HHS GUARANTEE FOR NEW MEDICAID BENEFICIARIES

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
March 29, 2013
HHS finalizes rule guaranteeing 100 percent funding for new Medicaid beneficiaries

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced a final rule with a request for comments that provides, effective January 1, 2014, the federal government will pay 100 percent of the cost of certain newly eligible adult Medicaid beneficiaries. These payments will be in effect through 2016, phasing down to a permanent 90 percent matching rate by 2020. The Affordable Care Act authorizes states to expand Medicaid to adult Americans under age 65 with income of up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level (approximately $15,000 for a single adult in 2012) and provides unprecedented federal funding for these states.

"This is a great deal for states and great news for Americans," HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said. "Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, more Americans will have access to health coverage and the federal government will cover a vast majority of the cost. Treating people who don’t have insurance coverage raises health care costs for hospitals, people with insurance, and state budgets."

Today’s final rule provides important information to states that expand Medicaid. It describes the simple and accurate method states will use to claim the matching rate that is available for Medicaid expenditures of individuals with incomes up to 133 percent of poverty and who are defined as "newly eligible" and are enrolled in the new eligibility group. The system is set up to make eligibility determinations as simple and accurate as possible for state programs.

Under the Affordable Care Act, states that cover the new adult group in Medicaid will have 100 percent of the costs of newly eligible Americans paid for by the federal government in 2014, 2015, and 2016. The federal government’s contribution is then phased-down gradually to 90 percent by 2020, and remains there permanently. For states that had coverage expansions in effect prior to enactment of the Affordable Care Act, the rule also provides information about the availability of an increased FMAP for certain adults who are not newly eligible.

The rule builds on several years of work that HHS has done to support and provide flexibility to states’ Medicaid programs ahead of the 2014 expansion, including:
90 percent matching rate for states to improve eligibility and enrollment systems;
More resources and flexibility for states to test innovative ways of delivering care through Medicaid;
More collaboration with states on audits that track down fraud; and
Specifically outlining ways states can make Medicaid improvements without going through a waiver process.

ISAF NEWS FROM AFGHANISTAN

 

U.S. Marines conduct a combat logistics patrol to Forward Operating Base Geronimo as two helicopters, an AH-1W Super Cobra, right, and UH-1Y Huey, provide overwatch in Afghanistan's Helmand province, March 28, 2013. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Anthony L. Ortiz

 FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Combined Force Detains Senior Taliban Leader
Compiled from International Security Assistance Force Joint Command News Releases
WASHINGTON, April 1, 2013 - An Afghan and coalition security force detained a senior Taliban leader and several other insurgents during an operation the in Pul-e 'Alam district of Afghanistan's Logar province yesterday, military officials reported.

The detained Taliban leader is accused of a wide range of insurgent operations in Logar province, officials said, including recruiting extremist fighters, managing the Taliban logistical network for the province, and planning and coordinating attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

In other Afghanistan operations yesterday:

-- During a search for a senior Taliban official, a combined force killed or detained several insurgents in the Panjwa'i district of Kandahar province. The sought-after Taliban official is accused of overseeing all Taliban operations in the district. His network is believed to be responsible for insurgent activities including the assassination of Afghan civilians, the facilitation of weapons and improvised explosive devices into the district, and of attacks on Afghan and coalition forces. The security force also seized IED-making materials, three rifles, a pistol, six rifle magazines, six pistol magazines and ammunition as a result of the operation.

-- In the Khugyani district of Nangarhar province, a combined force arrested a senior Taliban leader and one other insurgent. The arrested Taliban leader is believed to command a cell of insurgent fighters in the Khugyani district. He and his fighters are accused of illegally procuring various types of weapons and using them in multiple attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. The security force also seized one AK-47 rifle and a pistol as a result of the operation.

-- A combined force detained an insurgent leader connected to both the Taliban and Haqqani networks and two other insurgents in the Gardez district of Paktiya province. The security force also seized IED components.

In March 30 Afghanistan operations:

-- The Kapisa Provincial Response Company, advised by coalition forces, arrested Najibullah Rahimi, the Tagab District Representative to the Kapisa Provincial Council. Najibullah is accused of financing a lethal-aid network and facilitating insurgent operations. The combined force also seized nine AK-47 rifles, five grenades, $50,000 in sequentially-numbered $100 bills and numerous cell phones and computers.

-- A combined force arrested a Haqqani leader in the Sabari district of Khost province. The arrested insurgent leader is accused of obtaining IEDs and other weapons and distributing them to insurgent commanders. He also allegedly led a number of fighters in attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

-- In the Shah Wali Kot district of Kandahar province, a combined force arrested a Taliban leader and detained one other insurgent. The arrest Taliban leader is believed to be responsible for multiple insurgent operations including IED attacks against Afghan and coalition forces.

-- A combined force detained several insurgents during a search for a senior Taliban leader in the Nad 'Ali district of Helmand province. The sought-after Taliban leader was allegedly plotting a campaign of attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in Helmand province. He and his subordinates are believed to have participated in a number of recent attacks against Afghan and coalition forces. The security force also seized a pistol, bomb-making materials and narcotics.

