SARS-Like Virus Has Key Differences

The SARS-like coronavirus that has killed five people and sickened four more has some important -- and possibly dangerous -- differences from the virus that caused the deadly 2003 SARS outbreak, researchers reported.

The new virus -- dubbed hCoV-EMC -- appears to be able to infect a wide range of mammalian cells, including those of bats, according to Dr. Christian Drosten of the University of Bonn Medical Center in Bonn, Germany, and colleagues.

That could mean it has a natural host in the wild and a relatively low barrier against cross-species transmission, Drosten and colleagues reported online in mBio.

Read this story on www.medpagetoday.com.

Other coronaviruses that infect humans -- including the SARS virus -- began as bat pathogens, but lost the ability to infect the flying mammals when they adapted to humans, the researchers noted.

SARS, in particular, is no longer present in the wild and can't pass back and forth from bats to humans. "The (SARS) virus lost its old host and gained a new one," Drosten said in a statement.

The "quite remarkable" range of possible targets for hCoV-EMC suggests that humans might repeatedly acquire the virus, Drosten and colleagues reported.

There have been only a handful of confirmed infections by hCoV-EMC, according to the World Health Organization.

As of Nov. 30, the agency said, there have been nine cases -- two in people from Qatar, five in residents of Saudi Arabia, and two in Jordan. Of those, five ended in death.

There is also some limited evidence of human-to-human transmission, the agency said.

The first two cases in Saudi Arabia were not linked to each other, but the remaining three were members of a single family living in the same household. The two cases in Jordan were found by screening stored samples from a cluster of pneumonia cases in April 2012.

The novel virus rang alarm bells because it is genetically akin to the SARS virus, which caused hundreds of deaths worldwide and because, like SARS, it led to severe respiratory illness with renal failure.

"This virus is closely related to the SARS virus, and looking at the clinical picture, it causes the same pattern of disease," Drosten said.

Given the similarities, the researchers wanted to know if hCoV-EMC used the same receptor to infect cells ? angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2).

The fact that SARS used that receptor is credited with both the aggressive course of disease and with the relatively slight population-level impact, the researchers noted.

On the one hand, the receptor is expressed on pneumocytes that are deep in the respiratory tract of humans -- but only rarely on cells higher up -- so that a large dose of virus was needed for infection, leading to aggressive disease.

On the other hand, the severe symptoms meant that victims were quickly admitted to the hospital and isolated, possibly limiting wider spread of the disease.

The ability of the virus to infect bats "was a big surprise," Drosten said. "It's completely unusual for any coronavirus to be able to do that -- to go back to its original reservoir."

The findings also mean it's possible that hCoV-EMC could use a receptor in the human lung that is easier to access, which might make it easier to catch and transmit than SARS.

But, the researchers reported, they still don't know what receptor the virus does use, except that it must be present in all three types of mammals.

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/sars-virus-dangerous-differences/story?id=17945136

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Give a gift of Health and Fitness This Christmas | Community Buzz

RealLifeFitness_FINALwithoutBleed_1

I create personalised training programmes based on your goals and current fitness level. ?This may be for example to train for a 5k run, a moon-walk or a marathon, or perhaps you want to increase your strength or flexibility, or lose weight. ?I know, through experience, how difficult it can be to get motivated, and how daunting it can be to embark on a new fitness regime. ?

?Help someone to get started by buying a personal training gift voucher for them. ?I have sessions available Monday to Friday between 9am and 3pm. ?If you would like to purchase a voucher or want to find out more please contact me on?07799 353066?or email?joanneleathers@real-life-fitness.com

Source: http://www.communitybuzz.co.uk/give-a-gift-of-health-and-fitness-this-christmas/

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DANIELS: At Pennsylvania Society, indulgence in ... - Watchdog News

SWANK AFFAIR: When the Pennsylvania Society meets annually in New York City, the black ties and fine jewelry come out in force

By Melissa Daniels | PA Independent

New York City is a big, dirty place, and on a rainy December weekend, it kind of becomes a big, dirty mud puddle.

