tm One new case in Kerala, 16 under treatment By www.newkerala.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 07:01:01 +0530 Full Article
tm Study finds treatment for opioid use disorder is rare in hospitals By www.newkerala.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 07:40:02 +0530 Full Article
tm 6 times when BJP leaders insulted Mahatma Gandhi By www.rediff.com Published On :: Mon, 03 Feb 2020 14:10:58 +0530 Former Union minister and controversial Bharatiya Janata Party MP Anantkumar Hegde has once again stoked a row by calling the freedom struggle led by Mahatma Gandhi a "drama".However, this is not the first time a leader from the ruling party has insulted the Father of the Nation.Here are other instances when BJP leaders took a swipe at Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. Full Article
tm Lockdown's a nightmare: Workers battle to survive By www.rediff.com Published On :: Wed, 25 Mar 2020 18:00:42 +0530 India has been put in lockdown to halt the spread of the coronavirus outbreak. People have been told to stay indoors, but for many daily-wage earners this is not an option. Full Article MGNREGA New Delhi Getty Images IMAGE Yawar Manoj Barik Panchkula Amarjeet CITU Swami Naidu Uttar Pradesh India Anjani Mishra K Palaniswami Bhupesh Kumar V Narayanasamy Amarinder Singh
tm Bulletproof HTML5 `<details>` fallback using jQuery By mathiasbynens.be Published On :: Sun, 25 Apr 2010 15:39:49 +0200 The HTML5 element is currently not natively supported in any browser natively supported in Chrome 12 and up. This makes it a little hard to guess how exactly this new element will behave, but reading the spec gives us a pretty good idea. While we wait for browsers to implement it, how about we create a fallback/polyfill for browsers who don’t understand (yet)? Full Article
tm The HTML5 `document.head` DOM tree accessor By mathiasbynens.be Published On :: Tue, 04 May 2010 21:02:07 +0200 One of the lesser known HTML5 JavaScript goodies is the document.head DOM tree accessor, which is a more efficient (and easier to type) alternative to document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0]. Native support for document.head is very easy to detect… Full Article
tm The three levels of HTML5 usage By mathiasbynens.be Published On :: Sun, 06 Jun 2010 11:45:27 +0200 I was asked to give an introductory talk on HTML5 for the latest Adobe User Group Belgium Web SIG Event. The presentation I ended up with is entitled “HTML5: It goes to ELEVEN” and can be viewed on Slideshare. In this article, I’ll try to write down some of the things I talked about. Full Article
tm Thoughts on Safari Reader’s generated HTML By mathiasbynens.be Published On :: Sun, 13 Jun 2010 17:30:50 +0200 Every time you click that shiny little Reader button, Safari generates an HTML document and displays it as an overlay to the original document. Let’s have a look at the HTML and CSS used in this process, and find out how we can mess with it. Full Article
tm The XML serialization of HTML5, aka ‘XHTML5’ By mathiasbynens.be Published On :: Thu, 17 Jun 2010 10:24:25 +0200 A while ago, I was wondering how exactly one triggers HTML5’s XML mode — let’s call it XHTML5 from now on. You know, just out of curiosity. I’ll always prefer HTML over XHTML because it’s much less verbose and I like to keep things simple. Full Article
tm The `id` attribute got more `class`y in HTML5 By mathiasbynens.be Published On :: Sun, 11 Jul 2010 17:38:38 +0200 One of the more subtle yet awesome changes that HTML5 brings, applies to the id attribute. I already tweeted about this a few months ago, but I think this is interesting enough to write about in more than 140 characters. Full Article
tm Using CSS without HTML By mathiasbynens.be Published On :: Tue, 14 Dec 2010 15:13:38 +0100 The following article was published on CSS-Tricks as a guest post. Full Article
tm Unquoted attribute values in HTML and CSS/JS selectors By mathiasbynens.be Published On :: Mon, 13 Jun 2011 10:22:53 +0200 This is one of those posts I wrote just to be able to link back to it later. I see a lot of questions on the subject, and even though I don’t mind explaining the same thing over and over again, it’s probably easier to just write it down once. Full Article
tm HTML element + attribute notation By mathiasbynens.be Published On :: Thu, 04 Aug 2011 15:09:09 +0200 Recently, a popular new addition was made to the HTML spec: anchors may now have a download attribute. That’s not what this post is about though — instead, I’d like to go over some of the different notations people used to refer to this new element + attribute combo in tweets and blog posts. Full Article
