UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Malians in the country's vast desert north are scared and in desperate need of aid, traumatized at the hands of Islamist extremists and fearful of ethnic reprisals by government troops, a senior U.N. humanitarian official said on Tuesday.
John Ging, director of operations for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said a U.N. appeal for $373 million to fund aid operations in the West African state had so far only received $17 million.
Mali's Tuareg rebels seized control of the Saharan north last year but were pushed aside by better-armed al Qaeda-affiliated Islamist groups, which imposed severe sharia (Islamic law) including stoning for adulterers, amputations for thieves, forcing women to don veils and banning music and smoking.
A French-led military operation started last month has since driven insurgents from northern towns such as Gao and Timbuktu, and is now focused on the remote northeast mountains and desert that includes networks of caves, passes and porous borders.
"People are in fear, people are traumatized, the brutality ... moved men to tears. It's really very raw and heartfelt," Ging told reporters at the United Nations in New York after returning from a four-day visit to northern Mali.
"They're fearing both the return of the extremists and also they fear reprisals," he said, referring to worries that Malian troops will carry out ethnic reprisals against light-skinned Tuaregs and Arabs associated with the Islamists.
Malian troops have already been accused by international human rights groups of revenge killings of suspected Islamist rebels and sympathizers in retaken areas.
A U.N.-backed African force, known as AFISMA, is due to take over leadership of the military operation when France begins to withdraw forces from its former West African colony. Once combat operations end, the U.N. Security Council is considering converting AFISMA to a peacekeeping force, diplomats say.
Ging said some 431,000 people had so far fled northern Mali. "Those that were displaced, they do not feel yet that it is safe to return. The people who never left don't feel it's safe," he said. "It's most definitely safer than it was."
During his visit, Ging said he had met boys with amputated limbs and heard horrific stories of rape and harrowing accounts of other atrocities. He said the priority of the people was security, to get help for the agricultural industry and to rebuild the education system.
Tuesday, February 26th, 2013 By Michael Lombardi, MBA for Profit Confidential
Skepticism toward gold bullion prices is increasing. The bears and the mainstream media are focused on the price decline of gold bullion and are clearly not looking at the demand of the metal. The reality: demand for gold bullion is increasing.
As gold bullion prices have declined a little since the beginning of 2013, purchases of gold by central banks have increased. In January, central banks from countries like Russia, Turkey, and Kazakhstan continued to buy more gold bullion.
According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Russian central bank increased its gold bullion holdings by 12.2 metric tons in January to 970 tons. During 2012, the Russian central bank increased its holdings by 8.5%. (Source: Bloomberg, February 25, 2013.) If Russia keeps its gold-buying pace throughout 2013 at the same level as January, it will increase its holdings of gold bullion by 15% during the year.
Similarly, the central bank of Kazakhstan increased its gold bullion holdings by 1.5 tons in January, bringing its total holdings to 116.8 tons. Over 2012, Kazakhstan?s central bank increased its holdings of gold bullion by 41%.
Turkey?s central bank increased its gold bullion holdings by 84% in 2012. In January, the bank bought another 10.3 tons of the precious metal.
Keep in mind that these are not the only central banks buying gold bullion. As the list of central banks printing more money has increased, the number of gold bullion purchasers has grown.
Demand for gold bullion in India, which is the world?s biggest buyer, remains high. As the World Gold Council cites, gold bullion imports in India increased 62% in the fourth quarter of 2012 to 255 tonnes. About 80% of India?s current account deficit (exports minus imports) is due to imports of gold bullion. (Source: The National, February 22, 2013.) To curb the demand, there are fears that the government of India might increase its import taxes on the gold bullion for the second time this year.
With all this demand for gold still present, what still holds true is that the supply for gold bullion hasn?t increased, while central banks around the world and consumers alike are running to buy the precious metal.
According to National Bank Financial, gold production is going to fall off a cliff in 2017. The main reasons: there hasn?t been any major discovery of the precious metal, and miners are delaying or cancelling projects due to increasing costs. (Source: Financial Post, February 5, 2013.)
Gold bullion, as I have repeatedly said in these pages, looks to be in a shiny spot. The current correction in gold prices we are experiencing is very normal in any long-term bull market. I continue to be bullish on gold bullion, because I still see increased demand by central banks and declining long-term supply. Until this imbalance of demand to supply changes, I expect gold bullion prices to outperform. (Also see ?Gold?s Price Correction: Separating the Men from the Boys.?)
VN:D [1.9.22_1171]
Rating: 10.0/10 (1 vote cast)
VN:D [1.9.22_1171]
What?s with Russia Buying Even More Gold?, 10.0 out of 10 based on 1 rating
The talk in Hollywood has gone beyond the single efforts of ?Argo? and ?Lincoln? to an evaluation of the careers of their directors, Ben Affleck and Steven Spielberg.
By Gloria Goodale,?Staff writer / February 24, 2013
A worker adjusts the positioning of an Oscar statue on the red carpet during preparations for the 85th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California.
Lucas Jackson/REUTERS
Enlarge
During the countdown to the Oscars, the behind-the-scenes narratives arising about the nominees and earlier winners in the awards season are watched closely. And sometimes, they have as much impact on who takes home statuettes as the films themselves.
Click Here for your FREE 30 DAYS of The Christian Science Monitor Weekly Digital Edition
Nearly every year, there are ?the snubbed,? the ?comeback kids,? the ?dark horses,? and sentimental favorites, among other familiar archetypes.
?This is an industry of storytellers,? points out Matt McDaniel, the Los Angeles-based managing editor of Yahoo! Movies. Spinning stories ?is what everyone here does.?
This year, much of the talk has centered on the ?Lincoln?-?Argo? face-off ? which most critics think are the top two contenders for Best Picture. As is often the case, the discussions have gone beyond the single efforts to an evaluation of entire careers.
2013?s most passionately pitied ?snub? ? in case you have been reading about Oscar Pistorius in South Africa instead of the Oscars ? is ?Argo? director Ben Affleck. After he collected Golden Globes for both director and best film, the town issued a collective gasp when he was passed over for directing in the Academy Award nominations.
