First vaccine to help control some autism symptoms

Apr. 24, 2013 ? A first-ever vaccine created by University of Guelph researchers for gut bacteria common in autistic children may also help control some autism symptoms.

The groundbreaking study by Brittany Pequegnat and Guelph chemistry professor Mario Monteiro appears this month in the journal Vaccine.

They developed a carbohydrate-based vaccine against the gut bug Clostridium bolteae.

C. bolteae is known to play a role in gastrointestinal disorders, and it often shows up in higher numbers in the GI tracts of autistic children than in those of healthy kids.

More than 90 per cent of children with autism spectrum disorders suffer from chronic, severe gastrointestinal symptoms. Of those, about 75 per cent suffer from diarrhea, according to current literature.

"Little is known about the factors that predispose autistic children to C. bolteae," said Monteiro. Although most infections are handled by some antibiotics, he said, a vaccine would improve current treatment.

"This is the first vaccine designed to control constipation and diarrhea caused by C. bolteae and perhaps control autism-related symptoms associated with this microbe," he said.

Autism cases have increased almost sixfold over the past 20 years, and scientists don't know why. Although many experts point to environmental factors, others have focused on the human gut.

Some researchers believe toxins and/or metabolites produced by gut bacteria, including C. bolteae, may be associated with symptoms and severity of autism, especially regressive autism.

Pequegnat, a master's student, and Monteiro used bacteria grown by Mike Toh, a Guelph PhD student in the lab of microbiology professor Emma Allen-Vercoe.

The new anti- C. bolteae vaccine targets the specific complex polysaccharides, or carbohydrates, on the surface of the bug.

The vaccine effectively raised C. bolteae-specific antibodies in rabbits. Doctors could also use the vaccine-induced antibodies to quickly detect the bug in a clinical setting, said Monteiro.

The vaccine might take more than 10 years to work through preclinical and human trials, and it may take even longer before a drug is ready for market, Monteiro said.

"But this is a significant first step in the design of a multivalent vaccine against several autism-related gut bacteria," he said.

Monteiro has studied sugar-based vaccines for two other gastric pathogens: Campylobacter jejuni, which causes travellers' diarrhea; and Clostridium difficile, which causes antibiotic-associated diarrhea.

The research was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Guelph.

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. Brittany Pequegnat, Martin Sagermann, Moez Valliani, Michael Toh, Herbert Chow, Emma Allen-Vercoe, Mario A. Monteiro. A vaccine and diagnostic target for Clostridium bolteae, an autism-associated bacterium. Vaccine, 2013; DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2013.04.018

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

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_science/~3/0W9_AFl8Wv4/130424112309.htm

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Wines, spirits tax hike to wipe out benefits for pubs, bars: WSTA ...

April 24th, 2013 | Add a Comment

Wines, spirits tax hike to wipe out benefits for pubs, bars: WSTA Drinks Business Review The increase in wines and spirits tax is set to wipe out the benefits of pubs and bars from the beer tax cut and affect women, who prefer wines and spirits over beer, according to a new analysis by UK-based organization for the wine and spirit industry ?

Simon

... is the owner of The Cyberboozer - a huge directory of pubs and bars, covering 93,000 pubs in 17 countries. He also likes to blog about news, products and pretty much anything else he can think of that's even loosely related to pubs and bars.

More Posts - Website - Twitter - Facebook

Filed under: News ? Tags: bars, benefits, Business, Drinks, hike, pubs, Review, spirits, wines, wipe, WSTA

Source: http://www.cyberboozer.com/pubsandbarsblog/news/wines-spirits-tax-hike-to-wipe-out-benefits-for-pubs-bars-wsta-drinks-business-review

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Seminar focus: The role of parents as coaches | The Salt Lake Tribune

Park City ? Speaker and athletes to talk about nurturing young athletes.

A free seminar on a parent?s role as a coach "on the field or in the backyard" will be presented 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 30, at Jim Santy Auditorium, 1255 Park Ave., in Park City.

Finn Gundersen, a consultant specializing in the development of high-performance athletes and sports education, will speak on the subject then lead a panel discussion involving prominent Olympic and professional athletes.

Gundersen believes the ultimate goal of playing sports is to help develop character and integrity in children, and that parents can best advance those life skills by helping ensure children?s experiences are positive. He will provide current research on how children learn new skills and information about how to promote long-term development and how to make players want to come back every year.

Panelists include former Olympic soccer player and Real Salt Lake assistant coach Miles Joseph and former Major League Baseball pitcher Mike Morgan and four Olympic gold medalists ? moguls racer Shannon Bahrke, Nordic combined skier/jumper Bill Demong and speedskaters Eric Heiden and Derek Parra.

Gundersen is director of sport education at High Performance Sports, research arm for the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer. He previously was a coach and director of Alpine and sport education for the Park City-based U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association, deputy general manager of Snowbasin?s Alpine skiing venue during the 2002 Winter Olympics and headmaster at Burke Mountain Academy in Vermont.

The seminar is sponsored by the nonprofit Park City Sports and Wellness Coalition, whose members include the Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation, Park City Recreation, Summit County and the Youth Winter Sports Alliance.

Copyright 2013 The Salt Lake Tribune. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/56166974-78/http-park-sports-gundersen.html.csp

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Health insurer WellPoint's 1Q profit rises 3 pct

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) ? WellPoint shares hit their highest level since the summer of 2011 on Wednesday after the nation's second largest health insurer trumped first-quarter earnings expectations, raised its 2013 forecast and said it could profit immediately from a key health care overhaul coverage expansion next year.

The Indianapolis company's performance to start 2013 followed a year marked by slumping earnings, a forecast cut and the abrupt departure of former CEO Angela Braly. Analysts say the net income and higher forecast WellPoint reported Wednesday helped improve investor sentiment.

