow regimes. The applications using this method have been conducted on various aspects of fluid mechanics.

Because of the importance of the vortical flows of the double delta wing, every pattern of vortices needs to be carefully studied by computational and experimental analysis. As mentioned above, DES or RANS/LES serve as efficient ways to study the vortical flow when massively separated flow appears. The 76/40 double delta wing is thought to be important for investigations in which the topology of the vortex-dominated flow field is advantageous for atmospheric flight using vortical flows in air combat for takeoff and landing. In the present work, we use SA-DES to compute the massively separated flows of the 76/40 double delta wing previously studied by Verhaagen. Through computation, we found a new type of cross-flow vortex, which occurs at an AoA starting from 15. The vortex differs from the strake and wing vortex or other vortices in massively separated flows.

By means of physical analysis based on the numerical simulation, we conclude that the vortices are caused by cross-flow instability. Because of the specific features of the double delta wing, the cross-flow is primarily caused by the induction of the leading edge vortices, which differs from the cause of the cross flow over the swept blunt wing.

Using a velocity transformation, we provide the cross-section topology of the cross-flow vortices and information about the singular points on the section. The analysis shows that the speed of movement of the vortex reaches that of free stream. The wave length of the vortex array and the characteristic frequency are also obtained, providing useful information for further experimental investigation.

It is also shown by analysis that the cross-flow vortex can cause a 10-20% deviation of the pressure distribution to the averaged counterpart. It should be noted that the deviation is local and unsteady, which should be considered in the evaluation of the influence of vortices on aerodynamic performance.

Finally we propose a new type of cross-flow vortex that differs from the vortical substructure.

###

See the article:

LI Qin, SUN Dong, ZHANG HanXin. Detached-eddy simulations and analyses on new vortical flows over a 76/40 double delta wing. SCIENCE CHINA Physics, Mechanics & Astronomy, 2013, 56(6): 1062-1073.

http://phys.scichina.com:8083/Jwk_sciG_en/EN/abstract/abstract507764.shtml

Science China Press Co., Ltd. (SCP) is a scientific journal publishing company of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). For 50 years, SCP takes its mission to present to the world the best achievements by Chinese scientists on various fields of natural sciences researches.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 28-Jun-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: LI Qin
qin-li@vip.tom.com
Science China Press

The double delta wing is a simplified configuration used for studying aircraft aerodynamics. It is composed of a highly-swept delta wing connected in front of the main delta wing with a smaller sweep, reflecting the combination of a leading edge extension and the swept main wing. The aerodynamic performance of such wings, which includes the behavior of the leeside vortical flows at moderate and high angles of attack (AoA) at low speed, is of research interest.

The prominent aerodynamic feature of the delta wing is the dominant leading edge vortex pair on the lee side, particularly over wings with sharp leading edges. For the single delta wing, research techniques can well describe the main vortices in the absence of vortex breakdown, including good prediction of the surface pressure distribution. Because of the appearance of a geometric discontinuity in the double delta wing connecting the strake and the wing, a wing vortex is generated at the discontinuity inducing a nonlinear interaction with the strake vortex. This nonlinear interaction makes it difficult to obtain an accurate prediction of the aerodynamic performance of such a double delta wing. Fujii considered that it would be difficult to obtain reasonable agreement with experimental results even with a large increase in the computational grid.

Based on current work, the understanding of flows past a double delta wing with sharp leading edges is as follows: 1) vortices are the dominant flow feature; 2) the basic vortical system consists of the strake and wing vortices, with secondary or even tertiary vortices; 3) vortex breakdown will occur when the AoA increases beyond a certain angle. The breakdown of the wing vortex occurs prior to that of the strake vortex. Other than the dominant vortices, small-scale structures initially appear at the wing tip at certain AoA, and massively-separated flows emerge. With an increase in the AoA, the region of separation gradually enlarges, and finally the whole upper wing is immersed in the massively separated flow. It is widely accepted that traditional Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) is not appropriate for simulation when massive separation occurs. Direct numerical simulation (DNS) and large eddy simulation (LES) can be used but at high cost. Detached-eddy simulation (DES) or a RANS/LES hybrid method combines the advantages of DNS and LES fitting the needs of engineering development while providing the useful details needed for fundamental research, and are thus considered suitable tools for studying such flow regimes. The applications using this method have been conducted on various aspects of fluid mechanics.

Because of the importance of the vortical flows of the double delta wing, every pattern of vortices needs to be carefully studied by computational and experimental analysis. As mentioned above, DES or RANS/LES serve as efficient ways to study the vortical flow when massively separated flow appears. The 76/40 double delta wing is thought to be important for investigations in which the topology of the vortex-dominated flow field is advantageous for atmospheric flight using vortical flows in air combat for takeoff and landing. In the present work, we use SA-DES to compute the massively separated flows of the 76/40 double delta wing previously studied by Verhaagen. Through computation, we found a new type of cross-flow vortex, which occurs at an AoA starting from 15. The vortex differs from the strake and wing vortex or other vortices in massively separated flows.

By means of physical analysis based on the numerical simulation, we conclude that the vortices are caused by cross-flow instability. Because of the specific features of the double delta wing, the cross-flow is primarily caused by the induction of the leading edge vortices, which differs from the cause of the cross flow over the swept blunt wing.