What inspired you?

What inspired you?

EXPORT-IMPORT BANK CHAIRMAN SAYS NEW AUTHROIZATIONS UP 75 PERCENT IN FIRST QUARTER

FROM:  EXPORT-IMPORT BANK
Fred Hochberg, Chairman Export-Import Bank
Message from the Chairman
What a quarter!
New authorizations here at the Export Import Bank were up by 75 percent over last year’s first quarter. They reached $7.45 billion in the first quarter (October-December) of fiscal year 2013 – supporting approximately 57,000 U.S. jobs – compared to $4.3 billion a year earlier.

The top industry sector was infrastructure with concentrations in manufacturing, aircraft, information and communications service providers, and power projects. The top destination markets for this quarter were India, Germany, Russia, and Poland.

Also during the first quarter, we hit a new record of 43 percent growth of authorizations for working capital and credit insurance for minority- and women- owned exporters, coming on the heels of a record breaking 2012. The amount authorized for small business was almost $1.2 million. This is a 49 percent increase from the first quarter in 2012, putting Ex-Im Bank on track for another strong year for small business.

The results show that our record-breaking levels of authorizations are gathering momentum. We did this the old-fashioned way – superior customer service and sharp focus on emerging opportunities. But the real credit belongs to American exporters with their innovative, high-quality U.S. products and services that carry the label, "Made in USA."

Comments from several of these exporters square with these numbers.

For example, Charlie Szews of the Oshkosh Corp. shared with me that he expects his company’s exports to increase by double digits in 2013. The reason, he notes, is "our competitive advantage largely related to our advanced technologies." Randy Zwirn of Siemens, he tells me, saw his exports shifting toward emerging markets like Nigeria, Vietnam and Chile making new investments in needed infrastructure projects. I heard similar upbeat reports from Caterpillar and Dow Chemical.

Besides redoubling current efforts, we’re aiming for new record results with a stronger focus on these priorities:

Infrastructure Financing offers tremendous opportunities in emerging countries from southern Africa and South Asia to Latin America. India alone expects to spend a trillion dollars in the next five years for highways, seaports, electricity, and satellites. These require long-term financing, which Ex-Im is positioned to provide. I’m on my way to India at the end of January to explore financing opportunities there.

Small Business financing has grown strongly, but we intend to do much better. By adding four new regional offices last year, we now have 11 around the country – to recruit and train small businesses and financers. Our goal is that at least 20 percent of new authorizations will go to small businesses each year.

Sub-Saharan Africa is one of the most promising markets for U.S. exports, and we will do our part to expand here. We approved a record $1.5 billion of authorizations last year for this region, financing about seven percent of all U.S. exports there. Transactions there ranged from the sale of Boeing 787s to Ethiopian Airlines and Darley fire-fighting equipment in Nigeria. With strong growth continuing in most countries there, the possibilities are dazzling.

Customer Service will get even more attention as we continue to expand financing and numbers of new customers, with no increase in Ex-Im Bank staff. With help from our Total Enterprise Modernization project, we are streamlining even more our application, approval and disbursement systems, and empowering staff to make even more key decisions using their professional judgment. Already, we processed 90 percent of all transaction in 300 days or less – and 98 percent in less than 100 days.

RECENT U.S. NAVY PHOTOS

FROM: U.S. NAVY

Machinist's Mate 3rd Class Esau Ozer prepares to light a boiler aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3). Kearsarge is deployed as part of the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group on a scheduled deployment in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the 6th Fleet area of responsibility. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jonathan Vargas (Released) 130328-N-GF386-042

130330-N-AE328-037 EVERETT, Wash. (March 30, 2013) The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) passes by the Mukilteo Lighthouse as it departs for a scheduled deployment from its homeport, Naval Station Everett. Nimitz will complete its sustainment exercise off the coast of Southern California before continuing on its western Pacific Deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nathan Lockwood/Released)

RECENT WHITE HOUSE PHOTOS

FROM: THE WHITE HOUSE

A Jordanian soldier stands watch from a portion of the Nabataean Amphitheater as President Barack Obama and Dr. Suleiman A.D. Al Farajat, a University of Jordan tourism professor, walk through the ancient city of Petra, Jordan, March 23, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

President Barack Obama, Taoiseach Enda Kenny of Ireland, and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, talk together during a St. Patrick’s Day lunch at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., March 19, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama host a Passover Seder Dinner for family, staff and friends, in the Old Family Dining Room of the White House, March 25, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

 

EPA ISSUES FINAL VESSEL GENERAL PERMIT REGULATING COMMERCIAL VESSEL DISCHARGES

FROM: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
EPA Finalizes Vessel General Permit
Action will help protect U.S. water quality and reduce risk of invasive species

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today issued a final vessel general permit regulating discharges from commercial vessels, including ballast water, to protect the nation’s waters from ship-borne pollutants and reduce invasive species in U.S. waters.

The final vessel general permit covers commercial vessels greater than 79 feet in length, excluding military and recreational vessels, and will replace the 2008 vessel general permit due to expire on Dec. 19, 2013.

