Lane Kiffin won't be patching things up with Raiders - Los Angeles Times
September 22, 2008
Lane Kiffin won't be patching things up with Raiders - Los Angeles Times Lane Kiffin won't be patching things up with Raiders
Washington Post
Los Angeles Times -
Raiders Coach Lane Kiffin talks to assistants in the booth during their 24-23, last-second loss to the Bills at Buffalo on Sunday.
Reports: Raiders Coach Lane Kiffin has been told he'll be fired
Kiffin: 'No way I'm quitting"
Zardari Faces Pressure to Fight Taliban After Bombing (Update1) - Bloomberg Zardari Faces Pressure to Fight Taliban After Bombing (Update1)
ABC News
Bloomberg -
By James Rupert Sept. 23 (Bloomberg) — The weekend's suicide bombing of Islamabad's Marriott Hotel is likely to increase pressure on Pakistan's new president to back more military action to tackle the country's growing Taliban insurgency.
US to step up action in Pakistan
Zardari and Singh battle terror 'cancer'
Heidi Holland grows up
September 22, 2008
Heidi Holland grows up
The Heidi Chronicles, a comedic coming of age story, made its debut Saturday at UMKC.
This play chronicles the life of Heidi Holland (Ashlee LaPine) from 1965 through 1985. Heidi is an art curator and educator of women in Art History.
The opening scene is in a New York lecture hall in 1989 where Heidi discusses art with her students.
Teaching Scholarships, University of Western Australia
September 22, 2008
Teaching Scholarships, University of Western Australia
Australia: Teaching Scholarships, University of Western Australia
Who can apply?
There are a variety of scholarships available if you:
are going into your final year of a Bachelor of Education
have a degree and are considering a Graduate Diploma in Education.
What’s in it for you?
A teaching scholarship worth up to $60,000.
A guaranteed job when you graduate.
Additional financial benefits during your first and second year of
teaching.
Permanency after only two years of teaching in a rural public school.
Priority teaching areas
We are particularly looking for people to teach in the following areas:
Early Childhood
Primary
Secondary
Agriculture
Design and Technology
English
Home Economics
Mathematics
Science (Physics and Chemistry).
Scholarships for the following secondary teaching areas will also be
considered:
Health and Physical Education, Languages (Indonesian, Italian,
Japanese), Music, Science - Biological, Society and Environment,
Technology and Enterprise (Business, Computing), Special Needs and
School Psychology.
Closing date
Applications close Tuesday 30 September 2008.
To find out more and to apply for a scholarship visit Teaching WA.
http://www.det. wa.edu.au/ teachingwa/ detcms/navigatio n/student- teachers/ scholarships/
Beasiswa S2 S3: Scholarship of Mitsubishi Corporation to Japan
Scholarship of Mitsubishi Corporation to Japan
1. University :
(1)Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies, Waseda University (GSAPS)
(2)National Graduate Institute For Policy Studies (GRIPS)
Sponsor for Indonesian Applicant : Mitsubishi Corporation& #65288; MC& #65289;(Japan)
2. Home Page :
(1)GSAPS : http://www.waseda.jp/gsaps/
(2)GRIPS : http://www.grips.ac.jp
Please refer the English version of the above web-site for the details.
3. Program, Curriculum : (Please refer the above web-site for the details)
(1) MA Program
(2) PhD Program; Curriculum held in English; MA and/or PhD as per applicant`s choice ; GRIPS rather recommend “Policy Analysis” Program of MA + PhD which is Sept.
4. Period (Academic Calender) : (Please refer the above web-site for the details)
(1) April 2009 Entry
(2) September 2009 Entry
5. Admissions (Qualifications/Submission of Application/Documents):
Please refer the above web-site.
6. Application & Selection Procedure & Deadline :
(1)Mitsubishi wish to have first application around the end of August from UI (FE) and ITB.
(2)Then, GSASP or GRIPS will have selection procedure as follows.
