Friday, 28 November 2014

Ebola test offering 15-minute results


A 15-minute blood and saliva test for Ebola is to be trialled in Guinea, it has been announced.
The solar-powered, portable laboratory should deliver results six times faster than tests currently used in West Africa.
The researchers involved say faster diagnosis would increase the chances of survival and reduce transmission of the virus.
The trial will take place at an Ebola treatment centre in Conakry, Guinea.
Ebola is currently diagnosed by hunting for the virus's genetic material in the blood of a patient.

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Researchers have considered how to make the test suitable for use in remote field hospitals, where resources are often in short supply”
Dr Val SnewinWellcome Trust
But it requires dedicated laboratories that can keep the components of the test at very low temperatures.
Patients in Conakry will still have the proven test, but the new faster method will be trialled at the same time so the results can be compared.
Solar-powered
The project, led by the Pasteur Institute in Dakar, Senegal, uses a 'mobile suitcase laboratory'.
It is portable, solar-powered and can be used at room temperature.
The project is being funded by the Wellcome Trust medical charity and the UK's Department for International Development.
Dr Val Snewin, the international activities manager at the Wellcome Trust, said: "A reliable, 15-minute test that can confirm cases of Ebola would be a key tool for effective management of the Ebola outbreak - allowing patients to be identified, isolated and cared for as soon as possible.
"It not only gives patients a better chance of survival, but it prevents transmission of the virus to other people.
"This pilot study is particularly promising because researchers have considered how to make the test suitable for use in remote field hospitals, where resources - such as electricity and cold storage - are often in short supply."
The UK's International Development Secretary Justine Greening said: "The UK is doing everything possible to help the government of Sierra Leone tackle and ultimately defeat Ebola.
"Funding this groundbreaking research will develop new ways of diagnosing suspected cases even more quickly and stop more people suffering from this deadly virus."

Wednesday, 26 November 2014

Grumpy cat: Hollywood icon?



When Bryan Bundesen posted a photo of his sister’s kitten on Reddit, little did he know that the odd-looking feline would become one of the internet’s best-known celebrities.



The sourpuss image has been replicated thousands of times with grumpy captions posted on websites and social media pages. She has a manager, a successful merchandising franchise, a Grumpy Book, a Facebook page with almost seven million likes and nearly 250,000 followers on Twitter. Now there’s a movie, Grumpy Cat’s Worst Christmas Ever, to be broadcast on the cable TV network, Lifetime.



"Grumpy Cat is phenomenally successful,” says Karen North, a professor of social media at the University of Southern California's Annenberg School.



"One of the most popular activities online is displaying images with snarky captions. People take an event or a piece of media or an image on a digital platform and they mash it up, or they parody it or they adapt it."


For this, Grumpy Cat is the "perfect image”. Her 15 minutes of fame has transformed her into a marketing and entertainment powerhouse. She is an internet celebrity that now rivals other iconic figures such as Garfield and Hello Kitty. But is she immortal?


When I met Grumpy Cat, real name Tardar Sauce, she was lapping up the attention of admiring fans at the SXSW conference in Austin, Texas.  The music and pop culture event was the perfect venue to highlight the extraordinary allure of this unlikely star.

Her owner, Tabatha Bundesen, explained that Grumpy's facial expression could be due to feline dwarfism, a condition that means she is petite in stature, but otherwise a normal, playful cat.  But there is nothing normal about the internet obsession with this animal.

"She truly is special,” says Ben Lashes, Grumpy Cat’s manager.


"She’s the sweetest, grumpiest cat that there is. Even walking down the street we get recognised by people.  They run from down the block to get a picture."


Nine lives?



When Lashes was brought in to manage Grumpy Cat, he already had experience representing internet memes. He also acts on behalf of Keyboard Cat, the first internet feline, who became famous after a video, originally made in 1984, was posted to YouTube in 2007.

Lashes, a former rock musician, specialises in cats but also manages Success Kids, Scumbag Steve and the Ridiculously Photogenic Guy. He describes himself as doing for internet celebrities what Brian Epstein achieved for The Beatles. The analogy will be judged in the fullness of time, but Lashes is confident that pop culture memes are here to stay.

"In the last four years I’ve gone from being laughed off the phone when I try to talk to somebody about a famous cat to not being able to answer enough phone calls in a day,” he says.