tm The smallest possible valid (X)HTML documents By mathiasbynens.be Published On :: Thu, 15 Dec 2011 13:35:06 +0100 I thought it would be fun to document the smallest possible valid HTML documents for each version, so here goes :) Full Article
tm Uttarakhand: Buddha Vatika inaugurated at research wing of state forest department in Haldwani By www.newkerala.com Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 03:18:01 +0530 Full Article
tm Covid-19 toll in Bengal 79; TMC attacks Centre, Governor By www.newkerala.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 08:28:01 +0530 Full Article
tm TMC leaders hit out at Shah, say West Bengal has seven-stage programme to bring back people By www.newkerala.com Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 08:39:01 +0530 Full Article
tm COVID-19 pandemic is likely to reduce investment in construction related projects : KPMG By www.thehindu.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 22:36:46 +0530 COVID-19 pandemic is likely to reduce investment in construction related projects in the range of 13 to 30% which will have significant impact on Gros Full Article Business
tm 200 ATMs without security guards closed in Erode By www.thehindu.com Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 09:23:16 +0530 The district administration and the Corporation has asked all banks to ensure security guards at the ATMs so that they can provide hand sanitisers to the people visiting the kiosks. Full Article Coimbatore
tm Rs 1 lakh crore Delhi-Mumbai Expressway project offers huge investment opportunities: Gadkari By Published On :: Rs 1 lakh crore Delhi-Mumbai Expressway project offers huge investment opportunities: Gadkari Full Article
tm CEO of German-based group discusses Rs 400 cr investment with Punjab CM By www.newkerala.com Published On :: Wed, 19 Feb 2020 12:36:03 +0530 Full Article
tm Former Amritsar SSP, 4 others sentenced to 8 years jail in abetment to suicide case By www.newkerala.com Published On :: Thu, 20 Feb 2020 06:48:02 +0530 Full Article
tm Punjab inks MoU to showcase State as investment destination By www.newkerala.com Published On :: Thu, 27 Feb 2020 11:14:01 +0530 Full Article
tm Punjab Govt extends application date for various recruitment drives By www.newkerala.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2020 17:04:02 +0530 Full Article
tm Several held with liquor after excise department raids club in Delhi's Punjabi Bagh By www.newkerala.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2020 12:27:01 +0530 Full Article
tm COVID-19 patients can get treatment at private hospitals at their own cost: Punjab govt By www.newkerala.com Published On :: Thu, 23 Apr 2020 10:24:02 +0530 Full Article
tm HC denies bail to accused in TNPSC recruitment scam By www.thehindu.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 23:49:22 +0530 The Madras High Court has refused to grant bail to one of the accused in the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) recruitment scam pertaining Full Article Tamil Nadu
tm Coronavirus | West Bengal govt forms teams for surveillance support, monitoring of treatment at hospitals By www.thehindu.com Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 09:16:38 +0530 The team members will pay regular visits to these hospitals and send reports to the department, the state government said in an order. Full Article Other States
tm Andy Serkis says The Batman will be darker than previous films By indianexpress.com Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 05:43:56 +0000 Full Article Entertainment Hollywood
tm Health department conducts checking at Zirakpur grocery shops By indianexpress.com Published On :: Sun, 10 May 2020 03:08:57 +0000 Full Article Chandigarh Cities
tm Small earthquake recorded in Stirling on Christmas Day - Daily Record By www.dailyrecord.co.uk Published On :: Thu, 02 Jan 2020 12:34:01 GMT Small earthquake recorded in Stirling on Christmas Day Daily Record Full Article
tm Kendalian Dr Kent Brooks trained new director of British Geological Survey - The Westmorland Gazette By www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk Published On :: Fri, 19 Jul 2019 07:00:00 GMT Kendalian Dr Kent Brooks trained new director of British Geological Survey The Westmorland Gazette Full Article
tm Syntheses and crystal structures of three [M(acac)2(TMEDA)] complexes (M = Mn, Fe and Zn) By scripts.iucr.org Published On :: 2020-01-01 The complexes bis(acetylacetonato-κ2O,O')(N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine-κ2N,N')manganese(II), [Mn(C5H7O2)2(C6H16N2)], bis(acetylacetonato-κ2O,O')(N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine-κ2N,N')iron(II), [Fe(C5H7O2)2(C6H16N2)], and bis(acetylacetonato-κ2O,O')(N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine-κ2N,N')zinc(II), [Zn(C5H7O2)2(C6H16N2)], were synthesized from the reaction of the corresponding metal acetylacetonates [M(acac)2(H2O)2] with N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA) in toluene. Each of the complexes displays a central metal atom which is nearly octahedrally surrounded by two chelating acac and one chelating TMEDA ligand, resulting in an N2O4 coordination set. Despite the chemical similarity of the complex units, the packing patterns for compounds 1–3 are different and thus the crystal structures are not isotypic. Full Article text