GSAPS : (Please refer the above web-site for the details)
MA Program / April 2009 Entry
(1) Deadline for Submission of Application Documents : September 12th-22nd, 2008
(2) Announcement of Final Result : October 23rd, 2008
(3) Deadline for Entry Procedure : November 27th, 2008
PhD Program / April 2009 Entry
(1) Deadline for Submission of Application Documents : January 7th-15th, 2009
(2) Announcement for Result of 1st selection : February 5th, 2009
(3) 2nd Selection : February 15th, 2009
(4) Announcement of Final Result : February 19th, 2009
(5) Deadline for Entry Procedure : February 25th, 2009
GRIPS : (Please refer the above web-site for the details)
MA Program / April 2009 Entry
(1) Deadline for Submission of Application Documents :
* Public Policy Program : December 3rd, 2008
* Public Finance Program : February 25th, 2009
PhD Program / April 2009 Entry
(1) Deadline for Submission of Application Documents : December, 2008
7. Sponsorship Outline :
MC will support the following costs for Indonesian Applicants during their stay (years) in Japan.
(1)Airfare (Entry to & Departure from Japan, 1 time of Home Leave)
(2)Transport (Domestic Transport in Indonesia & Japan on transferring)
(3)Monthly Living Allowance
(4)Monthly Housing Allowance
(5)Admission Fee for the Study
(6)Other related costs
8. Contacts :
Mitsubishi Corporation (Jakarta Representative Office)
Mr. H. Shinohara :
Tel./ (021) 5795-1108
E-Mail/ hiroshi.shinohara@mitsubishicorp.com
Mr. R. Adi :
Tel. (021) 5795-1108
E-Mail. rusman.adi@mitsubishicorp.com
‘Brainy Bread’ Saves Environment
September 22, 2008
‘Brainy Bread’ Saves Environment
Response Source | Press Releases - Brainy Bread Now Affordable With Omega 3 Algae Oil Food Ingredient - Could Save Environment
Omega 3 Brainy Bread, Pasta, cheese and yoghurts could save the planet!
The company that gave us V-Pure, the world’s first fish free vegetarian and vegan Docosahexaenoic acid - (DHA) and Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) product has recently bought the rights to a new product that could make products such as ‘Brainy Bread’ and ‘Brainy Pasta’ a viable and affordable possibility.
Eau Plus now have a range of Algal Oils and products and have dramatically increased their production capabilities through acquistion of a new European fermentation facility. Other algal oils on the market just contain DHA but V-Pure has both DHA and EPA making it the perfect product to use to manufacture vegan and vegetarian superfoods that will sustainably address the essential fat famine in modern diets.
“This nutrient rich algae food ingredient could transform the food manufacturing industry and at last re-address the balance between easily available foods that contribute to health and foods that leave us with a net nutrient deficit” says London Nutritionist Yvonne Bishop-Weston.
Eau + also have a new groundbreaking dairy free calcium drink.
See also Nutra Ingredients
DHA and Breastfeeding Boost Baby Brains
Eating Fish While Pregnant, Longer Breastfeeding, Lead To Better Infant Development, Research Finds
Here’s another study , this time from Denmark, backing up the findings that omega 3 long chain fatty acids DHA and EPA and human milk rather than cow’s milk derivatives can optimise a baby’s cognitive brain development.
The study, which appeared in the September issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, was conducted by researchers from the Department of Ambulatory Care and Prevention of Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and the Maternal Nutrition Group from the Department of Epidemiology at Statens Serum Institut in Copenhagen, Denmark. These findings provide further evidence that omega-3 fatty acids and compounds in breast milk are beneficial to infant development.
The children whose mothers ate the most fish during pregnancy were more likely to have better motor and cognitive skills. For example, among mothers who ate the least fish, 5.7% of their children had the lowest developmental scores at 18 months, compared with only 3.7% of children whose mothers had the highest fish intake. Compared with women who ate the least fish, women with the highest fish intake (about 60 grams - 2 ounces - per day on average) had children 25% more likely to have higher developmental scores at 6 months and almost 30% more likely to have higher scores at 18 months.
