PARIS (AP) ? Thieves ripped a safe from the wall of a hotel room near the Cannes Film Festival and made off with around $1 million worth of jewelry, in a brazen late-night burglary just hours after the screening of a film about break-ins at the homes of Hollywood celebrities, French officials said Friday.
The apparently well-planned robbery at the Novotel hotel took place in the room of an employee of Chopard, the Swiss-based watch and jewelry maker and festival sponsor that was hosting a splashy gala event in a far ritzier hotel around the same time, officials said.
Chopard has loaned jewelry to A-list stars who walk on the festival's famed red carpet under rapid-fire flashes of photographers' cameras. Already this year model Carla Delevingne and actress Julianne Moore have walked the carpet in Chopard gems.
"The jewels stolen are not part of the collection of jewels that are worn by actresses during the Cannes film festival," Chopard spokeswoman Raffaella Rossiello told reporters in a brief statement Friday.
Cmdr. Bernard Mascarelli, a judicial police spokesman in the nearby city of Nice, said he didn't know the exact type of jewelry taken, or its exact value. "Numbers have been put forward that we're still trying to verify, but the figure of $1 million ... we're in that range," he said. Jean-Michel Caillau, a state prosecutor in nearby Grasse who is leading the investigation, said early estimates were that the loot could have been worth as much as $1.4 million.
Rossiello countered that, saying: "The value of the pieces stolen is far lower than those in the figures circulating in the media." She did not say why the jewelry was brought to the Novotel during the film festival, or take reporters' questions.
The theft was believed to have taken place sometime between 7 p.m. Thursday and 3 a.m. Friday, said Mascarelli, when the Chopard employee returned to the hotel room and noticed the damage. Mascarelli said he did not know whether the employee had been attending a Chopard gala that was running late into the night at the 5-star Hotel Martinez across town, where the company has a suite during the festival.
News of the robbery sent journalists scurrying to the Novotel, a business hotel about a 15-minute walk from Cannes' seafront promenade. Dozens of police were involved in the investigation, and police vehicles could be seen outside the hotel Friday afternoon. Authorities were going over hotel surveillance cameras and questioning potential witnesses who might have seen any culprits.
"It seems pretty unlikely to us that it was just one person," Mascarelli said. "Apparently this (hotel guest) was someone who was targeted because it wasn't someone who had been seeking attention. ... There must have been either inside complicity, or people who were in contact with this person and knew that the person had jewels," he said.
Melissa Levine, a spokeswoman for Accor, the French hospitality giant behind Novotel, declined comment about the case.
On Thursday night, Chopard hosted a star-studded gala, and the festival screened Sofia Coppola's "The Bling Ring" ? a deadpan drama about celebrity-obsessed teenagers in Los Angeles who break into the homes of Paris Hilton and other stars. It's based on a true story about high-school students who, after seeing online when certain stars are expected at a premiere or other event, take the opportunity to steal items from their homes.
Chopard manufactures the crystal and gold Palme d'Or trophy awarded each year to the festival's top film. Festival organizers would not disclose the Palme's whereabouts Friday, but said it was kept in a safe place. They had no comment on the robbery.
___
Eds: Greg Keller in Paris and Jill Lawless in Cannes contributed to this report.
Israel says Russia is preparing to deliver anti-aircraft missiles and launchers to the Assad regime, which the US warns will further destabilize a troubled region.
By Fred Weir,?Correspondent / May 10, 2013
Russian President Vladimir Putin and US Secretary of State John Kerry (r.) arrive for their meeting in the Kremlin, Moscow, Tuesday. Kerry is making his case to Putin for Russia to take a tougher stance on Syria at a time when Israel's weekend air strikes against the beleaguered Mideast nation have added an unpredictable factor to the talks.
Maxim Shemetov/AP
Enlarge
The United States has appealed to Russia to stop the reported delivery of six batteries of advanced S-300?anti-aircraft missiles to the Syrian government, warning that this type of weaponry threatens to "destabilize" the region.