Using a velocity transformation, we provide the cross-section topology of the cross-flow vortices and information about the singular points on the section. The analysis shows that the speed of movement of the vortex reaches that of free stream. The wave length of the vortex array and the characteristic frequency are also obtained, providing useful information for further experimental investigation.

It is also shown by analysis that the cross-flow vortex can cause a 10-20% deviation of the pressure distribution to the averaged counterpart. It should be noted that the deviation is local and unsteady, which should be considered in the evaluation of the influence of vortices on aerodynamic performance.

Finally we propose a new type of cross-flow vortex that differs from the vortical substructure.

###

See the article:

LI Qin, SUN Dong, ZHANG HanXin. Detached-eddy simulations and analyses on new vortical flows over a 76/40 double delta wing. SCIENCE CHINA Physics, Mechanics & Astronomy, 2013, 56(6): 1062-1073.

http://phys.scichina.com:8083/Jwk_sciG_en/EN/abstract/abstract507764.shtml

Science China Press Co., Ltd. (SCP) is a scientific journal publishing company of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). For 50 years, SCP takes its mission to present to the world the best achievements by Chinese scientists on various fields of natural sciences researches.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-06/scp-dsa062813.php

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CSA News and Events - Canadian Sociological Association

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, Sociology

Academic Rank: Assistant Professor (tenure track).

Review of Applications: October 23, 2013 and will continue until the position is filled. Applicants are to forward their application materials to: Dr. G.V. Loewen, Head, Department of Sociology, St Thomas More College, 1437 College Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0W6. Email: gloewen@stmcollege.ca

Starting Date: July 1, 2014

Particulars of the Position: The Department has teaching and research needs in the area of Inequality and Social Justice. The successful candidate will have the ability to teach undergraduate and graduate courses and conduct research in areas related to indigenous thought, rights, government and society in the context of neo-colonialism and globalization. An ability to engage in comparative research within inequality and social justice both locally and internationally, as well as knowledge of the theoretical history of sociological thought in these areas, would be considered an asset. Knowledge of related disciplines such as anthropology and political theory would also be considered. The successful candidate will have a completed PhD in a relevant area of study at the time of appointment and will be expected to contribute to the College?s minor in Social Justice and the Common Good. In addition, the ideal candidate would have some familiarity with the Catholic intellectual tradition and some pedagogic experience in engaged community and experiential learning.

Starting Salary: $85,984 and up. STM also provides a comprehensive benefits plan for faculty.

Teaching & Research Expectations: STM is committed to high-quality teaching and research. Successful candidates will be expected to contribute to one or more of STM?s interdisciplinary programs (Catholic Studies; Critical Perspectives on Social Justice and the Common Good; Classical, Medieval and Renaissance Studies; Jewish and Christian Origins; Ukrainian Studies) according to his/her interest or requirements of the position. Candidates will be expected to develop an active, externally funded program of research, and to participate in collaborative research in an interdisciplinary environment.

Application Materials: Applicants must send a letter describing qualifications, a curriculum vitae, letters of reference from three referees, and transcripts, as well as a sample of academic writing. The successful candidate will be expected to supply a teaching dossier (e.g. teaching philosophy, peer and student evaluations of courses taught, sample syllabi, and other materials as appropriate).

ST. THOMAS MORE COLLEGE (STM) is the Catholic liberal arts college federated with the University of Saskatchewan. In our mission statement, we affirm that ?through our teaching we are devoted to a partnership of learning and growth with our students which addresses the synthesis of faith and reason in all aspects of the human condition. The creative discovery of truth and its open dissemination nourishes our life as teachers and members of the wider academic and Catholic intellectual community.? Departments at STM collaborate with University of Saskatchewan departments in offering undergraduate and graduate programs in the humanities and social sciences.

In accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, this advertisement is directed in the first instance to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. STM is committed to diversity within its faculty. Women, Aboriginal people, people with disabilities, visible minorities and members of other designated groups are encouraged to self-identify on their application. Additional information on STM College and the University of Saskatchewan is available on the STM website (http://www.stmcollege.ca).?

Source: http://www.csa-scs.ca/files/webapps/csapress/csanews/?p=1001

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Cambridge Audio's Minx Air 200 Earns The Crown For Best Home ...

If you?re a high-end audio fan, you?ve probably heard of Cambridge Audio, the London-based firm that makes some of the best equipment in the business. The brand is currently undergoing some changes that involve targeting the growing number of users who are looking for wireless in-home and portable speaker solutions. Hence the new Minx line of devices, which borrows its name from Cambridge?s affordable home-theater speaker range, but adds goodies like AirPlay and Bluetooth.

The Minx Air 200 is part of this new effort. It?s a large home speaker that packs in AirPlay, Bluetooth, two 2.25-inch drivers and one 6.5-inch subwoofer, as well as direct access to up to five preset Internet radio stations without requiring a connection to an iPhone, smartphone or computer. The Minx Air 200 is a beast of a networked speaker system, and at $599 it compares price-wise to other higher-end options like the Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air or the Libratone Live Speaker.