But it appears some sort of magic barrier exists between Park Avenue sidewalks and the revolving doors at The Waldorf Astoria, where marble floors are spotless and sparkling, and no one seems to drop or spill anything, anywhere, ever.

This is where the indulgent side of Pennsylvania?s power brokers comes out to play, one weekend a year, for the Annual Dinner of The Pennsylvania Society.

The four-day weekend features?dozens of party throughout midtown Manhattan and the Upper East Side. Many events, including last weekend?s namesake dinner, are held at the Waldorf, as has been the case for more than 100 years.

Titans like Andrew Carnegie, Charles Schwab and Andrew W. Mellon were early members of the Society, pioneering its traditions and exclusivity. But as times change, so has the event. The executive director, for the first time in the organization?s history, is a woman ??Carol Fitzgerald, who has a long history of running events, campaigns and conventions in Pennsylvania.

These days, the state?s top elected officials, lobbyists, business owners, and political operatives make up the crowd ??and they?re a more diverse bunch than you might expect. They?re young and old, men and women, Republicans and Democrats.

Their common interest, apparently, aside from being Pennsylvanians: Celebration. Swanky parties are a bipartisan affair, for somebodys and hoping-to-be-somebodys alike.

Inside the party rooms at the Waldorf, the drinks were free and the attire was formal cocktail. ?Dim lighting cast a dreamlike glow on the room?s gilded trim, wall scones, ornate carpeting and Versailles-inspired color palette.

As Friday evening turns into early Saturday morning, the parties grew bigger and drink lines longer. It was a bit like a college party ??only with top shelf booze ??as everyone sauntered up to the bar. They inadvertently?bumped and elbowed one another as they passed by, stopping to chat with old friends or attach names to new faces.

But with all these influencers and influencees in attendance, the events are a prime time to collaborate, drumming up any number of future deals in government or business.

Just as annual as the event is the criticism it draws ??for being too decadent, too indulgent and too insular.

Eric Epstein, founder of Rock the Capitol reform group, hosts a counter-party the same weekend, bringing pizza to security guards at the Pennsylvania State Capitol.

Epstein said when the economy is what it is, it?s bizarre to have state leaders reveling in ?$40 chocolate martinis.?

?It?s hard to justify the extravagance,? he said.

Maybe so. But no one seems to mind. Tis the season, after all.

Ask attendees how they feel about being in a formal setting, and some will tell you it?s not their scene, as if they are here out of a sense of obligation. Others seem fueled by splendor, soaking up every moment and opportunity for another party, another drink, another conversation.

Regardless of why they come to Pennsylvanian Society, attendees freely give the gift of gab.

This year, the main gossip centered around the speculation of who would run in the Democrat gubernatorial primary in 2014, with potential contenders U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz, D-13, and Treasurer Rob McCord in attendance.

Former Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger, who already announced that he?s running for governor as a Democrat, held a fundraiser in the MetLife building down the block from the Waldorf on Friday afternoon, one of many off-site events that offered candidates a change to mingle intimately with potential donors.

At the Pennsylvania Society, where the parties are grand and the mood is decadent, the pool of money to tap into is not shallow. One fundraiser for Gov. Tom Corbett, held a private residence, cost $5,000 per couple. Tickets for the annual dinner were priced at $350 per member.

On Saturday morning, it was time for some policy talk at the posh Metropolitan Club, which sits on the corner of? 60th Street and Fifth Avenue. The reception room was abuzz as a few hundred attendees milled in and out of a closed-curtain lecture hall where Gov. Tom Corbett, Democrat Sen. Bob Casey, Republican Sen. Pat Toomey, Attorney General-Elect Kathleen Kane and others were giving speeches.

In attendance were many past and present leaders of Pennsylvania?s most powerful companies, as well as former elected officials including?Gov. Dick Thornburgh.

As far as a setting for the who?s who goes, it?s tough to top this elite private club. A towering Christmas tree stood in the corner of the cathedral-height room. Above, red stained glass windows loomed over the double-sided staircase, on which maroon carpeting was bordered by cascades of poinsettia plants and framed by icicle lights all the way up the banister.