Skip to next paragraph Fred Weir
Correspondent
Fred Weir has been the Monitor's Moscow correspondent, covering Russia and the former Soviet Union, since 1998.?
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According to media reports, the US was alerted this week by Israel that Russia is preparing to begin deliveries, perhaps as early as this summer, on a $900-million contract for six S-300 launchers with 144 of the long-range surface-to-air missiles. They are said to be the equivalent to the US Patriot system.
"We have consistently called on Russia not to provide a further supply of weapons to the Assad regime, including air defense systems that are particularly destabilizing to the region," White House press spokesman Jay Carney told journalists?on Thursday.
"I think we have made it crystal clear that we would prefer that Russia is not supplying assistance," to Syria, Secretary of State John Kerry told journalists during a visit to Italy.
"We have previously stated that [these] missiles are potentially destabilizing with respect to the state of Israel," he said.
Israel has carried out two airstrikes on Syrian targets in the past week, dramatically raising the stakes in the Syrian civil war, which is now in its third year.
Introduction of the S-300 into Syria's air defense arsenal could sharply limit the future options not only for Israel but for the US as well, should it decide to intervene in the conflict.
The latest version of the S-300 reputedly has a range of 125 miles, can engage 12 targets simultaneously, and can strike missiles or aircraft at altitudes of up to 20 miles.
The US and Israel waged a long and ultimately successful diplomatic campaign to persuade Russia to renege on a contract it had signed many years ago to provide S-300 missiles to Iran.
But since agreeing in 2010 to cut off arms supplies to Iran, the Kremlin has dug in its heels and refused to sign on to any more sanctions against its dwindling number of client states.
Russia has an estimated $5 billion in outstanding arms contracts with Syria, mostly sophisticated anti-aircraft weapons, tactical surface-to-surface missiles, submarines, warships, and training aircraft.
Though Moscow has not yet commented on the allegation that it is preparing to deliver S-300s to Syria, Russian officials have repeatedly insisted that they are acting within the framework of international law in honoring arms contracts with a long-standing ally that is not subject to any United Nations-approved sanctions.
Moscow also complains that the US continues to sell huge amounts of modern arms to its Arab clients, such as Saudi Arabia, some of whom it says are surreptitiously arming the Syrian rebels.
The fresh accusations against Russia for supplying arms to Syria come just days after Mr. Kerry met with President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin and agreed on the need for Russia and the US to combine efforts in a joint push to find a peaceful settlement to the spiraling Syrian conflict.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The outgoing head of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service angered Republican lawmakers on Friday by resisting their demands that he identify who at the tax-collection agency had inappropriately targeted conservative groups for extra scrutiny.
But during the first hearing into a growing IRS scandal that could preoccupy Washington for months, Republicans did learn that a top official in President Barack Obama's administration knew that the IRS was looking into targeting by the tax agency nearly a year ago.
That detail could encourage Republicans' efforts to link the scandal to the White House as the administration faces a series of setbacks that threaten to derail Obama's second-term priorities, which include revamping immigration laws and reaching a budget deal with Republicans.
Friday's hearing was dominated by lawmakers' grilling of acting IRS Commissioner Steven Miller, who provided few clear answers while apologizing for the extensive questioning and years-long delays that many conservative groups have experienced after applying for tax-exempt status.
Miller, who was fired by Obama on Wednesday, said the overly aggressive scrutiny of such groups was the result of mismanagement, not partisan politics. His comments echoed the findings of a Treasury Department inspector general's report released this week.
"I think what happened here is that foolish mistakes were made by people trying to be more efficient," said Miller, who will leave his post next week and be replaced by Daniel Werfel, a budget specialist in the administration.
Miller said he did not know who had come up with the idea to single out groups that appeared to be politically conservative for intense reviews of whether they qualified to be tax-exempt.