• AirPlay
• Bluetooth
• 3.5mm and RCA wired input
• 802.11 b/g
• Ethernet
• 200W amplifier output
• MSRP: $599
• Product info page

The Minx Air 200 is somewhat sober in its design choices if I had to pick one word to describe it. It?s white plastic, with a light gray front grill and metallic rim bordering the front grill. Unlike some of the competition like the Zeppelin, the Minx isn?t trying to draw too much attention to itself. The arc of it adds a little bit of design flare, but mostly this is a speaker that strikes you as subdued, and that?s just fine. The Air 200 isn?t bad looking, it just is. Which sets the stage for it to live or die based on its performance.

You?ll be able to connect to the Minx Air no matter what type of device you?re trying to use as your music source, and the AirPlay connectivity is solid (the protocol seems to have come a long way in terms of stability, which is a bonus for Cambridge, who are relative latecomers to the market). And Ethernet support is a hugely welcome addition if you?re the type that can?t even fathom the idea of an occasional drop-out. It?s probably not going to be much use to most looking for a wireless speaker, but the fact that it?s there at all is excellent.

Preset Internet radio stations is another huge advantage for the Minx Air 200. With the Minx Air app, you can change settings on your device and cycle through 10 preset stations. Minx sets these up automatically, but you can change them within the app. Best of all, you can switch between five presets on the Air 200 itself with hardware buttons, giving you access to Internet radio without any kind of connected device required. That?s a huge advantage versus the competition when it comes to features.

True to its audiophile roots, Cambridge has also included advanced audio signal-boosting technologies, including built-in digital to analog converters (DACs) and AAC decoding, as well as tech designed to maximize the quality of Bluetooth stereo streaming to CD-quality standards.

All those claims of better sound bring us to the money question: Is the?sound?actually better? Yes, yes it is. Put simply, this is the best-sounding AirPlay speaker I?ve reviewed, and the best-sounding Bluetooth one, too. AT $599, it isn?t cheap, but in this case you definitely get what you pay for. Bass performance is impressive, as is max volume, though even Cambridge admits this won?t go as loud as some of the competitors in the interest of preventing any kind of distortion even at the top end, something competitors aren?t necessarily as concerned about.

Cambridge may be trying to move into more mass-market products, but the Minx Air 200 still demonstrates the company?s audiophile roots. Audio clarity is great, even from streamed online sources like Rdio being streamed once again over the local network. The connection doesn?t seem to suffer from excess network traffic, either, and Bluetooth connections are likewise solid (with the usual limits on proximity), and sound quality also shines there. If you?ve been making do with even something as good as an Audyssey Audio Dock Air, you?ve been missing out. And that?s what Cambridge wants to do with the Minx line: Show a generation that hasn?t been particularly focused on audio quality what a difference it can make when someone pays attention to that above all. Mission accomplished.

This is an excellent choice for an AirPlay/wireless home speaker. A battery would be nice, as there?s a handle for easy enough portability, but in its category, it?s still by far the best choice at the current price, and probably a better option than some of the more expensive ones out there. Cambridge Audio may have waited and let its competitors get a head start in this category, but the wait paid off: The Minx Air 200 is a polished, well-designed piece of audio hardware that confidently tops the?competition.

Cambridge Audio combines many decades of expertise to create hi-fi systems and other home audio products that sound nothing short of sensational.

? Learn more

Source: http://techcrunch.com/2013/06/26/cambridge-audios-minx-air-200-earns-the-crown-for-best-home-airplay-speaker/

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First transiting planets in a star cluster discovered

June 26, 2013 ? All stars begin their lives in groups. Most stars, including our Sun, are born in small, benign groups that quickly fall apart. Others form in huge, dense swarms that survive for billions of years as stellar clusters. Within such rich and dense clusters, stars jostle for room with thousands of neighbors while strong radiation and harsh stellar winds scour interstellar space, stripping planet-forming materials from nearby stars.

It would thus seem an unlikely place to find alien worlds. Yet 3,000 light-years from Earth, in the star cluster NGC 6811, astronomers have found two planets smaller than Neptune orbiting Sun-like stars. The discovery, published in the journal Nature, shows that planets can develop even in crowded clusters jam-packed with stars.

"Old clusters represent a stellar environment much different than the birthplace of the Sun and other planet-hosting field stars," says lead author Soren Meibom of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA). "And we thought maybe planets couldn't easily form and survive in the stressful environments of dense clusters, in part because for a long time we couldn't find them."

The two new alien worlds appeared in data from NASA's Kepler spacecraft. Kepler hunts for planets that transit, or cross in front of, their host stars. During a transit, the star dims by an amount that depends on the size of the planet, allowing the size to be determined. Kepler-66b and Kepler-67b are both less than three times the size of Earth, or about three-fourths the size of Neptune (mini-Neptunes).

Of the more than 850 known planets beyond our solar system, only four -- all similar to or greater than Jupiter in mass -- were found in clusters. Kepler-66b and -67b are the smallest planets to be found in a star cluster, and the first cluster planets seen to transit their host stars, which enables the measurement of their sizes.

Meibom and his colleagues have measured the age of NGC 6811 to be one billion years. Kepler-66b and Kepler-67b therefore join a small group of planets with precisely determined ages, distances, and sizes.