This permit regulates 27 specific discharge categories, and will also provide improvements to the efficiency of the permit process, and clarify discharge requirements by the following:

- Reduce the risks of introduction of invasive species. The permit includes a more stringent numeric discharge standard limiting the release of non-indigenous invasive species in ballast water. The permit also contains additional environmental protection for the Great Lakes, which have suffered disproportionate impacts from invasive species, aligning federal standards with many Great Lakes states by requiring certain vessels to take additional precautions to reduce the risk of introducing new invasive species to U.S. waters.

- Reduce administrative burden for vessel owners and operators. The permit will eliminate duplicative reporting requirements, expand electronic recordkeeping opportunities, and reduce self-inspection frequency for vessels that are out of service for extended periods.

The new discharge standards are supported by independent studies by EPA’s science advisory board and the National Research Council, and are consistent with those contained in the International Maritime Organization’s 2004 Ballast Water Convention. EPA is issuing the permit in advance of the current permit's expiration to provide the regulated community time and flexibility to come into compliance with the new requirements.

ISS VIEW OF THE COLORADO PLATEAU

 

FROM: NASA
An Astronaut's View of the Colorado Plateau

The Colorado Plateau spans northern Arizona, southern Utah, northwestern New Mexico, and southwestern Colorado. This physiographic province is well known for its striking landscapes and broad vistas—an impression that is enhanced by the view from the orbital perspective of the International Space Station. This astronaut photograph highlights part of the Utah-Arizona border region of the Plateau, and includes several prominent landforms.


The Colorado River, dammed to form Lake Powell in 1963, crosses from east to west (which is left to right here because the astronaut was looking south; north is towards the bottom of the image). The confluence of the Colorado and San Juan Rivers is also visible. Sunglint—sunlight reflected off a water surface back towards the observer—provides a silvery, mirror-like sheen to some areas of the water surfaces.


The geologic uplift of the Colorado Plateau led to rapid downcutting of rivers into the flat sedimentary bedrock, leaving spectacular erosional landforms. One such feature, The Rincon, preserves evidence of a former meander bend of the Colorado River. Image Credit: NASA

U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE ANNOUNCES CAPTURE OF FUGITIVE AFTER 31 YEARS ON THE RUN

FROM: U.S. MARSHALS SERVICE
March 28, 2013
Fugitive Identified and Located by U.S. Marshals After 31 Years on the Run


Alexandria, VA – U.S. Marshal Bobby Mathieson announces the capture of Ronald Orville Garcia. Garcia was wanted by the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) in Virginia after failing to appear for court in 1982 on drug charges. Deputy U.S. Marshals for the Eastern District of Virginia (E/VA) and District of Nebraska’s Metro Fugitive Task Force (MFTF) working with Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office were able to confirm the identity of 64-year-old Garcia Tuesday afternoon. The MFTF then arrested Garcia based on his warrant.

In 1981, the DEA within E/VA arrested Garcia for allegedly selling cocaine. The subject was released on bail while awaiting trial, expected to appear for all court appearances. In early 1982, Garcia did not appear for a scheduled hearing. As the enforcement arm of the federal courts, the U.S. Marshals immediately began efforts to locate and apprehend Garcia for Bail Jumping. In late 2002, and again in 2005, the U.S. District Court in the Central District of California (C/CA) issued additional federal arrest warrants against Garcia for Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute. Since that time, the DEA and U.S. Marshals have collaborated in an effort to capture this fugitive.

In January, Deputy U.S. Marshals (DUSMs) in Norfolk, VA were contacted by officials in California. Deputies learned of a male living in California who allegedly stole the identity of a person in another state. It is suspected that by using the other person’s identity, the male in California illegally obtained a California Driver’s License. DUSMs confirmed the male as Garcia and tracked him to his residence in Sonoma County, CA.

While continuing investigations, DUSMs within both E/VA and the District of Nebraska (D/NE) were contacted by the Lancaster County Sheriff’s. Sheriff’s deputies informed DUSMs that they had contacted a male pursuant to a traffic stop. It is believed that the suspect was traveling back to California when stopped by the sheriffs. Garcia allegedly provided a Washington state license to law enforcement officers which displayed his picture but a name other than his true identity. The subject later claimed to be Garcia. Upon further questioning and verifications with USMS E/VA, Lancaster County authorities eventually learned of the subject’s true identity. Garcia is now currently awaiting extradition to either E/VA or C/CA.

To many, it seemed as though this fugitive had disappeared forever. However, the U.S. Marshals remained steadfast and continued to work diligently for approximately 31 years to capture him. Thanks to the joint efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies, justice will be served on 64-year-old Ronald Garcia. U.S. Marshal for the D/NE Mark Martinez stated, "This fugitive fled from another state to Nebraska, this is a great example of the tenaciousness and relentless character of United States Marshals Task Forces."

The U.S. Marshals Service arrested more than 36,300 federal fugitives and 86,700 state and local fugitives in fiscal year 2012. Our investigative network and capabilities allow for the unique ability to track and apprehend any fugitive who attempts to evade police capture, anywhere in the country, on very short notice.