Longer duration of breastfeeding was also associated with better infant development, especially at 18 months. Breastmilk also contains omega-3 fatty acids. The benefit of fish consumption was similar among infants breastfed for shorter or longer durations.
Powdered milk made from cow’s milk is a poor substitute for human milk and health professionals should stop encouraging the use of powdered milks to the detriment of mothers confidence to breast feed.
Sustainable alternatives to fish oil made from algae are now available. Until the age of 5 infants seem to most benefit from DHA but so far the algae alternatives are all DHA rich.
See omega 3 long chain fatty acids DHA and EPA for more details and the importance of DHA and EPA omega 3 fats
Militants claim Marriott attack - BBC News
September 22, 2008
Militants claim Marriott attack - BBC News
The BBC Urdu service in Islamabad received a call from the Fidayeen-e-Islam group which gave instructions to call another number. That number played out a recorded message in English. It said the aim of the Marriott attack was to kick “American crusaders” out of Pakistan and stop them interfering in
McCain, Obama scramble to keep pace on economy - Houston Chronicle
WASHINGTON — Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain raised doubts about the Bush administration’s $700 billion bailout and demanded conditions that could snag its quick passage through the highly partisan Congress. Less than six weeks remained in the presidential contest as the
New world on Wall Street - CNN Money
Federal regulators converted Wall Street’s remaining stand-alone investment banks - Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley - into bank holding companies Sunday night. The move allows Goldman and Morgan to scoop up retail banks and to streamline their borrowing from the Federal Reserve. The shift also is
Zuma soothes fears over South Africa’s leadership - International Herald Tribune
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa : African National Congress leader Jacob Zuma didn’t name an interim president for South Africa as everyone expected him to do Monday, but his impish chuckle at a news conference told reporters everything they needed to know. The charismatic, confident Zuma is in charge of
Pubmed Faceoff: The Extreme MakeOver MashUp For Search Results
September 22, 2008
Pubmed Faceoff: The Extreme MakeOver MashUp For Search Results
Friends/
A Most Impressive Development !
/Gerry
Pubmed Faceoff
What’s this all about?
This site applies a simple, photorealistic variant of the Chernoff Faces visualization technique
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chernoff_faces]
[http://kspark.kaist.ac.kr/Human%20Engineering.files/Chernoff/Chernoff%20Faces.htm]
to impact factor data for papers in the PubMed database of biomedical literature. Basically it allows you to search PubMed and have the results represented as a set of human faces. 
“I was published a couple of years ago in a crap journal and nobody is citing me.”
The theory is that mapping multidimensional data (in this case the age, journal impact factor and citation count associated with each paper) to facial features takes advantage of the fact that our brains are highly tuned to recognise, process and differentiate between human faces.
Each paper is represented as a face. The ethnicity and gender of the face is selected at random for visual interest - you can turn this feature off if you so choose.
“I was published recently in a good journal. Citations are as expected.”
The age of a face correlates with the publication date of the paper. Younger faces are more recent papers. 
“I was published recently in a good journal and I’m getting lots of citations.”
A smile means that the paper has been cited more times than expected (based on its age).
Larger smiles mean more citations.
A frown means that the paper has been cited far less than you might expect.
The raised eyebrows correlate with the impact factor (sort of - actually the Eigenfactor) of the journal in which the paper was published.
Source
[http://www.postgenomic.com/faces/index.php]
Thanks To
/ Frank Norman /Librarian / National Institute for Medical Research / The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK /
Statistician TBD
Statistician TBD Location of PhD fellow Julius Center of the University Medical Center Utrecht Qualifications
The candidate should have an MD, PharmD or degree in biomedical sciences or related field. Experience in research and training in epidemiology are appreciated. Motivated to work in cutting edge drug development research is a prerequisite
Application
Candidates can apply by sending their CV and application letter to Mirjam Knol (m.j.knol@umcutrecht .nl).