"We believe this turnaround story is making progress," BMO Capital Markets analyst Jennifer Lynch said in a research note.

Stifel Nicolaus analyst Thomas Carroll added that investors came into the quarter with relatively low expectations for the Blue Cross Blue Shield insurer, and left happy to see some upside in the stock.

WellPoint Inc.'s first-quarter earnings rose about 3 percent to $885.2 million, or $2.89 per share. That compares to $856.5 million, or $2.53 per share, a year ago. Adjusted earnings totaled $2.94 per share, not counting investment gains.

That easily topped the average analyst forecast of $2.38 per share, according to FactSet.

Operating revenue, which also excludes investment results, jumped nearly 16 percent to $17.55 billion. Analysts expected higher revenue of $17.86 billion.

WellPoint said its acquisition last year of Medicaid coverage provider Amerigroup Corp. helped revenue spike and added more than 2 million members to its enrollment in the first quarter. That helped raise the insurer's total membership to 35.8 million people, a total that trails only UnitedHealth Group Inc.

Medicaid is the state-federal program that provides health coverage for the needy and disabled people, and it represents a growth opportunity for health insurers. States are starting to move residents who qualify for both Medicaid and Medicare, which is a federally-funded program for people over age 65 and the disabled, into managed care programs that improve care and cut wasteful spending.

WellPoint officials have said the opportunity these "dual eligible" patients offer was a driving force behind the deal. Medicaid enrollment also will grow next year in several states when the program expands as part of the health care overhaul's push to cover millions of uninsured people.

WellPoint Chief Financial Officer Wayne DeVeydt said Wednesday the insurer's new Medicaid patients from the overhaul expansion could become profitable immediately. He said the Amerigroup acquisition means the insurer is already set up in several states where coverage will expand.

These contracts usually take a year to break even and become profitable, said Ana Gupte, an analyst for the investment research firm Dowling & Partners.

States hire insurers to administer their Medicaid coverage, and the companies face high expenses initially as they set up doctor networks and learn what sort of programs their new patient population needs. For instance, a population with a high concentration of diabetes patients may need support programs to help people manage their disease.

While instant profitability from the Medicaid expansion represents a positive, WellPoint still faces plenty of uncertainty over how the overhaul will affect it next year, Wells Fargo analyst Peter Costa said.

WellPoint has a relatively large percentage of its enrollment in individual insurance or coverage through small businesses. The overhaul calls for exchanges to start next year on which people in those markets will be able to buy coverage, many with help from income-based tax credits. Investors aren't sure how much business insurers like WellPoint will lose or gain because of these exchanges, and analysts say that has made them wary of buying the stock.

That wasn't the case at least on Wednesday, when the stock climbed 5.8 percent, or $4 to close at $73.33 after touching a high price of $74.43 earlier in the session. FactSet says that is its highest price since July 2011. The stock is up nearly 20 percent so far this year.

Angela Braly, the former CEO, left last August as investor frustration started to surface over the company's performance. WellPoint has since beaten analyst expectations for three straight quarters, and new CEO Joseph Swedish started last month.

On Wednesday, WellPoint said it now expects 2013 earnings to total $7.80 per share, up from its forecast in January for $7.60 per share. Analysts expect, on average, earnings of $7.82 per share.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/health-insurer-wellpoints-1q-profit-rises-3-pct-103538832--finance.html

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U.S. sues Novartis, alleging kickbacks to pharmacies

By Bernard Vaughan and Jonathan Stempel

(Reuters) - The U.S. government filed a civil fraud lawsuit against Novartis AG on Tuesday, accusing a unit of the Swiss drug maker of causing the Medicare and Medicaid programs to pay tens of millions of dollars in reimbursements based on fraudulent, kickback-tainted claims.

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara in Manhattan said Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp had since 2005 induced at least 20 pharmacies to switch thousands of kidney transplant patients to its immunosuppressant drug Myfortic from competitors' drugs, in exchange for kickbacks disguised as rebates and discounts.

He said Novartis tried to conceal the scheme by omitting the agreements from rebate and discount contracts with pharmacies.

In one alleged case, Novartis offered a Los Angeles pharmacist a "bonus" rebate of 5 percent of that pharmacist's annual Myfortic sales, or several hundred thousand dollars, to switch as many as 1,000 patients to Myfortic.

"Novartis co-opted the independence of certain pharmacists and turned them into salespeople," Bharara said in a statement.

The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan, and seeks civil penalties and triple damages from Novartis for violating the federal False Claims Act.

Novartis disputes the claims and will defend itself, spokeswoman Julie Masow said in an email.

Novartis is "committed to high standards of ethical business conduct and regulatory compliance in the sale and marketing of our products," Masow said.

Myfortic net sales totaled $579 million in 2012, up 12 percent from a year earlier, according to Novartis' annual report. The Novartis Pharmaceuticals unit has offices in East Hanover, New Jersey.

In his announcement, Bharara called Novartis a "repeat offender," referring to a settlement of health care fraud charges based on kickbacks less than three years ago.

Novartis in September of 2010 agreed to pay $422.5 million to resolve criminal and civil liability over its marketing of several drugs, including the epilepsy drug Trileptal. (http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2010/September/10-civ-1102.html)

The company violated a federal anti-kickback statute, "choosing instead to put sales growth and profits before its duty to comply with federal law," according to the new complaint.

The federal anti-kickback statute prohibits paying people to buy drugs or services that Medicare, Medicaid or other federal healthcare programs cover, according to the complaint.

The scheme has been highly lucrative for Novartis, according to the complaint, resulting in "rapid, sometimes exponential growth in Myfortic sales."

A pharmacy in Arkansas, for example, increased its annual sales of the drug to more than $1 million from $100,000 over four years, according to the complaint.