tm Full reciprocal-space mapping up to 2000 K under controlled atmosphere: the multipurpose QMAX furnace By scripts.iucr.org Published On :: 2020-04-23 A furnace that covers the temperature range from room temperature up to 2000 K has been designed, built and implemented on the D2AM beamline at the ESRF. The QMAX furnace is devoted to the full exploration of the reciprocal hemispace located above the sample surface. It is well suited for symmetric and asymmetric 3D reciprocal space mapping. Owing to the hemispherical design of the furnace, 3D grazing-incidence small- and wide-angle scattering and diffraction measurements are possible. Inert and reactive experiments can be performed at atmospheric pressure under controlled gas flux. It is demonstrated that the QMAX furnace allows monitoring of structural phase transitions as well as microstructural evolution at the nanoscale, such as self-organization processes, crystal growth and strain relaxation. A time-resolved in situ oxidation experiment illustrates the capability to probe the high-temperature reactivity of materials. Full Article text
tm Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensors based on 2D refractive lens arrays and super-resolution multi-contrast X-ray imaging By scripts.iucr.org Published On :: 2020-04-22 Different approaches of 2D lens arrays as Shack–Hartmann sensors for hard X-rays are compared. For the first time, a combination of Shack–Hartmann sensors for hard X-rays (SHSX) with a super-resolution imaging approach to perform multi-contrast imaging is demonstrated. A diamond lens is employed as a well known test object. The interleaving approach has great potential to overcome the 2D lens array limitation given by the two-photon polymerization lithography. Finally, the radiation damage induced by continuous exposure of an SHSX prototype with a white beam was studied showing a good performance of several hours. The shape modification and influence in the final image quality are presented. Full Article text
tm Development of a scanning soft X-ray spectromicroscope to investigate local electronic structures on surfaces and interfaces of advanced materials under conditions ranging from low vacuum to helium atmosphere By scripts.iucr.org Published On :: 2020-03-18 A scanning soft X-ray spectromicroscope was recently developed based mainly on the photon-in/photon-out measurement scheme for the investigation of local electronic structures on the surfaces and interfaces of advanced materials under conditions ranging from low vacuum to helium atmosphere. The apparatus was installed at the soft X-ray beamline (BL17SU) at SPring-8. The characteristic features of the apparatus are described in detail. The feasibility of this spectromicroscope was demonstrated using soft X-ray undulator radiation. Here, based on these results, element-specific two-dimensional mapping and micro-XAFS (X-ray absorption fine structure) measurements are reported, as well as the observation of magnetic domain structures from using a reference sample of permalloy micro-dot patterns fabricated on a silicon substrate, with modest spatial resolution (e.g. ∼500 nm). Then, the X-ray radiation dose for Nafion® near the fluorine K-edge is discussed as a typical example of material that is not radiation hardened against a focused X-ray beam, for near future experiments. Full Article text
tm High-viscosity sample-injection device for serial femtosecond crystallography at atmospheric pressure By scripts.iucr.org Published On :: 2019-10-17 A sample-injection device has been developed at SPring-8 Angstrom Compact Free-Electron Laser (SACLA) for serial femtosecond crystallography (SFX) at atmospheric pressure. Microcrystals embedded in a highly viscous carrier are stably delivered from a capillary nozzle with the aid of a coaxial gas flow and a suction device. The cartridge-type sample reservoir is easily replaceable and facilitates sample reloading or exchange. The reservoir is positioned in a cooling jacket with a temperature-regulated water flow, which is useful to prevent drastic changes in the sample temperature during data collection. This work demonstrates that the injector successfully worked in SFX of the human A2A adenosine receptor complexed with an antagonist, ZM241385, in lipidic cubic phase and for hen egg-white lysozyme microcrystals in a grease carrier. The injection device has also been applied to many kinds of proteins, not only for static structural analyses but also for dynamics studies using pump–probe techniques. Full Article text