He said that although the added scrutiny was wrong, he did not think that IRS employees had broken any laws.
That claim drew the ire of Republicans on the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee, as did Miller's shrugs when lawmakers pressed him over why he had not told Congress about the probe even though he learned about it a year ago.
"This is offensive, to hear this testimony," said Representative Tom Reed, a Republican from New York.
A LINK TO THE WHITE HOUSE?
The hearing did seem to yield some fruit for Republicans who are trying to cast the targeting of conservative "Tea Party" and "Patriot" groups as a political initiative encouraged by the Obama administration, a claim the White House rejects.
Critics have hammered the White House this week on the IRS scandal, its handling of the deadly attack on the U.S. mission in Benghazi, Libya, and the Justice Department's seizure of phone records of Associated Press journalists in a criminal probe into intelligence leaks.
The Treasury Department's internal watchdog, J. Russell George, told the House panel that Deputy Treasury Secretary Neal Wolin, an Obama political appointee, learned nearly a year ago that a government watchdog was looking into inappropriate targeting by the IRS.
Wolin, the No. 2 official at Treasury, is due to testify next week before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
In a statement, the Treasury Department said it made the probe public last fall in an annual report that listed more than 200 other internal investigations.
Treasury Secretary Jack Lew was told about the investigation when he took office in March, the department said, but neither he nor Wolin was told about its findings even as a preliminary version circulated elsewhere within the department.
Miller's often-defiant appearance on Friday was unlikely to satisfy Republicans who have accused Obama's Democratic administration of using the machinery of government to target political foes.
They also have accused Miller of misleading Congress last year.
Miller acknowledged that he learned that IRS investigators were looking into the issue a year ago, but he did not mention the probe to lawmakers until the news became public last week. He said he had not misled lawmakers by keeping quiet about the issue in prior appearances on Capitol Hill.
"I was answering the questions that I was asked" by Congress, he told the House committee.
Miller appeared to grow irritated over the course of the four-hour hearing, repeatedly interrupting questioners, flashing quizzical looks and shrugging his shoulders.
Miller said the IRS has had trouble keeping up with the flood of 70,000 tax-exempt applications it has received in recent years, and asked for money to hire more examiners.
Several Republicans responded that the IRS should instead be shrunk.
The IRS has seen the number of groups applying for 501(c)4 status nearly double in the wake of January 2010 Supreme Court decision that loosened campaign-finance rules.
That status allows groups to keep their donor lists secret while engaging in limited political activity. Political campaigns, by contrast, must make their donor lists public.
Several Democrats on the committee said the IRS needed to take a harder look at those applications to ensure that political groups do not exploit the tax code to shroud political activities in secrecy.
Miller said the IRS needs clearer guidance from Congress to determine what constitutes political activity.
FACEBOOK POSTS, BOOK LISTS
The scandal has angered lawmakers in both parties, but Miller's appearance appeared to further inflame Republicans who see it as a symptom of a federal government that has grown too large and is overly intrusive into Americans' lives.
Tea Party groups investigated by the IRS say the tax agency made unusually extensive demands, such as asking the groups to provide social-media posts and lists of books that members had read, and tell agents whether any members of the group planned to run for public office in the future.
The questioning in some cases took nearly three years, preventing some groups from participating in the 2010 and 2012 elections.
The Treasury Department report did not identify individuals in the IRS's Washington headquarters or its Cincinnati field office who were responsible for coming up with the criteria used to single out conservative groups. The watchdog is continuing its investigation.
Republicans have vowed to find out who was involved, but Miller did not provide much of a road map.
"Who is responsible for targeting these individuals?" asked Representative Kevin Brady, a Texas Republican.
"I don't have names for you," Miller responded.
Republicans accused him of dodging their questions.
"I'm hearing, 'I don't know, I don't remember, I don't recall, I don't believe,'" said Representative Dave Reichert of Washington. "You don't even know who investigated the case, but yet you say it was investigated."
