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Thursday, May 10, 2012

Holy Moly: Bible App ?YouVersion? Hits 50 Million Downloads

Newfangled social and gaming apps are popular and all, but it turns out that some content dating back thousands of years can still hold its own in today's tech landscape. YouVersion, a Bible reading app made by nationwide Christian megachurch LifeChurch.tv, has crossed the 50 million download mark across the variety of mobile devices on which it's available.

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Antarctic octopus study shows West Antarctic Ice Sheet may have collapsed 200,000 years ago

ScienceDaily (May 9, 2012) ? Scientists at the University have found that genetic information on the Antarctic octopus supports studies indicating that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet could have collapsed during its history, possibly as recently as 200,000 years ago.

Genes from more than 450 Turquet's octopuses, collected from species in the Southern Ocean that surrounds Antarctica, were analysed to shed new light on how animals disperse across the varied ocean landscape. Adult Turquet's octopuses tend to live in one place and only move to escape predators, leading scientists to believe that creatures from areas either side of Antarctica would be genetically different.

The team from Liverpool, in collaboration with National University of Ireland Galway, and La Trobe University, Australia, however, found that the octopuses from Ross and Weddell Seas, which are now separated by the West Antarctic Ice Sheet, are genetically almost identical, suggesting that these two regions may have once been connected. Findings may contribute to recent studies demonstrating the potential impact that increasing global temperatures could have on the changing Antarctica environment.

Dr Phill Watts, from the University's Institute of Integrative Biology, explains: "We looked at information gathered by the Census of Antarctic Marine Life, which allowed us to examine genetic data on a scale that had not been done before in this area of the world. We expected to find a marked difference between Turguet's octopuses living in different regions of the ocean, particularly between areas that are currently separated by approximately 10,000km of sea. These creatures don't like to travel and so breeding between the populations in the Ross and Weddell Seas would have been highly unusual.

"We found, however, that they were genetically similar, suggesting that at some point in their past these populations would have been in contact with each other, perhaps at a time when the oceans were connected and not separated by the West Antarctic Ice Sheet. These findings agree with climate models indicating repeated periods in history when the climate was warmer, which would have released water from the ice and increased the sea levels, allowing dispersal of creatures between the Ross and Weddell Seas."

Data on octopuses from other parts of Antarctica, not separated by this particular ice sheet, support the theory that the creatures are genetically different. They found that the depth of the ocean and its currents limited the movement of the octopus in certain areas, as would have been expected for those living on either side of the West Antarctic Ice sheet. This added further evidence that at some point in recent history this particular ice sheet might have collapsed.

The research is supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the collaborative scheme for systematic research (CoSyst). It is published in the journal Molecular Ecology.

Dr Louise Allcock, from the National University of Ireland, Galway, added: "A previous study has shown evidence that the Ross and Weddell Seas could have been connected. We wanted to investigate whether there was any genetic information that could tell us what the past environment could have been like, and this octopus species, with its large populations around the region and limited movements, was an ideal species to use.

"The fact that we found more similarities than we did differences supports the theory that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet could have collapsed in the past. It also provides further evidence that scientists should continue to raise awareness about the impact of climate change on Antarctica today."

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

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

Journal Reference:

J. M. Strugnell, P. C. Watts, P. J. Smith, A. L. Allcock. Persistent genetic signatures of historic climatic events in an Antarctic octopus. Molecular Ecology, 2012; DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294X.2012.05572.x

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

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

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Macy's 1Q profit jumps 38 percent

FILE - In this Nov. 3, 2011, file photo, a person enters a Macy's department store in North Attleboro, Mass. Macy's Inc. said Wednesday, May 9, 2012, that its net income rose to $181 million, or 43 cents per share, for the three-month period ended April 28. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)

In this May 6, 2012, photo, a man waits to cross an intersection with a Macy's bag near a Macy's department store in New York. Macy's Inc. said Wednesday, May 9, 2012, that its net income rose to $181 million, or 43 cents per share, for the three-month period ended April 28. (AP Photo/CX Matiash)

This May 6, 2012, photo, shows a Macy's department store in New York. Macy's Inc. said Wednesday, May 9, 2012, that its net income rose to $181 million, or 43 cents per share, for the three-month period ended April 28. (AP Photo/CX Matiash)

FILE - In this Sept, 29, 2011, file photo, Elsy Santiago, left, and her sister Betsy, exit a Macy's in Hialeah, Fla. Macy's Inc. said Wednesday, May 9, 2012, that its net income rose to $181 million, or 43 cents per share, for the three-month period ended April 28. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz, File)

NEW YORK (AP) ? Macy's Inc.'s first-quarter profit rose a better-than-expected 38 percent. But investors sent its shares down because the department store chain left its annual profit guidance intact.

Macy's is the first in a series of major retailers reporting first-quarter results that should offer clues into what consumers are doing with their money. Consumer spending accounts for 70 percent of U.S. economic activity.