Please indicate in your application letter how you heard of this vacancy.
Employment terms
The candidate will have an appointment at the Julius Center of the University Medical Center Utrecht (www.juliuscenter. nl) and will closely collaborate with people from other institutions. We offer a temporary full time appointment as a PhD student for one year with the perspective of prolongation with another three years.
Contact People for information on project/application
M.J. Knol, University Medical Center Utrecht,
+31 (0)88 755 9380,
m.j.knol@umcutrecht .nl
P.A. van Meurs, Project leader Escher programme
+31 (0)88 755 5196 or mobile +31 (0)621 512631, p.a.vanmeurs@ umcutrecht. nl
Introduction of the Research topic/ background (300 words)
In the past decades the RCT has been viewed as the paradigm study design to determine the intended effects of drug interventions. In addition RCTs are important to assess type (i.e. more common, predictable) unintended effects of drugs. Typically these RCTs are executed in three phases during a period of 10 years prior to drug registration.
Currently, trials are not designed, conducted and analysed in the most efficient and expeditious manner and several improvements in the design, conduct and analysis phase could lead to increased efficiency.
For example, prevention of losses to follow-up and incomplete data, and sophisticated methods to impute missing values if they occur can increase the effective sample size. Sophisticated methods to indicate when there is enough information to stop the trial can shorten the duration of the trial and decrease the number of patients to be included. By using information of earlier trials when analysing a new trial, evidence of efficacy of a drug might be available earlier and less trials have to be performed.
Research Questions (200 words)
How can the design, conduct and analysis of randomized controlled trials on drug effects be improved?
Improvements of design phase:
selection of patient populations
sample size estimation
randomization and blinding
primary, secondary and composite outcomes
Improvements in conduct phase:
recruitment and compliance of study participants
follow-up of study population
stopping trials early
Improvements in analysis phase:
imputation methods for ‘lost-to-follow- up’ and incomplete data
pooling of studies
Methods (300 words)
Improvements in design phase:
Review of the literature summarizing different strategies to select
patient populations, to perform sample size estimations and to conduct
randomisation and blinding, and analysing which of these different
strategies are most effective. This review can then be used to
formulate a recommendation on designing RCTs.
Comparison of existing and development of new statistical methods to
analyze composite endpoints using empirical data.
Improvements in conduct phase:
Review of the literature on different strategies to recruit and
follow-up study participants and summarizing different strategies to
improve and monitor compliance. This information is used to analyse
which strategies are most effective and to formulate a recommendation
on improving conduct of RCTs.
Comparison of different methods and strategies, for example
conventional and Bayesian analyses, to stop trials early, using
empirical data of already performed trials.
Improvements in analysis phase:
Comparison of different imputation methods of increasing complexity
for random and non-random missing values due to ‘lost-to-follow- up’
and incomplete collection of data. Empirical data of trials will be
used to compare these different methods.
Comparison and application of different meta-analytical (Bayesian)
techniques to analyse data of a trial using data from previously
performed trials. Comparison and application of different
meta-analytical (Bayesian) techniques to pool phase III and IV
studies.
Deliverables
(300 words)
Recommendation to improve design phase of RCTs in terms of selection
of patient populations, sample size estimation, randomisation and
blinding, and composite outcomes.
Recommendation to improve conduct phase of RCTs in terms of
recruitment, compliance and follow-up of study participants, and
stopping trials early.
Recommendation to improve analysis phase of RCTs in terms of missing
data and pooling of studies.