RECORD BREAKING SUPERCOMPUTER WILL COMPUTE NO MORE

Photo:  The Roadrunner.  Los Alamos National Laboratory

FROM: LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY
End of the Road for Roadrunner
Once the World’s Fastest Supercomputer; Central to the Success of Stockpile Stewardship
LOS ALAMOS, N.M., March 29, 2013—Roadrunner, the first supercomputer to break the once-elusive petaflop barrier—one million billion calculations per second—will be decommissioned on Sunday, March 31.

During its five operational years, Roadrunner, part of the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Advanced Simulation and Computing (ASC) program to provide key computer simulations for the Stockpile Stewardship Program, was a workhorse system providing computing power for stewardship of the U.S. nuclear deterrent, and in its early shakedown phase, a wide variety of unclassified science. The IBM system achieved petaflop speed in 2008, shortly after installation at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

"Roadrunner exemplified stockpile stewardship: an excellent team integrating complex codes with advanced computing architectures to ensure a safe, secure and effective deterrent," said Chris Deeney, NNSA Assistant Deputy Administrator for Stockpile Stewardship. "Roadrunner and its successes have positioned us well to weather the technology changes on the HPC horizon as we implement stockpile modernization without recourse to underground testing."

Roadrunner's design was unique, and controversial. It combined two different kinds of processors, making it a "hybrid." It had 6,563 dual-core general-purpose processors (AMD Opterons™), with each core linked to a special graphics processor (PowerXCell 8i) called a "Cell." The Cell was an enhanced version of a specialized processor originally designed for the Sony Playstation 3®, adapted specifically to support scientific computing.

Although other hybrid computers existed, none were at the supercomputing scale. Many doubted that a hybrid supercomputer could work, so for Los Alamos and IBM, Roadrunner was a leap of faith.

High-speed calculation was the primary goal. When a computer is fast enough to improve simulation detail and fidelity, with reasonable turnaround time, the resulting simulations deepen a scientists’ understanding of the phenomena they’re studying. As part of its Stockpile Stewardship work, Roadrunner took on a difficult, long-standing gap in understanding of energy flow in a weapon and its relation to weapon yield. Roadrunner made a significant contribution to that understanding.

In the area of general science, while Roadrunner provided a platform to study a wide variety of scientific unknowns at an unprecedented scale while in unclassified shakedown mode. Research included nanowire material behavior, magnetic reconnection, laser backscatter, HIV phylogenetics, and a simulation of the universe at a 70-billion-particle scale.

"Roadrunner was a truly pioneering idea," said Gary Grider of the Laboratory's High Performance Computing Division. "Roadrunner got everyone thinking in new ways about how to build and use a supercomputer. Specialized processors are being included in new ways on new systems, and being used in novel ways. Our demonstration with Roadrunner caused everyone to pay attention."

Roadrunner’s speed was derived from its architecture. Its two processors shared functions, with the Cell taking on the most computationally intense parts of a calculation—thus acting as a computational accelerator. This improved the simulations and made great strides in energy efficiency by linking its general-purpose processors to specialized ones.

"What Roadrunner did was exactly what it was intended to do: get the weapons codes moving toward new architectures," said Cheryl Wampler of the Weapons Physics directorate. "Roadrunner was challenging because the supercomputing future was challenging."

Future supercomputers will need to improve on Roadrunner’s energy efficiency to make the power bill affordable. Future supercomputers will also need new solutions for handling and storing the vast amounts of data involved in such massive calculations.

It's estimated that sometime between 2020 and 2030 supercomputers will reach the exascale—one quintillion calculations per second— or one thousand times faster than Roadrunner. Such speed bodes well for the needs of U.S. weapons laboratories, and for the advancement of science.

Without ceremony, this weekend the World's Fastest Supercomputer from 2008 will be switched off. But it will not be forgotten. Advancements made possible by Roadrunner have informed current computing architectures and will help shape future designs.

"Even in death," said Grider, "we are trying to learn from Roadrunner."

After the machine is shut off but before it is dismantled, researchers will have a about one month to do experiments on operating system memory compression techniques for an ASC relevant application, and optimized data routing to help guide the design of future capacity cluster computers.

"These are things we never could try while Roadrunner was running production problems," Grider added.

EPA ISSUES UPDATES ON NEW POWER PLANT MERCURY AND AIR TOXICS STANDARDS

FROM: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
EPA Updates Mercury and Air Toxics Standards for New Power Plants

Agency also proposes updates to oil and gas storage tank standards

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued updates to pollution limits for new power plants under the mercury and air toxics standards, based on new information and analysis that became available to the agency after the rule was finalized.

The updates are largely technical in nature and will have no impact on the sensible, achievable and cost-effective standards already set for existing power plants. The public health benefits and costs of the rule remain unchanged. EPA estimates that the standards, which will protect the health of millions of families, especially children, will prevent as many as 11,000 premature deaths and 4,700 heart attacks every year. The standards will also help America’s children grow up healthier-- preventing 130,000 cases of childhood asthma symptoms and about 6,300 fewer cases of acute bronchitis among children each year.

The updated standards only apply to future power plants and do not change the types of pollution control technology that plants would install. The updates ensure that emissions limits are achievable and that pollution levels can be measured continuously.