Democrats seemed more inclined to accept Miller's explanation.
"I am not convinced that this is a great big political conspiracy," Democratic Representative Danny Davis said.
Two other congressional committees will hold IRS hearings next week. One of them, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, plans to question five lower-level IRS employees over whether they played a role in the targeting of conservative groups.
Wolin and Douglas Shulman, who was IRS commissioner when the targeting occurred, also are scheduled to testify.
(Additional reporting by Karey Van Hall, Patrick Temple-West and Susan Heavey; Writing by Andy Sullivan; Editing by David Lindsey, Jackie Frank and Jim Loney)
From a recent Financial Post article profiling D-Wave:
If computers could learn, grow and evolve the same way humans can, the world would be a much better place, Dr. Geordie Rose argues. The co-founder and chief technology officer of Burnaby, B.C.-based quantum computing firm D-Wave Systems Inc. contends that humanity would gain unprecedented access to education, health care and information if
AGA presents cutting-edge research and new learning opportunities at DDW 2013Public release date: 17-May-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Rachel Steigerwald newsroom@gastro.org 301-272-1603 American Gastroenterological Association
Orlando, FL (May 17, 2013) Clinicians, researchers and scientists from around the world will gather for Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2013, the largest and most prestigious gastroenterology meeting, from May 18 to 21, 2013, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. DDW is jointly sponsored by the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) and the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT).
AGA researchers will present exciting, cutting-edge data during the meeting that will help change the way physicians diagnose and treat gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. All data presented during DDW is embargoed until the beginning of the presentation or an official DDW press conference, whichever occurs first. A list of press activities is available at http://www.ddw.org/press. Newsroom staff can facilitate interviews with researchers presenting at the sessions highlighted below.
All sessions will be held in the Orange County Convention Center. For more information on presentations and data being presented, visit http://www.myddw.org.
Late-Breaking Abstract Sessions
Three late breaking abstract sessions will highlight hot new data accepted for presentation at DDW:
Basic science late-breaking abstracts: May 21, 10 a.m., in Room 205B
General GI clinical science late-breaking abstracts: May 21, 10 a.m., Room 303ABC
Scientists present late-breaking abstracts during posters sessions on May 18, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Hall West A1. Researchers will be present at their posters from noon to 2 p.m.
New Data on the Gut Microbiome
As part of AGA's strategic focus on the gut microbiome, AGA offers speaker sessions and oral research abstracts at DDW 2013. Sessions will discuss the myriad of possibilities that the gut microbiome offers to GI basic and translational researchers, clinicians and patients. New research will report on the microbiome's impact on IBD, cirrhosis, celiac disease, colon cancer and more. View the complete list of invited speaker sessions and oral research abstracts on the gut microbiome http://www.gastro.org/Microbiome_presentations_DDW2013.pdf.
Plenary Sessions
New for 2013, DDW will feature a joint AGA-ASGE Presidential Plenary Session on May 18 at 10 a.m. ET in Room 415 -- Valencia.
From 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., the AGA-ASGE joint plenary session will highlight innovative clinical research on IBD, pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer and gastroparesis, among other topics.
From 10 a.m. to noon, AGA Institute President, Loren A. Laine, MD, AGAF, and his ASGE counterpart have invited noted experts to present on hot topics in gastroenterology and GI endoscopy. Presentations include:
"Should Colonoscopy Be the Test of Choice for CRC Screening: Yes," Douglas K. Rex, MD, AGAF, FASGE, Indiana University School of Medicine; University Hospital in Indianapolis
"Should Colonoscopy Be the Test of Choice for CRC Screening: No," David A. Lieberman, MD, AGAF, Oregon Health Sciences University
"Applying Genetics in Clinical Practice: Screening and Management of Colorectal Cancer," John M. Carethers, MD, AGAF, University of Michigan
"Gut Microbiome: Implications for Clinical Practice," Gail A. Hecht, MD, MS, AGAF, University of Illinois College of Medicine
"Hepatitis C: What Therapy This Month?" Michael W. Fried, MD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
AGA will host a Basic Science Plenary Session on May 19 at 2 p.m. ET in Room 307ABC. Data being presented includes:
Inactivation of a Single Allele of P120catenin Dramatically Accelerates KRAS-Driven Carcinogenesis in the Pancreas (2:03 p.m. ET, Abstract #436a). Maximilian Reichert et al.