"Culture isn’t that different to how it’s always been, it’s really the method of distribution that’s changed."

Lashes believes that the internet, being a great equalizer, has put the power of choice into the hands of the consumer. No longer do people have to rely on the corporate world, such as Hollywood studios, to create new characters.

"You get enough people who just decide to love something just for what it is, without being told and that can be a more powerful fan base than any fan base that you’re trying to pay for. It is the same as drawing three circles and having them turn into Mickey Mouse. As long as there are people that care about these things and are passionate about it, it can keep continuing to grow."


Taking the Mickey


Comparing Grumpy Cat to one of Hollywood’s most enduring cartoon characters may be a stretch, especially when it comes to longevity.

"What makes Grumpy Cat strong is that she expresses grumpiness – but it is also what limits her,” argues Amy Nicholson, chief film critic for the LA Weekly newspaper.

"Mickey Mouse can do a lot of things. He can captain a steamboat, he can goof around with Minnie, he can play with a dog and he can conduct an orchestra. Grumpy Cat can't really do anything besides frown."


The entertainment world is usually quick to drop a character as soon as it becomes clear that it is waning in popularity. There is no sign of the writing being on the wall for Grumpy Cat yet, but the time may come.

"For every meme category there’s one meme that will stay,” believes Nicholson.

"We’re already pretty full of a hundred basic memes that cover every human emotion and those will last as long as the trend lasts.  Then I don’t think many memes will come along to replace it."

Only time will tell whether internet celebrities with be with us for the long haul, adds North.

"To the extent that they can create an enduring image, like Hello Kitty or Garfield, is debatable.” 

"The world audience is somewhat fickle. Most of these characters don’t live on for a long time.  They’re a fad. That’s why agencies are coming in to try to manage the brand." 


The next big meme



The corporate world, and that includes the management team behind Grumpy Cat, will no doubt squeeze every last computer click out of this new breed of celebrity.

Lashes sees his role as the internet kingmaker.  He acts for the people who own the rights and materials behind the memes and helps them expand their brands. He believes the trend has only just started and shows no sign of petering out.

"To kids these days who’re growing up with phones in their hands before they can speak, the characters are all the same. It doesn’t matter which screen they discover them on."

Lashes is not alone in attempting to capitalise on online content. It is a growing and profitable business which has attracted the attention of the big players in the business.

YouTube has come up with its Creator Playbook which includes a section outlining what it calls the Fundamentals to Create Content People Love. In effect, it is a how-to-guide for would-be viral content providers to help them dream up an image for the next big meme.

"I think it’s going to be really interesting to see how pop culture uses something that is really, in essence, free and user-generated and tries to use it to make money,” says Nicholson.

"Grumpy Cat can sell t-shirts but when it comes to a larger scale, when people feel that they are being sold Grumpy Cat, rather than they created Grumpy Cat, I’m not so sure that it will work out for them. 


"If it does, you’ll see a lot of people trying to pull it off."

Hottest beauty trends for 2015

How will you look in 2015? Welcome to "Hottest beauty trends for 2015"

Cat-eye swoop


Sharpen up your pencil because bold and expressive graphic swoops around the eyes are back in fashion. Cleopatra, Marilyn Monroe and Brigitte Bardot were the veterans of the iconic cat eye but expect to see it used widely this season. For daywear, go heavy on the eyes with a simple flick or a heavy 60s influence, but leave the rest of the face bare. At night it is a different story – striking, dramatic eyes are perfect with a bright red pout.

Brazilian butt lift


Blame the Kardashians for this one – big butts are in. Cosmetic surgeons are reporting that since Kim K oiled up and exposed her bare booty for Paper magazine, there has been a spike in requests for designer derrières. As part of the procedure, fat is sucked from a patient’s stomach, hips, thighs and back, then injected into their buttocks. Instead of a lifetime of lunges and squats, results can be achieved by going under the knife for a few hours. But be warned – it costs more than $10,000 and you can’t sit down for three weeks.

Twiggy lashes


The legendary doll look of the 60s model Twiggy with her lush, black lashes is back, spotted on the autumn runways of Prada, YSL and Gucci at New York fashion week. For the most dramatic results, use minimalist or barely-there foundation, a neutral lipstick and then double or triple coat your lashes, on both the top and the bottom (à la Twiggy). The spidery piled-up spikes will give a bold, chic statement and stand out from afar. Be sure to have eye makeup remover and wipes at the ready for the end of the night.