Considering the number of stars observed by Kepler in NGC 6811, the detection of two such planets implies that the frequency and properties of planets in open clusters are consistent with those of planets around field stars (stars not within a cluster or association) in the Milky Way galaxy.

"These planets are cosmic extremophiles," says Meibom. "Finding them shows that small planets can form and survive for at least a billion years, even in a chaotic and hostile environment."

Headquartered in Cambridge, Mass., the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA) is a joint collaboration between the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and the Harvard College Observatory. CfA scientists, organized into six research divisions, study the origin, evolution and ultimate fate of the universe.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/space_time/astronomy/~3/5eF7JMT5IhA/130626162816.htm

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Slain soldier is brought back to Texas

Army Lt. Col. Todd Clark was born in Albany, N.Y., but came home to Texas for good Wednesday.

Shot dead over the weekend by an Afghan National Army soldier, he was flown to San Antonio International Airport. There, a white-gloved U.S. Army North honor guard slowly took his flag-draped casket off a jetliner to a hearse as GIs and a Southwest Airlines pilot saluted. A ground crewman, among about eight workers in all, held his right hand over his heart.

?There was silence on that tarmac and not one Southwest employee was moving,? said Lt. Col. Tim Beninato, an Army North spokesman. ?And some put their hands over their chests, their hats were off and there was complete respect and reverence.?

Clark was a Texas A&M University graduate. His family decided to bring his body to San Antonio because the school was a big part of his life, Beninato said. On Friday, Clark will be buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.

Clark, 40, of Evans Mills, N.Y., near Fort Drum, was on his second tour in Afghanistan after surviving a roadside bomb attack there in July 2010, the Albany Times-Union reported.

He was an instructor with the 10th Mountain Division in Afghanistan and already held a Purple Heart when he was killed Saturday by one of the men he was training.

Wearing dress blue service uniforms, the Army North contingent was led by its deputy commander for support.

?On behalf of Lt. Gen. (William) Caldwell (IV) and the Army family at Fort Sam Houston, we came to honor Todd's memory and service to our great nation,? Maj. Gen. Adolph McQueen said. Caldwell is Army North's commander.

The Times-Union quoted Clark's father as saying his son had served three tours in Iraq and that he recovered from the roadside bomb attack at a Warrior Transition unit at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

?The worst day of my life,? he told the paper.

?My son, my hero, pray for us,? his mother, Kathleen Clark, wrote on Facebook.

He was a father of two.

sigc@express-news.net

Source: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/military/article/Slain-soldier-is-brought-back-to-Texas-4609540.php

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Senators eye compromise on border security

WASHINGTON (AP) ? After secretive talks, key senators expressed optimism Wednesday night that they were closing in on a bipartisan agreement to toughen the border security requirements in immigration legislation that also offers a path to citizenship to millions living in the country illegally.

Under the emerging compromise, the government would grant legal status to immigrants living in the United States unlawfully at the same time the additional security was being put into place. Green cards, which signify permanent residency status, would be withheld until the security steps were complete.

If agreed to, the change has the potential to give a powerful boost to the immigration bill that is at the top of President Barack Obama's second-term domestic agenda.

The developments came as Democrats who met with House Speaker John Boehner during the day quoted him as saying he expects the House to pass its own version of an immigration bill this summer and for Congress to have a final compromise by year's end. Boehner, R-Ohio, has already said the legislation that goes to the House in the next month or two will not include a pathway to citizenship for those in the United States illegally.

Precise details of the pending agreement in the Senate were unavailable, but Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., said it involved a major increase of resources to the border, including more manpower, fencing and technology. The underlying legislation already envisions more border agents; additional fencing along the U.S-Mexico border; surveillance drones; a requirement for employers to verify the legal status of potential workers; as well as a biometric system to track foreigners who enter and leave the United States at air and seaports and by land.

"Our whole effort has been to build a bipartisan group that will support the bill," said Hoeven, who has not yet stated a position on the legislation. "That's what this is all about, and it's focused on border security."

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., one of the bill's most prominent supporters, said discussions with Republicans "have been really productive. We've made a lot of progress in the last 24 hours. Now we have some vetting to do with our respective allies."

The potential compromise came into focus one day after the Congressional Budget Office jolted lawmakers with an estimate saying that as drafted, the legislation would fail to prevent a steady increase in the future in the number of residents living in the United States illegally.

The estimate appeared to give added credibility to Republicans who have been pressing Democrats to toughen the border security provisions already written into the bill. Schumer and Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., met at midday with Hoeven, and Republican Sens. Bob Corker of Tennessee, John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. The Democrats, McCain and Graham are part of the so-called bipartisan Gang of Eight that drafted the bill.

If ratified, the compromise would mark concessions on both sides.

Some Republicans have been unwilling to support a bill that grants legal status to immigrants in the country illegally until the government certifies that the border security steps have achieved 90 percent effectiveness in stopping would-be border crossers.

On the other hand, Democrats have opposed Republican proposals to make legalization contingent on success in closing the border to illegal crossings. Under the legislation as drafted, legalization could begin as soon as a security plan was drafted, but a 10-year wait is required for a green card.