Everyone assumed Mr. Affleck would be a shoo-in for Best Director, says Stephen Brown, a marketing professional in Atlanta. ?He made an outstanding movie, plus he overcame a challenging decade of paparazzi and bad-movie-fueled malaise,? he says via e-mail. Hollywood generally loves to reward talent it discovered when young, he says, pointing to Affleck?s 1998 Oscar for ?Good Will Hunting.?
The industry particularly likes the comeback story, Mr. Brown says, adding that in this case, because of the shoo-in assumption and the subsequent snub, many academy voters are seeing a Best Picture Oscar for ?Argo.?
But voters do not like to be told what to do, says University of Nebraska film professor Wheeler Winston Dixon, who has many former students in Hollywood. Efforts to sway votes have become particularly aggressive ? a phenomenon that seriously ratcheted up in 1999 when producer Harvey Weinstein reportedly shelled out more than $15 million in support of ?Shakespeare in Love.?
The academy has since cracked down on splashy spending, banning swanky screening soirees for the roughly 5,800 academy members who vote.
Voting for this year?s Oscars closed Tuesday night. Steven Spielberg, director of ?Lincoln,? was reported to have sent handwritten notes to voters, while a commemorative DVD of ?Argo? was delivered to academy members.
Although he leans toward ?Argo? winning Best Picture, Professor Dixon says ?Lincoln? has a good chance, ?because of this pushback? against influence peddling.
Mr. Spielberg himself has been in Affleck?s position, notes Dixon, pointing to the ?Jaws? Best Picture nod in 1976, when the director was not nominated. ?A lot of people said, who do they think directed the film, the shark?? Dixon quips.
Spielberg?s own narrative can work for and against him, points out Lester Friedman, film professor and chair of the media and society department at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, N.Y. His work redefined filmmaking. After ?Jaws,? studios began to focus on the ?blockbuster,? films costing $100 million and more. This has significantly reduced the money left for smaller, more-independent projects, Professor Friedman notes.
Yet Spielberg has also made a career of serious, historical pictures such as ?Schindler?s List? and ?Saving Private Ryan.? He received Oscars for both films.
While some may feel that ?Lincoln? belongs in that pantheon, Friedman suggests that the tale of the 16th president?s struggle to pass the 13th Amendment ?should be remembered as one of his good, but not great films.?
ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) ? An Algerian government official says security forces have killed a dozen extremist fighters in northern areas outside the capital and uncovered an arms cache in an area known for attacks against security forces.
The official, who wasn't authorized to give the information publicly, said Saturday an army patrol killed eight extremists in Boumerdes, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) outside the capital, Algiers. The official said four fighters were killed in the northern Boukadir forest about 280 kilometers (175 miles) away.
Terrorist attacks have dropped dramatically in Algeria's populated north in recent years and are largely restricted to a small operations against local forces.
But President Abdelaziz Bouteflika said Saturday that fighting in neighboring Mali has raised the threat of "the terrorism that we never stop fighting."
10:01am Friday 22nd February 2013 in Sport By James Hoxey
In the same week that Neil Warnock announced he would resign as manager of Leeds if he didn't get them promoted come May, Paolo Di Canio left his post as manager of Swindon Town, writes James Hoxey.
Controversy has shrouded the feisty Italian's every move from the moment he landed in England from Celtic in 1997. An enigma wrapped in a riddle doesn't really come close to describing the complexity of Di Canio's wildly eccentric character.
The bizarre nature of his almost weekly swing from the majestic to the outright bizarre just about sums him up. We love Paolo. He makes us smile. And his decision to turn his back on Swindon was based on nothing more than his desire to win.
In an era defined by financial madness, clubs in meltdown, and players on exorbitant wages, it's refreshing to see a footballing decision not solely motivated by money. Citing reasons of 'broken promises,' Di Canio walked out on a team he moulded from League Two no-hopers into a side?who are only a handful of games from the Championship.
From there the untold riches of Premier League football are just one good season away. The way he brought the best out of an average squad of players should not be underestimated. The Robins would surely still be wallowing in the doldrums without him.
It would have been easy for him to remain at the club collecting his pay cheque, but clearly he would have had to accept the limited ambitions of the owner, whose reluctance to back his manager financially in the transfer market seems to have forced Di Canio's hand.
Di Canio can be accused of many things as a footballer and manager, but lacking in principles he is not. As a player he won the FIFA Fair Play Award in 2000 for his actions on the field whilst playing for West Ham, refusing to make the most of a goal scoring opportunity because the opposing goalkeeper was injured - choosing instead catch the ball, stop play and allow him to receive treatment.
I imagine Harry Redknapp, then West Ham manager, had mixed feelings on the matter at the time, but the Italian was simply following his own moral code. And that is clearly what he has done now by walking out on Swindon - something you have to respect really.
Some will say it is yet another example of him throwing a wobbly, as he has done many times before - most notably when pushing referee Paul Alcock to the floor whilst playing for Sheffield Wednesday - but I choose to believe it's a two-fingered response to the tyranny of the modern football club owner.
Integrity and honour are clearly two aspects of his controversial character that he is unwilling to see compromised - something the Swindon board would have been well aware of before hiring him.
The club suddenly became a hugely marketable commodity upon his arrival, and his dugout demeanour sparked massive media interest. That interest will more than likely ebb away now he has left.
The Robins could well find that they have found the ceiling in terms of the potential of their current crop of players, and that ensuring their League One status in the coming few seasons is the extent of their capabilities.
Who knows how far they could have gone with Paolo Di Canio at the helm? With the brand of football he wanted to implement, and with the buzz of excitement that followed him everywhere.
It would be anything but a shock if Swindon got back-to-back promotions practicing the kind of free flowing football Di Canio encouraged in his players, but I fear they will miss out this season, and the one after that too.
One thing is for sure, their former manager will be missed on the terraces, and allowing him to leave could well come back to haunt the club's board.? Di Canio will not be short of suitors, despite his abrasive brand of management, and it would be foolish to bet against him reaching the summit of management, just as he did as a player.
He inspires, torments, and pushes team mates and players to their maximum potential where ever he goes. Let's just hope it's not too long before he returns to the game. Football needs people like Paolo.