The owner of Macy's and Bloomingdale's stores has outmatched many of its peers. But investors' reaction ? Macy's shares fell 3.6 percent by midafternoon ? show they will dissect every merchants' earnings report amid increasing worries about an economic slowdown.

"Macy's is doing really well, but the market may have been expecting them to do even better," said Brian Sozzi, chief equities analyst at NBG Productions, an independent research firm. "It comes at a time when concerns about consumer spending are being ratcheted up."

Recent economic data has sparked worries over a spring slowdown for the third year in a row. Companies slowed their hiring in March and April. The stock market has lost momentum amid an accelerating European debt crisis. And April's sales reports from retailers, including from Macy's, showed a pullback by consumers despite unusually warm weather and an early Easter. Macy's said Wednesday that sales bounced back in May, but analysts will be studying other stores' results to get more clarity on shoppers' behavior.

Like many department stores, Macy's suffered during the depths of the recession, but it has been able to deftly navigate through the slow recovery. It benefited from its move in 2007 to tailor its fashions to local markets. A better trained sales force also helped. The company has also locked in exclusive brands including its Material Girl fashion collection, created by pop star Madonna and her daughter Lourdes, and Tommy Hilfiger sportswear.

Macy's revenue has also been boosted by its online division, which enjoyed a 33.7 percent sales increase in the quarter. Online sales account for 7 percent of the company's total business.

Such initiatives helped boost the company's first-quarter results.

Macy's, based in Cincinnati, said that its net income rose to $181 million, or 43 cents per share, for the three-month period ended April 28. That's up from $131 million, or 30 cents per share, a year ago.

Revenue rose 4.3 percent to $6.14 billion from $5.89 billion a year ago.

Analysts surveyed by FactSet had expected earnings of 40 cents per share on revenue of $6.14 billion.

Macy's revenue at stores open at least a year climbed 4.4 percent for the quarter. That's well above Kohl's 0.2 percent increase. J.C. Penney is expected to post a decline as it's in the midst of overhauling a new pricing strategy, launched Feb. 1. Penney got rid of hundreds of sale events and instead is focusing on everyday prices and deeper promotions that last an entire month. That's making some Penney shoppers, who are used to seeing big discounts, flee to other stores like Macy's and Kohl's.

Kohl's is slated to report results Thursday, while J.C. Penney will report its fiscal results late Tuesday. Penney stopped reporting its sales figures on a monthly basis since February.

Macy's Chief Financial Officer Karen Hoguet told analysts during a conference call Wednesday that the chain was seeing a pickup in sales at stores that shared the same mall with Penney's. But she declined to elaborate.

According to a survey of J.C. Penney customers conducted by Citi Investment in March, 10 percent of Penney's shoppers plan to shop more at Macy because of their confusion over pricing. The average income for J.C. Penney shoppers is $60,200, slightly lower than the $72,200 figure for Macy's, according to Richard Hastings, a consumer strategist with Global Hunter Securities.

Still, Macy's only slightly increased its annual guidance for revenue at stores open at least a year. It now expects that figure to be up 3.7 percent, compared with its earlier guidance of 3.5 percent.

Macy's reaffirmed its earnings guidance for the year of $3.25 to $3.30 per share. Analysts had expected $3.39 per share, according to FactSet.

When asked by an analyst during the call why Macy's didn't raise its profit guidance, Hoguet responded that its outlook for the year "was more aggressive than usual."

Macy's shares fell $1.45, or 3.6 percent, to $38.07 in afternoon trading. They peaked for the past year at $42.17 a week ago. They traded as low as $22.66 in mid-August.

Associated Press

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Wednesday, May 9, 2012

AP-GfK Poll: Support for war in Afghanistan at new low of 27 per cent

WASHINGTON - Support for the war in Afghanistan has reached a new low, with only 27 per cent of Americans saying they back the effort and about half of those who oppose the war saying the continued presence of American troops in Afghanistan is doing more harm than good, according to an AP-GfK poll.

In results released Wednesday, 66 per cent opposed the war, with 40 per cent saying they were "strongly" opposed. A year ago, 37 per centfavoured the war, and in the spring of 2010, support was at 46 per cent. Eight per cent strongly supported the war in the new poll.

The poll found that far fewer people than last year think the killing of Osama bin Laden by U.S. troops increased the threat of terrorism against Americans. Overall, 27 per cent say the al-Qaida leader's death resulted in an increased terror threat, 31 per cent believe his death decreased the threat of terrorism and 38 per cent say it has had no effect. The poll was conducted before the revelation this week of a recent al-Qaida plot to blow up a U.S.-bound airliner with an underwear bomb.

Chris Solomon, an independent from Fuquay-Varina, N.C., is among the respondents who strongly oppose the war. He said the military mission has reached the limits of its ability to help Afghans or make Americans any safer, and he would close down the war immediately if he could. While the rationale for the war is to fight al-Qaida, most of the day-to-day combat is against an entrenched Taliban insurgency that will outlast the foreign fighters, he said.