One plan to change that was sidetracked during the day on a vote of 61-37.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said his proposal would require Congress to vote annually for five years on whether the border is secure. If lawmakers decide it is not, "then the processing of undocumented workers stops until" it is, he said. The decision would be made based on numerous factors, including progress toward completion of a double-layered fence along the U.S.-Mexico border and toward a goal of 95 percent capture of illegal entrants. A system to track the border comings and goings of foreigners is also required.

Only a day earlier, the CBO had cheered supporters of the bill with an estimate that it would help the economy and reduce deficits in each of the next two decades.

Now it was the skeptics' turn to crow.

"Illegality will not be stopped, but it will only be reduced by 25 percent," said Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., referring to the prediction by the non-partisan CBO.

While the public debate was taking place, lawmakers involved in the private talks expressed optimism.

"We're on the verge of doing something dramatic on the border," Graham told reporters. "What we're trying to do is put in place measures that to any reasonable person would be an overwhelming effort to secure our border. This is a key moment in the effort to pass the bill."

Across the Capitol, House Republican leaders sought to present a friendlier face to Hispanics ? a group that gave Obama more than 70 percent support in last year's presidential election.

Boehner met with the Democratic-dominated Congressional Hispanic Caucus, while rank and file members of his party reviewed areas of agreement with faith-based Latino leaders.

"It's a conversation Republicans want to have," Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., said later at a news conference outside the Capitol.

At the same time, though, anti-immigration protesters moved across the Capitol plaza into range of television cameras, raising signs that said, "Do Not Reward Criminals" and "No Amnesty for Illegal Aliens."

Separately, the House Judiciary Committee worked on legislation creating a program allowing farm workers to come to the United States to take temporary jobs in the United States.

The measure is one of several that the panel is considering in the final weeks of June as part of a piece-by-piece approach to immigration rather than the all-in-one bill that Senate is considering.

In addition to border security measures and a pathway to citizenship for millions of immigrants in the country illegally, the Senate bill provides more visas for highly-skilled workers prized by the technology industry, a guest worker farm program and a new program for lower-skilled workers to come to the United States.

___

Associated Press writer Laurie Kellman contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/compromise-among-senators-eyed-border-security-225125834.html

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UH Case Medical Center launches novel clinical trial using stem cells to prevent amputation

Public release date: 18-Jun-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Mike Ferrari
mike.ferrari@uhhospitals.org
216-844-7239
University Hospitals Case Medical Center

Investigational device could prevent or delay major amputation in patients with Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI) due to severe peripheral arterial disease (PAD)

University Hospitals Case Medical Center clinical researchers have launched an innovative clinical trial, unique in its design, which will evaluate the ability of a patient's own stem cells to prevent leg amputations in end stage peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Led by Vik Kashyap, MD, Division Chief, Vascular Surgery at University Hospitals Case Medical Center's Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute and Professor of Surgery at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, the clinical trial is designed to improve blood flow in legs with blocked arteries by attempting to treat diseased blood vessels. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a common yet serious disease that occurs when extra cholesterol and fat circulating in the blood collects on the walls of the arteries that supply blood to the limbs.

Due to the location and extent of the blockages in certain individuals, standard treatments such as surgical bypass (insertion of a vein or synthetic graft to redirect blood flow around the blockage) and angioplasty (insertion of a balloon through the artery to open the blockage) will not improve blood flow to the leg, and amputation is the only alternative.

For patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) revascularization procedures such as surgical bypass or percutaneous angioplasty/stenting are currently the only option to restore perfusion and maintain limb viability.

For CLI patients who are non-candidates for revascularization, amputation is often needed. It is estimated that over 160,000 amputations are performed in the United States each year.

The number of CLI patients who will not be candidates for revascularization continues to rise as the population ages and the incidence of diabetes and other vascular risk factors increase. For CLI patients who are considered unreconstructable, the amputation and mortality rates at six months approach 40% and 20%, respectively. Furthermore, nearly 30% of patients who undergo below-knee amputation will fail rehabilitation and require chronic institutional care or professional assistance at home.

The trial sponsor, Biomet Biologics (Warsaw, IN), recently completed a Phase I study of 30 subjects to evaluate the safety of autologous concentrated bone marrow aspirate for critical limb ischemia. The results of this study were used to advance the company's MarrowStim concentration technology into the FDA-approved, pivotal IDE trial described here. Overall, the trial will enroll 152 subjects at up to 20 investigational sites.

"This trial offers an opportunity to save a patient's leg when there are no remaining options to improve blood supply," said Dr. Kashyap. "We are pleased to add this capability at UH and provide hope for patients facing the risk of limb loss."

Subjects will be randomized to receive either the investigational treatment involving the MarrowStim P.A.D. Kit (75% chance), or a placebo control involving a sham procedure (25% chance). The trial's primary end point of time to treatment failure, defined as major amputation or death, will be evaluated over a one?year follow?up period. Secondary end points, including rest pain, perfusion measurements, quality of life, and safety, will also be evaluated for one year.

###

Only those patients meeting the pre-defined approved inclusion/exclusion criteria are eligible for this clinical trial. To learn more about this clinical trial and to see the qualifications for participation, visit http://www.clinicaltrialspotlight.com or call toll-free at 877-788-3972.