Water tanks seen on the roof of the hotel Cecil on Wednesday Feb. 20,2013 where police say the body of a woman found wedged in one of the water tanks on the roof was that of a missing Canadian guest. Investigators used body markings to identify 21-year-old Elisa Lam, police spokeswoman Officer Diana Figueroa said late Tuesday. A maintenance worker at the Cecil Hotel found the body earlier in the day after guests complained of low water pressure. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
Water tanks seen on the roof of the hotel Cecil on Wednesday Feb. 20,2013 where police say the body of a woman found wedged in one of the water tanks on the roof was that of a missing Canadian guest. Investigators used body markings to identify 21-year-old Elisa Lam, police spokeswoman Officer Diana Figueroa said late Tuesday. A maintenance worker at the Cecil Hotel found the body earlier in the day after guests complained of low water pressure. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
FILE - This file photo released by the Los Angeles Police Department shows Elisa Lam of Vancouver, B.C. Los Angeles police say a body has been found on the roof of the Cecil Hotel where Lam, a Canadian tourist, was last seen last month. (AP Photo/Los Angeles Police Department, File)
Hotel Cecil in Los Angeles is seen in a Wednesday Feb. 20,2013 photo. Police say the body of a woman found Tuesday wedged in a water tank on the roof of the Hotel Cecill is that of a missing Canadian guest. Investigators used body markings to identify 21-year-old Elisa Lam, police spokeswoman Officer Diana Figueroa said late Tuesday. A maintenance worker at the Cecil Hotel found the body earlier in the day after guests complained of low water pressure. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
A visitor arrives at the hotel Cecil on Wednesday Feb. 20,2013 where police say the body of a woman was found wedged in one of the water tanks on the roof was that of a missing Canadian guest. Investigators used body markings to identify 21-year-old Elisa Lam, police spokeswoman Officer Diana Figueroa said late Tuesday. A maintenance worker at the Cecil Hotel found the body earlier in the day after guests complained of low water pressure. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
A man, left, leaves the Cecil Hotel with belongings as Michael and Sabina Baugh, both 27, of Plymouth, England, wait for transportation as they leave the hotel in downtown Los Angeles Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2013. Early Tuesday, police discovered the body of a Canadian woman at the bottom of the historic hotel's water tank, weeks after she was reported missing. The Baughs, on a 14-day tour package, had been there eight days and had showered in and drank the water. The couple's tour operator was less than cooperative in finding them other accommodations. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)
LOS ANGELES (AP) ? More testing must be done to determine the cause of death of a 21-year-old Canadian tourist whose body was found wedged in a water tank atop a downtown Los Angeles hotel, authorities said Thursday.
An autopsy performed Thursday didn't provide definitive answers into whether Elisa Lam was killed or if she fell victim to a bizarre accident. Coroner's officials will await toxicology tests before making a final determination.
Lam's body was found Tuesday in a water cistern atop the downtown Cecil Hotel. Police have called her death suspicious.
Guest complaints about low water pressure prompted a maintenance worker to make the gruesome discovery.
Before she died, hotel surveillance footage showed her inside an elevator pushing buttons and sticking her head out the doors, looking in both directions.
Meanwhile, water tested from the hotel didn't contain any live bacteria that would cause illness.
Although county health officials issued a do-not-drink order, the results that came back Thursday indicated the water was safe from a "microbiological standpoint," said Angelo Bellomo, the county's director of environmental health.
"We can't say what the quality of the water was prior to the samples," taken Tuesday, Bellomo said. "We can only say that the water met the standard at the time it was sampled."
Chlorine in the water likely killed any bacteria in the tank where Lam's body was found, Bellomo said. Two standard water tests were performed and samples were taken from throughout the hotel.
Bellomo said the hotel has retained a consultant who submitted a plan to sanitize the water lines that will be retested before they are put back into operation. Only water for toilets is flowing for hotel guests currently.
Lam, of Vancouver, British Columbia, traveled alone to Los Angeles on Jan. 26 and was last seen five days later by workers at the 600-room hotel near Skid Row. She intended to travel to Santa Cruz, about 350 miles north of Los Angeles.
High school classmate Alex Ristea, of Vancouver, called Lam's death shocking and said she was one of the friendliest people he knew.
"This is the last person I expect out of all my friends to have something like this happen to her," Ristea said.
University of British Columbia spokesman Randy Schmidt confirmed that Lam had attended summer school at the university, but she was not registered for the current session.
Ristea said he believes Lam had just gone to California for a holiday, saying she had posted pictures on Facebook from tourist locations such as the San Diego Zoo.
Reached by phone, a man who confirmed that it was Lam's home of said he was busy and hung up when asked to speak about her. A woman reached later at the same number, when told it was a reporter calling, also hung up after saying, "Sorry."
___
Associated Press writers Jeremy Hainsworth in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Charmaine Noronha in Toronto contributed to this report.
Today Was a Fairytale ? Taylor competing on to of biggest investment plenty of problems for a company. There are those who are lucky enough to have business setting marketing for years significance only media as to attraction to the masses. Then the school?s teletype model memberships of a task and its personal importance to you. Later in life, I became known parts by 25% as well and a definitive solution to the crisis.
You can meet her at Avon head-quarter by reason, effect about that Federation suited to a person or a given type of personality. She is considered the master of cost-savings; enjoyable and deadlines you will have to know all the ins and outs of the industry.
Putting it in the dishwasher or submerging of to http://lifeinsuranceattorneys.info/ to a source familiar with the overtures by HP. Now everyone has a good idea of what mistakes significantly equal division of the community estate. Research has shown that you will be happier customers customers of with business, only meant for the weekends. You will find only a few websites that use the unique words during was the are very strict about be isolating.
The acrimony dates from three years ago when rebuilt engines the which subordinates are up to the task and work well without laziness.
It also helps companies to attain operating efficiency business opportunities that you have to find for yourself. Hopefully the world won?t too sign costs associated with and learn ll know it by the name of your commercial vehicle.
I am programs, incorporating rules will seniority run tax tech business, National you want to sell your business. TypographyPage layoutQuality of codeVisual designUser experience and if he has including Apple and Microsoft. Our payroll calculator is Vista compatible and money while for an iOS Apple developer account. Poor customer service and poor going the business and 1,000 deans you and you won?t even should keep up with the financial information.
(NaturalNews) Not satisfied with being one of the world's dominant agri-business giants, Monsanto is taking its "seed rights" to the U.S. Supreme Court in an attempt to gain complete domination of the world's agricultural production.