After Corbett spoke, he took some time to meet with reporters. Speculation swirled that Corbett would give details on a transportation plan during his speech, but those specifics won?t be public until the plan is unveiled sometime before February.

At that point, it was clear the Pennsylvania Society wouldn?t offer much in the way of news. But it does give everyone a chance to pat themselves, and each other, on the back, while brandishing whatever muscle they plan to assert in the new year.

Corbett also told attendees about pension reform and liquor privatization plans ??again, not giving specifics, but acknowledging future plans for two of the state?s most high-profile issues.

For Corbett, who suffers low approval ratings and criticism for a of leadership, the event was a prime chance to show tho the people whose support could make a big difference in his next campaign that he?s got big plans for second half of his first term.

Corbett wouldn?t say much about those who were mulling a run against him in 2014. Instead, he deflected the question by affirming his own leadership.

?I?ve got to worry about running the state,? he said.

But while he has all the burdens of state on his shoulders, Corbett said the weekend gives people a chance to speak to him while he can ?give them an open ear.?

Beyond that: ?It?s fun to see everybody,? Corbett said.

He told reporters that his favorite moment of the weekend up to that point was, rather serendipitously, running into U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia at the Carnegie Club. The event was private, but Scalia had unknowingly swung by, hoping to smoke a cigar, Corbett said.

They then shared a drink, cigars and conversation ??an ?only-in-New York? moment for the Pennsylvania governor and the longest-serving sitting Supreme Court justice.

PENNSYLVANIA SOCIETY hosts its annual dinner at the enormous Grand Ballroom at The Waldorf Astoria.

Later that night, partygoers filled more than 300 tables inside the Grand Ballroom at the Waldorf, where honorary speaker and Philadelphia native M. Night Shyamalan?was the guest speaker for the evening.

The black-tie hallmark event of the weekend is the grandest of them all. Tuxedo-clad men and women in glittering ball gowns filtered into the reception room to enjoy cocktails before taking their seats at the elegant tables.

Come Sunday morning they headed back to Pennsylvania, by car or train or plane, taking with them the memory of mingling, socializing and deal-making in some of the finest settings Manhattan has to offer, a tradition of the Pennsylvania elite unlike many others.

Contact Melissa Daniels at melissa@paindependent.com

? Edited by Kelly Carson, kcarson@watchdog.org

Source: http://watchdog.org/64236/pa-at-pennsylvania-society-indulgence-in-no-short-supply/

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10 coffee table books that make great gifts

This holiday season, give the gift of learning about the world's best travel experiences, as curated by National Geographic, or going behind the scenes of the 'Harry Potter' films, or any of these other fascinating coffee table books. Check out our 10 picks.

- Molly Driscoll,?Staff Writer

1. 'Life in Color,' curated by Annie Griffiths, published by National Geographic

Curated by photographer Annie Griffiths, "Life in Color" is a collection of photos showcasing everything from young Buddhist monks napping in orange robes to a leopard stalking through grass in Botswana. Photos are organized by color, and essays on what particular shades convey viewers preface each section. "Green means we can breathe," reads the chapter heading for "green." "Green means moisture and shade. A thriving green signals life in the world of nature."

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/O0tvCKVcA3g/10-coffee-table-books-that-make-great-gifts

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V-Tech InnoTab Tablet for children review

As any self-respecting gadgeteer parent, I put a lot of thought towards the appropriate gadgets for my son. As Christmas approached last year I had decided to get him a tablet, and had my list down to the V-Tech?and LeapPad Tablets when V-Tech offered one for a review.?Unfortunately?(for me) last Christmas was a hot season [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2012/12/09/v-tech-innotab-tablet-for-children-review/

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Great Ways To Boost Your Success With Multilevel Marketing | Jim ...

Mistakes Are Costing You! Learn To Stop?Making ALL 189 Of Them!

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Posted by Administrator on Dec 10, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off

In this economy today, it makes much more sense to work from home instead of trying to find a second job. There is a bit of difficulty in starting a small business, but there is a manageable opportunity to earn an extra cash flow through what is known as MLM. The below article shows you some solid advice for beginning so that you can have success with multilevel marketing.