tm Full reciprocal-space mapping up to 2000 K under controlled atmosphere: the multipurpose QMAX furnace By journals.iucr.org Published On :: This article presents the capability of the QMAX furnace, devoted to reciprocal space mapping through X-ray scattering at high temperature up to 2000 K. Full Article text
tm NSRC to receive $25 million Investing in Innovation grant from U.S. Department of Education By insider.si.edu Published On :: Mon, 16 Aug 2010 13:34:52 +0000 The funding will allow the National Science Resources Center to validate its LASER (Leadership Assistance for Science Education Reform) Model. LASER, a systemic approach to reform, is a set of processes and strategies designed to help state, district and school leadership teams effectively implement and sustain high-quality science education for elementary, middle and secondary school students. The post NSRC to receive $25 million Investing in Innovation grant from U.S. Department of Education appeared first on Smithsonian Insider. Full Article Research News Science & Nature materials science science education
tm Super-earth has an atmosphere, but is it steamy or gassy? By insider.si.edu Published On :: Wed, 01 Dec 2010 17:10:30 +0000 The extrasolar planet GJ 1214b has a radius of about 2.7 times that of the Earth and is about 6.5 times as massive putting it squarely into the class of exoplanets known as super-Earths. The post Super-earth has an atmosphere, but is it steamy or gassy? appeared first on Smithsonian Insider. Full Article Research News Science & Nature astronomy astrophysics Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
tm Waterworld enshrouded by a thick, steamy atmosphere is new class of planet By insider.si.edu Published On :: Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:46:48 +0000 Observations by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have come up with a new class of planet, a waterworld enshrouded by a thick, steamy atmosphere. It’s smaller than Uranus but larger than Earth. The post Waterworld enshrouded by a thick, steamy atmosphere is new class of planet appeared first on Smithsonian Insider. Full Article Science & Nature Space astronomy astrophysics Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian planets Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
tm X-Class flares released by the Sun, March 6, captured by Atmospheric Imaging Assembly By insider.si.edu Published On :: Thu, 08 Mar 2012 17:46:20 +0000 The Sun’s Active Region 1429 has been shooting off flares and coronal mass ejections since it rotated into Earth’s view on March 2, 2012. Two X-class flares have been released overnight, an X1.3 and an X5.4. The post X-Class flares released by the Sun, March 6, captured by Atmospheric Imaging Assembly appeared first on Smithsonian Insider. Full Article Science & Nature Space astronomy astrophysics Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Sun
tm Venus-like Exoplanet Might Have Oxygen Atmosphere, But Not Life By insider.si.edu Published On :: Thu, 18 Aug 2016 13:36:46 +0000 The distant planet GJ 1132b intrigued astronomers when it was discovered last year. Located just 39 light-years from Earth, it might have an atmosphere despite […] The post Venus-like Exoplanet Might Have Oxygen Atmosphere, But Not Life appeared first on Smithsonian Insider. Full Article Research News Science & Nature Space
tm Compartmentalization of adenosine metabolism in cancer cells and its modulation during acute hypoxia [RESEARCH ARTICLE] By jcs.biologists.org Published On :: 2020-04-21T05:32:09-07:00 Karolina Losenkova, Mariachiara Zuccarini, Marika Karikoski, Juha Laurila, Detlev Boison, Sirpa Jalkanen, and Gennady G. YegutkinExtracellular adenosine mediates diverse anti-inflammatory, angiogenic and vasoactive effects and becomes an important therapeutic target for cancer, which has been translated into clinical trials. This study was designed to comprehensively assess adenosine metabolism in prostate and breast cancer cells. We identified cellular adenosine turnover as a complex cascade, comprised of (a) the ectoenzymatic breakdown of ATP via sequential nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase-1, ecto-5’-nucleotidase/CD73 and adenosine deaminase reactions, and ATP re-synthesis through counteracting adenylate kinase and nucleoside diphosphokinase; (b) the uptake of nucleotide-derived adenosine via equilibrative nucleoside transporters; and (c) the intracellular adenosine phosphorylation into ATP by adenosine kinase and other nucleotide kinases. The exposure of cancer cells to 1% O2 for 24 hours triggered ~2-fold up-regulation of CD73, without affecting nucleoside transporters, adenosine kinase activity and cellular ATP content. The ability of adenosine to inhibit the tumor-initiating potential of breast cancer cells via receptor-independent mechanism was confirmed in vivo using a xenograft mouse model. The existence of redundant pathways controlling extracellular and intracellular adenosine provides a sufficient justification for reexamination of the current concepts of cellular purine homeostasis and signaling in cancer. Full Article