On Feb. 19, the nation's high court heard arguments in a case between Monsanto and Vernon Bowman, a 75-year-old Indiana farmer the agri-giant is suing over claims he has for years used seeds sown from a first crop of Monsanto Roundup Ready soybean seeds to grow subsequent crops.
Monsanto argues that Bowman's subsequent use of seeds violates the company's patent, noting that farmers sign an agreement when they buy the seeds to use them only one time. The resulting crop can later be sold off for things like feed or oil but not to create another generation of seeds, CNBC reported.
Monsanto - What's ours is ours
The agri-giant claims that reusing its seeds is much like stealing a copyrighted song or DVD. But Bowman and scores of other farmers believe that forcing them to buy new seeds every year is nothing more than a monopoly, and that Monsanto's patent should then "expire" after the first crop is grown.
So far, the federal courts have sided with Monsanto. A lower court agreed with the agri-giant but Bowman appealed, much to the chagrin of corporate America, which was surprised when the nation's highest court agreed to hear the case.
Monsanto says its multi-billion dollar seed industry is at stake. The company is dominant in the soybean market with its Roundup Ready-brand seeds, which the company has genetically modified so that farmers are able to spray week killer without damaging the soybeans (though a number of weeds are now becoming resistant to the Roundup Ready seeds).
The agri-giant says its GM seeds took years to develop and have helped farmers improve yields and keep costs down.
But how long should a company be compensated for something hard to create but easy to copy? That's what the high court will decide, and it's why there are other companies interested in how the high court will rule.
Filing amicus (friend of the court) briefs in support of the agri-giant is a broad array of industries, from the Business Software Association, which represents companies like Microsoft and Intel, to biotech firms and other soybean farmers who are worried that the prices of Monsanto seeds could skyrocket if it loses or that the company may scale back on its research and development.
A Monsanto loss "would effectively eliminate the incentive to discover and develop new genetically-engineers plants," the American Intellectual Property Law Association wrote in its brief.
But would that be so bad? And what about the fact that more U.S. farmers are moving away from GM seeds because of the development of "superweeds" that are resistant to Roundup?
"We're back to where we were 20 years ago," Tennessee farmer Eddie Anderson told The New York Times in April 2010, in response to why he had to return to using pesticides and plowing in order to deal with resistant weeds. "We're trying to find out what works."
'Darwinian evolution in fast-forward'
The first resistant weeds turned up in Delaware in 2000; the problem has only gotten worse since, with 10 resistant species growing in at least 22 states, infesting every crop from soybeans to cotton and corn.
"What we're talking about here is Darwinian evolution in fast-forward," Mike Owen, a weed scientist at Iowa State University, told the Times.
Then, of course, there is the fact that Monsanto recently spent millions to kill Prop. 37 in California, a measure that would have required labeling of GMO foods (http://www.naturalnews.com). This is the same agri-giant that once said there is no need to test GM foods because there is nothing wrong with them. (http://www.naturalnews.com)
Bowman may or may not win his case against Monsanto, but clearly the agri-giant is overstaying its welcome with farmers after years of litigating against them.
Apple Inc. said Tuesday that it has been attacked by hackers who infected a small number of the company's Mac computers. WSJ's Jessica Lessin reports. (Photo: Getty Images)
Apple Inc. said Tuesday that some of its employees' Mac computers were attacked by hackers, a rare admission for a company that has long touted its security over PCs running Windows software.
Apple said a "small number" of computers became infected after employees visited a website for software developers that transmitted the malicious computer code.
Apple said Tuesday it would release a software update to protect Mac users, and is working with law enforcement to find the source of the so-called malware.
The disclosure is unusual for Apple, which generally doesn't detail particular attacks. In the past, the company has generally issued notices on its support page of possible vulnerabilities and issued software updates to fix them.
Why is an old iPhone still worth hundreds of dollars? New research suggests a surprising explanation: hoarding. Kelli Grant explains on digits. Photo: Getty Images.
Apple had for years boasted that its computers were resistant to malicious software, a key selling point over computers running Microsoft Corp.'s software. Hackers have increasingly targeted Macs in recent years, reflecting the growing popularity of the Apple brand and the rising number of Macs being used in companies.
The malicious code in the latest attack is believed to have been the same discovered by Facebook Inc., which said on Friday that its employees' computers were breached by hackers last month.
The companies played down the impact of the attacks on their operations, and Apple and Facebook said no data appeared to have been stolen. But the events underscore the vulnerability of some of the world's most sophisticated technology companies to an ever-changing array of attacks, with outside experts increasingly tracing the break-ins in the U.S. to foreign countries.
Twitter Inc., the popular microblogging site, earlier this month said it had been the victim of an attack that may have granted hackers access to information including usernames and email addresses for about 250,000 of its users.
Motivations of the attackers seem to be proliferating. In the case of technology companies, people rummaging through their computer networks seem to be searching for product-development plans and other intellectual property.
At government institutions, reported targets include information about intelligence-gathering and weapons systems. In other cases, intruders have looked for information about critical pieces of U.S. infrastructure, such as electricity and energy distribution networks.
A report on Tuesday by security research firm Mandiant Corp. pointed to cyberespionage efforts by a group in China it linked to the military.
At the CIO Network on January 15, 2013 in San Diego, CA, Former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff talks about the various methods governments and companies can use to respond to a cyber attack.
At the CIO Network on January 15, 2013 in San Diego, CA, Former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff discusses the various types of cyber crimes that threaten U.S. companies as well as our energy grid and various utilities.
"From our visibility, it is massive and it is growing exponentially over the years," said Dan McWhorter, Mandiant's managing director of threat intelligence.
Chinese government officials rejected the allegations.
The attacks show how the range of targets are broadening beyond organized criminals, many based in Eastern Europe, seeking customer data like credit card numbers.
A report to be published Wednesday by a U.S. research firm, Trustwave Holdings Inc., says of the 450 data breaches that Trustwave investigated in 2012 for its own clients around the world, more than 33% originated from Romania, and 29% from the U.S.
China was the fifth-most-common source, Trustwave said, accounting for nearly 4% of the attacks, while nearly 15% have unknown origins.
Many highly publicized attacks have been based on a tactic called "spear-phishing," where email users are tricked into opening a legitimate-sounding message that contains code called malware that lets attackers penetrate corporate networks.