"What are we really doing there? Who are we helping?" he said in an interview.

Yet nearly half, 48 per cent, said the continued presence of U.S. troops in Afghanistan is doing more to help Afghanistan become a stable democracy, while 36 per cent said the opposite and 14 per cent said they didn't know. Among those opposed to the war, 49 per cent say U.S. troops are hurting more than helping. Three-quarters of those who favour the war think they are doing more to help.

Republicans are most apt to see U.S. forces as helping, with 56 per cent saying so, followed by 47 per cent of Democrats. Among independents, more say troops are hurting Afghanistan's efforts to become a stable democracy (43 per cent) than helping (32 per cent).

President Barack Obama has promised to keep fighting forces in Afghanistan until the end of 2014, despite the declining popular support. The effort to hand off primary responsibility for fighting the war to Afghan soldiers will be the main focus of a gathering of NATO leaders that Obama will host later this month in Chicago.

That shift away from front-line combat is expected to come next year, largely in response to growing opposition to the war in the United States and among NATO allies fighting alongside about 88,000 U.S. forces. The shift makes some military commanders uneasy, as does any suggestion that the U.S. fighting force be cut rapidly next year. Obama has promised a steady drawdown.

Obama acknowledged the rising frustration during a surprise visit to Afghanistan last week. He signed a 10-year security pact with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and congratulated U.S. troops on the anniversary of bin Laden's death. He told troops that he is ending the war but that more of their friends will die before it is over.

"I recognize that many Americans are tired of war," he said then. "I will not keep Americans in harm's way a single day longer than is absolutely required for our national security. But we must finish the job we started in Afghanistan and end this war responsibly."

As of Tuesday, at least 1,834 members of the U.S. military had died in Afghanistan as a result of the U.S.-led invasion in late 2001, according to an Associated Press count.

Obama has argued that his persistence in hunting down bin Laden is one reason to re-elect him, and his on-time handling of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is another.

Obama closed down the Iraq war on the timetable set when he took office and expanded the Afghan fight that had been neglected in favour of Iraq. He is now scaling back in Afghanistan, bringing troops home by the tens of thousands. A small U.S. counterterrorism and training force may remain in the country after 2014.

But in a trend that complicates discussion of the war in this year's presidential campaign, support for the war is plummeting even among Republicans. People who identified themselves as Republicans backed the war at 37 per cent, down from 58 per cent a year ago.

Among Democrats, support dropped from 30 per cent last year to 19 per cent now. About a quarter, 27 per cent, of independents favour the effort, similar to the level last year.

The war, which will be in its 12th year on Election Day in November, has an inconclusive balance sheet at best.

It has brought greater security to many parts of the impoverished country strategically situated between Iran and Pakistan, and largely flushed the al-Qaida terror network from its former training ground.

But the war has failed to break the Taliban-led insurgency or pressure the insurgents to begin serious peace negotiations with the U.S.-backed Afghan government. The civilian government has not capitalized on the elbow room that more than 100,000 foreign fighting forces provided to build up its own ability to govern the entire country and push the Taliban to the political fringe.

Obama was hosting NATO's top officer at the White House on Wednesday to finalize the agenda for NATO leaders. They are trying to show that NATO nations are committed to keep fighting now but will stick to the plan agreed at the last leaders' summit in 2010 to end the war by 2015. But the summit will be a national security debut for France's new Socialist leader, Francois Hollande, who has vowed to pull French troops out by the end of this year. That's two years earlier than the rest of the alliance has pledged.

Slightly more than half of Americans, 53 per cent, said they approve of Obama's handling of the war, while 42 per cent disapprove. Obama hit a high mark in AP-GfK polling on that question a year ago, just after the killing of bin Laden. Then, 65 per cent said they approved of his handling of the situation in Afghanistan.

The poll showed 64 per cent approve of Obama's handling of terrorism issues, and 31 per cent disapprove.

Elizabeth Kabalka of Chattanooga, Tenn., said she somewhat approves of the war and is generally pleased by Obama's handling of it. An independent voter, she said Obama is doing about as well managing the war as anyone could.

"He's got a really crappy job," she said. "I've been pleased with him. He's really tried to stick to a position."

The Associated Press-GfK Poll was conducted May 3-7 by GfK Roper Public Affairs & Corporate Communications. It involved landline and cellphone interviews with 1,004 adults nationwide and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.9 percentage points.

___

AP Deputy Director of Polling Jennifer Agiesta and News Survey Specialist Dennis Junius contributed to this report.

___

Online: http://www.ap-gfkpoll.com

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Kristen Stewart 'Can't Watch' Herself In 'On The Road'

Kristen Stewart has a busy year coming up. Her new film, "On The Road," makes its debut at Cannes later this month, "Snow White and the Huntsman" hits theaters on June 1 and the final "Twilight" film, "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part 2," comes out on November 16. MTV News caught up with [...]

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