About University Hospitals

University Hospitals serves the needs of patients through an integrated network of hospitals, outpatient centers and primary care physicians. At the core of our health system is University Hospitals Case Medical Center. The primary affiliate of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals Case Medical Center is home to some of the most prestigious clinical and research centers of excellence in the nation and the world, including cancer, pediatrics, women's health, orthopedics and spine, radiology and radiation oncology, neurosurgery and neuroscience, cardiology and cardiovascular surgery, organ transplantation and human genetics. Its main campus includes the internationally celebrated UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, ranked among the top children's hospitals in the nation; UH MacDonald Women's Hospital, Ohio's only hospital for women; and UH Seidman Cancer Center, part of the NCI-designated Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. University Hospitals Case Medical Center is the 2012 recipient of the American Hospital Association McKesson Quest for Quality Prize for its leadership and innovation in quality improvement and safety. For more information, go to http://www.uhhospitals.org.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 18-Jun-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Mike Ferrari
mike.ferrari@uhhospitals.org
216-844-7239
University Hospitals Case Medical Center

Investigational device could prevent or delay major amputation in patients with Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI) due to severe peripheral arterial disease (PAD)

University Hospitals Case Medical Center clinical researchers have launched an innovative clinical trial, unique in its design, which will evaluate the ability of a patient's own stem cells to prevent leg amputations in end stage peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Led by Vik Kashyap, MD, Division Chief, Vascular Surgery at University Hospitals Case Medical Center's Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute and Professor of Surgery at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, the clinical trial is designed to improve blood flow in legs with blocked arteries by attempting to treat diseased blood vessels. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a common yet serious disease that occurs when extra cholesterol and fat circulating in the blood collects on the walls of the arteries that supply blood to the limbs.

Due to the location and extent of the blockages in certain individuals, standard treatments such as surgical bypass (insertion of a vein or synthetic graft to redirect blood flow around the blockage) and angioplasty (insertion of a balloon through the artery to open the blockage) will not improve blood flow to the leg, and amputation is the only alternative.

For patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) revascularization procedures such as surgical bypass or percutaneous angioplasty/stenting are currently the only option to restore perfusion and maintain limb viability.

For CLI patients who are non-candidates for revascularization, amputation is often needed. It is estimated that over 160,000 amputations are performed in the United States each year.

The number of CLI patients who will not be candidates for revascularization continues to rise as the population ages and the incidence of diabetes and other vascular risk factors increase. For CLI patients who are considered unreconstructable, the amputation and mortality rates at six months approach 40% and 20%, respectively. Furthermore, nearly 30% of patients who undergo below-knee amputation will fail rehabilitation and require chronic institutional care or professional assistance at home.

The trial sponsor, Biomet Biologics (Warsaw, IN), recently completed a Phase I study of 30 subjects to evaluate the safety of autologous concentrated bone marrow aspirate for critical limb ischemia. The results of this study were used to advance the company's MarrowStim concentration technology into the FDA-approved, pivotal IDE trial described here. Overall, the trial will enroll 152 subjects at up to 20 investigational sites.

"This trial offers an opportunity to save a patient's leg when there are no remaining options to improve blood supply," said Dr. Kashyap. "We are pleased to add this capability at UH and provide hope for patients facing the risk of limb loss."

Subjects will be randomized to receive either the investigational treatment involving the MarrowStim P.A.D. Kit (75% chance), or a placebo control involving a sham procedure (25% chance). The trial's primary end point of time to treatment failure, defined as major amputation or death, will be evaluated over a one?year follow?up period. Secondary end points, including rest pain, perfusion measurements, quality of life, and safety, will also be evaluated for one year.

###

Only those patients meeting the pre-defined approved inclusion/exclusion criteria are eligible for this clinical trial. To learn more about this clinical trial and to see the qualifications for participation, visit http://www.clinicaltrialspotlight.com or call toll-free at 877-788-3972.

About University Hospitals

University Hospitals serves the needs of patients through an integrated network of hospitals, outpatient centers and primary care physicians. At the core of our health system is University Hospitals Case Medical Center. The primary affiliate of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals Case Medical Center is home to some of the most prestigious clinical and research centers of excellence in the nation and the world, including cancer, pediatrics, women's health, orthopedics and spine, radiology and radiation oncology, neurosurgery and neuroscience, cardiology and cardiovascular surgery, organ transplantation and human genetics. Its main campus includes the internationally celebrated UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, ranked among the top children's hospitals in the nation; UH MacDonald Women's Hospital, Ohio's only hospital for women; and UH Seidman Cancer Center, part of the NCI-designated Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. University Hospitals Case Medical Center is the 2012 recipient of the American Hospital Association McKesson Quest for Quality Prize for its leadership and innovation in quality improvement and safety. For more information, go to http://www.uhhospitals.org.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-06/uhcm-ucm_1061813.php

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What will it take to get every app on every platform? - Talk Mobile

There are three ways to choose what smartphone experience you're going to have: by carrier, by device, and by apps. Choosing by carrier places the quality of your voice and data service first, whereas making a decision based on the device means you're after a specific platform experience and hardware features. But choosing by apps is trickier.

The current array of mobile ecosystems is simultaneously fragmented and unified across the many platforms. Some major apps are available on all or most platforms, as are apps from smaller developers. Other apps are exclusive to a platform by virtue of features unique to the operating system or the resource constraints of the developer. But if you need that one app to do what you need to do, then the carrier or the device don't matter so much.