Complete Conversion of Crypt Progenitor Cells Into ATOH1-Positive Cells by Targeted Deletion of DLL1 and Dll4 in LGR5-Positive Intestinal Stem Cells (2:15 p.m. ET, Abstract #436b). Hiromichi Shimizu et al.
Tissue-Specific Knockout of the RNA-Binding Protein HuR Inhibits Intestinal Mucosal Growth by Down-Regulating Wnt Signaling (2:27 p.m. ET, Abstract #436c). Lan Liu et al.
A Novel In Vitro SPEM Culture Provides a Model for Characterization of Metaplasia in the Stomach (2:39 p.m. ET, Abstract #436d). Victoria G. Weis et al.
Crohn's Disease-Associated Adherent-Invasive Escherichia coli Suppress Autophagy Response to Replicate Intracellularly by Regulating Host MicroRNA Expression (3:21 p.m. ET, Abstract #436e). Hang T. Nguyen et al.
Human Gut Microbiota Modulates Gut Serotonergic Pathway and Motility (3:33 p.m. ET, Abstract #436f). Purna C. Kashyap et al.
Other exciting data will be presented during DDW, including 63 clinical symposia, 13 translational symposia, nine research symposia, nine state-of-the-art lectures, seven distinguished abstract plenary sessions, and other committee-sponsored and special sessions on a range of GI topics. Additionally, the AGA Institute will sponsor four curbside consultant sessions. A total of 10 focused research roundtables and focused clinical updates breakfast sessions designed to help participants choose the must-see basic science and clinical research abstracts presented during DDW will occur throughout the meeting.
Special Sessions for Fellows and Young GIs
AGA has developed special sessions to meet the unique needs of physicians who are new to the field. Participants will learn about all aspects of starting a career in clinical practice or research, have the opportunity to network with mentors and peers, and review board material. All sessions occur on Monday, May 20, and include:
Board Review Session (8 a.m., Room 208) designed around content from the new Digestive Diseases Self-Education Program 7, this session will serve as a primer for third-year fellows preparing for the board exam, as well as a review course for others wanting to test their knowledge.
Career and Professional Related Issues (12:30 p.m., Room 208) will provide advice on common career issues such as choosing a practice type and location, developing an attractive CV, interviewing, negotiating contracts, and work-life balance.
Maximizing Opportunities within Fellowship Training: Advice from Fellows and Faculty (2 p.m., Room 313) presents information on how to create a niche within GI. A designated portion of the session will also examine GI career opportunities in research, hepatology and education, as well as provide an assessment of advanced clinical training opportunities.
AGA Academy of Educators Plenary Session
AGA presents a committee-sponsored symposium, AGA Academy of Educators: Planning for Promotion: Promoting Your Professional Portfolio (May 21, 8 a.m., Room 202AB), for academic clinicians or medical educators who are interested in taking their careers to the next level. This interactive session will highlight important topics in portfolio preparation and will teach attendees how to create a CV worthy of promotion. Presentations will be followed by roundtable discussions led by faculty leaders.
AGA Institute-Rome Foundation Lectureship
During the sixth annual AGA Institute-Rome Foundation Lectureship (May 19, 8 a.m., Room 109A), experts will provide a comprehensive overview of GI permeability in gastroenterology and its clinical significance to functional GI disorders.
