Backstrom scores 2 goals, Capitals beat Sabres 5-2

Nicklas Backstrom isn't in a giving mood, and the Washington Capitals couldn't be more delighted with their first-line center's newfound stinginess.

Backstrom had two goals as the Capitals beat the Buffalo Sabres 5-2 on Wednesday in a battle of NHL division leaders.

Capitals coach Bruce Boudreau has been imploring Backstrom to focus more on shooting more than distributing pretty passes, a message that's clearly been received. Backstrom has 10 goals in his last 11 games after scoring four in his first 26.

"He's got a good shot _ it's sneaky quick," Boudreau said. "We've been asking him for a long time now to not be so generous, be a …

THE TICKER // Chicago

Unions organizing at record pace Unions are on a pace to set recordsfor organizing new members in Illinois, the Coalition for ConsumerRights 1997 Labor Day Report Card shows. The group said successfulorganizing drives are up 13 percent from 1996. The report gave thestate a "C" in job creation and a "D" in wages. It said one workerin 82 was laid off during 1996, and most workers take a pay cut whenthey are able to find another job. The report also said part-timework has grown from 8 percent of the work force in Illinois in 1995to 10 percent last year.FMC to buy back 15% of stock FMC Corp. said it will buy back about15 percent of its shares outstanding, for as much as $500 …

Rand Corp. retracts study on pot clinic closings

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) — A nonprofit think tank on Monday retracted a widely reported study that linked last year's closing of hundreds of medical marijuana dispensaries in Los Angeles to a rise in crime rates in surrounding neighborhoods.

Santa Monica-based Rand Corp. said in a statement that questions raised after the study was released last month prompted an unusual internal review.

Researchers relied on a commercial crime mapping service, believing it included information from various jurisdictions, including the Los Angeles Police Department. However, that agency did not give data to the service.

"That review determined the crime data used in the analysis are …

Fiat makes profit, approves split into 2 companies

The Italian automaker Fiat, which controls Chrysler, on Wednesday reported a return to second-quarter profits on improved sales of agriculture equipment and trucks, and said it may raise its 2010 forecasts.

Fiat also said its board approved the plan to separate its industrial vehicle and auto businesses into two distinct companies in order to "give birth" to a global automotive company that will incorporate Chrysler LCC. The plan was announced in April.

A second-quarter net profit of (EURO)90 million ($115.6 million) compares with a loss of (EURO)168 million in the same period last year. Net revenues were up 12.5 percent to (EURO)14.8 billion.

…

NITRO TAKES ONE TO THE GUT: ; Knights halt defending champs

Inside Prep baseball linescores/2B

Defending Class AAA baseball champion Nitro went more than acalendar year without losing a regular season game.

All streaks eventually come to an end.

Cabell Midland (6-0) sophomore left-hander Caleb Ross threw sixinnings of one-hit baseball on Wednesday night at Nitro's SneedField, striking out nine and handing the Wildcats (5-1) a 4-2 loss.

It was the first varsity start of Ross' career.

"They've got some good hitters, so I was a little nervous aboutsome of them," Ross said. "I just tried to go out there and throw."

Ross didn't dominate the game, but was effective enough to keepaway from danger through …

Molecular dynamics of Gly-12-->Val mutant of p21(ras): Dynamic inhibition mechanism

ABSTRACT The mutant p21^sup ras^ protein is a G protein produced by the point-mutated H-ras gene, and this mutant protein has been shown to cause carcinogenesis due to a reduction in its GTPase activity. However, the mechanism underlying this strange phenomenon has still not been elucidated. In our previous study, we have clarified the mechanism of the GTP-->GDP hydrolysis reaction in the wild-type p21^sup ras^ at the atomic level and concluded that GTPase-activating protein plays a significant role in the supply of H2O molecules for the hydrolysis. The structure of the active site in the mutant is the same as that in the wild type. However, by performing molecular dynamic …

Nordic Combined World Cup Results

Results Saturday from a Nordic combined World Cup meet (10-kilometer mass start and placings from two ski jumps in parentheses):

1. Bjoern Kircheisen, Germany, 258.5 points (2, 11, 2).

2. Bernhard Gruber, Austria, 258.0 (13, 2, 1).

3. Jan Schmid, Norway, 254.7 (12, 3, 2).

4. Bill Demong, United States, 252.2 (4, 12, 7).

5. Janne Ryynaenen, Finland, 246.0 (24, 4, 2).

6. Mario Stecher, Austria, 244.7 (11, 6, 7).

7. Magnus Moan, Norway, 242.2 (1, 17, 14).

8. Tino Edelmenn, Germany, 240.1 (9, 9, 10).

9. …