5 Papers in international scientific journals
PhD Thesis
Presentations at (inter) national scientific meetings
Timelines and Milestones
(per 6 month episodes)
(200 words)
0-12 months: Reading relevant literature and research training in Epidemiology
12-18 months: Review and analysis of different strategies in design
phase and recommendation of improvements
18-24 months: Review and analysis of different strategies in conduct
phase and recommendation of improvements
24-30 months: Comparison of methods of stopping trials early
30-36 months: Comparison of imputation methods for missing data
36-42 months: Comparison of meta-analytical techniques to pool studies
42-48 months: Finalization of publications and PhD thesis. Most of the
aforementioned periods will be finalized by a manuscript
–
Best Regards,
Grace Wangge
–
Best Regards,
Grace Wangge
PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience of motor control and coordination-Bangor
September 22, 2008
PhD in Cognitive Neuroscience of motor control and coordination-Bangor
Applications are invited for a 3-yr PhD studentship, funded by School of Psychology,
Bangor University (UK), and supervised by Dr Jörn Diedrichsen. The studentship is available
from earliest October 1st, 2008 (start date flexible). Applications are accepted until the
Position is filled, the review of Applications is starting on September 13th. The
studentship is funded at ESRC rates, currently GBP12,940 per year.
The student will join the laboratory for Human Motor Control Lab, Bangor. Work in the
laboratory focuses on the computational principles and neural underpinnings of human
motor control, especially in the areas of bimanual coordination and function of the
cerebellum. In behavioral studies we use robotic devices to simulate novel objects and new
dynamic environments, and study how healthy participants learn and perform novel tasks.
We develop computational models of coordination to understand the problems the brain
solves as we interact with the environment. Neural underpinnings of these processes are
studied using fMRI in which subjects perform or learn well-controlled motor tasks using
fMRI-compatible robotic devices. Finally, studies with patients with lesions in the
cerebellum allow us to test specific hypotheses about the functional role of the
cerebellum. The PhD project will consist of an associated but independent series of studies
related to this work.
The Studentship will be undertaken within the School of Psychology, which was given the
top rating of 5*A in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise. The School houses a
3T MRI scanner, and a number of robotic and eye tracking devices (also fMRI-compatible)
to record and manipulate movements. The School offers a thriving research and learning
environment in the Clinical and Cognitive Neurosciences – for more information go to
http://www.psycholo gy.bangor. ac.uk/. Informal enquiries can be made by contacting Jörn
Diedrichsen, e-mail j.diedrichsen@ bangor.ac. uk.
Applicants with a Masters degree in Psychology, Neuroscience, Engineering, or a related
field are preferred. Minimal requirement for application is a first or upper second class
honours BA degree in a relevant field. The studentship is for three years (PhD only) and
provides fees and a maintenance grants. School studentships are open to any applicant.
International students are welcome to apply, but funding is currently only available at the
Home/EU level.. Studentship offers may be subject to a successful Criminal Records
Bureau check.
Applications should take the form of (1) a full academic CV, (2) a cover-letter stating
research interests and how you might develop the project, and (3) two letters of reference
from appropriate academic referees relating directly to your application (with telephone
numbers and emails for confirmation) . These should be sent to:
Everil McQuarrie, PhD Administrator,
School of Psychology, Bangor University,
Adeilad Brigantia, Penrallt Road, Bangor,
Gwynedd, LL57 2AS.
Telephone 01248 383671.
Short-listed candidates will be interviewed. Applications are accepted until the position is
filled.
Paul Dresher Ensemble strikes an eerie chord
September 22, 2008
Paul Dresher Ensemble strikes an eerie chord
White Recital Hall often has wonderful works of art with an upbeat style. Upon entering the Performing Art Center Friday evening, one might have expected to hear such a piece. People mingled, chatted and enjoyed some ice cream while awaiting the evening’s delights.
‘Rising Water’ leaves a soggy mess
You would think a hurricane would change your life; that watching your house slowly consumed by floodwater might inspire your relationship with your spouse.
In John Biguenet’s bleak “Rising Water,” this is simply not the case.