###
About the American Gastroenterological Association
The American Gastroenterological (AGA) Association is the trusted voice of the GI community. Founded in 1897, the American Gastroenterological Association has grown to include close to 17,000 members from around the globe who are involved in all aspects of the science, practice and advancement of gastroenterology. The AGA Institute administers the practice, research and educational programs of the organization. Learn more at http://www.gastro.org.
Follow us on Twitter @AmerGastroAssn. Become an AGA fan on Facebook.
About DDW
DDW is the largest international gathering of physicians, researchers and academics in the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery. Jointly sponsored by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) and the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT), DDW takes place May 18 21, 2013, at the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL. The meeting showcases more than 5,000 abstracts and hundreds of lectures on the latest advances in GI research, medicine and technology. For more information, visit http://www.ddw.org.
Follow us on Twitter @DDWMeeting; hashtag #DDW13. Become a DDW fan on Facebook.
[ | 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.
AGA presents cutting-edge research and new learning opportunities at DDW 2013Public release date: 17-May-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Rachel Steigerwald newsroom@gastro.org 301-272-1603 American Gastroenterological Association
Orlando, FL (May 17, 2013) Clinicians, researchers and scientists from around the world will gather for Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2013, the largest and most prestigious gastroenterology meeting, from May 18 to 21, 2013, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL. DDW is jointly sponsored by the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) and the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT).
AGA researchers will present exciting, cutting-edge data during the meeting that will help change the way physicians diagnose and treat gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. All data presented during DDW is embargoed until the beginning of the presentation or an official DDW press conference, whichever occurs first. A list of press activities is available at http://www.ddw.org/press. Newsroom staff can facilitate interviews with researchers presenting at the sessions highlighted below.
All sessions will be held in the Orange County Convention Center. For more information on presentations and data being presented, visit http://www.myddw.org.
Late-Breaking Abstract Sessions
Three late breaking abstract sessions will highlight hot new data accepted for presentation at DDW:
Basic science late-breaking abstracts: May 21, 10 a.m., in Room 205B
General GI clinical science late-breaking abstracts: May 21, 10 a.m., Room 303ABC
Scientists present late-breaking abstracts during posters sessions on May 18, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Hall West A1. Researchers will be present at their posters from noon to 2 p.m.
New Data on the Gut Microbiome
As part of AGA's strategic focus on the gut microbiome, AGA offers speaker sessions and oral research abstracts at DDW 2013. Sessions will discuss the myriad of possibilities that the gut microbiome offers to GI basic and translational researchers, clinicians and patients. New research will report on the microbiome's impact on IBD, cirrhosis, celiac disease, colon cancer and more. View the complete list of invited speaker sessions and oral research abstracts on the gut microbiome http://www.gastro.org/Microbiome_presentations_DDW2013.pdf.
Plenary Sessions
New for 2013, DDW will feature a joint AGA-ASGE Presidential Plenary Session on May 18 at 10 a.m. ET in Room 415 -- Valencia.
From 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., the AGA-ASGE joint plenary session will highlight innovative clinical research on IBD, pancreatic cancer, colorectal cancer and gastroparesis, among other topics.
From 10 a.m. to noon, AGA Institute President, Loren A. Laine, MD, AGAF, and his ASGE counterpart have invited noted experts to present on hot topics in gastroenterology and GI endoscopy. Presentations include:
"Should Colonoscopy Be the Test of Choice for CRC Screening: Yes," Douglas K. Rex, MD, AGAF, FASGE, Indiana University School of Medicine; University Hospital in Indianapolis
"Should Colonoscopy Be the Test of Choice for CRC Screening: No," David A. Lieberman, MD, AGAF, Oregon Health Sciences University
"Applying Genetics in Clinical Practice: Screening and Management of Colorectal Cancer," John M. Carethers, MD, AGAF, University of Michigan
"Gut Microbiome: Implications for Clinical Practice," Gail A. Hecht, MD, MS, AGAF, University of Illinois College of Medicine
"Hepatitis C: What Therapy This Month?" Michael W. Fried, MD, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
AGA will host a Basic Science Plenary Session on May 19 at 2 p.m. ET in Room 307ABC. Data being presented includes:
Inactivation of a Single Allele of P120catenin Dramatically Accelerates KRAS-Driven Carcinogenesis in the Pancreas (2:03 p.m. ET, Abstract #436a). Maximilian Reichert et al.