EPA’s mercury and air toxics standards are the first national standards to protect American families from power plant emissions of mercury and toxic air pollution like arsenic, acid gas, nickel, selenium and cyanide. EPA considered dozens of public comments from a range of stakeholders, including industry and environmental groups, as part of the public process to update the new source standards.

Also on March 28, 2013, EPA proposed updates to the agency’s 2012 performance standards for storage tanks used in oil and natural gas production. The proposed changes reflect recent information showing that more higher-volume storage tanks will be coming on line than the agency originally estimated and would provide storage tank owners and operators additional time to comply with a requirement to reduce volatile organic compound emissions while equipment to reduce those emissions is being manufactured. EPA will take comment on today’s proposal for 30 days after it is published in the Federal Register and will hold a public hearing if requested.

PENTAGON ASKS NORTH KOREA TO TONE DOWN RHETORIC

Texas Air National Guard Post During Korean War.  Credit:  DOD.   

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Little: North Koreans 'Need to Dial the Temperature Down'
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 29, 2013 - The world cannot afford a miscalculation when dealing with North Korea, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little told CNN.

North Korea's flouting of international agreements has made that nation a pariah. Recent rhetoric emanating from Pyongyang has increased tensions on the Korean Peninsula and in the region, and this needs to stop, Little said.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ratcheted up the rhetoric since taking power after his father died. North Korea has tested long-range rockets, launched a satellite into orbit and tested nuclear weapons -- all in defiance of its pledged word to the United Nations.

And, North Korea continues to escalate the war of words by saying the 1953 armistice between North Korea and the United Nations is null and void. Kim has threatened to attack local, regional and international targets.

Little emphasized that the United States stands shoulder-to-shoulder with its South Korean ally.

"I'm not going to speculate on what we may or may not do," Little said. "Our desire is peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. The North Koreans have two choices. They can choose the path of peace or they can choose the path of provocation. One is better than the other for everyone involved, including the North Korean military and the North Korean people."

South Korea is hosting a joint military exercise now. Following North Korea's saber rattling, nuclear-capable B-52 Stratofortress and B-2 Spirit bombers have participated in the maneuvers.

Kim has said North Korea is targeting U.S. bases in South Korea and said its tube- and rocket-launched artillery can range Seoul -- a city of 20 million.

Meanwhile, the United States is maintaining a sober, calm, cool, collected demeanor.

"That's what we're doing right now," Little said. "And we are assuring our South Korean allies day-to-day that we stand with them in the face of these provocations."

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel is concerned about the risk of miscalculation in view of current events on the Korean Peninsula, Little said.

"We have guarded against miscalculation on the Korean Peninsula for over 60 years," the press secretary said. "And the secretary and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, it's their job to ensure that our military is prepared to respond to any threat or contingency. We are.

"We hope to avoid miscalculation," Little added. "We think we can. The North Koreans simply need to dial the temperature down."

HHS REVIEWS MEDITATION AND INFLAMATION

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat

A study indicates mindfulness meditation might benefit people with chronic inflammatory diseases by reducing the level of inflammation.

At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Melissa Rosenkranz looked at data on about 60 people. About half got eight weeks of mindfulness training. The others were in a control group that got similar activities but without the mindfulness aspect. Mindfulness is a way to be in the moment without judging things such as how you feel emotionally about them.

Rosenkranz reports:

"Those who participated in the mindfulness training had a smaller post-intervention inflammatory response relative to those who participated in the control intervention."

The study in the journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

U.S. CONCERENED WITH SITUATION IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

 

Locator Map:  Central African Republic.  Credit:  CIA.

FROM: U.S. STATE DEPEARMENT
Situation in the Central African Republic
Press Statement
Victoria Nuland
Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
March 30, 2013

The United States remains deeply concerned about the serious deterioration in the security situation in the Central African Republic (CAR). We strongly condemn the illegitimate seizure of power by force by the Seleka rebel alliance, Michel Djotodia’s self-appointment as president, and his suspension of the constitution and National Assembly. We also condemn Seleka’s unlawful designation of a head of state or any other unilateral decisions involving the future governance of the country. The only legitimate government in the CAR is the government of national unity led by Prime Minister Nicolas Tiangaye.

Any decisions on the future governance of the country must be taken in an inclusive and transparent manner, consistent with the Libreville Agreement which was approved by all sides, overseen by the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and recognized by the African Union. We urge the country’s leadership to quickly establish an open and legitimate process leading to presidential elections and the reestablishment of a constitutional government. The African Union has already suspended the CAR’s membership, and the country risks further alienation from the international community and regional partners. We also urge the regional leaders from ECCAS to vigorously continue their efforts to secure peace and stability in the CAR in furtherance of the Libreville Agreement.