The lawsuit also claims a Novartis account manager admitted the kickback scheme generates "an ongoing stream of revenue" for Novartis "as long as the patient is still living and using (Myfortic)."

These types of cases "are one of the highest priorities of the FBI's health care fraud program," FBI Assistant Director Ronald Hosko said in a statement.

The case is U.S. v. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 11-08196.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel and Bernard Vaughan in New York; Editing by Gary Hill, David Gregorio and Tim Dobbyn)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/u-sues-novartis-alleging-kickbacks-pharmacies-010252156--finance.html

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Texas Instruments Q1 2013 results: $362 million in income on $2.89 billion revenue

Smart phone and tablet products officially winding down, revenues expected to decline appropriately

Texas Instruments is reporting its Q1 2013 earnings today, and the overall numbers are looking quite good. Although revenue for the quarter was down slightly, TI has posted net income and EPS that were near the top of their expected range. Here's a quick breakdown of the high points:

• $2.89 billion in revenues, down 8-percent year-over-year
• $362 million in net income, up 37-percent y-o-y
• $0.32 Earnings Per Share, up 45-percent y-o-y
• $3.9 billion in cash and short-term investments on hand

If it wasn't clear last year that TI is shifting away from the business of consumer chipset products, it should be after reading this earnings release. On its segmented earnings, TI has officially pushed its wireless business -- now dubbed "legacy wireless products" -- into the "Other" category of the sheet, which should give you an indication of where it is headed. Looking forward for Q2 2013 and beyond, TI is advising that its revenues will continue to decline in the legacy wireless business.

TI now says that a full 77-percent of its revenues come from "Analog and Embedded Processing", which means products aimed at the consumer space are far from the priority now. Aside from a cheap alternative to the more popular processors out there right now, don't look for OMAP processors to be making their way into too many products in the coming months.

Source: Texas Instruments

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/bH3JiJ25YIc/story01.htm

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Motherlode Blog: Study Links Autism With Antidepressant Use During Pregnancy

A cautiously worded study based on data collected in Sweden has found that ?in utero exposure to both selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (S.S.R.I.?s) and nonselective monoamine reuptake inhibitors (tricyclic antidepressants) was associated with an increased risk of autism spectrum disorders, particularly without intellectual disability.?

The Swedish medical birth register (which contains data on current drug use reported by mothers early in their pregnancies), along with a system of publicly funded screenings for autism spectrum disorders and extensive national and regional registers of various health issues, make a detailed, population-based case-control study possible ? one that controls for other variables like family income, parent educational level, maternal and paternal age and even maternal region of birth (all factors the authors note have been previously associated with autism).

This is the second study in two years to associate antidepressant use during pregnancy with an increased incidence of autism in exposed children. An earlier, smaller study in California also found a modest increase in risk. The Sweden-based study could not (and did not) exclude the possibility that it was the severe depression, rather than the use of antidepressants, that created the association, but the smaller California study (which considered only S.S.R.I.?s) found ?no increase in risk? for mothers with a history of mental health treatment in the absence of prenatal exposure to S.S.R.I.?s.

The authors of the current study took a very cautious approach to their findings:

The results of the present study as well as the U.S. study present a major dilemma in relation to clinical advice to pregnant women with depression. If antidepressants increase the risk of autism spectrum disorder, it would be reasonable to warn women about this possibility. However, if the association actually reflects the risk of autism spectrum disorder related to the nongenetic effects of severe depression during pregnancy, treatment may reduce the risk. Informed decisions would also need to consider weighing the wider risks of untreated depression with the other adverse outcomes related to antidepressant use. With the current evidence, if the potential risk of autism were a consideration in the decision-making process, it may be reasonable to think about, wherever appropriate, nondrug approaches such as psychological treatments. However, their timely availability to pregnant women will need to be enhanced.

Others working in the field are more inclined to draw a line between the prenatal drug exposure and the increased risk of autism. ?It really shouldn?t come as that much of a surprise given that numerous animal studies have shown that exposure during development leads to changes in the brain and changes in behavior ? often that mimic autism,? said Dr. Adam C. Urato, assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Tufts University School of Medicine and chairman of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at MetroWest Medical Center in Framingham, Mass. (Dr. Urato obviously didn?t speak in links, but you can find the animal studies he refers to here and here.)

?And why should it surprise us that medications that can change brain chemistry and function might alter the development of the brain and behavior?? Dr. Urato argues that the risks of antidepressant use during pregnancy outweigh what he sees as the limited benefits.

One conclusion that is simple to draw is that it?s extraordinarily difficult for a pregnant woman with clinical depression to find some definitive answer about what?s best for her in her situation. I?ve spoken to other researchers in the past who have described for me how difficult it is to put together a study that separates the risks of depression itself in pregnancy from the risks, if any, of the drugs used to treat it. As the researchers in Sweden note, it?s unlikely that conclusive evidence on this issue will ever be available.

If you?ve been pregnant with clinical depression, where did you go to find the information and advice you needed?

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Source: http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/22/study-links-autism-with-antidepressant-use-during-pregnancy/?partner=rss&emc=rss

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Myanmar leader pardons 93 prisoners

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) ? Myanmar's president pardoned 93 prisoners on Tuesday, including at least 59 political detainees, a day after the European Union lifted sanctions against the Southeast Asian nation.

The pardon was announced on state television and came amid renewed calls for the government to release hundreds more political prisoners still believed to be behind bars.

President Thein Sein's government has routinely denied the existence of political prisoners, saying all people sentenced to jail have been convicted legitimately of breaking the nation's laws. Nevertheless, hundreds of prominent political detainees have been freed since the former general took office two years ago after a long-ruling army junta was dissolved.