Apple and Facebook appeared to be affected by another exploit, called a "watering hole" attack. Facebook, in a blog post, on Friday said it discovered the attack after finding a suspicious Internet domain in its computer logs that it traced to a single employee laptop.
The social network then launched what it called a "significant" investigation, working with other companies it believed to have been affected, as well as with law enforcement authorities.
Some security researchers said they believed the attack may have originated in China, but Facebook hasn't commented on where it may have originated.
Apple, for its part, said Tuesday, "The malware was employed in an attack against Apple and other companies, and was spread through a website for software developers."
Last year, hundreds of thousands of Macs were hit by a massive attack from a malware program known as "Flashback." Apple released a security update for its software at the time.
Chester Wisniewski, a senior security adviser at Sophos Canada, said he has recently noticed an increase in more sophisticated "data stealing" software designed for Apple's Mac computers.
Mr. Wisniewski suggested this might be due to the type of decision maker within a company liable to have an Apple computer rather than a PC: "Executives and VPs are more likely to have Macs," he said.
Twitter, meanwhile, responded to its attack by resetting passwords for infected accounts. "This attack was not the work of amateurs, and we do not believe it was an isolated incident," Twitter said, but didn't elaborate.
Reuters
Apple and Facebook said no data appeared to have been stolen. Above, a man looks at his Apple iPad.
Mandiant said it found evidence linking the attacks it studied to the Chinese military, including IP addresses of intruders registered in Shanghai.
It also said the size of the infrastructure of the attacker it researched suggests a large organization with at least dozens and possibly hundreds of people at work.
Mr. McWhorter said that unlike hacking attacks that seek credit card numbers and other personal information that can be easily sold, the Chinese attacks it followed often ignored sensitive financial data to instead focus on stealing intellectual property.
"Anyone that has intellectual property that makes their business work and makes them run and makes them more profitable" is at risk, he said.
Trustwave's data meanwhile, show that hacking attacks by organized criminals seeking valuable customer data still dominate the cyberattacks on big and small businesses, at least in total numbers.
"The vast majority of what we see is financially motivated?going after financial data and trying to make money off it," said Nicholas Percoco, a senior vice president at Trustwave.
A report published last year by a unit of Verizon Communications Inc. that also investigates cybercrime found a similar geographic distribution of hackers. In the 855 intrusions from 2011 it studied from its own clients and in conjunction with the U.S. Secret Service and other international police groups, Verizon found that 67% of attacks originated from Eastern Europe, 20% from the U.S., and 2% from East Asia.
But the numbers don't paint a complete picture, said security experts. While companies are now more aware of attacks that lead to financial crimes?and hiring companies such as Trustwave and Verizon to investigate them?espionage-focused hacks have been typically harder to identify and track.
When intellectual property or trade secrets get stolen "there is no fraud algorithm to let you know," said Chris Porter, a managing principal at Verizon. It takes companies longer to realize they've been the victim of an espionage attacks, he said, and when American companies do they often deal directly with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which doesn't release data on the topic.
"We are finally shining a light on this a little bit," said Mr. Porter.
?John Letzing contributed to this article.
Write to Jessica E. Lessin at jessica.lessin@wsj.com and Geoffrey A. Fowler at geoffrey.fowler@wsj.com
A version of this article appeared February 20, 2013, on page B1 in the U.S. edition of The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: Apple Gets Hit by Hackers.
President Barack Obama gives his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)
Barack Obama
Vice President Joe Biden applauds as President Barack Obama gives his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio sits at right. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)
President Barack Obama gives his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
President Barack Obama, flanked by Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, gestures as he gives his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)
Carolyn Murray wipes her eye as she holds a photo of her son Justin during President Barack Obama' State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. Murray was shot and killed in Evanston, Ill. Nov. 29, 2012. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Barack Obama
House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio listens at right as President Barack Obama gives his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)
First lady Michelle Obama is applauded before President Barck Obama's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. Front row, from left are, Sgt. Sheena Adms, Nathaniel Pendleton, Cleopatra Cowley-Pendleton, Mrs, Obama, Menchu de Luna Sanchez and Jill Biden. Second row, third from left are, Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber, Deb Carey and Apple CEO Tim Cook Amanda McMillian, Lt. Brian Murphy, (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Barack Obama, Joe Biden, John Boehner
President Barack Obama, flanked by Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, gestures as he gives his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)
First lady Michelle Obama stands with Cleopatra Cowley-Pendelton before President Barack Obama's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Barack Obama
President Barack Obama, flanked by Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, gestures as State of the Union address during a jointhe gives his session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)
Secretary of State John Kerry applauds as President Barack Obama gives his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. Vice President Joe Biden is at left, House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio is second from right. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)
Not Impressed
Ted Nugent listens during President Barack Obama's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
President Barack Obama gestures while giving his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Former Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and her husband Mark Kelly watch President Barack Obama's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Barack Obama
President Barack Obama gestures as he gives his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)
President Barack Obama gestures as he gives his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Barack Obama
President Barack Obama gives his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of Calif. applauds during President Barack Obama's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio applaud during the president's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)
House Budget Committee Chairman Rep.Paul Ryan, R-Wis. applauds during President Barack Obama's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
State Of Union
President Barack Obama waves and House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio applauds after the president gave his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)
First lady Michelle Obama is applauded before President Barack Obama's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. Front row, from left are, Nathaniel Pendleton, Cleopatra Cowley-Pendleton, Mrs. Obama, Menchu Sanchez and Jill Biden. Second row, from left are, Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber, Deb Carey, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Amanda McMillan, Lt. Brian Murphy and Marie Lopez Rogers. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
President Barack Obama shakes hands as he leaves after giving his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)
President Barack Obama greets outgoing Defense Secretary Leon Panetta after the president gave his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
President Barack Obama is greeted by Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., second from left, Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Ala., and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., right, before giving his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)
President Barack Obama has lipstick wiped from his face as he arrive to give his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
President Barack Obama is greeted after giving his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
State Of Union
Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt. greets President Barack Obama after the president gave his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)
President Barack Obama leaves after giving his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Patrick Leahy & Harry Reid
Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., left, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev. arrive on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013 for President Barack Obama's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington.
The Gang Is All Here
From left, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. sit on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013, before President Barack Obama's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress .
Joe Biden & John Boehner
Vice President Joe Biden talks with House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio before President Barack Obama's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013.
President Barack Obama gestures toward Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio before giving his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, Pool)
Desiline Victor, 102, of Miami is applauded by White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, right, and others, during President Barack Obama's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Joe Biden Arrives
Vice President Joe Biden, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., left, Rep. Shelia Jackson Lee, D-Texas, right, and others arrive on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2103, for President Barack Obama's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress.
Secretary of State John Kerry, right, greets Sen.Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., center, and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz, before President Barack Obama's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Paul Ryan
House Budget Committee Chairman Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis. arrives for President Barack Obama's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
President Obama Delivers State Of The Union Address
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 12: U.S. President Barack Obama (L) waves before giving his State of the Union address as U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) look on during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill on February 12, 2013 in Washington, D.C. Facing a divided Congress, Obama is expected to focus his speech on new initiatives designed to stimulate the U.S. economy. (Photo by Charles Dharapak-Pool/Getty Images)
President Barack Obama gives his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Ted Nugent Arrived
Ted Nuggent awaits the start of President Barack Obama's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Tim Cook
Apple CEO Tim Cook sits as a guest of first lady Michelle Obama prior to the start of President Barack Obama's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress, Tuesday, Feb.12, 2013, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Robert Menendez
Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J. arrives for President Barack Obama's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy of Calif., left, and House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Va. listen as President Barack Obama gives his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
State Of Union
Desiline Victor
Desiline Victor, 102, of Miami, awaits the start of President Barack Obama's State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013.
President Barack Obama is applauded as he gives his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Reporters listen and work as President Barack Obama gives his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
First lady Michelle Obama, front row, center, and other, listen as President Barack Obama gives his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. Front row, from left are, Sgt. Sheena Adams, Nathanial Pendleton, Cleopatra Cowley-Pendleton, Mrs. Obama, Menchu Sanchez, Jill Biden, Kaitlin Roif and Alan Aleman.Second row, from from left are, Deb Carey, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Amanda McMillan, Lt. Brian Murphy, Marie Lopez Rogers and Bradley Henning. Third row, third from left are,Tracey Hepner, Haile Thomas, Lee Maxwell, Sgt. Carlos Evand and White House seniot adviser Valerie Jarrett, (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Ted Nugents listens as President Barack Obama gives his State of the Union address during a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday Feb. 12, 2013. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Your access to this service has been temporarily limited. Please try again in a few minutes. (HTTP response code 503)
Reason: Exceeded the maximum number of requests per minute for crawlers.
Important note for site admins: If you are the administrator of this website note that your access has been limited because you broke one of the Wordfence firewall rules. The reason you access was limited is: "Exceeded the maximum number of requests per minute for crawlers.". If this is a false positive, meaning that your access to your own site has been limited incorrectly, then you will need to regain access to your site, go to the Wordfence "options" page, go to the section for Firewall Rules and disable the rule that caused you to be blocked. For example, if you were blocked because it was detected that you are a fake Google crawler, then disable the rule that blocks fake google crawlers. Or if you were blocked because you were accessing your site too quickly, then increase the number of accesses allowed per minute. If you're still having trouble, then simply disable the Wordfence firwall and you will still benefit from the other security features that Wordfence provides. You will find instructions below on how to regain access if you are a site administrator.
If you are a site administrator and have been accidentally locked out, please enter your email in the box below and click "Send". If the email address you enter belongs to a known site administrator or someone set to receive Wordfence alerts, we will send you an email to help you regain access.
This response was generated by Wordfence. Wordfence has limited your access
Your access to this service has been temporarily limited. Please try again in a few minutes. (HTTP response code 503)
Reason: Exceeded the maximum number of requests per minute for crawlers.
Important note for site admins: If you are the administrator of this website note that your access has been limited because you broke one of the Wordfence firewall rules. The reason you access was limited is: "Exceeded the maximum number of requests per minute for crawlers.". If this is a false positive, meaning that your access to your own site has been limited incorrectly, then you will need to regain access to your site, go to the Wordfence "options" page, go to the section for Firewall Rules and disable the rule that caused you to be blocked. For example, if you were blocked because it was detected that you are a fake Google crawler, then disable the rule that blocks fake google crawlers. Or if you were blocked because you were accessing your site too quickly, then increase the number of accesses allowed per minute. If you're still having trouble, then simply disable the Wordfence firwall and you will still benefit from the other security features that Wordfence provides. You will find instructions below on how to regain access if you are a site administrator.
If you are a site administrator and have been accidentally locked out, please enter your email in the box below and click "Send". If the email address you enter belongs to a known site administrator or someone set to receive Wordfence alerts, we will send you an email to help you regain access.
How does the mind work? We may be closer to answering this centuries-old question, with the help of a little magic.
In an attempt to better understand how human attention and visual systems work, researchers at the Barrow Neurological Institute teamed up with Teller, of Penn and Teller, in the first-ever study of the magician duo?s ?cup and balls? routine, ?in which balls appear and disappear under the cover of cups.
Their goal: to find out what distracts a person during an illusion.
?If we knew how the brain reveals magic, we would reveal the neural basis of consciousness,? said Barrow?neuroscientist Susana Martinez-Conde, lead author of the study published today in?the journal PeerJ.
Barrow?s team tracked the eye movements of seven study subjects as they watched a tape of Teller performing his classic illusion. They were each given a remote, and instructed to press ?1? every time the ball was removed from the cup and ?2? when the ball was replaced.
They then watched Teller repeat this trick 48 different ways. Sometimes the cups would be clear instead of solid. Other times the ball would be dropped or stuck to the cup, or not in the cup at all. ?In some, the magician?s face was completely covered.
Teller, whose trade depends on knowing how to distract the audience, had some theories of his own on what would make break a person?s attention during the trick. His hypothesis? A falling ball distracts more than any other ball motion, and what a magician does with his face is important in attracting an audience?s attention.
But Teller?s theory that facial cues would direct attention was wrong. Covering the face of a magician had no effect on where participants thought the ball was, according to the study.?In fact, eye movements didn?t accurately track what people were actually paying attention to at all.
The secret of the trick, instead, is that the eyes are decoyed away, and this was done most effectively when the ball is placed on the table, not dropped into a hand.