We are also deeply concerned by the humanitarian situation both in Bangui and the interior of the CAR. We condemn the widespread looting of humanitarian organizations and hospitals, which has deprived civilians of urgently needed assistance. All parties must work to ensure the safety of the civilian population and allow unhindered humanitarian access.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM CIA WORLD FACTBOOK

The former French colony of Ubangi-Shari became the Central African Republic upon independence in 1960. After three tumultuous decades of misrule - mostly by military governments - civilian rule was established in 1993 and lasted for one decade. In March, 2003 President Ange-Felix PATASSE was deposed in a military coup led by General Francois BOZIZE, who established a transitional government. Elections held in 2005 affirmed General BOZIZE as president; he was reelected in 2011 in voting widely viewed as flawed. The government still does not fully control the countryside, where pockets of lawlessness persist. The militant group the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) continues to destabilize southeastern Central African Republic, and several rebel groups joined together in early December 2012 to launch a series of attacks that left them in control of numerous towns in the northern and central parts of the country. The rebels - who are unhappy with BOZIZE's government - participated in peace talks in early January 2013 which resulted in a coalition government including the rebellion's leadership.

BIO-DIESEL FUEL COMPANY OWNER SENTENCED TO PRISON IN RENEWALBE FUEL CREDITS SCHEME

FROM: U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY RENEWABLE

Bio-diesel Fuel Company Owner Sentenced to 188 Months in Federal Prison for Crimes Connected to Illegal Fuels Scheme
Jeffrey Gunselman also fined $175,000 and ordered to pay nearly $55 million in restitution

WASHINGTON — Jeffrey David Gunselman, 30, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings to 188 months in federal prison, fined $175,000 and ordered to pay more than $54.9 million in restitution, following his guilty plea in December 2012 to an indictment charging 51 counts of wire fraud, 24 counts of money laundering and four counts of making false statements in violation of the Clean Air Act.

"Today’s sentence is the second significant penalty against an alleged bio-diesel producer who in fact produced no fuel at all," said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "These cases demonstrate that EPA and our law enforcement partners have and will catch criminals who defraud federal programs and the American people by falsely selling renewable fuel credits."

"I commend the excellent investigative work done by special agents and investigators with EPA’s Criminal Investigation Division and the U.S. Secret Service in this complex fraud case," said U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña.

Gunselman admitted that from September 2010 to October 2011, he devised a scheme to defraud the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by falsely representing that he was in the business of producing bio-diesel fuel, yet Gunselman did not have a bio-diesel fuel-producing facility. Instead, Gunselman’s business operation consisted of falsely generating renewable fuel credits and selling them to oil companies and brokers. He instructed purchasers to wire payments to a bank account he solely controlled, and as a result, approximately $41,762,236 was deposited into that account.

Gunselman was the owner of Absolute Fuels, LLC, dba Absolute Fuels, LLC (Absolute Fuels), which he formed in April 2009. He was also named as Governing Person and/or as Registered Agent for other business entities associated with Absolute Fuels, LLC, including Absolute Fuels, LLC; Absolute Milling, LLC; Ellipse Energy, LLC; 21 Investments, LLC; and YGOG Holdings, LLC. However, Gunselman admitted that these entities are solely alter egos of himself, as an individual, as he alone owns, manages, directs and controls each of them and each has no separate and distinct existence from him.

From September 2010 to mid-October 2011, Gunselman conducted 51 fraudulent transactions, which were transmitted by wire communications, that represented to the EPA that bio-diesel fuel had been produced at the Absolute Fuels facility in Anton, Texas, when in fact, no bio-diesel fuel had been produced. This ultimately resulted in Gunselman requesting and receiving payments, by electronic funds transfer, of approximately $41,762,236.

During the same time period, Gunselman engaged in monetary transactions in criminally derived property by purchasing real and personal property valued at approximately $12 million with the funds derived from the wire fraud. Included in that property are: several vehicles, including a Bentley, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Cadillac and Shelby Cobra; a Patton Military Tank; a Gulfstream airplane, professional basketball season tickets and corporate sponsorship; and agricultural, business and residential real estate.

The false statements convictions stem from Gunselman making material false statements to the EPA, falsely claiming and representing that bio-diesel fuel, a renewable fuel, had been produced, generating renewable fuel credits, when Gunselman well knew that no bio-diesel fuel had been produced.

The case was investigated by the EPA Criminal Investigation Division and the U.S. Secret Service.

FEMA OUTLINES SUPPORT FOR NEW YORK'S HURRICANE SANDY RELIEF

 

Breezy Point, N.Y., March 22, 2013 -- Residents of this Queens neighborhood are rebuilding their homes damaged by Hurricane Sandy. This house is in the process of being elevated above the new flood level to prevent damage from future storm surges and flooding.  Photo Credit:  FEMA.

FROM: FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
New York recovery from Hurricane Sandy: By the Numbers
March 29, 2013

NEW YORK — New York survivors have until April 13 to register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and return their applications for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.