Negative space nail art


Unlike a full manicure, the near-naked look does not require a base colour because graphic designs are painted on only part of the nail with the rest of it (the nail) left blank. The trend was spotted on the runways of the spring 2015 New York fashion week and included cool, striped designs and a cute half-moon manicure.

The ponytail lift


The world’s easiest hairstyle – and one that can disguise greasy hair – is also the secret to a younger-looking face. When you stretch your hair tight enough it provides an instant facelift (even if it’s only for an evening.) Kate Moss, Gwyneth Paltrow and Sandra Bullock are devotees of the sleek and simple updo. But university researchers in the US warn to go easy on the stretching and don’t overdo it because the style could lead to hair breakage and hair loss. You don’t want to end up shopping for a wig instead of scrunchies.

Power brow


Big, bushy brows have the power to transform you – just look at Taylor Swift who was unrecognisable on the cover of the US magazine Wonderland this month.

The chart-topping pop star traded her pencil-thin brows for “full-on bold Cara Delevingne arches”, as US Weekly reported. Michelle Obama is also a fan of the bold, bushy look, and the power brow is starting to dominate the red carpet.

For those who have spent decades plucking, don’t despair. You can simply fake it with the help of a good brow pencil and a steady hand. A well-groomed brow is like an instant eye lift.

WOMEN'S TOP TREND THEME FASHION SPRING AND SUMMER 2015

Art is one of the freshest influences this season with Avant Pop, echoing our Visionary forecast. Sports Illustrated confirms that athletic influence shows no sign of slowing with Sportsphere. Minimal designs push forward with two theme options - Formula Solution and Soft Minimalist. The Power 80s is the new decade of reference, while Paradise Strip puts the glamour back into retro, also confirming our Visionary report.

AVANT POP



Reflecting Fashion Snoops' Visionary theme of the same name, Avant Pop becomes one of the most influential seasonal references, lead by designers like Chanel, Prada, Celine and Preen. Bright colors are essential, while prints and patterns take center stage. Pop art faces and surrealist imagery are most forward, while print mixes and pop blocking offer commercial appeal. Asymmetrical silhouettes and wrapped techniques add an edge, and 3D or jewel encrusted embellishments add to the lively and excessive theme.

FORMULA SOLUTION



Formula = Solution confirms Fashion Snoops' Visionary forecast of the same name, and progresses our Cubist theme from last season. Leaders of the look include Fendi, Helmut Lang and Yigal Azrouel. A monochromatic palette is essential for plays on patterns like fractured or retro geometrics, while color is added in perspective and patchwork geometric motifs. Transparency is achieved with organza layers, while 3D textures and laser cut materials offer a novelty approach. Asymmetrical silhouettes and wrapped techniques are leading silhouette directions and cutouts are a highlighted detail.

LA VIE EN ROSE



La Vie en Rose is the prettiest and most feminine message of the season. Matthew Williamson, Giambattista Valli and Mary Katrantzou all get in on the action, set to a powdery pastel color palette. A flowing assortment of fabrics include chiffon, organza and lace which turn up on fuller silhouettes and below-the-knee hemlines. Florals are a major take-away, from cherry blossoms to botanical screens and romantic blooms. Flowers also make an appearance on influential 3D appliques, in addition to popular ruffle details.

Finding Happiness by Yourself



Are you always sad and full of discontent? Always the person "outside the picture" ? Silent and lonely instead of perky? Well, don't worry, this article is created in order to help you overcome some of the feelings that are keeping you from reaching your happiest potential.

Read on for more tips and strategies about how to find happiness in life all over again!

1. Be strong and optimistic



Don't let negative circumstances and sadness creep into or ruin your life. Whenever you are sad, try to keep your head high. You should tell yourself that life is full of hopes, challenges and unexpected twists and turns of surprises.


  • Look for the silver linings in life. Often something in life will happen which we interpret as being bad. When we look at it, however, it turns out to have some good aspects to it. Those are called silver linings. For example:



  • Your partner dumped you. The silver lining? There are so many different people out there that you can meet. Having the opportunity to get to know someone, to be let into their heart and soul, is a powerful thing.