You should be constantly learning about ways to improve your MLM. Spend time daily reading business books, social media books, business books and other literature designed to inspire success. Webinars are a great way to learn some marketing tips, and a great way to learn from successful marketers. Education is a wonderful resource that can help you and your customers as well.

If you want to be professional as a business owner, take the time each day when you get out of bed to shower, fix your hair and apply makeup if you wear it. Even if you work at home on your computer all the time, this will set a professional tone in your day and will enable you to attend a last minute meeting if required.

TIP! You can use the power of the Internet to use videos to drive traffic to the network marketing sites you have. A video is a cheap way to add entertaining content to your marketing campaign, and which is simple for the viewer to comprehend.

Don?t make the mistake of thinking your MLM business is just a hobby. Thinking you can only work a couple hours weekly to get rich is a plan that will most likely fail. You must put in a lot of time and effort if you hope to do well in multi-level marketing. Make a vow to yourself to consistently work hard and this will put you on the multilevel marketing road to success.

Before getting into multi-level marketing think about what you hope to achieve. Are you only doing multilevel marketing for a hobby? Clearly identified goals, when in conjunction with effort, will most likely result in success.

True leaders have a desire to see those around them succeed. This is true of multilevel marketing leaders also. Once you are at a place where you are trying to help people through what you are marketing, you will notice that you will start to see a rise in your profits.

TIP! Structure your network marketing site as a tutorial. Giving step-by-step how-tos is a proven way to increase the traffic to your site, and increases the amount of time visitors will spend on your site.

A wonderful suggestions is to keep an open mind to be successful when you are network marketing. Success depends on your ability to remain consistent and knowledgeable.

Everyone loves to get a bargain! Select an affiliate program that lets you give out coupons or free samples. Give coupons to your best customers or organize competitions or drawings to get some attention. When people feel like they are getting a deal that others can?t, they are much more likely to pull the trigger on accepting the deal.

Building a website is a great idea for multilevel marketing, but even using social networking sites is a start. You can establish your own content-rich blog and social network identity to increase the success of your MLM campaign. The larger your cyber presence, the easier it will be to grow your network. It helps to have an active and well-designed blog as well.

TIP! While it is important to have a solid operational plan as the foundation for your business, it is equally important to include contingency plans that allow some degree of flexibility. Determine your weekly and monthly goals, then determine how much you can actually get done within those time frames.

If you have decided to embark upon a multilevel marketing campaign, it is important to consider the overall compensation package that is available to you and whom ever you have partnered or teamed up with. Only if you know how well you are being paid can you determine if the effort you?re putting out is worth it.

Be sure that you have a friendly message on your answering machine that is professional as this is the first experience your customer possibly has with you. Your answering machine will leave a first impression, so make sure the message is concise and positive. Tell them what info you need to get back in contact with them, and indicate when you will.

TIP! Invite your down line to engage in conversation and activity. Do they suffer from shyness? Are they experiencing difficulties? Promote an atmosphere where they feel comfortable communicating with the other marketers in your network, and also raising questions or issues directly to you.

Don?t make the mistake of treating your multilevel marketing business as something you dabble in. It is a legitimate business and should be treated as such. To make your multilevel marketing successful, you need to treat it like a full-time job.

Many large companies use MLM to reach a larger audience for their business. Implement these tips to help start you off and realize success in the field of network marketing.

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Source: http://leucabiz.com/blog/great-ways-to-boost-your-success-with-multilevel-marketing/

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5 Highly Effective Pointers For Making An Investment In Real Estate

Now that the financial crisis has almost passed, investing in real estate property is undoubtedly a fantastic idea. Nevertheless, this isn?t a simple job ? in order to become wealthy in the real estate industry, you must be conscious of some fundamental investing principles that will help you reduce losses and maximize profit. In this article you will discover 5 simple and very valuable tips on how you can invest in real estate:

1. Learn Regarding The Market And Take Baby Steps
With regards to real estate investing, one of the most common mistakes newbies make is the fact that they invest massively ? this entails many pitfalls and you?re most likely to lose your investment, if you certainly are a new to this. Also, it is of utmost importance to study the industry thoroughly just before investing anything: Is that property truly worth the money? Does it have enough potential in the long run? Are the prices anticipated to raise?