Complete Conversion of Crypt Progenitor Cells Into ATOH1-Positive Cells by Targeted Deletion of DLL1 and Dll4 in LGR5-Positive Intestinal Stem Cells (2:15 p.m. ET, Abstract #436b). Hiromichi Shimizu et al.
Tissue-Specific Knockout of the RNA-Binding Protein HuR Inhibits Intestinal Mucosal Growth by Down-Regulating Wnt Signaling (2:27 p.m. ET, Abstract #436c). Lan Liu et al.
A Novel In Vitro SPEM Culture Provides a Model for Characterization of Metaplasia in the Stomach (2:39 p.m. ET, Abstract #436d). Victoria G. Weis et al.
Crohn's Disease-Associated Adherent-Invasive Escherichia coli Suppress Autophagy Response to Replicate Intracellularly by Regulating Host MicroRNA Expression (3:21 p.m. ET, Abstract #436e). Hang T. Nguyen et al.
Human Gut Microbiota Modulates Gut Serotonergic Pathway and Motility (3:33 p.m. ET, Abstract #436f). Purna C. Kashyap et al.
Other exciting data will be presented during DDW, including 63 clinical symposia, 13 translational symposia, nine research symposia, nine state-of-the-art lectures, seven distinguished abstract plenary sessions, and other committee-sponsored and special sessions on a range of GI topics. Additionally, the AGA Institute will sponsor four curbside consultant sessions. A total of 10 focused research roundtables and focused clinical updates breakfast sessions designed to help participants choose the must-see basic science and clinical research abstracts presented during DDW will occur throughout the meeting.
Special Sessions for Fellows and Young GIs
AGA has developed special sessions to meet the unique needs of physicians who are new to the field. Participants will learn about all aspects of starting a career in clinical practice or research, have the opportunity to network with mentors and peers, and review board material. All sessions occur on Monday, May 20, and include:
Board Review Session (8 a.m., Room 208) designed around content from the new Digestive Diseases Self-Education Program 7, this session will serve as a primer for third-year fellows preparing for the board exam, as well as a review course for others wanting to test their knowledge.
Career and Professional Related Issues (12:30 p.m., Room 208) will provide advice on common career issues such as choosing a practice type and location, developing an attractive CV, interviewing, negotiating contracts, and work-life balance.
Maximizing Opportunities within Fellowship Training: Advice from Fellows and Faculty (2 p.m., Room 313) presents information on how to create a niche within GI. A designated portion of the session will also examine GI career opportunities in research, hepatology and education, as well as provide an assessment of advanced clinical training opportunities.
AGA Academy of Educators Plenary Session
AGA presents a committee-sponsored symposium, AGA Academy of Educators: Planning for Promotion: Promoting Your Professional Portfolio (May 21, 8 a.m., Room 202AB), for academic clinicians or medical educators who are interested in taking their careers to the next level. This interactive session will highlight important topics in portfolio preparation and will teach attendees how to create a CV worthy of promotion. Presentations will be followed by roundtable discussions led by faculty leaders.
AGA Institute-Rome Foundation Lectureship
During the sixth annual AGA Institute-Rome Foundation Lectureship (May 19, 8 a.m., Room 109A), experts will provide a comprehensive overview of GI permeability in gastroenterology and its clinical significance to functional GI disorders.