Disaster assistance to New York survivors of Hurricane Sandy:
More than $941 million in FEMA grants approved for individuals and households
Nearly $809 million for housing assistance
More than $132 million for other needs More than $1.3 billion in SBA disaster loans approved for homeowners, renters and businesses
Nearly $3.2 billion in National Flood Insurance Program payments made to policy holders
More than $806 million approved in FEMA Public Assistance grants to communities and some nonprofit organizations that serve the public
270,634 people have registered for assistance in the 13 designated counties
182,426 housing inspections completed
175,215 visits to Disaster Recovery Centers
5.6 million cubic yards of debris removed
More than 500 voluntary agencies involved in recovery
26 languages used to communicate assistance information to survivors

LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY LOOKS AT HOW HIV ATTACKS

FROM: LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY
Research Deciphers HIV Attack Plan
Scientists get inside look at how AIDS virus grooms its assault team

LOS ALAMOS, N.M., March 29, 2013—A new study by Los Alamos National Laboratory and University of Pennsylvania scientists defines previously unknown properties of transmitted HIV-1, the virus that causes AIDS. The viruses that successfully pass from a chronically infected person to a new individual are both remarkably resistant to a powerful initial human immune-response mechanism, and they are blanketed in a greater amount of envelope protein that helps them access and enter host cells.

These findings will help inform vaccine design and interpretation of vaccine trials, and provide new insights into the basic biology of viral/host dynamics of infection.

During the course of each AIDS infection, the HIV-1 virus evolves within the infected person to escape the host’s natural immune response and adapt to the local environment within the infected individual. Because HIV evolves so rapidly and so extensively, each person acquires and harbors a complex, very diverse set of viruses that develops over the years of their infection. Yet when HIV is transmitted to a new person from their partner, typically only a single virus from the diverse set in the partner is transmitted to establish the new infection.

The key discoveries here are the specific features that distinguish those specific viruses which successfully move to the new host, compared with the myriad forms in the viral population present in a chronically infected individual.

"The viruses that make it through transmission barriers to infect a new person are particularly infectious and resilient," said Los Alamos National Laboratory scientist Bette Korber. "Through this study we now better understand the biology that defines that resilience."

The team set out to determine whether the viruses that were successfully transmitted to a new patient might share distinct biological properties relative to those typically isolated from people with long-term, chronic infection. To do this, the group at U Penn cloned a set of intact viruses from acute infection, and a set of viruses from chronically infected people, and characterized them by measuring quantities that might be related to the virus's ability to successfully establish a new infection. They discovered several clear correlations. For example, transmitted viruses were both more infectious and contained more protective "envelope" per virus; envelope is the protein the virus uses to enter host cells.

The team identified an additional interesting property that could be a general characteristic of new viral infections: the transmitted HIV was capable of replicating and growing well in the presence of alpha interferon. Alpha interferon production is part of our innate human immune response to a new infection. As soon as a new viral infection is initiated in our bodies, local immune cells at the site of infection start secreting molecules called cytokines that have general antiviral activity and can inhibit the production of the newly infected virus. Alpha interferon is one of these potent cytokines.

In the early days of an HIV infection, this innate immune response increases to an intense level, called a "cytokine storm," which gradually recedes during infection. For a newly transmitted HIV to successfully establish infection, it must grow and expand in the new host while facing this cytokine storm. Although typical chronic viruses are sensitive to and inhibited by alpha interferon, transmitted HIV-1 viruses grew well in the presence of interferon.

President Obama Welcomes African Leaders | The White House

President Obama Welcomes African Leaders | The White House

GEN. BAYER DISCUSSES THE WARRIOR OF THE FUTURE

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
General Discusses Focus on Younger Force, Cyber Capabilities
By Amaani Lyle
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, March 28, 2013 - NATO officials are closely analyzing what the future cyber warrior will look like as the war landscape shifts from air, ground and sea to cyberspace, Allied Command Transformation's deputy chief of staff for strategic plans and policy said here this week.

In an interview during a March 26 "Young Professionals Forging the Future" event at Johns Hopkins University's Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, Army Maj. Gen. Peter C. Bayer Jr. said it's time to lean into the younger generation in preparation for new and more complex challenges.

Enhanced e-training and application of cyber skill sets need to be customized to the millennial generation born into, rather than adapting to the information age, Bayer said.

"The folks that are going to solve the problems of 2030 [are] not me; I'll be doing something else," the general said. "It's some 25-year-old already in the uniform of their nation. They already have experience in Afghanistan or somewhere else. They're going to be the two- or three-star generals or admirals solving problems."

Bayer said his charge is to develop ongoing training and an open problem-solving environment to tap into the minds of young leaders who can bring an innovative perspective as NATO and its transformation command shift from operational to contingency-based missions.

"I want the junior leaders already in uniform [to be immersed] in this future world of complex problem-solving and begin to develop skills they need to work in an ambiguous uncertain, complex, fast-paced [environment]," Bayer said.

As U.S. forces pivot to the Pacific during the simultaneous drawdown in Afghanistan, Bayer said, NATO priorities should adjust accordingly.

"When Afghanistan is over, we go from an operations-centric alliance to a contingency-based alliance, which means being ready for the next thing, but unsure what that thing might be," he explained.

And NATO, he added, has played a large role in the United States being able to focus its attention on new challenges.

"The only reason the U.S. can think about shifting priorities and emphasis to the Pacific is because we have a secure flank, and it's called NATO," Bayer said. "NATO should see this as an opportunity, not a threat, [as] increasingly, centers of power are going to be in that part of the world -- less so on the traditional East-West axis."