In February, Thein Sein appointed a 16-member committee to review the cases of inmates identified by opposition groups as prisoners of conscience. Some cases are complicated because they involve bombings or threats to state security or national stability. Rights groups say many other people were wrongfully convicted and given extreme sentences for actions that would not be considered crimes elsewhere.

Ye Aung, a former prisoner and a member of the government committee, said at least 59 political prisoners were released Tuesday and that at least 300 others remain incarcerated, most of them members of ethnic minorities.

Opposition leaders and rights groups have accused the government of using political prisoners as "bargaining chips" ? releasing some to prove progress, holding others to push the West to ease more sanctions.

The last major prisoner release coincided with a visit to the country by President Barack Obama. Tuesday's pardon came after the European Union dropped all political and economic sanctions against Myanmar to support the country's "remarkable process" in democratic reforms, while warning that it must control recent ethnic violence.

"Amnesties almost always coincide with international events. Today's amnesty coincides with the lifting of EU sanctions," said Ko Ko Gyi, who was released from jail last year and is one of the country's most prominent former political prisoners.

"The government should acknowledge the existence of political prisoners and release them all," he said.

One of those released Tuesday from Yangon's notorious Insein prison, Zaw Moe, said he was among at least five political prisoners freed there. But he said he could not be content because "many of my friends remain" behind bars. "I'm worried about them."

Zaw Moe had been sentenced to an 18-year jail term in 2008 for alleged links to dissident groups fighting against the former military government.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/myanmar-leader-pardons-93-prisoners-152642296.html

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AT&T Q1 2013: Wireless revenues of $16.7 billion, income of $4.7 billion

Record 6 million smart phones sold in the quarter; 72-percent of postpaid customers now own smart phones

AT&T has just released its Q1 2013 earnings, which encompasses both its wireless and wireline businesses. Earnings for the quarter were generally strong, although they were counteracted by a fall in revenues in the wireline business. We're most interested in the wireless portion though, so we're going to focus on that. Here are the high points:

• $16.7 billion in total revenue, up 3.4-percent year-over-year
• $4.7 billion in operating income, up 4.1-percent y-o-y
• Wireless data revenues up 21-percent y-o-y
• 296,000 postpaid net customer additions
• Postpaid churn improved to 1.04-percent
• 1.2 million new smart phone subscribers
• Postpaid data ARPU up 18-percent

In nearly all metrics, AT&T is performing well on the wireless side of its business. The carrier added nearly 300,000 new customers, moved 1.2 million customers to smart phones, and says a full 72-percent of postpaid customers now own smart phones. AT&T sold a record 6 million smart phones in the quarter, which made up 88-percent of all postpaid phone sales. Data ARPU (Average Revenue Per User) shot up by 18-percent, and phone-only ARPU rose 2-percent.

Nearly 70-percent of AT&T's customers are now on usage-based (tiered data and Mobile Share) plans, which is up from 61-percent a year earlier. About 14-percent of AT&T's customers are now on Mobile Share plans, with an average of 3 devices per plan. About 25-percent of those Mobile Share plans are using 10GB of data or more per month, driving up data revenues.

On the network front, AT&T says it currently covers 200 million POPs with its LTE network, which is running ahead of schedule. By the end of 2013, it plans to reach 90-percent of its goal to have 300 million POPs covered. AT&T says 60-percent of its customers have a "4G" (aka HSPA+ or better) device, with over half of those being LTE devices.

Source: AT&T

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/HC716jSbptE/story01.htm

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Pantech Perception official for Verizon, delivers motion-aware Android on April 25th

Unofficial details of the Pantech Perception have been around for long enough for the phone to feel old, but the truth is that it's only just getting started. The 4.8-inch, mid-tier Android smartphone is at last launching with Verizon on April 25th, and it should cost $100 on contract after subscribers cash in a $50 rebate. It won't trigger much regret among Galaxy S 4 buyers when it's carrying a more GS3-like Super AMOLED 720p screen, 16GB of storage, an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel front shooter. That said, Pantech does promise an extra level of software savvy: the company's customized variant of Ice Cream Sandwich (soon to upgrade to Jelly Bean) centers on a Motion Sense suite that lets owners wave their hands to answer calls, switch tracks or navigate contacts and photo galleries. While we can't say we're bowled over by that claimed advantage, the Perception may just hit the sweet spot for those who want an alternative to HTC and Samsung for a bigger handset.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Verizon

Comments

Source: Verizon

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/04/23/pantech-perception-official-for-verizon-april-25/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

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Ford, KB Home partner on green-living concepts with ZeroHouse 2.0

Home Is Where the Hybrid Is: KB Home Features Ford's MyEnergi Lifestyle

• Collaboration pairs Ford C-MAX Energi and other energy-efficient technologies with KB Home's ZeroHouse 2.0 model home to showcase affordable sustainable living
• KB Home to feature Ford's MyEnergi Lifestyle? in ZeroHouse 2.0 in San Marcos, Calif.
• ZeroHouse 2.0 represents the next generation of energy-efficient home design that can help lower cost of home ownership compared to a typical resale home. A fully optioned ZeroHouse 2.0 could entirely eliminate monthly electricity charges
• With a starting price of $29,995, Ford C-MAX Energi is America's most affordable plug-in hybrid vehicle

DEARBORN, Mich. & SAN DIEGO, April 19, 2013 ? Ford Motor Company and KB Home (NYSE: KBH) today announce that products from the Ford-led initiative MyEnergi Lifestyle? will be featured in the homebuilder's ZeroHouse 2.0 model home in San Marcos, Calif., and potentially in additional KB Home markets.

The relationship between these two innovative leaders is intended to raise awareness of MyEnergi Lifestyle benefits and provide a showcase for electric-powered vehicles, solar power systems and smart appliances. The initiative will demonstrate how the typical American family can potentially save money while reducing their impact on the environment by combining a highly efficient home design with the latest in smart home technology and an affordable plug-in hybrid vehicle.