tm En bloc TGN recruitment of Aspergillus TRAPPII reveals TRAPP maturation as unlikely to drive RAB1-to-RAB11 transition [RESEARCH ARTICLE] By jcs.biologists.org Published On :: 2020-04-23T01:49:49-07:00 M. Pinar and M. A. PenalvaTRAnsport Protein Particle (TRAPP) complexes regulate membrane traffic. TRAPPII and TRAPPIII share a core hetero-heptamer, also denoted TRAPPI. In fungi TRAPPIII and TRAPPII mediate GDP exchange on RAB1 and RAB11, respectively, regulating traffic across the Golgi, with TRAPPIII also activating RAB1 in autophagosomes. Our finding that Aspergillus nidulans TRAPPII can be assembled by addition of a TRAPPII-specific subcomplex onto core TRAPP prompted us to investigate the possibility that TRAPPI/TRAPPIII already residing in the Golgi matures into TRAPPII to determine a RAB1-to-RAB11 conversion as Golgi cisternae progress from early Golgi to TGN identity. By time-resolved microscopy we determine that the TRAPPII reporter Trs120/TRAPPC9 is recruited to existing TGN cisternae slightly before RAB11 arrives, and resides for~45 sec on them before cisternae tear off into RAB11 secretory carriers. Notably, the core TRAPP reporter Bet3/TRAPPC3 was not detectable in early Golgi cisternae, being instead recruited to TGN cisternae simultaneously with Trs120/TRAPPC9, indicating en bloc recruitment of TRAPPII to the Golgi and arguing strongly against the TRAPP maturation model. Full Article
tm OPTN recruitment to a Golgi-proximal compartment regulates immune signalling and cytokine secretion [RESEARCH ARTICLE] By jcs.biologists.org Published On :: 2020-05-06T08:30:40-07:00 Thomas O'Loughlin, Antonina J. Kruppa, Andre L. R. Ribeiro, James R. Edgar, Abdulaziz Ghannam, Andrew M. Smith, and Folma BussOptineurin (OPTN) is a multifunctional protein involved in autophagy, secretion as well as NF-B and IRF3 signalling and OPTN mutations are associated with several human diseases. Here we show that, in response to viral RNA, OPTN translocates to foci in the perinuclear region, where it negatively regulates NF-B and IRF3 signalling pathways and downstream pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion. These OPTN foci consist of a tight cluster of small membrane vesicles, which are positive for ATG9A. Disease mutations linked to POAG cause aberrant foci formation in the absence of stimuli, which correlates with the ability of OPTN to inhibit signalling. Using proximity labelling proteomics, we identify the LUBAC complex, CYLD and TBK1 as part of the OPTN interactome and show that these proteins are recruited to this OPTN-positive perinuclear compartment. Our work uncovers a crucial role for OPTN in dampening NF-B and IRF3 signalling through the sequestration of LUBAC and other positive regulators in this viral RNA-induced compartment leading to altered pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion. Full Article
tm How To Create And Use Groups In Hotmail By www.bleepingcomputer.com Published On :: 2006-02-05T06:08:56-05:00 Full Article
tm Spectacular June 7 solar flare seen through the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly aboard Solar Dynamics Observatory By insider.si.edu Published On :: Wed, 15 Jun 2011 12:21:28 +0000 On June 7 the Sun unleashed an spectacular solar flare with a substantial coronal mass ejection. A large cloud of plasma mushroomed up, and while some parts fell back into the Sun, most rushed off into space. The first two segments of this video are seen through the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly aboard NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory. The AIA was developed by Smithsonian scientists. The post Spectacular June 7 solar flare seen through the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly aboard Solar Dynamics Observatory appeared first on Smithsonian Insider. Full Article Research News Science & Nature Space Video astronomy astrophysics Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