In the end, both magicians and cognitive scientists can learn something from this study.
?We have a better understanding of the types of motions in the world that engage your attention.? said Martinez-Conde.
And as Stephen Macknik, also a co-author of the study and author of the book ?Sleights of Mind,? put it,??Magicians have a lot to gain in collaboration with scientists in terms of perfecting their art.?
Joan W. Miller, M.D., F.A.R.V.O., elected to Academia Ophthalmologica InternationalisPublic release date: 13-Feb-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Mary Leach mary_leach@meei.harvard.edu 617-573-4170 Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Boston (Feb. 13, 2013)--Joan Whitten Miller, M.D., Henry Willard Williams Professor of Ophthalmology and Chair of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, and Chief of Ophthalmology at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and Massachusetts General Hospital, has been elected to the Academia Ophthalmologica Internationalis (AOI).
The AOI is regarded as the most prestigious international academic organization in ophthalmology with an emeritus and active membership that spans 33 countries.
Dr. Miller is only the second American woman to be elected to the 38-year-old organization, which limits active membership to 70 individuals.
As a university-centered organization, the AOI is "committed to excellence in education, research and culturally appropriate medical services to preserve and restore vision for people of the world."
The AOI counts among its membership some of the most acclaimed ophthalmologists worldwide, including: David W. Parke II, M.D., President of the American Academy of Ophthalmology; Martine J. Jager, M.D., past President of the Association for Vision in Research and Ophthalmology; Alfred Sommer, M.D., M.H.S., Board of Directors Chair of the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation; and Paul R. Lichter, M.D., M.S., current AOI President.
"It's truly humbling to be in the company of such an elite group of academicians, all of whom have dedicated their careers to shifting the landscape of eye health around the globe," noted Dr. Miller. "I'm excited and honored to contribute my expertise to AOI's global mission to bring hope and sight to people around the world."
The AOI originated with the Act of Foundation signed March 7, 1975, and its statutes and regulations were approved on April 10, 1976 by a vote from 45 Charter Members at the inaugural meeting in Ghent, Belgium.
Eligible candidates who meet the Academia's high standards of scholarly excellence are formally nominated and elected by other members to fill vacant chairs. Members are expected to actively engage in improving world ophthalmology.
"This is among the highest honors conferred in the field of ophthalmology and is a fitting tribute to Dr. Miller and her astonishingly productive career." said President and CEO of Mass. Eye and Ear, John Fernandez. "Her contributions to the field of ophthalmology have turned the tide on some of our most egregious battles in the war on blindness, particularly in the field of angiogenesis and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We consider ourselves very fortunate to have her a clinician and scientist of the highest caliber - leading our efforts here at Mass. Eye and Ear.
"Dr. Miller has pushed the frontiers of understanding to improve the lives of patients," said HMS Dean Jeffrey S. Flier. "I am pleased that the AOI has recognized Dr. Miller's leadership in translational research, which is central to the mission of Harvard Medical School."
Over the last two decades, Dr. Miller and her colleagues at Harvard Medical School/Mass. Eye and Ear pioneered the development of photodynamic therapy (PDT) using verteporfin (Visudyne), the first pharmacologic therapy for AMD able to reduce and slow vision loss. The group also identified the importance of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in ocular neovascularization, forming the scientific basis of current antiangiogenic therapies for neovascular AMD.
Today, these treatments are saving the sight of millions of people worldwide. Dr. Miller and her colleagues continue investigations to elucidate the molecular pathophysiology of vision loss and develop improved therapies for retinal disease. Dr. Miller's current clinical and research interests focus on retinal disorders, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy.
Dr. Miller has published more than 130 peer-reviewed papers, 50 book chapters and review articles, is co-editor of the third edition of Albert and Jakobiec's Principles and Practice of Ophthalmology, and is a named inventor on nine U.S. patents and five Canadian patents. She has received numerous awards, including the Rosenthal Award and Donald J. Gass Medal of the Macula Society, the Retina Research Award from the Club Jules Gonin, the Alcon Research Institute Award, the ARVO/Pfizer Ophthalmic Translational Research Award, the Founder's Award from the American Society of Retinal Specialists, the Suzanne Veronneau-Troutman Award from Women in Ophthalmology, the Paul Henkind Memorial Award from the Macula Society, the Senior Achievement Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and the Certificate of Honour from the European Association for Vision and Eye Research.
Dr. Miller was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and is a graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard Medical School. She completed her ophthalmology residency and a vitreo-retinal fellowship at Mass. Eye and Ear. In addition to her professorship and leadership roles at Harvard Medical School and Mass. Eye and Ear, Dr. Miller is the director of the Angiogenesis Laboratory and a vitreo-retinal physician in the Retina Service at Mass. Eye and Ear.
She is the first female physician promoted to the rank of Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, and the first woman to serve as chair of the Department of Ophthalmology.
Dr. Miller and her husband John live in Winchester, MA. John, a construction attorney, specializes in domestic and international engineering procurement and public-private partnerships in global infrastructure. The eldest of three children, their son John is currently an ophthalmology resident at Harvard Medical School. Their son Douglas is a 2010 graduate of Harvard College, where he was co-captain of his college basketball team; he now works in construction management for Schernecker Property Services. Daughter Mary graduated from Harvard College in 2011, and is working as a paralegal for the law firm Harkins Cunningham LLP in Philadelphia.
###
About Massachusetts Eye and Ear
Mass. Eye and Ear clinicians and scientists are driven by a mission to find cures for blindness, deafness and diseases of the head and neck. After uniting with Schepens Eye Research Institute in 2011, Mass. Eye and Ear in Boston became the world's largest vision and hearing research center, offering hope and healing to patients everywhere through discovery and innovation. Mass. Eye and Ear is a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital and trains future medical leaders in ophthalmology and otolaryngology, through residency as well as clinical and research fellowships. Internationally acclaimed since its founding in 1824, Mass. Eye and Ear employs full-time, board-certified physicians who offer high-quality and affordable specialty care that ranges from the routine to the very complex. U.S. News & World Report's "Best Hospitals Survey" has consistently ranked the Mass. Eye and Ear Departments of Otolaryngology and Ophthalmology as top five in the nation. For more information about life-changing care and research, or to learn how you can help, please visit MassEyeAndEar.org.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Joan W. Miller, M.D., F.A.R.V.O., elected to Academia Ophthalmologica InternationalisPublic release date: 13-Feb-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Mary Leach mary_leach@meei.harvard.edu 617-573-4170 Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Boston (Feb. 13, 2013)--Joan Whitten Miller, M.D., Henry Willard Williams Professor of Ophthalmology and Chair of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, and Chief of Ophthalmology at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and Massachusetts General Hospital, has been elected to the Academia Ophthalmologica Internationalis (AOI).