MyEnergi Lifestyle works by leveraging technology so key energy-consuming devices in a home use less energy, while also shifting energy usage to less expensive periods. At night, for example, when energy costs are lower, a smart refrigerator can perform high-energy tasks like ice making or defrosting ? just as Ford's plug-in vehicles do with recharging.

At an event today in San Marcos, Ford's all-new C-MAX Energi was on display and plugged into ZeroHouse 2.0's built-in electric vehicle charge station, which is engineered to charge the vehicle during off-peak hours for maximum cost efficiency. C-MAX Energi boasts an impressive 100 MPGe combined, according to the EPA, plus ? unlike others in the segment ? returns "real car" performance with up to 195 horsepower, engaging driving dynamics and a quiet interior. With a starting price of $29,995, C-MAX Energi is America's most affordable plug-in hybrid.

"KB Home is a leader in incorporating state-of-the-art sustainable building practices, and we're thrilled to feature MyEnergi Lifestyle products in these homes," said Mike Tinskey, Ford global director of vehicle electrification and infrastructure. "The home and vehicle share a common 'fuel' called electricity, now more than ever. Our commitment to sustainability compels us to work collaboratively to find technology solutions that are greater than the sum of the parts."

The future of net-zero energy
ZeroHouse 2.0 continues a national rollout of the net-zero energy home options KB Home began in fall 2011. The ZeroHouse 2.0 in San Marcos pushes the envelope even more, as it's the first WaterSense-labeled home built in San Diego County, and includes both a comprehensive Schneider Electric Wiser? Home Management System and all-new Whirlpool smart appliances that incorporate Whirlpool? 6th Sense Live? technology. The Wiser Home Management System allows homeowners to monitor energy consumption, and provides automation control via a Web-based portal or mobile application. This marks the first time these innovative products have been used by a production homebuilder.

Whirlpool's smart products allow homeowners to monitor and program their appliances through wireless networks, providing greater convenience and control over energy consumption. With Whirlpool 6th Sense Live, homeowners can set their appliances so their highest energy consumption activities happen at times when electricity rates are lowest. They can also receive alerts about the status of their smart appliances ? all from their smartphones or computers.

"We're so pleased to announce our new relationship with Ford, and to have the opportunity to use our innovative new ZeroHouse 2.0 as a true model for an energy-efficient and sustainable lifestyle that we know many of today's consumers desire to achieve," said Jeff Mezger, president and CEO, KB Home. "We continue to refine our ZeroHouse 2.0 options and benefits by further developing and incorporating some of the latest new home building practices and technologies available today."

The higher efficiency of ZeroHouse 2.0 is the result of a whole-home approach ? from the inside out ? that includes additional insulation; upgraded HVAC systems; dual-pane, low-emitting windows; and roof-mounted solar panels by SunPower. Additionally, a WaterSense-labeled home is designed to use 20 percent less water than a typical new home. For a family of four, that's a difference of about 50,000 gallons of water a year compared to a typical home, or enough for nearly 2,000 loads of laundry and as much as $600 in annual utility bills.

At today's event students from San Marcos Middle School and local officials learned firsthand how much money can potentially be saved by living in an energy-efficient ZeroHouse 2.0 home. The students toured the home to learn about the efficiency features included, then watched as a dump truck load of schoolyard dodge balls was spilled out, symbolizing the amount of water a WaterSense-labeled home saves in less than a week compared to a typical new or resale home. KB Home announced it would make a cash donation to the school, equivalent to a year's worth of energy and water savings enjoyed by a family living in the ZeroHouse 2.0 home when compared to a typical resale home.

History of MyEnergi Lifestyle
The Ford-led MyEnergi Lifestyle collaboration is comprised of leaders in the home appliance, solar power and power management industries, and includes Eaton (NYSE: ETN), SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR) and Whirlpool (NYSE: WHR). Additional featured companies include semiconductor provider Infineon (FSE: IFX/OTCQX: IFNNY) and Nest Labs, with its latest learning thermostat represented in the research and implementation phase of the collaboration.

In January Ford released results of a Georgia Institute of Technology computer model that calculated the electricity usage of a typical single family in their home for one year, and the associated savings with moving to an energy-efficient lifestyle. The cumulative results predict a 60 percent reduction in energy costs and more than 9,000 kg of CO2 (a 55 percent reduction) saved. If every home in the U.S. were to implement these energy-saving technologies, it would be the equivalent of taking all the homes in California, New York and Texas ? 32 million homes ? off the power grid.

# # #

About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 171,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.

About KB Home
KB Home is one of the largest and most recognized homebuilding companies in the United States. Since its founding in 1957, the company has built more than half a million quality homes. KB Home's signature Built to Order? approach lets each buyer customize their new home from lot location to floor plan and design features. In addition to meeting strict ENERGY STAR? guidelines, all KB homes are highly energy efficient to help lower monthly utility costs for homeowners, which the company demonstrates with its proprietary KB Home Energy Performance Guide? (EPG?). A leader in utilizing state-of-the-art sustainable building practices, KB Home was named the #1 Green Homebuilder in the most recent study by Calvert Investments and the #1 Homebuilder on FORTUNE magazine's 2011 World's Most Admired Companies list. Los Angeles-based KB Home was the first homebuilder listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and trades under the ticker symbol "KBH." For more information about KB Home's new home communities, call 888-KB-HOMES or visit www.kbhome.com.

Source: http://green.autoblog.com/2013/04/23/ford-kb-home-partner-zerohouse-2/

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3 Doors Down cancels 4 shows following fatal crash

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) ? The rock band 3 Doors Down has called off four U.S. appearances following the arrest of the group's bassist, who was accused of driving intoxicated and causing a fatal interstate crash in a Nashville suburb.