But what if all apps could be available on all platforms? Is cross-platform development something that developers should be concerned about, and what are the pitfalls that can be faced in doing so? Is it better to build an app specifically for each platform, or should the app be built with a cross-platform web-based framework?

Users and developers alike can agree that having an app available regardless of platform is a great ideal. But at what cost?

Let's get the conversation started!

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

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The Talk Mobile cross-platform hangout!

We're in Day 3 of apps week, and myself, Kevin, Rene, Dan and Marcus got together to chat a little more about apps and whether going cross-platform is a necessity. Check it out!

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/tVGSt747KhM/story01.htm

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5 Reasons Apple Should Just Buy Sirius Already - Seeking Alpha

At this year's Worldwide Developer Conference, Apple (AAPL) announced plans to launch a streaming music service to compete with Pandora (P) and Sirius XM (SIRI), called iTunes Radio. The first pictures of it make it look suspiciously like Pandora. Also, it appears that it's going to operate in the exact same fashion.

(click to enlarge - source apple.com)

Techcrunch.com reported on the unveiling of iTunes radio:

iTunes Radio is essentially what we've been hearing it would be: a streaming music service that takes your tastes into account in order to play tracks that are likely to be in line with your tastes. Apple really has essentially taken its Genius jukebox-style feature, which combs your library and builds genre-based playlists, or suggests recommended artists and tracks based on what you're currently listening to. The difference with the new service is that it can access the entire iTunes catalog, which, at this point, is well over 26 million tracks. Sony, Universal and Warner are all on board.

While I'm sure that iTunes Radio will hold its own and square off with both Pandora and Sirius, I can't get the argument for not just buying Sirius satellite radio out of my head. Sirius is heading in the direction of internet streaming, so is Apple. It makes sense to me. The purchase of Sirius would not only get Apple arguably ten steps ahead in the streaming radio department, it would add partnerships, revenue, and almost $9 billion in assets to the balance sheet.

Here's what seem like the 5 most obvious reasons to me for why Apple should pony up the dough and buy Sirius XM.

1. Apple Can Afford It Easily

With a market cap of just over $20 billion, it would literally be nothing for Apple to make a tender offer for Sirius. Apple has well over $100 billion sitting in the bank and is banking about 5 billion a quarter and taking on debt. At this rate, Apple would have Sirius paid off in just a year and its cash pile back to the shape it was in pre-offer.

So, the cash isn't an issue.

2. It Makes Apple's Smart Move Into Cars Much Easier

I spent the better part of a previous article about the WWDC on Apple commending them on their decision to get into automobiles. This is an incredibly smart thing to focus on that will also prove to be lucrative if Apple can execute - and I believe they will.

In my last article, I noted:

As reported by The Verge:

Apple added turn-by-turn directions to its last version of iOS, and it's expanded vehicular options with iOS 7. A new "iOS in the Car" system will mirror your iPhone on the infotainment displays found in many cars: it's supported on everything from Kias and Hondas to Jaguars and Ferraris. That means Maps, Siri, Messages, and more will be available directly on the dashboard. You'll have to wait a while to use it, though; car manufacturers will begin adding the feature in 2014.

This is a big one for a couple of reasons - getting iOS into vehicles is going to be another place where you're interacting with the Apple ecosystem. You're going to have Apple available everywhere you have media available.

I started to allude to this in my previous article about Apple, speaking about how Apple is moving from current products to products that we use in all facets of life.

Even though Apple has already made allusions at WWDC 2013 to the partnerships that they've made when dealing with car manufacturers, Sirius also has long standing relationships with many car companies.

According to Forbes, the long standing partnerships that Sirius has with car vendors remains one of its biggest assets:

Every year Sirius XM pays a large sum to its OEM (original equipment manufacturers) partners to keep its radio equipment flowing into the new car market at around a 60% penetration rate. Of these 60% who buy a car equipped with satellite radio, just under half (45-46%) tend to convert to self-pay subscribers after the promotion trial runs out.

That's a healthy rate and therefore Sirius XM will continue to benefit from its relationships with the car makers. For instance, the company has a deal with General Motors which is valid till September 2020. It also has entered into long-term contracts with other car makers such as Ford, Toyota, Kia, Bentley, BMW, Volkswagen, Nissan, Hyundai, and Mitsubishi. Several trucks, boats and recreational vehicles also include Sirius XM radios as standard installation.

Car sales in the U.S. are picking up with a gradual improvement in the economy. This automotive market growth is being further helped by higher availability of financing and lease deals. Overall auto sales in the U.S. stood at around 14.5 million in 2012 and are expected to cross 15 million in 2013. Furthermore, tax breaks on vehicles up to $49,500 including passenger automobiles, motorcycles, motor homes and trucks are likely to spur sales. Additional tax credits for choosing hybrid, fuel cell, alternative fuel and advanced lean-burn technology vehicles have been offered since 2005.

3. It Gives Apple Instant Access to Serious Infrastructure

This is the biggest benefit if you ask me. Sirius, with $8.6 billion in assets, already has absolutely everything and anything necessary infrastructure-wise in place. A deal of this magnitude would link Apple up with a major infrastructure network and would expand their streaming internet audio to also include satellite - something they're not planning on currently going into.