###
About the American Gastroenterological Association
The American Gastroenterological (AGA) Association is the trusted voice of the GI community. Founded in 1897, the American Gastroenterological Association has grown to include close to 17,000 members from around the globe who are involved in all aspects of the science, practice and advancement of gastroenterology. The AGA Institute administers the practice, research and educational programs of the organization. Learn more at http://www.gastro.org.
Follow us on Twitter @AmerGastroAssn. Become an AGA fan on Facebook.
About DDW
DDW is the largest international gathering of physicians, researchers and academics in the fields of gastroenterology, hepatology, endoscopy and gastrointestinal surgery. Jointly sponsored by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Institute, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) and the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT), DDW takes place May 18 21, 2013, at the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL. The meeting showcases more than 5,000 abstracts and hundreds of lectures on the latest advances in GI research, medicine and technology. For more information, visit http://www.ddw.org.
Follow us on Twitter @DDWMeeting; hashtag #DDW13. Become a DDW fan on Facebook.
[ | 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.
So, you have decided that it?s time to try your hand at PPC advertising to help you meet your business goals. But, you?re having a difficult time deciding whether to hire a PPC agency, or keep your PPC efforts in-house by hiring someone full time to manage your program. Either way, you want someone working on your account that is diverse in best practices for PPC.
Yes, there is no doubt that this new addition or extension of your marketing team will do keyword research, set up your account structure, build out ad copy, adjust bids, test landing pages, and track conversion/goals with an ROI or CPA. But, even novice PPC managers know that PPC management goes deeper than adjusting bids or split testing ad copy.
Here are a few questions your PPC manager should be asking you.
What are your current business objectives?
I typically like to start with this question because it helps me get a sense of what their current business goals are, and where they want to take their organization over the next 12 months. If you can get your client to share their business objectives for the year, it can help you to develop their PPC strategy.
In addition to helping you craft your PPC strategy, this question also gives you a chance to ask how they measure goals internally. What cost per conversion targets do they have? What is their target return on investments?
Expect some push back from the client when asking these questions. If you experience some push back, explain to the client why it?s important to know what their business goals are and how it?s going to help you develop your strategy.
What are you looking to get from PPC advertising?
The second question I like to ask is, what are you looking to gain from PPC advertising? Are you looking to drive more sales? Leads? White paper downloads? By asking this question, you will find out whether or not your client has any predetermined goals set already.
This question will also give you the opportunity to uncover any unrealistic ideas your client may have. Sometimes clients get excited about their potential results that they come out of the gate with unrealistic goals. Don?t be afraid to ?pop? that balloon.
What are your PPC goals?
Once the client has shared their business goals and what they are expecting to see from PPC with me, I asked them what their specific PPC goals are. A PPC campaign without goals is like traveling to a new city without a map. How can you expect to build a successful PPC campaign without identifying goals?
If your client sells products online, your goal(s) should be to drive more sales at a lower CPA and a higher ROI. If your client is lead gen, your goal should be to drive more leads to your client?s website. Either way, you should set PPC goals to help you gauge the success of your PPC initiatives.
What is your desired ROI or CPA?
After the PPC goals have been established, I typically like to ask the client if they have a target ROI or CPA in mind. Establishing a target ROI and CPA will help you gauge the success of your campaigns on metrics other than CPC or average position. Don?t get me wrong, CPC and average position metrics are important, but you cannot solely manage a PPC campaigns on those metrics alone. The additional metrics will help you determine in which ad position your keywords convert best.
Is there any Geo-Targeting?
The next question I like to ask is whether or not there is any geo-targeting that needs to be implemented. I like to ask this question because when you work with mid-size business, a few of them like to advertise locally or regionally. So, it?s important to figure out your geo-targeting to ensure you are driving relevant and qualified clicks and not unqualified clicks.
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Public release date: 17-May-2013
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But, you?re having a difficult time deciding whether to hire a PPC agency, or keep your PPC efforts in-house by hiring someone full time to manage your program. Either way, you want someone working on your account that is diverse in best practices for PPC.