  • You lost your job. Maybe you didn't like your job all too much. The silver lining? You now have a chance to find a better, more meaningful, higher-paying position.



  • You failed at something when you thought you'd succeed. Life is funny that way, isn't it? The silver lining? You learn just as much, if not more, from failing at something than you do from getting it right the first time.


2. Keep yourself busy. 



You know what they say about idle hands, right? Research has consistently found that people who stay busy are happier than people who stand idle.

Not only is too much free time a little depressing, it can also be unproductive. Think of all the things you could be doing, like joining clubs, visiting places, hearing lectures, and then think of how little time you are given in life to do just that.

3. Give yourself reasons to smile



Scientists have found that the act of smiling may actually made you happier.That's right: just smiling. Give it a try. Find any one of the following reasons to smile and give it a go:


  • A stranger passed you and smiled.




  • Someone else did a nice thing for a random stranger.



  • Something unexpected happened that caused you to think about how vast and strange the world is.



  • You saw something beautiful in the world


4. Follow your instincts.



People who stick with their gut instincts can be happier than people who labor over their decisions. This is why: if you stick with your gut, you're less likely to question what the other options might have been like, tasted like, etc; if you labor over the decision, you're more likely to wonder if you made a mistake in picking one thing over the other.

5. Be generous and compassionate. 



You might feel smart for thinking that winning a lottery ticket could make you happy, but you'd be wrong. Money increases happiness only up to a certain level, where your basic needs are met.[4] After that, money makes you no happier than other people. What does make you happy, however, is compassion.


  • One study has found that people who look at others giving money to charity makes us just as happy as receiving money ourselves!That means you should find ways to be compassionate if you can. Give back to charity, volunteer at your local food bank, help a team of second-graders with their homework, etc.

6. Learn how to forgive others. 




Forgiving others is the act of letting bygones be bygones. If you can find it in your heart to forgive other people, even ones who don't deserve it or aren't willing to forgive you, studies say that you'll be a happier person.
  • Forgiving other people may make you a happier person by reducing blood pressure, lowering overall stress levels, and slowing down heart rate.
7. Whatever you do, and whoever you are, exercise.



Research has established a pretty firm link between exercise and overall happiness. Exercise can increase endorphins in your body, lowering your overall stress levels and giving you that blissed-out feeling.

8. Do the things that make you happy. 



Don't do what you think should make you happy, or what makes other people happy; do what makes you happy. Throw away preconceived notions about what you're supposed to do and go after what you know you can get.

9. Listen to inspirational messages. 



Whether it's reading books, skimming the internet for quotes, or attending interesting lectures, the world is full of inspirational messages if you know where to look. Here are a few inspirational quotes that may get you motivated to go out into the world and find things that make you happy:
“Challenges are what make life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” - Joshua J. Marine
“The best revenge is massive success.” – Frank Sinatra
“Nobody ever wrote down a plan to be broke, fat, lazy, or stupid. Those things are what happen when you don’t have a plan.” – Larry Winget
"It's never too late to be what you might have been." - George Eliot

"Parents panic as shops run out of Disney Frozen doll: Retailers unable to keep up with demand for £34.99 Elsa toy that sings, speaks and lights up "http://www.dailymail.co.uk/

A nightmare looms for parents this Christmas with evidence there is a desperate shortage of Britain’s best-selling doll.
Stores are unable to keep up with demand for Frozen Snow Glow Elsa, an interactive doll who sings, speaks and lights up, with an official price of £34.99.
Many household chains and websites, such as Tesco, Toys r Us and Argos, list it as being ‘unavailable’, while any new stock is being snapped up as soon as it arrives on shelves.
Such is demand from parents desperate to avoid tears on Christmas morning that eBay entrepreneurs are cashing in by charging as much as £79.99 – a mark-up of almost 130per cent.
Elsa, the lead character from Disney’s Frozen film, is driving a phenomenal surge in sales in a wide range of merchandise linked to the inspirational animated fairytale.
Sales of dolls and merchandise linked to the Disney film are on course to hit all-time high for any movie franchise – overtaking the phenomenally successful Toy Story.
While Toy Story sales were driven by versions of Buzz Lightyear and Woody, it is the Frozen Snow Glow Elsa which is number one on wish lists this year.
Elsa’s dress lights up and she will sing and speak phrases from the film when owners touch her magical snowflake necklace.
The current top five toy best-selling toys also includes a Frozen Ice Skating Elsa Doll, which is £29.99, and an interactive Frozen Toddler Doll for younger children at £39.99.
UK sales of all Frozen merchandise, from dressing up outfits to dolls and jigsaws, are put at £31m up until the week ending November 8, according to retail experts at The NPD Group.
Global toys industry analyst for NPD, Frederique Tutt, said: ‘New items have been launched, production has been increased to meet demand, and sales are getting stronger. 
‘We counted three Frozen dolls in the five best-selling toys last week alone.
‘If Frozen continues at this level until Christmas, not only will the license keep top spot and get the license of the year accolade but it will also beat the all-time record of Toy Story 3 – in 2010 - in terms of toy sales.’