The band announced Monday that out of respect for the victim, 47-year-old Paul Howard Shoulders Jr., it was canceling four appearances in the U.S. originally set for April and May.

The cancellations include shows scheduled in Bossier City, La., Nashville, and at two music festivals, Rockville in Jacksonville, Fla., and Carolina Rebellion in Charlotte. The tour will resume May 31 in Moscow and return to the U.S. in July.

Bassist Robert Todd Harrell remained jailed Monday in lieu of $100,000 bail. He awaits a scheduled court appearance Thursday, but court records do not indicate that he had retained a lawyer. He is facing multiple charges, including vehicular homicide by intoxication, violation of the implied consent law, contraband, and two counts of possession of a controlled substance.

Police said the 41-year-old musician was driving under the influence and speeding Friday night on an interstate in a when his car clipped a pickup truck. The pickup lost control, smashed into a guardrail and went down an embankment and overturned, the police statement added. The pickup driver, who wasn't wearing a seatbelt, was ejected.

Shoulders, the other driver, was pronounced dead at a hospital, police said.

The band's publicist said in a statement that 3 Doors Down cancelled the four upcoming dates out of respect for Shoulders and his family. The statement didn't give specifics of the dates being canceled.

A neighbor of the victim's family described Shoulders as a good man and a mechanic who helped teach young men in his Nashville neighborhood how to work on cars, adding he tried to steer them from the streets.

"He was always helping these boys in the neighborhood with their cars and different things," Edwin Fulcher said. "He was trying to keep them off drugs, keep them busy."

"It really hurt me to think that such a nice fellow like him got killed because he was such an attribute to the community," Fulcher added.

Police said Harrell showed signs of being impaired during field sobriety tests after the crash. A statement issued by Nashville police said that Harrell acknowledged drinking hard cider and taking the prescription drugs Lortab and Xanax.

The musician is also accused of bringing controlled substances into the jail. Authorities say they discovered a plastic bag concealed in his sock that contained eight Xanax pills, 24 Oxycodone pills and four Oxymorphone pills while they were in the process of booking him in the jail.

After the crash, 3 Doors Down released a statement on its website offering condolences to Shoulders' family.

The band, which formed in the '90s in Mississippi, is known for such hits as "Away from the Sun" and "Kryptonite."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/3-doors-down-cancels-4-shows-following-fatal-200741670.html

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His Name Tells the Tale (Balloon Juice)

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Access Hollywood section

??Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson land 'The Internship'
Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson chat with Access' Billy Bush about reuniting in their new comedy, "The Internship." What was it like filming at Google headquarters? Plus, the duo talks about becoming dads since they last worked together in "Wedding Crashers."

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Source: http://www.today.com/id/7358550/ns/today-entertainment/

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Lost your keys? Your cat? The brain can rapidly mobilize a search party

Monday, April 22, 2013

A contact lens on the bathroom floor, an escaped hamster in the backyard, a car key in a bed of gravel: How are we able to focus so sharply to find that proverbial needle in a haystack? Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, have discovered that when we embark on a targeted search, various visual and non-visual regions of the brain mobilize to track down a person, animal or thing.

That means that if we're looking for a youngster lost in a crowd, the brain areas usually dedicated to recognizing other objects, or even the areas attuned to abstract thought, shift their focus and join the search party. Thus, the brain rapidly switches into a highly focused child-finder, and redirects resources it uses for other mental tasks.

"Our results show that our brains are much more dynamic than previously thought, rapidly reallocating resources based on behavioral demands, and optimizing our performance by increasing the precision with which we can perform relevant tasks," said Tolga Cukur, a postdoctoral researcher in neuroscience at UC Berkeley and lead author of the study to be published Sunday, April 21, in the journal Nature Neuroscience.

"As you plan your day at work, for example, more of the brain is devoted to processing time, tasks, goals and rewards, and as you search for your cat, more of the brain becomes involved in recognition of animals," he added.

The findings help explain why we find it difficult to concentrate on more than one task at a time. The results also shed light on how people are able to shift their attention to challenging tasks, and may provide greater insight into neurobehavioral and attention deficit disorders such as ADHD.

These results were obtained in studies that used functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to record the brain activity of study participants as they searched for people or vehicles in movie clips. In one experiment, participants held down a button whenever a person appeared in the movie. In another, they did the same with vehicles.

The brain scans simultaneously measured neural activity via blood flow in thousands of locations across the brain. Researchers used regularized linear regression analysis, which finds correlations in data, to build models showing how each of the roughly 50,000 locations near the cortex responded to each of the 935 categories of objects and actions seen in the movie clips. Next, they compared how much of the cortex was devoted to detecting humans or vehicles depending on whether or not each of those categories was the search target.

They found that when participants searched for humans, relatively more of the cortex was devoted to humans, and when they searched for vehicles, more of the cortex was devoted to vehicles. For example, areas that were normally involved in recognizing specific visual categories such as plants or buildings switched to become tuned to humans or vehicles, vastly expanding the area of the brain engaged in the search.

"These changes occur across many brain regions, not only those devoted to vision. In fact, the largest changes are seen in the prefrontal cortex, which is usually thought to be involved in abstract thought, long-term planning and other complex mental tasks," Cukur said.

The findings build on an earlier UC Berkeley brain imaging study that showed how the brain organizes thousands of animate and inanimate objects into what researchers call a "continuous semantic space." Those findings challenged previous assumptions that every visual category is represented in a separate region of visual cortex. Instead, researchers found that categories are actually represented in highly organized, continuous maps.