“Rising Water” follows the lives of Sugar (Danny Cox) and Camille (Merle Moores), a New Orleans couple married for 30 years, as they struggle to survive the water from Hurricane Katrina swiftly overtaking their house.
PhD positions(Computer Sciences, Economics, & Politics), IMT Lucca, Italy
September 22, 2008
PhD positions(Computer Sciences, Economics, & Politics), IMT Lucca, Italy
website link:
http://www.imtlucca .it/phd_programs /call_for_ applications/ index.php
Competitions for admission are open in the following PhD Programs at IMT:
Computer Science and Engineering
Theories developed within computer science have been, and still are,remarkably relevant not only for developing devices and tools which are commonly used in today society, but also for facing new theoretical problems of wide perspective. In particular, the study of models, algorithms and verification methods of distributed systems with shared resources, with attention to the problems of security, concurrency, real time, “open endness”, distributed decisions, etc.
has fostered the development of the informatics of the new wide area networks. Students acquire extensive knowledge of the fundamentals and applications of architectures and languages for global and grid computing, web systems and services, in particular for business
applications, embedded systems, web data mining, wired and wireless networks, and mobile systems. In addition to offering broad scope for basic research, these domains define a professional area where all the needs of computer applications on wide are networks can find their fulfilment.
Economics, Markets, Institutions With its interdisciplinary (theoretical, quantitative and institutional) approach, the program aims at dealing with issues in political economy, applied public economics, and the functioning of industries and markets, the impact of macroeconomic impact on the functioning of markets, as well as on productivity and growth.
A distinctive character of the PhD program is the strong integration of theoretical, technical and practical expertise, aimed to educate highly qualified professionals, who analyze, plan, and manage concrete interventions of political economy.
Theoretical methodologies and models will therefore tested through the methodical/systemat ic investigation of actual cases. At the end of the program, students will be able to catch commonalities as well as distinctive characters of the several markets, in reference to
economic laws, market regulations, contractual, managing and organizational solutions.
Political Systems and Institutional Change
The PhD Program aims to make students familiar with analytical tools and methodologies of investigation elaborated within different contemporary traditions in social sciences, thereby providing the theoretical and practical knowledge necessary to both evaluate comparatively the performance of institutional systems, and elaborate proposals for structural reforms. The courses will especially focus on the historical, political, institutional and economic dynamics that
have been characterising the development of European and ex Soviet countries after the Second Word War. They will then consider among other topics: the institutional and decisional dynamics of European countries and the European Union including the trends towards multilevel governance both at the European and at the domestic level (federalisation, independent regulatory authorities, etc.); transatlantic relations EU-US; relations between politics, social
processes and political economy decisions; paths of economic and political development; the institutional workings of international organisations; the characters of some geographical areas of special relevance.
Duration: 3 years
Language: Courses and seminars are held in English. Foreign PhD students are required to attend an Italian Language and Culture Course.
Classes begin in March 2009.
Tuition Exemptions :PhD students are exempt from tuition and fees. Annual Scholarship: Annual scholarship amount is +/- 13.638,00 Euros gross, corresponding to +/- 2.270,00 Euros gross paid every two months. Scholarships are awarded for three years and are confirmed yearly.
Scholarships benefit from tax breaks.
One scholarship for each PhD Program is co-financed by European Union
– European Social Fund; Ministero del Lavoro, della Salute e delle Politiche Sociali; Regione
Toscana and IMT.
Deadline
The deadline for applications is December 5, 2008 at 6:00pm (Italian time).
Roos jolt #3 ranked Jays, 1-0
September 22, 2008
Roos jolt #3 ranked Jays, 1-0
For 90 minutes last Saturday in Omaha, Neb., the #3 ranked Creighton Jays sent a barrage of shots over the crossbar, wide of the post, and right at UMKC senior goalkeeper Ken Cooper.
Still, they couldn’t find the back of the net.
But UMKC senior forward Brian Harris’ header found that elusive sweet spot in game’s 16th minute.