While Toy Story merchandise was most popular with boys, Frozen is clearly a favourite for girls.
The storyline is inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale The Snow Queen and tells how a fearless princess sets off on an epic journey alongside a rugged iceman, his loyal pet reindeer and a snowman to find her sister, Anna, who has become trapped in a land of eternal winter.
The film overtook Toy Story 3 to become the biggest grossing animated film of all time earlier this year with ticket sales of more than £1billion, while the song ‘Let it Go’ won an Oscar and became a social media phenomenon.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2849619/Parents-panic-shops-run-Disney-Frozen-doll-Retailers-unable-demand-34-99-Elsa-toy-sings-speaks-lights-up.html#ixzz3KAJWAYXu

Sabah, Lebanese singing legend, dies aged 87


Lebanese singer and actress Sabah, one of the Arab world's best-known entertainers, has died aged 87.

Sabah, whose real name was Jeanette Gergis al-Feghali, first came to prominence in the 1950s as star of Egyptian movies.

During her more than six-decade long career, she released over 50 albums and acted in 98 films.

She died at her home in Beirut of an unspecified illness, reported Lebanon's National News Agency.

Sabah was the first Arab singer to perform at Olympia in Paris, Carnegie Hall in New York, Piccadilly Theatre in London and the Sydney Opera House.

Sabah acted several times with Egyptian heart-throb Ahmad Ramzi

Born to a Christian family in the village of Bdedoun, a Lebanese town in the Baabda-Aley province, she released her first song in 1940, aged just 13.

The singer soon caught the eye of Egyptian film producer Asia Dagher, who immediately signed her for three films.

The first of these, El-Qalb Louh Wahid (The Heart Has Its Reasons), made her a star - and she was known by her character's name - Sabah, which is Arabic for morning - ever after.

But she also acquired several affectionate nicknames, including "Shahroura", Arabic for "singing bird", and "Sabbouha," a diminutive of Sabah.

Sabah
Sabah at the opening night of Cairo's 28th International Film Festival in 2009

Among her most popular films were Soft Hands (1964), Ataba Square (1959) and The Second Man (1960), in which she played a cabaret singer who vows to avenge her brother's death at the hands of a smuggling ring.

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Our giants are leaving, our cedars are diminishing. Farewell our Shahroura”

Ragheb Alameh, singer
In her parallel music career, she recorded more than 3,000 songs, working with a string of legendary Egyptian composers, including the late Mohammed Abdul-Wahhab.

She specialised in a Lebanese folk tradition called the mawal, and her most famous songs included Zay el-Assal (Your Love is Like Honey on my Heart) and Akhadou el-Reeh (They Took the Wind).

The star held Egyptian, Jordanian and US citizenship as well as Lebanese, and continued to perform and make television appearances into her 80s.

At home, she was humorously mocked for refusing to leave the limelight, as well as her garish outfits and use of cosmetic surgery.

But she was unabashed: "I'm proud that I'm a village girl but I had a lot of ambition," she said in 2008.

"She broke so many taboos. I don't know if she was even aware of it," said Chady Maalouf, head of programming at Voice of Lebanon radio.

"She was the example of a star, she was totally complete in her appearance, behaviour and voice. She shocked people all the time."


Sabah released over 50 albums and acted in 98 films during her career

She married nine times, most most notably to Egyptian actor Roshdi Abaza and Lebanese author-director Wassim Tabbara.

Her last marriage, to Lebanese artist Fadi Lubnan, lasted 17 years.

She had two children, Dr Sabah Shammas and actress Howayda Mansy, both of whom live in the United States.



Source : BBC