SA Contributor "Crunching Numbers" points out, aside from the obvious, another "hidden" asset that Sirius has:

Before Sirius and XM merged, each company had FCC licenses covering 12.5 MHz of Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service, or SDARS, spectrum. After the merger formed Sirius XM Radio , the company had licenses that covered 25 MHz of SDARS spectrum. Since the two companies had broadcast similar programming, it would seem like there is an extra 12.5 MHz of bandwidth, doesn't it? It should be extra bandwidth that the company can use to increase programming or sell.

Gurufocus.com also points out the access Apple would have to Sirius's satellites:

The fascinating detail regarding how SIRI works is in its satellites. SIRI owns nine orbiting satellites total, combining the satellites in the SIRIUS system with the satellites in the XM system, and a tenth satellite that is on reserve as a spare. The company has an additional satellite being developed and hopes that it will be launched at some point this quarter. SIRI's satellite radio services also extend beyond the automobile. SIRI has radio channels with Dish Network (DISH) and a number of radio channels available through subscriptions with major mobile phone companies such as AT&T (T), Sprint (S), and Research In Motion (RIMM). SIRI has minority ownership in Sirius Canada and hopes to continue to extend its presence globally.

4. It Locks Up an Insane Amount of Content

Think getting your foot in the door with the automobile manufacturers is a huge step ahead? Think of the content that Apple would lock up and have access to immediately upon purchasing Sirius.

From Sirius's website:

SiriusXM is also one of the world's largest pure-play audio entertainment companies and we are among the largest subscription media companies in the United States, offering an impressive array of exclusive content that spans virtually all genres and interests, including Howard Stern, Oprah Winfrey, Dr. Laura, Jamie Foxx, Opie & Anthony, Bob Edwards, Chris "Mad Dog" Russo,Cristina Saralegui, Jimmy Buffett, Elvis, Eminem, The Grateful Dead, B.B. King, Willie Nelson, Ozzy Osbourne, Pearl Jam, Tom Petty, Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen, and Ti?sto. SiriusXM is the ultimate destination for sports fans, offering listeners sports talk and live play-by-play from the NFL, Major League Baseball?, NASCAR?, NBA, NHL?, PGA TOUR?, IZOD IndyCar? Series,FORMULA 1, soccer, college sports, and more.

5. It Saves Sirius From Apple & Puts Major Pressure on Pandora

One of the main points I made in my last article is that iTunes Radio isn't only just going to be great for Apple, it's going to be terrible news for Pandora and Sirius. By Sirius and Apple joining up, it reduces the risk that Apple is going to have a negative effect on Sirius and sells the company at the highest valuation it's ever had.

Gurufocus.com makes the case for going long Sirius versus Pandora:

In 2010, SIRI told investors that the company would grow its subscriber base by 500,000 and by year-end, SIRI had more than doubled that amount with 1.4 million new subscribers. Also, free cash flow from 2008 to 2010 has increased from $-283 million to positive $201 million and SIRI has experienced growth in net income over the past two years from $-352.04 million in 2009 to $43.06 million in 2010. These are two sure signs that SIRI is focused on expanding its customer base and making growth a priority. Capital expenditures have been decreasing for SIRI and after the launch of their next satellite into orbit in the fourth quarter of this year their satellite replacement cycle will be done. This is significant because this will enable satellite capital expenditures to decline by nearly $90 million in 2011 and by an additional $100 million in 2012, which will amount to nearly zero capital expenditures for satellites until 2016 or 2017. With the company not spending the extra capital on satellites, this will enable them to work on other research and development projects and further expand their radio presence.

So, combining the two companies would almost certainly push out Pandora, as the struggling startup would ultimately not have a chance against an Apple/Sirius partnership.

Conclusion

I'll first conclude by running through some of the bearish arguments on why this might not work. Some would argue that Sirius is expensive and overvalued, as it's trading at nearly its all-time highs. For a company with $8.5 billion in assets that is growing at the rate Sirius is, I don't think it's expensive.

Also of note would be the hardware issue. Naysayers would argue that the Sirius receivers in cars would be a big difference from what Apple intends on doing with iOS in cars. However, that's moot due to the fact that eventually all cars will be outfitted with touch screens for their radio and other controls. Before 2015, it'll likely be the standard across the board. New cars that are coming out today, like the Ford Fusion, all control their Sirius through touch screens - I'd argue that make its even easier to integrate iOS with Sirius in cars.

Finally, some would argue that it would make Apple too big and bloated and that there could an anti-trust issue. This is probably the biggest issue to be considered. If Mel Karmazin was still at the helm at Sirius, I'd say that he'd get it done (as his track record suggests), but regulatory difficulty would likely be the biggest hurdle in this situation.

I hope this article puts some perspective on how likely an event like this could actually be. When I brought this up to several investor friends of mine, it was chuckled at - until I made this case. Whether you invest in Apple, Sirius, or Pandora, I wish you the best of luck as always.

Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. (More...)

Source: http://seekingalpha.com/article/1507932-5-reasons-apple-should-just-buy-sirius-already?source=feed

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