The AOI is regarded as the most prestigious international academic organization in ophthalmology with an emeritus and active membership that spans 33 countries.
Dr. Miller is only the second American woman to be elected to the 38-year-old organization, which limits active membership to 70 individuals.
As a university-centered organization, the AOI is "committed to excellence in education, research and culturally appropriate medical services to preserve and restore vision for people of the world."
The AOI counts among its membership some of the most acclaimed ophthalmologists worldwide, including: David W. Parke II, M.D., President of the American Academy of Ophthalmology; Martine J. Jager, M.D., past President of the Association for Vision in Research and Ophthalmology; Alfred Sommer, M.D., M.H.S., Board of Directors Chair of the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation; and Paul R. Lichter, M.D., M.S., current AOI President.
"It's truly humbling to be in the company of such an elite group of academicians, all of whom have dedicated their careers to shifting the landscape of eye health around the globe," noted Dr. Miller. "I'm excited and honored to contribute my expertise to AOI's global mission to bring hope and sight to people around the world."
The AOI originated with the Act of Foundation signed March 7, 1975, and its statutes and regulations were approved on April 10, 1976 by a vote from 45 Charter Members at the inaugural meeting in Ghent, Belgium.
Eligible candidates who meet the Academia's high standards of scholarly excellence are formally nominated and elected by other members to fill vacant chairs. Members are expected to actively engage in improving world ophthalmology.
"This is among the highest honors conferred in the field of ophthalmology and is a fitting tribute to Dr. Miller and her astonishingly productive career." said President and CEO of Mass. Eye and Ear, John Fernandez. "Her contributions to the field of ophthalmology have turned the tide on some of our most egregious battles in the war on blindness, particularly in the field of angiogenesis and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We consider ourselves very fortunate to have her a clinician and scientist of the highest caliber - leading our efforts here at Mass. Eye and Ear.
"Dr. Miller has pushed the frontiers of understanding to improve the lives of patients," said HMS Dean Jeffrey S. Flier. "I am pleased that the AOI has recognized Dr. Miller's leadership in translational research, which is central to the mission of Harvard Medical School."
Over the last two decades, Dr. Miller and her colleagues at Harvard Medical School/Mass. Eye and Ear pioneered the development of photodynamic therapy (PDT) using verteporfin (Visudyne), the first pharmacologic therapy for AMD able to reduce and slow vision loss. The group also identified the importance of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in ocular neovascularization, forming the scientific basis of current antiangiogenic therapies for neovascular AMD.
Today, these treatments are saving the sight of millions of people worldwide. Dr. Miller and her colleagues continue investigations to elucidate the molecular pathophysiology of vision loss and develop improved therapies for retinal disease. Dr. Miller's current clinical and research interests focus on retinal disorders, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy.
Dr. Miller has published more than 130 peer-reviewed papers, 50 book chapters and review articles, is co-editor of the third edition of Albert and Jakobiec's Principles and Practice of Ophthalmology, and is a named inventor on nine U.S. patents and five Canadian patents. She has received numerous awards, including the Rosenthal Award and Donald J. Gass Medal of the Macula Society, the Retina Research Award from the Club Jules Gonin, the Alcon Research Institute Award, the ARVO/Pfizer Ophthalmic Translational Research Award, the Founder's Award from the American Society of Retinal Specialists, the Suzanne Veronneau-Troutman Award from Women in Ophthalmology, the Paul Henkind Memorial Award from the Macula Society, the Senior Achievement Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and the Certificate of Honour from the European Association for Vision and Eye Research.
Dr. Miller was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and is a graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard Medical School. She completed her ophthalmology residency and a vitreo-retinal fellowship at Mass. Eye and Ear. In addition to her professorship and leadership roles at Harvard Medical School and Mass. Eye and Ear, Dr. Miller is the director of the Angiogenesis Laboratory and a vitreo-retinal physician in the Retina Service at Mass. Eye and Ear.
She is the first female physician promoted to the rank of Professor of Ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School, and the first woman to serve as chair of the Department of Ophthalmology.
Dr. Miller and her husband John live in Winchester, MA. John, a construction attorney, specializes in domestic and international engineering procurement and public-private partnerships in global infrastructure. The eldest of three children, their son John is currently an ophthalmology resident at Harvard Medical School. Their son Douglas is a 2010 graduate of Harvard College, where he was co-captain of his college basketball team; he now works in construction management for Schernecker Property Services. Daughter Mary graduated from Harvard College in 2011, and is working as a paralegal for the law firm Harkins Cunningham LLP in Philadelphia.
###
About Massachusetts Eye and Ear
Mass. Eye and Ear clinicians and scientists are driven by a mission to find cures for blindness, deafness and diseases of the head and neck. After uniting with Schepens Eye Research Institute in 2011, Mass. Eye and Ear in Boston became the world's largest vision and hearing research center, offering hope and healing to patients everywhere through discovery and innovation. Mass. Eye and Ear is a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital and trains future medical leaders in ophthalmology and otolaryngology, through residency as well as clinical and research fellowships. Internationally acclaimed since its founding in 1824, Mass. Eye and Ear employs full-time, board-certified physicians who offer high-quality and affordable specialty care that ranges from the routine to the very complex. U.S. News & World Report's "Best Hospitals Survey" has consistently ranked the Mass. Eye and Ear Departments of Otolaryngology and Ophthalmology as top five in the nation. For more information about life-changing care and research, or to learn how you can help, please visit MassEyeAndEar.org.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Skepticism toward gold bullion prices is increasing. The bears and the mainstream media are focused on the price decline of gold bullion and are clearly not looking at the demand of the metal. The reality: demand for gold bullion is increasing.
![[ Back to EurekAlert! ]](http://www.eurekalert.org/images/back2e.gif){kind=small}
Public release date: 13-Feb-2013
Share ]