The latest study goes further to show how the brain's semantic space is warped during visual search, depending on the search target. Researchers have posted their results in an interactive, online brain viewer. Other co-authors of the study are UC Berkeley neuroscientists Jack Gallant, Alexander Huth and Shinji Nishimoto.

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University of California - Berkeley: http://www.berkeley.edu

Thanks to University of California - Berkeley for this article.

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Source: http://www.labspaces.net/127843/Lost_your_keys__Your_cat__The_brain_can_rapidly_mobilize_a_search_party

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More Money For Utah & Other Mountain-Area Startups: Kickstart Raises $26M Second Fund

Kickstart Seed Fund (not to be confused with crowdfunding giant Kickstarter), has raised $26 million for a second fund to invest in Utah-based startups, along with others in the "Mountain West" region of the U.S. Since its launch in 2008, with a $8 million fund raised by Managing Director Gavin Christensen, Kickstart has invested in 24 companies, including two exits with?Panoptic Security in November of 2012 and GroSocial in January of 2013.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/T4zAyHrBWng/

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Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant has a serious rat problem

April 22 (Reuters) - Pep Guardiola is not the only connection between Bayern Munich and Barcelona, who meet in their Champions League semi-final, first leg at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday. Both teams are dominating their leagues to an almost embarrassing extent, have won the Champions League four times apiece, share an acrimonious rivalry with Real Madrid, and owe part of their success to the flamboyant Dutchman Louis van Gaal. Both have also been in two Champions League finals in the last four years, though the Catalans won both of theirs and the Bavarians came out losers on each occasion. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/japans-fukushima-nuclear-plant-serious-rat-problem-134201520.html

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Metastasis stem cells in the blood of breast cancer patients discovered

Apr. 22, 2013 ? Individual cancer cells that break away from the original tumor and circulate through the blood stream are considered responsible for the development of metastases. These dreaded secondary tumors are the main cause of cancer-related deaths. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) detectable in a patient's blood are associated with a poorer prognosis. However, up until now, experimental evidence was lacking as to whether the "stem cell" of metastasis is found among CTCs.

"We were convinced that only very few of the various circulating tumor cells are capable of forming a secondary tumor in a different organ, because many patients do not develop metastases even though they have cancer cells circulating through their blood," says Prof. Andreas Trumpp, a stem cell expert. Trumpp is head of DKFZ's Division of Stem Cells and Cancer and director of the Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine (HI-STEM) at DKFZ. "Metastasis is a complex process and cancer cells need to have very specific properties for it. Our hypothesis was that the characteristics of cancer stem cells, which are resistant to therapy and very mobile, are best suited," says Trumpp.

Ir?ne Baccelli from Trumpp's team developed a transplantation test for experimental detection of metastasis-initiating cells. In collaboration with Prof. Andreas Schneeweiss from the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg along with colleagues from the Institute of Tumor Biology in Hamburg and the Institute of Pathology of Heidelberg University Hospitals, the researchers analyzed the blood of more than 350 breast cancer patients. Using specific surface molecules, Baccelli isolated circulating tumor cells from the blood and directly transplanted them into the bone marrow of mice with defective immune systems. "Bone marrow is a perfect niche for tumor sells to colonize," Trumpp explains. After more than one hundred transplantations, metastases actually started forming in the bones, lungs and livers of some of the animals.

This proved that CTCs do contain metastasis stem cells -- even though apparently with a low frequency. What characterizes these cells? To characterize their molecular properties, the researchers analyzed the surface molecules of those CTCs where the cell transplantation had led to metastases.

Three molecules characterize the metastasis stem cell

In a systematic screening process, Baccelli first isolated cells carrying a typical protein of breast cancer stem cells (CD44) on their surface from the CTCs. This protein helps the cell to settle in bone marrow. Next, the researchers screened this cell population for specific surface markers which help the cells to survive in foreign tissue. These include, for example, a signaling molecule that protects from attacks by the immune system (CD47) and a surface receptor that enhances the cells' migratory and invasive capabilities (MET).

Using a cell sorter, the researchers were then able to isolate those CTCs which exhibit all three characteristics (CD44, CD47, MET) at once. Another round of transplantation tests showed that these really were the cells from which the metastases originated.

Depending on the patient, cells exhibiting all three surface molecules ("triple-positive" cells) made up between 0.6 and 33 percent of all CTCs. "It is interesting that only cells with the stem cell marker CD44 carry the combination of the other two surface molecules," said Ir?ne Baccelli. "It looks like the triple-positive cells are a specialized subtype of breast cancer stem cells circulating in the blood."

Triple-positive cells as prognostic biomarkers

Are the triple-positive cells a more precise biomarker of breast cancer progression than the number of CTCs alone? In a small patient group, the researchers observed that as the disease advances, the number of triple-positive cells increases, but the total number of CTCs does not. In addition, patients with very high numbers of triple-positive cells had particularly high numbers of metastases and a much poorer prognosis than women in whom only few of these metastasis-inducing cells were detected. "On the whole, triple-positive cells seem to have a substantially higher biological relevance for disease progression than previously studied CTCs," Andreas Schneeweiss explains. The researchers plan to confirm these new results in a large study.