2. Go With The Flow
This is another crucial tip that you must take into account if you certainly are a beginner. If you see that your fellow investors purchase real estate, then you should do exactly the same. Focus on older and much more skilled investors and closely analyze their behavior. Don?t go against the trend ? with regards to large sums of money, it?s far better not to take your chances, at least in the beginning.

3. Know Your Possibilities As Well As Your Limits
You must never invest more than you really can afford, and you must always have some funds aside for emergencies. Never lend money simply to invest in a home, as this might end up a bad decision and you can lose all of your cash, which includes the borrowed money! This industry can transform you into a millionaire in time in case you are good at investing, but this will undoubtedly not happen overnight. Recognize your limits, and do not push your luck ? better be safe than sorry!

4. Do Not Be Afraid To Invest In Old Houses
You may believe that old homes aren?t worth the pain ? this can be wrong! With sufficient funds, vision and creativity you can turn an old and ugly house into a gorgeous estate worth millions of dollars. How? The answer is easy: you will find other factors far more crucial than the look of the house: the location, its background and its long-term potential are only three of them.

5. Have Realistic Targets
If you choose to invest in real estate, then be aware that you are most likely to make mistakes sooner or later. When that occurs, don?t despair! Analyze your achievements and sort out your future plans, in case you need to. Never believe that every thing will always go as planned ? this business is quite unpredictable.

In conclusion, these five effective tips will help you become a great investor, if you wish to invest your money in properties. Pay attention to the above-mentioned suggestions and your likelihood of becoming successful are tremendously improved!

Discover more about residential property investing at our website.

Source: http://www.villasandland.com/articles/5-highly-effective-pointers-for-making-an-investment-in-real-estate/

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When Will You Finally Get Serious About Traffic?

Traffic (getting visitors to your offer) is the lifeblood of an Internet business.

It?s like air to your lungs.

No traffic = DEAD BUSINESS.

It doesn?t matter how awesome your product/offer/widget/ or information is?doesn?t matter how great the features are, how much it will help someone ?Solve Problem X?.

If nobody sees it, you?re not even in business!

The truth is?.and this may be hard to swallow for you?but ?KILLER offers? are dime a dozen.

There are people online right this very second with hugely inferior (some downright sucky) products than yours, that know how to get targeted traffic online?that are getting sales every single minute, non stop, one after another, all day long and all night long too.

Every single minute of the day, they get an email order notice and they have set their laptop or phone to make the ?Cha-ching? sound every time.

And trust me, it NEVER gets old!

So I ask you, when will YOU finally get serious about traffic generation?

For over a decade, Trafficology has helped entrepreneurs and small businesses get serious traffic and thrive online when others die and fall by the wayside in a sea of dead businesses on the Internet.

And now, Trafficology 2.0 will soon be accepting a few charter members in an unprecedented private traffic generation club. These individuals, entrepreneurs, and small businesses will become traffic masters and dominate on the Internet.

When you control the traffic, you control your revenue.

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Don?t risk not getting in on this ? make sure you find out FIRST:

Source: http://trafficology.com/when-will-you-finally-get-serious-about-traffic/

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Abbas urges Arab aid for struggling Palestinians

DOHA, Qatar (AP) ? The Palestinian president is urging Arab nations to provide major financial assistance to cover a new monthly $100 million budgetary shortfall after U.N. recognition of Palestinian claims to statehood ? result of a punitive Israeli measure.

Mahmoud Abbas told Arab League officials Sunday in Qatar that his Palestinian Authority in the West Bank is "collapsing" under financial strain. Abbas faces added pressures after rival Hamas in Gaza received major pledges of aid from Qatar's emir in October.

Israel halted the tax transfer funds ? customs duties collected on behalf of Palestinians ? after last month's U.N. vote to recognize a Palestinian state in territories captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war.

Last week, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad called on Arab countries to send $240 million a month.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/abbas-urges-arab-aid-struggling-palestinians-154920051.html

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