Pellegrini admits uncertainty over Madrid future

Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini acknowledged there is uncertainty over his future on Saturday and defended his record in his first season at the club.

Pellegrini told a news conference that if he is replaced then his successor will "have to beat Barcelona, win 18 home games, total more than 100 points and score more than 100 goals."

Speculation has surrounded the Chilean's future since Madrid was knocked out of the Champions League by Lyon in March. Local media has linked Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho with the job.

"I don't think Real Madrid is working behind the back of its coach," Pellegrini said. …

Local scoreboard

SCHEDULE

College

This week's schedule for area colleges, plus WVU and Marshall:

Baseball

Friday - Akron at Marshall, 3 p.m.

Softball

Today - Saturday - West Virginia Conference Tournament.

Women's track

Friday-Saturday - Marshall at Jesse Owens Classic, Columbus, Ohio.

Men's golf

Today-Saturday - Marshall at MAC championships.

High school

This week's schedule for area high school boys and girls sports:

Baseball

Today - Capital at Ripley, 6 p.m.; George Washington atParkersburg South, 6:30 p.m.; Point Pleasant at Herbert Hoover, 5:30p.m.; Sherman at Riverside, 6 p.m.; St. Albans at …

The Mechanism of Amyloid Spherulite Formation by Bovine Insulin

ABSTRACT

The formation of amyloid-containing spherulite-like structures has been observed in some instances of amyloid diseases, as well as in amyloid fibril-containing solutions in vitro. In this article we describe the structure and kinetics of bovine insulin amyloid fibril spherulites formed in the presence and absence of different salts and at different salt concentrations. The general spherulite structure consists of radially oriented amyloid fibrils, as shown by optical microscopy and environmental scanning electron microscopy. In the center of each spherulite, a "core" of less regularly oriented material is observed, whose size decreases when the spherulites are formed in …

US supply trucks resume travel in Pakistan pass

Pakistani security forces escorted container trucks and oil tankers through the Khyber Pass on Monday after Pakistan reopened the supply route critical to transporting supplies to NATO and U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

Pakistan suspended the vehicles from the passageway for a security review last week after militants hijacked several trucks whose load included Humvees bound for the U.S.-led coalition.

On Monday, a dozen or so paramilitary pickups from the paramilitary Frontier Corps joined a convoy of around 30 vehicles as part of new security measures. The escort trucks bore rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine guns. Earlier, the transport trucks had …

Seeds of vacation plans should be planted now

Plan your summer vacation as far ahead as possible. Many peopleare going to explore America this year, rather than venture intoforeign lands. Many motel chains will offer information aboutaccommodations and rates via their toll-free numbers. Consult theYellow Pages in your phone book. You can obtain tourist and campinginformation from the Illinois Travel Information Center at 310 S.Michigan, Chicago.

Before you leave home, arrange to have a neighbor pick up yourmail and newspaper every day and water your plants. Don't take goodjewelry on trip. It's a constant worry.

Turn off gas and water at the main valve. Tell the police thatyou will be away. Don't pull …

Italian Judge Suspends CIA Trial

MILAN, Italy - An Italian judge on Monday suspended the first trial involving the CIA's extraordinary rendition program until the country's highest court can rule on the case.

The Italian government has asked the Constitutional Court to throw out the indictments against the 26 American defendants, all but one identified by prosecutors as CIA agents.

They are accused of kidnapping an …

Denis Menchov wins key Giro time trial, takes lead

Russia's Denis Menchov took the overall lead at the Giro d'Italia on Thursday after winning a grueling individual time trial. He dedicated his victory in the 12th stage to injured teammate Pedro Horillo Munoz.

Menchov, who rides for Rabobank, overtook Italy's Danilo Di Luca for the pink jersey on a day when riders also had to contend with heat approaching 86 degrees. Di Lucaq finished sixth in the 38-mile leg Thursday and trails Menchov by 34 seconds in the overall standings.

Menchov was timed in 1 hour, 34 minutes, 29 seconds in the route along the coastal area known as Cinque Terre. U.S. rider Levi Leipheimer was second, 20 seconds behind, and Stefano …