Andreas Trumpp considers it good news that the two proteins CD47 and MET are the ones characterizing metastasis-initiating cells. Therapeutic antibodies targeting CD47 to inhibit its functions are already being developed. A substance inhibiting the activity of the MET receptor has already been approved and shows good effectiveness for treating a certain type of lung cancer. The substance may also help breast cancer patients with detectable metastasis-inducing cells. "The triple-positive cells we have found turn out to be not only a promising biomarker of disease progression in breast cancer but also a prospect for potential new therapeutic approaches for treating advanced breast cancer," says Andreas Trumpp.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

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. Ir?ne Baccelli, Andreas Schneeweiss, Sabine Riethdorf, Albrecht Stenzinger, Anja Schillert, Vanessa Vogel, Corinna Klein, Massimo Saini, Tobias B?uerle, Markus Wallwiener, Tim Holland-Letz, Thomas H?fner, Martin Sprick, Martina Scharpff, Frederik Marm?, Hans Peter Sinn, Klaus Pantel, Wilko Weichert, Andreas Trumpp. Identification of a population of blood circulating tumor cells from breast cancer patients that initiates metastasis in a xenograft assay. Nature Biotechnology, 2013; DOI: 10.1038/nbt.2576

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

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_health/~3/95xlx2nhOLU/130422101258.htm

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Jim Toth: Feeling Awful About Arrest, Headed to Rehab?

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/04/jim-toth-feeling-awful-about-arrest-headed-to-rehab/

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David Ortiz forgiven by FCC for expletive Boston will never forget (+video)

David Ortiz used an expletive in his defiant (and televised) speech Saturday before the first Red Sox home game since the Boston Marathon bombing. The FCC has already weighed in. ?

By Mark Sappenfield,?Staff writer / April 21, 2013

Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz pumps his fist in front of an American flag and a line of Boston Marathon volunteers after addressing the crowd before a baseball game between the Red Sox and the Kansas City Royals in Boston Saturday.

Michael Dwyer/AP

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On a day when the city of Boston came to Fenway Park for its collective exhale, honoring the governor and mayor and law enforcement officials who have served with such distinction during the past week of terror, it was the one indelible moment. The crowd roared louder than it had all afternoon. People on the Internet are already making T-shirts.

Skip to next paragraph Mark Sappenfield

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Mark is deputy national news editor for the Monitor.

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It was, in five words, the encapsulation of a city's defiance ? bowed, but never broken. Not even close.

It also happened to be NSFW (not safe for work). Or children. Or anyone in Mr. Rogers' neighborhood.?

It was the declaration by legendary Red Sox slugger David Ortiz in pregame ceremonies Saturday, which were broadcast nationwide.

"This is our f------ city, and nobody's going to dictate our freedom."

In recent years, the Federal Communications Commission has taken to calling such incidents "fleeting expletives," and has grown increasingly grumpy about them. For years, the major television networks behaved themselves, pushing any potentially objectionable content past 10 p.m., when kids who might ask "Mommy, what is cow s---?" had already gone to bed.

Then came reality TV star Nicole Richie, who said live during the December 2003 Billboard awards show on Fox, "Have you ever tried to get cow s--- out of a Prada purse? It's not so f------ simple."

Or U2 singer Bono, who said during NBC's broadcast of the Golden Globes awards show earlier that year: "f------ brilliant."

For these incidents and others, the FCC responded by fining networks more than $1 million. Though the fines were later overturned by the Supreme Court, the point was made. There was a new sheriff in town. The networks have responded, running awards shows on several-second delays so they can beep out any offenders.

But on Saturday, no one beeped out Mr. Ortiz ? known to Bostonians as "Big Papi." And within the hour, FCC chairman Julius Genachowski had taken to Twitter to say that was just fine.

"David Ortiz spoke from the heart at today's Red Sox game. I stand with Big Papi and the people of Boston - Julius," the tweet read.

Mark Townsend of Yahoo's Big League Stew blog added his 2 cents: "There's a right time, and there's a wrong time to be too emotional. Today was definitely the right time (and yes, I know there were children in the building)."

Commenters largely agreed. One, named Hawk, summed up the sentiment this way: "I'm gonna go ahead and vote Papi for MVP. Most Valuable Phrasing!" Another, named Ted, added: "When Papi said that, I got goosebumps."

On a joyous day to end a tragic week that Boston ? and the world ? will not soon forget, Ortiz's expletive was anything but fleeting, it seems.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/GMMhaV6s3rE/David-Ortiz-forgiven-by-FCC-for-expletive-Boston-will-never-forget-video

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Songs of a Restless City

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[Modern magic and swords] The gritty underbelly of the city bends its knees in prayer to the fat cats that rest in their oppressive skyscraper, smirking down at the homeless, the ill, and the debtors. Gunpowder and Spells fill the air.

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Travelocity Business enhances TBiz Chat | News | Breaking Travel ...

Travelocity Business announced that TBiz Chat has gone mobile, allowing business travelers to chat one on one with TBiz agents prior to and during their business trip through the TripCase mobile app. Launched on both Concur and GetThere online booking tools in May 2012, TBiz Chat has proven to be a valuable tool for business travelers with more than 97 percent of respondents saying they will use the product in the future, according to a recent customer satisfaction survey.

?Knowing what our customers need and prefer is essential to our business,? said Yannis Karmis , president of Travelocity Business. ?It ensures we are providing the best possible service every day to every customer. TBiz Chat offers an innovative way to easily and effectively communicate travel needs and requests so our customers can focus on their work at hand. While using Chat you can easily change travel plans while multi-tasking in a meeting or at home.?

Recognizing that mobile devices play a more integral role in business travel than ever before, Travelocity Business was the first travel management company to provide one-on-one chat capabilities within the TripCase mobile app. TBiz Chat leverages the messaging capabilities of TripCase Connect, a web platform for travel agencies, to send messages to travelers via a mobile device. Business travelers who are in need of assistance can connect on their mobile devices with certified Travelocity Business agents who are dedicated and specifically trained for TBiz Chat.

Travelocity Business continues to create and enhance customer products to meet the needs of the ever-evolving business traveler. Leveraging its industry-leading knowledge and regular customer survey results, Travelocity Business is able to ensure the customer experience from the booking process to interaction with a TBiz agent is exceptional, ultimately allowing, for companies to drive cost savings within their travel programs.

Source: http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/travelocity-business-enhances-tbiz-chat/

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