The general acknowledged the occasional challenges of consensus.
"It's frustrating to have 28 [nations] trying to work on something, but there's nothing more powerful than when we get to the point where 28 say, 'Yep, that's the answer we can live with,' because now we're speaking as one."

After spending most of the last 20 years in operations since the advent of missions in the Balkans, Bayer said, it's vital for NATO to update its training concept and revitalize its exercises program, the general said. "I could see the day where the security interests of the alliance will be challenged by some adversary who will employ information, influence, cyber and space," he added.

The response from the alliance, Bayer said, would not necessarily require the alliance to use air, sea or land forces in the way it traditionally has.

"We've already forced [younger people] to operate very decentralized, and they're ready for it, so we've got to figure out now how to get the institutions to catch up."

RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP AND WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUTION

Army Staff Sgt. Maliek Kearney and Army Sgt. Danielle Doucette transfer a sample of simulated nuclear fallout as Ruth Anne Sorter from the Department of Energy looks on during the Prominent Hunt exercise in Indiana that helped test the Defense Department's chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear enterprise, July 28, 2012. Research conducted by the University of Nebraska in partnership with U.S. Strategic Command is expected to identify new ways to address the threat posed by of weapons of mass destruction. U.S. Army photo by Lt. Col. Carol McClelland

FROM: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Stratcom Research Partnership Tackles WMD Threat
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb., March 29, 2013 - A new partnership between U.S. Strategic Command and the University of Nebraska is pushing the envelope to address what Air Force Gen. C. Robert Kehler, Stratcom's commander, calls one of the most pervasive threats to the United States: weapons of mass destruction.

Kehler, who's been tasked by President Barack Obama under the unified command plan to lead the Defense Department's efforts to combat WMDs, championed the first university-affiliated research center to be sponsored by a combatant command.

Stratcom entered into a five-year contract with the University of Nebraska in late September, establishing the 13th UARC within the Defense Department. All are committed to cutting-edge research in some of the most challenging areas confronting the United States, explained Evan J. Hoapili, Stratcom's deputy director of capabilities and resource integration.

"The purpose of a UARC is to focus a high-level, world-class research university on a specific, enduring, technical hard problem," Hoapili told American Forces Press Service. "The idea is to create a continuity of research and focus and generate out-of-the-box thinking to solve a problem that is vexing the department."

Stratcom selected the University of Nebraska for the coveted UARC contract, based on its existing research programs at its National Strategic Research Institute, Hoapili said. The UARC, he said, will invite the best and brightest minds to delve into nuclear forensics, ways to detect biological, chemical and nuclear threats, passive defense against weapons of mass destruction, and consequence management.

Collaborating with other research institutions, University of Nebraska researchers will explore areas ranging from new ways to identify a WMD aboard a container ship without slowing down the entire delivery network to ways to make the human body more resistant to chemical or biological agents, Hoapili said. They also will investigate faster, more effective decontamination methods in the event of an attack.

The research will extend to laws governing space, cyberspace and telecommunications -- other key areas within Stratcom's area of responsibility.

"These are big, technical problems. If you solve any one of these, it will be a huge difference for the department, and frankly, for the security of the United States," Hoapili said.

The outcome, he said, could lead to breakthroughs in areas that top the agenda, not just at Stratcom and the Defense Department, but across the U.S. interagency, particularly at the departments of Homeland Security and Energy.

A Stratcom-led executive steering committee that oversees the UARC includes representatives from several agencies. This helps synchronize counter-WMD efforts across the government and brings different perspectives, expertise and revenue sources to the challenge, Hoapili said.

"The beauty of the UARC is that it enables you to synergize the efforts across all these different departments ... into an integrated effort that is focused on the right problem set," he said. "Ultimately, what we hope to come up with are the most-efficient, cost-effective ways of detecting, eliminating and mitigating weapons of mass destruction."

But Hoapili emphasized that Stratcom's partnership with the University of Nebraska will extend long beyond the initial contract. The hope, he said, is that the UARC will spawn researchers who commit themselves to the challenge over the long term, either through government service or through research efforts that support DOD.

"These are problems that aren't going to go away, and the department recognizes that it is going to be with us for decades, if not forever" he said. "So we want to build an enduring enterprise, and to grow a cadre of researchers, professors, students and PhD candidates all focused on what is possible in dealing with the gravest threat to the United States."

Kehler told Congress earlier this month he's excited about the new partnership.

"One of my highest priorities, in addition to securing and reducing dangerous materials, is acquiring the capabilities to monitor and track lethal agents and their means of delivery, and defeating or responding to the use of these weapons," he told the House and Senate armed services committees. "The UARC will help address these challenges by providing unique access to academic perspectives and research methods not currently found anywhere in DOD to engage current and future counter-WMD challenges."

University-affiliated laboratories have been conducting research and development for the U.S. military for the past six decades. DOD launched the first UARCs in 1996, to maintain essential engineering and technology capabilities required by the department.

"UARCs have changed the nature of their problem set. They are pushing the envelope, and I expect the same out of this one," Hoapili said. "I can't predict where it will go, but I know it is the right way to go."