tm Camera captures sun’s atmospheric sparkles By insider.si.edu Published On :: Mon, 01 Jul 2013 14:00:30 +0000 Using an innovative new camera on board a sounding rocket, an international team of scientists have captured the sharpest images yet of the Sun’s outer […] The post Camera captures sun’s atmospheric sparkles appeared first on Smithsonian Insider. Full Article Research News Science & Nature Space Video astronomy astrophysics Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory Sun
tm Retailers pushing Christmas sales in October By feeds.scpr.org Published On :: Wed, 30 Oct 2013 07:33:05 -0700 Business Update with Mark LacterIt's late October, which means more and more stores are decorating for Christmas. Steve Julian: Business analyst Mark Lacter, whatever happened to "better late than never?" Mark Lacter: Steve, retailers never want to sell late because it often means having to reduce the price. They're looking to start out as soon as possible - these last three months represent their biggest payday of the year. And here in California people do seem to be buying stuff - consumer spending has been up for 14 consecutive quarters, going back to the spring of 2009, and taxable sales are up almost 5 percent from the peak levels before the recession. Another good sign is Chapman University's index of consumer sentiment, which is at its highest level since the beginning of the recession in late 2007. All these indicators explain why the state economy is generally outpacing the rest of the nation. Julian: There has to be a "but" in here someplace… Lacter: The "but" is that only 60 percent of the jobs lost during the downturn have been recovered, and the unemployment rate in many parts of the state, including L.A. County, is still at or above 10 percent, which isn't what you'd call a healthy economy. And that's why holiday shopping this year could end up being sort of hit and miss. Folks who have well-paying jobs and a bunch of their money in the stock market - and Southern California has its share of both - those folks will probably be spending good amounts. Julian: Are there geographic tell-tale signs? Lacter: The closer to the coast you go, the more spending there's likely to be. But it's a different story if you're feeling vulnerable about your job or in the amount of savings you have in the bank. So you have retailers once again coming up with ways of reaching as many budget-conscious folks as possible, as early as possible. The most obvious move is opening their stores on Thanksgiving night - Macy's is the latest of the chains to get a head start on Black Friday (Target, Kohl's, Walmart and J.C. Penney will also be open). Another strategy is matching your prices with the prices on Amazon and other online retailers - also, retailers will use mobile apps and arrange in-store pickup of online purchases. All told, expect holiday sales to run 3 percent ahead of last year, with the L.A. area likely to be a bit higher. Decent, but not great. Julian: What's the message to consumers now: buy or not buy? Lacter: Well, we'll start with the good news - gasoline prices are at their lowest level since the beginning of the year, with an average gallon of regular in the L.A. area running $3.75, according to the Auto Club. And barring any refinery fires or international catastrophes, the numbers might keep falling into November and December, which could incentivize consumers to buy a little more at the shopping malls. Here's some more good news - the L.A. area has seen a huge drop in the number of homeowners who are underwater, which happens when the value of a property is less than the amount that's owed on the property. This of course was a big problem during the recession, but over the last year the median home values have gone up between 20 percent and 30 percent. Julian: And if your equity is positive instead of negative, you'll probably feel more confident about spending. Lacter: That's right. But there are also deterrents to spending - as has been reported, a few hundred thousand Californians lose their individual health care policies by the end of the year because their plans don't meet the requirements of the Affordable Care Act. Policyholders will be stuck in many cases with a premium increase, possibly a big increase. Now it's possible that in the long run these folks will be better off with a more inclusive plan that results in lower out-of-pocket expenses. But it'a hard to ignore the sticker shock of having to shell out, say, $250 a month instead of $100. Julian: There goes the holiday list... Lacter: For those folks, yes. And even though L.A. consumers do a good job of separating their feelings about Washington with their desire to spend, the economy is bound to slow down a little. So Steve, just don't count on that $9,000 fur vest I was going to get you for Christmas. Sorry about that… Mark Lacter writes for Los Angeles Magazine and pens the business blog at LA Observed.com. This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org. Full Article